Chongming Island.

After learning that the southeast governor had changed blood, the Zhennan Hou was murderously going south, and one city ship division and customs were built one after another, Su Song's group of sea merchants couldn't sit still. After some secret discussions, these people did not wait for the government to set up a customs office in Wusong, and they planned to advance the time to go to sea this year.

It even increased the number of ships going to sea, from four to twelve.

They couldn't wait to go to sea in advance, just to avoid the customs of the imperial court and avoid a large amount of taxes to be paid.

Although the profits of the sea trade are amazing, they are still unwilling to pay taxes with part of the profits, and after so many years, they have long been accustomed to not having to pay taxes to the imperial court.

"The goods are all loaded, we have to hurry up and go to sea." Suzhou sea merchant Wang Ying urged.

"It's pretty much it."

Zhao Sizu, a maritime merchant in Songzhou and a merchant ship owner of this fleet, said with some concern, "I heard that this Zhu Ciye is menacing, in Yangzhou, those salt merchants did not provoke him, but he killed thirty-six salt merchants at once, and also raided their homes. This time, he crossed the Yangtze River to set up a city and a customs office, and if we did this, would we offend him. ”

Wang Ying sneered a few times, "What are you afraid of, he built his city and the customs, let's run our sea." It's not that we don't pay taxes, it's not that Su Song's customs haven't been built yet, if it is built, we will definitely pay taxes, it's just that he is too slow. ”

"A few days ago, dozens of ships of the Zheng family passed through Wusongkou and headed for Nanjing, will it be bad for us?"

"Don't worry about it, I heard that Zheng Zhilong is now the chief military officer of Taiwan, and he has been crowned a naval admiral, and their Zheng Jiajun is now going to be organized into four naval fleets in the East China Sea, the South China Sea, the Beihai and the Yangtze River. These ships of the Zheng family may be transferred to Nanjing and reorganized into the fleet of the Changjiang Naval Division, which has nothing to do with us. Wang Ying is not worried at all. Besides, we are also old friends with the Zheng family, every time we go to sea, we buy the flag of his Zheng family, a big ship of two thousand taels of silver and a flag, and we don't miss the Zheng family every time. ”

Hearing Wang Ying say this, the other shipowners were also a lot more relaxed. I think this is indeed the case, every time they go to sea, they have to spend a lot of money to buy the Zheng family's flag, although it is said that two thousand taels of silver is more expensive, but with the Zheng family's flag. They could sail the seas without worry, and no pirate would dare to rob a ship flying the Zheng flag. Two thousand taels, the money is worth it, and there is no need to worry about it, even the Dutch and Spaniards dare not rob them.

"I heard that the customs collects a lot of taxes, and it is a water tax and a land tax, as well as import and export taxes, additional taxes, and tax introductions. A merchant ship owner laughed.

"It's not like we're blushing when we go to sea and make some money." "These taxes are only on the surface. The key is that I can't stand this toss-up. When you go to sea, you have to apply for a license with them first, and everyone knows about this permit. As soon as you enter the yamen, you will be asking for money, and if you don't have enough mouth, don't even think about doing things well. ”

"Yes. Corrupt officials and corrupt officials, none of them are good. "Everybody feels the same way.

"The tax doesn't look like much, it's a matter of a few taels of silver. But to bring this down, you have to run to the yamen before and after, you have to invite guests to drink, and you have to give gifts and money, if someone deliberately manipulates it, I don't know how much money you have to spend, and it will delay time. ”

"One reason is so troublesome, let alone the back. I inquired, this customs, but it's troublesome. Only then can you go to sea with the introduction, and then before each time you go to sea, you have to send the goods to the wharf storage area of the customs port, and send the goods one by one to let them check. What to look for? Check how much the goods are and how much they are worth, and then finally tax them according to the value of the goods, and it is said that a tax of 5% of the price of the goods will be levied, and only after the tax is paid can the goods be carried out of the warehouse and put on the ship. ”

Another busy said, "Not only that, I heard that there will be many prohibited items in the customs, such as gold, silver, and even copper and iron when you go abroad, and there are many prohibited things such as nitrate, sulfur, etc." Once contraband is found, it must be confiscated and fined. ”

"That's a way to get our money." Wang Ying took a jade mouth golden bucket big cigarette stick, took a few sips, and said, "Don't talk about this goods tossing back and forth, can we rest assured that it is placed in the customs warehouse?" Who knows if it is put there, and those officials will not encroach and steal some. ”

"That's it, and if everyone has to do this in the future, if they want to send the goods to the customs warehouse first, just those old men in the yamen, I'm afraid that the goods will go in, and they won't want to come out immediately for a while."

Someone said, "A 5% tax is a personal life." If you want to sell 100,000 taels of silver, you have to pay 5,000 taels of tax. ”

"That's not all, the goods are in the customs warehouse, how much it is worth, it's not up to them to decide. If he insists that your goods are worth 200,000 taels, then you will have to pay 10,000 taels of tax. ”

All the merchant shipowners and sailors, you say a word, anyway, I don't trust the customs of the city and the law of taxation that the imperial court wants to do.

"Damn, I've just been born for a few years, maybe I'll have to do this business again in the future."

"I'm afraid he's a bird, it's a big deal, let's be the same as before, if the maritime merchant can't do it, just be a pirate."

Everyone laughed, in fact, the maritime merchant is still a pirate, but it is just a matter of one sentence. Everyone's merchant ships actually have many guns and cannons, and many outlaws, and they are not afraid to bear the name of pirates, anyway, give the government some silver, and do business. In that case, how much more should the silver be sent to the customs?

As for the imperial court, the state taxes, take care of their.

Nearly 60 warships and ships, carrying more than 10,000 soldiers and horses, went down the river and soon approached Chongming Island.

This fleet was also found on Chongming Island.

"Why did the Zheng family's ship go again?"

"No, they seem to be coming for us." Some maritime merchants were surprised to find.

A crew member had sharp eyes and saw the flag flying high on the mast of the largest three-masted battleship in the fleet.

"Boss, look, nine heads."

"What nine heads?" Wang Ying raised his head, too far away to see clearly, "Take the clairvoyant mirror." ”

A family member took the clairvoyant mirror and handed it to Wang Ying, Wang Ying looked at it, and the flag on the mast was clearly displayed in his eyes. Nine-headed bird. Nine-headed birds!

Zhennan Hou! Wang Ying gasped, and took the strange bird with nine heads as a banner, this big tomorrow is all down, and there is only one family of Zhennan Hou Liu Jun, no, now it is the emperor's righteous son Zhennan Hou Zhu Ciye is the only one.

A bad feeling rose to his heart, Wang Ying's back was cold, why did Zhennanhou come. thought of the end of 36 salt merchants in Yangzhou being killed, their family property being confiscated, and their families being exiled to the army. Wang Ying suddenly regretted it.

Why do you want to be the bird that comes out, or why do you want to challenge the prestige of Zhennanhou.

But at this time, it was too late to regret it, and the fleet had already surrounded them and blocked their merchant ships.

A dinghy broke away from the fleet and landed ashore.

"Who is the owner of a merchant ship?" The man who went ashore came over, glanced at Wang Ying and the others and said.

A family member beside Wang Ying leaned next to him and said in a low voice, "Master, this person knows a lot. It seems to be someone from the Zheng family. ”

Hearing that it was someone from the Zheng family, Wang Ying forced a smile on his face and took a few steps forward, "I don't know the name of this official." Where to work on errands? While speaking, he looked at his subordinates, and the man knowingly took out a gold ingot full of five taels and gave it to him.

When the visitor saw the gold, he didn't refuse to accept it, and then glanced at the crowd. "In Xia Zhengguan, he is a general of the East China Sea Fleet under the command of Zheng Junmen, and is now under the orders of Zhennanhou and Xiong and Zheng. Come and inform you that you have been surrounded, immediately lay down your arms and surrender honestly. ”

"Surrender? Encircle? Wang is puzzled, we are just honest businessmen, what crime have we committed? Wang Ying asked.

"You are surrounded by smuggling, and if you are honest, you will obediently confess and surrender."

"Official, this is all a misunderstanding, we didn't smuggle."

"Whether there is smuggling or not, you said it is good, I said it is not bad, the three admirals have the final say."

The group of maritime merchants was furious, and Zheng Guan shouted, "What do you want to do, do you want to rebel?" I don't worry about a few pounds and taels of myself, and when I see the fleet over there, hundreds of cannons are facing you, and I can wipe you out at any time. ”

"Lord Zheng, please also ask you to say to the three admirals, we have no intention of smuggling, and please give the villain a chance to explain."

"Let all your people come over first, and put down all the weapons and everything."

"Okay, okay, I'll give the order."

Looking at the huge fleet and the black holes on the battleship, Wang Ying knew that he had no choice. The crew and sailors of a dozen or so seamen were all called over, put down their weapons, and stood on the shore empty-handed.

Many small boats were put down on the battleship, and a group of nine-headed birds landed, surrounding a group of maritime sailors, and after completely controlling the situation on the shore, Liu Jun and Zheng Zhilong and others also disembarked and landed together.

"Who is the owner of the merchant ship, and which is the leader of the caravan?" Liu Jun glanced at everyone and asked.

Wang Ying and a group of maritime merchants came out.

"Hui Hou Ye, little Wang Ying is the leader of this caravan, and these are the owners of various merchant ships."

Liu Jun glanced at Wang Ying, "Do you know the fate of smuggling?" ”

"Report to Master Hou, the little one is not smuggling, it's a complete misunderstanding."

"You mean you were going to go to sea today, and you were going to go to sea with twelve ships?"

Wang Ying sweated on his forehead, gritted his teeth and nodded, "That's true." ”

"When death is imminent, you dare to be so hard-mouthed." Liu Jun snorted coldly.

"Master Hou, it's just a misunderstanding, really. The little one is willing to give a sum of silver, which will be counted as the cost of the Hou Ye to bring the brothers out. Wang An, quickly bring a thousand taels of silver to Hou Ye. ”

Liu Jun sneered.

"No, take three thousand taels of silver." Wang Ying endured the pain.

Liu Jun shook his head, "Twelve sea vessels, the value of the goods, it is estimated that there must be one million, according to the customs tariff system of the imperial court, you must at least pay more than 50,000 taels of customs duties." ”

"Master Hou, it's not easy for us to do business, it's a small profit. Hou Ye, the little ones are willing to take out 5,000 taels of soldiers, and ask the Hou Ye to let the little ones go. ”

"It seems that you don't understand the meaning of Ben Hou's words just now, do you think that Ben Hou is one of those corrupt officials who wants to accept your bribes? You're wrong, Benhou is not that kind of person. Ben Hou actually wants to tell you that you have evaded more than 50,000 taels of tax silver, the circumstances are particularly bad, the crime is extremely heinous, and the crime is unforgivable! ”

"Someone!" Liu Jun shouted, "Take down all these smugglers for me, escort them back to Nanjing, and take them away with the ship!" ”

At this moment, Wang Ying and the others were really scared.

"Hou Ye, Hou Ye, this is all a misunderstanding. The small people are willing to pay the customs duties, 50,000 taels, and we have a lot of money, and we are willing to pay all of them. ”

"It's late!"

"Master Hou, we are willing to give another 10,000 taels to reward the officers and soldiers."

"Blatant bribery is an aggravated crime."

A team of nine-headed birds stepped forward and tied up these merchants and sailors, and Wang Ying and the others were shocked and frightened.

They kept begging for mercy, and the price they offered to Liu Jun was getting higher and higher, and in the end they were even willing to give Liu Jun 100,000 taels of silver.

But Liu Jun came to kill chickens this time, so he was willing to let them go.

The fleet returned to Nanjing.

"Public trial!"

Three days later, in Nanjing, the three admirals Liu Jun, Xiong Wencan, and Zheng Zhilong, as well as a large number of officials such as Nanjing's internal and external garrisons, Fang Kongzhi, the general secretary of the Nanjing army, Hou Sui, the secretary of Nanjing's household department, and Chen Qiyu, the governor of Jiangnan, and Ying Tian's prefect, were interrogated.

Many famous squires and businessmen in Nanzhili were invited to watch, and the onlookers were crowded.

Under Liu Jun's instructions, the trial proceeded quickly, and Wang Ying and other maritime merchants were convicted of smuggling, and the amount was particularly huge, and they were also guilty of piracy, so the sentence was relatively conclusive.

Immediately after the trial, it is executed in public.

Wang Ying and dozens of other maritime merchants were sent to the gallows one by one to be hanged, and then their bodies were hung in the city to continue the public display, and their merchant ships and goods were confiscated.

Those sailors were sentenced to a fine.

This trial, like the Yangzhou salt merchant case, once again shocked the entire Jiangnan.

The dozens of corpses of maritime merchants hanging on the head of Nanjing made the maritime merchants in Jiangnan realize that the emperor's righteous son was ruthless.

However, the only difference from the Yangzhou case is that after the execution of the smugglers, their families were not punished, nor their family property was confiscated, but their merchant ship goods were confiscated.

Those sailors, after a symbolic fine of some silver coins, turned around and were recruited by Liu Jun, and most of the rest were recruited by Zheng Zhilong.

As for the goods worth one million, in the end, they directly brought the goods to Zheng Zhilong, and then Zheng Zhilong gave Liu Jun 800,000 taels of silver, and Liu Jun then sent 300,000 silver coins to the emperor.

After killing a group of maritime merchants in Nanjing again, Liu Jun also planned to continue south and no longer stay in Nanjing.

"I believe that after this, the customs of the coastal provinces will be relatively smooth, and these things will be handed over to the governors in the future, and we will go directly to Taiwan next, and we will meet the Spaniards and Dutch, these sea robbers!"

"Master Hou really wants to go to war with Hongyi?" Zheng Zhilong asked.

"What kind of war is this, just to drive out some pirates, even if it is to do some actual combat exercises for next year's expedition to Liao."

Zheng Zhilong said with a smile, "Hou Ye is so domineering, Zheng is willing to lead for Hou Ye." (To be continued......)

PS: Thank you for the support of the fourth young man of the Feng family, thank you!