Han Du glanced at Hade, who was standing there listening blankly, and then said to Zhu Biao: "As for these Western merchants, they almost always come to Ming Dynasty to bring back Ming Dynasty goods. Porcelain, tea, spices, sugar, etc. These things are in short supply in the West, and these things are extremely valuable there. If the pirates grab the goods, they will not easily sell them in a short time. So they will definitely find a secret place to take these things first. Hide it and sell it slowly.”
"What do you want to say?" Zhu Biao looked at Han Du calmly.
Han Du spoke slowly and continued: "What the Western merchants brought was real money and silver, and what did we pay for? Porcelain? It's just made of clay. Tea leaves? To put it more harshly, it's just a bunch of tree leaves. .”
"With a pile of soil and tree leaves, you can exchange real money and silver from Western merchants. Your Highness, is there any better business than this in the world?"
"So even though those pirates are thousands of miles away, we can't ignore it. If the sea route is really cut off by these pirates, who will continue to send us real money?"
Zhu Biao touched it and suddenly laughed, "According to you, these pirates are blocking our way of making money? What do you want to do?"
Han Du saw that Zhu Biao was clear about it, and nodded with a smile: "Destroying a person's wealth is like killing his parents. These pirates threaten the shipping route and should be eradicated."
After Zhu Biao heard this, he pondered instead, paused for a few breaths and asked: "You mean, send the navy to clean it up?"
Han Du nodded.
Zhu Biao shook his head slightly and said, "I'm afraid there's something wrong with spending thousands of miles on an expedition."
Han Du saw Zhu Biao's hesitant look and guessed the reason for his disagreement. He explained: "Your Highness, Jinling is thousands of miles away from this old port. Who could have imagined that the Ming Dynasty could set up the Xuanwei Department and the Governor's Palace in this old port? And naval warfare is different from land warfare. Land warfare Expeditions with laborious forces are indeed a huge disadvantage. The lengthening of the supply lines will lead to insufficient supplies of food and grass, as well as fatigue of men and horses."
"But the navy goes on an expedition by boat. If there is a shortage of water or food, it can be replenished on the spot. Even if it travels tens of thousands of miles, there will be no problem of laboring for an expedition."
"Why are you determined to eliminate pirates?" Zhu Biao did not listen carefully to Han Du's reasons, but asked directly.
Seeing that Zhu Biao was so direct, Han Du stopped being secretive and said, "Your Highness, what do you think of Nanyang for the Ming Dynasty?"
Zhu Biao thought for a moment, then nodded with a smile, "Nanyang is indeed a land of wealth. The taxes these maritime merchants pay to the Shipping Department every year are immeasurable."
Han Du nodded and said: "Originally, when the sea route was blocked, Nanyang was also a barren land. The Ming Dynasty was not able to get a penny from Nanyang, but when the sea route was open, it opened up a way to make money. Not only the people can make money. , even the taxes of the Shipping Department have been increasing year after year. But does Your Highness think that Nanyang can continue to be as prosperous as it is now?"
After hearing this, Zhu Biao's face slowly darkened, and finally he shook his head and sighed: "Excessive prosperity will inevitably lead to decline. Is there anyone in this world who can be prosperous forever? Although Nanyang is rich in products, it cannot withstand the demands of the Ming Dynasty year after year."
"Your Highness Ming Ming sees thousands of miles," Han Du nodded in agreement with Zhu Biao's words and followed the words: "It is precisely because of this that I believe that the Ming Dynasty needs to continue to expand its maritime territory and open up golden channels for the Ming Dynasty's maritime merchants."
"What is the Golden Channel?" Zhu Biao suddenly heard a new word coming out of Han Du's mouth, looked at him sideways, and asked curiously.
Han Du immediately knew that his mouth was wandering again, but it didn't matter, it wasn't the first time this happened, so just explain it clearly. So, Han Du calmly explained: "The meaning of the Golden Channel is that this maritime route can bring countless gold to the Ming Dynasty. Take Nanyang as an example. When the Japanese pirates were rampant, the Ming Dynasty had no maritime merchants at all. No one dared to go to the sea, let alone come to Nanyang and trade with Western merchants to earn a lot of wealth. However, since the Japanese pirates were wiped out, the Ming Dynasty maritime merchants came to the old port to trade. Not only did they earn a lot of money, but the court was also able to collect Generous taxes can achieve multiple benefits with one stone.
For the imperial court and maritime merchants, the waterway from Daming to Old Port seemed to be paved with gold. As long as they leaned over slightly, they could pick up gold and make a lot of money.
This is the golden channel! "
"And now there are also pirates causing trouble on the sea from the old port to the Western Ocean. If the Ming Dynasty can eliminate these pirates, then this will also be a golden waterway for the Ming Dynasty."
Zhu Biao was shocked after hearing this and looked at Han Du in surprise. After pondering for a moment, he praised: "The Golden Channel is indeed worthy of its name."
From the Ming Dynasty to Old Port, as far as Zhu Biao knew, the tax collected by the Shipping Department alone exceeded 10 million yuan every year. If the income of the Thirty-Third Governor's Mansion was added, it would be even more. With such huge profits every year, it is no exaggeration to say that this sea route is a golden waterway.
If the Ming Dynasty could have a second golden waterway like this, then... Zhu Biao couldn't help but his eyes lit up, braving the golden light, as if he saw a road paved with gold winding towards him. .
"But," Zhu Biao suddenly frowned and said, "This waterway from the Western Sea to the Old Port is mainly used by Western merchants. If we send troops to wipe out the pirates, it will only be a benefit to those Western merchants. Not much. Is it a good deal?”
"No," Han Du shook his head, "As long as the pirates are eliminated and the governor's palace is set up on the place where they must pass, we can tax even Western merchants. If they don't pay taxes, they won't be allowed to pass. .As long as taxes can be raised, does it matter who is using the waterway for business?”
"Collect taxes from Westerners?" Zhu Biao did not expect that Han Du could do this. In Zhu Biao's understanding, taxes are collected from the people of his own country. How can there be any reason to collect taxes from the people of other countries?
But if you think about it carefully, Han Du's words are not unreasonable. As long as the necessary places are guarded, all Western merchants who come here must pay taxes before they are allowed to pass. In this way, there seems to be nothing wrong with it.
Zhu Biao rubbed his fingers a few times and looked at Han Du doubtfully, "Is this okay?"
Han Du assured confidently: "Yes, of course. As long as they pay a little tax, we will ensure their safety at sea. I'm afraid it's not too late for them to be happy."
Zhu Biao nodded secretly, and he agreed with Han Du's statement on this point. Isn't this number the same as the current situation in Nanyang? The navy of the Ming Dynasty patrolled the sea areas to ensure the safety of maritime merchants, and maritime merchants were willing to pay taxes to the Municipal Shipping Department.
Han Du blinked twice, approached Zhu Biao and lowered his voice: "Not only that, as long as the Ming Dynasty establishes governors overseas, most of the Ming Dynasty's maritime merchants will follow suit. By then, this waterway will no longer belong to Western merchants. In the world, with the participation of Ming maritime merchants, sooner or later they will completely squeeze out Western merchants. By then, will His Highness still be worried about not receiving taxes? "
"Exclude? How to squeeze out Western businessmen?" Zhu Biao asked quickly.
Han Du laughed a few times and explained: "The goods of the Ming Dynasty are in very short supply in the West, otherwise these Western merchants would not have traveled thousands of miles to buy the goods of the Ming Dynasty. But think about it, Your Highness, What would happen if Ming merchants transported their goods to the West to sell them?"
Seeing Zhu Biao suddenly stunned, Han Du continued: "The cost of Ming maritime goods is lower than that of Western merchants. As long as we open up the waterway so that Ming merchants can directly transport goods to the West, then they will take advantage of their low cost , can easily suppress the Western maritime merchants completely."
Zhu Biao's mouth turned into an "oh" shape, he smiled meaningfully, and pointed his fingers at Han Du, "You have so many tricks up your sleeves, and you can do them all at once. It seems like this Western pirate If we can’t suppress it, what are you going to do?”
When it comes to naval battles, Han Du is even more confident. He doesn't believe there is anyone else on the sea who can rival the Ming Navy. He said casually: "When we go to sea this time, the navy is in full force. I originally thought it was just to mobilize the troops, but now it seems that it is just right. We can send a navy along the Western Channel to wipe out the pirates along the way."
After hearing Han Du's idea, Zhu Biao glanced at him in surprise and said with a smile: "You are the number one person in the Ming Dynasty naval battle. With such a good opportunity to make contributions, don't you want to go in person?"
"No!" Han Du shook his head without hesitation.
"Why is this?" Zhu Biao was surprised.
You must know that other nobles attach great importance to military power and are extremely enthusiastic about being able to go out to fight. How could anyone be like Han Du, who didn't even reach out to grab the opportunity?
Han Du smiled and explained: "When I went to sea this time, I promised An Qing that I would try to go back as soon as possible so as not to worry her."
Zhu Biao glanced at Han Du with a strange expression, and after holding back a few breaths, he finally managed to say: "Is this why you...?"
"Of course." Han Du said matter-of-factly.
Zhu Biao carefully observed Han Du for a moment, and finally had to admit that Han Du was telling the truth and was not sarcastic.
"But don't you feel it's a pity to do this?" Zhu Biao asked again unwillingly.
Han Du raised his head and said with a calm smile: "What's a pity? I'm a Marquis now. Even if I lie down and do nothing, I can eat comfortably for the rest of my life. What's a pity... .Your Highness, you don’t know how many people have worked hard all their lives but still can’t reach your current state.”
Han Du thinks that Zhu Biao is a well-fed man and doesn't know a hungry man is hungry, and believes that everyone can keep making progress. In fact, when Han Du was made an earl, Han Du wanted to lie down, but he was always overwhelmed by many things and had to go on.
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