Chapter Forty-Eight: Nanyangwei

The first is the surname Shi and the surname Zeng.

Naturally, it is the representative of the Shi family in the old port and the representative of the Zeng family in Wanshengshi Haitang.

These two parties can be said to be the official representatives of the Ming Dynasty in Nanyang. Only the household registration of the two places can trade with Xin'an.

It's just that there is a huge disparity in the strength of the two parties, not to mention anything else, Shi Changan's official title is known, Shi Changan is the old port propaganda envoy, and Zeng Yuanfang, the head of the Zeng family, is just a general.

This is always a temporary rank, but he is only allowed to manage the shipwrights.

This time, Zeng Yuanfang also came.

Therefore, led by Zeng Yuanfang, he met the emperor.

Zhu Qizhen summoned them in the side hall of Wenhua Palace.

Zhu Qizhen was very relaxed, but these two dozen people were very nervous, Zhu Qizhen glanced at it, and it could be seen that they were all sweating profusely, and these heroes at sea did not change their faces when they saw the storm, but when they saw the emperor at this moment, they were trembling one by one, and they didn't dare to sweat.

Zhu Qizhen is also used to it.

It seems that in the eyes of many people, he is like a flood beast.

So he said a few words casually and said: "If you serve the imperial court, you are very good, and the imperial court will naturally live up to the merits." Then let Wang Zhen read the holy decree. Each has its own reward.

But he didn't mention it.

It's like a local magistrate at all levels reporting on their work before taking office, Zhu Qizhen says a few words, they salute and say a few nonsense, and then they can leave.

It's just that he never thought of it. After this ceremony, Zeng Yuanfang, who was the leader, knelt on the ground again and said: "Your Majesty, the ministers have been overseas for a long time, and this year, the ministers want to return to their hometowns, please ask Your Majesty for permission." ”

Zhu Qizhen glanced at Zeng Yuanfang, it was true that Zeng Yuanfang was already a little old man, with dark skin and gray hair, although he was dressed in brocade clothes, he had a feeling of inadequacy. Actually, this is an illusion. Before they entered the palace, they had all been trained by the Ministry of Rites, and there would never be such a low-level mistake as their clothes did not fit. It can only be said that Zeng Yuanfang does not match the clothes on his body. It seems to be a bitter background.

Zhu Qizhen said: "Wang Daban, watch and sit." ”

Zeng Yuanfang sat down tremblingly, and Zhu Qizhen asked him about the situation of Wansheng Stone Haitang. Zeng Yuanfang said 1510. Zhu Qizhen has some understanding of the situation in Wanshengshi Haitang.

Wanshengshi Haitang is a place where Zheng He went to the West to repair ships. At that time, more than 10,000 shipwrights were left, and Emperor Xuande asked them to guard the island for the Son of Heaven and be exempt from taxes forever.

If it is said that Shi Chang'an of the old port took the initiative to accept the customs policy and use it for his own benefit, Zeng Yuanfang was passive, and he was quite an afterthought. Therefore, the Zeng family's profit in customs is far less than that of the Shi family.

But he knew that naturally there were not as many as Zeng Yuanfang, but Zhu Qizhen's focus was not on the situation in Wanshengshi Haitang, but on the way Zeng Yuanfang spoke.

It seems that the emperor has his own high-pressure aura, and many people are stammering when they speak in front of Zhu Qizhen for the first time. Zhu Qizhen felt that these people were embarrassed.

At this moment, he is actually an interview with Zeng Yuanfang.

Zeng Yuanfang passed it. But Zeng Yuanfang's idea of returning to his hometown was no longer possible.

Zhu Qizhen was a little wary of the Shi family's financial resources of 500,000 stone grain in one go.

As the emperor, he never trusted anyone, even an old minister like Yang Shiqi had an extra heart, and as for Shi Chang'an, who was far away in the world, he had some trust.

Zhu Qizhen can infer the strength of the Shi family from the financial resources of the Shi family.

You must know that with the strength of Luchuan, he may not have the power to take out 500,000 stone grain in one go.

Of course, the nature of the forces of the two sides is different and cannot be compared. But Zhu Qizhen had to make a worst-case scenario for the future.

That is, the Shi family in the old port, under the leadership of Shi Chang'an, dominated the South Seas.

Could it be that in the future, the Ming Dynasty conquered the Nanyang War, but it was a fight with the Shi family that he supported?

It's not impossible.

Therefore, while the Shi family's power has increased greatly, Zhu Qizhen is looking for a chess piece to restrain the Shi family.

Of course, Zhu Qizhen has learned his lesson.

It is no longer good to be ambitious, adhering to the order of local first and then foreign, before the Ming Dynasty was not straightened out, whether it was tile spurs or overseas, they were all ranked behind.

The Shi family is now in friction with Majapahit. Although the Shi family is beyond the scope of nails, it cannot dominate the South Seas. So it's not too urgent.

Zeng Yuanfang bumped into it by herself.

First of all, the seedlings are red. Zeng Yuanfang is different from the Shi family. The Shi family has been begging for a living at sea for several generations, and they are Chen Zuyi's generals. Therefore, although the Shi family is known as Chinese, they have not returned to China for several lifetimes.

The Old Port has long been at home.

But Zeng Yuanfang was different, he was a shipwright who followed Zheng He to the West. It's Fujian.

When Zeng Yuanfang followed Zheng He to the West, he didn't expect to stay in Nanyang and not come back. So Zeng Yuanfang and even a group of people led by Zeng Yuanfang, many people want to go home.

Although many years have passed, many people have changed from the prime of life to old men, but the more this is the case, the more homesick the heart becomes.

So much so that Zeng Yuanfang, an honest and responsible person, had such a move in front of the emperor.

He knew that it was not appropriate to do this, but he knew that this was one thing, and it was impossible for them to go home without the emperor's nod.

After all, this is the will of Emperor Xuande, and the will of the first emperor can only be overthrown by the current emperor.

Secondly, be familiar with the situation in Nanyang.

Zeng Yuanfang has been in Nanyang for many years, and his familiarity with Nanyang is no less than that of the Shi family in the old port.

And then there is Zeng

Yuan Fang doesn't look good, and in general, he can be regarded as a talent, which is better than the ordinary county order in front of Zhu Qizhen.

Such a loyal, familiar with the situation, and capable courtier is too suitable to be a nail to contain the Shi family in Nanyang.

Zhu Qizhen said: "I remember, some of you can't enter Xin'an Port to trade because of the problem of nationality? ”

Zhu Qizhen's words made many people can't help but say: "It's not." ”

For a while, there was gossip. Talk.

"Ahem." Wang Zhen coughed violently twice, and only then did these people realize that they were in front of the emperor, and quickly reined in.

Zhu Qizhen smiled slightly and said, "Since Mr. Li promised you that after this trip, you will trade in Xin'an, I will naturally not break my promise." It's just that the state has national laws, and the family has family rules, and there can't be no rules. ”

"That's it, Zeng Yuanfang, you are the commander of my Ming Nanyang Guard."

"I can't change the will of the first emperor, but you have made a contribution to the Ming Dynasty's defense of the island, and I naturally want to reward it. The station of Nanyangwei is Wanshengshi Haitang. ”

When Zeng Yuanfang heard this, he was a little dizzy for a while. Commanding Envoys. This is a high-ranking official. He never thought about it in his life, he was getting old, but he became a big official.

He hurriedly said: "The minister doesn't dare to be. Xiao Chen has never led a soldier in his life, and I am afraid that he will miss a major national event and dare not take on this big task. ”

Zhu Qizhen said: "That's it, you are Nanyang Weishi." As for the commander of the Nanyang Guard, I will send someone else, and after you are an officer, you can ask for leave and return to your hometown. ”

"It's just that from now on, your home will be in Nanyangwei. Everywhere will not block it. ”

Zeng Yuanfang said as if in a dream: "The minister obeys the order." ”

Zhu Qizhen already has a candidate for the commander of Nanyangwei, that is, Wang Jinghong's adopted son Wang Ying, who followed Wang Jinghong to fight in Nanyang. Although for a long time, Nanyang was not a strategic hot spot.

But the land of the Ming Dynasty is not too much.

Zhu Qizhen turned his head and said to these people: "You have made meritorious contributions in transporting grain this time, and each of you will reward 100 households in Nanyangwei." From now on, you will be officials. ”

These maritime merchants were overjoyed and hurriedly said, "I have waited to thank Your Majesty." ”

Zhu Qizhen keenly felt that these people were not close to the Shi family, the reason was very simple, if the relationship was close, they would not be able to get the old Hong Kong household registration for so long.

As soon as the forces of these people were combined, Nanyangwei replaced the Zeng family as a force on the Nanyang side.

Zhu Qizhen glanced at the representative of the Shi family and felt that his face was a little ugly. I know that I also need to be appeased, but this one thing does not need Zhu Qizhen to do it personally.

After sending these people away, Zhu Qizhen privately told Wang Zhen to let Wang Zhen do it. Wang Zhen immediately understood and met with the representative of the Shi family in private, but after a while, he found out the situation of the Shi family.