Ming Zhengzhi, I am Zheng Kezang

Fang Yunchun's voice continued to echo in the room: "The dispatch of troops to Xilan is just the beginning. The imperial court requires that once troops are deployed in the West, the families under the Territory Division must lay down their troops and wait for deployment, and there is no excuse to shirk. The ten-year dynasty is also unavoidable. Of course, the amount of regular tribute is not very large. Those present here are at least Tuzhizhou and Tuzhifu, and the maximum is five thousand a year. number."

After Fang Yunchun finished speaking, the room was silent, and everyone looked at each other in blank dismay, obviously shocked by the asking price of the Huaxia court.

After a long time, someone said: "The imperial court is easy to calculate. They want soldiers and money. We are really determined. What if I don't agree? Is the imperial court planning to send troops to destroy us?"

"The visitor said that if we don't agree, the imperial court will punish us as treason and traitors." A person beside Fang Yunchun responded. "First of all, the court's private plunder certificate will not be issued again; secondly, the ships of 36 companies will be prohibited from sailing into any port under the control of the court, and they will be detained immediately if found, and those who report will be rewarded with half of the cargo; finally, of course It’s time to use troops, it is said that Emperor Wucheng has decided to move the residence of the Western Navy to the Lingyamen Duhu Mansion.”

"The imperial court is nothing but blackmail." Proprietor Bao of Nanshanglian said disapprovingly. "Proof of private plundering is nothing more than the ability to dispose of stolen goods in an open and aboveboard manner. It doesn't matter whether we have it or not. As for our ship being detained in Hong Kong, that's not easy. Malaya can't stay, so we sailed to Borneo, and we never saw it." The investigation over there is also tight; the office of the Western Navy moved to Ling Yamen and it was mainly aimed at the Western Yi, so how could the imperial court treat us as a big enemy."

"The news that the imperial court defeated the Tartars and regained the Northland should have been known to everyone." Boss Li of Daxi Company, who was the first to know the news, was not as confident as Boss Bao. "Then the news that the imperial court has abolished the Lu division, everyone knows? What does this mean? Did the imperial court release Nanshan? Emperor Wucheng is the emperor on horseback. Is it possible that he is negligent in his administration? The imperial court's national policy is to advance both sea and land The move of the Western Navy to the south is probably a sign that the imperial court is about to go to war in the south, but you are saying that the imperial court will easily let our more than 100 ships and six or seven thousand men go?"

"Boss Li is right." Su Xiaochun, who is the shopkeeper of Rixingsheng, broke the news. "Half a month ago, I received a letter from my master from Guangzhou, which mentioned that the imperial court seemed to be planning to organize the fifth division of the Longchamp Army, and also mentioned that the Western Navy might be divided into two. Now it seems that this The news is true."

"There are more than 400 Fubo troops and more than 1000 Shence troops in the Southern Siamese Protectorate; more than 600 Fubo troops in the Penang town guard; 500 Fubo troops in the Puji (Phuket) town guard; There are 1000 troops and more than [-] Shence Army; the Fubo Army in Pontianak, Xinjin, and Jeddah has a total of [-], and the Shence Army has [-]; there are also Fubo Army in Machen and Balikpapan One thousand, four thousand from Shence Army." Dou Li, the owner of Manlang Company, squinted his eyes and counted. "If the Fifth Division of the Longxiang Army is stationed at Ling Yamen, then the imperial court will have [-] to [-] troops in the south. Even if the Fubo army guarding the port is not easy to use, the imperial court can at least draw [-] maneuvers from it. Master Lu is here." Dou Li shook his head. "When the time comes, will we go head-to-head with the imperial court or give up our current foundation and go to the sea again? I'm afraid the sons below will find out and won't be of one mind with us."

"Dou Dongzhu is right. The reason why the imperial court does not conflict with Xiyi is because the number of naval ships in the south is not enough." Huang Jisheng, the general director of Dalong Company, echoed: "This is what we need. Yes, but if we don’t know what to do, after two years, the imperial court will have enough warships, so we won’t be given a chance.”

In this way, everyone present understands that the Huaxia Navy is indeed powerful, but the sea area under its jurisdiction is too vast, precisely because it wants to prevent European warships and armed merchant ships from infiltrating through the gaps and attacking the coastal areas of the country. , so it is difficult for most of the ships to be transferred to the south, so we gave the Western 36 this opportunity, otherwise after two years, after the Chinese court made up the Western Navy that was divided into two, there would be no Western 36. It's over.In other words, if the Xiyang 36 family refused the imperial court's canonization and recruitment, then it would be the Xiyang 36 family's turn to be unlucky after the imperial court cleaned up Xiyi.

It is said that it will be two years, but in fact the crisis is just around the corner, and Boss Qi, who was once impatient, has a clear understanding of this: "Just now Lao Bao said that there is no way to sell the stolen goods in Malaya, so let's go to Borneo. This is wrong. According to my information, the imperial court plans to implement some logbook system. Where you come from and where you pass in the middle, it must be reflected in the logbook. Everywhere you go, you must have a letter confirmed by the Maritime Department. The goods you want must also have the shipping order and sales order issued by the Hong Kong Stock Exchange as proof, I am afraid that without the government's permission in the future, it will be difficult to sell this private goods."

Boss Bao felt that he had been humiliated and couldn't hold back his face, so he retorted: "If the ports under the imperial court fail, then we can still go to Heni, Azhen, Malacca, Bencoolen (Bengkulu), Yemen There is always no problem with the port sales established by the barbarians in Jakarta (Jakarta) and Manila. If it doesn’t work, you can still go to Tianzhu.”

Before Boss Qi could speak, Mr. Gao, the leader of the Parodi Company nearby, shook his head: "Go to places like Azhen and Heni, what should we do if we encounter the owner? And the Malacca line can only be robbed now." Buying barbarian goods and Tianzhu goods, and then selling them back to these barbarians and Tianzhu people will not make much money at all, and it is a waste of time."

Everyone chattered for a while, and then Fang Yunchun spoke again: "According to everyone's opinion, most of them think that the imperial court's request is acceptable, so it can be settled."

"Slow!" With this sound, a person stood up. "It's a good thing that the big guys want Topi to live under the wings of the court, but must the conditions of the court not be discussed? I don't think so."

"Captain Sun." Fang Yunchun looked at it and immediately asked respectfully. "Then Captain Sun means how to talk to the imperial court."

"What I mean is to break apart the conditions of the imperial court and go through them carefully to see if they are negotiable." Captain Sun who spoke had three Galen ships and six eight-thousand-material boats under his name. The family is also considered to be second to none, so it has a certain status among the sea merchants (pirates) who speak with strength. "Look carefully, everyone. The imperial court has three requirements. The first is to open a town guard mansion and set up a garrison in Hong Kong." Captain Sun glanced at the people present. "Anyone noticed something strange?"

Huang Jisheng blinked, and asked a little puzzled: "What does Captain Sun mean?"

Captain Sun asked: "Where is the big guy repairing the ship now? Ling Yamen? Malacca? Ah Zhen?"

Captain Sun asked himself and answered: "The imperial court will definitely let us go to the new town guard to repair the ship in the future, so that the imperial court can grasp our specific strength and get a lot of benefits from it."

Fang Yunchun frowned and said, "If that's the case, I'm afraid this one can't be changed."

According to the imperial edict issued by Emperor Wucheng Zheng Kezang, the Huaxia court strictly forbids setting up large-scale civilian shipyards overseas. All civilian ships with more than [-] materials can only be purchased domestically. The shipyard can provide overhaul services to the people, so Fang Yunchun and the others have to repair the ship in Lingyamen instead of the new town guard. As for the repairs in the commercial ports opened by European countries, it will only happen as a last resort.

"This cannot be changed, but we can ask the court to sell military gunpowder and artillery."

"I'm afraid the imperial court will sell the 18-cent ([-]-pound) gun at most." Boss Qi didn't have much hope for this. "As for military gunpowder, that's even more impossible. The imperial court is very strict about it. Rather than expecting the imperial court to sell it, it's better to try to imitate it yourself."

"Imitation?" Bao Dongzhu seized the opportunity to fight back. "It would be great if it could be imitated. Who hasn't tried it, but it is always a little worse than the explosive power of the imperial army's gunpowder. Don't look at these differences. It's just a few steps longer in the sea. That's true. You can beat others, but others can't beat you."

Boss Qi mocked unceremoniously: "The difference? What's the difference? Even if you are given military gunpowder, can you hit it accurately? I don't know who it is. Within thirty steps (about 100m), ten shots miss out on ten shots. "

Everyone present burst into laughter, this was an embarrassing incident when Dongzhu Bao first debuted, and it is still a well-known joke in the circle.

Seeing Master Bao's face flushed red, Captain Sun said, "There's no need to tell jokes, who hasn't learned to walk yet."

Everyone suppressed their smiles, Master Bao nodded gratefully to Captain Sun, but Captain Sun continued: "Let's talk, we have to give it a try, anyway, don't let the court think that we are too easy to handle."

Everyone agreed with these words, and Captain Sun said again: "Second, the imperial court wants to transfer our soldiers and ships, no problem, yes, but the number of troops to be transferred each time must be agreed in advance, and we still have to rely on the sea. To live, the imperial court has transferred away with a word, what is the matter, and let us not eat."

Mr. Gao from Parodi Company praised: "That makes sense. For example, if you want us to send troops to Xilan, you have to give us the specific time and manpower needed to send troops. Take a scoop."

Lai Minglun, the big boss of Minglun Company, which runs Jindao, added: "We have to negotiate with the imperial court about the remuneration for dispatching troops."

Finally, after the previous topic was over, Captain Sun brought up the main point: "As for the third point, the annual tribute and the return to the country. I think the amount of annual tribute is too much, and we are different from the general inner domain. If the imperial court does not turn against Myanmar, we still have to pay the Burmese people, so we must ask the imperial court to lower the annual tribute.”

This is true. Although Xiyang 36 has reached out to the land, southern Myanmar is full of mountains and flat land is limited, and the income from farming is also limited. Xiyang 36 mainly relies on sea routes to make their fortunes. Sea routes are always risky. Save a little, which is not without benefits.

"Besides, the ten-year dynasty is too short, and the cost of going back is too high. The court should be changed to a 15-year dynasty."

But Fang Yunchun said: "I don't think it's appropriate to discuss the matter of pilgrimage. Even if you don't go back for the rest of your life, when your descendants inherit it, don't you still have to ask the court to nod and issue a canonized edict? This money can't be saved."