golden scales

If it weren't for the strange coincidence of the name "William van Gogh" and Zhu Cihong's preference for Van Gogh's works in his previous life, I am afraid that this low-level businessman of the United East India Company would not have left a trace of disturbance in history at all. .

Now, however, not only did he meet the actual ruler of this vast empire, but he also had the honor of talking with him, explaining and promoting his own culture.

"So, your surname is not inherited?" Zhu Cihong lived in the Netherlands for a long time in his previous life, but he didn't have a deep understanding of the history and culture of the Netherlands.In fact, the only thing he gained in Holland was to learn a little German, which was often used as a joke at dinner parties.

"Yes, Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince." William replied respectfully: "The hometown where I live does not need a surname. When I came out, I used the name of my hometown as my surname."

Van means "from" in Dutch, not von, which means "enclosed in" in German.The pronunciation of the two is very similar, which often has a confusing effect on people who are not familiar with it.And Gogh is just an inconspicuous small village, and even William can't even tell exactly which province it belongs to.

Because it happens to be on the border of the two provinces.

Obviously, the possibility of his blood relationship with the great painter of later generations is extremely low.

"Can you paint?" Zhu Cihong asked again.

"Uh, I'm very sorry, Your Royal Highness, I can only keep accounts, uh, and a little Japanese." William said.

The conversation ended here, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince raised the teacup.The eunuchs around him loudly announced the end of the summons at the right time.

After William came out of the Chinese military tent, he was arranged in the Huitong Hall in Fuzhou City.And immediately took out the pen, ink and paper, recorded this meeting, and wrote it into diaries and letters.

Being able to meet such a big man with such a high status is enough to become the spiritual wealth he left to his descendants.

If it is expressed in the language of later generations: when his descendants are pretending to be aggressive, they are much more aggressive than others!

"Bin, in the court of the Ming Dynasty, is it the eunuch who decides the meeting time? Or because the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty is too young, so..." William came out of the room.I summoned my supervisor, but I still can't figure out the scene at the end.

"Be careful……"

"Well, is this a secret? Don't worry, no one can hear what we're talking about." William said reassuringly.

He Bin looked serious, and said: "You know that there are German priests in the court, so our omnipotent crown prince probably understands German and Dutch. In addition, there is no ceremonial country that allows servants to decide the meeting time. Even if the crown prince is young, it is impossible."

"Then why is it that a servant decides the timing of my resignation?" William was even more puzzled: "Is it because he can see into the crown prince's mind?"

"Because..." He Bin originally wanted to tell him that the rule of "serving tea to see off guests" has existed since the Song Dynasty, and earlier there was "ordering soup to see off guests".However, this knowledge is not within the salary range, and it is beyond his ability to express in Dutch, so He Bin just said: "Because he has been with His Highness the Crown Prince for a long enough time."

William accepted this explanation. Whose personal servant would miss any of the master's habitual tricks?

He asked again: "Bin, when can the talks on trade affairs start?"

He Bin smiled awkwardly: "Mr. Van Gogh, I'm afraid this matter is not up to you and me to decide. I think the court of the Ming Dynasty will conduct necessary understanding before formally discussing the terms of trade."

"Well, that's what it should be." William nodded: "But I have the responsibility to inform Mr. Overwater of what the Ming Dynasty has learned. If your compatriots in the motherland want to know anything about the company from you , you should also tell me without reservation. This is your obligation."

"Of course, sir." He Bin replied without any pressure.As he's uttered the phrase countless times—especially when he didn't understand what the Dutchman was saying.

As a foreigner of a very different race, William was not allowed—he did not dare to step out of the Huitong Hall.He Bin, as a general manager, is often called to handle various affairs.The young but mature William always stares at He Bin the first time he sees him and asks him if the Ming people have asked any news about the joint company.

He Bin's answers are always trivial, but the fact is that he has helped the staff of the First Guards Army compile a whole set of intelligence records of the Netherlands in Southeast Asia, and won a good reputation.Jin Yiwei, who came from the north recently, was also very polite to him, and tested him a few times to see if he was willing to be Jin Yiwei's spy.

As the guest of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, He Bin stepped onto the pinnacle of his life.

"So, a new territory, a new world, will inevitably give birth to a new family." Zhu Cihong sat in the tent, surrounded by Zheng Zhilong, He Bin and a group of staff.This wasn't a meeting, just a routine mid-afternoon break with refreshments in front of everyone.

"Oufuwat's ancestor was a fisherman, and he himself was just an assistant in a small school, not even an official. After leaving the country, he became a feudal town." Zhu Cihong said briskly: "And that face A hairy boy with freckles can also come to see me on behalf of a country in a serious manner. It's interesting to think about it. He Bin, how about the salary there?"

He Bin got up quickly, and only sat down timidly under the gesture of the crown prince pressing his hand, and said, "Red-haired barbarian..."

"Use formal titles, don't despise your opponents." Zhu Cilang interrupted He Bin and reminded him.

He Bin quickly changed his words: "The salary paid by the Dutch is not high. I once heard Van Gogh complain that the salary here is twice that of his home country, but the trauma to his body is four times. But they are here The main income is from the sale of private goods. Ofuwat bought goods from Chinese maritime merchants in Chijian City, and used the company's fleet to sell them to Japan to make huge profits."

"He only took office last year, how bold is he?" Zhu Cihong asked.

"Your Highness, he was the head of the Japanese business hall before, so he is familiar with the business."

"Does the governor-general of Batavia care?"

"Your Highness," He Bin said with a smile, "everyone knows about this. Even the Governor-General himself smuggled goods. Last year, a large ship of a company unloaded the private goods of the company's employees in Dejima, and the hull immediately floated up. Three feet away! These Taixi people don’t live long in the East China Sea and South China Sea, so they have to make a fortune as soon as possible, and then return to their home country to spend the rest of their lives.”

Zheng Zhilong gently tugged on the corner of He Bin's clothes, signaling him not to get carried away.

He Bin didn't realize this.He only saw His Royal Highness the Crown Prince smiling brightly, but he didn't notice that the officers in the seat had complicated expressions towards him.

Although His Royal Highness the Crown Prince emphasized that Taiwan is the homeland of China and the territory of the Ming Dynasty, some people still regard the capture of Taiwan as an expansion of territory.

Especially knowing the huge economic interests in Taiwan, wouldn't it be a good thing to guard Taiwan in the future?What's more, isn't the crown prince's hint obvious enough: no matter what his background is before, as long as he opens up a new territory, he can become a master.

Now that He Bin has revealed the inside story of the overseas enclave first, who can be safe in the future?

"This is human nature," Zhu Cihong said, "It's also because the seventeen gentlemen of the United Company are too petty."

He Bin raised his head in surprise, and thought to himself: I haven't revealed the Seventeenth Gentleman yet, how did the Crown Prince know such a secret matter?Could it be that Jin Yiwei has already...

"If you want me to say, the income from overseas enclaves should be divided into shares based on human hair, and everyone will get a share of the money. In this way, everyone will benefit, and the governor will not dare to harm the public. Otherwise, his subordinates will not do it. " Zhu Cihong said.

"What Your Highness said is very true, but it is a blessing for us to expand the territory for the country, and the rest is nothing more than floating clouds." Fang Jiahong's work progress satisfied Zhu Cihong, so he was given more and more honors.

"You can't say that." Zhu Cihong shook his head and said, "You have been a Jinshi for 17 years, right?"

"Luckily, I was granted a Jinshi background in a humble position." Fang Jiahong hurriedly said humbly.

Zheng Zhilong's heart trembled, he hadn't heard the captain say that he was a Jinshi for so long!A Jinshi also came to serve as a soldier to eat food?

Zhu Cihong said: "Don't you remember "The Analects of Confucius?"

Fang Jiahong immediately blushed like a cooked shrimp.

Knowing that many people here have never read "The Analects of Confucius", Zhu Cihong said: "At the time of Confucius, the State of Lu had a good policy: Anyone who bought Lu people who were slaves abroad could be reimbursed by the office after returning home. Zi Gong, a student of Confucius, He is very rich, but he does not reimburse his compatriots after he redeems them, thinking that he is righteous.

"When Confucius learned about it, he pointed out that what Zigong did was wrong. Why? Because not everyone is as rich as Zigong and can afford the ransom, but everyone has a heart of shame. People would be ashamed to report expenses to the office.

"On the one hand, there is shame, and on the other hand, it is really powerless. What will the result be? The result is that fewer and fewer people are willing to buy Chinese people for the country, and in the end everyone simply pretends to be invisible."

Zhu Cihong said again: "Loyalty, benevolence and courage, propriety, righteousness and shame are the qualities of a gentleman. He can only discipline himself, not others. In a country, there must be a mixture of gentlemen and villains. If a country formulates laws according to the standards of gentlemen, it will inevitably make The villain turns his back on the motherland. The country formulates laws and regulations according to the standard of the villain, so the villain is restrained, gets good guidance, and walks step by step towards the journey of a gentleman. And a gentleman is still a gentleman. Most of the people sitting here today will be raised in the future. Your Majesty, you should remember what I said today."

None of the people present were labeled "gentleman" or "little man" on their faces, but their expressions of admiration were the same.Gentlemen certainly don't mind "proper wealth", but villains can be regarded as getting a guarantee: the benefits are shared, as long as they abide by the rules, they can also legally make a fortune.

Zheng Zhilong still feels deeply about this.

ps: Ask for a recommendation ticket, ask for a monthly ticket~~~!This month's monthly pass is really a bit weak...it must be my illusion, right?