The emperor has a thorough understanding of the psychology of the merchants, because he is the mind of a traverser, and knows that in the feudal era, the imperial power is supreme, and you have nothing to talk about security.

In other words, they are not psychologically safe, and they are always worried about sinning because of wealth and inviting trouble because of wealth.

In view of this, the emperor was more tolerant of merchants. At least, the emperor is already soft-hearted relative to officials.

Wool, there are more sheep to be picked, but with one, how many are bald, and other sheep run away for us.

As long as they obey the law, the merchants will make more money, and the business tax will also increase, which will be beneficial to the country, the court, and even the people.

In particular, the initiative of "giving back to society" has been set by the royal family, and the recognition of businessmen and all levels of society is also increasing.

Being rich and unkind is what the emperor hates. In the society of the Ming Dynasty, such a concept is gradually forming.

The traditional gentry class was being replaced by a new class of merchants and landlords, marked by royal plaques.

And the preferential treatment of the gentry is also gradually being abolished and replaced by retired officers and soldiers. In addition, even retired officials do not have the privilege of being exempt from paying taxes.

The imperial court has implemented a pension system, and officials can live without worry, and they no longer have to enjoy tax incentives.

In short, the political, economic, military, and even all aspects of life in the Ming Empire are changing according to the emperor's vision. Some are stormy, some are subtle.

Except for the praise of the descendants of the Meng family a year ago, the granting of crosses to the next generation, and the pre-issuance of 30 million war bonds, there seems to be no major event.

As a result, in the impression of the vast majority of the people, the Spring Festival passed quite calmly in this calm atmosphere.

The new year, the new outlook, the new vision, in everyone's heart, are planning for their own lives, busy.

The state apparatus of the Ming Empire is still functioning normally, and the cabinet has taken on a relatively young face.

Sun Yuanhua, Bi Ziyan, and Tao Lang first replaced Yuan Keli, Xu Guangqi, and Sun Chengzong, and the personnel changes did not cause chaos in political affairs, but the order and rules of the court have been decided, and it has little impact on anyone else.

Xiong Tingbi, the secretary of the Ministry of War, and the crown prince Taibao, can be regarded as a commendation for the victory of the Ming army in the war.

The War Department has also begun to reform its structure, and the framework of the War Department, the Navy Department, and the General Staff Headquarters has been erected, and the personnel gap can only be slowly filled.

The army of the Ming Empire must not only move towards modernization in terms of equipment and tactics, but also the entire military organization and institutions must keep up.

Others think that the emperor is ingenious, but only the emperor knows that he is painting a scoop with a gourd.

Originally, Xiong Tingbi could also enter the cabinet as a secondary assistant, but no one has taken over his work for the time being.

Sun Chuanting was in the northwest preparing to launch an operation to regain the former set; Shen Yourong focuses on the navy and is too old; Mao Wenlong, it doesn't seem to be qualified......

There are many generals who can recruit and fight habitually, but not many may reach a high level. And he is still relatively young, there is no problem in fighting, and he is still a little worse in strategizing and scheming.

Although Xiong Tingbi has a bad temper, he has changed a lot now, but the emperor doesn't care. didn't point at his nose and scold, scolding others for what he had to do with him, he only cared about Xiong Tingbi's ability.

There are not many emperors like me who are broad-minded and benevolent and generous in history!

Just when the emperor was self-absorbed and self-admiring and praised in the Qianqing Palace, thousands of miles away in the South China Sea, a fleet was heading towards the Ming Empire.

Weddell stood on the deck, looking out at the vast sea with a telescope, fantasizing about the first direct trade with the great powers of the East.

In the Far East, both the Dutch and the Portuguese made a lot of money on trade, as well as the Spaniards. The silk, porcelain, tea and other commercial goods of the Ming Empire were extremely popular in Europe, and the profits were also amazing.

The English were red-eyed, and King Charles I appointed Captain Weddell as commander to lead a fleet of six armed merchant ships and set sail for China.

Actually, this was not the first contact between the British and the Ming Dynasty. Previously, a British merchant ship had arrived at a Chinese port.

However, the British merchant ship was very unlucky, and under the desperate slander of the Portuguese, it was extorted a lot of money by Ming officials, and not much cargo was brought back.

In order to continue to develop trade with China, a number of British merchants banded together to form the Getting Union.

This confederation of merchants lobbied King Charles I of England to give them special privileges in trading with China. Charles I graciously agreed, and specially invested 10,000 pounds in the Getting Federation.

Weddell's fleet arrived in India first, where they were received by the third brother. After a short resupply, it crossed the Strait of Malacca and entered the South China Sea.

As for the recent situation of the Ming Empire, Weddell is not very clear. His impression was still that a few years earlier, the Portuguese had occupied Macau and enjoyed the privilege of trading with the Ming Dynasty.

Similar to the Dutch, Weddell believed that through the Portuguese, he would be able to trade with the Ming Dynasty. Or, contact the Ming official directly.

"Sir—" the sailor watching from the mast reminded aloud, "there is a ship ahead, not like a merchant ship. ”

Weddell hurriedly shifted the telescope, but couldn't see it very clearly.

As the distance got closer, the sailors reported the details again, "Ten ships, all warships. God, it can't be a pirate, right? ”

Weddell was taken aback, and hurriedly ordered the ships to prepare for battle. Armed merchant ships were also superior in numbers against warships, and Weddell also felt a lack of confidence.

"Is it the flag of the Ming Kingdom?!" As the ship drew nearer, Weddell saw more clearly, and turned with confirmation to a sailor on an unfortunate merchant ship who had been to the Ming Kingdom.

After carefully identifying it, the sailor nodded vigorously and said, "That's right, it's the flag of the Ming Kingdom." ”

Weddell probably judged the lower position, which should be near Cam Ranh Bay. The fact that the warships of the Ming Kingdom could sail so far was somewhat unexpected to him.

Rumble! The warships of the Ming Kingdom fired warning guns and unfolded in battle formation.

Weddell weighed the pros and cons and ordered the ship to be lowered and stopped, but the ship remained on guard.

A smaller battleship came nimbly, and even if it was a small battleship, Weddell did not dare to make a mistake when he saw the gun emplacements on the side side.

"You have entered the waters of the Ming Empire, reported your national name and identity, and accepted inspection." A Ming soldier held an iron horn and shouted at Weddell and the others.

It's also Weddell's bad luck, this is not the inspection of the Ming Customs, and it can't go so far. It is a fleet that routinely cruises and is based at the port of Saigon, Mekong Province.

Since they had met and looked at the flag, it was relatively unfamiliar, so the Ming fleet sailed over to check. Because, they also have a mission, that is, to clear out pirates.