Next to Zhang Yinian, there was a young man who was handsome and well-educated. Every move he made had a reserved demeanor, and he was obviously from an extraordinary background.
This is Zhang Chaoguang, the grandson of Hailing Marquis Zhang Yanqing. Although he is a commoner, he is also a son of a nobleman and has enjoyed a good education since he was a child.
In the more than 20 years since overseas trade began, the noble class of the Han Dynasty was a group that could not be avoided. This was natural. How could it have developed to what it is today just by relying on the initiative of the people? degree.
Among the many nobles, the original intention of many of them was not because of their pioneering spirit. Some of them did it to please Emperor Liu, and some were simply entrusted by Emperor Liu and had to reluctantly become the pioneers of overseas colonization. Official, become a trendsetter who leads the trend.
However, with the booming trade, as the plates get bigger and bigger, and as the benefits increase, even the most reserved people and families will inevitably be tempted. As long as it is profitable, there will be no shortage of people surrounding them. Under jealousy, a large number of nobles and bureaucrats have also stepped down and joined the wave of interest in overseas expansion.
As a leader in the navy, the Zhang Yanqing family will not lag behind others. They are also one of the first nobles to join the navy. They will end early, have more power and convenience, and naturally earn greater profits.
Of course, in order to look good or to avoid criticism, in the early days, most of them supported some merchants or domestic servants to act as puppets on the table. Although the specific situation was always transparent to the upper class, I just don’t know the specific details.
Later, Emperor Liu's attitude became clearer and clearer. The court did not impose any restrictions except for higher tax requirements. This also stimulated the enthusiasm of the participants from top to bottom and enhanced everyone's courage.
Moreover, seeing the benefits getting bigger and bigger, some nobles also began to send family members to personally participate in it and take over the business. This is true for both Zhang Yinian and young Zhang Chaoguang.
Zhang Chaoguang was the second grandson of the eldest son of the Zhang family. He was born as a concubine and had basically no inheritance rights to the title. He could not get much of the family property, so he naturally had to find another way out. Of course, if you are just a young man living in a drunken life, there won't be much of a problem.
However, the Han Empire is still on the rise, and the overall atmosphere is also positive. Especially these noble children, who are well-educated and have wider knowledge, are naturally more willing to work hard.
Whether it was the development of Andong or the expedition to Nanyang, so many concubines or descendants actively participated in it, and that was why. If it was just driven by Emperor Liu, without its own motivation, it would be difficult to achieve scale.
Unlike some brothers of the same clan who are focused on official careers and want to be officials, Zhang Chaoguang considers himself to be average in academics and difficult to pass the Jinshi exam. He has no patience for studying, his martial arts skills are even sparse, he has no talent for medicine, and he is not too talented for farming. Mediocre, after much thought, I finally decided to go into business and make a fortune.
For a family like the Zhang family, they need someone to be an official or a general in order to gain power. Similarly, they also need someone to do business and farm land for the sake of wealth. Zhang Chaoguang chose the latter. Among the Zhang family, the most prosperous one was Zhang Yinian. This time, while he was personally supervising the Haifeng's first voyage to the South Sea, he also came with him, hoping to observe and learn from it.
As a son of a nobleman, Zhang Chaoguang has naturally seen the world, but at this time, observing the scene in the Hekou Port, he could not help but show curiosity.
Continuous wharves, vast stretches of cargo yards, ships of all sizes with their own characteristics, and of course, all kinds of exotic people, such as the giant cannibal with a white jin on his head, the Tianzhu people with turbans on their heads, deep eyes, high noses, There are white-faced and yellow-haired Westerners, barbarian merchants in even more bizarre costumes, and even some swarthy "savages".
Of course, the most numerous ones were the ragged indigenous coolies, of all kinds, which was an eye-opener for Zhang Chaoguang. In Dahan, it is not that we have never seen foreign barbarians, but they are so abundant and concentrated, and they have to be at a hub for exchanges like Liangping Island.
"Second uncle, it's unbelievable that this small Liangping Island is so prosperous, with sails and sails like weaving, and crowds of people, even as good as Jinling!" As he walked and observed, Zhang Chaoguang couldn't help but sigh to Zhang Yinian. road.
Hearing this, Zhang Yinian smiled and said: "Jinling is the capital of Jiangning, and Jiangning is the capital of Jiangnan. How can it be compared to Liangping Island? Look at this place, which is only ten miles in radius. It is condescending and can be seen at a glance. However, if we talk about it, When it comes to merchant ships, Jiangning may not be as good as this place.
This place is strategically located in the strait. If merchant ships from the east and west want to pass through, they must come here. Whether they are Han ships going south or returning to the north, or Western merchants going east to west, they all gather here. You can imagine the huge number of them. .
It's July now, so it's not obvious yet. After a month or two, you will be able to see more merchant ships arriving, and then thousands of merchants will gather together, with flags and banners like a forest.
There are still a lot of vacancies in this Hekou Port, and after a while, they will all be filled! "
Listening to Zhang Yinian's narration, Zhang Chaoguang already had some pictures in his mind, and he couldn't help but sigh: "I only thought that overseas was poor and full of uncivilized barbarians. I never imagined that there could be such a prosperous place and a prosperous scene!"
Hearing his emotion, Zhang Yinian laughed and explained: "If the overseas countries were poor, why would so many people rush south? However, before we Han people went south, it was indeed a deserted land. Even now, these thousands of islands, Only a very small part of the vast land was cultivated and some strongholds were established.
These Nanyang barbarians are sitting on a treasure trove but don’t know how to make good use of it. It’s up to us to help them. Over the years, the massive wealth that has been imported into the country is also the result of the hard work of us Han businessmen, sweat, blood and even lives.
Take Liangping Island as an example. Even more than a year ago, it did not have the same atmosphere as it does today. It's messy enough now, but when it's in Srivijaya's hands, it's even worse.
These barbarians are short-sighted. Although they know how to make money from this golden waterway that connects the East and the West, they only know how to block the road and collect taxes. They do not want to make good use of the natural harbor here. They have eaten everything God has given them, and they don’t know. use efficiently.
There is no need to talk about management. If it weren’t for the great men who came to spread the blessings, how could we be as prosperous as we are today?”
"Second uncle is right!" After listening to Zhang Yinian's long speech, Zhang Chaoguang obviously agreed with it. With the inherent arrogance of the Han aristocrats, he chuckled: "It's a pity that the Three Buddhas of Qi country don't know good and evil, and dare to disobey the Han. How dare you raise a sword!"
Zhang Chaoguang's words fully demonstrated that his buttocks were in a straight position. Zhang Yinian didn't feel there was anything wrong with what he said, and responded: "If you have a fight, you will be obedient! I have to say that Guo Liangping did a good job in this matter. He has the style of a great man and does not lose the prestige of the country."
"Liangping Island, this name sounds a bit harsh to my ears!" Zhang Chaoguang said with a slight curl of the corner of his mouth.
Zhang Yinian stretched out his hand and drew a circle in the three directions of southeast and west, and said with a smile: "If you are interested, you can find an island to occupy and name it Chaoguang Island."
Hearing this, Zhang Chaoguang shook his head and said: "I don't ask for this false reputation! Besides, who can I take it from in this barbaric land? Can it be spread to the big man? Guo Liangping is still thick-skinned."
Hearing what Zhang Chaoguang said, Zhang Yinian's expression became serious and said: "It's not because I want to be a teacher, but I still have to remind you that Guo Liangping is senior to you no matter what. He is not only the commander-in-chief of the Nanyang Navy, but also a meritorious minister appointed by His Majesty. I can't tolerate the contempt of you guys!
Don't be deceived by some vitriol and nonsense in China. If you really offend Guo Liangping here, you will have nowhere to redress your grievances even if you lose your life! "
Seeing that Zhang Yinian suddenly changed his face and defended Guo Liangping, Zhang Chaoguang was a little surprised, but seeing that his expression was serious and not like a joke, he became serious and said with cupped hands: "My second uncle taught me, my nephew will remember it! I just said it casually, if Uncle Guo wouldn’t dare to be presumptuous in front of him!”
Hearing this, Zhang Yinian's expression returned to normal. He didn't want the master's son from China to offend Guo Liangping because of those unknown things.
Guo Liangping has done so many things in Nanyang in these years, how can he be a good person? Although Liangping Island is prosperous and lively in front of you, there are countless corpses of Srivijaya buried in that strait.
"You guys, you have been in China for a long time and have never been there. You just heard about it and underestimated Guo Liangping after all." As if he thought of something, Zhang Yinian couldn't help but let out a deep sigh.
