Guangzhou Thirteen Hongs

A month later, the porcelain at Su Kiln was piled up like a mountain.

Gu Fengnian looked at the heap of porcelain and said to Su Wuwen, who was standing beside him, "Miss Su, we can't continue producing these export porcelains. Otherwise, we'll incur losses in both manpower and resources. We need to find a way to sell them first."

Su Wuwen asked, "Is there any news from the East India Company?"

"None. The East India Company is determined not to do business with us anymore. Wang Jide has intensified his efforts to purchase porcelain from Wang Han, and now Wang Han's business is booming."

"Is Wang Jide insisting that we sell him some of our Lang Kiln red-glazed porcelain?"

"That seems to be the case, but we absolutely will not sell Lang Kiln red-glazed porcelain to him."

"Indeed, Lang Kiln red-glazed porcelain is a symbol of the Qing Dynasty's prestige. It should not be casually sold to Westerners."

"Miss Su, what should we do now?"

"Although most of our exports are shipped by the East India Company, not everything is transported by their ships. Gu Supervisor, I need you to find out who else is engaged in maritime transport. It seems we need to find a new partner, and the sooner we do this, the better."

"Rest assured, Miss Su."

Gu Fengnian quickly gathered information.

One day, in Su Wuwen's study, Gu Fengnian stood to one side and said, "Miss Su, I have some news."

"Go ahead."

"About thirty years ago, Guangdong Province established the Guangzhou Thirteen Hongs. The government selected a group of merchants to engage in foreign trade, transact with foreign merchants, and represent customs duties. Goods that left through the Guangzhou Thirteen Hongs were all shipped from the Pearl River Wharf. The Thirteen Hongs operated with uniform pricing, no counterfeit goods, no fraud, and an excellent reputation."

Su Wuwen hesitated and asked, "Gu Supervisor, are you saying that the Guangzhou Thirteen Hongs, like the East India Company, are also responsible for purchasing goods and then shipping them overseas for sale?"

Gu Fengnian replied, "Not exactly. The East India Company is run by Westerners and is a very large company, formed by merging fourteen smaller companies, with a well-organized and extensive fleet. The Thirteen Hongs, however, are a merchant association. Unlike the East India Company, which is massive, the Thirteen Hongs are a commercial guild. Besides the East India Company, there are many other foreign merchants, some of whom own their own ships and also purchase goods from our Qing Dynasty. Many of these merchants maintain contact with the Thirteen Hongs and purchase goods directly from them."

Su Wuwen then asked, "Where do the Thirteen Hongs get their goods? Do they buy them from domestic merchants? They don't produce them themselves, do they?"

"The goods with the Thirteen Hongs are purchased from domestic merchants and then sold to foreign merchants through the Thirteen Hongs. Miss Su, as long as we can cooperate with the Thirteen Hongs and supply our porcelain to them, we won't have to worry about the rest."

Su Wuwen nodded, "I understand. The difference between the East India Company and the Thirteen Hongs is similar to wholesale and retail. The East India Company makes large bulk purchases, while the Thirteen Hongs make smaller, more fragmented purchases and handle more diverse foreign trade."

"That's right. With the Thirteen Hongs, we don't need to deal with various foreign merchants individually. We just need to hand over our goods to the Thirteen Hongs, and they will handle the rest. In other words, we will sell to the Thirteen Hongs in bulk, and they will sell to foreign merchants in smaller quantities."

"Gu Supervisor, how are the Thirteen Hongs' sales? Do they purchase as much porcelain as the East India Company?"

"I'm not sure, but the East India Company is the largest foreign trade company in the world. The Thirteen Hongs' export volume is likely not as large as the East India Company's."

"Gu Supervisor, are there any other merchants involved in foreign trade?"

"There are other merchants, but none are as large as the Thirteen Hongs. The Thirteen Hongs are currently the largest in foreign trade for our Qing Dynasty."

Su Wuwen looked up at him, "Gu Supervisor, could you do me one more favor?"

Gu Fengnian, slightly embarrassed, replied, "Miss Su, please tell me."

"I plan to set off for Guangzhou in three days. Can you accompany me? We will meet with the head of the Thirteen Hongs and discuss business with him."

"Since Miss Su has asked, how could I refuse?"

In Guangzhou, under the blazing sun, Su Wuwen and Gu Fengnian arrived wearing woolen shirts and found that people around them were dressed in vests and sandals, some even holding fans.

Su Wuwen wiped the sweat from her forehead and said, "It really is quite hot here."

Turning to look at Gu Fengnian, she saw that his temples were covered in sweat.

"Gu Supervisor, aren't you hot?"

Gu Fengnian replied gently, "Yes, I am."

"Then why are you wearing so many layers?"

Gu Fengnian was momentarily speechless and didn't know what to say. Su Wuwen secretly smiled and walked ahead confidently. Gu Fengnian hurriedly followed, realizing he should have said, "Aren't you wearing fewer layers than I am?"

However, since the conversation was already over, it seemed inappropriate to bring it up now.

Well, he could only silently endure the discomfort, like a mute eating bitter melon, suffering in silence.

The two of them found a clothing store, bought two sets of summer clothes, took them back to their inn, changed, and found the new outfits quite suitable.

Su Wuwen smiled and said, "In this early spring weather, wearing such cool clothes, I don't feel hot at all."

Gu Fengnian replied, "Yes, Guangzhou is really hot."

"Gu Supervisor, let's go."

"Go where?"

"To the Great Buddha Temple. I've heard that the Great Buddha Temple in Guangzhou is very famous."

Gu Fengnian asked, "When should we visit the Thirteen Hongs?"

"Let's go tomorrow. It's already getting late today, so it's not suitable to go now."

Gu Fengnian looked at the sky, with the sun high overhead. It didn't seem late at all.

Su Wuwen and Gu Fengnian walked along the streets of Guangzhou, where seafood was being sold everywhere, with the strong smell of dried seafood in the air, and shrimp and fish everywhere.

Vendors shouted energetically, and the streets were bustling with people.

They walked along the road and arrived at the entrance of the Great Buddha Temple. The gate was closed, and a person nearby spoke to them in Hakka: "This gate is closed. Go around to the East Gate; you can enter from there."

Su Wuwen and Gu Fengnian, not understanding Hakka, looked at him in confusion.