Quanzhou City Shipping Secretary Tiju Zhao Yihui stood on the pier, looking forward to it as if he were a woman waiting to return home. The newly appointed deputy director Su Xianqin was also looking at the sea outside the port.
Su Xianqin was a native of Jinjiang County. He was once an official in the city's shipping department. He was later forced to leave because he did not want to join the others. Zhao Yihui invited him out, and after being appointed by the Ministry of Personnel, he became the deputy director of Quanzhou Shipping Department.
Unable to open the sea, Su Xianqin was more eager to know the result than Zhao Yihui.
Su Xianqin is forty-one years old this year, and the one thing he always talks about is "he doesn't have many more years to live." He hopes to see Quanzhou Mansion emerge from the ruins in his lifetime, so that he can die in peace.
Zhao Yihui knew that Su Xianqin was not sighing for nothing. In the fourth generation of his ancestors, no male had lived past fifty. This seemed to be a curse of fate.
"The ship is coming!"
Su Xianqin saw the sail and shouted quickly.
Zhao Yihui stood on tiptoes nervously. After seeing this, he felt even more uneasy: "The opening of the sea should be a major event for the imperial court. Logically speaking, the news should be sent in a document. So far, the Shipping Department has not received a letter about it. The document indicating whether to open the sea or not.”
Just as Su Xianqin was about to speak, he heard movement behind him. Official Huang Zhengwen hurried over and said hurriedly: "Lu Shenzheng, Nie Tongzhi, and Lin Tongpan are here with their people."
Zhao Yihui turned around and saw Lu Shenzheng and others, and quickly led others forward to salute.
Lu Zongyi waved his hand and looked at the water in the port: "Don't salute. Are you sure Magistrate Gu is on the boat?"
Zhao Yihui was stunned for a moment, you guys came here before you confirmed the good news?
Even the government office doesn’t know, how do we know...
Lu Zongyi also wanted to confirm the news, but he didn't have time, so he had to come first. Fortunately, everyone felt at ease soon.
Twelve great fortune ships were mighty, and behind them, there were even larger ships. Obviously, those ships were not owned by the navy, and they neither flew battle flags nor had sergeants.
"More than twenty sea ships, this should be accurate, right?"
Lu Zongyi counted them and said to Nie Yuanji, Zhao Yihui and others.
Nie Yuanji nodded heavily and said seriously: "If only the Dafu ship came back, it would be hard to say, but now that a merchant ship is coming, the result is very clear."
Zhao Yihui was so nervous that his palms became sweaty: "Until I see Governor Gu come up with the decree to open the sea, no matter how much we speculate, there will be variables."
Gu Zhengchen stood at the bow of the boat, with the sea breeze blowing from behind. He picked up the corners of his clothes and sent a faint fragrance.
Zhang Xiwan raised her hand, covered her brows and looked at the Quanzhou Port, and asked: "This is the Quanzhou Port. There is no trace of the prosperity recorded in the history books."
Gu Zhengchen nodded slightly: "Yes, the history books have left a blank, and no one knows the loneliness here. However, their cold days are over. After a big sacrifice, this place will usher in great changes."
Zhang Xiwan put down her hand and said with a smile: "It seems that there are many people greeting you, but I avoid them first."
Gu Zhengchen raised his hand and held Zhang Xiwan: "What are you avoiding? It's not like my wife is shady, but she is here. Most of the people here are officials. You still need to meet them. In the future, the families of these officials will need you to contact them. ”
Seeing Gu Zhengchen's persistence, Zhang Xiwan said nothing more.
Xiao Cheng walked over and said to Gu Zhengchen: "There are two strangers beside Lu Zongyi. I think they are Nie Yuanji and Lin Tangchen."
Gu Zhengchen squinted his eyes and looked at the people on the dock.
It doesn't matter if they are here, including Nie Yuanji and Lin Tangchen. Quanzhou Prefecture will be very busy next time, so it's better to have two helpers than just one person.
The ship slowly docked.
Gu Zhengchen put his arm around Zhang Xiwan's waist. Just when Zhang Xiwan was about to speak, he felt the boat sway. If it weren't for Gu Zhengchen's support, he might have lost his balance and fallen.
"Come on, let's get off the boat."
When Gu Zhengchen saw that the ship had lowered the transom and rope ladder, he pulled Zhang Xiwan onto the transom. If Gu Zhengchen hadn't been there, Zhang Xiwan would not have dared to leave.
The horizontal board is connected to the wooden ladder frame on the dock, and you walk down the wooden ladder frame.
"Gu County Man (Gu Magistrate)!"
Lu Zongyi led others to salute.
Gu Zhengchen returned the courtesy: "Lu Shenzheng, everyone is well!"
After the ceremony, Lu Zongyi introduced Nie Yuanji and Lin Tangchen, Zhao Yihui introduced Su Xianqin, and after Gu Zhengchen recognized them one by one, he said to everyone: "This is my wife Zhang."
Zhang Xiwan saluted.
Lu Zongyi cupped his hands and said with a smile, "Gu County man is so lucky to have such a beautiful woman."
Zhang Xiwan was a little shy. She responded with a smile and then said to Gu Zhengchen: "Husband, I will follow them and wait in front."
Maid Xiaohe and Zhang Xiwan took the first step under the protection of Lin Baifan and others.
At this time, Zhang He, Chen Qing, and Mao Ding had also disembarked, and Gu Zhengchen introduced them.
Zhao Yihui suggested: "It's a little hot outside, why not sit in Guanhaiyuan?"
The so-called Guanhaiyuan is actually a small courtyard set up by the Shipping Department at the port. There is a lookout pavilion built there, facing the sea.
Gu Zhengchen readily agreed and everyone entered the courtyard.
Lu Zongyi, Zhao Yihui and others didn't say anything, they all waited for Gu Zhengchen.
Gu Zhengchen stood on the steps of the attic, looked at everyone, and glanced at Xiao Cheng. Xiao Chengran took out an imperial edict from the accompanying package and handed it to Gu Zhengchen.
Lu Zongyi glanced at Xiao Cheng's package and couldn't help but take a deep breath.
Four imperial edicts?
Damn it, since when did the imperial edict include wholesale?
Gu Zhengchen held up the imperial edict with both hands and everyone saluted.
"The emperor, who was entrusted to heaven, issued an edict: As sea troubles were frequent, I did not intend to open the sea to the outside world. It was only suitable for envoys to communicate with each other and make good friends. However, Gu Zhengchen, the prefect of Quanzhou, lobbied again and again, and both Wei Guogong Xu Da and Jinghai Marquis Wu Zhen Others acted as guarantees and set up a special zone in Quanzhou to allow the sea to be opened for business. Eighty percent of the commercial taxes and profits earned from the sea business would be paid to the Ministry of Household Affairs, and 20 percent would be reserved for local use..."
"All matters related to the Quanzhou Special Economic Zone are decided by Gu Zhengchen. The Quanzhou Special Economic Zone lasts for three years. If within three years the people suffer harm, the local area achieves nothing, and the court does not benefit, the Quanzhou Special Economic Zone will be suspended and the Quanzhou City Shipping Department will be suspended. …”
Gu Zhengchen read out majestically.
Quanzhou Special Zone!
Lu Zongyi frowned and immediately relaxed.
Gu Zhengchen encountered considerable resistance in Jinlingding. After repeated lobbying, he finally got the emperor's decree to open the sea on a limited basis. The mere establishment of the Quanzhou Special Economic Zone means that other municipal shipping companies and other coastal areas do not have the conditions for long-distance voyages and are not allowed to go to sea privately.
But this is a good sign. It is a great thing for the imperial court to allow the sea to be opened for business, and it is a good start.
Lu Zongyi believes that over time, when Quanzhou Port achieves impressive political achievements, the imperial court will not refuse to open more special zones.
After Zhao Yihui heard "I appreciate this", he kowtowed heavily: "Thank you, Emperor, for your kindness!"
The sea is open!
Finally, we can finally welcome the sea again!
Quanzhou Shipping Department, Quanzhou Port, and Quanzhou Prefecture will usher in huge changes!
Su Xianqin couldn't help but blush. The unnoticed Quanzhou Mansion will soon become a lively place. The disappeared businessmen will gather here, and the few lonely people on the port will be spread out by the sails. Drive away.
Nie Yuanji and Lin Tangchen saw Gu Zhengchen's power for the first time.
The sentence "All matters related to the Quanzhou Special Administrative Region are decided by Gu Zhengchen", this is simply a feudal official. Let alone the province, I am afraid that a few officials sent by the imperial court cannot interfere with the operation of the Quanzhou Special Administrative Region as long as they can't come up with a decree.
Gu Zhengchen put away the imperial edict and said to everyone who stood up: "Everyone, although the imperial court established the Quanzhou Special Zone and allowed voyage trade, you must remember that the imperial court only gave it three years. If Quanzhou Prefecture does not make amazing improvements within three years, , then the future of Quanzhou Prefecture, and the future of all coastal areas, will be ruined in our hands!"
"The Quanzhou Special Economic Zone seems glorious and an opportunity, but at the same time it is also a heavy responsibility that cannot be shouldered. I, Gu Zhengchen, am a sinner, and so are you, all sinners of history! Therefore, Quanzhou Prefecture will be very busy in the days to come. , you will also have a hard time! If there is someone who cannot bear the burden and wants to live a leisurely life, please come forward now, and Gu can ask him to leave Quanzhou Mansion!"
The resounding majesty made the officials present feel their shoulders sinking.
The decree is very clear. If the Quanzhou Special Economic Zone fails, there will be no need for the Quanzhou Shipping Department to exist.
Once the Quanzhou City Shipping Department is eliminated, the Guangzhou and Ningbo City Shipping Departments will also be in danger, and the hope of opening up the sea in the Ming Dynasty will also be shattered.
This matter affects countless people, and we must resist this mission no matter what!
Gu Zhengchen's sharp gaze swept across all the officials, and when he saw that no one stood up, he solemnly said: "I hope you will remember the decision made at this moment. If you feel that you can't handle it anymore or can't stand it anymore, just bite the bullet." , Stubbornly keep carrying it! No one can retreat until the teeth are shattered and the bones are not broken! Can you do it?"
"OK!"
Everyone was affected by Gu Zhengchen's words, including generals like Chen Qing and Mao Ding, who were also deeply shocked.
Damn, this is just for the people present. If the situation were changed and told to the sergeant, wouldn’t the sergeant go crazy?
Chen Qing looked at Gu Zhengchen, tilted his head towards Zhang He, and said in a low voice: "He has the ability to mobilize and inspire people's morale. It is not unreasonable for the emperor to appoint him as the commander of the Quanzhou Guard."
Zhang He wanted to tell Chen Qing that he was not as simple as the commander of the First Guard, but he couldn't say these words, so he had to reply: "Don't underestimate him, let alone make mistakes. He doesn't know how to show mercy, he should be killed When the time comes, no one can stop it. You should have heard that the head of Quanzhou Guard Commander Zhou Yuan was hung on the flagpole to show his authority..."
Chen Qing frowned but did not refute.
It was not a secret that Gu Zhengchen had "beheaded first and reported later" in Quanzhou Mansion. It had been spread in the court. If it really fell into his hands and the evidence was solid, he would probably draw a knife and kill someone.
In Guanhaiyuan, Gu Zhengchen said to Zhao Yihui, Su Xianqin and others: "Now that the news of opening the sea has been confirmed, the Municipal Shipping Department should do a good job in dock repairs. All abandoned docks need to be reused. In addition, the port's The houses and warehouses have long been destroyed by the war in the late Yuan Dynasty, and now they need to be rebuilt..."
The sun and the moon have passed away, and the years are not with me.
To do something, fight for the day and night!
