Banks nodded and said, "Hope we won't regret our decision today."

Cohen smiled and said, "It's still time for you to regret it now. I just mentioned the good side of the Ming Empire, but I haven't told you the bad side. But now I can tell you."

After pondering for a while, Cohen continued: "The so-called bad side is that their punishment is really over. Most of the punishments they have officially formulated are closely related to their family. That is to say, if you commit a crime, your family will be implicated and punished, or even beheaded.

Of course, this situation is limited to opposing their emperor's rule. In addition, at most, the family members are exiled to a very distant place, and they may never come back in their entire lives.

In addition, if you commit a serious crime, your child may not be able to become an official, and he can study, do business, and farm, but he cannot become an official.

In the Ming Empire, the status of being an official was far higher than that of doing business and farming. There would be no big capitalists there, because they believed that everything was given by the emperor and the state, so merchants were just pigs raised by the state.

So, never think that relying on capital to manipulate politics in that country will lose your life and affect your family.”

Banks suddenly felt extremely distressed: "Then it is not that dangerous if we go to the Ming Empire? Once the Ming Empire is short of money, can our property still be preserved?"

Cohen said: "It is certainly possible, provided that you have not violated the laws of the Ming Empire. I heard from Li that the Ming Empire is now developing laws to protect private property, which may be implemented in a while."

Banks nodded and said to Cohen, "Then please, five hundred kilograms of gold are not a small amount. I hope God blesses me and will not make me regret today's decision."

Cohen smiled and said, "Listen to me, brother, don't pray for God's blessing in the future. You should pray to His Majesty the Emperor of the Ming Empire to bless him. That is the god walking in the world. Any words he says will be carried out by his loyal soldiers, which is far more effective than God's blessing."

After seeing Banks off, what happened next was not as expected by Lansing and Cohen. The remaining fourteen people asked Cohen one after another, saying that they wanted to get the Ming Dynasty household registration through Cohen, including those who had previously expressed their desire to defend the Netherlands.

As for the gold needed, these people will raise it in the shortest time and hand it over to Cohen, who will be able to bring it with you next time Cohen goes to the Ming Dynasty.

Cohen finally felt relieved.

What I worry most is that someone will stand firmly on the side of the Netherlands and perish with this country that has entered the countdown.

Facts have proved that East India Company has always been a commercial company. Although it has relied on the support of the Dutch government before in the face of life and death and money, the so-called conscience can basically be fed to dogs.

When Cohen ran to the Ming Dynasty again with a large amount of gold and silver, he proposed to become a naturalized Ming Dynasty after discussing the latest arms deals with Li Chengyan.

Li Chengyan was confused by Cohen's request.

When did the Ming Dynasty’s household registration become a hot item? If it was really a hot item, why were there only a few people like Cohen asking for naturalization? Why didn’t the remaining barbarians in Europe react?

After thinking about it, Li Chengyan also understood why Cohen wanted to get a Ming Dynasty household registration.

None of the Ming Dynasty has taken the household registration seriously. Their children have taken their children for granted since the day they were born. The officials and men in the government are eager to have more children to make achievements.

Even Xinming Island and those who moved to Mughals were the people of the Ming Dynasty who were natural. Those who had household registration since birth naturally did not take it seriously.

But it is different overseas. Having a Ming household registration and not having a Ming household registration are two completely different concepts. The former guarantees the most basic need for "being a human being", while the latter is completely "savage".

This is especially true for these Europa merchants.

Taking sea boats as an example, any citizen of the Ming Dynasty can get a boat and hang the Ming Dynasty flag to go out to sea as long as he is willing and can afford the relevant expenses. As for whether to fish or do business, it depends on his own mood.

If it were someone else, it would not work. If the ship owner was not a Ming people, he would definitely not be allowed to hang the Ming flag, otherwise he would be sent to the bottom of the sea by several large fleets of the Ming Dynasty to feed the fish.

The pirates on the sea like the most is that the merchant ships without Ming flags attacking the Ming Dynasty will be sent to the bottom of the sea by the Ming fleet to feed fish, and it will be fine to attack other merchant ships.

For the East India Company represented by Cohen, whether there is a Ming Dynasty banner is entirely related to the cost and profit of maritime travelers.

In addition, the wars on the European side were in full swing, but the Holy Roman Empire gave citizens to the people of the Ming Dynasty. The Holy Church was very sensible and did not ask about the beliefs of the people of the Ming Dynasty. Even no other European vassal states could not think of the merchants who attacked the Ming Dynasty. This was very important.

Once you get the Ming Dynasty household registration, it means that people like Cohen, or the entire East India Company belong to the Ming Dynasty and no longer have anything to do with the Netherlands. Then the security of these people in Europe is equivalent to an invisible improvement of a lot.

Li Chengyan did not immediately agree to Cohen's request. Even if Cohen proposed a high price of 50 taels of gold in a household registration, he had to go through the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Revenue, but he could not do it, which would be more embarrassing at that time.

When Wu Ganlai, the Minister of Revenue, heard that fifty taels of gold per person, stroked his beard and smiled: "Since these barbarians are interested in the Ming Dynasty, it means that they can be educated. As the saying goes, everyone will refuse, but I have no objection.

But I remember that the Buddha Tathagata said that the so-called sutra should not be passed on lightly. Even if these people are in the great minds of the Ming Dynasty, they should not be given household registration immediately, and they still need to go through many tests."

Ni Yuanlu, the Minister of Rites, who was influenced by Emperor Chongzhen, nodded and said, "Yes, Secretary Wu's words are reasonable.

As the saying goes, the scriptures should not be passed on easily. If these barbarians easily obtain my Ming household registration, they may not be cherished in the future. Just as these people can sell them to the Netherlands now, who knows if they will still be interested in my Ming Dynasty in the future?”

Li Chengyan immediately understood what the two big guys meant. He thought that the price of fifty taels per household registration was low. Since it was low, it would just double it.

Ni Yuanlu obviously not only cares about the amount of money: "In addition, if these barbarians want to leave, can I say the official words of the Ming Dynasty? Can I write Chinese characters? Even if their generation cannot learn to write, they should always learn to say it, see? Their next generation should always learn to write it, right?"

Li Chengyan nodded and said, "This is not a big problem. Cohen himself will speak the official words of our Ming Dynasty, but he is not very fluent and often makes some jokes. As for other barbarians, this hundred taels of gold is just a chance to become the people of our Ming Dynasty, which is not a big deal."

After finding Cohen again, Li Chengyan said straight to the point: "For the sake of our friendship for so many years, I have done my best to help you find the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Revenue, and have explained the two ministries for you."

Before Cohen could express his gratitude, Li Chengyan continued: "Of course, my Ming Dynasty household registration is so important, I believe you know it well, so it is not that simple to get my Ming Dynasty household registration."

Cohen nodded, picked up his pipe and signaled to Li Chengyan. Seeing that Li Chengyan signaled him to be at will, he lit the pipe: "Of course, the Ming Dynasty's household registration should not be given to people at will, such as those barbarians from Myanmar and Annan.

In my opinion, they are completely unworthy of having a Ming household registration, unless they can contribute to the Ming Dynasty like me, then they should consider whether to give it to them."

He shook his head with a smile, and Li Chengyan said, "Cohen, this is what His Majesty the Emperor means, not something you and I can discuss. If you can't understand, you will deepen your understanding in the years to come."

Cohen shook his head and said, "Li, I can feel that God has not left me much time, and the so-called God obviously does not have enough power to fight against the holy and great Emperor Ming. Help me, for the sake of our friendship for so many years."

Seeing Cohen talking heavily, Li Chengyan also said seriously: "Okay, then I'll briefly talk about the meaning of the two masters of the ministry. As for whether you can accept it, it depends on yourself.

First, it is definitely unrealistic to have a quota of fifty taels of gold, and it must be increased to one hundred taels;

Second, anyone who has grown up does not force you to write the words of the Ming Dynasty, but you must know the words of the Ming Dynasty and speak the words of the Ming Dynasty. As for the standards for adulthood, the Ming Dynasty now stipulates that it is sixteen years old;

Underages must learn to write a thousand Chinese characters, and adults must recognize two thousand Chinese characters to officially own the Ming Dynasty household registration, must give up their original household registration, and must swear to be loyal to the Ming Dynasty emperor.

Third, you must know and abide by the Ming Dynasty Law. If there are any violations of the Ming Dynasty Law, you must honestly accept the government’s disposal and do not have any other ideas. This is the advice I can give you from the standpoint of a friend.

Simply put, there are only three conditions. If you can accept it, then you can go back and prepare. If you can't accept it, then I can only express my regret."

Cohen shrugged, holding a pipe in his left hand, and knocking back and forth on the armrest of the chair with his right hand: "Of course, after becoming a member of the Ming Dynasty, we will definitely take into account the interests of the Ming Dynasty and abide by the laws of the Ming Dynasty. We are good citizens."

After a pause, Cohen continued: "There is another news, you may be interested. Although I hope to pass it on to the Ming Dynasty as soon as possible, there is not enough way to tell you."

Li Chengyan immediately showed an interesting look and smiled: "Tell me, or this news may be helpful to you to obtain your Ming Dynasty household registration."

Cohen said: "Europe is now in chaos. While many countries are fighting each other, their own countries are also constantly in civil unrest. You know this."

Li Chengyan nodded and said, "Of course, the most demanding thing in Europe now is arms, probably because the war was too fierce."

Cohen nodded and said, "But what you probably wouldn't know is that Hamilton led the Scottish army to take advantage of the parliamentary army being confined to South Wales and Kent, and head south to England, cooperate with the royal army of Landare to seize London and regain Charles I to the throne.

As for Cromwell leading his troops north to Wales, it should not be very good news for the Ming Dynasty, because Cromwell also has many Ming muskets and artillery, and it is estimated that Wales will be pacified next month.

But there is no good news, that is, the Welsh people are not on the same side as other British people. Whether in England or Scotland, the Welsh people hate them very much.

That is to say, with a little provocation and support, the Welsh will provoke war again and oppose Cromwell's rule, so the East India Company has decided to send people to sell arms.

In addition, the long-term war between Catholics and Protestants, Czechs and Germans, Holy Roman Emperors and German princes was almost wiped out the blood of these people and the country.

This means that Europe will enter a calm period in a very short time, at least on the surface, which may have an impact on our arms trade.

Of course, as a member of the Ming people, I personally do not want such a situation, so I have persuaded the company's board of directors and decided to increase support for their people, such as asking the Ming Empire to create a batch of simpler and easier-to-use weapons to make their people lively."

After nodding, Li Chengyan said: "Believe me, Cohen, although the Ming Dynasty also knows a lot of this information, when you provide this information, it means that you are one step closer to the Ming Dynasty's household registration, because the Ming Dynasty will not treat anyone who is willing to the Ming Dynasty unfairly.

I now want to sort out this information and give it to His Majesty the Emperor, the intelligence department of the Ming Dynasty and the military office.

Now, I think you should think more carefully about what kind of surname you want to take.

Although I, Daming, have many pair surnames, but Cohen’s surname is not very nice. If you don’t have any objections, it’s better to change one?"
Chapter completed!