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Everyone was arguing about the reason, Zhao Han was not in a hurry, he just smiled and said: "Think slowly in the future, don't rush for a while."

Screen off everyone.

Zhao Han left Zheng Sen alone: ​​"Ming Yan, I have a task for you."

"Please order, Chief." Zheng Sen clasped his fists and said.

Zhao Han said with a smile: "Go to Fujian and ask your father to borrow a batch of ships. These ships can directly sail to Zhenjiang to buy goods without charging any customs duties, but they must be shipped to North Korea for sale. By the way, help me transport some soldiers to Jeju in North Korea." island."

Zheng Sen was a little confused: "Where is Jeju Island?"

Zhao Han took out a chart, pointed to Jeju Island and said, "This island was originally called Tamna, but now it is renamed Jeju by North Korea."

"The general town wants to take this island?" Zheng Sen still couldn't figure out why Zhao Han wanted to take over an enclave.

"This island can raise war horses." Zhao Han explained.

Zheng Sen finally understood, and excitedly said: "Don't worry, the general town, I promise to take this island."

Zhao Han said with a smile: "The fleet will go to North Korea for trade first, and inquire about the situation on Jeju Island by the way, and then consider whether to attack as appropriate on the return journey. If Jeju has a strong army, then we can send the troops back directly. I can only send 1000 soldiers this time." past."

"Obey!" Zheng Sen cupped his hands.

Jiangnan and Zhejiang are already on the right track, and it's time for Zhao Han to return to Jiangxi.

The big landlord couldn't jump up at all.

Divide the land, lower taxes, cancel the increase of dispatch, and all the people will be subordinated, and the gentry and big clans can't even recruit village braves.

Since they can't resist, they can only cooperate, because it is beneficial to them to cooperate with the division of fields.

Big landlords can take advantage of financial resources and connections to buy cotton grown by farmers.Some landlords are also industrial and commercial owners, who use a lot of cotton to spin cloth, and will specialize in industry and commerce for a living in the future.

Cotton, cotton cloth, both need social stability.

Under the heavy taxation of the Ming court, droughts were encountered one after another, and many cotton fields in the south of the Yangtze River were abandoned, and the big landlords and big merchants had already suffered heavy losses.

Moreover, high-quality cotton is mostly produced in Shandong.Last year, Tartars ravaged Shandong, followed by drought and military disasters. Shandong's cotton production dropped sharply this year, and the owners of textile factories in the south of the Yangtze River suffered heavy losses.

They hope that Jiangnan will be stable and produce more cotton.

I also hope that Zhao Han will take down Shandong as soon as possible, so that he can buy a large amount of high-quality and cheap cotton in Shandong.

At the same time, Zhao Han ordered the opening of a port in Shanghai, which also excited Jiangnan merchants.All kinds of goods in the south of the Yangtze River can be shipped from Shanghai directly to North Korea and Japan in the future, without having to smuggle them all the way to the south.

Zhao Han went to Jiangxi by boat, and the Army of the Eastern Academy stayed behind and continued to wipe out the remaining forces. The main goal was to wipe out the bandits.

Half of the Army of the Central Academy was transferred back to Jiangxi, and the remaining half was used to exterminate bandits in the mountains in southwestern Zhejiang.

Zheng Sen went to Fujian by boat from Zhejiang, and soon met his father.

"I heard that Jiangnan was captured?" Zheng Zhilong asked.

Zheng Sen said with a smile: "Where the soldiers of the general town passed by, the officers and soldiers from all over the place watched the wind and surrendered. Now, except for Fujian, Guangxi, Sichuan, Guizhou, and Yunnan, the south of the Yangtze River is all owned by the general town!"

Zheng Zhilong sighed: "This is going to sit in the world, faster than I thought."

"Father, my son has something to ask for this time." Zheng Sen said.

Zheng Zhilong said, "Let's talk."

Zheng Sen explained the mission in detail.

Zheng Zhilong nodded and said: "This business is not a loss. If we sell the freight from Fujian to Zhenjiang, and then buy goods from Zhenjiang and sell them to North Korea, there will be huge profits if there is no customs duty. You can also buy copper and medicinal materials in North Korea when you return to the voyage."

Zheng Sen suggested: "Father, the general town wants to build a seaport and a ship department in Shanghai, and the Shanghai navy must also be built. Father, why don't you send the general town a few warships."

"I can't give it away," Zheng Zhilong shook his head and said, "It's okay to sell it to Shanghai at a low price, but it's taboo to give the warship directly. I don't want to be Shen Wansan."

Zheng Zhilong threw six warships to his son, under the command of his general Hong Xu.

Ten merchant ships were also sent to transport goods from Fujian to Zhenjiang.After the sale, they loaded the goods and soldiers of Datong, and went straight to North Korea all the way.

Hu Dinggui led the [-] soldiers on the expedition to Jeju Island.

The last time Fei Ruhe built the East Academy Army, Hu Dinggui was transferred here, and by the way he was promoted and raised.This kid is also married, his wife is a famous prostitute, Pan Saisai, whom Datong writer Wu Bing never forgets.

Hu Dinggui has been proficient in water since he was a child. After joining the army, he often took a boat, but...

"vomit!"

Stomach turned upside down, throwing up a mess.

Hu Dinggui's legs were weak and he said: "Why is this sea boat different when sitting?"

Zheng Sen said with a smile: "The waves on the sea are rough, so they are different from the rivers. After two days, I will get used to it."

By the end of Chongzhen, both Korea and Japan were in a closed state, and the two countries had different routes from each other.

But they all open their ports to Chinese private maritime merchants.

The trade between China and North Korea is mainly the Shandong-North Korea route.

The trade between China and Japan is mainly the Fujian-Japan route.

Europeans are not allowed to do business, especially after Japan locked down the country, all the churches of the Portuguese and the Dutch were demolished.

North Korea is more interesting. The king has a "foreign legion", which looks like a few hundred people.The commander is a naturalized white man, and the soldiers are Liaodong Han people and Japanese ronin. This is a fucking firearms unit.

Hu Dinggui recovered from vomiting for two days, and arrived at the North Korean port in a few days.

This fleet of unknown origin scared the North Koreans enough, because Zheng Zhilong hardly did any trade between China and North Korea.

Chapter 319 [North Korea Deposed Lord]

The sails meet the scorching sun, and the fleet cuts through the waves.

Hu Dinggui took out the binoculars and saw that there was a big island connected to the land in the distance, so he asked, "Is that the Phi Island where Gudongjiang Town is located?"

A businessman explained with a smile: "General, Phi Island is still further north."

"How is Phi Island now?" Hu Dinggui asked again.

The merchant replied, "There are only a few places in Phi Island that can grow food, and they can't support too many people. After the Dan slaves captured Phi Island, they sent troops to garrison it for a while, but they gave up soon. North Korea took the opportunity to take Phi Island back."

The merchant's surname is Meng, and his name is Meng Huaien.

This guy sold cotton from Shandong to Zhenjiang. Due to the uprising of soldiers in the north, Meng Huai'en was temporarily unable to return to his hometown, so he was hired by Hu Dinggui as a translator and guide.

"Did you often go to Phi Island?" Hu Dinggui asked.

Meng Huai'en explained: "When Mao Zongzhen (Mao Wenlong) was there, Phi Island was full of business travelers. Ming merchants brought silks, satins and green cloth, and North Korean merchants brought ginseng, leather goods, and rice. After the two parties traded on Phi Island, North Korean merchants Transport the goods to Zhongjiang, and the Tartars will buy Ming goods from North Korea."

"What about now?" Hu Dinggui asked again.

Meng Huai'en said: "I can't do business now. Since the lord of North Korea surrendered the Tartars, North Korea has been capricious and often intercepted and killed merchants from the Ming Dynasty. I used to come to Phi Island for trade, but now I can only make a living in China. , I’m afraid we won’t be able to do domestic business in the future.”

While the two were talking, Jianghua Island in the distance raised thick smoke as a warning.

The Zheng family's fleet sailed for a while, and the North Korean Navy came from behind Jianghua Island.

Zheng's fleet has six warships and ten armed merchant ships.

The Korean navy has more than 30 warships, most of which are turtle boats and plank boats.

Turtle Boat let a small boat over and shouted in Korean: "Which country's fleet is it?"

Meng Huai'en replied: "Daming Zhao Tianwang!"

"The Ming Fleet is not allowed to come to North Korea for business!" The North Korean kept making small gestures, pointing to the south with his hands on his chest, probably wanting the Chinese fleet to trade further south.

They didn't dare to offend Man Qing, but wanted to do business with Ming, so they smuggled quietly in the port further south in Hanyang (Seoul).

Meng Huai'en understood, and turned around to explain to Zheng Sen, Hong Xu, and Hu Dinggui.

As the leader of the fleet, Hong Xu said with a sneer: "These Koreans really have no eggs, and they dare not buy or sell goods in their own capital."

The Zheng family's fleet turned its sails and turned around, and the North Korean Navy immediately followed up.

A little farther away from Jianghua Island, the small boat rowed over and was hoisted onto the battleship by ropes.

The Korean envoy said: "Brothers from the Tang Dynasty, let's go to Dafu Island, and I will guide you. Please also fire a few cannons into the sea to make the sound of naval battles, all for Jinnu (Manchu) to see. "

Hong Xu couldn't help laughing, and ordered: "Fire a few shots at the sea!"

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The Zheng family's fleet fired at will, and the North Korean Navy followed suit. The shells fell on the sea and splashed a lot of water.

Before reaching Dafu Island, the North Korean asked to turn around and drove to an estuary on the bank.

At the same time, he asked the Zheng family what commodities they had brought, asked for a detailed list, and went ashore in a boat to contact merchants.

In the morning of the next day, countless offshore fishing boats came to buy the goods brought by the Zheng family.

Some merchants didn't have enough money, so they simply bartered, mostly ginseng and leather goods, and asked the Zheng family if they needed grain and copper ingots.

Hu Dinggui said to Hong Xu: "General Hong, as much grain and copper ingots as you want, they can be purchased by the government in the south of the Yangtze River."

Immediately, someone asked about medicinal materials, especially fragrant medicines, which are not produced in North Korea.

After half a month of tossing, the goods brought in were emptied, food and fresh water were replenished, and then they went south fully loaded with North Korean goods.

These North Korean sailors seem pitiful, and they dare not even engage in serious trade.

In fact, it is very abominable. If the Zheng family's fleet is not strong enough, it will be robbed by the North Korean navy.

Before leaving, Hu Dinggui specifically inquired about the news: "I heard that Jeju Island can buy horses?"

The merchant replied: "The horses and cattle in Jeju Island are all tributes. The shepherds of Jeju have no right to sell them, and must obtain the permission of the king."

The tribute was not to the Ming Dynasty, nor to the Qing Dynasty, but to the King of Korea from Jeju Island.

It was a place where prisoners were exiled, and the former king of North Korea was now raising horses on Jeju Island.

Hu Dinggui asked again: "How many cattle and horses can Jeju Island pay tribute every year?"

The North Korean businessman replied: "The annual tribute horse is 200, the annual tribute ox is 60, and the annual tribute horse is 700."

The type year is the Zi, Wu, Mao, and You years, which occurs every three years.

In other words, Jeju Island pays 433 horses and 60 cattle to the King of Korea every year.

The North Korean merchant said: "If you want to buy horses, I will go back and report to the king."

With the permission of the King of Korea, merchants can choose horses from time to time and directly conduct commercial transactions of cattle and horses.

Hu Dinggui had some calculations in his mind. It seems that Jeju Island has a large number of horses. It pays hundreds of horses a year, and there are still some leftovers to sell to merchants.

Three days later, the fleet arrived near Jeju Island.

There are three cities in Jeju Island, Jeju Mucheng in the south, Dajing County in the east, and Jingui County in the west.

The highest officer of the whole island, the official title is "Jeju Soldiers, Horses and Water Army Jiedu Envoy and Jeju Shepherd Envoy".

"Should we fight directly?" Hong Xu asked.

Hu Dinggui said: "Fight directly, destroy the Jeju Navy first."

……

The pastor of Jeju must be surnamed Li, and he is in charge of the Korean clan, which shows that this island is mostly valued by North Korea.

In broad daylight, Li Hengzhong was drinking for fun.

Other than that, there wasn't much else to do, and there was no other fun to be had on the broken island.

Concubine Ji was dancing, Li Heng clapped her hands in praise, and took another sip in a daze.

A soldier rushed in, knelt down and shouted: "Master Mushi, there is a fleet of Ming Dynasty coming, and there are many warships!"

"roll!"

Li Heng was very angry, he was disturbed.

In Jeju Port, more than a dozen North Korean warships did not dare to sail out at all, for fear of being attacked by foreign fleets.

These guys also eat soft and fear hard.

More than 20 years ago, a fleet of merchants from Daming and Annan drifted to Jeju Island due to a storm.

At the beginning, the pastor of Jeju warmly received them, and soon found that the ships were full of goods.As a result, hundreds of Han and Vietnamese were ordered to be killed by the pastor of Jeju, and reported to the King of Korea that the Japanese pirates had been beheaded.

This incident was revealed, and there was a lot of trouble at the time.

"fire!"