Done! Your Majesty is going to prostitute me for free!

The Court Meeting on the 26th Day of the First Lunar Month
On the 26th day of the first lunar month, early in the morning, the palace was shrouded in a solemn and dignified atmosphere. Emperor Lin Xiaofeng sat on the golden dragon throne, the golden thread on his dragon robe gleaming in the morning light, but his face showed a trace of sleepiness, his eyes half open and half closed, as if he had not yet fully woken up from his dream in the early morning.

Under the hall, the ministers were as tall as pine trees. They were dressed in official uniforms, with their backs straight, listening attentively to their colleagues' speeches. Today, they were discussing enthusiastically about the abolition of the household registration system of the Ming Dynasty proposed by Song Quan. Song Quan, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, was known for his outspokenness and innovation. Today, he loudly expounded his ideas and wanted to reform the household registration system of the Ming Dynasty.

Upon hearing this, the officials of the Ministry of Revenue showed joy on their faces. They nodded in agreement, and some even shouted slogans excitedly. The Minister of Revenue, Shao Shihan, stood up and waved his hand, signaling everyone to be quiet, and then said earnestly: "This proposal of Censor Song is for the good of us ordinary people. Removing the constraints of household registration and allowing everyone to live according to their own wishes is a good policy of great benevolence and righteousness!"

However, opposition voices also arose. He Qizhi, the transport officer of the Transport Department, stood up, bowed to Lin Xiaofeng, then turned around and clasped his hands to the ministers, and said in a firm tone: "Our Ming Dynasty is based on agriculture. If the civilian household system is abolished, how can the people grow crops to eat? If they don't grow crops, there will be no food. Without food, the people will starve. The country will have no tax revenue, and the troops at the border will not be able to pay their salaries. The Ming Dynasty will be in danger!"

Other ministers also echoed, and they were eager to express their opinions one by one, and the hall suddenly became lively. Lin Xiaofeng looked up and saw that there were about 30% supporters and 30% opponents in the court, and the rest remained silent. Among the ministers who opposed, in addition to the people from the Five Military Governors' Office, there were also people from the Transportation Department and other government offices.

Speaking of the Transport Department, it is an institution with considerable power. It manages salt fields, salt households, salt taxes, and investigates private salt. If a salt household breaks the law, the local government cannot do anything about it, and the Transport Department has to take care of it. Also, if a salt household wants to evade taxes and claims that the fields are salt fields, the local government cannot forcibly collect them, and the Transport Department still has the final say. This makes it difficult to collect taxes. Salt households often unite to not pay taxes, which makes the national finances tight and the people suffer as a result. The situation of military households and artisan households is similar, and there are many unfair things.

Emperors of all dynasties were afraid that the people would be resentful. Once they had the chance, it would be a big deal. Lin Xiaofeng knew this, so he turned to Li Banghua and asked, "Lord Li, what does the cabinet think?"

Li Banghua thought for a moment and replied, "Your Majesty, I think that caring for the people should be done in moderation and according to rules. Now you are talking about abolishing the household registration system, but I don't think it is a wise choice."

Lin Xiaofeng asked the reason immediately. Li Banghua coughed and continued, "Let me take the abolition of the military household system in Northern Zhili as an example. When Zhu Fenghui arrived in Xuanfu, he changed the military households in the garrison into battalion soldiers. Although the military morale was stabilized, the treatment was improved, and the combat effectiveness was strengthened, a lot of farmland was left uncultivated."

"Abandoned?" Lin Xiaofeng was surprised when he heard it. "Didn't Zhu Fenghui say in his memorial that the land of the garrison was handed over to the land bureau, and the common people could buy or rent it? How could it be abandoned?"

"Your Majesty, Zhu Fenghui did not lie to you, I did not explain it clearly." Li Banghua quickly explained, "After the abolition of military households, the soldiers no longer farmed, but their families still rented ten acres of land. But the soldiers are the main labor force in the family, they have no time to farm, so the rented land is naturally abandoned."

Someone nearby asked: "This is the first year and we have no experience. Wouldn't it be better to rent less or not rent at all in the second year?"

Li Banghua shook his head: "There are many people in the mainland and little land. If you don't rent it, someone else will. But the border is vast and sparsely populated. If the soldiers don't rent it, the land office will be idle. People who want to rent it can't rent it because of the quota limit, so the land will eventually be abandoned. This is just a land issue. If the national household registration system is really abolished, there will be a lot of trouble."

After Li Banghua said this, the whole court fell silent. The ministers who opposed the proposal showed smug looks on their faces, exchanging glances with each other, as if celebrating their victory. The ministers who supported the proposal lowered their heads and remained silent, their faces full of disappointment and helplessness.

Lin Xiaofeng knew that the officials were not fighting over the household registration system itself, but over the jurisdiction and distribution of benefits of various government offices. Military households were under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of War and the Five Military Commandery, and salt households were under the jurisdiction of the Transport Department. If the household registration system was abolished, who would be in charge of these households? If they were still under the jurisdiction of the original government offices, what would be the point of abolishing the household registration system? So, on the surface, this court discussion was about the household registration system, but in fact, it was a struggle for power and benefits.

Thinking of this, Lin Xiaofeng smiled. He stood up slowly, glanced at the ministers, and then said, "My dear ministers, don't worry. This matter is not difficult to solve. What I mean is that after abolishing the household registration system, each government office will still be responsible for its own affairs. However, they only care about the affairs and not the people."

The ministers were stunned when they heard this. They looked at each other, not knowing what the emperor was up to. Someone asked in a low voice, "Your Majesty, what do you mean by 'managing affairs but not people'?"

The Court and the Mystery of Soap

On the twenty-sixth day of the first lunar month, the morning sun shone through the clouds and shone on the palace. The golden light and the magnificent interior of the palace complemented each other, making the entire court shrouded in a solemn and mysterious atmosphere.

Emperor Lin Xiaofeng sat on the golden dragon throne, his eyes were deep, as if he could see through the thoughts of every minister. He looked around at the ministers in the court and slowly said: "From now on, personnel management will be handed over to the local authorities, and government affairs will still be handled by each government office."

His words carried an unquestionable majesty, but at the same time revealed a thoughtful wisdom. The ministers bowed their heads and pondered the emperor's words carefully. After a while, they suddenly realized that this was what the emperor meant.

"But your majesty, once the household registration system is abolished, how can the salt field's profits and output be guaranteed? You know, household registration is the basis of taxation... Without taxes, the price of salt will soar, and ordinary people will not be able to afford salt. How can the salt field continue to operate?" He Qizhi, the transport officer of the Transport Department, stood up and expressed his concerns. His face was full of anxiety, as if he had seen the scene of the salt field falling into chaos due to the abolition of the household registration system.

Lin Xiaofeng smiled slightly, and he looked at Song Quan, motioning him to explain. Song Quan stood up, his figure was thin, but his eyes were extremely firm. He said, "Just sign the contract!"

"Contract? What does that mean?" Everyone was stunned. They looked at Song Quan, waiting for his explanation. Song Quan explained calmly, "The household registration system has been abolished, and everyone is a commoner. If you want to boil salt, you have to sign a contract with the transport company. The terms are the same as before, and the amount of salt to be paid each year is clearly stated. If you breach the contract, you will be punished."

His words were clear and powerful, as if he had seen the scene of the salt field still being in order after the abolition of the household registration system. The ministers were all thinking in their hearts whether this method would work.

"Song Yushi, you probably don't understand what I mean!" He Qizhi stood up again, with a trace of disdain on his face, "Household registration is the basis of corvée labor. Without household registration, who would be willing to boil salt according to the corvée regulations? If no one boils salt, won't the salt field be in chaos?"

Song Quan sneered, his eyes revealing a kind of firmness and confidence: "Master He, we have everything in the Ming Dynasty, except people! Even if you don't want to do this, there will naturally be people who are willing to do it."

"Besides, taxes have to be paid for everything. Farming requires land tax, doing business requires business tax, and naturally, making salt requires salt tax..." His voice echoed in the court, like a hymn of praise for reform.

Lin Xiaofeng sat on the dragon chair, watching Song Quan and He Qizhi arguing back and forth, feeling quite happy. With Song Quan in the front, his pressure was much less. He glanced at the ministers in the court, their faces were filled with worry, expectation, confusion... Various expressions intertwined together, forming a vivid picture of the court.

In fact, Lin Xiaofeng had long wanted to abolish the household registration system. This household registration system was like a cage that locked the common people up, and the development of productivity was greatly restricted. Especially the craftsman registration system, where all craftsmen were registered as craftsmen and were under the management of the Ministry of Industry. They had to do this job for generations, working in shifts or living in the house, and the development of the craftsman industry was delayed.

He thought of the craftsmen he had seen during his incognito visits. They had superb skills, but they were unable to display their talents due to the constraints of the household registration system. He knew that if he wanted to make the Ming Dynasty more prosperous, he had to abolish the household registration system and allow the people to freely choose their own lifestyles and occupations.

However, due to the special nature of the craftsmen in the Ministry of Industry, Lin Xiaofeng decided to make an adjustment to the craftsman registration system. Except for the craftsmen in the manufacturing bureaus at all levels, the registration of other craftsmen was abolished. In this way, after the abolition of the household registration system, the Ming Dynasty began to show signs of capitalism, and the employment relationship began to sprout.

The debate in the court continued, and the ministers expressed their opinions one after another. Lin Xiaofeng listened to their speeches quietly, but in his mind he was thinking about how to better implement this reform.

After arguing for a while, the voices of opposition gradually died down. Seeing that the time was right, Lin Xiaofeng said, "Since everyone has no objection, then it's settled. However, we have to try it in Beizhili first. If there is no problem, we can promote it nationwide."

There was an unquestionable majesty and determination in his voice. The ministers nodded in agreement. They knew that the emperor had made a decision, and now they just had to follow his orders.

"Your Majesty, I think it's better to be cautious. It's better to choose a prefecture in Northern Zhili to try it out first. If there is no problem, then promote it to other places." Li Banghua stepped forward and made a suggestion. His face was full of caution and stability, as if he had seen all kinds of problems that might arise during the trial.

Lin Xiaofeng thought it made sense. After all, Northern Zhili was the gateway to the capital and could not be easily shaken. So he nodded and said, "Okay, that's it. Which prefecture do you recommend for a trial?"

The ministers answered in unison: "Xuanfu!"

Xuanfu is a border area with a vast area and few people. Besides, Zhu Fenghui is there to guard it, so there shouldn't be any problem with the test. However, the ministers have a plan in mind: if the test succeeds, everyone will be happy. If it fails, then Zhu Fenghui will be blamed. This will eliminate dissidents and weaken the imperial power at the same time, killing two birds with one stone!

Of course Lin Xiaofeng saw through their thoughts but he did not object. As long as Northern Zhili was stable, the overall situation would be stable. So he said, "Let's try it in Xuanfu. Various problems will surely arise during the trial period. In order to unify the command, I will give Zhu Fenghui the sword of the upper realm, so that we can execute first and report later."

The ministers nodded in agreement. They knew that the emperor had made a decision, and now they just had to follow his orders.

"You are all my subjects. I hope that everyone can perform their duties conscientiously and work together to govern our Ming Dynasty!" Lin Xiaofeng's voice echoed in the court, and his eyes revealed a determination and expectation.

"We obey your order!" The ministers answered in unison. Their voices were uniform and powerful, as if they were swearing their loyalty and determination to the emperor.

"Dismiss the court!" Lin Xiaofeng gave the order, and the ministers left the hall one after another. Some of them looked happy, while others frowned, but no matter what, they all knew that an unprecedented reform was about to begin in the Ming Dynasty.

On the way back to the Palace of Heavenly Purity, Lin Xiaofeng felt a little more relaxed. Practice is the only criterion for testing truth. The trial of abolishing the household registration system has already begun. As for whether it will succeed, it depends on time. He looked up at the sky and saw blue sky, white clouds and bright sunshine, as if nature was cheering for his reform.

Not long after returning to the Qianqing Palace, Gongsun Yuchun came to ask for a meeting. When Lin Xiaofeng heard it was him, he knew it must be about the soap. He smiled slightly and thought: This kid must have encountered some problem again.

"Let him in!" Lin Xiaofeng said to the guards around him.

Gongsun Yuchun walked quickly into the hall, knelt on the ground and reported: "Your Majesty, I have an urgent matter to report."

"What's the matter? Tell me." Lin Xiaofeng motioned him to stand up and speak.

Gongsun Yuchun stood up, but there was a trace of worry on his face: "It's about the soap, Your Majesty. The dignitaries in the capital all say that soap is easy to use, but..." He hesitated here.

"Just say what you want to say, don't hide it!" Lin Xiaofeng encouraged with a smile. He knew Gongsun Yuchun was a real person and would not hesitate for no reason.

Gongsun Yuchun swallowed his saliva and continued, "But although soap is easy to sell, it is not easy to sell. People who want to buy it can't afford it, and those who can afford it think it is too expensive. Even rich people are not willing to pay a high price for it."

"I went to visit the Duke of England, and he said that soap can only be used for washing, and it cannot prolong life, nor can it cure diseases. It is not edible or drinkable, so how can it be sold at a high price?" Gongsun Yuchun said helplessly. The Zhou business he founded is now facing sales difficulties, and he is extremely anxious. However, the price of soap is set by Lin Xiaofeng, and he dare not directly propose a price reduction, so he uses this method to hint to Lin Xiaofeng.

After hearing this, Lin Xiaofeng frowned and thought: Do you think it's too expensive? I don't think it's expensive! This thing costs so much, and it's a luxury item for the rich and powerful, how can it be sold at a low price?

He suddenly had an idea! He could increase the religious attributes of soap! In this way, it would not only increase its value, but also attract more people to buy it! Thinking of this, he couldn't help but smile with satisfaction. It seems that this reform is not limited to the household registration system, even this small soap can become a part of his reform!
Soap and the Temple

"Your Majesty, this soap is related to religion. I am really stupid. Please enlighten me!" Gongsun Yuchun asked in confusion, his brows revealing awe and confusion for the young emperor. The sunlight shone through the window lattice, sprinkling on his face, adding a bit of confusion.

Lin Xiaofeng smiled slightly, his lips curled up slightly, his eyes sparkling with wisdom: "My idea is to donate the soap to the temple and let the monks sell it on our behalf." There was an unquestionable firmness in his words, as if everything was under control.

Gongsun Yuchun was even more puzzled, his brows furrowed, as if he was trying to solve a complicated mystery: "Your Majesty, the temples in the capital have always given incense, candles, Buddhist beads and the like to pilgrims, and they don't do business. Asking the temples to sell soap would probably be a bit embarrassing for them."

"Haha, my dear, you misunderstood." Lin Xiaofeng shook his head and laughed. His laughter was full of open-mindedness and confidence. "I'm not asking the temple to sell it directly, but asking you to sell it to the temple." His words were like a breeze that blew away the fog in Gongsun Yuchun's heart.

"We'll set the price of this soap at fifty taels per piece and sell it to the temple. The temple will then give it as gifts to pilgrims who donate a lot of money." Lin Xiaofeng's words revealed a profound strategy, as if everything was under his control.

"When the monks introduce this to pilgrims, they can say that it is a top-quality tribute that can cleanse the body and mind. In this way, my soap can be sold at a good price, and the temple can also attract more incense money by giving away soap. It's a win-win situation!" There is an indescribable charm in Lin Xiaofeng's words that moves people.

"Mutual benefit, wonderful!" Gongsun Yuchun was stunned and muttered to himself: This trick is really great! He looked at Lin Xiaofeng, his eyes full of admiration and confusion.

In fact, this trick really works. Lin Xiaofeng knows that those powerful people are very superstitious, from the emperor to the common people, they all believe in this. Superstition does not mean blind worship, but full of awe for unknown forces such as gods and ghosts. Why? It is because they are afraid of unknown things and want to seek psychological comfort.

In ancient times, the higher the official position, the more superstitious people were, especially the emperor, who was extremely superstitious. Even a time traveler like Lin Xiaofeng, although he believed in science in his heart, had to pretend and come up with some superstitious things in order to stabilize his rule. He understood that only by conforming to the beliefs of the people of this era could he better rule the country.

In order to consolidate their power, ancient emperors liked to say that they were the Son of Heaven and that their power was granted by God. The best proof of this is the inscription on Qin Shihuang's jade seal: "Received the Mandate from Heaven, May You Live Long and Prosper Forever." This sentence is like an oracle, declaring that Qin Shihuang's rule was the will of heaven and no one could shake it.

In the Han Dynasty, Dong Zhongshu came up with a theory of the interaction between heaven and man, saying that the emperor was chosen by heaven, and if he did something bad, heaven would punish him with disasters. This theory just explained why a country prospered or declined, and emperors of all dynasties liked it. They used this theory to consolidate their rule and make the people believe that their power was sacred and inviolable.

Do the common people believe it? In fact, they don't believe it in their hearts. They know that these are just lies made up by the emperors to consolidate their rule. But what can they do? They can only accept this reality silently, because in this era, the power of the emperors is absolute.

So Dong Zhongshu proposed to abolish all schools of thought and respect Confucianism alone. In this way, Confucian scholars became the spokespersons for the emperor to explain the divine right of kings. They used Confucian classics to explain the theory of divine right of kings, making the people believe this lie even more. So, a perfect closed loop was formed: the emperor said that he was divinely granted, but the people did not believe it; Confucian scholars stood up to prove it, and the people believed it. So why did the ancient emperors dislike science? Because science can explain many unknown things, so the theory of divine right of kings is untenable. They were afraid that science would destroy the foundation of their rule, so they would rather believe in superstition than accept the truth of science.

Why didn't Lin Xiaofeng promote the new school? He was afraid of touching the interests of the Confucian scholars. If they turned against him, the theory of divine right of kings would collapse and the foundation of his rule would be unstable. He understood that in this era, stability was the most important thing. Therefore, he would rather maintain the status quo than take the risk of change.

In fact, the internal and external troubles are not only caused by bandits, but also by the gentry and common people. Although they obey the emperor's rule on the surface, they are full of dissatisfaction and resistance in their hearts. Once they have the opportunity, they will stand up and resist the emperor's rule without hesitation. Therefore, the emperors must always be vigilant in order to consolidate their rule.

Seeing Gongsun Yuchun still in a daze, Lin Xiaofeng smiled gently and asked, "Any questions?" His voice was gentle and firm, as if it could penetrate all the fog.

"No, I'm just worried that the temple won't force us to sell soap." Gongsun Yuchun replied, with a hint of concern and worry in his voice. He knew that this task was not easy to complete, but he also understood that this was the emperor's order and he had to complete it.

Lin Xiaofeng said seriously: "Don't use the name of the Buddhist Records Office to force sales. This is a private matter. Don't bring it up with the government." His voice was filled with unquestionable majesty and power. He knew that Gongsun Yuchun was a smart man and would definitely understand what he meant and complete the task.

The Monk Registration Office was established in the 15th year of Hongwu and was under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Rites. It was specifically responsible for the affairs of monks. The existence of this institution allowed emperors to better control temples and monks, thereby consolidating their rule. But in this mission, Lin Xiaofeng did not want to involve the Monk Registration Office, because he understood that this was just a private matter and there was no need to alarm the entire institution.

Although Gongsun Yuchun still had some concerns in his heart, he still accepted the order, thanked the emperor and left. He walked out of the palace and looked at the scenery outside. It was spring, and everything was reviving, full of vitality. However, his heart was full of worries and uneasiness. He knew that this task was not easy to complete, but he also understood that this was the emperor's order and he had to complete it. So he took a deep breath, strengthened his belief, and walked towards the direction of the temple.

……

It was February 22nd, and Anhai Town in Quanzhou Prefecture, Fujian Province, was bustling with activity. Outside Anping Prefecture, there was a constant stream of people coming and going. This was a prosperous town, full of merchants and people living and working in peace and contentment. However, behind this prosperity, there were some unknown secrets and conspiracies.

This is the spring of the third year since Lin Xiaofeng ascended the throne. The Anping Mansion built by Zheng Zhilong in Anhai has been completed for three years. Its luxury even exceeds that of the princes' mansions. This mansion is not only large in scale and exquisite in architecture, but also has extremely luxurious interior decoration. The magnificent halls, the carved beams and painted pillars, the rare antiques and calligraphy and paintings... every place shows the owner's power and wealth.

However, in this luxurious mansion, there are some unknown secrets. Although Zheng Zhilong is loyal to the court on the surface, his heart is full of ambition and conspiracy. He uses his power and wealth to secretly collude with pirates and rebels in an attempt to overthrow the rule of the court.

On this day, two merchants named Dong Liao and Dong Dong came to the palace with visiting cards in their hands. They were dressed in gorgeous clothes and holding precious visiting cards, looking very respectful and humble. The purpose of their visit was very clear - they wanted to meet Zheng Zhilong and discuss the trade and sale of foreign goods.

The servants outside the mansion were all strong and sharp-eyed, obviously from the military. They watched every visitor vigilantly, as if ready to deal with any emergency at any time. One of the servants asked with a knife on his finger: "Who are you? What are you doing here?" His voice was cold and majestic, revealing an unquestionable power.

Dong Liao replied, "We are merchants from Northern Zhili. We would like to meet with Lord Zheng to discuss the matter of trade and sale of foreign goods." His voice was filled with the shrewdness and cunning of a businessman, trying to impress these servants with benefits.

However, when the servant heard that they wanted to discuss business, he immediately refused and said, "The master is busy with military affairs and cannot see guests." There was an unquestionable majesty and power in his voice, as if he was telling Dong Liao and Dong Dong: Here, everything must be done according to the master's wishes.

Seeing this, Dong Liao hurriedly took out a silver bag from his bosom and handed it over along with the visiting card: "Please let us know, this is a small token of our appreciation." His voice was filled with pleading and humility, trying to impress these servants with money. He knew that in this era, money was often more substantial and powerful than anything else.

However, the servants were not moved. They looked at the silver bag indifferently and rejected Dong Liao's request mercilessly. In this mansion, everything must be done according to the master's wishes. Even money could not move these loyal servants. Dong Liao and Dong Dong had no choice but to leave Anping Mansion, full of disappointment and helplessness. They knew that in this era, power and money are often more important and powerful than anything else. And they are just two insignificant businessmen.

Outside the door, the sun shone obliquely on the bluestone slabs, casting a mottled light and shadow. When the servant saw the bulging silver bag, a trace of greed flashed in his eyes, and his face was immediately filled with joy. He hurriedly said, "Please be patient, I will report it right away." There was a bit of urgency in his voice, as if the silver bag contained not only silver, but also the wealth and glory that he was about to get.

After saying this, he turned around and shouted inside, his voice echoing between the high walls of the mansion: "Someone come quickly and prepare seats for the two masters!" As he spoke, he did not forget to glance at the heavy silver bag out of the corner of his eye again, secretly calculating the weight of this "benefit" in his heart.

Before he finished speaking, the door of the mansion opened, and two servants quickly brought out a stool and placed it next to Dong Liao and Dong Dong. They said politely, "My two masters, please take a rest first." As they spoke, they gently wiped the stool with their sleeves, as if they did not dare to disturb the two distinguished guests even with the dust in the air.

Dong Liao and Dong Dong smiled and nodded, sitting down without hesitation, their eyes revealing a calmness, as if everything is under control. Although their clothes are not luxurious, they reveal an extraordinary temperament, especially Dong Liao, his fingers gently tapped the armrest of the chair, full of rhythm, as if silently telling his determination and wisdom.

Soon, the servant had delivered the name card to Zheng Zhilong. He bowed and said nervously, "Sir, there are two merchants from Northern Zhili outside the door who want to talk to you about foreign goods."

Zheng Zhilong sat on a carved wooden chair in his study, frowning, feeling annoyed. He had just lost 100,000 taels of silver when a merchant ship sank on its way to Japan, so he had no time to talk about these things. The name card in his hand seemed like a hot potato, and he couldn't help but frown.

"Northern Zhili? Foreign goods?" He muttered to himself, feeling unhappy. The Zheng family made money mainly through maritime trade with Japan. Silk, cloth, porcelain, sugar, musk, and Chinese yam all sold very well in Japan. It was said that the Zheng family even took 20% of the profits from the Japanese trade. But now, he was in no mood to care about these things.

"No!" He refused without hesitation, with a hint of impatience in his voice.

But the servant had accepted Dong Liao's bribe, so he naturally had to work harder. He said again: "Master, these two merchants are Dong Liao and Dong Dong, and this is their business card. If you don't want to see them, I will let them go." There was a hint of tentativeness in his words, as if he was expecting something.

"Dong Liao? Dong Dong?" Zheng Zhilong muttered to himself. These two names sounded familiar. He thought about it carefully, but couldn't remember where he had heard them before.

The servant thought for a moment and replied, "My lord, they speak with the accent of the capital, but it's not quite authentic." There was some certainty in his voice, as if he had solved the mystery for Zheng Zhilong.

Zheng Zhilong was stunned for a moment, and took the name card and saw that there was no words inside, but a silver note of 1,000 taels. Hey, this guy is quite direct! He couldn't help but laugh in his heart. In this world, money really makes the devil go.

Zheng Zhilong closed the business card, thought for a moment, and ordered: "Let them wait in the Catholic church, I will be there soon." There was a hint of helplessness in his voice, as if he was moved by the banknote, and as if he was giving himself a reason to meet.

Influenced by the Portuguese, Zheng Zhilong converted to Catholicism and named his front hall the Catholic Church. This name carried a strange flavor when spoken by him, as if it was a special connection between him and the world.

"As you command." The servant withdrew with a smile. There was a hint of pride in his smile, as if he had foreseen the good show that was to come.

Zheng Zhilong changed his clothes into a dark blue satin gown embroidered with intricate cloud patterns, which made him look more majestic and solemn. He walked slowly towards the cathedral, each step looking steady and powerful.

Dong Liao and Dong Dong had been waiting for a while. When they saw Zheng Zhilong coming in, they hurried forward and said, "We are merchants from Northern Zhili, Dong Dong and Dong Liao, and we would like to pay our respects to General Zheng." There was a hint of respect in their voices, as if they were acknowledging Zheng Zhilong's status.

Zheng Zhilong nodded: "Nice to meet you." There was a hint of coldness in his voice, as if he didn't want to get entangled any further.

After the host and the guest sat down, Dong Liao looked at Shi Lang behind Zheng Zhilong. He was a burly man with a resolute face, exuding a military aura. Dong Liao secretly calculated in his heart, but said calmly: "Master Zheng, we have something important to discuss. Can we find a quieter place?"

Zheng Zhilong waved his hand and said, "It's okay. This is Shi Lang, my confidant. Just say whatever you want to say." There was some confidence in his voice, as if he was not worried that Shi Lang would reveal any secrets.

Dong Liao looked at Shi Lang again before saying to Zheng Zhilong: "Sir Zheng, we have a batch of goods that we want to ship to Korea, but the sea route is dangerous and there are many pirates. I heard that your fleet is famous and well-equipped, so we would like to ask your fleet for escort. Is that possible?" There was some expectation in his voice, as if he had already seen the dawn of success.

When Zheng Zhilong heard the word "Korea", his face darkened, as if something sensitive had been touched. He immediately stood up and shouted, "Come here, take down this traitor!" There was a bit of anger and determination in his voice, as if he had already determined the crimes of Dong Liao and Dong Dong.

Four servants rushed in and surrounded Dong Liao and Dong Dong. Their movements were swift and powerful, as if they were used to such scenes.

Dong Liao turned pale with fright: "Zheng... Lord Zheng, what are you talking about?" There was a bit of fear and confusion in his voice, as if he completely didn't understand why Zheng Zhilong was so angry.

"What do you mean?" Zheng Zhilong sneered. "The imperial court has issued an order that anyone who trades with Korea will be regarded as a traitor. As citizens of the Ming Dynasty, don't you know that? Is there anything wrong with me arresting you now?" There was a hint of sarcasm and majesty in his voice, as if he had grasped all the truth.

Dong Liao hurriedly explained: "Sir, we are only transporting grain and cotton, not contraband." There was a hint of anxiety and helplessness in his voice, as if he had seen his fate being ruthlessly rewritten.

Zheng Zhilong's eyes were wide open with anger: "No matter what the goods are, they cannot be shipped to Korea! Capture them now!" There was a sense of determination and unquestionableness in his voice, as if he had already judged the guilt of Dong Liao and Dong Dong.

Just as the servants were about to take action, Dong Dong suddenly spoke up: "Wait a minute, sir, I have something to say." There was a sense of calmness and composure in his voice, as if he was not afraid of the crisis before him.

Without waiting for Zheng Zhilong's consent, Dong Dong said to himself: "Fifty thousand taels!" There was a bit of determination and temptation in his voice, as if he was using money to challenge Zheng Zhilong's bottom line.

"What do you mean?" Zheng Zhilong didn't understand. His brows were furrowed, as if he was full of doubts about Dong Dong's words.

"Eighty thousand taels!" Dong Dong's voice sounded again, with a bit of eagerness and anticipation.

"What did you say?" Zheng Zhilong's voice was filled with some displeasure and anger, as if he had already anticipated Dong Dong's intention.

"For each shipment of goods, we are willing to pay one hundred thousand taels of silver as a reward, no more." Dong Dong added, his voice filled with firmness and determination, as if he had already made the final decision.

Zheng Zhilong finally understood. He sneered, "You want to bribe the Ming general with just 100,000 taels? You underestimate me too much." There was a hint of sarcasm and disdain in his voice, as if he was full of contempt for Dong Dong's proposal.

Dong Dong remained calm and said, "The one hundred thousand taels are for your hard work, sir. We will calculate the shipping fee separately." There was a sense of calmness and rationality in his voice, as if he was fully prepared.

Zheng Zhilong hesitated for a moment after hearing this. A hint of hesitation flashed in his eyes, as if he was moved by Dong Dong's words. But soon, he regained his stern expression and said to Shi Lang: "Capture them, send them to Quanzhou Prefecture, and hand them over to the prefect for handling." There was a bit of determination and unquestionable in his voice.

"Does your Excellency suspect that we are spies of the Imperial Guard?" Dong Liao asked loudly, with a hint of fear and confusion in his voice.

"Stop talking nonsense and take them away!" Zheng Zhilong felt uncomfortable when he heard the three words "Jinyiwei". He shouted harshly, with a bit of anger and impatience in his voice.

Before he finished speaking, Dong Liao suddenly pulled out a dagger from his bosom. His movements were swift and decisive, as if he had already made the final decision. Shi Lang and the servants were startled and retreated. But then they swarmed forward and held Dong Liao at knifepoint.

Dong Liao smiled slightly, his smile was a bit weird and resolute. With a wave of his right hand, the dagger pierced his heart. His movements were swift and powerful, as if he was using his life to prove something.

"Puff!" The sharp blade pierced through his clothes, penetrated deep into his heart along the gap between his ribs. Dong Liao's face turned pale instantly, and his body fell to the ground powerlessly. Blood quickly dyed the ground red, and the air was filled with a pungent smell of blood.

This sudden change shocked Zheng Zhilong, Shi Lang and the servants. They retreated and looked around vigilantly, as if they were afraid that this sudden death would bring them some ominous omen.

"Why...why did he commit suicide?" Shi Lang pointed at the corpse on the ground and asked Dong Dong, his voice filled with fear and confusion.

Dong Dong smiled strangely: "Just now, the adults suspected that he was a spy of the Jinyiwei, and he committed suicide in order to clear the suspicion. Is there any problem with this?" There was a bit of calmness and rationality in his voice, as if he had seen through it all.

"Mad man! A complete mad man!" Shi Lang looked at the body in the pool of blood and felt a chill on his back. He had been through hundreds of battles, but he had never seen someone commit suicide like this! There was a bit of trembling and uneasiness in his voice, as if he was shocked by this sudden change.

After calming himself down a little, Shi Lang asked Zheng Zhilong: "General, what should we do next?" There was a hint of anxiety and helplessness in his voice, as if he had already anticipated the trouble that was to come.

Zheng Zhilong looked at the corpse and Dong Dong on the ground with a gloomy face for a moment, then curled his lips slightly and said, "Send the living and the dead to Quanzhou Prefecture and let the court deal with them." There was a hint of (End of this chapter) in his voice.