Chongzhen revived the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 316: Military Honor Lord Mingtian’s House

Chapter 316: Military Honor Lord Mingtian’s House

Realizing the great potential of maritime trade, Zhu Youjian quickly decided to establish the Daming Shipping Group under the leadership of the Internal Supervisor and the Naval Yamen Shipping Department.

The main task of this shipping group is to improve the coastal routes of the Ming Dynasty, completely open up the north-south shipping, and transport food from the south and Nanyang to the north.

This is a major policy related to the stability of the Ming Dynasty. Zhu Youjian glanced at Wang Tigan and told him to write down what he said:
"Daming Shipping Group must first cooperate with coastal health stations to establish shipping companies in various places."

"The mission of these shipping companies is to clean the reefs, set up lighthouses, and maintain local routes."

"Each shipping company is responsible for a piece of land and can set up shelters and docking stations in suitable places and charge berthing fees for docked ships."

"Zheng Cai, tell me how to charge for parking."

Hearing the emperor call her name, Zheng Cai hurriedly gave an acceptable number based on previous experience, and said with some worry:
"It's good to have somewhere to park, but I'm worried that some places will raise prices or even arbitrarily collect taxes."

This is a real problem. Zhu Youjian has no confidence in the integrity of the Coast Guard, saying:
"I will ask Daming Shipping Group to set a standard for berthing fees in various places and will not allow them to charge them randomly."

"In terms of taxation, as long as there is a tax payment certificate for leaving the port, no tax will be collected at the stops along the way. Only when goods are purchased or sold locally, taxes will be collected locally."

I heard that the emperor's policies one after another were all looking at the whole country and mobilizing the entire Ming Dynasty's manpower and material resources. Zheng Zhihu, Zheng Cai and others were completely convinced at this time——

Zheng Zhihu listened for a long time and finally interrupted:
"I believe that warships must also have standards."

"Instruct the Navy Yamen to establish an ocean research institute at the Naval Academy."

Zheng Zhihu and Zheng Cai were a little envious when they heard that those craftsmen were able to obtain honorary ranks. Because they have not been awarded the title yet.

At the same time, he ordered the Ship Research Institute to explore various ship types and sails, and build experimental ships as training ships for the Naval Academy.

"The Naval Research Institute will be established mainly with teachers and students in the naval ship major."

So Zhu Youjian imitated what happened at the Printing Research Institute and also issued a reward:

"The greater the tonnage, the higher the rank."

"We can also cooperate with Daming Shipping Group to unblock coastal routes."

"of course can!"

Zhu Youjian also had this plan and said:
"Do you know how to imitate it?"

In the future, as the work of shipping groups and the General Administration of Customs becomes more and more perfect, the probability of such things happening will be reduced.

"These ships must be able to sail across the ocean and can follow the imperial fleet when the imperial court conducts long voyages like Zheng He's voyages to the Western Ocean."

"Warships are one level higher than merchant ships."

"I thought I could send people to recruit them and have them come back to build ships."

At the same time, in order to facilitate the charging of various types of ships, Zhu Youjian thought about it and ordered Wang Tiqian:

With the emperor's treatment, they didn't believe that any of the craftsmen in Luzon would insist on not coming back.

Zhu Youjian laughed when he heard this and said:

Having said this, Zhu Youji thought of his previous intention to attack Luzon and ordered:

"Docking fees are also supervised by the Customs and Taxation Office. Anyone who dares to charge taxes and fees indiscriminately can report it to the Customs."

"I will ask the General Administration of Customs to set up branches in various places and turn some health stations along the coast into customs and tax offices to be responsible for tax collection."

Based on the standard ship type of 100 tons awarded to young builders, bids were invited from craftsmen across the country to encourage them to design ships.

"Tell these people that as long as they can build a suitable warship, I will not hesitate to reward them."

"Western ships are equipped with many guns, and artillery battles often occur at sea. Western ships should be imitated."

Instead, we have to worry about whether there will be too many craftsmen recruited, which will be noticed by Fo Langji.

"Is there a specific ship type?"

Zhu Youjian was overjoyed when he heard this and said:
"Then send someone to recruit them."

Realizing that the object they fought before was a behemoth. No matter how many times they win, for Ming Dynasty, it is just a scabies disease.

Zheng Cai was thinking about the shipping group, and after the emperor stopped speaking, she requested:
"Your Majesty, Dongning Guard is also a guard station. Can we establish a shipping company?"

Use small steps and rapid iteration to build a warship suitable for the age of navigation as soon as possible.

“Vessels of various tonnage are studied and charges are established based on the length and width of the vessel.”

Zheng Zhihu couldn't answer, Zheng Cai said from the side:

"Those who design standard ship types will be awarded the rank of Craftsman."

This approach may not be able to put an end to arbitrary taxes and fees, but it can make the coastal guards know that someone is watching them.

"Let the Ship Research Institute design several standard ship types, encourage merchant ships and fishing ships in various places to adopt them, and set lower berthing fee standards."

No wonder Zheng Zhilong gave up when he saw a good situation and actively sought recruitment.

"Many of the shipwrights in Luzon are Chinese."

This kind of research and development method consumes relatively high costs. But for Zhu Youjian, he didn't need to spend much money. Because the timber piled up in various places was ready-made, the craftsmen who built the ships were also craftsmen who served the imperial court. All it takes is to stimulate the enthusiasm of these people and they can build suitable warships.

Ask Wang Chengen to talk about the rank of craftsman and explain his treatment.

The two were thinking about this problem, but Zhu Youjian did not put all his hope in the craftsmen in Luzon and asked them to recruit craftsmen in Xiangshan'ao and other places. Anyone with the ability can be recruited back.

"Even confer them with honors and let them enjoy the honors."

"You and the shipping group will discuss how to allocate the specific shares."

"My only request is that Daming Shipping Group should control all its companies and hold at least half of its shares."

"If you have too many ships, you can ask several leaders to set up shipping companies and take different routes."

"As long as Daming Shipping Group holds a controlling stake, it will be allowed to dock at coastal guard stations."

The place in Dongning is really a treasure land. You can go south to Nanyang, or you can go east to Japan... There are many routes that can be taken, enough to accommodate several companies.

Zhu Youjian also wants to cooperate with them and let Daming Shipping Group control these routes.

After Zheng Cai heard this, she was immediately overjoyed. Because he had a plan in his heart——

That is, after his own strength grows, he will start his own business from the Zheng family and establish a shipping company.

In this way, he will have a fief and a ship in the future, and he can even recruit troops from the fief to serve as fleet guards.

From now on, you will be able to roam the sea and have a foundation on land.

Thinking of this prospect, Zheng Cai naturally became more concerned about the shipping company. Although he does not have the capital to start his own business now, as the Zheng family's leading business talent, he believes that he will be responsible for the Zheng family's shipping company.

In the future, when my strength grows, I can cooperate with Daming Shipping Group and establish a shipping company.

He believed that he who served the emperor would receive corresponding support.

Zheng Zhihu didn't know Zheng Cai's plan, but he was also moved when he heard that the emperor allowed them to set up a shipping company.

Having traveled back and forth twice in the past few months, he has become familiar with the north-south route. I think we can take this route and traffic goods from the north to the south.

Just thinking about his position as a general, he gave up the idea again. I think it’s better to let the elder brother take charge of these things.

It can be said that although the Daming Shipping Group established by Zhu Youjian is still on paper, it has already attracted many people's attention. Anyone who knows anything about maritime trade sees its potential.

But Zhu Youjian also has his own difficulties, that is, what Daming Shipping Group needs to do requires a lot of money. Whether it is cleaning rocks, building a lighthouse, or building a pier, a certain amount of capital is required.

Now he has some money in his inner treasury, but all of this money has a purpose. He thought over and over again, and could only decide on Zheng Zhilong and others. He said to Zheng Zhihu and others:

"I conferred a title on you some time ago. After you accept the recruitment, the mansion can be built."

"Here in the capital, you can just buy a mansion as a place to stay. The mansion can be built in the fiefdom."

"Now that the specifications of the residences of the viscount, baron, and knight have not yet been decided, I will come up with a temporary policy to allow you to build your own according to the specifications of the earl."

"In accordance with the ancient system of a hundred acres for princes' residences, build a mansion within a hundred acres."

"If you don't understand something, you can ask the inner palace supervisor or the internal official supervisor."

It is planned that these people will build big houses and purchase building materials and decorations from the inner court. In this way, you can make a fortune and gain some money.

After Zheng Zhihu heard this, he immediately beamed with joy. Now is the time for him to start a family and start a business. How could he not like a big house?

What's more, when the emperor said "the princes' houses are a hundred acres", he really treated them as princes.

Allowing it to be built according to the earl's specifications also contains a hidden promise——

As long as they perform meritorious service, there is no obstacle before being promoted to earl.

So Zheng Zhihu was really excited and wanted to go back now to tell his family the good news.

Just thinking that the mansion would be built in a fiefdom where people from his hometown could not see it, Zheng Zhihu smiled innocently and asked:

"I heard that wealth and honor do not return to their hometown, just like walking in brocade at night."

"Can we build a mansion in our hometown as well?"

Zhu Youjian was shocked and said:
"How much money do you have and how many houses can you build?"

It definitely costs a lot to build a mansion with a hundred acres. Not to mention that Zhu Youjian allowed them to buy many things specially from the palace according to the earl's specifications.

He thought that building a mansion would make Zheng Zhihu and the others exhausted. Unexpectedly, this idiot didn't care at all and seemed to want to build more mansions.

Zheng Zhihu hurriedly closed his mouth after listening to the emperor's question. Thinking of his elder brother's instructions before leaving, and what he reminded him of what happened to Marquis Wuqing's Li family, Zheng Zhihu knew that his wealth should not be revealed too much, and what he just said seemed a bit excessive.

Wang Tiqian and other eunuchs beside him couldn't help but look at him. He seems to be wondering why this person is richer than himself.

In fact, this is because when Zhu Youjian calculated the wealth of Zheng Zhilong and others, he calculated it based on the wealth they looted in the past two years. Zheng Cai joined Zheng Zhilong's gang in the past two or three years. The situation he reported formed Zhu Youjian's speculation.

But before Zheng Zhilong became the pirate leader, he had joined Li Dan and Yan Siqi's gang for many years. After their deaths, he became the pirate leader and inherited a lot of wealth.

Therefore, Zheng Zhilong and others are richer than Zhu Youjian imagined. These pirate leaders all hide their wealth secretly.

So much so that Zhu Youjian had the idea of ​​​​squeezing out more money.

However, thinking about the importance of grain trade and the benefits that Zheng Zhilong and others could bring if they dominate the ocean, he gave up the idea and said:
“It’s okay to build a house in your hometown.”

"But the area of ​​the house cannot exceed one hundred acres."

"And your fields cannot exceed one thousand acres."

"For specific information, you can read Qian Qianyi's "On Constant Property" to understand the reasons for this."

In order to practice the theory of constant property, Qian Qianyi divided his family's land, leaving only one thousand acres.

Although Zhu Youjian has not yet determined this policy, he plans to let Qian Qianyi take the lead.

Therefore, he specially reminded Zheng Zhihu and others not to rely on their wealth to buy land on a large scale after being recruited.

When Zheng Zhihu heard the limit of 100 acres for a house and 1,000 acres for a field, he was unwilling to do so. After accepting the recruitment, he and his brother decided to return to their hometown to buy land, so they just proposed to build a house in their hometown.

Unexpectedly, the emperor's idea of ​​​​setting a thousand-acre policy and allowing them to become big landowners was immediately shattered.

Fortunately, although Zhu Youjian has strict land restrictions on the mainland, he is still very generous with overseas land. He also said:
"Your residence in overseas fiefdoms can be extended to five hundred acres, no larger than the size of the prince's palace."

"And the area of ​​​​the baron's fiefdom can be hundreds of miles."

"As long as you have the ability, you can occupy as much land as you want overseas."

“Even if it exceeds the limit, it can be distributed to descendants in the future.”

"Or give it to the court to improve your title."

Encourage these pirates to fight for overseas lands.

Zheng Zhihu was overjoyed and asked again:
"Can the land in Dongning be occupied in this way?"

Zhu Youjian frowned and said:
"Dongning is an important place on the sea, and a garrison has been set up."

"The lord's fiefdom above is no more than ten miles square."

"If you want to obtain a fiefdom of dozens or hundreds of miles, you can go to Nanyang."

"Most of the islands in Southeast Asia don't have owners yet, right?"

There are only a few thousand Dutch in Manila, and even fewer Dutch in Batavia. It's good for them to occupy the local area, and they don't care about other islands at all.

It can be said that there are a lot of unclaimed lands in Nanyang now. As long as these pirates can subdue the natives on the island, Zhu Youjian dares to give them fiefdoms.

Zheng Zhihu has been at sea for a long time, so he doesn't understand these things. Thinking of being able to freely grab land in Nanyang, Zheng Zhihu even had the urge not to bring his fleet to the north, but to grab land in Nanyang.

Even Zheng Cai felt that the shipping company was no longer popular at this time, and wanted to take a few shippers to compete for land in Nanyang.

I just thought that the title and territory still need to be canonized by the emperor, otherwise no one will recognize the land occupied. The two of them could only press their thoughts and serve the emperor well——

Only by achieving military merit can the emperor grant a higher title and obtain a larger land and house.

(End of this chapter)

Tap the screen to use advanced tools Tip: You can use left and right keyboard keys to browse between chapters.

You'll Also Like