He suddenly had an inspiration: Xu Guangqi introduced many European and Western agricultural methods and machinery to Tianjin, with remarkable results. This so-called "Taixi" might also contain something from the thief.
If he rashly asked what Sun Yuanhua Tongkun was doing, wouldn't he also offend Xu Guangqi!
Xu Guangqi has been an official for many years and has deep connections. As the leader of the followers of the Western religion in China, he has a group of religious gentry around him. If he offends him, his position as an official will not be reliable.
Even if Sun Yuanhua had an affair with the Kun thief, it was just some Australian maritime businessmen who wanted multiple ways to make money. The land in Denglai is barren and it is known for its poverty. It is not as rich as Qiongzhou. Without years of onshore operations, it would not have been a serious problem for a while. Even if one day, the Kun bandits invade Dengzhou, he, Sun Yuanhua, will be the first to be held accountable, and he has nothing to do with him. Thinking of this, Yang Sichang responded:
"Since the Dengzhou Incident, Sun Yuanhua pacified the Dongjiang River and contained the Tartars, and he has repeatedly achieved extraordinary feats. His loyalty and diligence can be seen from the sun and the moon. If the Kun thieves are really involved with him, it is just that there are many merchants selling Kun goods under his rule. That's all. Denglai is located on the coast, so there must be merchants from the sea trade. It's not surprising that merchants value profits and sell items and even weapons made by Kun thieves. Your Majesty, in the world, where are the goods that are not sold, and who is not using Kun? Goods? I think that since Kun goods can be used by the Ming Dynasty, there is no need to ban Kun goods for the time being."
After hearing this, Chongzhen nodded. Regarding Sun Yuanhua, there were many people who participated in his performance, and he was also suspicious. Then he instructed the eunuchs guarding Denglai and the Jin Yiwei to investigate. Although the results are not exactly as Yang Sichang said. However, there was no sign of the Kun thieves operating on the ground in Denglai. However, it was reported to Sun Yuanhua that the Dengzhou Army purchased from maritime merchants a cannon and cannon that they claimed came from Southeast Asia. They were extremely sharp and seemed to have been obtained from a bandit. However, Chongzhen then inquired about the matter with the Ministry of War and found that the elite soldiers of Zhenbiao and Fubiao in many military towns, including the Guan Ning Army, were equipped with the muskets that were said to come from Southeast Asia. This matter is over.
Yang Sichang's words hit Chongzhen's appetite. Under the current situation, he didn't want to lose this capable minister. The reversal of the situation in Denglai and Jiangdong greatly restricted the activities of the Tatars. Because Sun Yuanhua and others were convicted of the Dengzhou Rebellion, their tone of asking for food and salary from the court was much softer. Shangshu allowed him to recruit refugees and establish forts in exchange for food. Coupled with the direct transportation of grain from Taicang to Dengzhou and Lushun, Sun Yuanhua can now save the court almost 100,000 taels of expenses every year. This kind of minister who is good at reducing costs, increasing efficiency, and making it easy for leaders to shift blame is naturally a favorite in Chongzhen's eyes. As for the Kun thief who really caused trouble in Denglai, it won't be too late to investigate him.
"I heard that the Tingkun thieves are also from the Chinese lineage. After the Song Dynasty was exterminated, they went into exile overseas. Although they are now occupying Guangdong and Guangxi, if they can avoid chaos and the people will less suffer from the war, they will be my pure sons."
The emperor's words were somewhat abrupt, but Yang Sichang had long heard Wen Tiren hint that the emperor did not think that the Kun thieves were a hidden danger, and had a vague intention of recruiting them. The policy of "first settling the domestic affairs and then fighting the foreign affairs" seemed to be in line with the emperor's wishes.
"Yes, your Majesty is kind. The thieves are Chinese Miao descendants. As long as the Emperor gives them a chance, they will always repent and change their past mistakes."
The monarch and his ministers talked for almost an hour before Yang Sichang withdrew. Chongzhen stretched his body and walked out of Qianqing Palace. Since he ascended the throne, the Ming Dynasty has been on fire in all directions. This young emperor, who was only twenty-six years old, looked as haggard as a middle-aged man. This time he felt extremely clear. Since Gao Yingxiang, the world-famous king of Chuang, was escorted to Beijing to be executed a few months ago, Sun Yuanhua reported the victory of Zhenjiang Fort a few days ago, and now Yang Sichang is offering him advice to defeat the thieves. He seemed to see the Ming Dynasty and ZTE right in front of him. So he told Wang Chengen:
"Go to Houyuan (now the Imperial Garden)."
He hasn't been to the back garden for a long time. The capital is not as good as Jiangnan, and there are more or less evergreen trees. The weather is freezing, and the imperial garden is desolate and desolate. As a garden, there is no reward. Moreover, the inner garden was cramped, so the emperor often visited Xiyuan, Long Live Mountain and other places during his travels.
The eunuchs were in a hurry after receiving the order. When the emperor arrived at the back garden, the garden was already ready. A fire was lit in Yufangxuan (now Yuzhai) where the emperor came to the Houyuan for living and banquets. Nuandong flowers sent from Haidian were displayed.
The emperor came to this unattractive back garden not on a whim, but to summon an important person.
This person is not a high-ranking official, nor is he a trusted minister, but the emperor was deeply moved after reading his letter not long ago, so he specially summoned him to see him today.
Because of his special status, he did not go to the Qianqing Palace where the emperor usually summoned his ministers, but chose to stay in the inner garden.
Not long after sitting down, someone came to report that Cao Huachun, the admiral of Dongchang, had arrived.
"This slave has met the emperor."
Chongzhen nodded silently and asked: "I heard that something happened at Delong Bank a few days ago. What is the situation now?"
Cao Huachun had already received news from Wang Dehua: The emperor was sending a royal guard to secretly investigate Delong's affairs.
He probably already knew the whole story about Delong Leng Ningyun's kidnapping. But he couldn't speak too clearly, lest the emperor suspect that he was prepared.
"Reporting to your Majesty, this is indeed true. It is said that some bandits from the suburbs of Beijing ganged up and kidnapped Shopkeeper Leng and extorted one hundred thousand taels of silver. After an investigation by Shuntian Mansion, Shopkeeper Leng was rescued years ago." He paused. , and added a few words, "Because shopkeeper Leng was kidnapped, Delong was unstable for a while, and people went to cash in. Now that he is back, the market has calmed down."
"Is this Delong a bank that specializes in exchanging money with Guangdong and Guangxi?"
"Yes, it's this one." Cao Huachun said, becoming more and more cautious.
"I heard that he makes exchanges with Guangdong and Guangxi. There is a so-called wire transfer, which can be received in two days. I wonder if this is the case?"
"My servant has never handled banknotes in Delong and has no relatives or friends in Guangdong, so I don't know whether this statement is true. However, Delong is known for its speed, secret and efficiency in handling exchanges. As for the saying that it can be done in two days It's probably just market rumors, most of which are exaggerated."
"I think so too." The emperor nodded. He originally thought this statement was absurd, but now the responses from Jin Yiwei and Dongchang were roughly the same, which also dispelled Delong's concerns about "demon magic". He asked again:
"I heard that a senior official has taken a stake in Delong. Is this relevant?"
Cao Huachun had been waiting for him to ask this question for a long time. Wang Dehua had already greeted him about this. He immediately said: "Most of these banks have connections in the capital, and they rely on them as a backing threshold. This is true for every bank, not just Delong. I think it is possible that shopkeeper Leng has become a disciple of a certain middle official..."
Chongzhen has received a report from Wu Mengming, which is roughly the same as Cao Huachun. However, Wu Mengming also made it clear that Leng Ningyun was a disciple of Eunuch Yang of the Bell and Drum Division.
Cao Huachun's report made him feel very satisfied. In contrast, neither Wu Mengming nor Cao Huachun dared to deceive him.
Cao Huachun retreated. On the way, he saw the internal prison officer leading Wu Mengming and several others over. He didn't speak, but nodded slightly at the other party. He expressed that he accepted his love this time.
When Wu Mengming came to Yufangxuan, the emperor asked: "How did the matter that I asked you to inquire about last time go?"
"For your information, Your Majesty, I have sent someone to conduct a secret investigation. There is no connection between Zhou Lezhi and Qian Taichong this week."
"Where are the people now?"
"I checked out of Chongxiao Temple two years ago. I said that I would go back to the south first if I have something to do. I will come back after the New Year. The house will be reserved for him." Wu Mengming said, "About February or March after the New Year, I will naturally go back to the capital. .”
"How can I see it?"
"He is well-known in the local area and has many patients. After returning, there will be no such good business in the capital."
"That's true." Chongzhen suddenly smiled, "I heard about the officials who left the capital and the monks who entered the capital. I believe that in addition to the monks, the same is true for Taoist priests and doctors."
"Yes, after all, the capital is the most benign place at the feet of the emperor."
"What's wrong with the money?"
"The minister has brought him here."
"Announce him to come in."
However, in a moment, Qian Taichong was brought into Yufangxuan. He was somewhat confused when he was brought here. In the past few months, he has been living in the Fujian Guild Hall, traveling around and doing things for Zheng Sen.
Since Zheng Zhilong was killed by the Kun bandits, although with his clever calculation, Zheng Sen regained Anping and gathered a group of soldiers and ships left by his father, but in Zhangzhou Bay, the powerful factions of the Zheng family were divided into one corner. He didn't take this young man seriously.
The internal strife is not over yet, and foreign troubles are coming again. After the Kuomintang invaded Tainan and built "Kaohsiung City", the fleet cruised along the coast of Fujian all year round. The originally lucrative trade with Japan and Southeast Asia was gradually taken away by thieves. This has intensified the struggle between various factions for limited resources.
Zheng Zhilong left behind not only a huge fleet, but also a large amount of land and business network. The competition for the ownership of these real estate properties has become an "invisible war" in Zhangzhou Bay. Although the parties did not openly fight, the petty quarrels in private never stopped.
As the youngest son, Zheng Sen naturally suffered a loss in this battle. Although Qian Taichong is in the middle, Tongtaro is working outside, and he has the support of the governor of Fujian, so far he is only the nominal "head of the Zheng family" and cannot command the heroes. Even the core of the Zheng family, the "Zhongzuo Suo," "Not under his rule either.
Now all he can keep is the city of Anping and several thousand acres of adjacent land. Only with these, not to mention revenge, even ordering the Zheng family can't do it.
Qian Taichong had been working hard in Anping in the past few years, thinking and trying all kinds of tricks he read in books, but he couldn't find a way to break the situation.
After Fujian Governor Zou Weilian left office, he even lost his biggest official backer. This makes their situation in Zhangzhou Bay increasingly difficult.
Although Anping was originally dug out by the Kun thieves, there were large tracts of fertile land around Anping. With overseas trade almost cut off, these lands with a fixed annual output became a hot commodity, and all forces were eyeing it.
(End of chapter)
