"Your Majesty, do you already know about Shen Shan and Wu Sangui?"
Zhang Hongren originally wanted to win Zhu Yuanzhang's trust through this, but he was a little surprised when he saw his expression was different at this moment.
When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, his heart trembled slightly, and then he showed a look of insight into everything, but pretended to be confused and said: "We don't know this matter clearly, please ask the heavenly master for enlightenment!"
Although Zhang Hongren looked suspicious, he still said seriously: "Actually, Pindao also learned about this matter accidentally. It is said that as early as the reign of the late emperor..."
It turns out that after Mao Wenlong established a foothold in Pidao, he used Pidao and other islands as a transit point to do business with North Korea, Japan, and even the Jurchens.
Later, the Ming Dynasty established Dongjiang Town, and Mao Wenlong's power also increased. The trade here became more and more prosperous, which attracted the attention of wealthy businessmen in Shandong, Nanjing and other places, and sent people to investigate.
At that time, due to the rise of the Jurchens, the Ming Dynasty had two plans on how to deal with the Jurchens, offensive and defensive.
The representative of the defensive side was Sun Chengzong. He proposed the idea of the Guanjin Defense Line and advocated a strategy of mainly land routes and supplemented by sea routes. He tried to gradually reduce the Jurchen activity space by building city fortresses.
The representative of the attacking side was Yuan Keli. After revising Xiong Tingbi's route, he proposed a three-way counterinsurgency plan.
The first way is to let the navies from Denglai, Tianjin and other places in Shandong attack the Liaohe Plain, and then gradually encroach on the Northeast Plain. If the battle is unfavorable, they can retreat to the sea.
The second route is to face the enemy head-on in Liaodong, and reorganize a new army by recruiting Liao people to fight against the Jurchen cavalry.
The third route is for North Korea to send troops to contain the Jurchens from the side and rear, and cooperate with the Ming Dynasty's offensive.
Especially after the Ming Dynasty established Dongjiang Town, Yuan Keli valued Mao Wenlong very much.
Although Yuan Keli also knew that Mao Wenlong was domineering and rude and was not a good general.
But under the circumstances at the time, he couldn't be demanding, so he had to try his best.
Although Mao Wenlong was unruly and domineering, he was still submissive because Yuan Keli controlled him well.
Later, with the help of Yuan Keli's relationship, he established trading business with wealthy businessmen in Shandong and Nanjing. After solving the problems of military pay and equipment, he became more respectful to Yuan Keli.
At that time, the trade in Dongjiang Town was extremely prosperous, and it was once on par with the Zheng family in Fujian.
With the rise of Dongjiang Town, especially after Mao Wenlong received support from Suzhou's invisible wealthy businessman Shen Weicai and others through his maternal grandfather's family, his domineering attitude gradually emerged, but he was still very polite to Yuan Keli.
Later, under the deliberate instigation of the Eunuch Party and some Donglin Party members, the relationship between the two gradually deteriorated, but Yuan Keli was still able to control Mao Wenlong.
However, after Yuan Keli resigned as governor of Denglai, Wu Zhiwang, who took over, was far from Yuan Keli in terms of ability and prestige.
In addition, Mao Wenlong had already matured at this time and did not take the other party seriously at all. His behavior became increasingly domineering, and he even started a business with the Jurchens in food, weapons, etc. at one time.
Just as Mao Wenlong became increasingly crazy, he also ushered in his old enemy-Yuan Chonghuan.
When Yuan Chonghuan killed Mao Wenlong, the trade in Dongjiang Town also began to decline.
However, the wealthy businessmen in Jiangnan have already tasted the benefits and are unwilling to give up.
Because although the trading profits in Dongjiang Town are not as good as the profits from going to sea, the risks are also much smaller.
In particular, the things that the Jurchens plundered and resold were not only cheap, but also practical, so after Mao Wenlong's death, they were looking for new agents.
The wealthy businessmen were originally interested in Yuan Chonghuan, but because Yuan Chonghuan was deeply scheming and not as easy to control as Mao Wenlong, and he was executed by Chongzhen soon after, they turned their attention to Zu Dashou.
Because Zu Dashou had no control over the sea, the profits of wealthy merchants shrank significantly at this time, but they were still better than maritime trade, so this trade route was reborn.
Later, after Zu Dashou was defeated and turned to the Jurchens, this power was inherited by Wu Sangui.
Zhang Hongren also accidentally learned about this from Wang Ruqian during a wedding ceremony.
Because Shen Weicai had always believed in Taoism and had a deep relationship with the Zhengyi Sect, Zhang Hongren made a special trip to visit him before coming.
After a serious talk between the two, Shen
Wei Cai agreed to Zhang Hongren's request and wrote a letter to encourage Wu Sangui to stick to Shanhaiguan...
After Zhu Yuanzhang heard Zhang Hongren's story, he was also surprised. He originally thought that Wu Sangui's economic base was the farming in Liaodong, but he did not expect that there was such a trade route.
Moreover, it can be seen from Zhang Hongren's words that he is very confident about this business, which shows that businessmen can influence and even control the army.
Thinking of this, Zhu Yuanzhang could not help but feel a strong murderous intention in his heart.
Although he has never had a good impression of businessmen due to his background, he also recognized the role of businessmen, so he only suppressed them.
But at this moment, he wanted to skin the merchants and cramp them, because for their own benefit, they had committed treason with the enemy and completely ignored the life and death of the court and the people.
But Zhu Yuanzhang also knew that he could not take action against the wealthy businessmen in Jiangnan yet.
Not only cannot we use our hands, but we must also find ways to stabilize them.
Because since they can extend their hands to Liaodong, their power in Jiangnan has long been as stable as Mount Tai. If they deal with it rashly, it will definitely lead to great changes.
Then he thought that since Wu Sangui could do business with wealthy businessmen in the south of the Yangtze River, he might also have contacts with wealthy businessmen in the north.
Then he thought that Zhang Hongren could have taken a boat directly to Tianjin Port during his trip, but he chose to land in Shandong, which was still in war, and walked all the way. It must be related to the fact that he was in the north.
So he looked at Zhang Hongren and asked tentatively: "The Celestial Master has many contacts. When you go to Shanhaiguan this time, you should have more than just Shen Weicai's letters on you, right?"
Hearing this, Zhang Hongren deliberately flashed a joyful expression on his face, and then said with a look of admiration: "Your Majesty is indeed a wise man. I just received a letter from Shanxi wealthy businessman Huang Yunfa not long ago." Z.br>
"Just because he requested to hand it over directly to Wu Sangui, Pindao has never seen it, so he did not report it. Please forgive me, Your Majesty!"
At this time, Zhu Yuanzhang had also seen that Zhang Hongren was a scheming person, and he did not ask any more questions, but nodded and said: "Okay, since the Heavenly Master is already prepared, if we continue to dissuade him, we will be looking down on the Heavenly Master. On behalf of the people of the Ming Dynasty, I would like to thank the Heavenly Master for his help!"
After he finished speaking, he glanced at the two Taoist boys not far ahead, and said with a hint of worry: "There are many crises in Shanhaiguan, and there are only two Taoist boys around Tianshi. We really feel uneasy!"
"It just so happens that our subordinate Wu Laoliu is quite alert and knows the rules, so let him secretly protect the Heavenly Master!"
Zhang Hongren is also a person in power. He knows the truth well and does not refuse at the moment. He bows his head to express his gratitude.
Upon seeing this, Zhu Yuanzhang called Wu Laoliu and others up, gave Zhang Hongren careful instructions in front of him, and then asked him to escort Zhang Hongren away.
