The eldest grandson of Emperor Ming Dynasty!

Chapter 517
Jiangnan.

Since the construction of the Jiangnan Shipyard, sea-going ships have been continuously built.

The size of this shipyard is more than three times that of ordinary shipyards, and it is only for building large sea-going ships.

According to the special decree issued by His Highness Taisun, each ship can be equipped with [-] cannons.

Theoretically speaking, artillery is prohibited from being used by civilians. Of course, Zhu Ying would not say that he would set this precedent, but Zhu Ying specially allowed that as long as he is a shareholder of Jiangnan Shipyard, he can lease sea-going ships within a certain period of time. .

There is no need to pay a deposit for leasing, as long as the shareholders guarantee it in the name of their own shares.

The gunpowder needed for artillery needs to be purchased separately.

If a sea-going ship is destroyed at sea, then it has to bear the corresponding compensation. With shareholders, it doesn't matter even if the ship is destroyed and people die.

This can also be regarded as an incentive to encourage maritime merchants.

To put it simply, your maritime merchant contributes manpower, material resources, and financial resources, and I will give you policies. The taxes that should be paid must not be less, and the money that should be distributed must not be less.

At the same time, it is also necessary to crack down on illegal smuggling sea merchants.

Of course, the emerging maritime merchant families will definitely spare no effort in combating illegal smuggling.

After all, as far as maritime trade is concerned, if there are more wolves who share the meat, there will naturally be less meat in the mouth. If you don't take this opportunity to eradicate dissidents, you really want to be a living Bodhisattva.

Haijiang Pier.

This is the latest wharf built on the banks of the Yangtze River.

Less than five miles above, there is the Jiangnan Shipyard.

There are not too few shipyards in Daming, but compared to Jiangnan Shipyards, they are still worse.

Because it is solely for the purpose of building sea-going ships, and there are as many as [-] major Jiangnan families as shareholders, which has also led to many excellent craftsmen, some extremely inherited craftsmanship, being brought into the shipyard.

And the big ship built must be extremely strong and luxurious.

It is said that the wood of the big ship was specially donated by some big families. The bottom of the ship alone is worth [-] Guan. It is all high-quality old ship wood.

There are bustling crowds by the pier today.

Of course, these are not ordinary people. If you look carefully, you can find that the crowd on the shore is divided into about [-] small groups, and there are people in luxurious clothes in each group.

They are not lowly merchants. According to the court's law, merchants are not allowed to wear silk and satin.

But these people who are doing business in the business, in fact, each of them really has a reputation, and at worst it is also a reputation as a scholar.

One by one, they are the bosses behind this scene.

Regardless of whether it is the Jiangnan Shipyard, or the money and expenses in the factory, including the timber on those big ships, these people have gathered together to make it.

In other words, the current Jiangnan Shipyard belongs to the imperial court in name, but in fact all the expenses, even for the craftsmen, are paid by these families.

Now they stretched their necks one by one, looking at the river in the distance.

Chen family.

One can be regarded as a big family in the south of the Yangtze River.

However, because the population is not considered prosperous, it can only be counted as medium.

Chen Dalin is the head of the Chen family, and he is only in his 40s now.

"Father, this time we are almost going to empty out our family. Can we really start our business with this ship?"

"If we encounter any failure, it will be a huge blow to our Chen family."

"It is said that maritime trade makes money, but the risks at sea are also extremely high. The government does not care about any accidents. They only care about their own ships."

Chen Dalin's eldest son, Chen Qizhi, frowned.

There was a bit of worry in his tone, as if he didn't like maritime trade very much.

Chen Qizhi refused in his heart to participate in this business before, but even though he is the eldest son, already in his twenties, his father has the final say on matters in this family.

And this is not to say that only the father paid for it, but that the entire Chen family put their money into it.

Chen Qizhi obviously still wanted to be more prudent, and didn't want to fight such a hand.

"Qi Zhi, there are risks related to maritime trade, but this is not worth mentioning at all for the profits gained."

"It is said that there is an element of gambling, but in fact it is extremely guaranteed."

"Who is His Royal Highness, the Qunying Chamber of Commerce was created by His Royal Highness, and the current business has reached a heinous level."

"As long as we closely follow the path of His Royal Highness, we will definitely make a fortune."

"Don't worry, on this point, the father has already considered it thoroughly. This is the greatest hope for our Chen family at present."

Chen Dalin said in a deep voice.

Chen Qizhi was obviously still a bit reluctant, and muttered: "His Royal Highness really played a good game of chess."

"It doesn't matter if you don't pay a penny, the shipyard becomes his. Even the sea-going ships that are built have nothing to do with us, and we have to spend extra money to lease them."

"It's too...beautiful."

Hearing his son's complaints, Chen Dalin, who was staring at the river in front of him, turned his head and said, "His Royal Highness is willing to share the profits with everyone, which is already very good."

"We were lucky to get this chance."

"There are countless families who are willing to spend money on this path. If it weren't for some special reasons back then, it is unknown whether our Chen family would be here today."

"It's worth it no matter how much you spend."

Chen Qizhi also knew that it was difficult to convince his father on this point, so he could only say instead: "We can't be like other families, let's see the signs first."

"madness!"

Chen Qizhi wanted to say more, but was interrupted by Chen Dalin's scolding.

"Do you know how difficult it would be if the son-in-law chooses to enter at this time, and then come in when there is specific news later."

"You think everyone is playing tricks like you."

"Did you know that every big ship is equipped with 28 cannons, and these cannons are allowed to be used after leaving Daming."

"This means that we are outside, but we have the strength to use firearms."

"For my father, I have already applied for twelve new-style matchlock firecrackers, and by that time, you will bring someone who is about the same age as you from the No. 20 family, and give it to our Chen family to make a name for yourself outside. "

Chen Dalin believed in his heart that the direction His Highness Taisun appointed must be able to make a lot of money.

As a family in the south of the Yangtze River, since the establishment of the Ming Dynasty, it has suffered a lot of suppression from the capital, and the heavy taxation has made the entire Chen family a little breathless.

In many cases, we have to rely on the foundation left by our ancestors to support us.

Now, not to mention the expansion, it is very rare to be able to keep the current family's business and land property.

Such a situation, of course, not only happened in the Chen family, but also in other families in the south of the Yangtze River.

Regardless of the fact that taxes still fall on the people in the end, it seems that these big families can still enjoy themselves, but the big environment has changed, and there is a saying that there will be no eggs under the nest.

Whether it is a family or a country, the people are the foundation here.

When taxes become higher, there are only two choices for the aristocratic family, either to exploit the people more vigorously, or to reduce the rent from the people.

In fact, everyone knows in their hearts that exploiting the people is called a long flow of water. If they kill the chickens and take the eggs at this time, the ones who suffer the worst luck in the end will be their own family after all.

Most of the families, since the year of Hongwu, have reduced or exempted their tenants.

People are fundamental, and in order to preserve enough tenants, there is no other way.

There were also families who exploited severely, but the refugees that resulted were quickly investigated by the government, and then swallowed the consequences themselves.

In the 26 years since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the heritage of the Jiangnan gentry has been continuously consumed, and some of them have even been unable to maintain their glamor on the surface.

Now His Royal Highness Taisun gave a way out, and everyone naturally tried their best to seize it.

Chen Dalin undoubtedly believed in His Royal Highness the Grandson.

The other gentry would wait and see, but Chen Dalin was going to take such a gamble and try his best to cooperate with His Royal Highness Taisun's edict.

This time he went to sea, he directly asked his eldest son to go, in order to truly open up a branch of the Chen family overseas.

On Chen Qizhi's side, hearing that his father had even prepared a firearm, he couldn't help but feel a little guilty.

He whispered, "Father, I've always learned the ways of Confucius and Mencius. We're going to do business with firearms. Isn't that a little too much?"

"How do you feel that the boy is no different from a bandit when he goes to sea this time?"

Here in the south of the Yangtze River, there is a heavy literati atmosphere, so everyone doesn't practice martial arts very much.

As for things like bringing guards and firearms, it was clear that going out would be desperate, which undoubtedly made Chen Qizhi sweat, and at the same time felt a little guilty.

Seeing this, Chen Dalin was not angry at all. He knew very well in his heart that it was unrealistic for the eldest son to change from being refined and easy-going to being vicious all at once.

But it's up front.

"Do you know the difference between overseas and our Daming here?"

Chen Qizhi hesitated for a moment and replied: "Our Daming is richer and more powerful. I heard that there are some barren places overseas, but they also have their rare goods."

Hearing this, Chen Dalin shook his head and said, "These are all superficial. For us, poverty is one aspect of overseas. After all, we sell our goods and expect these barbarians to make money."

"The most important thing is that outside of Ming Dynasty, there is no law of Ming Dynasty."

"This also means that if you kill someone, you only need to pay a little money, and you can dispose of it at will. In some places, you even rob other people's things. As long as you have enough people, you can only admit it."

"The same principle is also reflected in you. You are carrying a lot of valuable goods. If someone snatches your goods, why don't you go back to Daming to report to the officials?"

"Overseas, nothing is the way of survival. Only when you have people in your hands, and people with weapons and weapons, is your way of survival."

"The law of the jungle is the real overseas."

"Those who can do business with you must have people in their hands. They will have scruples, so we can trade fairly."

"Also, the price of this product is not the same everywhere. If it should be expensive, you have to be expensive. In some places, the price can't be increased. The reason here is that after you get to the place, you slowly will understand."

Chen Qizhi was thoughtful, as if he had figured out something.

Seeing this, Chen Dalin nodded slightly inwardly.

But the next sentence almost made Chen Dalin angry.

I saw Chen Qizhi asked: "Father, if I remember correctly, it seems that Dad has never been overseas, right? Did the truths that Dad said come from hearsay?"

The veins on Chen Dalin's forehead popped up, and he hit Chen Qizhi directly on the head.

"It's an insult to the gentleman, it's an insult to the gentleman"

"You evil son, you still dare to doubt the words of your father. Remember it clearly for me. You can do what I say. Do you understand?"

After Chen Qizhi took a hit, he suddenly became much more honest.

Although I am still a little unclear in my heart, I understand the general opposite.

Seeing his son's appearance, Chen Dalin also knew that there were some things that could not be rushed, and after experiencing it, he would naturally understand.

But what should be prepared, should be prepared for it.

For example, say hello to the bow of the ship first, and some simple drills for the guards.

Especially firearms.

This is a good thing that Chen Dalin spent a lot of money on.

This is not bought, but borrowed.

Not only do you have to pay a deposit, but you also have to pay rent every month.

Although the price is high, after this batch of firearms arrived, Chen Dalin experienced it himself.

The power of the matchlock gun is really not small, and the general bow and crossbow may not be able to match it.

Of course he didn't know.

Due to the continuous research and development by the Gunpowder Department, the matchlock guns are updated very quickly.

The difference here lies in the maturity of a series of technologies such as fire bombs, matchlocks, gunpowder, and gunpowder chambers.

This has also led to many versions of matchlock guns, and for the versions equipped in the military, it is natural that the latest and most mature technology is the main one.

Because there are more and more factories in the Gunpowder Division, the production speed is naturally faster, which leads to the production of a large number of matchlock guns before the emergence of new technologies.

These arquebus guns, which are out of date, would be too wasteful to destroy, so Zhu Ying simply borrowed them for civilian use with a swipe of his pen.

Special approval for maritime merchants.

Anyway, as long as it is not used within the territory of Ming Dynasty, it is fine. For this reason, some specially approved firearms can be sold, as well as the rental fee for arquebus guns, which can undoubtedly be used to fill the gunpowder department.

As for the sea merchants who have firearms, it is conceivable that after going to various places, they will of course become more arrogant.

On this point, Zhu Ying naturally acquiesced.

(End of this chapter)