In the midst of everyone's sighs, Zhou Renyuan and Zhu Cihong returned to Qinchaxingyuan. Pen | fun | pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 info Zhu Cihong went to rest because he was too strong to drink.

Zhou Renyuan didn't feel sleepy, and sat quietly in the room drinking tea. Mo Zhu whispered, "Little Wangye, aren't you sleepy?" Do you want me to wash you? ”

"No!" Zhou Renyuan shook his head, "Mozhu, if you are sleepy, go and rest first, I am waiting for someone." Besides, I'll wash myself, so I don't need you to wait, so go down. ”

Mo Zhu hesitated for a moment and said, "It's freezing this day, I'll still bring another pot of fire for the little prince and accompany the prince." ”

Zhou Renyuan smiled and said, "I drank wine just now, and my body is hot." You should rest early, and when the Iron Mountain will bring guests in, you don't have to be busy. ”

Mo Zhu answered and bowed his head and went out.

After a while, Shen Tieshan reported outside the door, "Lord Wang, Zheng Zhilong, Zheng Zongbing came to visit. "Finally came, Zhou Ren said in a distant heart, and said to Shen Tieshan, "Please wait in the front hall, and I will come later." ”

Zhou Renyuan came to the front hall and saw Zheng Zhilong, Zheng Hongkui and Zheng Chenggong all coming, and he was a little surprised, he originally thought that Zheng Zhilong would come alone.

When Zheng Zhilong and the three of them saw Zhou Renyuan, they hurriedly saluted, "The three of them came uninvited to disturb the prince's rest, forgive the sin." ”

"Where? Where? Zhou Renyuan said with a smile, "It's my honor that the three generals Zheng came together, how can I blame the three." Please take a seat, Iron Mountain, and serve tea! ”

Shen Tieshan poured tea and walked out to stand guard outside the door.

Zheng Zhilong took a sip of tea and said, "The three generals were shocked to hear that the prince said at today's dinner that there are so many powerful fleets of overseas barbarians, I don't know how the prince learned these news?" He was still a little skeptical of Zhou Renyuan's words.

"When I was in Hengzhou, there was a foreign missionary named Rost, who had lived in Macao for some years, and then came to Hengzhou, and I happened to be friends with him. That's what he told me. Zhou Renyuan made an excuse.

"Oh! It turned out to be a foreign missionary, who lived in Macao all the year round, and it seems quite credible. Zheng Zhilong nodded.

"It seems that the prince, unlike most of my officials in the Ming Dynasty, has actually become friends with foreign missionaries." Zheng Zhilong joked.

Zhou Renyuan knew that he didn't mean to laugh at himself, on the contrary, Zheng Zhilong himself was a Christian, baptized by Christianity, but his religious beliefs were very complicated, he was a pragmatist, because his wife was Japanese, and he also worshipped the god Hachiman in Japan. "I don't look at my background when I make friends, as long as I appreciate them, I am willing to be friends with him, such as Major General Zheng." Zhou Renyuan glanced at Zheng Chenggong meaningfully. Zheng Chenggong was grateful, it seems that this prince really regards himself as a friend.

Zheng Zhilong was both shocked and happy at this time, it seems that the prince at the dinner party regarded his son as a friend sincerely, and it was worth this trip to be able to catch the line of the prince of the Ming clan. Hurriedly said, "How can the dog be virtuous, it is really an honor for my Zheng family to be favored by the prince." ”

"Since I am a military friend with Major General, and Ling Lang and Brother Ling are sitting here, this king will get straight to the point." Zhou Renyuan is colorful.

Zheng Zhilong and the three of them hurriedly bowed down and replied, "Please also ask the prince to teach you." ”

"Do you know what the purpose of this king is to accompany the prince on his tour?" Zhou Renyuan said softly, "This king was specially ordered by the emperor to come to Zheng Zongbing!" ”

"Huh?" Zheng Zhilong and the three of them trembled for a moment, and hurriedly knelt on the ground, "The last general, Zheng Zhilong, listens to the emperor's will." ”

Zhou Renyuan took out a copy of Huang Aya's holy decree from his arms: "Fengtian carrier, the emperor edict said, Fujian chief military officer, the governor of the same governor Zheng Zhilong for my Ming Dynasty to defend the sea frontier, repel the barbarians, and raise the prestige of our country, the merit is in the future." However, if you support the army and respect yourself, and listen to the tune and don't listen to the announcement, what do you want? Moreover, the private opening of the sea ban, the taxes levied, and the annual income of 2 million silver are full of private money, where do you want to put the imperial court? Specially sent King Yongming to Fujian to inquire about this matter, and if it is true, it should be dealt with seriously! Chin this! ”

Zheng Zhilong trembled, sweating profusely, and muttered, "The last general—the last general--" He didn't know whether to say anything or not. Why, where did the imperial court get the guts to dare to cut him.

Zhou Renyuan knew that he couldn't be forced too much, so he hurriedly helped him up, and said warmly, "Zheng Zongbing, please get up, I have another message from the emperor, I don't know if Zheng Zongbing is willing to listen to it?" ”

Zheng Zhilong's eyes lit up, things weren't so bad yet, and he hurriedly said, "The last general is willing!" The last will be willing! ”

"Mr. Zheng, please take a seat, and the two of you should also get up." Zhou Renyuan said, "It just so happens that the prince is not here, so I will be open and honest." The three generals should know that my Ming Dynasty is now full of thieves in the north, and the Tartars outside the gate are eyeing each other, and the Ming Dynasty is using troops everywhere, and the treasury has reached the point of being stretched. The ministers of the court tried to raise money and food, so they finally remembered Zheng Zongbing. Zhou Renyuan said this, pausing deliberately. He forced Zheng Zhilong to take the money and let the ministers of the court carry it, and the fool would say that the idea was his own.

Zheng Zhilong snorted angrily, and the damned ministers of the imperial court actually hit their heads with their own rich flowing oil.

"But it is a fact that Zheng Zongbing is privately forbidden to do trade in Fujian, and it is also a fact that he is making money every day, I am right." Zhou Renyuan continued.

Zheng Zhilong's face changed, and he nodded with difficulty, this matter is known all over the world, after all, it can't be covered up.

"This matter was raised by the ministers of the court, how do you think the emperor should deal with this matter? Take Zheng Zongbing into Beijing to ask for the guilt or when there is no such thing? Won't taking Zheng Zongbing chill the hearts of the Fujian people, and it will also chill the hearts of other ministers of the court who are sincere in doing things, after all, Zheng Zongbing has made great contributions to the Fujian people, right? Zhou Renyuan said bitterly.

"That's right! Right! My brother is dedicated to Daming, how can he be treated like this? Zheng Hongkui interjected.

"Zheng Zongbing's loyalty to the king is still understood, but if you let the emperor be fooled, how can you explain it to the ministers of the court, how to explain it to the people of the world? Otherwise, I wouldn't have sent the prince and me to talk to Zheng Zongbing in person. Zhou Renyuan followed the good path.

Zheng Zhilong pondered for a while, and suddenly slapped the table and said, "Say, Lord Wang, how many taels of silver is the court going to ask me to take?" ”

"Zheng Zongbing is refreshing, what a smart person!" Zhou Renyuan praised. "The emperor means that the Fujian sailors take out three of the tax revenues every year and send them to the imperial treasury. In this way, it can not only show the loyalty of Zheng Zongbing, but also allow the emperor to block the mouth of the imperial court. ”

"Thirty percent? That's nearly 600,000 taels of silver, and you have to pay it every year, isn't that too much? Zheng Hongkui said in a low voice.

Zhou Renyuan sneered and said, "Three generals, if you really count it, this tax should be all from the imperial court, and 600,000 taels is a small matter for you." Besides, if the king makes an idea, all your annual taxes will be lost. ”

"The prince's words are a bit too big." Zheng Hongkui didn't believe it. Even Zheng Zhilong didn't believe it when he drank Zheng Chenggong.

"Really? Three generals, this king knows that you don't believe it. I only need to suggest to the emperor that a customs tax department be set up in Fujian, and the imperial court will send people to open a government here to collect taxes, I don't know how the Fujian sailors will deal with themselves at that time? Rebellion or going overseas? Zhou Renyuan did not change his color.

Zheng Zhilong's face turned pale, this is a killer feature, when the imperial court really sets up a customs office in Fujian to receive trade taxes, should he pay this right or not? What a big problem. If you don't pay it, it means that you want to confront the court with an iron heart, this is undoubtedly a rebellion, hand it over, what do you eat and drink in these troops, do you want to pull the flag again and be a pirate? I can be the chief soldier today, it is not easy for the princes of one side, and it is really unbearable to give up.

He stood up, bowed to Zhou Renyuan, and said, "The last general has figured it out!" I am willing to give 40% of the income, 30% to the court, and the remaining 10% to the prince! ”

Zhou Renyuan looked at Zheng Zhilong with a smile, Lao Zheng is an understanding person! "This king's martial arts are not accepted, how can this be embarrassing?"

Zheng Zhilong is also a good person, and when he saw Zhou Renyuan's expression, he knew that he was willing to accept his income, and said with a smile: "Don't thank you for not making a proposal to the imperial court to set up a customs?" This is the greatest credit to all the soldiers of my Fujian Navy, and it is completely deserved! ”

"Alright! I just laughed it off! Zhou Renyuan is no longer hypocritical, Zheng Hongkui has seen too many such scenes, and it is not surprising for a long time. But Zheng Chenggong was a little disappointed in Zhou Renyuan in his heart, he thought that Zhou Renyuan was different and regarded himself as a friend, but he came for his own money. My heart aches.