On Friday, April 18, 1642, March 20, the fifteenth year of Chongzhen of the Ming Empire.

A small fleet of boats returning from the north slowly approached the dock of the Sailor Army Village in Tamsui County, north of Dayuan, and a group of large soldiers waiting in the nearby military fort hurriedly drove a wave of large indigenous porters to meet them.

In total, the size of the fleet consisted of only four, but among them there was a medium schooner with a displacement of more than a thousand tons. This is a 1200-type long-sail cruiser ordered by Dayuan from Huamei a few years ago, and now there are only three ships in the entire Dayuan Naval Division, one of which is under the command of Zhang Jianye, a guerrilla of the Freshwater Naval Division.

"Yo, General Zhang has worked hard all the way, and this trip has taken a lot of effort, right?" A small military academy carried a small basket with a teapot and ran towards Zhang Jianye, who had stepped off the boat, and nodded very respectfully while pouring tea and water for the other party.

Now who doesn't know that Zhang Jianye is a celebrity around Yan Sicheng, who is also known as the member of the Propaganda and Comfort Division, and in less than ten years, he stood out from a wave of newcomers in the north who defected to the member at the beginning. Zhang Jianye's status has been greatly improved, compared with those veterans who have been gradually alienated by Yan Sicheng for many years, he can be regarded as a more and more weighty figure in the military of the Propaganda and Comfort Division.

"Haha, it's okay, Zheng Hongkui is just a coward, and when he Zheng is really the overlord of the East China Sea with three heads and six arms?" Zhang Jianye poured out the tea in a few sips, comfortably threw away the tea bowl, took out two pieces of silver from his body, and threw them on the small military academy in a chic manner, "Hurry up and unload the goods, and then make a bunch of wine and food for the brothers on the boat and in the water village." ”

"Although the general relaxes, at most half a day, his subordinates will settle everything." The little military academy nodded again, then turned around and shouted at the soldiers behind him, "General Zhang has given a reward, hurry up and unload the goods, and have a good drink tonight." ”

Whether it's coming down from a ship or coming by land. All kinds of praises erupted on the dockside, and then they rushed up with the people or indigenous porters.

The cabin was opened, and the unkempt northern refugees of the Ming Dynasty and even the women dressed as Japanese disembarked in turn, and then boxes and bags of various goods were carried ashore by the indigenous porters, and then transported by local people to the nearby warehouse for inventory by oxen and horse-drawn carts.

There were not many goods that could be purchased from Japan, and most of the fleets were loaded with products from the Ryukyus, Shandong, or further afield Liaodong and Korea. Zhang Jianye, who directly controlled the maritime trade management of Shandong, Liaodong, Ryukyu, Korea, and Japan, basically made three round-trips to the northern route every year, exchanging grain, cloth, refined salt, and sugar for gold, silver, and bronze from Japan, dried seafood and sulfur from the Ryukyus, as well as raw silk from Shandong, fur from Liaodong, and ginseng from Korea.

Especially Japan. During the Kuanyongnian famine during the Xiaoice River period, the price of grain in Japan reached a formidable Cheng dù, whether it was Zheng Zhilong, who dominated the vast majority of Japan's trade volume, or the Yan family, a member who always had to eat a bite when he saw a needle, they all made a lot of money in it.

……

With trade with Fujian, Zhejiang, Shandong, Liaodong, Ryukyu, Korea, and Japan, the Tamsui Military Fort has developed into the core maritime trade port and the second largest city of Dayuan, with a population of more than 30,000 people, and was officially established as a county the year before last.

It is said that this kind of local decree was made by the senior minister Xuanfu Sicheng and Yan Sicheng, who accepted the construction of the shogunate governor Cao Xiulin. Although Dayuan Island is the nominal frontier of the Ming Dynasty. Yan Sicheng is just a local official of the Propaganda and Consolation Department of the Fourth Grade, but Yan Sicheng is obviously implementing a set of local management mechanisms similar to those of the Ming Dynasty, and using guò as a means to constantly dismantle the military system that was once a military and political integration. Arrange your own people to all corners.

As for Yan Sihai, the consolation envoy who was high up in the office, he had long ignored these things, indulging in wives and concubines in the backyard all day long, or leading teams to go inland safaris every once in a while. also allowed Yan Sicheng to pave the reform of the big staff with almost no obstacles.

In addition to Dongning Prefecture, the capital of Dayuan, and Tamsui County, it also includes Tianxing County (Changhua) in the middle of the west bank of Dayuan. and Jilong County in the east of Tamsui, including the aborigines who were forced to naturalize, the total population of Dayuan has reached more than 160,000 people, and more than half of them are concentrated in Ningcheng in the Middle East.

Jilong County, east of Tamsui County, has a population of less than 30,000, but it is an important mining and metallurgical area. After more than ten years of development, the mining and metallurgical income of gold, copper, sulfur, coal and other mines in Jilong County has almost been equal to the income of Dayuan's maritime trade, and it is also the only important land that is still in the hands of Yan Sihai's family.

Walking into the bustling county town of Tamsui, Zhang Jianye was already dressed in ordinary clothes, and after leaving aside a few pro-soldiers, Zhang Jianye quietly entered an inconspicuous inn.

Sitting in the upper wing room was a half-old man dressed in Langzhong, although he was a little older, his body was very tough, and his eyes were even brighter.

"I was delayed for a few days on the road, and I almost missed the meeting, which made Mr. Sun wait for a long time!" Zhang Jianye's expression at this time was completely different from that on the dock, and he looked extremely deferential.

"Hehe, out of the way, I've just arrived for a few days." Sun Erxi smiled and pointed to the stool on the side of the tea table, and then personally poured a cup of tea for the other party, "I heard that General Zhang went to sea this time, but he forcibly entered the Ryukyu and Fusang commercial ports, can there be a conflict with the Zheng family?" ”

"Don't hide it from Mr. Sun, the Zheng family has changed a lot these days, and they actually retreat everywhere, so Zheng Hongkui has also changed his temperament, and he pretended not to see it when he met at sea." Zhang Jianye only sat on half of the stool, so he hurriedly replied, "Originally, with my intention, if the Zheng family blocked it, the fleet would avoid it, but before the trip, the Tongzhi Lord said that there was an old practice of doing business in the East China Sea, and if the Zheng family dared to bully the market, there was no need to be afraid, so I dared to enter the port." ”

"According to what you said, this trip to the north to Ryukyu and Fuso was assigned by Lord Tongzhi of the Propaganda Division? Have you ever had it before? Sun Erxi's face smiled coldly, and his heart was already bright, "This kind of risk is quite large, how does he know that the Zheng family doesn't dare to make a mistake?" ”

"Last year, there was also a team led by the general of the chicken coop water division to the port of Hirado, but the Zheng family entangled a group of Japanese people to block the land mouth and not go ashore, and they almost faced each other at that time. Probably the Zheng family didn't want to make it too difficult, so they let me enter Hong Kong this time. Zhang Jianye thought for a while and expressed his opinion, "When I went to sea, I heard that the Zheng family had acquiesced to my entry into the Ryukyus, and I didn't believe it at first. ”

"Haha, then your family is in charge of the plan. But the big man has a big face! Sun Erxi finally laughed.

To say that many years ago, Zhang Jianye was still a little surprised and suspicious of Sun Erxi, but when he found out that Sun Erxi had lost his disguise and swaggered into Dongning Mansion on a Chinese Navy warship, Zhang Jianye knew the true identity of the other party, and he was actually a senior official of the Nanyang Huamei Fanguo that the master relied on.

Thinking of the gorgeous guns and ordnance and the majestic sailing warships of the army and sailors of the army and sailors, Zhang Jianye finally understood after holding back his doubts for many years. The whole big man was hugging the thighs of Huamei Fanguo, and Sun Erxi treated him differently, which showed that his weight even exceeded that of Yan Sicheng. Every time he thinks of this, Zhang Jianye is secretly excited.

"Hehe, Mr. Sun is a small benefactor, and the small one is just a mixed meal...... Zhang Jianye smiled. Then embarrassedly took out a small wooden box from his sleeve, and when he opened it, he saw a perfect century-old ginseng lying inside, "The little one didn't see anything good when he went north this time, only this Korean old ginseng barely looked at it, and asked Mr. Sun to laugh." ”

"Sure enough, it's a good ginseng for a hundred years...... Then thank you General Zhang. I heard that your family is going to marry a daughter in the near future, and I have a set of gorgeous glass products in the shopkeeper downstairs, which is just right for the gift, and you can send it. Sun Erxi has some understanding of the current situation. So he picked up the teacup and planned to send it off.

"Mr. Sun, don't worry, the little one will leave!" It still feels a little headless, but Zhang Jianye has become accustomed to the other party's attitude, and hurriedly got up and saluted. Then he respectfully exited the room.

When I came downstairs, I walked to the counter, and before I could speak, I saw the shopkeeper beckoning Xiao Er to drag out a heavy box from the back hall: "Master Zhang, right?" A guest officer asked me to hand over a box to you. ”

recruited his own soldiers from the outside to carry the box onto the carriage, and then closed the curtain to open the box, Zhang Jianye was stunned on the spot.

What fine glassware, high-end cigarettes or something, forget it. It's not a rare thing now, and there are actually several layers of silver ingots neatly stacked below, and it is estimated that there are at least a thousand taels, no wonder the soldiers were so hard to carry it just now.

"It is worthy of being a gorgeous family, and it is generous to make a move!"

Zhang Jianye pulled out a rectangular silver ingot, and the smile on his face became more and more prosperous. Before he could finish talking to himself, he suddenly found a letter pressed under the silver ingot.

With a hint of doubt, he slowly pulled out the letter, opened it and read a few lines, Zhang Jianye's face became pale, and then after a stick of incense, he sighed helplessly.

……

Dongning Mansion, many years ago was just a small coastal city called Anping Fort, now it is the capital of the Dayuan Xuanwei Division, as of the spring of the fifteenth year of Chongzhen, the residents inside and outside the city of Dongning have reached nearly 20,000 households, a total of more than 80,000 people.

Located in the east of Dongning City, the Mansion of the Governor of the Great People's Propaganda Envoy is lit up today, and wealthy businessmen or officials from all walks of life are gathered together.

In the name of marrying his daughter, Yan Sicheng hastily ended the funeral held for the seventh uncle, and held a wedding banquet today, inviting wealthy businessmen from Dongning City and even Fujian and Zhejiang, making it very lively.

“…… Quanzhou Wangjiahe, fifty pieces of fine silk, eight pieces of fine porcelain! ”

“…… Fuzhou mentioned that Zhou Daren congratulated, ten catties of famous tea, and a pair of jade horses. ”

The master of ceremonies kept singing the gifts sent one by one, and the main hall was very lively, and the guests all congratulated Yan Sicheng.

"Lord Tongzhi, Lord Zhang Kentang, the governor of Fujian, has sent someone to send a congratulatory note." A housekeeper ran to Yan Sicheng's side and whispered.

"Hurry up and welcome into the main hall to serve tea!"

Yan Sicheng has grown a beard over the years, although he is only 37 years old this year, but the whole person looks very elegant and steady, coupled with the official uniform of the Ming Xuanwei Division, it looks even more extraordinary.

Yan Sihai asked for another concubine, and now he is "recuperating" in a private house in Tianxing County, and there are only a handful of days to return to Dongning every year. Many people want to ask Yan Sicheng about things, instead of going to the Tongzhi Mansion, they can find it directly by going directly to the Xuanzhi Yamen. Therefore, imperceptibly, Yan Sicheng is a veritable helmsman of Dongning and Dayuan, and many people have become accustomed to this.

From the outsider's point of view, the big man is the Yan family, and the Yan family is the big guy, so no one has to dig into this kind of thing, but the local officials and generals of the big man are all watchful.

"Fujian coastal defense chief soldier Zheng Darenhe, two hundred Shu brocade, thirty-six high-grade pearls, eight gold hairpins, four jade bracelets, and a pair of gold-inlaid jade!"

Another singing, a super generous gift from Zheng Zhilong not only made the atmosphere present soar, but also caused a group of officials to be dumbfounded. Even Yan Si is a person. They all temporarily changed the order of pick-up, and walked towards the Zheng family representative who entered the door in person.

……

In the study, Zheng Hongkui, the fourth brother of Zheng Zhilong who came from Fujian, sat on the guest seat with a golden knife, looking at the master Yan Sicheng with a strange smile.

"My brother is really busy with military affairs, so I sent my brother to congratulate him."

Zheng Hongkui is only 29 years old this year, and he was admitted to the Wujinshi the year before last, and he is a "professional" since the rise of the Zheng family. At first, he served as the commander of the Jinyi Weidu in Nanjing, and was later appointed by the Ming court as the deputy general of the Zhenjiang Water Battalion, but in fact he stayed in the Fujian and Zhejiang areas, in charge of the Zheng family's Ryukyu and Japanese trade routes. It can be regarded as another important figure in the Zheng family's monopoly of the East China Sea.

"I have received a generous gift from Mr. Zheng." Yan Sicheng's expression was a little complicated, and in the face of Zheng Hongkui's smiling face, he could only lightly return the salute.

"This time, I came to congratulate the acquaintance on the joy of marrying his daughter, and secondly, I wanted to ask my brother about the purchase of gorgeous seafood......" Zheng Hongkui saw that the other party's feelings had changed, and he knew that his such a flamboyant appearance must have aroused the suspicion of the officials and generals outside.

After the Huamei Oriental Expedition thirteen years ago, the Zheng family and the Yan family reached a reconciliation and jointly carved up the maritime trade in the East China Sea and the South Sea. However, in terms of distance, there has always been a slight friction in the trade between the two countries along the coast of Daming, as well as in Japan, Ryukyu and Korea. It was only because of the gorgeous "face" and the lucrative gorgeous seafood that the two sides restrained.

Although there is a quota of Huamei commodity agents on the surface, they privately divert Huamei seafood from each other. It has been more than ten years since the Zheng family and the Yan family adopted secret correspondence in order to consider the overall situation of lip and tooth attachment. From cigarettes and matches to tens of thousands of sugar, refined salt, cloth and grain, the private exchange of interests between the Zheng family and the Yan family has become more and more frequent in recent years.

"The U.S. government replied a few days ago that the ordnance purchase was unhindered. It will not be a long time for the shipping officer. Yan Sicheng knew that the other party also had some eyeliner in Dayuan and Pearl Island, and he didn't intend to delay the news.

"Then can Lord Tongzhi allow more diversion to the Zheng family this time? Not much, half of the new cannon and half of the new gun. Plus two warships. Zheng Hongkui's eyes lit up, and he quickly put down the teacup.

"Didn't it be negotiated a few months ago, and the old gun (Type 21B) replaced by the new gun (Type 34A) can be discounted to the Zheng family. Last month, 3,000 were sent, and all of them were new, and the rest were delivered in turn by the confidants. What's the matter, the chief soldier of your family wants to make a difference? Yan Sicheng frowned, feeling that something seemed to be wrong with the Zheng family this time.

"At this time and that time, Lord Tongzhi bought Huamei warships and ordnance this time to make a strong reputation, and resold the old guns to the Zheng family, without borrowing a penny from Huamei Oriental Bank, and my brother also paid the cash in advance." Zheng Hongkui sneered, and secretly despised this big man who was good at civil affairs, but didn't have much courage and brains in his bones, "If Huamei learns that Lord Tongzhi is secretly reselling weapons, my Zheng family is not afraid of offending people, and those old generals who are Yan Sihai's henchmen may not be......"

A Huamei 1200 medium-sized schooner cruiser was offered at $350,000 in the Far East, while the Grand Master was able to get it for $250,000. The 34A rear-loading flintlock pistol, the Zheng family struggled to say that the purchase price from Pearl Island was $60 a piece, but the big man easily got a preferential price of $45, and there was a discount for a large amount. No matter how you look at it, the Zheng family is obviously contained.

Zheng Zhilong seized the shortcomings of Yan Sicheng's simple thinking, took the opportunity to enter, and used the trade share of Ryukyu, Japan, and Korea as bait to secretly transfer a large number of Chinese and American military weapons from the big guys, and what he liked was that the big guys could enjoy price concessions that others didn't have.

"You...... Do you want to blackmail the official?! Yan Sicheng's face turned white, and he couldn't help but stretch out his hand and point at Zheng Hongkui.

"Lord Tongzhi has been working hard all these years, and in the end, he has to look at the faces of outsiders when he makes a deal, isn't he adding clothes and clothes to others?!" Zheng Hongkui ignored the other party's feelings, and said to himself, "Actually, this matter of the Ming East China Sea is a private matter between you and me, and the East China Sea is originally your and my family, so why bother to be dictated by a foreigner?" As long as Lord Tongzhi sees this clearly, my Zheng family is willing to make an open contract with the Yan family to divide the Ryukyu, Korea and Japanese maritime trade to the Yan family. These are all for the sake of Lord Tongzhi, if it is Yan Sihai, there is nothing to say! ”

Zheng Zhilong endured Huamei's rules in the East China Sea, but Yan Sicheng couldn't get used to the fact that the adults were self-reliant on the surface, but they were secretly constrained by Huamei. Re-seeking the independence of the Yan family is probably Yan Sicheng's greatest wish for many years.

Inside, we will vigorously introduce displaced people to settle land and develop the livelihood of the people. gain the support of the lower levels of officials and the common people; Externally, he cooperated privately with the Zheng family to divide interests separately in the East China Sea. The qiē done is to show Yan Sicheng's skill in handling the affairs of the big staff, and prepare for the official takeover of the big staff one day, Yan Sicheng has put a lot of effort into building his influence in the big staff.

But now, while the Zheng family supports Yan Sicheng to grasp the power of the big man, they have more ambitions, which makes Yan Sicheng feel a little difficult to ride a tiger. Yan Sicheng adjusted the power order of the entire senior in the name of his brother Yan Sihai, which has made many of Yan Sihai's henchmen and old generals slanderous. If they know that the current progress in the Ryukyus and Japan is that Yan Sicheng is secretly selling weapons and acting with the Zheng family behind his back, it will definitely cause a big turmoil, and maybe it will also cause a split within the Yan family.

"This purchase of warships and ordnance has long been made public, and it is really difficult to secretly divert it......" Yan Sicheng's tone was a lot lower, and he looked very frustrated.

"When the cargo arrives, it will naturally be the stuff of the big man. Can't Lord Tongzhi be the master himself, and he still has to look at the face of the gorgeous Fanguo? "Zheng Hongkui is the so-called sore feet. The attitude became even more arrogant.

"Sir! Master! ”

Just when Yan Sicheng was about to get angry, suddenly a housekeeper knocked on the door of the study.

"Bastard! It's not a system, didn't you see me and Master Zheng discussing important matters?! Yan Sicheng was in a bad mood, so he took the case on the spot.

"The old man is angry! It's a letter from the gorgeous Pearl Island! The butler shuddered. Kneeling directly on the ground, holding a letter above his head.

grabbed it, only glanced at it a few times, and Yan Sicheng was stunned. But a few seconds later. finally breathed a sigh of relief, and then threw it to Zheng Hongkui, who was silent on the side, with a strange smile.

With doubts, he took a letter that seemed to have nothing to do with him, and Zheng Hongkui was also inexplicable. But it was different from Yan Sicheng's reaction after seeing it. Zheng Hongkui's expression was even more complicated.

"Hehe, Zhang Jianye eats inside and out, and privately resells the ordnance of the big man and your brother, Huamei knows the details. Mr. Fan clearly said that this move was contrary to the contract of the year, but it was just that your brother had kept the peace in the East China Sea of Daming for many years, and he would not investigate it deeply. Mr. Fan has already stated that all the previous events should be regarded as Huamei already known, and it will be regarded as a transfer of hands to the Zheng family...... Since this is the case, Lord Zheng wants something else, so he can't do it. In the future, we will continue to get along with each other calmly, and don't mention such hurtful and angry words again. ”

It seems that Huamei's attitude has taken a step down for herself, and it has also made it difficult for the Zheng family to use this kind of inside information to blackmail the adults and themselves, Yan Sicheng actually felt a little relieved in his heart.

Even if the news of this matter spreads, the veteran generals will not point the finger at themselves. Huamei lightningly chose Zhang Jianye to be her "substitute ghost", which caught Yan Sicheng a little off guard, but compared to the Zheng family's current attitude, the means are too gentle.

But Zhang Jianye obviously can't continue to stay in the big man anymore, and he must completely carry the black pot for this matter.

"Hmph...... Look up to others to snort, and the big man is nothing more than that! ”

thought that once this kind of thing was broken, Yan Sicheng would become an outcast, but with this handle, he had to follow the Zheng family's thoughts. But I didn't know that Huamei actually saw through the Zheng family, and such a hand came at a critical moment, allowing Yan Sicheng to get out of the dead end in an instant. Zheng Hongkui didn't expect things to be dramatic to this point, so he could only throw his sleeves away angrily.

"Hey, send a message to Zhang Jianye...... He has also done a lot of things for the senior member over the years, and I will not embarrass him, and I can send him to the family when the opportunity arises. After Zheng Hongkui left, Yan Sicheng reluctantly commanded the housekeeper, and planned to turn around and leave with a complicated mood.

"Yes, sir, but there's a message here...... The Seventh Lady is coming back for the funeral. Seeing that there was no one, the housekeeper hurriedly came over again, "The young lady also brought a message, saying that the master has worked hard for the master, as long as he treats the four lords and his family well in the future, he will serve the people wholeheartedly, and don't let outsiders take advantage of the gap, she and the eldest prince both support the master." Congratulations to you! ”

Looking at the housekeeper's mysterious appearance, Yan Sicheng finally fell silent with a wry smile. At the end, there was a long sigh. (To be continued......)