He Bin said with a smile: "This is the same reason as the money owed by the merchants of the Ming Kingdom to the Zheng family, and the Zheng family also borrowed money from the Dutch to do business." At Wen Bailing, I got some specific information. ”

Around the thirteenth year of Chongzhen's reign, Zheng Zhilong had become the commander-in-chief of Fujian and had completely controlled the export channels of Chinese goods, with the result that Dutch merchant ships could not buy enough Chinese goods, so they could not obtain enough silver and copper in Japan, and these precious metals played an important role in the internal trade of the Dutch East India and Du Company.

In the thirteenth year of Chongzhen, the Ming court ordered that no trade should be made to Japan, so Zheng Zhilong reached a trade agreement with Japan with the Dutch East India and Du Company.

Zheng Zhilong borrowed 1 million guilders from the Dutch Dongyin Company every year, which was equivalent to about 250,000 taels of silver, and these guilders would be used for three months at an interest rate of 2.5 percent per month, in exchange for the Dutch ships to transport goods to Japan for Zheng Zhilong free of charge.

In addition, Zheng Zhilong promised that the scale of goods sold by the two parties in Japan would be the same, but 40% of the profits from the sale of goods by the Dutch would be given to Zheng Zhilong.

Of course, after this agreement, Zheng Zhilong found that the imperial court could not control his own trade with Japan at all, and because of the imperial court's restrictions, other people's trade with Japan had decreased, so he did not fully comply with it, but secretly monopolized the trade with Japan.

So much so that by the fifteenth year of Chongzhen, the Dutch could hardly buy raw silk and other goods that were very profitable in Japan.

And Zheng Zhilong still continued such an agreement, after all, 250,000 taels of silver per year, but only 18,000 taels of interest, now even the principal of the transaction is available, and he can also prostitute the cargo ship space of the Dutch, and 40% of the profits.

Because of the end of the year, the 250,000 taels of silver that the Dutch lent to Zheng Zhilong in the seventeenth year of Chongzhen have not been returned, and it is this money that He Bin found.

Hearing this, Li Zhaoji said: "Zheng Zhilong borrowed money from the Dutch, it's my business, I won't pay it back anyway." The father paid the debt to the son, and let him go to Nanjing to find Zheng Sen. ”

"But I think the agreement reached by the Dutch with Zheng Zhilong is interesting and worthy of our reference," He said.

Perhaps, we can also cooperate with the Dutch in this way, after all, our merchant ships cannot sail to Nagasaki, Japan. ”

Li Zhaoji thought about it, shook his head and said, "Forget it, this kind of thing should be left to our Daming partners." ”

It was a matter of time before the Dutch engaged in direct trade with the Ming and Dashun, and what Li Zhaoji could control, that is, to collect his water tokens, would not bring benefits if he refused directly, but he could get other benefits from the Dutch if he agreed.

Although the ships of the trading company could not go to Nagasaki, the ships of the Ming Dynasty could.

Songjiang Fucheng, South Building.

Li Xiangjun leaned against the window, looking at the bustling street downstairs, in stark contrast to the quiet river, while she still held the Persian cat she had brought from Nanjing in her arms.

"Sister, I bought a lot of flowers, do you want to go to the dock together, we will go up to the sunken wall with them, the ship is bare now, but ugly." Bian Yujing said with a smile.

Li Xiangjun shook his head slightly, his expression gloomy.

"You want to go and see the young swallows on the boat, chirping, it's more lively than this street." Bian Yujing said again.

Li Xiangjun shook his head again: "Go and see for yourself, I don't want to go anywhere." ”

Bian Yujing said: "It's not that my sister doesn't want to go, but I'm waiting for someone." Since Sister Liu and Sister Gu left, you have become more and more distraught. ”

Li Xiangjun ignored Bian Yujing's quip, she asked seriously: "If you go back to Nanjing, what about Gu Mei, where did she go, if she went to Nanjing, why didn't she go together, if she didn't go, where did she go?" ”

Bian Yujing said with a smile: "Didn't Mr. Li say it, if my sister goes with her, Gu Mei will be placed elsewhere."

Isn't my sister worried that Gu Mei was placed in Tamsui. ”

"Mostly....... She had seen him first. Li Xiangjun muttered to himself.

At this time, a maid went upstairs and said, "Girl, there is a car and a few handymen from outside the courtyard, saying that they are delivering things." ”

"When we go back, we don't want anyone's things." Li Xiangjun said casually.

The maid said again: "It was Mr. Li who came from Tamsui to send it." ”

Li Xiangjun got up on the spot, went downstairs hand in hand with Bian Yujing, and arrived at the gate of the courtyard, where he saw two men in Tsing Yi and a horseman, the man's face was quite shrewd, and the car was carrying all kinds of sundries and tender dishes.

"Are you from Mr. Lee?" Li Xiangjun immediately asked.

The man in Tsing Yi nodded: "Yes, the big shopkeeper originally arrived in the morning, but he was stumped in Shanghai yesterday because of some things, so he only arrived today."

Yesterday we were arranged to come here, saying that we were going to have a banquet in the south building at noon, so we bought a lot of things. Please take a look at the two girls in the south building, what is still missing, according to the tastes of the two, add more, if there is a cook available, please point to a place, and the little ones will go here.

lest you miss the hour. ”

Bian Yujing complained: "He is really thick-skinned, and he doesn't treat himself as an outsider." ”

Li Xiangjun asked: "May I ask the little brother, who does Mr. Li want to invite." ”

The man in Tsing Yi said: "There are several large businessmen in Jiangsu and Zhejiang represented by Mr. Cheng Bi of Xiuning, as well as the newly arrived Lord Chen Shangchuan Chen, the prefect of Songjiang, Uncle Taiping, and several high-level executives and friends of trading companies. ”

"Are there no women?" Bian Yujing asked.

The man in Tsing Yi said: "The formal banquet is not for fun, and there will be no female musicians to accompany you." The big shopkeeper also said that he would ask the two girls to take care of it on his behalf, and he would be grateful. If they are willing to attend, he is also welcome, and if not, ask the two girls to help them find a quiet place so as not to disturb them. ”

Li Xiangjun said: "Just feast here, we have our own cook, just send these sundries and dishes to the back kitchen." ”

After arranging the miscellaneous labor, Li Xiangjun and Bian Yujing cleaned up the flower hall with the maid and came out, and at this time, Li Zhaoji's voice sounded outside: "Haha, two beauties, do you miss me?" ”

Hearing this voice, the two daughters' eyes were red, and Li Xiangjun took a sip and said: "Who misses you, as soon as you come to Songjiang, you will summon people, and you will be busy for half a day for no reason." ”

Bian Yujing stepped forward and was about to kick Li Zhaoji's calf with a flying kick, but Li Zhaoji hurriedly dodged, coughed lightly, and said, "Don't be annoyed, don't make trouble, my friend will come in immediately." The two beauties give some face, and they want to talk about business today. ”

"What do you want to talk about?" Li Xiangjun asked.

Li Zhaoji said: "It's all about digging the foot of the Ming Wall, and when you hear it, I'm afraid you won't like it, so if you can, you won't participate." ”

"Why can't we lose you?" Bian Yujing asked.

Li Zhaoji grinned: "Then don't make trouble, don't make a fool of yourself as a loyal minister of the Ming Dynasty, and try your best with me." ”

"Emperor Ming said that you are more righteous and loyal, and you are a hero. He doesn't care, we don't care. Li Xiangjun said with a smile.

Li Zhaoji nodded: "That's good, that's good." Today, let's borrow the south building to talk about things first, between us, there is time in the evening, and there is. ”

"Hmph, it's not bad!"

"Hey, ill-intentioned."

The second daughter is also used to Li Zhaoji's words, but she still doesn't want to give him a good look.

Li Zhaoji and He Bin were the first to arrive, followed by Chen Shangchuan, Wang and Xing, and finally Cheng Bi and other three businessmen who inquired all the way here.

When Cheng Bi and the others entered the flower hall, Wang Xing and Chen Shangchuan laughed and talked in a low voice, while Li Zhaoji looked at the paintings on the wall, those paintings were all from Li Xiangjun, Bian Yujing or Liu Ruyi, most of them were gentle and feminine, and the inscriptions on them were also delicate fonts.

Li Zhaoji couldn't understand it, but it didn't prevent him from secretly stamping each painting with his own treasure seal.

But Cheng Bi didn't know where Li Zhaoji's fun was, and he saw his back as soon as he entered the door. In March, Songjiang was full of spring, Li Zhaoji took off his robe, the narrow-sleeved round-neck robe made his muscle outline more obvious, he stood there like an iron tower with his back straight, and there were still some scars on his exposed skin, a businessman behind Cheng Bi couldn't help but take two steps back, Cheng Bi also sighed in his heart, Li Zhaoji is worthy of being decisive in killing, daring to go deep into the lair of the Dongyu, the big hero who ploughs the court and sweeps the caves, standing there, there is a kind of majesty and terror.

"Brother Cheng, please introduce us to us." The merchant behind Cheng Bi said in a low voice.

This woke up Li Zhaoji, he accepted the seal, and when he looked back, he gave his hand to Cheng Bi: "Mr. Xiuning Cheng, you and I have been friends for a long time, and I will see you today." ”

"Don't dare, don't dare, in front of the big shopkeeper, don't dare to call Mr." Cheng Bi said immediately.

Cheng Bi was one of the first Jiangnan merchants to go to Tamsui for trade, but his family business was very large, and the trade was taken care of, and he himself only went to Tamsui once, which was received by Liu Mingde, and Li Zhaoji was in Guangdong at that time. When the Northern Expedition passed through Songjiang, Li Zhao basically wanted to meet this historical righteous businessman, but he was stopped by Shen Youlong to attend the banquet and was not allowed to see him.

"Two, this is the big treasurer of the Oriental Trading Company...... This is the ........ of King Taiping and Uncle Xing. Cheng Bi introduced them one by one, and when Wang Xing was introduced, the businessmen immediately knelt down, but Wang Xing grabbed his shoulders with his hands.

Wang, Xinghaha laughed and said: "It's strange that you two don't kneel, but kneel to me when you see Brother Li, haha, it's really interesting." ”

The two of them were so frightened that they immediately wanted to kneel down to Li Zhaoji again, but Li Zhaoji hurriedly helped him up and said to Wang Xing: "Brother Wang, don't make fun of them." ”

Cheng Biden had a feeling of sudden realization, and said: "Uncle is from Guangdong, and the big shopkeeper also made a fortune in Guangdong. ”

Wang Xing said: "Where do I have the honor to be able to marry Brother Li, when Brother Li was heroic at sea, I was still a pirate in Guangdong, praying to God and worshiping Buddha every day, Brother Li must not come to beat me." ”

Wang, Xing's words were half-joking, but what he said was also the truth.

"In other places, everyone still has to follow the rules of Daming, but here, Mr. Li, there is no need for it, all sit, all sit, there is no distinction between dignity and inferiority here." Chen Shangchuan took the initiative to come out to play the round, and pulled Cheng Bi and the others to sit down directly.

Cheng Bi and the three of them sat down at this time, Wang, Xing was born recklessly, he has only been an earl for a few months, and the habits of the rivers and lakes have not yet gone, he said proudly: "Yes, yes, there is no distinction between dignity and inferiority here, even if our Emperor Ming comes up, he can also be called Brother Zhu." ”

As soon as Wang Xing's words came out, he met Li Zhaoji's glare, and immediately smiled awkwardly and found a place to sit down.

Li Zhaoji said: "Let's talk about one thing first, next month, Lord Chen will officially take office as the prefect of Songjiang. Songjiang Prefecture is in Huating County, but it will be moved to Shanghai County next month. Therefore, when we reunite, or have something to settle down, Songjiang is Shanghai, not Huating.

Do you understand? ”

"Yes, yes." Cheng Bi and the three of them nodded again and again, looking at each other a little embarrassed.

In addition to the prime minister of Fujian Xia, Taipingbo is the only one in all the feudal towns that is sealed south of the Yangtze River, but it is only a county, and it is rumored that the first assistant Shen Youlong promoted Chen Shangchuan, a new science and technology jinshi, to serve as the prefect of Songjiang, just to balance Taipingbo. The three businessmen also think so, but now it seems that Chen Shangchuan and Taiping Bo are clearly in the same group.

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