Zhu Youjian attaches great importance to Malacca. Only when he controls Malacca can Daming have the basis for trading with Xiyi. "Taiwan is too close to Fujian and it is extremely important to Daming, but as far as I know, the imperial court has never regarded Taiwan as Daming. Land, why are you using troops this time?" The South China Sea Fleet is the national navy, not pirates. To start a war, there must be sufficient reasons. It cannot fight as pirates do.
"..."
"In the second year of the Apocalypse (1622), the Dutch East India Company occupied Penghu in Daming, and the Daming Navy fought fiercely for eight months with each other. In the fourth year of the Apocalypse (1624), Daming reached an agreement with the Netherlands. Demolished the fort in Penghu, evacuated Penghu, and moved to Taiwan. Daming did not interfere in the Dutch occupation of Taiwan because Taiwan was not a territory recognized by the Ming court. In fact, Taiwan at that time did not belong to any country. General Zheng was engaged in maritime business all the time. , Don’t you know this piece of history, do you?"
"I will know the scene at the end."
Zhu Youjian was a little bit painful. Which ignorant scum was that he gave Taiwan his hand to the Netherlands. "During the negotiation process, the Daming negotiator, in order to expel the Dutch from Penghu as soon as possible, also let the maritime businessman Li Dan, who lives in Japan, coordinate from it. When the Dutch said, “They don’t know the way to Taiwan,” the local official representative of Daming said, “We know the way, we can show you the way.” General Zheng, is there such a thing?”
"His Majesty, there is really such a thing. When Daming negotiated with the Netherlands, he would just follow his foster father to participate in the mediation between the two sides. At that time, the Majesty once verbally said to the Dutch:'Taiwan is ours, and I can use it temporarily."
"Ah... Really?" Zhu Youzhen was ecstatic. When Zheng Zhilong said this, the Dutch might not have paid much attention to it. I am afraid that he has forgotten it. But Zhu Youzhen doesn't care about this. As long as there is this sentence, Daming will There is a reason to use troops.
Zhu Youjian is already looking forward to the South China Sea Fleet entering Taiwan. Zheng Zhilong asks the Dutch for Taiwan. The Dutch, who has been operating in Taiwan for nearly ten years, will never give up Taiwan. The war between the two sides is inevitable.
"Really, Your Majesty, this was said by the Admiral himself, and the Admiral remembered clearly." Zheng Zhilong said very firmly, but he didn't know whether this sentence was a blessing or a curse.
"Ao," Zhu Youjian woke up, "When General Zheng said this, I'm afraid it wasn't for Daming, right?"
"I will die, I will only think about my own interests." Zheng Zhilong got up from his chair in fright, and was about to kneel down and plead guilty like Zhu Youjian.
Zhu Youjian waved his hand to stop Zheng Zhilong from kneeling, "At this time and then at that time, General Zheng was not a member of the court. Fortunately, there was General Zheng's words. Otherwise, I really can't find a reason to go to war with the Dutch... But General Zheng is now a coastal defense guerrilla of the court, so he should consider everything for the court and the country."
"Yes, Your Majesty, he will no longer be engaged in maritime trade. After taking back Taiwan, he will naturally be placed under the jurisdiction of the court."
"I believe," Zhu Youjian changed the subject: "The Daming Navy is about to expedition to Southeast Asia, which will cost a lot. General Zheng believes that what is the purpose of the imperial court doing this?"
"Your Majesty, this is for trade. Daming’s overseas trade is very large, but the goods cannot be exported to the ocean. They can only be transferred to Xiyi. The huge trading profits are monopolized by Xiyi. Da Ming merchants can only earn some labor costs, and sometimes they will Being exploited by Xiyi, merchants are not very interested in overseas trade. If the Ming navy controls Malacca and protects the past Ming merchant ships, the profits made by our Ming merchants will surely increase several times, dozens of times."
Zhu Youjian nodded and motioned to Zheng Zhilong to continue.
"Secondly, it is for the people. There are many Han people on the islands in Southeast Asia, no less than hundreds of thousands. However, because they are far away from the Ming Dynasty and lack the protection of the army, they are unable to form an army. They are often exploited by the local aborigines and Xiyi. In the 31st year of Wanli (AD 1603), the Spaniards on the Southern Ryukyu Islands, just because they suspected that the Han people were opposed to them, they carried out a genocide slaughter of the Han people. It is said that more than 30,000 Han people were slaughtered at one time... In the rest of the place, Incidents of snatching property and even killing people and selling goods against Han people are also endless."
At this point, Zheng Zhilong's tone changed obviously, as if he was suppressing huge sadness, and his eyes suddenly crystallized.
The Spanish massacre of the Han people seems to have happened later, but Zhu Youjian has already come to Daming, and there should be no more massacres in the future. What makes Zhu Youjian rush to the strange thing is that Zheng Zhilong was a pirate before, why? Have such a deep memory of this incident? "General Zheng, were you not a pirate before? How could you care about the lives of the people?"
"Your Majesty, the general was indeed a pirate before, but the merchant ships that were to be intercepted were all merchant ships from Xiyi. Although they also looted the people of Fujian, it was for temporary relief. In the end, they would never hurt a Han Chinese." Zheng Zhilong was willing to go out. If Zhu Youjian had doubts about him because he had been a pirate, then this coastal defense guerrilla would not do it. Anyway, the wealth he accumulated would be enough for ten lifetimes.
"Haha..." Zhu Youjian laughed unscrupulously, "General Zheng, this is the first time I heard that there was a patriotic pirate." Zhu Youjian's little suspicion disappeared instantly, and he knew what Zheng Zhilong said. It’s the truth. Whether it’s from Zheng Zhilong’s eyes or from the information sent back from Guangdong Jinyiwei, Zhu Youjian saw the real Zheng Zhilong, "General Zheng, do you know why I called you to Beijing?"
"This... I don't know." In fact, Zheng Zhilong can guess some, isn't it because he was a pirate
Of course, Zheng Zhilong did not complain. Zhu Youjian was the emperor and he could do anything. Besides, if the emperor handed over such a large fleet to a pirate leader, it would be really strange if he didn't worry about being abducted by him.
"If you are an emperor and I came from a pirate, would you worry if we swap our positions?" Thinking of another way, you can most regain people's hearts. Later life experience helps Zhu Youjian really everywhere.
"I will not dare." On Zheng Zhilong's forehead, a cold sweat broke out instantly, his face turned pale, he lay on the ground, not daring to move.
"Get up, General Zheng, I didn't blame you." After removing the suspicion, Zhu Youjian's mood suddenly improved.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Zheng Zhilong took his seat again, dare not wipe the sweat on his face.
"A few years ago, there was a civil riot in Shaanxi. Although I suppressed the riots, I did not have the heart to kill because they were forced. They have no food to eat." Zhu Youjian was trapped in thought, as if he had returned to Shaanxi. "As the emperor of Daming, I want to let the people of Daming have food, clothing, and houses to live in. Life is getting better and better. I originally planned to let you go to Shaanxi and see what the people of Shaanxi are doing now. Life, haha, it doesn't seem to be necessary."
"I will know that your Majesty is worried about the country and the people, working day and night." Zheng Zhilong did not kneel this time, but gave a military salute.
"Knowing is not enough. We have to keep the people and people's affairs in mind," Zhu Youjian taught. "There are many Han people in Nanyang. They are also our people. In a foreign land, they live hard and still Being bullied by others."
"Your Majesty..."
"Before Ming Dynasty, the border troubles in the north were too severe. The establishment of slaves was approaching Shanhaiguan, and the Mongolian ministries were seriously threatening the Great Wall." Zhu Youjian waved his hand to prevent Zheng Zhilong from interrupting him. One day, I can help them, General Zheng, do you understand what I mean?"
"At the end, I will understand that your heart is for the people of Daming."
"The Han people went to Southeast Asia in order to survive, but their life is still difficult." Zhu Youjian said that he was a little emotional, as if he was an angry young man, but he was the emperor, who else could he complain about
"Your Majesty, I understand that once I go to Nanyang, I will definitely put the Han people in the most important position in their hearts."
"Yeah." After being silent for a while, Zhu Youjian adjusted his emotions, "One more thing, General Zheng, you are now a soldier of Daming. Although some of your subordinates were your brothers before, the image and management of the army are different. Now, their sitting, lying, standing, and walking must conform to military standards."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"In the past, you were the head, eloquent and greedy, but now it doesn't work. Daming's army belongs to the country and does not belong to any private person. Soldiers must abide by the discipline of the soldiers."
"The final will understand that the final will definitely learn the military rules of Ming, and let his subordinates abide by the military rules."
"I intend to send you to the Daming Military Academy to study for half a month on an anonymous basis. Although the half-month period is a bit shorter, the military academy is a place to train professional soldiers. As long as you work hard, you can definitely appreciate the experience of the Ming army. The essence lies."
"At the end, you must study hard to be a real soldier." Zheng Zhilong also realized Zhu Youjian's good intentions. He used to be a pirate without restraint. Now he is a soldier of Da Ming. Once the law is violated, no one can save it. Yourself.
"Well, it is worthy of the former sea dragon. I hope that the general will lead the South China Sea Fleet to become Daming's sea dragon, playing a pure land for the Ming and Han people." Zhu Youjian lifted the tea cup in front of him and sipped gently. mouth.
"Thank your majesty for the praise, and will never let your majesty be entrusted."
"In the past half month, you will mainly do two things. One is to learn how to be a soldier of the Ming Dynasty. The other is to formulate a short-term, mid-term, and long-term combat plan for the South China Sea Fleet. After half a month, you will see me again."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Sending away Zheng Zhilong, Zhu Youjian immediately found the Minister of the Navy Qin Yongnian and the Minister of Staff Cao Wenzhao, and asked them to immediately convene the craftsmen of Fujian and relevant personnel of the Daming Academy of Sciences to design a new type of warship based on the new type of blessed ship.
The new type of warship has a displacement of no less than 200 tons and can be equipped with about forty guns. Once the drawings are designed, two training ships will be produced immediately, and they will be improved as they are used, striving to deploy the South China Sea Fleet at the fastest speed.