If not "Williams?" The name "Van Gogh" (Van Gogh) is surprisingly coincidental, and if it were not for Zhu Cihong's preference for Van Gogh's works in his previous life, I am afraid that this low-level merchant of the United East India Company would not have left a trace of history at all.

Now, however, he not only met the actual rulers of this vast empire, but also had the privilege of talking to them and explaining and promoting his own culture.

"So, your family name doesn't come from inheritance?" Zhu Cihong lived in the Netherlands for a short time in his previous life, but he did not have an in-depth understanding of Dutch history and culture. In fact, his only takeaway in the Netherlands was learning a little German, which he later used as a joke at dinners.

"Yes, His Royal Highness the Great Crown Prince." William replied respectfully, "I don't need a surname in my hometown. When I came out, I took the name of my hometown as my surname. ”

Van means "from" in Dutch, not Von in German, which means "to divide in". The pronunciation of the two is very similar, and it often has a confusing effect on unfamiliar people. Gogh is a small village, and even William can't even say exactly which province it belongs to.

Because it is right on the border of two provinces.

Obviously, it is extremely unlikely that he is related to the great painter of later generations.

"Do you know how to draw?" Zhu Cihong asked again.

"Uh, I'm so sorry, Your Highness the Great Crown Prince, I'm only going to keep accounts, uh, and a little bit of Japanese." William Dao.

At this end of the conversation, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince took the teacup, and the eunuchs beside him announced the end of the summons in a timely manner.

After William came out of the Chinese military tent, he was arranged in the Huitong Hall in Fuzhou City, and took out pen, ink and paper as soon as possible to record the meeting. Written in diaries and letters.

Being able to meet a big man with such a high status is enough to become a spiritual wealth that he will leave to his children and grandchildren.

If it is expressed in the language of later generations: when his children and grandchildren pretend to be forced, they are much higher than others!

"Bin, in the court of the Ming Kingdom, is it up to the eunuchs to decide the time of the meeting? Or rather, because the crown prince of the Ming Kingdom was too young, he ...... "William came out of the room. I summoned my own general, but I still can't figure out the scene at the end.

"Be careful......

"Well, is this a secret? Don't worry, no one listens to what we're saying. William reassured.

He Bin's face was condensed, and he said, "You know that there are German priests in the court, so our all-powerful crown prince is likely to understand German and Dutch. Moreover, no ceremonial state would allow a servant to decide the time of the meeting, not even the crown prince, no matter how young. ”

"Then why is it up to a servant to decide when I will leave?" William was even more puzzled: "Is it because he can see into the mind of the crown prince?" ”

"Because ......" He Bin wanted to tell him that the rule of "serving tea and sending guests" has been in place since the Song Dynasty, and even earlier there was "ordering soup to send guests". However, this knowledge is not included in the salary. And it was beyond his Dutch expression ability, so He Bin just said: "Because he has been with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince for a long enough time." ”

William accepted the explanation, whose personal servant would miss any of his master's habitual little movements?

He asked, "Bin, when will the talks on trade affairs begin?" ”

He Bin smiled awkwardly: "Mr. Van Gogh, I'm afraid this matter is not something you and I can decide." I think that the Ming court will have the necessary understanding before formally discussing the terms of trade. ”

"Well, that's as it should be." William nodded, "But it is my responsibility to inform Mr. Ofuwatt of what the Ming side has learned." If your compatriots in your homeland want to learn anything about the company from you. You should also tell me unreservedly that it is your obligation. ”

"And rightfully so. Mr. He replied without pressure, as he had spat out the phrase countless times — especially when he didn't understand what the Dutch was saying.

As a foreigner of very different races, William was not allowed - and he did not dare to step out of the hall. As a general, He Bin is often called to deal with various affairs. The young but old William always stared at He Bin at the first glance and asked him if the Ming people had asked about anything about the United Company.

He Bin's answer is always trivial, but the truth is that he has helped the staff officers of the First Guards Army compile a complete set of Dutch intelligence records in Southeast Asia, and has won a good popularity. Jinyiwei, who recently came from the north, was also very polite to him. Several times to test whether he was willing to be a spy of the Jinyi Guard.

As a guest of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, He Bin stepped onto the pinnacle of his life.

"So, a new territory, a new world, will inevitably give birth to a new powerhouse." Zhu Cihong sat in the tent. Sitting in the ring below are Zheng Zhilong, He Bin and a staff officer. It wasn't a meeting, just a routine afternoon break with refreshments in front of everyone.

"Ofuat is a fisherman, and he himself is only an assistant in a small school, not even an official. After leaving his country, he became a feudal town. Zhu Cihong said in a brisk voice: "And that hairy young man with freckles on his face can also come to see me on behalf of a country in a serious way." It's interesting to think about. He Bin, how is the salary over there? ”

He Bin hurriedly got up, sat down timidly under the pressure of the crown prince, and said, "Hongmaoyi......"

"Use proper names and don't despise your opponents." Zhu Cihong interrupted He Bin and reminded him.

He Bin hurriedly changed his words: "The salary given by the Dutch is not high. The younger had heard Van Gogh complain that his salary here was twice as much as in his home country, but it was four times as traumatic to his body. However, their main income here is from the sale of illicit goods. Ofoat bought commercial goods from Chinese maritime merchants in Chichicheng and sold them to Japan with the company's fleet to make huge profits. ”

"He only arrived last year, so bold?" Zhu Cihong asked.

"Your Highness, he was the head of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce before, so he is familiar with it."

"The Doge General of Batavia doesn't care?"

"Your Highness," He Bin said with a smile, "this matter is already known to everyone. Even the Governor General himself smuggled goods. Last year, a large ship of the company unloaded the private goods of the company's employees on Dejima, and the hull of the ship suddenly rose three feet! These Taixi people don't live long in the East China Sea and the South China Sea, so they have to make a sum of money as soon as possible and then go back to their home country to live the rest of their lives. ”

Zheng Zhilong gently pulled the corner of He Bin's clothes and signaled him not to get carried away.

He Bin didn't realize this. He only saw that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was smiling brightly, but he didn't notice that the officers in the seat had a somewhat complicated look at him.

Although His Royal Highness the Crown Prince emphasized that Taiwan is the homeland of China and the territory of the Ming Dynasty, there are still people who regard the capture of Taiwan as an expansion of territory.

In particular, if we know that Taiwan has huge economic interests, wouldn't it be a good thing if we can defend Taiwan in the future? What's more, isn't the crown prince's hint obvious enough: no matter what kind of background he was from before, as long as he opens up a new territory, he can become a human being.

Now that He Bin has poked out the inside story of the overseas enclave first, who will be able to live in peace in the future?

"This is human nature," Zhu Cihong said, "and it is also the seventeenth gentleman of the United Company who is too petty and childish." ”

He Bin raised his head in surprise, and said secretly in his heart: I haven't shaken out the seventeen gentlemen yet, how can the crown prince know about such a confidential matter? Could it be that Jinyiwei has already ......

"If you want me to say, the income of overseas enclaves should be based on people's hair shares, and everyone should take a share of the money. In this way, everyone will benefit, and the governor and the like will not dare to harm the public and private interests. Otherwise, his men would not do it. Zhu Cihong said.

"What His Highness said is very true, but it is a blessing for my generation to open up territory for the country, and everything else is nothing more than floating clouds." Fang Jiahong's work progress is very satisfactory to Zhu Cihong, so he has more and more honors.

"You can't say that." Zhu Cihong shook his head and said, "You are a seventeen-year-old jinshi, right?" ”

"The humble position is lucky to be given the same Jinshi background." Fang Jiahong hurriedly said humbly.

Zheng Zhilong's heart trembled, he hadn't heard this captain say that he was a jinshi for so long! A jinshi also came to serve as a soldier to eat food?

Zhu Cihong said: "Don't you remember the Analects? ”

Fang Jiahong suddenly blushed, like a cooked shrimp.

Zhu Cihong knew that many people here had never read the Analects, and said: "At the time of Confucius, the Lu State had a good governance: all Lu people who bought and became slaves abroad could be reimbursed by the public office for ransom after returning to China. Confucius's student Zigong was very rich, but after redeeming his compatriots, he did not reimburse him, thinking that it was a righteous act.

When Confucius learned about it, he pointed out that Zigong's approach was wrong. Why? Because not everyone is as wealthy as Zigong and can afford this ransom, but everyone has a sense of shame, and if Zigong's behavior is the first, people will be ashamed to reimburse the office for expenses later.

"On the one hand, there is shame, and on the other hand, there is really no way to catch it. The result? As a result, fewer and fewer people are willing to buy the country's people for the country, and in the end, everyone simply can't see it. ”

Zhu Cihong said again: "Loyalty, righteousness, benevolence and bravery, courtesy, righteousness and shame, this is the quality of a gentleman, he can only discipline himself, not others." Up and down a country, there must be a mixture of gentlemen and villains. If the state formulates laws according to the standards of a gentleman, it will inevitably make the villain turn his back on the motherland. The state formulates laws and regulations according to the standards of villains, and the villains are restrained, guided by good guidance, and step by step towards the behavior of a gentleman. And a gentleman is still a gentleman. Most of those who are sitting here today will be under command in the future, and they should remember what I have said today. ”

Everyone present did not have the label of "gentleman" or "villain" on their faces, but the color of admiration was the same. Of course, the gentleman does not mind "good wealth", and the villain can be regarded as getting a guarantee: the interests are evenly distributed, as long as he abides by the rules, he can also make a fortune legally.

Zheng Zhilong still feels this deeply. (To be continued......)

PS: Ask for a recommendation ticket, ask for a monthly pass~~~! This month, the monthly pass is really a little weak...... It must be my delusion, right?