With the death of Tokugawa Hidetada in the sixth year of Chongzhen, the dualist politics ended, and Tokugawa Iemitsu himself took power.

In the two years from the sixth year of Chongzhen to the eighth year of Chongzhen, Tokugawa Iemitsu completed the construction of the political system of the shogunate, and his rule became more and more stable.

In February of the 7th year of Chongzhen, Tokugawa Iemitsu issued the first national lockdown decree, prohibiting ships other than the Hoshu boat from sailing.

The following year, the content of the lockdown decree was reaffirmed.

By the ninth year of Chongzhen, the rule of the shogunate had been completely stabilized.

The only unstable factor is Yang Chengying.

Yang Chengying had huge trade contacts with the Tsushima Domain, Hirado Domain, and Satsuma Domain. Trade with the shogunate was also very prosperous.

In addition, Yang Chengying has a large fleet.

This made the shogunate very cautious in dealing with the relationship with Yang Chengying.

As early as the year before last, the shogunate sent someone to inform Yang Chengying of the content of the first lockdown decree, and said that the merchant ships that possessed Yang Chengying's passage documents were not among them.

Last year, the shogunate sent an envoy for the second time to inform the second lockdown order.

Since Yang Chengying inspected the Northeast, Ning Wan and I received him on his behalf.

The shogunate's sense of urgency has been perceived by Yang Chengying.

Therefore, he believed that the shogunate would agree to Yang Cheng's request to come to the shore to replenish fresh water and supplies.

The shogunate also hoped that Yang Chengying would go to the Wa Kingdom to negotiate further with them.

Yang Chengying told me the above analysis, and then said, "By the way, inform the lords of the Tsushima clan and other feudal lords that I am coming." ”

"I'm afraid they already knew, and I wish you could go."

Ning Wan said with a smile: "You sent someone to inform, it's too polite." ”

"To be polite, there will be no shortage of two taels of meat."

Yang Chengying also smiled: "As long as they obediently provide food, drinking water and firewood, this is very important to us." ”

"King, how do you do everything so calmly?"

"Because there is a clear goal, you can be calm, towards a goal, and then use all means to achieve it."

"I see."

The two were talking, and Zu Zepei came in from outside.

He reported: "Your Majesty, General Zheng Zhilong is asking to see you outside the study. ”

"Oh, finally he's here."

Yang Chengying said with a smile: "Let him in." ”

"Yes." Zu Zepei stepped back.

After Ning Wan, I also got up: "King, the minister has gone on an errand." ”

"Go ahead." Yang Chengying nodded.

Ning finished my fists, said "farewell", and turned to leave.

He and Zheng Zhilong passed by, and the two stopped, hugged their fists and said hello.

After Zheng Zhilong finished greeting, he took another step and greeted Yang Chengying when he arrived.

"Sit." Yang Chengying pointed to the pit opposite him.

"Thank you, Lord for your grace."

Zheng Zhilong took off his robe and sat opposite Yang Chengying.

"Have you seen your family?" Yang Chengying asked.

"With the permission of the king, I allowed the minister to go home to visit his family first, and when he saw that everything was fine at home, the minister felt a lot more relieved."

Zheng Zhilong said respectfully.

Yang Chengying nodded, and as soon as he waved, the subordinate walked over with the tray.

He removed the cover from the tray, revealing some jewels and gold ornaments.

"When I was in Zhangjiakou, the local businessmen honored me. I gave some to the ladies of the house, and this is the rest. ”

Yang Chengying said: "I heard that you married a concubine, you take it back to make her happy, I hope you don't dislike it." ”

Zheng Zhilong hurriedly got up and said: "The king is very loving, how dare the minister say the word 'dislike'." Since it was a generous gift from the king, the minister thanked him and accepted it. ”

After he said that, he saluted Yang Chengying again, took the tray in the hands of his subordinates, put it on the kang behind him, and took it away when he was ready to leave.

"I'm calling you back this time for this year's operation. The expulsion of the Dutch, the recovery of Chicken Coop Island and the visit to the Japanese Kingdom. Because the stakes are high, I'd like to hear your opinions. ”

"The king's decision is well thought out, and the ministers are absolutely obedient to orders."

Zheng Zhilong sat down again.

Yang Chengying waved his hand: "You can say these words to others." I'm going to listen to advice, not flattery. ”

Zheng Zhilong smiled and said embarrassedly: "The king's plan is very perfect, and the minister really can't find a place to be reminded. If there is anything that needs to be added, the minister thinks it should be on the governance of Jilong Island. ”

"Let's hear it."

"The minister thinks that Zheng Zhihu is only suitable for recruiting local people from Fujian and Zhejiang, training soldiers, and is not suitable for governing places."

"So, you have a better fit."

"Yes. If the king uses him to govern Jilong Island, Jilong Island will soon be returned to the king. ”

"Who?"

"Chen Xinji!"

"Oh, it's him." Yang Chengying was thoughtful.

History always changes quietly, Zheng Zhilong was supposed to appear in Jiangnan, but became a general under Yang Chengying.

All this stems from the ingenious layout of the late Li Dan.

As a veteran leader of a group of pirate merchants, Li Dan has an extremely keen sense of politics.

He discovered that Yang Chengying recruited sailors, built warships, and turned the trade route from the northern part of the Ming Dynasty to Port Arthur to Pusan of the Li Dynasty to Tsushima Island and the Hirado Domain into a hot maritime trade route.

realized how powerful Yang Chengying was.

So, Li Dan left Zheng Zhilong behind, and when Yang Chengying arrived in the Hirado Domain, he took the initiative to make friends, and let Zheng Zhilong transfer to Yang Chengying's command.

Li Dan died in the fifth year of the Apocalypse, and after his death, the huge business group was divided into three.

Some of them defected to Zheng Zhilong and worked as an errand under Yang Chengying.

For example, the Zheng brothers, He Bin, Shi Daxuan, Hong Xu, Gan Hui, etc.

The other part, unwilling to take refuge in Yang Chengying, continued to work as a pirate businessman.

It wasn't until Yang Chengying was stationed in Naha Port that they were forced to surrender Yang Chengying with Liu Xiang under pressure.

For example, Li Kuiqi, Zhong Bin, Yang Liu, Yang Qi brothers, etc.

The other part, with Yan Siqi, arrived at Bin Port on Jilong Island, developed local production, and recruited people from Fujian and Zhejiang to Jilong Island.

They also established trade routes, fought with the Dutch, Portuguese, pirates, and other powers, and although they did not grow, they also established themselves in the region.

After Yan Siqi's death, Chen Xinji took over the command and married Yan Siqi's daughter.

Guo Huaiyi and Yang Tiansheng all stayed under Chen Xinji.

"He's a good fit."

Thinking of this, Yang Chengying was a little worried and asked, "It's just that they are willing to defect to me and pass through Jilong Island for me?" ”

"It's not a secret, the concubine room married by the minister is Chen Xinji's concubine, and the meaning expressed in it should be clear to the king at a glance, and there is no need to repeat it."

Zheng Zhilong scratched his head when he said this.

He was born in the same year as Yang Chengying, a few months older than Yang Chengying. married the daughter of the former worshipper brother, who was only sixteen years old.

Yang Chengying wanted to laugh, but Zheng Zhilong actually felt embarrassed.

"Okay, for your sake, I'll approve it."

Yang Chengying smiled and said: "You send someone to inform them in advance, and say that after I arrive, I will appoint an official position according to the actual situation." But let them prepare more wine and meat, that they may reward the whole army. ”

"Your Ministers obey."