Chapter 12 Misunderstanding
How to preserve today's private shipbuilding industry, and how to survive, is still unclear.
However, He Xi is really ready to book a boat and take a look. Make an assessment. He Xi said: "Old man, you are right. The boat I want is not these fishing boats."
Mr. Xu smiled softly and said, "Master, what kind of boat do you want?"
He Xi said: "At least a three-masted fortune ship. How about it? Can it be built or not?"
As soon as He Xi said this, Mr. Xu frowned vaguely and said, "Master, this boat is somewhat taboo."
He Xi said, "What taboo are you committing?"
Mr. Xu said: "The imperial court's taboo."
He Xi said: "I remember that the imperial court did not say that private shipbuilding was not allowed. It only prohibited five-masted ships from going to sea. What I want is only three-masted ships, which are not prohibited by the imperial court."
Mr. Xu still shook his head and said, "Listen to the voice, young master, you should be in the government. Even if you are not, you still have family members in the government, right?"
He Xi nodded and said, "My husband, I have a sharp eye. It has something to do with it."
Mr. Xu said: "Young Master, these laws are stipulated and so on. They only tell you this for noble people like you, but they don't tell you this for ordinary people like us. The officials in the court are like wolves and tigers." What is what? Our village would not dare to do this kind of borderline thing."
He Xi felt a little uncomfortable after hearing this. But also know that this is normal.
The imperial decrees were reinforced at the lower levels. Even in future generations.
In future generations, if we follow the rules of urban management. Urban management has absolutely no authority to enforce the law violently. But the urban management officials chased the vendors everywhere like dead dogs.
Just like the Hongwu Sea Ban, which has been criticized by later generations for a long time, this is it. Pay attention to two prohibitions: trading with Japan is prohibited. There are two reasons for this. The first is that the diplomacy between Japan and Ming Dynasty was not done well. Another reason is actually the case of Hu Weiyong and Li Shanchang. In the case of Hu Weiyong and Li Shanchang, there was a crime of treason with the Japanese.
Although many people think that they are just trying to incriminate themselves. But since the court has clearly stated that there is a crime. It's natural to react.
The court's response was to ban daily trade.
Then there is the ban on vessel size. Here are some detailed rules to prevent pirates. Note that Zhu Yuanzhang did not completely prohibit going to the sea, and there was even a public case. After Zhu Yuanzhang ordered the sea ban, the officials below reported that there were salt ships from Jiangsu and Zhejiang to Fujian, and they usually traveled by sea. Is it necessary to switch to land in the future?
The general idea of Zhu Yuanzhang's instructions at that time was to ban the sea, just to prevent pirates, unruly people and foreign traffic. It's not that no ships are allowed to be used on the sea. This kind of salt selling route is convenient for the people, so there is no need for the government to interfere, and everything will continue as usual. There are other things like this that are handled accordingly.
But as Mr. Xu said, those who can really withhold the laws and regulations of the court from the government. Only dignitaries. Ordinary people do not have this qualification.
He Xi said: "Don't worry. No one dares to trouble me."
What He Xi said was reasonable, but Mr. Xu didn't believe it.
As the consort of Princess Anqing, He Xi was the celebrity in front of Zhu Yuanzhang. It can be said that it is a real crime. The Ministry of Punishment probably wouldn’t dare to punish him. Maybe, it would have to be done at the clan’s house. A truly privileged class. For He Xi, the reason for obeying the laws of the Ming Dynasty is more about self-discipline and self-cultivation.
It was not the Ming law that deterred him.
Not to mention, since the law is not considered illegal, He Xi doesn't care anymore.
But He Xi didn't care, and Mr. Xu couldn't care less.
Don't look at Mr. Xu wandering around the village all the time. I thought Mr. Xu was an idler, but he was not. He was one of the oldest and most skilled craftsmen in Xujia Village. In his own professional field, he has his own attainments. Perhaps not as good as the master craftsmen of Longjiang Shipyard. But he is also a good player. But when it comes to dealing with the government, he has been cautious all his life and dare not go too far.
This is also the attitude of many people towards the government. Be cautious and keep your distance.
In He Xi's opinion, it was a very common thing. But for Mr. Xu, it is a big deal.
Mr. Xu said: "The young master has some old ties with the officials in Ningbo Prefecture. It would be great if I could get a handwritten letter."
He Xi was stunned and said, "Let's do it. I'll give it to you in two days."
He Xi was stunned because he really had nothing to do with the local officials in Ningbo. It was really difficult for him to take out an official's handwriting or a famous tattoo as evidence. But on Mr. Xu's side, there is another explanation.
Xu Laozhang thought to himself: "Could this official's identity be fake?"
As the old saying goes: Suspicious neighbors steal axes.
Mr. Xu had doubts in his heart. Looking at He Xi, he suddenly felt that everything was worthy of doubt.
First of all, He Xi paid too much attention to the details of the ship along the way. What wood to use. How to make it, various details, etc. Many of them are even considered exclusive secret recipes of the Xu family.
This is not normal.
Most of the dignitaries. Why care about these details. They only care about whether the ship is useful or not. As for this ship, how is it useful? It has nothing to do with them anymore.
Secondly, there are many details about He Xi that Mr. Xu can clearly see. He Xi is not a person who makes a living at sea. Such a person wants a three-masted fortune ship, which is questionable in itself.
The more Mr. Xu thought about it, the more doubtful he became. The more I doubt, the more I think, the more I doubt He Xi is a kind of person.
who?
A person who sells stolen goods for pirates.
Pirates have requirements for ships, especially many details. Because pirates not only use ships, but even do many things, they also need to repair their own ships. So a lot of details are important to pirates. Under normal circumstances, pirates do not dare to go ashore.
Naturally, you need someone to represent you.
This agent is most likely someone who sells stolen goods for pirates.
He bought it for the pirates.
Mr. Xu had this thought in mind, and the more he looked at He Xi, the more it seemed like that was the case.
Even He Xi has some characteristics that are not rich enough.
Although He Xi's clothes are very good, they are a bit simple and not as magnificent as many children from rich families. Although He Xi looks noble, she actually does a lot of things herself, and there are relatively few people around her to serve her. It doesn't look like she was raised in a wealthy family, but rather she seems to be a bit of a nouveau riche.
Mr. Xu's eyes were very poisonous and he couldn't say he was wrong.
He Xi spent the first half of his life growing up six hundred years later. Many living habits are more similar to those of ordinary people. That is to say, in Mr. Xu's eyes, he is not rich and noble enough. Has the temperament of a nouveau riche.
Mr. Xu still tried carefully and said, "Master, can you tell me what this boat is used for?"
He Xi said without thinking: "Run the ocean."
After hearing this sentence, Mr. Xu was immediately convinced.
Although it is said that the Ming Dynasty banned the sea, it did not completely prevent people from going to the sea. But there are fewer people traveling across oceans. There are many reasons. For example, the law stipulates that if you go to sea for several years and do not return, you are considered a fugitive. He is legally dead. Lost the qualifications of a Ming Dynasty person.
For example, the problem of pirates.
There are also measures to combat pirates around the Ming Dynasty. But far away from Ming Dynasty. There were a large number of Ming pirates, as well as the remnants of Zhang Shicheng and Fang Guozhen. The Ming Navy was beyond reach.
Coupled with the no-sea policy.
Most of those who go to sea actually do some small business in several ports near the sea.
There are very few people who travel across the ocean, almost none.
Now that Mr. Xu was determined, he was immediately ready to take action. Xujiacun is a good people. Don't dare to come into contact with pirates. During the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty, it was the time when the Ming Dynasty court was most effective in execution. Once there was a relationship between the Xu family and pirates. It is very likely that the Xu family will be destroyed.
Therefore, Mr. Xu must report.
But He Xi brought dozens of guards with him. These people were all from the military. They were silent and looked very strong. This became an important evidence for the father-in-law of the Xu family's judgment. Ordinary people go out and only take a few companions with them. How could such an ordinary person bring so many people with him? Moreover, these people seem to have murderous intent.
Mr. Xu secretly thought, "You can't act rashly." Then he smiled and said, "Master, since you want to build a big ship, why don't I bring you a sample of the ship so that you can take a good look at it."
