Chapter 237

Cheng Shijie was not in the mood to pay attention to the affairs of the capital, in fact, he had fewer and fewer scruples about the capital in his heart, and sometimes, he couldn't even remember that there was an emperor on his head and a Ming court.

When Cheng Shijie arrived, he looked at all the more than 20 Chinese settlements and farms in Luzon, and on the whole, the living environment of the Chinese in Luzon was not very optimistic.

After the occupation of Luzon, the Spaniards encroached on the most fertile and extensive farms and plantations, as well as a small number of rubber plantations.

The Chinese, on the other hand, could only pick up the land that the Spaniards did not want, pick up some leftover juice and cold soup, and even reclaim the land by themselves in remote places.

However, the Chinese are too industrious, and for the nomads, it takes at least 6,000 to 8,000 acres of dense grassland to feed their families. For white farmers, they needed 100 acres, or about 600 acres, to barely make ends meet.

But the people of Daming only need twenty or thirty acres of land, and if it is a paddy field in the south of the Yangtze River, it can be two, ten or eight acres of land a year, which can solve the problem of food and clothing.

In later generations, many people looked down on the small-scale peasant economy in the Chinese countryside, but in fact, any common people, the only way, was to engage in sideline work as much as possible, such as planting fruit trees, economic trees, vegetables, and under the condition of ensuring food rations, and then began to raise all kinds of poultry.

The Chinese in Luzon actually have a much better living environment than the two capitals and thirteen provinces of the Ming Dynasty, most of them have farms, and each farm will raise hundreds of chickens, ducks and geese, if there are no chickens, ducks, geese, cows, and sheep, they are simply sorry for the identity of the farmer.

Once these things are scaled, the profits generated by these things are also very considerable.

Especially in Luzon, where the water resources are very developed, ducks and geese do not need to be raised at all, and they go to the lake to eat some small fish and shrimp or something, and the eggs laid are all red-hearted, which is the most popular in the market. The same is true for cattle and sheep, as long as the sheepfold is large enough, there is no need to herd the sheep at all, the sheep eat the grass, and when a rain falls, it will grow again immediately.

At least Cheng Shijie's investigation knows that very few white farmers raise chickens, ducks and geese, not because they are dirty, nor because they are noisy, but because they are troublesome. And a farm of the same size, operated in the hands of the Chinese, can produce at least three or five times more profit than in the hands of the whites.

It is not surprising that the Chinese will be rich. But the problem is that wealth is envied, and then tragedy comes in.

Among them, Wu Shangzhi and Li Guoqun have been accompanied, whether it is Wu Shangzhi or Li Guoqun, they are all restless along the way, when walking, they are half shoulders wrong with Cheng Shijie, Li Guoqun's eldest son Li Sixing is tall, half a head taller than Cheng Shijie, close to a height of 1.9 meters.

In front of Cheng Shijie, he didn't even dare to bend up straight, arched his waist, and looked shorter than Cheng Shijie, and Cheng Shijie didn't feel abnormal about the attitude of Wu Shangzhi and Li Guoqun.

After all, in the later generations of Hangang Group, there are people like Wu Shangzhi and Li Guoqun who behave old-fashioned, because of professional habits, Cheng Shijie has always been neither humble nor arrogant when receiving anyone, even if the status is lower than Cheng Shijie, he will not be unscrupulous, because Hangang Group has the temperament of some troops, maybe which old worker is the master of a certain boss, every New Year's holiday, even if he is a high-ranking boss, he has to go to the ordinary worker's home to sit and give gifts.

Otherwise, they will be said to have forgotten their roots, and if they are leaders of other private companies, they will definitely not care about the so-called rumors, because most of them do not have a good image in the mouths of employees. But Hangang Group is different, this is one of the assessment criteria for leadership promotion, democratic evaluation.

Wind evaluation will affect a person's future, Cheng Shijie is the same for his master, he serves as the deputy director of the office of the organ, and in front of his master, he is already considered a leader, but Cheng Shijie will never show leadership in front of his master and ordinary employees.

When Li Guoqun returned home, Li Guoqun's eldest son Li Sixing smiled and said: "Father, General Cheng has the courtesy of King Wen of Zhou to Prince Jiang back then!" ”

Li Guoqun glanced at Li Sixing: "What are you talking about?" General Cheng is King Wen of Zhou, how can his father be compared to one ten-thousandth of Jiang Taigong? ”

However, from the bottom of his heart, Li Guoqun still feels that Cheng Shijie does respect him very much, which makes Li Guoqun very proud.

In the seventh year of Chongzhen, on August 22, Cheng Shijie was officially convened, and the inaugural meeting of the Luzon Chinese representatives and the Luzon Executive Committee was held.

The old rule, before everyone is ready to do a big job, first hold a development planning meeting, unify thoughts, only the unity of thought, in order to think in one place, to make efforts.

Before the meeting began, it was naturally Xie Jinglin who presided over the meeting and began to read quickly: "There are now 45,675 Chinese in Luzon, and it is still growing rapidly. At present, there are a total of 23 towns in Siquan Town, Zhenghegang Town, and Fushan Town, and there are 312 farms and plantations of all sizes...... A total of 8.9 million acres of land. ”

With the occupation of Luzon by the Ning Navy and the capture of more than 4,600 Spaniards, their farms, plantations, minerals and other property naturally became the property of the Ning Navy.

Of course, the current development of Luzon is actually only about 10 percent, and the Philippines in later generations has 5.3 million hectares of cultivated land, about 79.5 million acres. At its peak, it was 5.75 million hectares, or 86.25 million mu.

Cheng Shijie looked at the Chinese representatives and said: "The basic situation in Luzon is roughly like this, everyone is talking, what do you think now?" ”

Wu Shangzhi raised his hand cautiously: "Dashuai, so many fertile fields, they can't be wasted, right?" It's better to sell to us to operate, we recruit manpower, organize planting! ”

Of course, Wu Shangzhi is also testing Cheng Shijie's attitude, if Cheng Shijie and Ning Haijun really want to make a fortune and leave, they will definitely sell all the fields and minerals.

Cheng Shijie shook his head and said: "You can't eat these fields, Luzon was beaten down by the officers of the Ning Navy, naturally it is necessary to give the officers and men of the Ning Navy a part of the military land, now of the 8.9 million acres of plantations, a total of 1.2 million acres belong to the Chinese, these fields, the marshal respects the interests of the Chinese plantations, you can continue to operate, at the same time, the remaining 7.7 million acres of fields, the Ninghai officers keep 3 million acres of arable land, 5 million acres of grassland and 6 million acres of forest land, the remaining 4.7 million acres of fields, Can be sold for everyone to buy! ”

When Cheng Shijie said this, Li Guoqun raised his hand and said: "I want to buy 800,000 mu to grow corn, rice and soybeans!" ”

"The contemptible people want to buy a piece of land to grow sugar cane!"

"The contemptible people want to buy a piece of land to process seafood!"

"The contemptible man wants to buy a piece of land......"

The Chinese representatives saw that Cheng Shijie had left almost all of the good land for themselves, and also occupied a large number of middle fields, leaving them only with middle fields and bad fields, but the problem was that they were relieved.

Because, the Ning Navy occupies Ueda, they will not leave easily, as long as the Ning Navy is in Luzon, they are not afraid of the Spaniards coming back, you must know that when the Ning Navy fights the Spaniards, they all look at it. Ning Haijun beat the Spaniards like an adult beating a child, and he had no power to fight back at all.

"I don't know ...... price"

Cheng Shijie smiled faintly: "One or two pieces of silver per mu of Zhongtian, and three dollars of silver for inferior fields, which can be paid off in up to five years!" ”

Wu Shangzhi said: "I don't know how to collect this tax? ”

"One-tenth, if you produce one stone per mu, you can hand over one bucket!"

Cheng Shijie looked at the crowd: "If you sell overseas, you need to pay one-thirtieth of the transaction tax." ”

Knowing that the tax was so low, everyone present smiled. In fact, during the vast majority of the Ming Dynasty, whether it was commercial tax or agricultural tax, the proportion was not very high, but the following guys who did not do personnel were added layer by layer, knocking on the bone and sucking the marrow, and finally overwhelmed the people. The imperial court wants to charge an extra tael of silver, and it becomes ten taels when it is spread to the common people, so it is strange to play the immortality of the Ming Dynasty.

Li Guoqun was most worried about safety, he asked: "Dashuai, but we Chinese people in Luzon are few, and there are many indigenous people, but in case ......."

Cheng Shijie smiled, he conjured a revolver like a trick, a total of six bullets, but because when making it, the smaller the caliber, the more difficult it is, so the revolver made by Ning Haijun is a quarter caliber, which means that the caliber of the revolver is 12.6 mm.

"That's what you need!"

Cheng Shijie loaded the bullet into the revolver, loaded it, and immediately pointed it at a statue in the hall, which was a continuous fire of six shots.

"Bang ......"

The entire statue carved out of marble was smashed into stone chips.

Cheng Shijie said: "This is a revolver produced by the Gun Bureau of the Ning Navy, with a caliber of four points and an effective range of thirty steps, even if it is a child, he can easily shoot a strong man with this gun." With a gun in hand, who dares to forcibly break into a private house and threaten the safety of your life and property, you don't need to say anything, just give him an arrow and then reason with him! ”

"This is the mountain mulberry crossbow produced by the Ning Navy, with a range of one hundred and eighty steps, of course, for armored targets within one hundred and twenty steps, you can shoot directly, if conditions permit, you can buy revolvers for self-defense, and you can also buy crossbow machines, spears, knives and other equipment."

You know, in all dynasties, it has always been forbidden to use crossbows, and the people can have bows and arrows, but they must not have crossbows, the reason is that because the crossbow shoots accurately and powerfully, an ordinary person can be proficient in provoking and using skills in just a few days, and shoot an arrow to kill a samurai who has been practicing martial arts all his life! "Ten thieves open crossbows, and hundreds of officials dare not go forward", if the people have such murder weapons, the threat to the government is too great, so the crossbow must be banned. How severe is the forbidden crossbow? Those who have three strong crossbows in the folk will all be beheaded!

Cheng Shijie did not have so many scruples in Luzon, he not only sold guns and crossbows, but also prepared to set up a shooting club to cultivate the martial spirit of the Chinese in Luzon.

"I wonder how much this revolver costs?"

"It's not expensive, it's not expensive, ten taels of silver a handful, and a box of thirty bullets is included! Personally, if you buy a revolver, you can buy six boxes of bullets, and six boxes of bullets are also ten taels of silver, and you can use them for a long time! ”

"Where's the crossbow?"

"This one is cheaper, five taels of silver a piece, and two pots of fifty arrows are included!"

Regarding Cheng Shijie's arming them, they raised their hands in favor, although the Spaniards are not dangerous now, but the natives are very fucked, completely treating them as sheep in their own sheepfold, without a little self-defense, you just wait for them to be sucked into dry corpses, forcing the family to ruin! With weapons, they should be a little more restrained, right?

Wu Shangzhi asked, "Can we have a short knife?" ”

"Yes, a tael of silver!"

Cheng Shijie's plan is to turn Luzon into a place where the people are fierce and everyone is martial. In the tragic case of the massacre of the Chinese by the aborigines of Luzon, it is clear that the Chinese are much taller than the aborigines of Luzon because of their good nutrition, but the problem is that the Chinese were killed by the aborigines, and their heads were boiling and blood flowing.

The reason for this is not that the Chinese cannot fight, but that they lack the spirit of martial arts. He can't do anything with the whole world, but he can at least turn Luzon, which is under his jurisdiction, into a land of fierce folk customs, so that anyone who dares to get their hands on this area will not return!

Cheng Shijie looked at the Chinese representatives and said: "The living environment of the Chinese in Luzon is not optimistic, since Ben Shuai has come here, he must find a way to make the fathers and brothers of Luzon turn over and become masters, not only to let all the fathers and villagers stand up for business, but also to make all the fathers and villagers rich......"

On the scene, Cheng Shijie doesn't know how to say, similar to this kind of impromptu speech, Cheng Shijie can be said to come as soon as he opens his mouth.

When Wu Shangzhi, Li Guoqun and other Chinese representatives heard this, they knelt down towards Cheng Shijie.

Looking at the people kneeling in front of the Luzon Governor's Palace, Cheng Shijie said with a surprised face: "Everyone, why did you suddenly make such a big gift?" ”

Wu Shangzhi was so choked that he couldn't speak, Li Guoqun even his eyes were hot, and tears involuntarily rolled down and choked up: "Dashuai, you don't know, I am waiting in this land of Luzon Huhua, I am used to seeing the Spanish bullying and humiliating us, even if it is some generals of the imperial court, either like the Zheng family, or some grass-like characters, come to loot and borrow grain, and when you see money, your eyes glow gold, and when you see women, your eyes glow red...... Like Dashuai, he can't live in a good mansion, but he has to share weal and woe with the people, we have only heard of such things in books, and we used to think they were all fake, but today I know that there is really such a virtuous monarch in the world! ”

When he said this, Xie Jinglin felt that Li Guoqun had some national status, although it was said that the sky was high and the emperor was far away, if this word reached the ears of Emperor Chongzhen, he was afraid that it would have a great impact on Cheng Shijie.

Cheng Shijie's positioning of Luzon categorically did not think of a situation similar to Liaodong, Liaodong is placed in the Ming Dynasty, anyone thinks that this is the Liaodong of the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Chongzhen and the imperial court have a righteous name for Liaodong, Cheng Shijie should be careful in doing things, although he is not out of line.

The imperial court sent officials to Liaodong, he had to accept it, the imperial court collected taxes from Liaodong, and Cheng Shijie did not think about not giving, in fact, for the autumn grain of Emperor Chongzhen's seven years, Liaodong had to pay three million stone grain to the imperial court, which was actually not troublesome at all for Liaodong.

Cheng Shijie did not refute Li Guoqun's so-called monarch and ministers, he helped Wu Shangzhi, Li Guoqun and others up, and then looked at the crowd: "Ben Shuai is not a virtuous gentleman, Ben Shuai is a general of the Ming Dynasty, protecting the people of the Ming Dynasty, it is a duty, and it is my duty to do it. Seeing everyone being bullied by the natives, Ben Shuai felt uncomfortable, and there was nothing else. ”

"Dashuai may think it's nothing, but for us and others, I have never seen it, and I dare not think that I can meet such a master...... Wu Mou was in the year of decay, and Luzon was in the midst of a catastrophe, but he actually met a handsome, why didn't he make me rejoice? ”

Wu Shangzhi had just calmed down and said that he was going to kneel down again, but Cheng Shijie didn't wait for him to kneel down to help.

Wu Shangzhi continued: "Dashuai, you love the people so much, I'm afraid there is no second person in the world." Before I met the general, I only said that Luzon was just a change of master, and I only know today...... The ambition of the general, from now on, the old man will do his best to assist the general to achieve the great cause. ”

Li Guoqun and the others said loudly: "We will do our best to assist the general to achieve the great cause!" ”

Cheng Shijie naturally knows the strength of the Nanyang Chinese, in fact, the Nanyang Chinese in Luzon, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia are all people who hold a lot of wealth.

Cheng Shijie said with a smile: "The merit is small, the people's livelihood is great, and we still need the help of Wu Lao, Li Lao and others!" ”

Wu Shangzhi and Li Guoqun glanced at each other, and said in unison: "I am willing to die for the general!" ”

In fact, it is not the first time that the Chinese in Luzon have been massacred by the Spanish and the natives, and this time if there is no action from the Ning Navy, there will definitely be a river of blood. At the same time, this incident also really woke up the Chinese.

Not only did there be a large-scale massacre of Chinese in Luzon, but the survival of the Chinese in Murky and Medan was very difficult, because the Ming Dynasty behind them was too busy to take care of themselves.

For decades, no Ming official or general has ever stepped forward to uphold justice for them, to save them, to protect them.

Chinese representatives from all over Nanyang set out one after another, deciding to obtain the protection of Cheng Shijie from the Ning Navy like the Chinese in Luzon.

It was at this time that the business representatives of the Dutch arrived in Luzon.

At this time, dozens of Dutchmen, under the leadership of Ning Haijun, came to Cheng Shijie's mansion.

This time it was the senior commercial attaché of the Dutch East India Company, who had dealt with Cheng Shijie, and the governor general, Putmans,

Putmans babbled at the translator with a serious face.

In fact, Putmans was very fluent in Mandarin, and it was a Hokkien dialect, as well as the official dialect of the imperial court.

The interpreter said to Cheng Shijie: "Contemptible, with the authorization of the Viceroy of the Spanish Empire and the Java Governor's Office of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, I have come to officially inform Your Excellency. The competence of the contemptible authorities to deal with the Luzon riots has been confirmed, and they are ready to begin formal negotiations with you. I hereby inform you and greet you with good luck. ”

Cheng Shijie nodded and said, "I want to talk about it, Jinglin, you talk to them on behalf of Ben Shuai!" ”

"It's handsome!"

"Please!"

Xie Jinglin stretched out his hand towards Putmans.

"Hans, what's the matter with you?"

In the meeting hall of the port area of Zhenghe Port District, Xie Jinglin said with a smile: "When does Spain need you Dutch to come forward?" ”

"Because of profit!"

Putmans said with a serious face: "Let's start! ”

Xie Jinglin nodded and said, "Okay."

Putmans slapped the table: "Your Ming Empire must give us an explanation for the Spanish Empire, Luzon is the territory of Philip IV of the Spanish Empire, and your brazen attack on Luzon is a huge insult to a civilized country." The whole of Europe was outraged......"

Speaking of this, Putmans lowered his voice and said: "This is already an act of war, and there is little point in negotiating, but we still want to avoid war, and this is my side's request......"

Xie Jinglin glanced at it, and saw the official diplomatic note written in Spanish, Dutch, and Chinese, which can also be said to be an ultimatum: "Hand over the murderer, release the Spanish nationals, and compensate the Spanish Empire for the losses ......"

Xie Jinglin glanced at it and said lightly: "This negotiation is an insult to me and the Ming Empire, Hans, we are friends, I hope that you will resign from the Dutch East India Company, if this continues, my only friend in the Netherlands will be gone!" ”

Putmans also looked helpless.

was ridden by Da Ming, and he actually thought about solving the problem by negotiation, which is really ridiculous.

Xie Jinglin said: "Since ancient times, Luzon is the sweet potato country of our Ming Empire, just like the relationship between your Netherlands and Spain, the current Luzon is not an independent country, they are just our Ming sweet potato country, your invasion of Luzon is to declare war on the Ming Dynasty, this is an act of war, although our Ming Dynasty loves peace, but is not afraid of war, now we accept the war of your Spanish Empire, your Spanish Empire's vassal states of the Netherlands, Portugal, etc., are in a state of war, We are going to wage a knightly war against you Holland, which will begin in a month's time, so please go back and prepare now......"

Without waiting for Xie Jinglin to speak, Putmans was anxious: "No, no, no, this is not an act of war, it is just a conflict, the Spanish Empire and the Ming Empire are just contradictions, not a threat of war!" ”

"Admit your mistakes seriously, and stand up when beaten!"

Xie Jinglin smiled faintly: "Negotiation, there must be sincerity in negotiation, I can't see the sincerity of the Spanish Empire now, if there is really sincerity and hope to avoid war, then please show your sincerity!" ”

"I don't know, your so-called sincerity is ......"

"In the twenty-first year of Wanli, the Spanish governor of Luzon ordered the massacre of the Chinese. In the thirty-first year of Wanli, the Spanish governor ordered the massacre of the Chinese, and in the thirty-seventh year of Wanli, the Spanish governor slaughtered the Chinese, and slaughtered more than 55,000 Chinese in three times, which requires compensation, and secondly, severely punish the murderer! ”

Xie Jinglin said: "This is the sincerity that we want to see Spain!" ”

(End of chapter)