Liang Daoming stood on the bow of the ship, watching the tall city wall getting closer and closer, with a solemn and respectful expression on his face.
Zheng He carefully accompanied us on one side and said with concern: "Mr. Liang, we are about to dock. Please stay back."
Liang Daoming shook his head and said firmly: "I'm just feeling a little unwell, it's not like I can't walk on the ship. Deputy Commander Zheng, is the emperor really going to meet me?"
Zheng He smiled and said, "Of course."
"Hehe, okay, okay."
Liang Daoming breathed a sigh of relief and looked peaceful.
The ship docked.
Xie Jin, Xu Huizu, Chen Di and other officials greeted Liang Daoming at the shore, which gave Liang Daoming enough face.
After Liang Daoming thanked everyone, he was taken to the palace.
Outside the provincial bow hall.
When Zhu Yunwen saw Liang Daoming's sedan landing, he smiled and stepped forward to greet him. How could Liang Daoming dare to accept such a generous treatment? He quickly saluted and said: "Liang Daoming, the Xuanwei envoy from Jiugang, pays homage to the emperor. Long live my emperor."
"Please get up quickly."
Zhu Yunwen respected Liang Daoming, because it was this man who handed over Sri Buddha Qi to the Ming Dynasty. They gave the Ming Dynasty a strategic "enclave" to allow the Ming Dynasty's power to exist in Nanyang. It was not a violation of etiquette to stand at the door to greet him.
What surprised Zhu Yunwen was that Liang Daoming seemed to be aging very quickly, and he was not at all like the energetic old man that Uncle Zheng described.
The group entered the palace, sat down and were given a banquet.
Zhu Yunwen asked: "I heard that Mr. Liang is ill. Is he feeling better?"
Liang Daoming was respectful and replied: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your concern and kindness. I am feeling much better now."
There was some worry in Zhu Yunwen's eyes. After several months of ups and downs, even a young man might not be able to bear it, let alone an old man. It seemed that the war in Srivijaya had really exhausted his vitality.
That’s all.
Give him the final glory and peace.
At the end of the banquet, Zhu Yunwen ordered Xie Jin to declare: "Liang Daoming, the Xuanwei envoy of the Xuanwei Department in Jiugang, was the former king of Srivijaya. He surrendered to the Ming Dynasty and dedicated his land to the Ming Dynasty. His merits will last forever. Liang Daoming is specially named the King of Nanyang and enjoys the title of Prince." treatment……"
Liang Daoming burst into tears with gratitude and declined the title and princely treatment, saying: "I came here as a wanderer just to return to my roots. I don't ask for a reward. I just hope that the emperor will grant me a tomb and be buried in Nanhai, Guangdong."
small book booth
Zhu Yunwen insisted on giving Liang Daoming a reward and promised to find a geomantic treasure land for him.
Kunning Palace.
Zheng He saluted Queen Ma Enhui, Concubine Shu, Concubine Ning, and Concubine Xian.
Zhu Yunwen picked up the fruits on the table and said to Zheng He: "The reports are always not detailed enough. Let's tell the story of the voyage to Nanyang in detail from beginning to end."
Zheng He's eyes sparkled as he recounted his voyage.
From the rough waves and storms of the sea, to fishing in the sea, watching the moon on the sea at night, to the wars of the Three Buddhas, the bravery of Liang Daoming and Shi Jinqing...
The story is very long.
When Zhu Yunwen heard about the battle between Majapahit and Srivijaya, he was still a little worried. Although the Ming Dynasty was powerful, Majapahit was a local snake after all. If the hostility lasted for a long time, it would definitely affect the security of the old port.
"You said Shen Yiyuan and other businessmen have solved this problem?"
Zhu Yunwen asked in surprise.
Zheng He solemnly said: "Your Majesty, merchants have contributed a lot to resolving the crisis between Majapahit and Jiugang. Not only Shen Yiyuan, but also the King of Liao was involved..."
Zhu Yunwen smiled, and Ma Enhui curled her lips, a little dissatisfied.
Zheng He has returned, and Liang Daoming has also arrived in the capital, but King Zhu Zhi of Liao is still in Taicang Prefecture.
, I don’t know etiquette anymore.
When he comes back, he must be severely punished.
"You said in your report that the merchant brought me a gift. What is it about the gift that is so mysterious and unspeakable?"
Zhu Yunwen asked doubtfully.
Zheng He was a little embarrassed and apologized: "Your Majesty, I promised the merchant to keep secrets."
Zhu Yunwen laughed loudly and said to Ma Enhui: "Look, this is my deputy commander in chief, the royal horse supervisor, and he started to hide it from me. That's all, the King of Liao must have sealed his mouth. Let's wait a few more days." "
Zheng He smiled easily.
"Go down and rest. When you have free time, go to Longjiang Shipyard. I will leave the shipbuilding supervision to you in the future."
Zhu Yunwen waved his hand.
Zheng He bowed and resigned.
Seeing that Zhu Yunwen was very happy, Ma Enhui asked, "I heard that the merchant has brought a lot of incense and goods. I will definitely make a lot of money this time."
Zhu Yunwen nodded slightly.
These people spent their time and costs, sailed nearly 20,000 miles back and forth, and earned nothing, as long as they paid taxes.
"Shanxi merchants will be entering Beijing in a few days. Haha, this is a bit of a coincidence."
Zhu Yunwen said calmly.
One caravan went to Nanyang and another caravan went to the north. Is it a coincidence of fate? He actually appeared in the capital in this way.
Perhaps there are new demands hidden behind their gathering in the capital.
Taicang Prefecture.
Zhu Zhi, Shen Yiyuan, Huang Facai and other businessmen gathered in one room, and the table was filled with food and wine.
"We are called together today just for one thing."
Zhu Zhi raised his glass and said with a friendly smile: "We are merchants and brought countless goods back to the Ming Dynasty. But everyone knows that scarcity is the most valuable thing. I don't think anyone wants this meat." One or two coins will get you ten coppers, right?"
Shen Yiyuan, Huang Facai and others nodded repeatedly.
Although Nanjing is the largest city in the Ming Dynasty, the market is limited after all. Taking ten ships of goods is probably the limit. If all the goods are placed in the capital, everyone's work will be in vain.
As far as spices are concerned, these things were not sold by kilograms in the Ming Dynasty, but by taels or even money. Ordinary people would definitely be reluctant to buy it, only those wealthy families, but how much can these people buy?
After a glass of wine, Zhu Zhi said: "For the sake of balancing interests, we might as well look further. The capital is not the only place where goods can be sold in the Ming Dynasty. Suzhou, Hangzhou, Peking, Kaifeng... where can't we sell goods?"
Everyone was silent.
Huang Facai looked at Zhu Zhi. He meant to disperse the goods to different cities for sale. The business logic was correct, but there was a fatal problem:
Which place can compare with the capital?
Suzhou has gathered many businessmen based on the new business strategy, but in terms of wealthy families, they are never as good as those in the capital. There is also Kaifeng. Many people died in that place. In addition, the largest consumer, King Zhou, is gone, and business is bleak. Who will go there?
Peking?
Zhang Bing worked on a new business strategy in Beiping for a year, and also promoted the business of military settlements. But the problem is that the population of Beiping City is very small. At full calculation, there are less than 300,000 people...
Besides, the road to Peiping is still two thousand miles away. Doesn’t it cost money to travel all the way?
The words are beautiful, but when it comes to personal interests, no one is willing to give in.
Seeing that no one expressed their opinions, Zhu Zhi put down his wine glass and said, "Since you all have ideas, I won't force it. Except for the food and tribute to the palace, I will arrange for people to transport the goods from the Liao Palace." Peking and surrounding areas are sold, and the capital is left to
Everyone. "
Shen Yiyuan looked at Zhu Zhi who gave in, stood up and expressed his position: "We went to Nanyang and worked hard to return to Ming Dynasty. We are about to open a business and make a profit, but you only care about your own selfish interests. How can we go to Nanyang again in the future? The Shen family The goods do not enter the capital, but are transferred to Huizhou Prefecture, Jiangxi and other places for sale."
Huang Facai sighed and said: "Then the Huang family's goods should be placed in Ningbo, Shaoxing and Taizhou."
Seeing this, other merchants had no choice but to express their opinions and chose other places such as Suzhou and Hangzhou, leaving only a few merchants to occupy the capital market.
After carving up the area, the merchants began to arrange river boats to transport goods.
Zhu Zhi looked at the busy businessmen and said to Shen Yiyuan who came over: "Look, businessmen are self-interested and may not obey the overall situation. This time we handed over the capital to them, and they may not be grateful."
Shen Yiyuan shook his head and said: "Unlike the prince, I saw twenty merchants on the prince's side."
Zhu Zhi's eyes flashed with luster. Shen Yiyuan's perspective on problems seemed to be very strange, always different from his own. He was good at finding opportunities, but he seemed to be better at finding problems.
Problems are difficult to solve, but opportunities are easier to seize.
"When I return to Beijing this time, I will arrange for businessmen to go to Hajj to see the emperor. What are you planning to ask for?"
Zhu Zhi asked seriously.
Merchants hunted countless goods in Nanyang, and some things were not something that ordinary families could afford, such as captured "phoenixes", chopped "golden nanmu", extremely rare pearls, etc.
If you don’t give it to the royal family, who can you give it to?
If you exceed the limit, you will be beheaded...
Therefore, merchants can use the name of offering treasures to meet the emperor and fight for the merchant's interests with the emperor face to face.
This is an opportunity not to be missed.
Shen Yiyuan faced the wind and said bluntly: "Open a sea ban! This is the most practical request."
Zhu Zhi glanced at Shen Yiyuan and said: "The sea ban will be lifted sooner or later. There is no need to mention this, right? Don't you think that the separation between businessmen and the government is more important?"
Shen Yiyuan pondered for a moment, then finally shook his head and explained: "Businessmen are attached to the government. This has become the norm. It cannot be changed by simply changing it. Besides, this is a matter that is extremely offensive to officials. Officials can raise it. Prince You can raise it, and the emperor can raise it, but the businessman himself cannot raise it."
"The most important thing is that this is not an easy thing to do. Even if the imperial court makes a decree, it may not have much effect and can only bring bad reputation to the merchants. On the other hand, imposing a sea ban is negotiable and feasible. Once the emperor gives permission, That day people will remember that it was the merchants who helped the Ming Dynasty lift the sea ban! This is the reputation of the merchants!"
Zhu Zhi looked at Shen Yiyuan and said solemnly: "You are too talented to be a businessman. If you have this kind of mentality, you can definitely serve the imperial court."
Shen Yiyuan's mouth was bitter, thinking of his dead family members, and said lonely: "Your Majesty, I am just a businessman, a simple Huizhou businessman."
"Haha, since you don't want to, I won't force you. Arrange the goods and prepare to enter Beijing."
Zhu Zhi laughed.
Yangzhou, the most important town in Jiangbei.
Chang Baiye rode a horse, looked back at the mighty cavalry, pointed to Yangzhou City in front, and shouted to the guys behind him: "Let's go into the city first."
With that said, he took a dozen horses and galloped away.
When Chang Baiye arrived outside Yangzhou City with more than a dozen men, he was stunned when he saw the unsuspecting city gate. He turned around and said to the men beside him: "If we were Mongols, would Yangzhou City have already fallen?" ?”
