Liu Kongzhao's staff did not fully agree with him complaining to the emperor, and even most of them did not agree.

In particular, Liu Cong, a member of the same clan, was particularly opposed.

Liu Cong is a side branch of Liu Kongzhao's clan, and he has a reputation for raising people, but he has not been an official, after all, he can only be a county magistrate, where can he compare to the dignity of being a staff member for the earl, and because of his fame and identity of the same clan, he has always been the number one staff member around Liu Kongzhao.

Since Yang Chao robbed the warship, Liu Kongzhao couldn't bear it, and wanted to immediately sue the emperor, Liu Cong persuaded him more than once, Liu Cong saw it very clearly, the complaint was at most a defeat with Yang Chao, and he would never take advantage of it completely, because those ships were lost so weird that people snatched the ship unscathed, which is really too much to say.

Therefore, Liu Cong has always suggested that Liu Kongzhao should conceal this matter, and then reconcile with Yang Chao in private, it is best to get the ship back, at least part of it must be returned, and the rest can be directly reported to the imperial court, so that some concessions can be made, such as returning part of the shipping to Yang Chao.

But Liu Kongzhao didn't listen, it was entirely because he couldn't save the earl's face, so he had to fight for this tone, and he had to go to Beijing to complain.

As soon as this decision was made, Liu Cong knew that Uncle Liu was probably not anything good.

Sure enough, after the New Year, there was news that the emperor sent Wang Chengen to the south, and when Wang Chengen arrived in Jiangnan, he went to Yang Chao's military camp for the first time, which was already obvious, and the emperor stood on Yang Chao's side.

But then Wang Chengen came to the quarrying place, usually Liu Kongzhao can not be here, but at this time he must be here.

As a result, Wang Chengen did not look at Yang Chao's drills, but pointed out that he wanted to see the drills of quarrying, and after being busy, especially after getting the filial piety of Uncle Liu for thousands of taels of silver, Wang Chengen praised the elite soldiers of quarrying.

Then in private, Wang Chengen told Liu Kongzhao directly. The emperor intended to help Liu Kongzhao return the warship, and then ordered Liu Kongzhao to go to Huguang to block Zhang Xianzhong's troops who might advance eastward.

Liu Kongzhao was directly stunned, and suddenly felt that those warships had become a hot potato. If you want to get it, you have to go to war, a fart. He's an earl, and he's born to be enjoyed, and the drudgery of war only wants to do it.

So Liu Kongzhao didn't urge Wang Chengen very well, and never mentioned the matter of those ships, as if he had forgotten about it.

Wang Chengen's plan succeeded, and he was naturally proud again, this was not the emperor's idea for him, the emperor just asked him to come to Jiangnan to appease. This was his idea, the emperor would not know the thoughts of these nobles, Wang Chengen could be clear, and letting them go to war was the best way to shut them up.

As long as Liu Kongzhao is not urging, Wang Chengen is happy to turn a blind eye, let those warships go to hell, and no one will mention it as a confused account, isn't it great?

Although Liu Kongzhao was frightened, the real punishment was not, which was explained by the emperor. Because Yang Chao had a conflict with Liu Kongzhao, and then the emperor punished Liu Kongzhao, this matter was of great political significance. It will create an impression that the emperor favors the military attachés to the Xungui group, and it will definitely make a fuss, and get a group of old nobles to go to the Taizu Emperor's Mausoleum to cry for this kind of thing, these nobles are not unable to do it, although there is no substantial threat to the emperor, but the face is really not good-looking, and it is unacceptable for Chongzhen to fall into the reputation of a mean hero.

Therefore, Liu Kongzhao will not be dealt with at all this time, but Liu Kongzhao needs to be comforted to seize the time to train the troops. Because the navy army under his rule is really bad, but the emperor explained this matter. Wang Chengen kept his mouth shut, he knew it very well. Liu Kongzhao is a nobleman, it is impossible to be the material for leading soldiers, let them train soldiers, that is pure nonsense, he knows that the emperor's words are too naïve, it is impossible to realize, fortunately, he will not say it.

After leaving Liu Kongzhao, Wang Chengen walked around the city of Nanjing, in the name of the emperor to comfort his subjects, but his own purse bulged little by little, and he lived a leisurely life of eating and drinking every day.

Yang Chao has been very busy during this time, and the matter of preparing for the expedition is not so simple, and the expedition of the 5,000 army is not such a simple thing, and it will not be able to prepare for a while.

Although Yang Chao's reserves of military supplies are temporarily sufficient, 30,000 spears, 6,000 iron armor and 4,000 birds Yang Chao's soldiers are not fully equipped, but Yang Chao intends to take them all away, the consumption in the war is very terrible, and thousands of spears were broken under Yang Chao in Haizhou, and the number of short-handed encounters with captives in Haizhou is limited.

This time to suppress the bandits, although the combat power of the Baitou Army is not the same as that of the captive soldiers, but the number of people is too much, and it has now grown to 100,000 people.

As for the bird gunner, Li Wuliu chose to train 1,000 people, but in the crazy training, 1,000 strokes had already been lost, in fact, there were only 3,000 strokes left, and all of them were taken away for emergencies.

The iron armor is even a little insufficient, the newly recruited more than 4,000 people, after one person and one leader, there are more than a thousand iron armor left, fortunately, the iron armor is not easy to wear and tear in the battle, even if a few armor leaves are damaged, in fact, it does not hinder the use, so it should be able to cope with all of them.

The rest is military rations, Yang Chao in order to be prepared, last year set a military system, requiring the warehouse to store enough grain for a year at any time, one year is enough for Yang Chao to exterminate the Baitou army, in fact, Yang Chao's plan is at most a month, the journey is consumed for a month, and two months later just set off for Beijing.

The key is the problem of the ship, as well as the communication with the government along the road, and agreed with Shi Kefa to let the government along the way help, but Yang Chao can't trust the government, who knows how difficult it will be, so he has to say hello to the Wang family in advance, hoping that the Wang family will help.

Although there was no good communication, Yang Chao still sent Zhang Dawei to dispatch ten ships first, load military supplies first, unload the ships in Zhenjiang first, and then wait for the Wang family's ship to transport them from the canal to the Wang family's hometown of Hangzhou, and then enter Jinhua Mansion by water.

In addition to the army preparing for the expedition, Yang Chao also needs to operate in the city, Wang Chengen came to Nanjing, if you don't make good use of it, it won't be Yang Chao.

Eunuchs are more bold than civil officials to ask for money, and they are thicker than civil officials, and they dare to accept any money, and they are willing to accept it, and the wealthy businessmen who also have business in Beijing are also willing to make friends with Wang Chengen. After letting him earn enough extra money, he took him to meet Zheng Hongkui.

On the tenth day of Wang Chengen's arrival in Nanjing, Yang Chao followed Wang Chengen. Banquet Zheng Hongkui.

Full of wine and food, carrying the rich filial piety of the Zheng family. Wang Chengen left satisfied, and Yang Chao and Zheng Hongkui sent him to the door of Jinchai Tower.

Wang Chengen left a sentence: "Lord Yang, you have a good business with Lord Zheng, and our family will leave first." ”

Wang Chengen knew each other very well, Yang Chao told him that he wanted to talk about business with Zheng, and asked him to come forward to help, and he had already said a lot at the banquet, and secretly expressed his hope that Zheng and Yang Chao would cooperate from time to time.

After sending Wang Chengen away, Yang Chao found a chance to have a good talk with Zheng Hongkui.

"How's that. Zheng Siye! ”

found a private room, Yang Chao immediately asked Zheng Hongkui.

Zheng Hongkui is a smart person, Yang Chao asked at this time, and he couldn't help but think about it.

"Dare to ask, in this business, there is a share of the prince?"

Zheng Hongkui asked, Yang Chao took Wang Chengen to a banquet for Zheng Hongkui, and Wang Chengen's expression at the banquet, especially the sentence of letting Yang Chao talk about it before leaving, made him quite suspicious.

Yang Chao laughed mysteriously. He stretched out his finger and pointed to the sky.

"It's the people above the prince, and they have a part in it."

Zheng Hongkui was stunned for a moment, the people above Wang Chengen? Wang Chengen is already a eunuch with a pen. Who else could there be above him besides the emperor?

The emperor's participation in smuggling through the sea, this situation makes Zheng Hongkui unimaginable, anyone in the world can access the sea, local wealthy families can, local officials can, guards along the river and coast, Jiangyang thieves can also, but the emperor's participation makes Zheng Hongkui feel that his worldview is about to collapse.

But look at Yang Chao's sworn appearance. Zheng Hongkui asked in a low voice: "Is it true at this time?" ”

Yang Chao smiled: "Naturally, take it seriously. The Zheng family can inquire about it, but no more than one person in the world knows about it. I know you do. Shi Kefa knew, and the emperor knew. Wang Chengen knows, but I'm afraid that no one else knows, so whether he can inquire or not depends on the Zheng family's ability. ”

Yang Chao said very surely, he was not afraid of betraying the emperor at all, anyway, even if this matter was known to outsiders, he would only target Yang Chao, no one dared to say that the emperor was in charge, and Yang Chao did not tell the Zheng family that he was the emperor, only said that it was the one above, and the others were all guessed by Zheng Hongkui.

Zheng Hongkui looked at Yang Chao's eyes, trying to find a flaw in them, but Yang Chao's eyes were very calm.

Zheng Hongkui couldn't help believing three points, Yang Chao didn't need to lie to them about this, anyway, as long as Yang Chao had the strength, the Zheng family could only cooperate with him, and now Wang Chengen's appearance has confirmed that in the struggle with Liu Kongzhao, Yang Chao won, and Zheng's cooperation with him has been determined, so Zheng Hongkui can't help but believe a few more points.

When I think of Yang Chao's always aggressiveness, a posture that does not put the Jiangnan wealthy family and the official government along the Yangtze River in his eyes, and the momentum of their Zheng family, it is easy to explain, because Yang Chao is behind 'that person', and Yang Chao's attitude is more domineering, which is completely normal.

Thinking of this, Zheng Hongkui believed a little more, and felt that this matter was at least eighty percent true.

"Fourth Master Zheng still has any doubts, now you can do business with this official with confidence. The last cooperation was very pleasant, but I believe that the Zheng family's appetite is not only something that can be sent away. ”

Zheng Hongkui was still thinking about the matter of 'above', and when he saw Yang Chao asking, he nodded hurriedly: "That's right." ”

At this time, he came to his senses, no matter who he is, this business must be done anyway.

Quietly took a deep breath, recovered his mood, and then began to talk officially.

"Don't hide it from Lord Yang, my Zheng family's purchases in Jiangnan in previous years were around one million taels, it's not that the Zheng family can't eat more goods. It's just that they can't get enough goods, and even the wealthy families in Jiangnan don't dare to purchase them blatantly. Since Lord Yang should not have these concerns, then make the decision in the future, order three million goods with Lord Yang, and prepare before April? ”

Yang Chao smiled: "This is naturally no problem. Then it is still at the previous price? ”

The four times that I determined with the Zheng family last time has been executed once, Yang Chao's money was removed from the wharf and other construction funds, and after the loan was repaid, there were more than 200,000 left, but this time when I went out to fight, who knows how much it would cost, so be prepared, Yang Chao still has to hurry up and do a business.

It's just that Yang Chao thought about monopolizing the Yangtze River in the past, and walked hundreds of miles downstream from Nanjing, along the Yangtze River plus the water camp, hundreds of various forces, and all kinds of wealthy families interfered, relying on Yang Chao's eight big boats pumped out. I can't take care of it at all, and I can't stop others from going to the sea at all.

Therefore, Zheng did not cut off the voice with other people, after all, the price of others is more reasonable. Moreover, Yang Chao did not show the power of the ruling level, so there was no need for the Zheng clan to rush to cooperate with Yang Chao.

So after that one. The transaction between the two sides was temporarily stopped, which is why Yang Chao wanted to use Wang Chengen to pressure Zheng Hongkui, and let Zheng Hongkui see his potential, so that he could understand that it was only a matter of time before he ruled the Yangtze River, so that they should not continue to wait and see, at least do a big business.

And Yang Chao doesn't want the price to change, according to the last price is very reasonable.

But Zheng Hongkui listened. But they hesitated, they gave Yang Chao four times the price, which did give Yang Chao a big advantage, but the Zheng family would not suffer.

Zheng's ships to trade in Japan have been about ten in recent years, and the most important thing is that they can't handle enough goods, and at their peak, Zheng sent more than 90 ships to Japan a year and nearly 100 ships.

Although it is unlikely to expand tenfold in the short term, if Yang Chao comes forward, it is still very promising to double this year.

The Zheng family's ship to Japan. That is ten times the profit, and it is only one-third if it is given to Yang Chao three times. If it can be expanded by two times, Zheng's profit will be twenty times, and it will be sold six times, and Zheng's will earn fifty percent more this year than last year.

But Zheng didn't think that there was someone above Yang Chao, at this time Yang Chao asked the price, Zheng Hongkui suddenly felt that if it was to do business with the person above, Zheng seemed to be a little more concessional. Dealing with that person is both open and covert.

I have to say that the emperor's position in the hearts of the people at this time is still very special. Even a pirate group like the Zheng family heard that the emperor was doing business with them. This heart is also beating drums.

Thinking of this, Zheng Hongkui said cautiously: "Lord Yang, forgive me, is this price, my Zheng family can still mention it, but it can't be too high, and please ask Lord Yang to explain to the person above." ”

Yang Chao was stunned, he originally planned to make a fortune according to four times the price of the goods, but he didn't expect the Zheng family to take the initiative to raise the price, of course, they didn't mention it because of Yang Chao, but to give face to the one above, which was an unexpected gain.

In fact, with Yang Chao's concept, doing business should pay attention to integrity, but the Zheng family wants to raise the price, Yang Chao is really not easy to refuse, people are giving the emperor face, not to Yang Chao, if Yang Chao refuses, they will suspect that he is a fox and a fake tiger, and he is simply under the guise of the emperor.

Yang Chao couldn't speak, so he simply asked, "Then how much does Fourth Master Zheng think is appropriate?" ”

Zheng Hongkui stretched out a hand and said cautiously: "Five times, no more, Lord Yang must know that my Zheng family actually earns ten times the profit, give five times to the top, and everyone five or five points." It's not that the Zheng family is stingy, but to feed a large family. As soon as this person goes to sea, his life will be handed over to Mazu Niangniang, and it is really hard to say whether he is dead or alive. A lot of people who went out that time didn't die, and the money was all exchanged for their lives, so there wasn't much left in the hands of the Zheng family that fell into the hands of the Zheng family. ”

It is possible to listen to what Zheng Hongkui said, but Yang Chao also knows that going to sea in this era is playing with his life, and he will take risks only if he has the most no way out, but Yang Chao does not believe that the Zheng family will give all the money to those sailors, but with five times the profit, the Zheng family is really half of himself, which makes Yang Chao feel that he is a little unkind.

Of course, at this time, Yang Chao completely had the idea of withholding this money for military expenses, if he really did things for the emperor, all the money was for the emperor, and he would not have any worries at all.

The so-called thief has a weak heart, Yang Chao laughed: "Fourth Master Zheng don't worry, the house above is kind-hearted." Sympathize with the difficulties of the Zheng family, Zheng Siye can pay five times the payment, he has already done his best, I will report to the above, I believe that the Zheng family will definitely be rewarded. ”

When Zheng Hongkui heard this, he immediately said happily: "Thank you Lord Yang for this." ”

To tell the truth, the Zheng family's financial resources and manpower are very strong, and the Dutch can only bow their heads in front of them, but their strength is not easy to use in the Ming Dynasty at all, and they are not recognized at all, and the civil officials who are friends with the Zheng family are often Fujianese, or those who are officials in Fujian, and other places do not buy the Zheng family's account at all, because they look down on pirates at all.

Now the one above is actually doing business with the Zheng family, which is simply a big face.

So although Zheng Hongkui was slaughtered by Yang Chao and cut off half of the sea trade cake they worked so hard to make, not only did they not complain, but they were grateful.

Yang Chaoqiang pretended to be calm and accepted Zheng Hongkui's thanks steadfastly.

Then he smiled: "Then it's decided, three million, but this deposit?" ”

People have already given up so much, Yang Chao feels that he is a little embarrassed to raise the deposit.

But Zheng Hongkui agreed: "No problem, 30% of the deposit, 1 million can be given to Lord Yang at any time." ”

The Zheng family is bullish, relying on a profit of 10 million a year, and they really don't treat money as money.

Of course, monopolizing the trade of the Ming Dynasty and not having to pay taxes, they also took too much advantage of the Ming Dynasty, and only a foolish court like the Ming Dynasty could do such a stupid thing.

Yang Chao said again: "But you may not know that the emperor asked the prince to come from Beijing and gave a decree to the official, asking the official to go to Dongyang to suppress the bandits." Therefore, the official may be about to set off soon, and Lord Zheng's money will be handed over to Kang Xiaobao in Jinchai Building, and the matter of handling the goods will be handed over to Kang Xiaobao. ”

Zheng Hongkui did not hesitate at all, and immediately agreed.

When he walked out of the Jinchai Tower, Zheng Hongkui still sighed in his heart, this Lord Yang is really the emperor Longen! (To be continued...... ）。