In ancient times, mining, mineral processing and smelting were completely dependent on manpower. Therefore, in a crowded area, the more convenient the development of mineral resources was.

Why were prices in China and India very cheap in ancient times? Because the two countries had rich human resources! It was like deserted places like Siberia. Even if super-large mines were discovered in this era, they would not be able to mine them. There was no other place, and there was no one in the area!

In ancient China and India, once large mineral veins were discovered, tens of thousands of coolies could be mobilized to mine, dress and smel. Therefore, under normal circumstances, the prices of ancient China and India were much cheaper than those of Europe.

However, Japan is an exception. Japan has a very rich human resources, with a population of 17 million in this era, which is 2 million more than France. However, Japan has poor mineral resources, although it has a large amount of cheap labor, but the country has many mountains and few lands and mineral resources are not very rich. Therefore, the prices are quite high.

Of course, that was because Japan's prospecting technology in this era was relatively poor and large-scale minerals were not discovered. Later, with the discovery of super-large mines such as Ishimi Yinshan and Azuo Tongshan, Japan had abundant money in a short period of time. Needless to say, silver produced by Ishimi Yinshan, was the world currency, which was amazing. The copper produced by Azuo Tongshan, which was discovered in the 17th century, was also very popular.

During the Tokugawa Shogunate era, the Edo Shogunate was able to use a large amount of copper casting "Kannagata Tsubasa" produced in Atsuo Tongshan, but also exported in large quantities.

In the 17th century, because of the huge output of Swedish copper, the European copper price had fallen from 15 to 1 with silver to about 44 to 1. However, as the Dutch transported Japanese copper from Japan, the copper price fell directly to the copper-silver price of more than 80 to 1, which doubled. In this way, the Dutch also made huge profits.

At that time, not only did the Dutch ship Japanese copper back to Europe for sale, but when the Qing Dynasty was first established, it also relied heavily on importing crude copper from Japan for casting copper coins.

In addition, Southeast Asia at that time also relied heavily on importing copper from Japan to mint its own currency, and even to mint guns...

It can be seen that Japan's copper production at that time was not only able to meet domestic demand, but also exported to Europe, the Qing Dynasty and Southeast Asia in large quantities. The most famous copper mine in Japan at that time was probably Zuwei Tongshan.

At that time, Zuwei Tongshan's annual copper production reached 1,200 tons, or 2.4 million kilograms. If it is cast into a small copper coin of about 3.5 grams, it can be cast more than 340 million pieces. According to a thousand text, it can be worth about 343,000 taels of silver.

Marin, a historical student, has read history and knows that during the heyday of the Qing Dynasty, the annual copper production was only more than 10 million kilograms. At that time, the copper of the Qing Dynasty almost relied heavily on the Yunnan copper produced in Yunnan. The proportion of Yunnan copper in the entire Qing Dynasty once reached 95%. Of course, this is the data from the Qianlong period. When the Qing Dynasty was first founded, during the Kangxi period, he still relied heavily on Japanese copper imported from Japan...

"Yes, why did I forget the Yunnan copper?" Ma Lin slapped his head and thought of the problem.

A big difference between the Ming Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty is that the Qing Dynasty developed Yunnan copper in Yunnan, so it no longer relied on imported copper in the middle and late periods. In the late Ming Dynasty and early Qing Dynasty, it was very dependent on Japanese copper at that time.

Malin remembers a paper I read by chance in his previous life that in the Ming Dynasty, Yunnan's copper production was not valued, and the annual output was only more than 100,000 kilograms, which was not very important. However, since Kang Mazi defeated Wu Sangui and took control of Yunnan, the Qing Dynasty, as it was like the Ming Dynasty, had severely shortage of copper coins, so he vigorously developed Yunnan's copper mine. By the time of Qianlong, Yunnan's copper annual output had reached more than 10 million kilograms, accounting for most of the national output.

In other words, both the Ming and Qing dynasties also lacked copper at the beginning, but the Qing dynasty later alleviated the copper shortage by developing Yunnan copper. It is said that the copper coins of the Qing dynasty were basically cast from Yunnan copper. At that time, several large copper mines such as Dongchuan in Yunnan almost became the treasury of the Qing dynasty...

The Ming Dynasty was more miserable because Yunnan copper was not developed, so the country was seriously short of copper. In the early days, it was good that it was because of the treasure banknotes, which could alleviate the need for copper coins. In the middle and late periods, with the abolition of the treasure banknotes and the high economic development, the copper gap was extremely large. Fortunately, Europeans happened to send a large amount of silver to alleviate the pressure of the lack of currency in the Ming Dynasty. Otherwise, the Ming Dynasty would have to break out in a serious money shortage.

It was also because Malin was not lucky and happened to encounter the Zhengde Dynasty. At this time, the Ming Dynasty court was discussing the issue of abolishing Baochao. Once the Baochao was abolished, the Ming Empire could only rely on copper coins as the main currency. At that time, it would be discovered that there was a very, very shortage of copper. Even now, the Ming cabinet had also discovered the lack of copper. Therefore, a warning was issued to Kong Tai for a large amount of copper collection.

If you want to continue importing cheap copper from the Ming Dynasty, unless the Ming Dynasty has no shortage of copper...

"Do you want to tell the Ming Dynasty the potential of Yunnan copper?" Ma Lin fell into deep thought...

To be honest, as a college student with Chinese history and geography in later generations, Malin not only knew the important historical status of Yunnan copper in the Qing Dynasty, but also knew another super copper mine - Dexing copper mine.

Dexing Copper Mine is one of the largest copper mines in China in later generations, and, most importantly, it is actually an open-pit mine! I don’t know what the ancients did, but they actually missed such a large copper mine, and they still lack copper...

Malin remembers that Dexing Copper Mine seems to be in the Guanmaoshan area in the northeast of Dexing City, located at the junction of Jiangxi, Zhejiang and Anhui provinces...

"No wonder..." Thinking of this, Marin suddenly realized...

After all, it is the junction of the three provinces, and it must be a remote mountainous area. No wonder Dexing Copper Mine was not discovered in time. If it was located in a convenient area, such as Tongling in Anhui Province, such a riverside area, it would have been discovered long ago.

This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content later! Dexing Copper Mine is a super large mine with copper metal reserves exceeding tens of millions of tons. Later copper production reached more than 100,000 tons a year, which is very scary.

If the Ming Dynasty developed the Dexing copper mine...it is estimated that the financial problems will be greatly alleviated... After all, copper meant coins in ancient times...

With the Ming Empire, it will definitely not collapse so soon. As long as the main force of Yunnan copper mines in Dexing copper mine and the Qing Dynasty's money bags - Dongchuan copper mine, the Ming Dynasty will not be short of money at all. What? The Ministry of Revenue has no money? Dig copper coins! Crush hundreds of millions of coins and it will be done...

Moreover, the Ming Empire was not afraid of minting too much money. Because the Ming Dynasty itself was seriously short of money and was not enough. With two major copper mines as the foundation, the Ming Dynasty's economy could stabilize.

"But, what's the benefit of this for me?" Marin fell into deep thought...

After thinking for a long time, Malin decided to help the Ming Dynasty. However, he only planned to tell the Ming Dynasty one by Dongchuan Copper Mine and Dexing Copper Mine. Because if the Ming Dynasty was too rich, Malin would be under great pressure...

After thinking about it, Malin finally decided to tell the Dexing copper mine to the Ming Dynasty and temporarily conceal the Dongchuan copper mine. Because even if the Ming Dynasty's Dongchuan copper mine reserves were told, it would be difficult to develop there. After all, the Dongchuan copper mine is located on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and is extremely inconvenient for external transportation. Even if copper is produced, transportation will be troublesome. I didn't see that Yunnan copper began to develop during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty. It was not until the Qianlong period that it could meet domestic demand?

The Dexing copper mine is different. It is located at the junction of Jiangxi, Zhejiang and Anhui provinces. This place is close to the southeastern region of the Ming Dynasty, with rich human resources and convenient transportation. As long as you leave the Shangrao Mountains, you can quickly lead to the Yangtze River to the north, which is very easy to develop. In this way, if you want to develop the Dexing copper mine in the Ming Dynasty, you will soon see the effect. Unlike the development of Yunnan copper, it took many years to build the road to Yunnan. Moreover, the southwest region of the Ming Dynasty was unstable, and a huge copper mine was developed. Who knows if a toast would jump out to seize the copper mine.

Therefore, it is better to let the Ming Dynasty develop the Dexing copper mine near the core area of ​​the southeast. Once the lack of copper in the Ming Empire eased, Marin could also successfully purchase a large amount of cheap copper from the Ming Dynasty. Moreover, this is faster than developing Japan's Zuwei Copper Mountain.

Because Japan is now divided into pieces. The Shirōno country, the country belonging to the Atsuo Tongshan, seems to be in poor strength. Even if Marin informed the existence of the Atsuo Tongshan, the small country would not be able to develop the Copper Mountain immediately.

The Ming Empire is different. Although this empire has various problems, its executable ability is absolutely strong. Perhaps in the southwest and northern border areas, the Ming Empire lacks control. However, as long as the Ming Empire is fierce, it will definitely be developed quickly. The Ming Dynasty has no shortage of personnel and funds. As long as it breaks out, copper can be produced in a short time. At that time, Malin can also benefit.

In addition, providing information about Dexiang copper ore can also be regarded as making great contributions to the Ming Dynasty and increasing the favorability of the Ming court. At that time, it will be much more convenient to do other things.

As for Zuwei Tongshan... Marin thought about it, he decided to notify Shirno Kingdom and let them develop it first. Shirno Kingdom's strength will take many years to develop the Tongshan. When they develop the Tongshan, Ganfu Nobunaga almost grew up, just in time to swallow this Tongshan...
Chapter completed!