Daming: Lend the system to Emperor Hongwu at the beginning

Chapter 39 Zheng Zhilong

One of the most critical points of Ming Dynasty in history is Zhu Yuanzhang's policy of seclusion and isolation.

This policy did exist, and it basically ran through the entire Hongwu Dynasty, but it did have historical significance at that time, in order to prevent the remnants of Zhang Shicheng who escaped into the sea.

In fact, this policy was basically abolished during the Zhu Di period. After all, the famous Zheng He's voyages to the West took place during this period.

Zheng He's voyage to the West was not only to promote the majesty of the upper country, but it can also be understood as a foreign trade led by the royal family.

It's just a pity that such national trade never happened again with Zheng He's death in the eighth year of Xuande.

But did foreign trade in the Ming Dynasty really stop?
Of course not, but this huge benefit was pocketed by the gentry bureaucrats on the southeast coast.

Through smuggling, they can obtain huge amounts of silver from foreign trade every year.

And then through the use of silver as a stepping stone, bribing officials, and forming gangs, after hundreds of years of development, the tentacles of this interest group have spread to almost the whole of southern China.

When they were at their strongest, they even had the ability to intervene in the cabinet replacement.

During the Jiajing period, Japanese pirates on the southeast coast were all over the place, and the imperial court was inexorable, and finally the customs had to be completely closed, which was the reason why this huge interest group had secret influence.

When Zhu Yuanzhang read through the history of the Ming Dynasty, he was keenly aware of the existence of this huge interest group that officials, businessmen and gentry participated in.

He understands that this group is like a leech lying on the body of the Ming Dynasty constantly sucking blood. If the Ming Dynasty wants to break through and stand up, this leech must be pinched to death.

In the previous year, among the hundreds of wealthy families that Xu Da and Li Wenzhong killed, [-]% were inextricably linked with this group.

For example, the Hua family and Xu family in Songjiang Prefecture, all of which have more than [-] mu of mulberry fields, are the main suppliers of smuggled silk overseas.

Of course, these families that have been destroyed by Zhu Yuanzhang are not the main body of this smuggling-based interest group, but only his branches.

His main body is distributed along the coast, and they are not even a few big families with famous names like the Shanxi merchants. They are numerous in number and are brave and ruthless.

They were hiding among the hundreds of millions of people along the coast of Daming.

This is the fundamental reason why this interest group cannot be defeated.

Zhu Yuanzhang knew very well that even if he could kill several prominent leaders of the group, as long as the main body of the group was not destroyed, the smuggling group would always exist.

"Zheng Sen, has your father made up your mind?"

"Our majesty only gave him three days to think about it, and he missed this opportunity. If you wait until the civil unrest is wiped out by the court first, and your fleet doesn't help, then everything that you promised you before will not count. It's over!" Mu Ying asked lazily while lying on the side of the boat, exposing her tanned muscles.

"Hehe, how can such a big thing be so easy to make a decision!"

"But don't worry, I know my father. The imperial court promised him the title of Duke Jinghai, but he couldn't refuse it. Now all he thinks about is the honor of honoring the prince and honoring the ancestors." One looked even younger than Mu Ying. A little boy, lying side by side with him on the side of the boat, looking out to the sea together.

"Stinky boy, you are the smart one!"

Just as the two were talking, a big man walked out of the cabin in a swift manner.

Seeing the person coming, Mu Ying couldn't help but be shocked.

He knew that the critical moment had come.

"Are you really Mu Ying?" Zheng Zhilong stared at Mu Ying and asked.

"If it's fake!" Mu Ying was not afraid, and looked at the sea hero with bright eyes.

"Does the court really want to open the sea? No more restrictions?" Zheng Zhilong skipped the topic and asked again.

"That's right, there are at least [-] trade ports along the southeast coast, all of which can be traded abroad. They are protected by the imperial court and only need to pay a small amount of commercial tax." Mu Ying said.

"Haha, worthy of being the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, he is so daring and courageous!"

"But if you do it like this, you're just killing the turtle sons who make a living by smuggling along the coast. It's no wonder they don't jump."

"I can tell you responsibly, as long as this news spreads, civil unrest will start in the entire southeastern coast, including Fujian, Zhejiang, and Guangdong. At the same time, a large number of "Japanese pirates" will surely land, burn, kill and loot. Is your majesty the emperor ready for this?" Zheng Zhilong asked solemnly.

"That's why you don't have to worry about Zheng Dao's head."

Mu Ying smiled indifferently and said, "But as far as I know, foster father never does anything unsure."

Zheng Zhilong's face changed again, and finally he gritted his teeth: "His grandma's, I did it this time."

"Whether the Emperor Hongwu in Nanjing is real or fake, I have followed him."

A flush flashed across Zheng Zhilong's face, and he took out a piece of paper from his arms and slapped it in front of Mu Ying.

"The Jinsha Gang in Fujian, the Sihai Gang in Guangzhou, the Lin family in Guangning, the Qian family in Chaozhou, and the names on my list, you should send people to kill them as soon as possible. The level will be reduced by at least [-]%.”

"I will temporarily resist the Japanese pirates from the sea for you. As for the civil unrest in the inland, you can only rely on you to encircle and suppress it!"

"Okay, it's not too late, I'll go back and make arrangements!"

There was also a flash of excitement in Mu Ying's eyes. He took two steps and stopped suddenly and turned to look at Zheng Zhilong: "You won't regret this choice, Master Jinghai."

"Jing Haigong...!"

"Hehe...hahaha!" Zheng Zhilong repeated the name several times, but he finally couldn't help laughing.

soon.

Zhu Yuanzhang got the news from Mu Ying.

There was also a glint in his eyes.

Successfully recruiting Zheng Zhilong means that in the face of "Japanese pirates", he will no longer have to stop in the inland, and he will have the opportunity to completely eliminate the Japanese chaos along the entire southeast coast.

When the civil unrest along the coast is eliminated and the Japanese pirates are eliminated, the entire south of the Yangtze River will basically be completely under his control.

The remaining few salt merchants in Zhejiang, as well as some gentry who slipped through the net, would not be able to make a good climate.

At that time, there will be huge maritime trade support, and within three years, the entire Ming Dynasty will surely breathe a sigh of relief.

That is to say, three years at the latest is the time to start the Northern Expedition.

"Hmph, it's a pity that Huang Taiji died too early to let him see the real military might of our Daming with his own eyes. It's really a pity to say it!"

Zhu Yuanzhang muttered to himself, and his mood became a lot lighter in an instant.

(End of this chapter)