From Wang Zhi, the owner of the Twin Peaks in the Jiajing period, to Zheng Zhilong, the father of Zheng Chenggong in the late Ming Dynasty, in the middle and late Ming Dynasty, pirates left a strong mark in history. In the beginning, the official history scolded them as thieves, but as the history books gradually became biased, there were more and more people who overturned the case for pirates, and even sang praises of virtue. There are even those who portray pirates as pioneers in the fight against colonialism, believing that these people are just armed merchants, forced by officials to rebel against the people, and have all kinds of historical contributions, completely ignoring the sins of these people who also wreaked havoc on the coast, plundered merchant ships, and killed innocent people.

Of course, the Ming court and most local officials are indeed mediocre and incompetent, and sometimes it is indeed the officials who force the people to rebel, and the personal ethics are also more corrupt and incompetent, and there are few honest and honest people. Sometimes the common people even worship those officials who can make money, but have good political performance and ability, which can be seen from this. Don't talk about others, just talk about Xiaobei's biological father, he should also call his father-in-law Hu Zongxian, who does have commendable achievements in the fight against the Japanese, but his personal ethics are really not good, giving money to Yan Song's father and son, filling his own pockets, and robbing his subordinates of credit...... said that Bai Bi was slightly flawed, that was really lifting him.

But why are the people of Jiangnan so grateful to Hu Zongxian? Isn't it because the Japanese who once caused trouble along the coast and even in the southeast inland were finally wiped out under the leadership of this one? If you change to a mediocre person, Qi Jiguang, Yu Dayou and other famous generals may not have the opportunity to play.

Therefore, in Wang Fulin's view, no matter how much gold was put on the faces of those pirates, it could not erase a fact. It is true that the maritime ban is a far backward policy, but smuggling does not make piracy a scourge on the coast. It can't be considered a good product! True. Some coastal villages were home to pirates. The pirate ship will even help with supplies when it docks, but when these pirates run out of supplies, how many innocent villages and innocent people will suffer? Burning, killing, looting, and adulterating wives and daughters, do those pirates still do less?

As for the imperial court, it has been two hundred years since the founding of the country, and it is still stubbornly adhering to Zhu Yuanzhang's original maritime ban policy and refusing to let it go. Don't look at the fact that the sea has been opened in Longqing now, but the so-called opening of the sea is limited to a small port in the extremely remote place of Zhangzhou Prefecture in Fujian. Strictly speaking, it is limited to people from Zhangzhou and Quanzhou, and people from other places are all excluded from the scope of going to sea. The most important thing is that the purpose of opening the sea in Longqing is not to channel at all, let alone to open the sea ban, but the so-called "in the middle of the pass, the law of the ban", to put it simply, such a small opening is for a better sea ban!

Therefore, until the end of the Ming Dynasty, as the imperial court's control over the local area became lower and lower, it still refused to let go of the sea ban, and the pirates of Fujian and Guangdong were repeatedly banned. The smuggling trade is rampant to the extreme. Even in order to fight piracy, the government often did not hesitate to borrow the power of the Portuguese. It just so happened that the Portuguese, who were interested in monopolizing trade in the East, also hated the Chinese pirates and smugglers who were looking for trouble. He actively responded to the call of the Ming Dynasty and took the initiative to participate in the campaign against the Ming pirates. Comparing the history of Britain issuing privateer licenses to merchant ships, we can see how conservative the Ming court was.

Although there are now Shoufu in the central court such as Zhang Juzheng who are trying to turn the tide, even if Xu Guangqi and others will introduce all kinds of knowledge brought by Western missionaries into China in the future, and even if there are many new trends of thought in the literary world, Wang Fulin, who is familiar with history, can really feel that the big ship of the Ming Empire is indeed too rotten.

Having said that, such as the Han, Tang, Ming and Qing dynasties, almost all of them entered the fate of destruction because of an uprising that swept the world, the Han had the Yellow Turban Army uprising, the Tang had the Yellow Nest uprising, not to mention the Ming Dynasty, Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong were more powerful than the other. The Qing Dynasty was the same, at the end of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom uprising, the end of the momentum was mighty and vigorous. Even in the Northern Song Dynasty, there was not a Fangla uprising? On the contrary, in a corner of peace, half of China was used to fight against the Southern Song Dynasty, although there were peasant uprisings, they never swept the world, and relying on maritime trade and developed commerce, they survived under the iron heel of powerful aliens for an additional 150 years.

Why did Zhu Yuanzhang only think that the fall of the Yuan Dynasty was due to the financial collapse caused by excessive commercialization, and did not see the glorious example of the Southern Song Dynasty being established for more than a hundred years because of its developed commerce and strong enemies?

"Brother Wang, Brother Wang?"

Since leaving the courtyard where Xiaobei temporarily lived, Wang Fulin, who had been a little absent-minded, had not come back to his senses until the voice screamed several times, and finally his sleeve was pulled by someone, but he found that Zhao San Mazi and Liu Bo Fengzhong had already met with him. Because Li Erlong's one-eyed dragon appearance is too conspicuous, if there is no major incident, people will stay in the procuratorate, and he only takes these three people when he goes out every day, and the scar on Zhao San's face often becomes the best magic weapon to distract others' attention with a false shot.

Just now, Chen Bingchang didn't rashly tell others what he had seen and heard in Xiaobei before, but he didn't know that when the other three saw people on the dock, they knew that the young lady had arrived, but they only thought that Wang Fulin's daze before was a reunion with Xiaobei, so he was in a trance. At this moment, Liu Bo and the three of them all laughed secretly in their hearts that their son-in-law would finally look a little young, but they didn't expect Wang Fulin to think about something else.

And Chen Bingchang recalled Wang Fulin, who had lost his mind, and asked in a low voice: "Brother Wang, are we going back to the procuratorate directly?" ”

"Well, let's go back." Although he had a lot of confusion in his heart, Wang Fulin knew that after he and his people met, it would not be suitable to hang out outside, otherwise with so many people together, it would be impossible for the people who were being watched to miss his whereabouts. Therefore, even if Xiaobei told him that Lu Guangwu had already brought Zheng Ming over first, he didn't plan to meet him immediately at this time. At a time when he had just shocked most of the officials in Guangdong, if he disappeared from the procuratorate for too long, he might provoke some kind of follow-up reaction.

When he returned to the gate of the procuratorate, Wang Siming stepped forward to inform Master Cai that he had brought Father Francis and the three merchants of the Guangzhou Gang, and he was even more glad that he had come back not too late. The man who was watching the street would soon spread the news everywhere, and he would never be able to hide the fact that he wanted to meet the merchants and the Franco. After all. In the eyes of outsiders. This is the Franc machine man of Hao Jing who visited himself through the lotus stem gate. It wasn't him who instructed it, but he did. Following his instructions, Wang Siming immediately went to the teahouse to report the news, and it didn't take long to bring all the people back.

For Father Francis, who was stepping into the Chinese government for the first time, the first impression of the procuratorate was that it was small – compared to the many churches in Portugal, Spain and even the Papal States, with the town halls, and even with the Xiangshan County Government. He was a little incredulous. Bishop Jia Nailao and Master Cai's mouth, Wang Fulin, an official with considerable power in Guangdong, condescended to live in the courtyard of the three entrances and exits. It's just that this kind of doubt completely disappeared after he stepped into the hall, bowed and sat down, and the door brought a cup of tea.

This is an elegant, very beautiful blue and white porcelain, and that cyan color is said to be quite precious!

Of course, Wang Fulin didn't know that the Portuguese priest had abandoned doubts about his identity because of a piece of porcelain, if he knew. He wouldn't care, after all, he held the imperial court's edict in his hands. There is also the support of Ling Yunyi, the governor of Liangguang, behind him, and he is not afraid of what kind of moths the Franc machine man is playing. He didn't first approach Father Francis, and focused his attention on the three merchants. Sure enough, after a few words of respectful and decent flattery, Master Yan opened his mouth to express his intentions.

"The three of us came this time to deliver the joint letter to Wang Ye on behalf of all the merchants of the Guangfu Gang, and asked Wang Ye to take a look."

Wang Fulin motioned to Chen Bingchang, who was beside him, to step forward and take it, and when he opened it up, he breathed a sigh of relief.

The Guangzhou merchant gang is willing to pay in advance 80,000 taels of this year's Australian bills, that is, 80,000 taels of export taxes. You must know that in the past, although the tax on this export was intercepted by the local government of Guangdong as local funds, it was definitely not so much, after all, it did not include the Chaozhou Gang and other scattered businessmen. Lingyunyi's military spending this year is finally partly worth it!

Therefore, he knocked on the joint letter with his hand, and then said with a smile: "Does that mean that this year's number will become permanent from now on?" ”

Master Yan's face suddenly stiffened, and he couldn't help but glance at Master Zhao, but at this time, Master Zhao said in a deep voice; "The three of us represent the Guangfu Business Gang this time, and this number can be used as a permanent system in the future."

You must know that there is a floating amount in foreign trade, sometimes more, sometimes less, with the fixed tax system of the permanent system, you can imagine how much difference there will be, but in recent years, most of the local governments, as well as the imperial court, all like this kind of fixed tax that is fixed at once, Wang Fulin has no way or ability to correct this understanding of the upper echelons for the time being, so he nodded, and at the same time glanced at the bottom of the joint letter.

At the same time, the Cantonese merchant gang also promised that this year's summer tax and autumn grain in Canton Prefecture, including those of the New Year and the occasional sitting, would all assist Lijia in collecting it - the implication is that if the collection is not complete, they will make up for it!

A small Huizhou Mansion, plus all kinds of miscellaneous levies every year, will reach more than 100,000 taels, not to mention the Guangzhou Mansion on the rich side of Tiannan? The Cantonese merchants are indeed cutting meat!

After hesitating for a while, Wang Fulin said in a deep voice: "Wait for this joint letter, I will present it to Ling Zhitai." If Ling Zhitai nodded, at least two places could be given to the Guangfu Gang in the council bureau formed by the merchants. ”

At least two! Compared with the previous ending of the particles, which may be caused by slackness, it is simply an unexpected joy! You must know that the greatest power of the Council is not only to contact the Franc machine and monopolize the goods, but also to get the power to control the land of Haojing. But what they want to mention is another thing, that is, whether Wang Fulin, who obviously supports maritime trade, can open a port in Haojingao in Xiangshan like Yuegang, Zhangzhou, Fujian! But this is not suitable for mentioning now, and I have to find another opportunity to find out to Wang Fulin alone.

Although Wang Fu Linti didn't mention the last words about taxation, Master Yan and Master Zhao knew it. As for Feng Sanye, he came with him today just for training, so he didn't express any opinions. But when the three of them were about to retire and make room for Wang Fulin to negotiate with Master Cai and the Franc man, Wang Fulin suddenly asked: "I heard that the person who is the leader of the Guangfu Gang has been the old lady Pan of Guangzhou New South City for the past twenty years?" ”

was mentioned as such a representative of the Guangfu Business Gang, Master Yan and Master Zhao glanced at each other, and the latter replied: "In the past, it was indeed most of the old lady Pan's decision-making, he was fair, and we are willing to attach the tail." However, at the beginning of the year, Mrs. Pan was not in good health to recuperate at home, and rarely showed up for several months, and it is said that she was in a very bad condition. The three of us came here this time, and we also wanted to visit the sick. ”

Feng Sanye almost showed a stunned expression. They came to Guangzhou City this time to visit the old immortal, didn't they say it before? Uncle really dares to say, when did that old immortal be fair, it is clearly an old treacherous and cunning, and you can't say it if you are bitter, the most gossip for outsiders is that this old immortal yuan and Xu Xian each gave birth to a son, don't say that a bowl of water is flat, just for the sake of the stepmother's pillow wind and the cry of the young son, he casually picked a mistake and drove away the eldest son, and now people don't know whether they are alive or dead. No one dared to settle this old account before, but now the old guy is paralyzed on the bed and no longer has the domineering spirit of the past, and the clan is in turmoil! It's just that the stepmother is still desperately cleaning the old man's original team, so this time, the Pan family has been completely set aside.

"I see...... When you go to visit the sick, I will go together, which can be regarded as a pity for the elderly. ”

Master Zhao just said it casually, but he didn't expect Wang Fulin to go in person, he was stunned for a moment and couldn't find a reason to push, so he could only agree. After the three of them left the procuratorate, they immediately looked at each other, Feng Sanye, who was not deep in the city, frowned, and when he saw that there were his own entourages all around, he asked in a low voice: "What does this Wang Ye mean?" ”

"Originally, the horizontal and vertical are all the affairs of the Pan family, and it has nothing to do with us, just watch the fire from the other side. Anyway, Old Man Pan has been enjoying it for a long time, and if there is really infighting in his family, it is also because of his partiality. When Master Yan said this, he suddenly changed his words, "However, the lips are dead and the teeth are cold, and we can't stand by too much." Old Lady Pan used to give me some guidance and kindness, if this Wang Ye really has a bad heart, I can't stand idly by. ”

Master Zhao added: "Of course, if Wang Ye is purely just to respect the old and respect the virtuous, then we will purely regard it as respecting the old and visiting the sick, and pretend to be like that in front of Wang Ye." Master Yan, you want to repay the favor, but I also hope that the Pan family will not be as strong as before, right? We came to Guangzhou City to submit a joint letter this time, and suppressed others, isn't it just to win the right to speak in the Canton Business Gang? ”

Feng Sanye suddenly realized. They have been working together for the past few days, and finally saw Wang Fulin first in front of the Chaozhou Gang, isn't it just to take the lead? The interests of the business gang are important, but they are not as important as the interests of the family! As for the affairs of the Pan family, just take care of it by the way.

And Chen Bingchang, who sent the three of them to the second gate on behalf of Wang Fulin, returned to the hall, also in a daze, and didn't quite understand why Wang Fulin asked the three businessmen to explore what kind of illness - he followed Wang Fulin every day, and didn't see him paying attention to the old lady Pan? But when he came to Wang Fulin's side and stood still again, he found that Wang Fulin and the Father Francis were talking about a completely different matter, and they were not talking about business, but other topics that he had not expected at all.

"His Excellency the Bishop has already sent someone to collect the seeds that Lord Wang talked about before, but because there are too many types, I have to classify them, describe the characteristics and planting points, so I didn't bring them this time."

"It's great that Bishop Jia can remember this." Wang Fulin bowed his head happily, and then threw out another thing that he had been preparing for a long time, "I heard that the Catholic Church has opened a St. Paul's Seminary in Macau, which specializes in training missionaries from Portugal to learn the language of our country? So, I would like to make a request, and I would like to recommend a few people here who will teach them Portuguese as soon as possible, so that they can converse with Portuguese people in Portuguese for the first time. If this attempt is successful, then I would like to entrust the Convent of St. Paul with training a group of people who can read and write in Portuguese. If possible, it will be a long-term collaboration. (To be continued.) )