In February 1647, after Zheng Chenggong held the oath meeting, he erected two white flags for recruiting troops at the city gate of Kinmen County, with the word "loyalty" written on one side and "anti-Qing and restoration of the Ming Dynasty" on the other.

Seeing the recruitment information, many poor people in this era were willing to join the army and eat military salaries, and they came to join the army one after another.

When Zheng Chenggong was busy recruiting troops, he received an urgent letter from the household official Zheng Tai and immediately returned to Kinmen.

Zheng Tai is Zheng Zhilong's cousin, Zheng Chenggong's cousin, and Zheng Chenggong is the 12th Zheng family of Fujian.

Perhaps for this reason, Zheng Tai is the Zheng family's son who has the best relationship with Zheng Chenggong except for his uncle Zheng Hongda.

When Zheng Zhilong went north to surrender to the Qing Dynasty, he happened to be in charge of the Zheng family's maritime trade in Guangdong, and when he heard that Zheng Chenggong had raised troops in Kinmen, he immediately rushed to take refuge.

Zheng Tai had been in charge of the Zheng family's maritime trade for a long time, and he had a good relationship, so Zheng Chenggong appointed him as a household official to manage Zheng Chenggong's finances and foreign trade.

As soon as Zheng Chenggong returned to Kinmen, Zheng Tai rushed to the door.

In the newly named Siming Hall of Zheng Chenggong's Mansion in Kinmen, Zheng Chenggong and Zheng Tai sat down as the host and guest.

Zheng Tai didn't even drink the tea, so he spoke, "General, the ghost maritime merchants have united and refused to pay this year's protection fee!" ”

"What?" Zheng Chenggong was taken aback when he heard it.

The protection fee was cheap, and his father, Zheng Zhilong, set the rules after defeating the fleet of the Dutch East India Company in 1633 and controlling the sea routes in the East China Sea from then on.

All ships passing through the East China Sea, whether Chinese or foreign, are required to pay a protection fee. The annual protection fee for a ship is 3,000 taels, and the payment will be given to a Zheng family flag, which will be hung on the bow of the ship, which can ensure that you are safe in the East China Sea. If anyone dares not to pay, they will be robbed and killed immediately.

At first, the Netherlands was not convinced, and united with other forces to attack Zheng Zhilong several times, but Zheng Zhilong defeated the Netherlands again and again.

Zheng Zhilong was so domineering that the Netherlands had to surrender.

Since then, the atmosphere of the sea has been quite breathing, selling foreign goods, domestic and foreign businessmen, all using the Zheng banner, no warning. Zheng Zhilong relied on collecting protection fees for nearly six million taels of silver a year.

Zheng Chenggong angrily slammed the teacup in his hand to the ground, "Damn bastard, they think that my father is under house arrest, and our Zheng family sailor is divided, so no one can threaten them?" Come on, pass on Lin Xishan to come. I'm going to teach those bastards a hard lesson. ”

Zheng Tai hurriedly persuaded: "General, now our army's naval division is not as good as before, and we are still facing the threat of Tartars, if we provoke Hongyi again, I am afraid that we will be attacked on both sides, and it will only be more dangerous." I think it's better to be patient for the time being, and wait until we get back on our feet, and then ask them to pay the bill. ”

Zheng Chenggong waved his hand and said, "Gongye, you don't have to worry. Now our army is most likely to fight the Manchu Tatars on land. The sailors have not been fighting for a long time, so it is just right for them to dispatch and rust in the province. ”

When Zheng Tai still wanted to persuade again, "the general ......"

Zheng Chenggong interrupted him: "Public business, anti-Qing requires a lot of money. Our army is now small and does not have much income. The possessions brought from my house will not last long. If we don't have any more income, sooner or later we will run out of food. Those protection fees are very important to us. We must not let go, otherwise other maritime merchants will surely follow suit. In that case, the prestige of our Zheng family's sailors will be completely ruined, and I am afraid that those pirates will dare to attack our Zheng family's idea in the future. So we must teach Hongyi a hard lesson this time to deter other juniors. ”

Zheng Tai said with some concern: "General, having said that, with our current strength alone, even if we win the battle against Hongyi, we will suffer heavy losses, and we may even be in a state of collapse." ”

Zheng Chenggong thought for a while and said, "You don't have to worry, I won't fight Hongyi alone." Zheng Cai and Zheng Lian have won over most of the Zheng family's water masters, they are so greedy, it is time to contribute. My plan is for us to send troops to attack the Franco, and they will send troops to deter the Dutch ghosts."

Zheng Tai said suspiciously: "Will the founding of the country send troops?" “

Zheng Chenggong said: "There is no benefit, of course they will not send troops." However, if fifty per cent of the protection fees paid in the future are given to them. Do you think they will send troops? ”

Zheng Tai clapped his hands and drank: "The general is good at scheming and sharing interests, so I'm not afraid that they won't send troops." ”

"Gongye, please go to Xiamen and lobby Zheng Cai and them."

"Yes, General!" Zheng Tai arched his hand and said.

After Zheng Tai left, Zheng Chenggong called someone to call Lin Xishan.

With the increase in the number of generals under his command, Zheng Chenggong transferred Lin Xishan back to the water division he was most familiar with.

"See the General!" Lin Xishan saw that Zheng Chenggong was busy drinking.

"Jian Chu, here. Sit down! ”

"I wonder what happened to the general summoning the last general?"

"Jian Chu, now those Hongyi are treacherous and refuse to pay that protection fee anymore!"

Lin Xishan was furious when he heard this: "That kind of ghost dares to do this, general, please send troops to teach those ghosts a lesson!" ”

Zheng Chenggong heard the great joy, the Zheng family's sailor should have such an attitude, regardless of his bastard, dare to beat those little people to death according to our rules.

However, the attitude is like this, and the actual action needs to be considered again.

Zheng Chenggong took a sip of tea and said, "Jian Chu, we must teach those ghosts a lesson. But we can't just do it and others can enjoy it. ”

"What does the general mean ......"

"I'm going to join forces with Zheng Cai and them to rectify the discipline in the East China Sea. Let them know that our Zheng family sailor is still there, and the rules are still there! ”

"Yes, the last general will go and prepare!"

"Well, by the way, you send someone to Macao to inquire about the news, to see if there are any merchant ships that are going to go to sea recently, remember to only look for ships from Franc Ji. The Netherlands were handed over to Zheng Cai and they dealt with. ”

……

Zheng Chenggong and Lin Xishan were preparing to go to sea to attack the Buddha Langji.

Zheng Tai took a boat to Xiamen and asked his subordinates to hand over the name post. After a while, someone invited him into Zheng Cai's mansion.

Zheng Tai saw Zheng Cai from a distance, and hurriedly drank it: "See Jianguo Gong!" ”

Zheng Cai waved his hand and said, "Public business, it's all a family, so you don't need so many courtesies." Have a seat! ”

Zheng Tai hurriedly said: "Thank you Jianguogong!" ’

Zheng Cai took a sip of tea and said, "Gongye, aren't you busy on Yan Ming's side, why do you have time to sit here with me?" ”

Zheng Tai put down the tea, stood up and said, "Jianguo Gong, my lord sent me to join Jianguo Gong to attack the ghosts together. ”

"Oh, what did such a ghost do to anger our loyal and filial uncles, and they are going to use troops to teach them a lesson." Zheng Cai said angrily.

"Back to the founding of the country, this year's ghost treacherously refused to pay the insurance premiums set by the Taishi. Therefore our lord decided to send an army to teach them a lesson. ”

"Oh!" Zheng Cai drank tea and said noncommittally.

Made, that huge amount of protection fee Lao Tzu is red to death. Now that Zheng Zhilong is under house arrest, Lao Tzu still thinks about taking the opportunity to annex it. How can I join forces with you! Lao Tzu is a fool, will he give you nothing to do?

Seeing that Zheng Cai was silent, Zheng Tai hurriedly continued: "My lord said that if the founding of the country is willing to send troops, my lord has decided to give you fifty percent of the protection fee in the future. All you have to do is send troops to threaten the Dutch ghosts. ”

Hearing that fifty percent of the protection fee was given to him, Zheng Cai's breath suddenly became short.

Of course, it is not possible to do it for nothing, but it is another matter to have benefits. I want to swallow that huge amount of money alone, but I know my own affairs.

Although most of the Zheng family's sailors were co-opted, there were few generals who could fight. Once you start with the ghost, the outcome is unpredictable. If Zheng Chenggong is pulled, it is best to share the pressure.

However, only fifty percent is too little.

Lao Tzu has 30,000 sailors and more than 400 large and small ships. Then Zheng Chenggong is only a few people, less than 2,000 sailors, more than 100 ships, how can he share the protection fee with himself.

Zheng Cai put down the teacup, stared at Zheng Tai and said, "I want seventy percent of the protection fee!" ”

Zheng Tai was stunned for a moment before saying: "This, I can't call the shots, I want to go back and tell my lord!" ”

Zheng Cai said expressionlessly: "Then you go back as soon as possible to tell you." Someone to see off the guests! ”