In March of the seventh year of Yongle.
Zheng He is about to lead his fleet to sea again.
This time he has two tasks.
1. Send back the envoys and kings from various countries who came to Ming Dynasty with him last time.
2. Go further and continue to explore the route.
It was also at this time that the imperial court announced the reopening of the Shipping Department.
Next, as long as maritime merchants registered with the Municipal Shipping Department, they can follow Zheng He's fleet to do business this time.
However, the tariffs as high as 40% made many maritime merchants secretly accuse the court of being greedy.
After all, the Ming Dynasty’s business tax was only one tax per thirty!
The 40% tariff is more than ten times higher than the commercial tax.
How can the maritime merchants who used to smuggle in the past be willing to do so?
After all, they are not even willing to pay the commercial tax of thirty-one tax.
Can we still expect them to pay a 40% tariff?
In this regard, Zhu Di's attitude was very firm and he would severely crack down on smuggling.
No matter who it is, once caught, the goods will be confiscated, the smuggling merchants' homes will be ransacked, the principal culprit will be beheaded, and the family members will be exiled.
Under Zhu Di's tough tactics, the maritime merchants chose their heads between their heads and paying taxes.
If the money is gone, you can make it again, but if your brain is gone, you are really gone.
They work hard to make money, just for enjoyment.
You can't just make a wedding dress for the court without enjoying it.
Who can bear this.
As a result, many maritime merchants went to the Municipal Shipping Department to register.
These are hard-nosed ones, and those who are smart have already registered them with the Shipping Department.
And the goods are ready.
They were ready to take a ride on Zheng He's fleet and go to do business further afield.
More than 20,000 navy troops escorted them, which was much safer than their smuggling.
Although they had to pay a 40% tariff in the end, they knew very well that the money was well spent.
The safety of going to sea is guaranteed, and after returning, the goods will be auctioned by people from the court.
Eliminate the hassle in the middle.
Of course, this is only under the most ideal situation.
You still have to bribe, but compared to before, the money you get through relationships is much less.
In late March, Zheng He left Beijing.
Zhu Di personally sent him out of the capital.
Yang Xuan, on behalf of Zhu Di, sent Zheng He and envoys and kings from various countries to Liujiagang.
"Master Marquis, take care, it's time for Sanbao to leave."
"Well, be careful along the way!"
Watching the fleet set sail, Yang Xuan stood at the port for a long time.
It took more than two years for Zheng He to go to sea last time. I don't know how long it will take this time.
I don’t know when we can find corn, sweet potatoes, and potatoes.
If it’s not available in Europe, I’m afraid you’ll have to look for it in the United States.
When did the great voyage of the West begin?
Yang Xuan really couldn't remember it at all.
Yang Xuan did not stay in Liujiagang for long. After a round of inspection, he returned to the capital.
As soon as he returned to the capital, he learned that there was another disturbance in Jiaozhi.
Local indigenous rebellion.
Zhu Di had no choice but to recruit Zhang Fu, asking him to end his filial piety early and lead troops to Jiaozhi to suppress the rebellion.
This is mainly because Zhang Fu has experience.
Although Mu Sheng, the Duke of Guizhou, can do it, he needs to keep an eye on the chieftains in Yunnan and Guizhou and cannot leave anytime soon.
The most important thing is that Zhu Di trusts Zhang Fu more than Mu Sheng.
Knowing that Zhu Di had already arranged the trouble in Jiaozhi, Yang Xuan stopped paying attention.
He went to the East Palace to find Xiao Zhu Zhanji.
It's been half a month since I left Beijing this time, and it's time to teach the little guy.
When Yang Xuan saw Xiao Zhu Zhanji, the little guy was fighting crickets with his younger brother!
When Yang Xuan was at the door, he heard shouts from the room.
"General, bite it!"
"Bite it, General!"
"Ahem!" Yang Xuan coughed twice.
Xiao Zhu Zhanji was in high spirits, so he was not happy to be disturbed. Just as he was about to curse, he met his great uncle's playful smile.
He immediately put away the crickets and stuffed them into the hands of his younger brother Zhu Zhankun.
Then he threw himself at Yang Xuan: "Uncle Master, you are finally back. I miss you so much!"
Yang Xuan stood there, motionless, letting the little guy hug his thigh.
"Take it out?"
He said calmly.
"What are you getting?" Xiao Zhu Zhanji pretended to be confused.
"What do you think?" Yang Xuan looked at him with a smile.
"I don't understand what you are talking about, uncle Shi." Xiao Zhu Zhanji replied.
He didn't dare to tell the truth, otherwise his "general" would not be saved.
All the things I collected before were trampled to death by my parents, but now I got this with great difficulty.
"Huh? You're dishonest." Yang Xuan shook his head and continued to stare at Xiao Zhu Zhanji.
But in the end, he still couldn't withstand the pressure brought by Yang Xuan.
"Then, Uncle Master, if I take it out, you can't tell my parents."
"Of course." Yang Xuan nodded.
Zhu Zhanqun on the side looked at this scene and was dumbfounded.
He didn't know much about Yang Xuan, except that his father respected him very much.
He also asked his eldest brother to study with him.
Why does it seem like his elder brother is a little afraid of this person now?
He didn't understand, but was shocked.
"Second brother, you go back first!"
Taking the box containing crickets from his brother, Xiao Zhu Zhanji said to his brother.
"Yes, brother."
Zhu Zhanjun left.
Xiao Zhu Zhanji handed the cricket in his hand to Yang Xuan.
"Master, uncle, give it." It was obvious that he was reluctant to part with it.
Yang Xuan had no intention of directly stepping on the cricket to death. He took the box and opened it.
He immediately yelled.
"This guy is really strong!"
Hearing this, Xiao Zhu Zhanji's eyes lit up.
Explain impromptuly.
"Uncle Master, you don't understand crickets. You can't just look at whether they are strong or not, but you also have to look at whether their teeth are good or not."
In this regard, Xiao Zhu Zhanji is much more professional than Yang Xuan.
Two people, one large and one small, sat down under the eaves and discussed with crickets.
"Can't you tell, you are so powerful?" Yang Xuan gave a thumbs up.
"Of course." Xiao Zhu Zhanji raised his chin proudly and talked about how hard he worked.
"Do you have any more? Give me one?" Yang Xuan asked with a smile.
"This is the one I have."
"Master-uncle, if you really want it, I will bring the second brother's to you."
Xiao Zhu Zhanji said.
"I won't do anything that takes away from others' interests."
"Okay, do you know where I can catch it?"
"Let's go catch one."
Yang Xuan suggested.
"Okay!" Xiao Zhu Zhanji agreed immediately.
"Okay, let's leave now."
"Um."
The two stood up.
Yang Xuan found Crown Princess Zhang under the leadership of Xiao Zhu Zhanji and said that he would take Xiao Zhu Zhanji out.
The latter did not refuse because Zhu Gaochi had already confessed.
In this way, Yang Xuan took Xiao Zhu Zhanji to Zhuangzi on the outskirts of Beijing.
Look for crickets in field ridges or along roads or riversides.
However, after searching for a long time, I couldn't find it.
Seeing that Yang Xuan was a little disappointed, Xiao Zhu Zhanji comforted Yang Xuan.
"Uncle Master, although it is not the season for crickets to be active, it is not impossible to find them."
…
