Chapter 4 Blackmailing Salt Merchant (III)

This problem was beyond Zhu Yinglong's expectations. The court decided to open the foreign ban, and it was impossible to open it all. When it was unfamiliar with the external situation, everyone rushed to the sea, which was undoubtedly a crazy and unrealistic move. Therefore, at the beginning, it was relatively restrained in the Ming Dynasty. The government took the initiative and private capital participated less. Moreover, during this period, piracy in the sea was rampant. Domestic private capitalists or businessmen did not have the ability or force to deal with the pirates.

Therefore, various countries conduct maritime trade with powerful naval forces. At present, Zhu Yinglong can only take this path, but it is only the original work of the imperial court. The private merchants have not been allowed to enter. Zhu Yinglong is waiting for the result of the first time the Chinese treasure ship goes to sea to trade before deciding whether to open up private merchants to participate. This also involves a problem of restricting the outflow of scarce resources in China and tariffs. It is quite complicated, and Zhu Yinglong doesn't know how to answer this question for a while.

"If you ask the court whether you allow you merchants to participate in maritime trade, I can answer this. It is certainly possible in the near future. But at present, the conditions for many of you to participate in maritime trade are not yet mature, but the court can purchase your goods or sell them to the court, so that the court can help you unify the sea trade." Zhu Yinglong explained as simple and clear as possible.

"Thank you, the emperor, the grass people understand." Jiang Guochun said respectfully. After asking questions, many salt merchants below also smelled the business opportunities here, and whispered to each other and started whispering.

With Jiang Guochun's bold question, all the salt merchants believed that the emperor was not as close as the legendary one, but was quite easy-going, and they all calmed down the doctor's heart.

Next, I chatted casually for a few words. To be honest, there are so many people who really don’t know what to talk about, that is, they can respond more to the court’s policies, contribute more to the people, etc.

Everyone got along well, and Zhu Yinglong always had a smile on his face, thinking about how to make these salt merchants bleed. Of course, it would be impossible to force them to ask for it. It might be possible to touch each other, but you can't call these general merchants together in front of so many people and talk about it separately.

As he was speaking, a loud sound suddenly came out, like a muffled thunder, followed by the entire Qionglinyuan trembling slightly, and everyone was in horror. Look at me, look at you, the sound of salt merchants is not unfamiliar with the sound of shell explosion. Although Yangzhou City is heavily guarding and the army in the south does not have the courage to come over, since Zheng Zhibao came across the opposite side, Yangzhou City was attacked by his pirate fleet every few days, and the Yangzhou Navy Fleet forced it to retreat to the canal, and it has only preserved its strength.

After a sound, there were more than a dozen loud noises in succession. The dust from the roof beams shook and fell. The salt merchants, including Zhu Yinglong, were all in a mess. When they were sleeping, they couldn't laugh.

Zhu Yinglong did not take this into consideration, stood up, gently blew away the dust on his sleeves, and smiled and said, "Wei Zhongxian knows that I am coming to Nanjing, so he will send someone to welcome him!"

Seeing that the emperor was calm and composed, the salt merchants could not be too cowardly and timid, they brushed off the dust on their bodies and squeezed out smiles, but most of them smiled even worse than bitterness.

After a dozen explosions, it calmed down. Everything in Qionglin Garden seemed to have returned to peace. A hundred soldiers came in and cleaned the hall. Zhu Yinglong moved to a secluded small garden. Cheng Chong and several general merchants accompanied him. The rest of the salt merchants left the hall for a while and had to give him a banquet. Of course, the money was finally the salt merchants themselves.

There is a small willow-shaped pond in the garden. A few weeping willows are planted on the edge of the pond. The tender buds are stretching out their cute little hands from the hanging branches, as if telling everyone that the arrival of spring.

There is a small pavilion beside the pond, called Liuye Pavilion, which is also suitable for the situation. A huge Taihu stone stands beside it, afraid it is worth a thousand pounds. It is worth a lot. It is a winding cobblestone road, and the grass beside the road is dotted with a few flowers of different colors. A natural and bright spring atmosphere is coming.

The layout of the small garden seems to be messy and has no layout, but it does not give people the feeling of being messy. Instead, it feels like this should be. This is natural, integrated, pleasing to the eye and feeling comfortable.

Many people in this world have many different hobbies. Some like gold and silver, some like jewelry, some like various stones, some like various ancient books and rare books, and some like power, beauties, wine and even killing.

"Cheng Chong, what do you like?" Zhu Yinglong asked Cheng Chong, who was following behind him inadvertently.

"Caomin likes to do business." Cheng Chong felt that the young emperor in front of him was a little unfathomable, and the questions he asked were left without trace, and there was no sign at all. He was a little nervous, but he had to answer, so he could only pass by and say perfunctorily.

"Jiang Guochun, where are you?" Zhu Yinglong raised his foot up the steps of Liuye Pavilion with a smile, and then asked.

"The grass-roots people like to study!" Jiang Guochun failed to pass the Jinshi and was forced to do business because of a livelihood. He did not know that he was very talented in business and was not deceived. Among the salt merchants, his reputation among the people was no less than that among Cheng Chong, a great charity.

"As for you two, you both talk about your psychological words today. Even if you like to be an emperor, you can do it. I will not blame you." Zhu Yinglong smiled at Jiang Guomao and the owner of the Shaanxi Guild Hall.

"The grass-roots dare not." The two of them knelt down immediately.

"Everyone has his own preferences, and I have too. There are many people who are ambitious to be emperors. It's another matter whether they can become emperors." There was a round stone table and four stone stools in the willow leaf pavilion, just enough for four people to sit.

"Caomin likes to listen to small songs and sing operas!" Jiang Guomao whispered. Everyone in Yangzhou City knew his preferences, and he didn't dare to say that he liked to follow that path. He was still a famous actor in Yangzhou City.

"Caomin has been fond of martial arts since he was a child and can pull 300 kilograms of bows." Li Hong said with a thunderous sound like a bell.

The man in the northwest was straightforward, Li Hongleisheng had a tiger-back and bear-bear waist, a tall man and a big horse, and at least half a head of Zhu Yinglong. He threw himself over and glanced up with admiration: "Have you never thought about serving the court in your life's martial arts?"

"Report to the emperor, Caomin has joined the army three times, but no one is willing to accept me. He has no choice but to embark on this road." Li Honglei said.

"So that's it!" Zhu Yinglong secretly called a pity. Li Honglei was definitely not lucky enough to be able to break through today's foundation. If he was in the army, although he might not be able to become a famous general, there would be no problem with brave generals. Judging from his age of about fifty years old, he is still so energetic and speaks loudly, and it is obvious that he is getting stronger and stronger.

"Do you know what I like?" Zhu Yinglong asked.

The four of them looked at each other and shook their heads together and said, "The grass people don't know."

Zhu Yinglong stood up with his head raised, leaned over the heaven and earth, and said passionately: "I like it, fighting with the sky, fighting with the earth, and..." He did not continue directly, but the four of them nervously waited for his next sentence.

Zhu Yinglong pointed to the finger of the sky, slid down suddenly, pointed to the gap between the four people, and said to the four people with a gentle and confident smile: "There is also the fight with others!"

The four of them suddenly fell into an ice cave, and their faces were extremely pale. After a while, Cheng Chong swallowed his mouth and spitted: "Master, your preferences really opened the eyes of Caomin and others."

"Cheng Chong, I heard that you have a versatile heart in the capital. Now guess what I think of you in my heart!" Zhu Yinglong asked blankly.

"The grass people dare not guess the will of the holy people without authorization." The sweat beads condensed from Cheng Chong's forehead were at least as big as those of the autumn soybeans, which shows how nervous he was.

"You must be thinking that my southern expedition was simply a cover-up. The real purpose was the salt service of the two Huaihe Rivers. Right or not?" Although Zhu Yinglong's tone did not change, a trace of coldness had already been revealed between his teeth.

"No." Cheng Chong was already kneeling on the ground with his knees, his body trembling slightly, and the Jiang brothers were extremely nervous, but they were still sitting on the stone bench and did not dare to move. Instead, a flash of hot light flashed in Li Honglei's eyes. Although he was a little nervous, he was still calm.

"You think, no matter whether the court can pacify Jiangnan or not, as long as the great contribution of donating military funds is, I can't do anything to you, otherwise I will be criticized by a vicious monarch who harms loyalty and kind, right or not?" Zhu Yinglong has been thinking about the war in the past two days, and the court has not yet reached the point of no military funds. The salt merchants in the two Huaihe River donated military funds collectively and donated an additional million to themselves. Is it because the salt merchants have high awareness? This is obviously impossible. After thinking hard, Zhuoba reminded him that Cheng Chong's sinister intentions came out. Standing on the other party's thinking, he was understandable to do this, afraid that the court would crack down on them severely, and make up for the merits, and then he would have nothing to do in the officialdom.

"The grass people dare not, the grass people dare not!" Cheng Chong was so scared that he was out of his mind and kowtowed desperately. After a while, his forehead was blushed and his skin broke and his blood was flowing.

"Hmph, you dare not, of course you said you dare not in front of me!" Zhu Yinglong thought to make these four people a bear and a bear well today, and they still need to do many things in the future. Zhu Yinglong would not do the things that kill chickens and get eggs.

"Do you three think so too?"

"The grass-roots people dare not!" The Jiang brothers and Li Honglei knelt down and said in unison.

"In recent years, the court's laws have been relaxed. You have indeed taken advantage of many loopholes in the court and accumulated wealth that even I envy. Half of Lianghuai Salt Field is controlled by the four of you, and you have made enough money. It's time to stop, right?" Zhu Yinglong asked slowly.

In addition to Cheng Chong, the Jiang brothers and Li Honglei's eyes met for a moment, and they all understood that the good days of the past are gone forever, and the court either doesn't do you, and you will be dead.

"All up, Cheng Chong, don't knock your head!" Zhu Yinglong said.

The Jiang brothers stood up tremblingly, and at the same time helped the poor Cheng Chong up. The four of them stood in front of Zhu Yinglong with their heads bowed.

"I will not pursue the past matters again, but the crimes you committed are not eliminated. In recent years, the court's income in salt tax has become less and less, and you have an unshirkable responsibility..."

"Your Majesty, we will make up for this money." Jiang Guochun said first. He was the first person to understand Zhu Yinglong's meaning. Cheng Chong had been shocked. Although his eldest brother Jiang Guomao had some ability in business, when it comes to official games, Jiang Guochun was much better than him and Li Honglei. Moreover, at this time, it was already a critical moment of life and death. The main emperor gave the order and could not escape any of the salt merchants in Qionglin Garden today.

“How much to make up?”

"Half the wealth of Caoren!" Jiang Guochun said.

Zhu Yinglong shook his head and said, "What do I want your wealth?"

"Then the emperor wants the people to atone for their sins?" Jiang Guochun asked in surprise.

"You have money, but the court has no money, so the court wants to borrow your money. You can do it yourself. Your money will be used to build warships, guns and shells. Our Ming Dynasty cannot wait for other people to deliver it to the door. We need to take the initiative to go out. The outside world is very broad, and you should look longer. You can organize merchant ships yourself or rent merchant ships from the court. The court sends warships to escort along the way, bringing the products and culture of our country's superior country to where the warships can reach!" Zhu Yinglong said in one breath.

When Jiang Guochun heard this, his eyes shone golden light, and Cheng Chong lowered his head and thought without understanding. Jiang Guomao and Li Honglei were confused when they heard this. Is there any business to do in those barbarians?
Chapter completed!