Chongzhen's domineering

Chapter 51 The Governor Boasts About Pirates Getting Marquises (Part 2)

Zhu Jue finally understood that the Zhejiang and Fujian navies were fighting the pirate Zheng Zhilong in order to seize the benefits of overseas trade!
No wonder that during the Wanli reign, the Zhejiang and Fujian naval forces didn't care about the fate of the vassal state of Ryukyu, nor did they ever suppress any pirates or Japanese pirates, but now they have suddenly become very active.

It turns out that Zheng Zhilong was disobedient and wanted to break away from the control of the Zhejiang business elites to go it alone.

The Zhejiang faction was naturally unwilling to relinquish such significant profits from overseas trade, so they sought to use the imperial court's power to eliminate Zheng Zhilong.

Will I help you seize the profits from overseas trade?
You must be dreaming!
The profits from overseas trade belong to me.

I still want to keep Zheng Zhilong under my control. You want me to help you eliminate Zheng Zhilong? Dream on!

As for how to control Zheng Zhilong, he had already figured it out. He not only wanted to use Zheng Zhilong to wipe out the other pirates, but also wanted to make Zheng Zhilong walk into the trap and come to the capital as a hostage!
His purpose in bringing Xiong Wencan was to have this guy deceive Zheng Zhilong.

Xiong Wencan was quite good at persuading people, but historically, he did not manage to lure Zheng Zhilong to the capital.

This is tantamount to deceiving people. After Zheng Zhilong wiped out the other pirates, he became the overlord of the Far East Seas. Whenever the Ming Dynasty had a problem, they had to ask this guy for help. What's the point of deceiving people like this?

Zheng Zhilong must keep it under control in order to control the interests of overseas trade!

Zhu Jue thought about it carefully, then tested him, asking, "How do you think the situation in the southeast should be handled?"

If you dislike the Qi-Chu-Zhe faction, then naturally you should do everything in your power to suppress the Zhejiang faction's wealthy maritime merchants!

Xiong Wencan seized the opportunity to speak: "Your Majesty, I have heard that Zheng Zhilong is quite restrained. He has never robbed merchant ships, nor has he ever led men ashore to plunder."

He even provided money and grain to relieve disaster victims in the southeastern coastal areas, and even helped coastal disaster victims to reclaim wasteland and farm in the east to make a living.

In contrast, the pirate gangs supported by Xu Xinsu and the wealthy merchant families of Zhejiang were different. Those guys not only plundered merchant ships, but also deliberately went ashore to plunder and create chaos in order to get the imperial court to send troops to suppress Zheng Zhilong.

Your humble servant has also heard that when the wealthy merchants of Zhejiang controlled overseas trade, they made at least tens of millions of taels of silver every year, yet they never paid a single coin in taxes to the court.

Their actions, driven by personal gain, should be severely punished to serve as a warning to others.

"Your Majesty, I suggest that we offer amnesty to Zheng Zhilong, suppress other pirates, strike at the powerful merchant families of Zhejiang, and levy taxes to replenish the imperial treasury. What do you think?"

This guy is really good at bragging.

This guy probably did a lot of preparation in order to meet the emperor.

You know I'm short of money, right? You're trying to curry favor by getting me money, aren't you?
very good!

However, you've misunderstood something. I don't want the revenue from overseas trade; I want to control overseas trade.

Zhu Jue patiently guided him, saying, "Your suggestion is very good, but you overlooked one point, which is how to deal with Zheng Zhilong."

We can recruit Zheng Zhilong, or we can use Zheng Zhilong to wipe out other pirates and strike at the powerful merchant families of Zhejiang. And then what? Is that all?

Have you considered what we should do after Zheng Zhilong wipes out the other pirates?

I haven't really considered that.

After Zheng Zhilong wiped out the other pirates, he became the only one in power. The Zhejiang and Fujian navies were too weak to be a match for him. How could he control such a pirate force?
Xiong Wencan thought for a moment, then cautiously said, "Your Majesty, as the saying goes, 'When the birds are all gone, the bow is put away; when the rabbit is all dead, the dog is cooked.' After Zheng Zhilong wipes out the other pirates, we can lure him ashore, behead him, and display his head to the public to prevent future troubles. What do you think?"

I don't think it's very good.

As expected, you're all talk and no action; when it comes to strategy, you're no match.

Zhu Jue shook his head slightly and said, "Don't you know the consequences of executing Wang Zhi during the Jiajing era? Doesn't Zheng Zhilong have any brothers or nephews? Can you lure them all ashore?"

Well, it seems that Zheng Zhilong has many brothers, and it's impossible for a pirate leader to bring all his relatives and confidants ashore; he won't bring any of them!
Wang Zhi didn't bring a single relative or confidant ashore. After he was beheaded, his relatives and confidants went on a rampage, burning, killing, and looting under the banner of avenging him. The southeastern coast was thrown into chaos!

It seems I misspoke; His Majesty doesn't intend to kill Zheng Zhilong. What should we do?
Xiong Wencan thought for a moment before cautiously saying, "Your Majesty, how about we grant Zheng Zhilong an official position and have him obey the orders of the court?"

You're thinking too simply.

That guy is a pirate captain. Do you think he'll listen to you if you give him an official position?
Zhu Jue shook his head slightly, then carefully instructed, "We are going to give him an official title, but that's not enough. He's just a pirate leader. Even if we give him an official title, he won't listen to the court. We still need to keep promoting him based on his military achievements."

For example, if he wipes out one group of pirates, we'll appoint him as a third-rank General of the Brave and Valiant Army; if he wipes out another, we'll appoint him as a second-rank General of the Cavalry; if he wipes out yet another group, we'll promote him to Right Grand Commander; if he wipes out yet another, we'll promote him to Left Grand Commander; if he wipes out yet another, we'll promote him to Earl; and if he wipes them all out, we'll promote him to Marquis.

what?
You should grant the pirate captain a marquisate!
Xiong Wencan was taken aback, still somewhat puzzled, and said, "Your Majesty, I am foolish. If we grant him a marquisate, will he then obey the court?"

I haven't finished yet.

Zhu Jue explained in detail: "That's not the point. The point is that you have to trick him into coming to the capital. Then I will build him a marquis's mansion in the capital. Once he moves in, he won't be able to leave the capital again."

We need to control him as a hostage, so his men will obey us obediently, you understand?

Uh, you want me to trick Zheng Zhilong into coming to the capital!

Xiong Wencan thought about it carefully, but still hesitated: "Your Majesty, please forgive me. It's difficult for the pirate leader to even get ashore, let alone trick Zheng Zhilong into coming to the capital."

I know, of course, that it won't be that simple to lure a pirate leader to the capital.

I've already thought of a solution for you.

Zhu Jue advised, "Do you understand the concept of 'step by step'?"

I know this.

Without hesitation, Xiong Wencan replied, "The phrase 'gradual progress' comes from the Analects with Commentary. Zhu Xi taught that reading should proceed step by step, gradually deepening one's understanding. One should have a plan for what to read first and what to read next. After understanding the simple things, one can then move on to the profound ones. Only in this way can one achieve something in learning."

What a mess!

Who told you about studying?

Zhu Jue thought for a moment and then asked directly, "If you were to hold a grand banquet in Zheng Zhilong's hometown to celebrate his victory after he wiped out a group of pirates, and also bestow upon him the title of Third-Rank Zhaoyong General, do you think he would go?"

He'll definitely go.

Xiong Wencan nodded repeatedly and said, "This is a matter of bringing honor to one's ancestors. He definitely wants to go back to his hometown to show off. Moreover, most of his confidants are from Quanzhou Prefecture. In Quanzhou Prefecture, he is a local tyrant. He is not afraid of me dealing with him at all. It would be good enough if he didn't deal with me."

Isn't that enough?

Zhu Jue continued to instruct, "What I mean by gradual progress is to trick Zheng Zhilong into coming to the capital step by step. You can lie to him and say that he can be promoted to the rank of Third-Rank General of the Brave in his hometown, but to the rank of Second-Rank General of the Cavalry he must go to Quanzhou, and to the rank of Right and Left Commander-in-Chief he must go to Fuzhou."

He'll definitely dare to go to these places. Make sure you hold a grand event for him every time, invite all the local officials to attend, toast him, and make him feel very important. This way, his wariness will gradually decrease.

When he's about to be promoted to Earl, tell him he has to go to Jinling City. I'll arrange a grand and glorious ceremony for him, making him feel like he's floating on air. Finally, when he's promoted to Marquis, tell him he must come to the capital. He won't think there's any problem then.

Oh, so that's how it's done step by step.

Upon hearing this, Xiong Wencan nodded repeatedly and said, "Your Majesty is wise. I understand. I will definitely trick Zheng Zhilong into coming to the capital."

Well, I believe you.

In fact, Zheng Zhilong was not very wary. The fact that the Qing court was able to trick him into coming to the capital is proof of this. As long as we proceed step by step, it will definitely not be a problem to trick him into coming to the capital.

(End of this chapter)