Ming Zuo

Chapter 1064 Contradictions
Ever since Mrs. Zheng chose to side with Dongpu, the conflict between the two sides has been on the surface.

and irreconcilable.

Relying on the favorable location, the Zheng family monopolized the trade from Nanyang to Japan and made a lot of money.

But in fact, most of Zheng's interests actually come from the mainland.

After all, China in this era is the world's largest commodity production base and source of export sales.

The Zheng family has developed and grown by selling domestic products to the outside world through various official and smuggling channels, and collecting tolls.

But now, Zheng's business model has been strongly impacted by Xia Guo.

Among the commodities China exports to the outside world, besides porcelain, textiles occupy an important position.

In addition to silk, the number of cotton spinning products in textiles is even more amazing.

But now Shandong, the largest cotton planting base, is in the hands of Xia Guo, and Songjiang Prefecture, the largest cotton spinning center, is also in Xia Guo's hands.

This is equivalent to Xia Guo completely monopolizing the export of cotton textiles.

If the Xia Kingdom does not have the ability to trade overseas, then the two sides can still live in peace.

Xia Guo can only rely on Zheng's trade channels to sell products to the outside world and endure Zheng's exploitation.

But now Xia Guo's ocean-going capabilities have developed, and are getting stronger and stronger.

In addition, the route from the north of Songjiang Mansion to Dongying is not under Zheng's control, which allows Xia Guo to dump products to Dongying without passing through Zheng's territory.

The market is so big, if Xia Guo takes more, Zheng will lose more.

Under the ebb and flow, how can the Zheng family endure this situation?
In addition, the Tokugawa shogunate was also dissatisfied with the status quo.

As a feudal regime, what the Tokugawa shogunate wanted to do most was to close the country.Then keep Nagasaki as an external window, and it is still in your own hands.

In this way, it is equivalent to grabbing most of the benefits of foreign trade.Not only can it strengthen itself, but it can also weaken other daimyos and consolidate their own rule.

As a result, Xia Guo used force to open the door, and while a large number of goods poured in, it also caused a great impact on the prestige of the Tokugawa shogunate.

Now in Japan, there are voices of doubts about the Tokugawa shogunate.

Those daimyos who were not reconciled at first were even more eager to try, and could jump out at any time to challenge the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate.

The Tokugawa shogunate desperately wanted to return to the previous situation, so they could only unite with the Zheng family, always looking for opportunities to drive Xia Guo out of Dongpu.

From Xia Guo's point of view, he also doesn't like the current situation.

The Xia Kingdom was founded on business, and commercial trade was the biggest source of wealth for the country.

Although the business channels of North Korea and Japan have been opened, if they want to participate in global competition, they must go to Nanyang.

However, the passage to Nanyang is in the hands of Mrs. Zheng. Every ship from the Xia Kingdom must pay a toll of [-] taels of silver every year when passing through this route.

With such a heavy cost burden, Xia Guo has long complained.

It can be said that even if Zuo Menggeng does not plan, the interests of the upper and lower will make Xia Guo take action.

"Zheng's is getting more and more excessive now. They have raised our Dutch toll to [-] taels of silver per year, which has greatly increased our costs. Now our trade profits with Japan are getting smaller and smaller. If this continues, there is only one way to go bankrupt.”

Knowing Shen Tingyang's arrival, Skrtel came to the door and complained as soon as they met.

With the opportunity of Xia Guo's victory over Dongpu, the Netherlands has reaped enough benefits.Because of his outstanding performance, Skrtel was appointed as the general representative in Japan by the Dutch East India Company.

The East India Company had already given him instructions to work closely with Xia officials to maintain the same interests.

Now the biggest headache for the Dutch is Zheng's increase in tolls.

However, because of the failure of the naval battle at Liaoluo Bay, the Dutch had nothing to do with the Zheng family and had to endure this expensive oppression.

The Dutch merchants complained and urged the East India Company to take measures to protect their interests.

With no way to form a strong force, the Dutch could only turn to Xia Guo for help.

This is a new situation, and Shen Tingyang suddenly became cautious.

"Oriental trade must be guaranteed. Zheng's price increase is harmful to everyone's interests. I will convey to the country. I believe that our Xia Kingdom and the Netherlands have the same interests on this point."

Zheng has increased the tolls for the Dutch, so will they increase the tolls for Xia Guo?
Shen Tianyang felt that this situation was very likely to happen.

In order to ensure hegemony in trade, Zheng will definitely suppress other competitors.

Moreover, Zheng's methods may not be limited to this, and there may be more intense plots.

With Xia Guo's support, Skrtel breathed a sigh of relief.

He reported a situation to Shen Tingyang.

"The goods that the merchants rescued before were all religious supplies, and they were originally intended to be sold to believers in the Hizen country. According to the agreement, the Tokugawa shogunate was not allowed to harm these believers of God. We doubt the actions of the Nagasaki Magistrate. I'm afraid there is no purpose."

After the war, the peace agreement signed by Xia Guo and Dongying clearly stipulated that the Tokugawa shogunate must not prevent the people of Dongying from believing in Catholicism.

However, the Tokugawa shogunate is extremely hostile to Catholicism, and obviously it will not be committed so easily.

In Japan, they have plenty of ways to deal with unarmed believers.

But since this matter has been known by Xia Guo, it cannot be turned a blind eye.

After sending Skotel away, Shen Tingyang immediately ordered Guo Zheng: "Send someone to investigate the situation in Feihou Country."

Guo Zheng went immediately.

Although he is Shen Tingyang's secretary, he is actually from the Ministry of Intelligence.

Upright and handsome, they are the names of the four brothers of the Guo family.

Guo is the boss, and his third brother, Guo Ting, is the director of the Korean Department of the Ministry of Intelligence.

The second child, Guo Zhi, works in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the fourth child, Guo Xiu, is a local official.

The four brothers of the Guo family are all very talented, and all of them have bright futures.

Fujian.

Zheng Zhilong received a summons from Chen Zhong, which made him sullen and in a bad mood.

"Xia Guo really doesn't know the heights of the sky and the depths of the earth, do you really think that I, Mrs. Zheng, are easy to talk to?"

Zheng Zhibao had a violent temper and started yelling loudly.

All the civil and military members of the Zheng family present here are indignant, and they cannot accept the loss of interests at all.

"An official, you have to act, otherwise Xia Guo will definitely make progress. If things go on like this, who will put me in the eyes of Mrs. Zheng?"

"We must let Xia Guo understand that whoever has the final say in this sea."

Amidst the clamor for war, Zheng Zhilong gradually became firm in his mind.

As the overlord of the East, he felt that he wanted everyone to understand what Zheng Zhilong meant to him.

(End of this chapter)