***
Qin Mu allocated two thousand taels from the money Han Zanzhou earned from selling books to three craftsmen, asking them to develop the steam engine and asking Ningbo Prefecture to cooperate.
In Fujian, good news came one after another: Fuzhou and Quanzhou were captured;
The East China Sea Fleet traveled to Taiwan with Zheng Zhilong accompanying it, and no accidents occurred. Under his persuasion, Zheng Zhibao also surrendered to the Qin Dynasty.
As the previous name of Taiwan Island was very confusing, Qin Mu issued an edict to officially name this treasure island Taiwan and temporarily place it under the management of Fujian Province.
Next, the Zheng family's navy was reorganized and brainwashed. In order to appease the Zheng family, Qin Mu conferred a duke on Zheng Zhilong, and Zheng Zhilong went from being the Duke of Pingguo in the Ming Dynasty to the Duke of Yingguo in the Qin Dynasty.
Zheng Zhibao, Zheng Hongkui, Zheng Tai and others were also rewarded. Zheng Hongkui was transferred to the position of Army Lieutenant General. Zheng Zhibao and Zheng Tai were also promoted to generals, but they did not command the army. Instead, they were transferred to the Naval Academy to teach practical combat courses to naval cadets.
Qin Mu also issued an edict, asking Zheng Sen, Shi Lang, Tong Haifeng, Yang Qihuang, Shi Fu, Hong Xishan, and Ke Chenshu to come to Ningbo to meet him. He planned to brainwash these young people personally.
Yang Shen's negotiations with Jiadier and Mashidu also went smoothly.
Portugal is now in a difficult situation in Europe, and European countries are eyeing it covetously, intending to seize the commercial ports and strategic fortresses in the hands of the Portuguese.
Under such circumstances, Portugal urgently needed to find an ally. Zheng Zhilong, who had been rampant in the Far East, had now surrendered to the Qin Dynasty, and the Qin Dynasty's naval strength had instantly increased dramatically.
In this case, an alliance with Daqin would be beneficial to Portugal.
After Daqin agreed to send troops to attack Luzon, further weaken Spain, and grant Portugal most-favored-nation treatment in trade, Portugal agreed to provide Daqin with their nautical charts and shipbuilding technology, and agreed to allow Daqin's merchant ships to enter the ports under their control for supplies, free trade, and provide certain protection.
This is a preliminary agreement reached by both parties.
Qin Mu believed that as the Qin navy became stronger and stronger and went further and further, it would take an increasingly active position in the alliance with Portugal. Sooner or later, Portugal would become a vassal of the Qin.
***
In Fujian City, Gu Junen, who was appointed by Qin Mu to govern Fujian, had to deal with a large number of matters, including the reappointment of local officials, land surveying, and re-establishing land registers.
The Qin Dynasty had a policy that was different from previous dynasties. Officials and gentry of previous dynasties enjoyed special privileges and were exempt from paying taxes on their land.
The Qin Dynasty implemented a system where officials and gentry all paid taxes together;
In the past, whether it was Huguang or Jiangnan, Daqin took over them all in the midst of war. For everyone, being able to save one's life and survive in the war was a blessing; therefore, the policy of requiring officials and gentry to pay taxes together did not encounter much resistance in Huguang and Jiangnan.
But the Fujian that Gu Junen is facing now is very different. Fujian has never experienced war before. Daqin also took over peacefully, and the policy of officials and gentry paying taxes together inevitably encountered resistance in Fujian.
"Report, Governor. Civil unrest broke out in Xuefeng Town in the north of the city. Thousands of rioters injured officials who went to measure the land..."
After hearing the clerk rushing into the yamen and reporting, Gu Junen frowned.
Yuan Zongdi, who was also in the government office, said to Gu Jun'en with a cold look in his eyes, "Master Gu, if you don't quickly send troops to suppress it, others will surely follow suit, and this trend will get worse and worse."
Gu Jun'en's staff member Li Xianming spoke first, "Sir, this matter is probably not that simple. Land surveying has little impact on ordinary people. Thousands of people suddenly rose up to riot and even dared to injure officials sent by the court. There must be someone behind this instigating this.
Xuefeng Town is only 20 miles away from Fuzhou City. Knowing that there are heavy troops stationed in Fuzhou, they dared to incite civil unrest under the eyes of adults. These people must have a complicated background. It can be seen that simply sending troops to suppress it may not be feasible, and it is likely to provoke civil unrest in other places. "
Gu Jun'en nodded and said, "You go find Wei Ting immediately and ask him to help investigate the vines and creepers behind this matter. The sooner the better."
"Sir, I'll go right away." Li Xianming stood up, bowed, and hurried out of the yamen.
Wei Ting was a thousand households who were sent to Fujian earlier by Yebushou. Qin Mu had already ordered him to fully cooperate with Gu Junen's work. After his full investigation, he found out the root cause behind the civil unrest in Xuefeng Town within one day.
The people behind this civil unrest were the Hou family of Xuefeng Town. The Hou family owned tens of thousands of acres of fertile land. The head of the family, Hou Yaochang, had been the Right Censor-in-Chief of the Longwu Dynasty. More importantly, he was the in-law of Zheng Hongkui.
After Li Xianming reported all the information he had found to Gu Jun'en, he said, "Sir, now it seems that the biggest obstacle to surveying the land in Fujian and implementing the unified tax payment system for officials and gentry is still the Zheng family. Hou Yaochang obviously thinks that although the Qin Dynasty has incorporated the Zheng family's navy, the King of Qin has conferred titles and honors on the Zheng family, intending to rely on the Zheng family, so he dares to act so recklessly."
Indeed, although the Zheng family has surrendered now, if it is not handled properly, it may recur again. After all, those generals of the Zheng army are also vested interest groups. Asking them to pay taxes together will hurt their interests. This matter can be said to be a matter of urgency, and it must be handled with caution.
Yuan Zongdi asked, "What do you plan to do, sir?"
Gu Jun'en thought for a moment and replied, "To untie the bell, you need the person who tied it. This matter must start from the Zheng family. Xian Ming, you immediately prepare a banquet. I want to invite Zheng Hongkui and Zheng Tai to the banquet."
The banquet was held in a side hall of the government office. Zheng Hongkui and Zheng Tai could guess why Gu Junen suddenly invited them to the banquet, but they pretended to be ignorant and laughed it off with Gu Junen.
Gu Jun'en also laughed and urged people to drink. After three rounds of drinking, he suddenly asked, "Generals, how do you think the King of Qin compares to Longwu?"
Zheng Hongkui and Zheng Tai were stunned, wondering why Mr. Gu suddenly asked this. Zheng Hongkui laughed and said, "Governor Gu, you are joking. The King of Qin is wise and brave, while Longwu is ambitious but incompetent. How can they be compared?"
"Haha, Brother Zheng is a wise man. I was worried that Brother Zheng would mistake the King of Qin for Longwu."
Zheng Hongkui's expression suddenly changed, and he asked seriously, "What does Governor Gu mean by this?"
"Brother Zheng, why should you be so excited? Gu Mou has good intentions. Let me remind you that the King of Qin fought all the way from being alone to fighting Zhang Xianzhong, defeating the Tartars, taking back Jingxiang, pacifying Jiangnan, and recovering Huainan. Every step was fought with blood, and every step was bloody. It is incomparable to Longwu."
Zheng Tai snorted coldly and said, "Master Gu, are you saying this to destroy the bridge?"
Gu Jun'en smiled faintly and said, "When Gu Mou came to Fujian, the King of Qin once said: Taking over Fujian peacefully is actually half good and half bad for the Qin Dynasty. There are also many ministers in the court who are inclined to use force to attack Fujian. Although war will bring disaster to the people, it can also clear away some ghosts and demons. It is easier to achieve great order after great chaos. This is the truth."
Zheng Hongkui's face turned pale, and he said in a cold voice: "Master Gu, if you have anything to say, just say it directly."
"If I were Brother Zheng, I would definitely show my sincerity to satisfy the King of Qin. Compared with that little bit of profit, the four words 'Jian is in the Emperor's heart' are ten thousand times more important. Do you agree with me, Brother Zheng?"
Zheng Hongkui and Zheng Tai's hearts were racing. Gu Junen's words were like a blow to the head. Yes, isn't Jane more important than anything else in the emperor's heart
Gu Jun'en continued, "The King of Qin has always encouraged industry and commerce. Brother Zheng knows better than anyone that engaging in overseas trade can bring a hundred times more profit than digging for food in the fields, and it can also cater to the King of Qin's wishes. Brother Zheng, this is all I have to say. I hope you will think twice about my good intentions."
After the banquet, Zheng Hongkui and Zheng Tai returned home and called Zheng Jie and others to discuss the matter behind closed doors. Gu Junen's words frightened everyone in the Zheng family.
Previously, the Zheng family repeatedly refused to submit to the Qin Dynasty, until the navy was defeated and Zheng Zhilong was captured, they were forced to submit. "What I give you is yours." The words that the King of Qin said to his eldest brother once again echoed in the minds of Zheng Hongkui and others. The more they thought about it, the more shocked and scared they became. Especially Zheng Hongkui, he almost couldn't help but slap himself twice;
Since you have surrendered to the Qin Dynasty, you should stay single. If you continue to play tricks and allow your subordinates to resist the court, isn't that courting death
As Gu Junen said, there are probably many people in the Jinling court who want to settle accounts with the Zheng family. If you don't behave yourself at this time, you will give others an advantage and you will be courting your own destruction!
Zheng Jie is a man of foresight. He agrees very much with what Gu Junen said: Jane is more important than anything else in the emperor's heart.
After some secret discussions, Zheng Hongkui took the initiative to expose the fact that his son-in-law Hou Yaochang had incited civil unrest the next day, and asked for an order to personally lead troops to raid the Hou family's home.
At the same time, the Zheng family took the initiative to cooperate with officials to survey their own land.
Zheng Jie thought that this was not enough, and the Zheng family had to lose weight, otherwise they would always be regarded as fat meat. If those who were jealous of the Zheng family continued to slander them in front of the King of Qin, the consequences would be disastrous.
After another urgent discussion among the Zheng family members, they decided to donate 9 million taels to the King of Qin to build the imperial palace.
Nine million taels is not a huge loss for the Zheng family's huge wealth. If it can be exchanged for "Jian's favor in the emperor's heart", it will be beneficial to the Zheng family in the long run.
In fact, usually when one side is defeated in a war, it has to pay some silver as a surrender, and when going up the mountain to become a bandit, it has to show its loyalty. How could the Zheng family surrender without giving a penny
This series of measures taken by the Zheng family showed their loyalty and played a very positive leading role. When the policy of surveying land and requiring officials and gentry to pay taxes together was implemented in Fujian, the resistance they encountered suddenly became much smaller.
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ps: I am eager for monthly tickets, really eager, eager, eager... I am eager! The monthly tickets are so few these days that I feel powerless. As the saying goes, if you don't move forward, you will fall behind. My performance keeps falling behind, which makes me sad and anxious. I sincerely ask for subscriptions and monthly tickets... ... ...
.(To be continued..)
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