The Heavenly Angels Zhang Cheng and Zhang Jin are responsible for going to Qiongzhou to announce Hai Rui's return to the capital. Zhang Cheng is the adopted son of Zhang Hong, the eunuch of the Qianqing Palace, and Zhang Jin is the adopted son of Feng Bao, the eunuch of the Palace of Rites. The edict has been rushed for 800 miles. Sent to Qiongzhou, the two angels left Beijing on other missions.
Emperor Nanku - Yuegang.
After receiving the imperial edict, Hai Rui returned to Dianbai Port in Guangzhou Prefecture and boarded a ship to Yuegang, Chenghai County, Fujian Province. Then he took a ship to dock in Songjiang Prefecture, and then went all the way north to Tianjin Wei to disembark and enter Beijing as an official.
Yuegang was the only legal departure port for private maritime trade in the Ming Dynasty.
In the forty-three years of the Jiajing reign, the Japanese invasion gradually subsided. Tan Lun, in the "Bi Yuan Lue for Public Security" written after the incident, said that people living by the sea are so rare that they rely on the mountains to eat, eat on the mountains and eat on the sea, and those who are prohibited from sea. The policy made the people miserable and started to request orders to open the sea. After that, the court launched a heated discussion on this.
The resistance to opening up the sea was extremely huge, but the Japanese invasion also exhausted the court. In the end, after repeated struggles, the opening up faction gradually gained the upper hand.
In the first year of Longqing, under the pressure of public opinion that "when cities are open, bandits will turn to merchants, and when cities are banned, merchants will turn into bandits". Tu Zemin, the censor of the governor of Fujian, petitioned to open the sea, and Emperor Longqing immediately agreed.
Yuegang, a port that had been open to the outside world since the Sui and Tang Dynasties, was finally opened.
The DPRK and China took the opening of the sea as the main program, and took the war against Japan during the Jiajing period as the cohesion to form a political collective of a certain scale, covering science, education, government, military, and politics.
Yuegang is shaped like a moon, hence its name. There are eight trestle piers on the river bank more than two miles long in Haicheng County. They are lined up from west to east along the entrance of the Jiulong River. Standing on the trestles, you can look towards the end of the moon. Going there, there are islands that are looming amid the ebb and flow of the tide.
In the distance, the sea and the sky are the same color. The sea surface seems to merge with the sky. The sea breeze with the smell of sea blows the sea surface. Layers of waves hit the rocks, and the waves are photographed with the golden light of sunset. , the sea breeze blew over the sea, blowing out waves, blowing past the masts of ships soaring into the sky, blowing over barges, and blowing the clothes of Zhang Cheng, Zhang Jin and Luo Gongchen.
Zhang Cheng, Zhang Jin and Luo Gongchen were polite and the sea was really calm.
Zhang Cheng held his hands, stood in the wind, looked at Luo Gongchen and asked: "Let me tell you what you have to say. After your Majesty learned about Luo Tongzhi's auspiciousness, he was so happy that he opened up a ten-acre land in Jingshan in Shanglin Garden. Your Majesty is married to Nongsang, and our family came here just to ask Luo Tongzhi, can the auspiciousness Luo Tongzhi sent to the capital really be able to produce twenty or thirty dan per mu?"
"This is a serious matter, so I would like to ask Luo Tongzhi to answer truthfully."
Luo Gongchen is extremely strong, with a strong back and strong waist, thick eyebrows and big eyes. He looks particularly stocky. He was born in Juren, but he is a martial artist. He is not good at dancing and writing, but he is good at fighting.
As a fellow coastal defense officer of the Du Fu Guan, because Luo Gongchen returned to Beijing to report on his duties, he became associated with Yuanfu Zhang Juzheng, and Luo Gongchen was now headed by Luo Gongchen in the Du Fu Guan.
"Two angels, please look here." Luo Gongchen pointed to a large patch of white flowers on the edge of the beach and said, "These are banana seedlings. I cut them and planted them casually. They are now lush and green."
"Of course I don't dare to deceive the Lord. If these seedlings are planted properly, they can produce more than 1,500 kilograms of grain. If they are planted randomly, they can produce six to seven hundred kilograms."
Zhang Cheng finally felt at ease. Before leaving, Zhang Hong solemnly told Zhang Cheng that his adopted son must ask Luo Gongchen if he was lying. Since His Majesty is marrying Nongsang, there must be a result.
Two eunuchs, Zhang Cheng and Zhang Jin, came to Yuegang to inspect the emperor's southern treasury.
Merchant ships going to the sea at Yuegang need to be guided, that is, passes. A total of 110 were issued in the first year of Wanli. There are about more than 200 ships entering the Ming Dynasty shipping port every day. According to the tax law of drawing 6 out of 100 values, every month The government pays 60,000 taels of gold and silver, and about 720,000 taels of silver enter Beijing as commercial taxes every year.
Zhang Juzheng's private residence, the Quan Chu Guild Hall, opened every three years to entertain Chu scholars who came to Beijing for examination, and spent an average of 1,200 taels of gold and silver per year.
720,000 taels of silver can support Zhang Juzheng's Chu Guild Hall for approximately 620 years, which is 2193 AD.
The money traded can be hundreds of thousands a year, both public and private. This is an important reason why the imperial court reconsidered the ban on maritime affairs after opening the sea. Naturally, there are many people who bark at the sea, but the court has no money and the emperor has no money. Money and public opinion about banning the sea are still there, but the court has made up its mind to compete with the people for profit.
The Ming court was really poor, with no food or silver.
"Two great men, I have something to ask." Luo Gongchen took out two salt invitations and handed them out, but what made Luo Gongchen very embarrassed was that neither of the two eunuchs accepted the salt invitations.
Yanyin is money, and a large saltyin is worth one or two and a half taels of silver. Luo Gongchen took out more than ten saltyin, which was more than fifty taels of silver.
The sea breeze blew Shiobei, a little embarrassed.
Which eunuch is not greedy for money? The sun is rising in the west, so the eunuch won't accept bribes?
After Luo Gongchen thought for a moment, he realized that he had done something stupid. When these two big men came, they only had one copy of Yanyin. He looked a little distressed, and took out more than ten Yanyin sheets and stretched out his hands. Going out and taking one share is the way to do things.
The salt pipes rustled in the sea breeze, and the atmosphere was extremely awkward.
"Luo Tongzhi, please take it back. It's not that it's too little, but it really can't be taken. Both the ancestors and the second ancestors have issued death orders. Anyone who collects money outside is caught by the outsiders and finds a well to jump in. Luo Tongzhi thought Just ask whatever you want." Zhang Cheng broke the silence and embarrassment and explained the reason.
Along the way, Zhang Cheng and Zhang Jin had taken the trouble to explain many times that no matter where they went, the officials did not believe that the eunuchs did not accept money. This was outrageous.
The most fundamental reason is that the old ancestor Feng Bao will not let him take it, and the second ancestor will not let him take it. Although the old ancestor and the second ancestor are not fighting openly, they are also fighting secretly. If someone has problems outside, inside the palace The seating ranking can easily be rewritten.
His Majesty talked about Wang Zhen and also beat him. Feng Bao didn't want to be Wang Zhen, and since he beat him without accepting payment, when he was sitting in the Wenhua Hall for court discussions, when he cursed people, he was said to be justified, and the one he scolded was called others. Hearty.
When has the eunuch ever been so proud?
Feng Bao also gradually figured it out. If the bell is gone, it is really gone. With so much money in hand, can he leave it to his adopted son? Might as well live happily.
Luo Gongchen put away the salt guide very puzzled and asked: "When I came to Beijing last year, I wanted to collect taxes on foreign ships. Can I still do this?"
"Take it!" Zhang Cheng said immediately: "It must be taken!"
Zhang Jin also said with a solemn expression: "If you don't charge taxes on foreign ships, why don't you let them have cubs? Luo Tongzhi is calm, Chao Li is still grinding his teeth, but Mr. Yuan Fu still wants to push it."
The matter of collecting taxes on foreign ships is a matter of course, but there is still resistance in the DPRK. Lu Shusheng, the Minister of Rites, is the biggest resistance.
"We are encountering a difficult problem right now." Luo Gongchen said with a solemn expression: "A four-masted sailboat belonging to the Franzhi people is requesting to enter the port for trade. Should I draw points or not?"
Zhang Cheng asked doubtfully: "If you enter the port according to the regulations, what is on the ship that makes Luo Tongzhi be so cautious?"
"Silver." Luo Gongchen said with certainty.
"Didn't Luo Tongzhi say that? Most of the merchant ships arriving in Hong Kong have silver. Is there anything strange about the silver?" Zhang Jin asked slightly puzzled.
Luo Gongchen said with a very complicated expression: "This ship is all made of silver. There are about four million taels of silver, which is about 250,000 kilograms."
The calm expressions of Zhang Cheng and Zhang Jin turned slightly astonished. Zhang Cheng looked at Luo Gongchen and said, "How much did you say?"
Luo Gongchen said solemnly: "Four million taels, 250,000 catties, in order to buy raw silk, brocade, cotton, tea, porcelain, etc."
"One ship, more than four million taels of silver...Luo Tongzhi, how many soldiers and horses do we have in Yuegang?" Zhang Jin's eyes became strange. He ignored more than ten pieces of salt, but more than four million taels of silver... Put the money before your eyes.
Rob!
The court is going crazy because of poverty, but here is a big ship filled with silver!
Four million taels of silver!
"Da Ju, you can only grab one boat, but when doing business, you can make a steady flow of water." Luo Gongchen said in a low voice.
Luo Gongchen wanted to draw points. Four million taels of silver. Calculated by drawing six points according to the hundred value, it was as much as 240,000 taels of silver. Yuegang only had 720,000 taels of silver a year, and this ship exceeded Two hundred and forty thousand taels, if there is a target, this ship has completed the four-month target!
Zhang Jin seemed a little embarrassed and said nothing. There was no problem with the robbery, but for the sake of caution when interfering in local political affairs, Zhang Jin did not express his position.
Zhang Cheng, the son of Zhang Hongyi, the eunuch of the Qianqing Palace, gritted his teeth and said: "We make rituals according to the situation, and we make legislation according to the situation. The Du Rating Office is the capital of the city. We will draw points first. If the court blames this matter, we will The family will take responsibility!”
Zhang Cheng is qualified to say this because he is the envoy in yellow. He is out and represents the emperor, so he has some decision-making power, but few people will exercise this decision-making power and specialize in special matters. Since he is Those who came to wait for Hai Rui shouldn't meddle in other people's business.
However, Zhang Cheng said that the tax collected from foreign ships should be collected first, and there was really a punishment. That was also his lord, the second ancestor of the palace, Zhang Hong, who would punish him, and the outer court could not control the palace.
Get the money first and then talk.
"Then draw." Luo Gongchen thought for a while and decided to do it. Even if no one took the lead, Luo Gongchen planned to draw points, let alone someone taking the lead now.
The Metropolitan Government is here to pay!
The ships of the Ming Dynasty merchant ship are going to be pumped! Fanyi merchant ships will also be smoked!
For this payment, Luo Gongchen summoned about a hundred small boats, a dozen battleships, and nearly three thousand sergeants, and then sent people to communicate with the people on the large sailboat to confirm the points drawing and other matters. .
The general took a small boat and traveled between the Ming court and the sailing ship. He quickly communicated many matters concerning the barge and its introduction into the port.
The large sailing ship is very different from the Ming Dynasty ship. It is more slender, has a deeper draft, and the bow and sides of the ship are covered with black gun barrels. The main mast is hung with a large square sail, and the three sails at the back are diagonal sails. This kind of diagonal sail The sail is a schooner. When a schooner sails against the wind, it turns first to one side, then to the other, and meanders forward in a zigzag shape.
Fo Langji's four-masted sailing ship was a behemoth. After repeated communication, the sailing ship began to slowly furl its gray or ocher-colored sails like goose feather fans, and gradually stopped on the sea, allowing the barge's rope to be tied to the ship.
Francisco Sander, the governor of Luzon, and Antonio Morga, the captain, had a fierce quarrel on the ship.
"Captain, we promised the Ming people to put away our fangs, and they will rush up, kill us, and take away our silver! We should stuff gunpowder into the barrel and remove the support on the bow. Next, be ready to fight at any time." Francisco didn't understand the captain's order very much, and roared his own doubts.
Captain Antonio came from Puerto Rico, Mexico, and crossed the endless Pacific Ocean before arriving at Luzon and Moon Harbor. How could he put away his bow and block his cannon with wood?
If the Ming people rushed up, they would have no choice but to catch them.
Captain Antonio Morga shook his head and said: "Governor, your letter has been rejected by the king. You said in the letter: To conquer the Ming Dynasty, only two thousand to four thousand soldiers are needed. Now I see the Ming Dynasty's Coastal defense, tell me, from 2,000 to 4,000 soldiers, how to conquer them?"
Francisco said quite accurately: "As long as there is a chance, every Ming Dynasty will become a pirate, and no one will be loyal to their emperor! We can first send missionaries to infiltrate to collect information about the enemy and instigate internal rebellion, and then set off civil strife. When China was in civil strife, we sent troops to occupy territory and occupied it step by step on the pretext of 'escorting the Ming people back to their country'."
"I wrote a plan to conquer China in September last year, but no one responded."
Antonio smiled and said: "Because the king is not a fool."
"Have you seen those warships? They have dozens of ships, and we only have one armed merchant ship. Do you mean that we want to use one merchant ship to fight against warships whose borders can't be seen at a glance?"
"We are here to do business, not to fight. We spread our spikes like hedgehogs. The result is that we will die and they will get our silver. This is the territory of the Ming Dynasty. On the territory of the Ming Dynasty, Zhang It was not a wise decision to fire bows and arrows and artillery."
"They only charge 6% tax. The damn governors and tax collectors all over the empire will charge us 30% tax at one time!"
Antonio said the last sentence through gritted teeth.
Maritime trade involves both risks and opportunities. The risks include wind, waves, reefs, and ferocious natives. Even after experiencing these, governors from various places still made things difficult for them. The governors of Mexico and Peru scraped over 30% of the tax revenue from Antonio. .
If Antonio hadn't bribed the tax official, the declaration of cargo would have been much shorter, and he would have taken such a big risk on this trip and still had to lose money.
The principle of silence means that tax officials from various places will remain silent and will not board the ship for inspection as much as the goods are filled in on the declaration of cargo. Of course, in order for tax officials to remain silent, they must be given a certain amount of benefit.
Taking Antonio's Pelican as an example, his declared cargo value was 520,000 silver coins, eight real silver coins.
When he set out, his ship indeed only had 520,000 silver coins in cargo, but after leaving the port, there would be a lot of small ships to replenish its cargo hold. Antonio bribed tax officials in Peru, Mexico, and Luzon to let them Remaining silent on the quantity of cargo on board.
This time in Yuegang, Antonio chose to declare truthfully. The tax rate of the Ming Dynasty was only 6%, which shocked Antonio. Moreover, Antonio did not know the Ming tax official.
"Okay, don't worry too much. They are not ferocious natives. As far as I can see, the Ming people seem to be more civilized than us. Let's get off the boat." Antonio comforted Francisco and started to get off the boat, followed by several people wearing linen shirts. Servants.
Antonio is a businessman, and he is willing to take certain risks in order to develop financial opportunities.
"I am very happy to be able to come to this mysterious eastern country. I have heard the legends here when I was very young. Today I finally set foot on this mysterious map. This is the gift I bring to you." Antonio said He did not kneel down, but performed a nondescript salute.
Several servants in linen shirts opened several wooden boxes, which contained eight real silver coins arranged neatly and densely.
Luo Gongchen, Zhang Cheng, and Zhang Jin looked at the strangely dressed man in front of them.
Antonio and Francisco both wore a slanted black hat with a feather pinned to the hat, a large velvet coat lined with cotton, and a bunch of hanging ornaments hanging on their chests, mainly in the shape of a cross.
Antonio is less than six feet long, with a high nose and deep eyes, cat-like eyes and beak, a bronze face, curly hair and beard all brown, while Francisco is much shorter than Antonio, only about five feet (1.6 meters).
Luo Gongchen and other Ming officials looked at the red-haired fans, and the red-haired fans were also looking at the Ming officials. The first intuitive feeling was that the Ming officials had a strict hierarchy. The patterns on their chests represented them. status.
Luo Gongchen took a few steps forward and took out a silver coin. On the front of the silver coin was the portrait of a king, and on the back was engraved a crown and a coat of arms representing the Franji royal family. On both sides of the coat of arms, there were two The Pillar of Hercules, with paper wrapped around it, looks very similar: $.
"I'm rude." After Antonio saw Luo Gongchen put the silver coins back, he motioned to the linen-shirted servant to close the box.
With so many people, openly offering bribes may violate local laws, so it would be more appropriate to do this quietly.
Luo Gongchen was very interested in silver coins. A silver coin weighed about six cents and seven cents. The silver coins brought by Fo Langji were not many, but more silver ingots.
The drawing of points began. There were five coastal defense magistrates from the Ministry of Taxation, and there were four eunuchs present. The governor of Fujian, the censor, and the prefect of Fuzhou were all watching the drawing of points and the weighing.
Luo Gongchen estimated that it was about the same. This large sailing ship brought a total of 4,020,000 taels of silver, and 241,200 taels of silver were divided according to the system. This tax will be escorted to the capital, and the national funds and The internal funds are divided equally.
The money traded can be hundreds of thousands per year, both public and private.
Antonio was very confused.
According to his estimation, after collecting the taxes, there should be all kinds of difficulties. He had prepared some silver coins to deal with the joints, but after drawing the points, they got the city's rate slip issued by the city's rate office. Started purchasing goods.
"Is this over? It seems inconsistent with what the governor said." Antonio said to Francisco, quite puzzled: "Sisco, you have been in the East for a long time, and the Ming Dynasty bureaucrats always do things so quickly and concisely. ?"
Francisco said even more confused: "On the contrary, there should be tax officials, city defense officers and other officials to make things difficult, because there have been many difficulties in transporting goods from Luzon to Ming Dynasty before."
"The two men without beards we saw should be the eunuch envoys sent by the Ming Emperor, so no one dares to make things difficult for us when the envoys are around."
Francisco guessed that the two men with no beards on their faces should be the legendary eunuchs.
Antonio then understood and said, "Look, tell me: every Ming man will become a pirate, and no one will be loyal to their emperor."
"But the emperor's envoy is in Yuegang, and these officials don't even dare to do anything to make things difficult for us. If this is not loyalty, then what is loyalty?"
"Okay, I admit, I don't know enough about this mysterious land." Francis said with some emotion. This rich land does not seem to be so easy to conquer.
The emperor, who was sitting thousands of miles away, only needed to send two eunuchs who didn't look so strong to make local officials put away their usual ugly faces.
It is indeed a strange and mysterious Eastern world.
"We brought six million silver coins. Can this small port satisfy us?" Antonio said slightly worried.
Francisco was the governor of Luzon appointed by Spain. He smiled and said: "If you bring 60 million silver coins, even if it is more, Yuegang can satisfy you. Of course, if you bring 600 million silver coins, then No more."
Francisco was in Luzon. He was very familiar with the richness of this land. The output here was everything, just like a monster that could never have enough to eat. No matter how many silver coins were thrown into the Ming Dynasty, it could not satisfy the greed of this monster. appetite.
Zhang Cheng was very uneasy. He was a eunuch in the palace. He was sent by Xuan Hairui to return to the court. When he was waiting for Hairui to arrive at Yuegang by boat from the Guangzhou Shipping Department, Zhang Cheng made the decision. The ship drew points, which was not within his scope of authority, and was even a bit overstepping his authority.
"Are you panicking now?" Zhang Jin sat calmly, smiling when he saw Zhang Cheng's panicked look. When he went out to run errands in the palace, he would talk as little as possible, do as little as he could, and do as little as he could. Making money is making money. This is the eunuch's job after leaving the palace. This supports the local officials to collect taxes on foreign ships. After returning to Beijing, he is determined to face the impeachment of the officials.
"When we return to the capital, your majesty and the queen mother will be beaten, scolded, killed or dug into the well. Anyway, I brought the money back. Isn't this Yuegang the emperor's southern treasury?" Zhang Cheng comforted himself.
He felt that he had done the right thing by bringing the money back to the court. However, the officials in the court were fierce, and he was afraid that they would use this matter to impeach the internal officials for interfering in politics.
In June, Hai Rui set off after receiving the imperial edict. He boarded the ship from Dianbai Port in Guangzhou Prefecture, arrived at Yuegang, anchored for a day, then started heading south, anchored at Ningbo for a day, and set off again.
In early August, Hai Rui disembarked at Tianjin Wei, accompanied by his wife Wang, his youngest daughter, two eunuchs Zhang Cheng and Zhang Jin, and 241,200 taels of silver.
Hai Rui returned to the imperial court as the second rank of the right imperial censor of the Metropolitan Procuratorate. After he settled in, he first reported to the Ministry of Personnel to receive his seal ribbon, chatted with Yang Bo for a few words, and then reported to the Metropolitan Procuratorate. After chatting with Ge Shouli for a while, he returned home.
In the early morning of the next day, Hai Rui, wearing a second-grade embroidered golden pheasant patch, stood in front of the Wenhua Hall, waiting for the court meeting.
The censor of Youdu was one of the court officials. Hai Rui's clothes were a little too big. The officials didn't expect Hai Rui to be so thin, so the court clothes he made were a little too big.
After the cleansing whip was sounded three times, the officials entered the palace.
"I will pay my respects to Your Majesty. Is Your Majesty bowing well?" The ministers greeted each other.
Zhu Yijun stretched out his little hand and said: "Excuse me, I heard yesterday that Mr. Hai returned to the court. Where is Mr. Hai?"
"I have met Your Majesty." Hai Rui came out of the queue and bowed his head.
Zhu Yijun took a look at Hai Rui. He stood upright, slightly thin, with bright eyes and a bookish air all over his body. He was worthy of the nickname Shanbijia.
"Okay, okay, all ministers, please sit down and continue the discussion." Zhu Yijun waved his hand and motioned for the ministers to sit down and discuss.
Ge Shouli was the first to attack and said: "The governor of Fujian Province, the imperial censor of Fujian Province, the governor of Fujian Zuo, and others impeached Zhang Cheng, an internal official, for interfering in government affairs, privately opening coastal defenses to connect foreign ships, and setting up cards to collect taxes. .”
Zhang Jin stayed out of the matter and was not on the impeachment list because Zhang Jin did not express his position.
When Wang Guoguang heard this, a smile appeared on his face. Yesterday, after the money was divided into internal funds, it had gone into the national funds. The government had suffered a huge loss, and the national funds were tight and stretched. This money could actually be used. Should be emergency.
Feng Bao was observing the situation and planned to teach Ge Shouli a lesson. Although Zhang Cheng was Zhang Hong's adopted son, the money went into internal funds. The eunuch of the internal transport warehouse had wrinkles on his face. The court had no money, and the internal funds were actually in the pocket. No money either.
A penny stumps a heroic man.
Talking about so many bullshit principles is of no use. If you don’t have rice in your hand, you will be called a chicken, and even a chicken will not deserve it!
Before Feng Bao could speak, Hai Rui stood up and bowed his head and said: "Your Majesty, our Ming Dynasty has ancestral precepts. The officials in the Ming Dynasty interfere in politics, and the government has no fixed plan to collect taxes. Those below them use clever words and flattery. Lord, you have stolen the power of the country and tortured the people. You have little faith and are grateful for kindness, and then you dare to be a big traitor and a big evil to disrupt the government."
Zhu Yijun looked at Hai Rui and waited for Hai Rui to finish what he said. Zhu Yijun could understand these words. After gaining the emperor's trust and grace, he would dare to commit great treachery and commit great evil to disrupt the government and harm the country and the people.
Hai Rui continued: "But looking at this matter, I think that what Zhang Cheng did was not inappropriate. My sister-in-law must give him a helping hand. In emergencies, we must adopt expedient measures. The large sailboat is on the sea. If we don't draw points, In the future, no points will be drawn for large sailing ships arriving at the port. By then, will there be any need to set up a rates office?"
"I sincerely ask your Majesty to take a clear view."
The first time a large sailing ship arrives at Yuegang, if the imperial court does not draw points for the first time, it will not be able to draw points in the future, and conflicts will easily arise. Once this is opened, the city's rate office will not be able to operate it, and it will not be paid. What kind of rates are there?
Zhu Yijun laughed after hearing this. What Hai Rui said was very strange.
To sum up Hai Rui's words, Zhang Cheng was wrong in handling this matter, but it was also right.
The sky is constantly changing, the earth is constantly changing, and people are constantly changing. Hai Rui asked Xu Jie to return the land, but was impeached and returned to his hometown to live idle. Hai Rui is also changing. He is still the same person, but he has changed his style of play.
Please give me a monthly ticket when I put it on the shelves, wow! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
(End of chapter)
