Daming Yinghua

Chapter 116 Please Xu Guangqi

Not long after Zheng Haizhu returned to Songjiang from Zhenjiang, Zheng Zhilong also returned from Yuegang when the Qixi Festival was approaching.

Contrary to Zheng Haizhu's expectations, although Yan Siqi, under the early operation of Liu Gonggong, had already obtained the boat lead from Taiwan to Yuegang via Penghu, and also took away a large number of goods such as tobacco pouches, embroidered round fans, tabi socks, etc., but In the end, the net profit from this batch of goods was only 600 taels, which was far lower than Zheng Haizhu's estimate of 3000 taels.

Zheng Zhilong was obviously also very frustrated with this number: "Sister Azhu, it's not that Big Brother Yan underestimated you, it's that the taxes collected by customs along the way are too harsh. Big Brother Yan used to smuggle smugglers at sea. The exploitation is unclear, and the price he agreed to Dongying is too low. However, he has already calculated the agreed fifty-five cents as thirty or seven cents. two."

When he said this, Zheng Haizhu understood.

Last twelfth lunar month, I went to Yuegang with Liu Gonggong and Ma Xianglin. They were selling goods from the imperial court. We took the big ship of the Weaving Bureau. The sea route was smooth and majestic. Which navy along the coast would be blind and dare to ask Long Live Lord’s servant collect taxes.

This trip is to sell your own goods, and now you are not a Japanese pirate, so there is no sea route for you without paying taxes.

I can only go south from Songjiang to Zhangzhou by inland river shipping and land. I don’t know how many tax cards and money passes along the way, and the skin and flesh are peeled off layer by layer. Naturally, only the bones are left.

Zheng Haizhu then comforted Zheng Zhilong: "Since I have surrendered to the imperial court, I will always have to pay taxes when I pass the banknote. I will know for sure if I try it myself this time. If Songjiang is opened and closed like Yuegang, my ticket will be sold in the future." On the premise of spending the same money to buy sea traffickers and boats, how much more money can you make?"

Zheng Zhilong took out a second silver ticket: "Sister Azhu, Mao Chengbei gave you 800 taels last time, and you gave it to Brother Yan for emergency treatment at the Daishan Salt Farm. This time, elder brother will also return the 800 taels to you. but……"

Zheng Haizhu took the bank note, curious about Zheng Zhilong's hesitation: "But what?"

"Well, Brother Yan said that he can't afford to pay the principal of the new goods. Many brothers in Hirado Port learned that he was recruited by the imperial court in Taiwan, and they all left the Wa country to go for refuge. Twenty boats have already arrived. , counting 700 family members. The Seraya people on Wen’s side lived in peace with them, but the cost of buying seeds, farm tools, spinning machines, and cattle from Zhangzhou suddenly increased..."

When Zheng Zhilong said this, Zheng Haizhu interrupted him with a smile: "It's a good thing that the army is strong and the horse is strong. How could I blame Brother Yan for not continuing to partner with me to stock up."

Zheng Zhilong scratched his head: "But the cash we have on hand is only a little over 1000 taels."

Zheng Haizhu teased him: "You have been with your uncle since you were a child, and you are used to watching Li Dan and the others do big business, so a thousand taels of silver actually feels like a small amount."

After teasing, he asked Zheng Zhilong seriously: "Yiguan, you are so young, so long as you take it seriously, it is a good path. Whether you want to stay in Jiangnan, or go to Taiwan to find Brother Yan, I will support you .”

"Sister Azhu," Zheng Zhilong said decisively, "Of course I want to stay here. I want to work with you at the shop in Maochengbei, Hangzhou, and the insurance company on your side. Brother Yan has our foundation in mainland China." If he is strong enough, he is not alone overseas."

Zheng Haizhu smiled and said: "Okay, then let's fight for a little bit, and don't always think about asking Brother Yan for money with your palms up. Let's not rush to exchange it for more than 1000 taels of silver, and then wait for Songjiang to switch. The news. You came back at the right time, and I will go see Zhuang Zhifu and Master Huang with me in the next few days."

……

In the government office, the prefect Zhuang took Zheng Zhilong's neatly bound banknotes for customs duty and silver inspection, flipped through a few sheets, sighed, and handed them to Huang Zunsu: "Troublesome, Miss Zheng and Mr. Zheng are going to pass the banknotes honestly. For goods worth seven to eight thousand taels, you earn 8000% of the profit, and you pay taxes for [-] to [-] percent."

Huang Zunsu sneered and said, "It's all right if you've entered the household department..."

Say half and leave half, the listener will understand.

Zheng Haizhu said: "Zhuangfutai, Mr. Huang, Yuegang can pay 10 taels to the Neifu every year just by selling boats. If Shanghai County opens, the number of boats coming will not be less than that of Haicheng County. This is just to go. From the inner government. At that time, merchants will gather, and the money collected by the household department at Songjiang Banknote Customs will also increase a lot."

Zhuang Yumin rolled his eyes and said: "Last year, the government paid 8 taels of gold flowers and silver to the inner government, 5 taels of silver to the Ministry of Household Taicang, and 500 taels of apportionment to the Ministry of Rites."

Zheng Haizhu saw the opportunity and said: "If our sellers can leave the port in Shanghai County, the tax I paid at the customs in other places can be offset by the Ministry of Rites for two or three times. This is just my merchant."

Zhuang Yumin loves to hear this.

He still has expectations for his official career, and the dream of joining the cabinet is not unheard of.I believe that Huang Zunsu who is sitting beside me is also the same as me.

Give Wansui and the Ministry of Households more money respectively, which is good for everyone's promotion.

"Old Huang, you have a good pen. I'd better draw up a plan for the old man. I'm afraid it will be a bit slow to rely on Eunuch Liu and his old man alone. The Huangpu River has been dug. I don't believe it. Kaihai can only do it." He did it in Zhangzhou, Fujian."

Huang Zunsu also wants to open the sea as soon as possible.

Over the past year or so, he has seen with his own eyes that Zheng Haizhu, a little girl, has accomplished many things. As a proud elite of the Donglin School, he sometimes marvels and sometimes laughs.

Sometimes he went to Tianfu for official business, and during the official entertainment, he even began to dislike those colleagues who were only keen to exchange anecdotes about the court, secrets of the palace and even experience of intrigue.

Including some people who are also Donglin School.

While Huang Zunsu watched with cold eyes, they only talked about factions, not right and wrong.

The saliva is sprayed with impassioned and hype, but it only adds fuel to the current situation, and does not help the common people.

Huang Zunsu didn't want himself to study hard for years and eventually become such a useless minister who would be harmful to the society.

At least, under the current opportunity, he can work hard to make more money in the treasury, make it easier for merchants to do business, and make Songjiang more prosperous.

Walking out of Zhuang Zhifu's office, Huang Zunsu said softly to Zheng Haizhu: "Miss Zheng, Zong Xi didn't dare to tell me, but he told his mother several times that he wanted to study in your school."

Zheng Haizhu said with a smile: "Mr. Yao took him to watch Mr. Lu's Gezhi class a few times, and he was fascinated. Recently, he often went to see Mr. Lu blacksmithing and making gun barrels. Master Huang, don't worry, I told Zong Xi, It’s better to read the Four Books and Five Classics carefully. In the future, when a Jinshi becomes an official, it will not hinder the study of the geometry and arithmetic of firearms and warfare. Xu Hanlin is an example.”

Huang Zunsu's eyebrows twitched: "my wife went to see Xu's wife before, and learned that Xu Hanlin is going back to her hometown to visit relatives in early autumn, did she let you know?"

Zheng Haizhu nodded knowingly: "Mr. Yao said it early in the morning, so we have asked Zongbing Qi to train several military masters of Jiading in the past two days, and try to shoot the combined blunderbuss that Mr. Lu and the Zhenjiang blacksmith have finished. Xu Hanlin came to see."

Pointing to Zheng Zhilong beside him, he said: "This official has worked hard this time, and even went to Haojing from Yuegang, and got a blueprint of a spindle cannon. Master Ge and the others from Danyang, Zhenjiang, although they are blacksmiths, they have copper and iron handed down from their ancestors. The co-cast formula is just right for you to think about the gun barrel."

Huang Zunsu looked at Zheng Zhilong and praised: "It's amazing, this can be done."

"Master Xie Huang praised that the young one grew up in Haojing, and knew that the Frankies had a cannon factory there. This time it was also luck. It happened that a bright craftsman was oppressed by the Frankies. After paying some money, he drew an outline for the little one."

Huang Zunsu patted Zheng Zhilong on the shoulder, and said to Zheng Haizhu: "When Xu Hanlin arrives in Songjiang, when I go to meet him, I will talk about the opening and closing of Shanghai in detail. I implore him to write a letter after returning to Beijing to see if he can add a firewood. Talk In the middle, I will first mention the matter of firearms for you. The reason is that if the Songjiang Mansion is opened and closed like Zhangzhou Yuegang, the responsibility for coastal defense will be even heavier. Jinshanwei and Wusong Port must not be without guns. Then, you Go and invite Xu Hanlin to discuss in detail."

Zheng Haizhu likes Huang Zunsu's increasingly obvious official style of painting, which is not greasy, but he is skilled in how to find people in the system and how to promote the completion of serious business.

So she took advantage of the heat and brought up something she had been pondering for a long time: "Master Huang, the teacher who teaches geometry in our school said that Xu Hanlin had a beloved student named Sun, who was also obsessed with Western learning. Participate in the study of the method of fire attack in the Western war. It would be great if you can invite Songjiang? Xiangsheng and Zhilong are both juniors, just beginners. Xiangsheng will go to the provincial examination next year. After all, the imperial examination is his. Right way."

The last sentence made Huang Zunsu feel comfortable listening.

This is already the second time Zheng Haizhu has expressed his fancy to the imperial examination in front of himself today, like praising Lu Ban that being a carpenter is the most decent thing in the world.

The corners of Huang Zunsu's mouth curled up: "Sun Yuanhua, this gentleman is very famous. He is from Shanghai County. He is talented and talented. He won the Juren five years ago, but he had a close relationship with missionaries, which delayed his crafting. Jinshi He missed the second time, and now he is indeed cast under Xu Hanlin's door."

Zheng Haizhu thought in his heart, that's right, the timeline is not broken, I want this person too.

Sun Yuanhua, in the late Ming Dynasty, how many people were there in the second rank of the official rank as Juren, not Jinshi?
What's more, when he was the governor of Denglai later, he was still good to Liao generals. It is not too much to blame him for misjudgment when the first infighting scandal in the late Ming Dynasty happened, such as Guan Ning's iron cavalry fat beating Dongjiang Zhanhun.

Xu Guangqi's disciples, Dongjiang town sympathizers, Jiannu hawks, how could such people not come into my bowl?
Zheng Haizhu then looked at Huang Zunsu earnestly: "Then please ask Master Huang, and please ask Xu Hanlin if Master Sun can give you some advice."

……

There is a hint of coolness in the wind.

Even when he was close to the iron workshop, Lu Xiangsheng felt that his forehead and cheeks were under the gentle breeze of early autumn, and there was no sense of irritability.

Lu Xiangsheng waited at the door, and first saw two children coming in from the main house of Fuyuan.

Due to the promotion of his mother, Yao Shi, Huang Zongxi has become a fan of Lu Xiangsheng, who is proficient in both civil and military affairs.

This seven-year-old boy now wishes to become Mr. Lu's personal attendant, and try various interesting water, fire and military experiments with him.

"Brother Lu, this is Xu Huizhen. The "Elements of Geometry" used in the school was written by her grandfather."

In Songjiang dialect, the grandfather is called "Grandpa", and "Bi Shou" means translation.

Xu Guangqi's granddaughter, Xu Huizhen, saluted Lu Xiangsheng graciously, her eyes fixed on the machine gun in his hand.

"Mr. Lu, do you still use a matchlock to ignite your guns?"

She has just turned nine years old this year, and her voice is still obviously childish.

But Lu Xiangsheng was taken aback by the baby's voice, and asked curiously: "Miss Huizhen, is there another ignition method?"

"Huizhen said it was a flintlock."

Zheng Haizhu's voice sounded.

Behind her, Huang Zunsu and Zheng Zhilong accompanied an elder into the yard.

The elder was nearly sixty years old, with black and white beard and half hair, thin and thin, not even as tall as Zheng Haizhu, but his eyes were burning like torches in his deeply sunken eye sockets, and his nose was slightly hooked, making him look quite shrewd .

Fortunately, he had a kind smile on his face, and the wrinkles around his eyes and lips were stretched upwards, with a fairy-like air, which covered up the sharpness of the hawk.

Lu Xiangsheng reckoned that this person was Xu Guangqi and Xu Hanlin, and hurriedly stepped forward to salute.

Xu Guangqi, who returned from the capital to visit relatives in the south of the Yangtze River, saw Zheng Haizhu and her partners for the first time today.

However, in the spring, Xu Guangqi sent his assistant who translated "Elements of Geometry" with him to Zheng Haizhu's school as a teacher.

After the assistant became a teacher, in his letter to Xu Guangqi, he praised this new school in Songjiang a lot.

When the little granddaughter Xu Huizhen saw her grandfather, she was even more like a little oriole with a melodious chirp. Since Ms. Zheng taught her to draw the Virgin Mary as the Goddess of Mercy, and the Exodus as the Queen Mother of the West ascending the sea, she has painted all the stories of Ms. Zheng. Like this, I said it again.

Xu Guangqi, a civil servant who advocated "seeing the world with open eyes" but was not tolerated by his conservative colleagues, was quite surprised to learn that such open-minded young people had begun to appear among the people in the south of the Yangtze River.

Xu Guangqi has no party or crowd in the court, and he dislikes party struggle.Fang Congzhe, the leader of the Zhejiang Party and the current chief assistant, used the Beijing police to crowd out and suppress Donglin party officials last year, which made Xu Guangqi very disgusted.

This time back in Songjiang, when Huang Zunsu came to visit him, he did not dwell on the grievances of the Donglin faction, but only frankly and pragmatically explained the urgency of opening and closing Shanghai Port like Yuegang.

Xu Guangqi looked at Huang Zunsu, a disciple of Donglin and a recruit in the imperial court, with admiration.

Therefore, after Huang Zunsu made a brief introduction, Xu Guangqi readily asked him to accompany him to see the research and development of firearms in Zheng's Academy.

At this moment, Xu Guangqi saw that Lu Xiangsheng, a junior, was just like Zheng Haizhu, with a high-quality temperament and a more passionate love for talents.

He enthusiastically took the machine gun in Lu Xiangsheng's hand, pointed to the fire door and said, "My friend Matteo Ricci, the old man's Thai and Western friends, once mentioned that some people in the West have changed matchlocks to beating stones. He once invited people from his hometown The priests searched for the blueprints for him, but unfortunately there was no reply, and Matteo Ricci also passed away. The old man just mentioned this to Miss Zheng, and she said that it sounded like a man striking a stone to make fire, but she first gave him a name, Sui Fire the gun."

(End of this chapter)