Chapter 30: Everyone has to pay taxes
After the three of them knelt down and worshiped.
Fukangan looked at Vicente.
"Are you a bannerman?"
"My lord, I was removed from the flag for doing business with Westerners without permission..."
When Vicente replied, he quietly looked up at the biggest man he had ever seen in his life.
Fukang'an was a famous general of the Qing Dynasty.
Several wars in the Qianlong Dynasty were directed by Fukang'an.
Fukang'an, now forty-six years old, is in his prime.
It also looks quite majestic.
"Tell me about the situation of Zhu Daohua, the false king of Ming Dynasty."
Fukangan said.
Vicente was excited.
He hurriedly told him all he knew about pouring beans through bamboo tubes.
Finally, he said: "Sir, the traitor is good at naval warfare. He destroyed the Dutch fleet in one battle, but he is very greedy and attempts to annex Lanfang Kingdom. He also wants to hold a wedding and canonization ceremony in Lanfang. This is why we send soldiers to defeat it in one battle. Opportunity!!"
Vicente's eyes burned.
Fukangan pondered after hearing this.
Guo Shixun said: "To send out soldiers, we need to ask for the Holy Spirit's permission."
"In emergencies, follow authority..." Fukangan shook his head and said,
"You just said...that the countries in Borneo have 70,000 to 80,000 soldiers?"
"Seventy thousand or eighty thousand is too low," Liu Guangliang said eagerly, "And Lan Fanghua's heart is in favor of the Qing Dynasty. As long as the Qing Dynasty makes it clear, Lan Fanghua and other flowers will turn against each other!"
"oh?"
Fukangan and Guo Shixun looked at each other.
"In this case...I will give you the Lanfang Liu family the title of Commander-in-Chief of the Lanfang Regiment, and then give you a banner and the seal of the Governor of Guangdong and Guangxi!"
Liu Guangliang was overjoyed: "Thank you, Sir!"
In fact, the Lanfang regiment training chief officer is not a formal official position, and cannot even be regarded as an official.
Therefore, even if there are any problems in the future, the title given by Fukang'an will have nothing to do with him.
Fukangan nodded slightly and picked up the tea cup.
Wu Dunyuan hurriedly took the two of them to leave.
Wait for the three to leave.
Guo Shixun stood up immediately, frowning: "Gong Bao, this matter is not trivial. Zhu Daohua can actually destroy the Dutch fleet in one battle. If he comes to Guangdong, I am afraid that the Guangdong Navy will not be able to stop him!"
"Can the Lanfang Liu family be available?"
Fukangan asked.
Guo Shixun walked back and forth a few steps,
"I remember that more than ten years ago, Lan Fangguo requested to become a foreign vassal... but the Holy Father did not allow it."
"But it can be seen from this that the people of Lanfang do have their hearts set on me."
Guo Shixun said.
"Where are the ministers of England, France, and the Netherlands now?"
"Still in Guangzhou."
Fukang'an thought for a while and said: "It seems that these three people should be sent to Beijing as soon as possible. This Zhu Daohua is not simple. In the past five years... I don't know where he is, but now he has thousands of people!"
"What I'm talking about is... and that Vicente, let him come to the Guangdong Governor's Yamen to work. Not many people in the court know about Nanyang affairs."
Fu Ankang nodded: "In addition... we are selecting a few capable people to go to Lanfang with Liu Guangliang. If we can kill Zhu Daohua in Lanfang, we will save trouble!"
.............
Batam.
Compared to a few months ago.
At this time, Batam Island will be much more lively.
All kinds of sailing boats come and go.
Ships flying the flags of various countries came from the east and west directions.
Batam’s port has been expanded a lot.
The original Dutch Channel Governor's Mansion and the current Ming Prince's Mansion also have a completely new look.
The low city walls were built much higher than before.
On the top of a castle-like building in the center hangs the Great Ming Riyue Flag.
Forts and lookout posts were built on the hills on both sides of the port.
There are also warships of the Ming Navy patrolling around Batam Island at any time.
at this time.
Several Japanese sailboats with sails painted in white and black colors slowly approached the port.
"It's so prosperous here. Is this the territory of King Ming?"
A sound like a silver bell came from the bow.
A woman in Japanese clothing wearing a colorless uniform said in surprise.
The woman is not tall.
There is still a bit of childishness on his face.
But the chest is already quite majestic.
"Manji, I heard that Batam was originally just a small island in the Strait of Malacca. I didn't expect that it would become so prosperous in just a few months!"
Tokugawa Jiguo, who was still childish, glanced around and suddenly pointed at several ships docked in the port in the distance and asked.
"Where did that boat come from? Jia Li."
Following the two juniors of the Tokugawa family came the shogunate's Imperial Guard Major General Matsudaira Ieri.
Matsudaira Iori, who is only 30 years old this year, is a rare tall man in Japan.
His height, converted into modern metric, is a full 157 centimeters tall.
Walking on the streets of Japan, this giant can cause people to stop and watch.
Matsudaira Iori, nicknamed "The Giant Samurai," has a sharp gaze.
After looking at it for a few times, he withdrew his gaze and said, "Your Highness, that is the ship of Siam, Burma, Annan Xishan Dynasty, Annan Nguyen Lord."
"Can the ships of Annan Xishan Dynasty and Annan Ruan Lord be side by side? These two families are mortal enemies."
Tokugawa Miki said strangely.
"There is nothing surprising... The Tay Son Dynasty was founded by a rebel. They drove away the Li Dynasty, and now have tense relations with the Qing Dynasty. Nguyen Phuc Anh was originally a rebellious official of the Li Dynasty. Neither of these two families has been recognized by the Qing Dynasty. Now that King Ming has risen, The two families are probably going to come to King Ming to ask for canonization."
Matsudaira Kaori said.
Although Japan is closed to the outside world.
But I still have a little understanding of the situation in the surrounding countries.
Tokugawa Zhiguo nodded repeatedly: "I see, then it makes sense. The Annan family seems to be rebellious officials and traitors to the Qing Dynasty, but in the eyes of King Ming, can they be recognized by King Ming?"
"I do not know either..."
Matsudaira Kaori shook his head.
"It turns out there is something that Jia Li doesn't know about."
Tokugawa Miki covered her mouth and smiled.
"Your Highness, there is no one in this world who knows everything."
"makes sense."
When several people were talking.
Two small boats approached.
On one of the ships stood a giant that was even bigger than Matsudaira Ieli—for Matsudaira Ieli, this was also a giant.
"I am Shen Ping, the tax collector of the Shipping Department of Batam City, Ming Dynasty. Who is coming to ship?"
"We are the envoys of Japan. This is the letter from Prince Ming and the credentials of Japan."
There are two children, Tokugawa Jiguo and Tokugawa Miki.
Therefore, the only one who came forward was Matsudaira Tori.
The two ships approached, and Shen Ping stepped on the ladder and boarded the Japanese mission's ship.
After he stood up straight.
The Tokugawa brothers and sisters behind Matsudaira Iori all took a breath.
"This man is a head taller than Jia Li!"
Shen Ping lowered his head and looked at a few people, then looked inside the cabin.
"Sir, would you like to enter the ship for inspection?"
"No."
Shen Ping checked Japan's credentials and letters stamped with King Ming's seal.
He was politely handed over to Matsudaira Iori.
He passed the "Governmental Officer Examination" of the Ming Dynasty two months ago and officially took office after one month of training.
This tax officer sounds like an official.
But more like an official.
But there are no officials in the Ming Palace.
Those who were born in the same period as Shen Ping all started from the lowest level of petty officials.
Therefore, Shen Ping didn't feel unbalanced. What's more, with his level of Four Books and Five Classics, if he was in the Qing Dynasty, he would definitely not be admitted as a scholar.
Now I can become an official under King Ming.
What else is there to be dissatisfied with?
After confirming the identity.
Shen Ping cupped his hands.
"Your Majesty, there are four ships in total that can carry a thousand stones, and the ship tax is 400 Ming Yuan."
Shen Ping said and handed four brands to Matsudaira Kaori.
"Your envoy can exchange Ming Yuan at Daohua Bank or Chris Bank at the port, then go to the Port Taxation Department to pay taxes and exchange for a pass before your ship can leave the port."
"We are envoys invited by King Ming to visit Batam. We are not merchant ships. Do we still need to pay taxes?"
"The Ship Tax Regulations of the Ming Dynasty: Any ship entering the port must pay tax according to the size of the ship. Everyone from the Ming Dynasty onwards must abide by this!"
"Even King Ming wants it."
"That's right!"
