grandfather married

Chapter 122 Rotten in the Stomach

"But. Didn't you always say that going out to sea for trade will cost you nothing?" Ji Sibo looked extremely puzzled, "It is said that sea trade is the second wrong decision made by the Holy Emperor."

Saint Emperor Li Tiancheng's first mistake was to conquer Xiliang three times, and his second mistake was to open up sea trade.

In order to open up sea trade, he asked people to build lucky boats, built a port in Ningbo Prefecture, and sent people to the west, bringing a large number of goods from the Central Plains, such as silk, satin, tea bricks, coarse salt and so on.

But at that time, no one knew where Xiyang was, not even the countries in Xiyang, and the mighty [-] lucky ships full of goods never returned.

Everyone said he was wrecked at sea.

Li Tiancheng didn't believe in evil, so he asked people to build another fifty lucky boats, and set off again five years later, this time, they were still full of cargo.

Since then, Daqi has gradually lost sight of these lucky boats.

Two years later, a person floated from a deck and drifted from the sea to the port of Ningbo Prefecture.

The man was washed ashore by the waves, and was found by fishermen in the early morning. After being rescued, he was questioned, only to find that he was one of the crew members who sailed to the West two years ago.

This news caused a sensation in Ningbo Mansion, and it was soon heard by Datian.

Before this person came to Beijing, he told the story of his voyages to the west.

Fifty lucky boats sailed westward according to Li Tiancheng's will. After sailing for a month, they found land. Everyone was overjoyed. At this moment, a hidden reef hit the bottom, and the six lucky boats couldn't avoid it. , sank to the bottom of the sea, barely saved more than 60 people to come up.

When they arrived on land, they found that this country looked completely different from their Daqi people. They had dark skin, could not speak well, and looked as if they had been poisoned.

The fleet has a historian to record what they saw and heard along the way. The historian introduced this country to everyone as Shendu Country.

Zhang Qian of the Han Dynasty went to the Western Regions and learned about the Shendu Kingdom. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty wanted to open up the official road from the southwest to Daxia, then expand the territory, and develop trade with Daxia, Shendu Kingdom and other countries, but unfortunately failed.

Henceforth, Shendu Kingdom became a legend.

Unexpectedly, their fleet would come to Shendu Country, and the historian was too excited to contain it.

Fifty ships, not only soldiers, generals, historians, but also merchants, these merchants all came with goods, merchants seek profit, and they don’t need to be greeted by other people. Barter.

When the merchant exchanged a tea brick for a small bag of gems, his eyes were red.

Boxes of goods were exchanged for boxes of gold, silver and precious stones.

The fleet enjoyed the sweetness, and they heard from the Chinese people that they should continue to go west, and there was still a country, so they set off with confidence.

During the voyage, they discovered five or six small countries. When they returned with a full load, they were unlucky enough to encounter shipwreck.

In the entire fleet, only three ships escaped, and when they returned to the waters facing Ningbo Mansion, only this lucky guy was left holding on to the deck tightly.

The imperial court lost everything!Even because of the three expeditions to Xiliang and the second voyage to the West, the foundation of the country was almost shaken.

Li Tiancheng built [-] lucky boats twice, which cost a lot of money. There were many courtiers, aristocratic families, and merchants on board the goods bought with money. As a result, both times they left with full loads and returned empty-handed. The pictures and the knowledge recorded by the official historian were also lost in the shipwreck.

The imperial court no longer had any expectations for sea trade. After Li Tiancheng passed away, the successor emperor immediately issued a decree to seal the port of Ningbo Mansion and order a sea ban.

Without the burden of expensive military funds and shipbuilding, the imperial court was able to breathe and regain its vitality after more than ten years.

That's why Ji Sibo was puzzled. Since the Maritime Trade Association lost everything, why are there so many people rushing to send money to Song Xing and the others and ship the goods to the sea?
Could it be that they reopened the sea chart for voyages to the Western Ocean?

Ji Fushou also thought of this point. You must know that every carriage, no matter what goods it contains, has to pay a toll of 100 taels. If the merchant can give so much money so readily, it means that going to sea will Bring them ten times, a thousand times the benefits.

Ji Sibo was speechless, "Auntie, tell me, are all the officials from Ningbo Mansion involved in it?"

It doesn't make sense that a magistrate would not know what's going on in his own land, but the entrance and exit of the city gate is controlled by the government army, and the magistrate's yamen never came out to interfere after the curfew. The four words that came to Ji Sibo's mind were: collusion.

Ji Fushou shook his head, "I'm afraid it's not just the officials of Ningbo Mansion, Beijing is also protecting them."

You must know that smuggling is a serious crime, and the gold and silver these people smuggled is actually stealing the royal family's fat, because Li Tiancheng's sea trade was originally intended to fill the royal family's internal treasury.

In other words, even if the imperial court reopens sea trade, only the royal family and the imperial court are eligible to go to sea.

These people smuggle secretly to steal food from the royal family, and Ningbo Mansion has been able to smuggle safely for many years without being discovered, there must be high-ranking officials in Beijing to protect them.

"So those tolls are not only for the government army and the magistrate's yamen, but also for the adults in Beijing." Ji Fushou said firmly.

Ji Sibo clenched his fists, with an angry expression on his face, "Then what shall we do?"

Ji Fushou glanced at him inexplicably, "Go back and train your soldiers well, and let this matter rot in your stomach."

Ji Sibo was taken aback, "Auntie, they are smuggling!"

"So what, it's the royal family's heel, what does it have to do with us?"

Ji Fushou spread his hands, "Anyway, we have nothing to lose, or is it that you alone can fight against Ningbo Mansion and Jingli?"

Ji Sibon remained silent, he never thought that his aunt would ask him to keep this matter to himself, obviously he could write a letter to the fourth prince, couldn't he?
Ji Fushou saw through his thoughts at a glance, "We can't let the royal family know about this matter from you, Sibo, listen to Auntie."

Ji Sibo was silent, bowed his head in response, and said in a low voice: "Auntie, I'm going back to rest first."

After he left, Su said, "The young master is still full of passion."

Ji Fushou looked indifferent, "That's because he didn't know our ancestors' relationship with the royal family."

After a pause, Ji Fushou turned to order Su, "Go and find out what kind of forces the smugglers have. You have to find a way to see how you can join."

Su was surprised, "The Lord also wants to get involved?"

Ji Fushou took it for granted, "No one would dislike having a lot of money. Anyway, what they steal is the royal family's fat. I eat it with peace of mind."

Su Yi thought so too, and surrendered.

Ji Fushou didn't know that Ji Sibo, who left, was so stubborn that it led to a series of incidents in the future.

　Of course, Ji Zuzong didn't have the good intentions to expose the smuggling matter, but she wanted to share a piece of fat.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)