First Prince of Ming Dynasty

Zhu Biao looked at the list of goods sent by the merchant gang, which was the theme of this ocean trade, including blue disk bowls, blue and white porcelain bowls, silk, silk, musk, flower silk, copper coins, cloth silk, colored silk, burning beads , Camphor, Jinqi and so on.

It is mainly silk and porcelain, plus gold, silver and copper coins. Other places are unknown, but Jinghai Hou Wuzhen reported that many Western countries use copper coins as currency.

It is expected that the same is true for the countries along the way. The caravan has prepared these, whether it is barter or currency transactions, it can be smooth, which shows that they have come prepared.

Also, there are precedents in the Song and Yuan Dynasties, and there are still many maritime merchant families who have passed down to this day. They have a set of experience passed down from their ancestors. Zhu Biao nodded happily. As long as there is no irresistible natural disaster, then this trip must be a success.

Finally, there was a list, which Zhu Biao put aside after a glance. It was full of rare treasures, that is, the goods at the bottom of the box, treasures that were going to be traded to the royal families and nobles of the countries along the way.

Showing these things to him first is undoubtedly a show of loyalty, and it is also a kind of bribe to please. As long as Zhu Biao is willing, he can keep everything he likes, and there is no need to pay any price.

Seeing that His Royal Highness didn't respond, the people below feel a little regretful. Sometimes they will feel proud when they see that they can accept your things, but it's a pity that they are not as dignified.

Your Highness, this business tax...

Zhu Biao frowned slightly and waved his hands and said: There is no rule, and the tax guide tax set by the Ministry of Households is not strict. You should know that a strong country can make the people rich. Otherwise, how can duckweed without roots be able to withstand the turbulent waves? The pirates along the coast alone are enough to make you lose everything.

The man begged for mercy: It's not that I'm stingy, it's because the benefits are small and the risks are high. Can you follow the Song and Yuan precedents first?

My palace knows better than you how profitable the sea trade is. Not to mention the tax rate set now, even if it is several times stricter, you still make some money. It's nothing more than the difference between earning more and earning more.

When it came to this point, the people below did not dare to say anything more. These merchants and aristocratic families gathered together, and they also have some power. Not to mention the place, even the capital court has officials of the second and third ranks who can help them say a few words .

When necessary, it is not impossible to even pull the tiger skins of several Marquis, so many things can be unimpeded. If they do not have this ability, they will not be able to save the capital to build cargo ships to go to sea for trade.

But with these reliance, in front of the crown prince, I am afraid that he can only bow his head and stand submissively, so there is no room for bargaining.

Now there is a tax introduction, that is, a deposit. Only with the introduction can the cargo be prepared for sea trade. It is not expensive, ranging from a few taels to dozens of taels. The main reason is that it is convenient for registration and management.

Then there is the ship tax. As the name suggests, the export tax is based on the size of the ship. Vessels that go out to sea, the width of the ship is less than 16 feet, and the silver is levied. can be reduced.

There is also price tax, which is an ad valorem tax levied according to the value of the goods, that is, import tax. After the goods arrive at the port, the tax is levied according to the value of the goods.

There are mainly these three types, and the other is the tax on returning empty ships. In some places, there are no goods worth shipping back to the country for sale, so merchants often return to the country empty ships, which also has to pay part of the tax.

Seeing that His Highness had nothing to say, Liu Jin led him out, and when he came back, he already had a thousand taels of silver in his cuff, and the land deed of a hundred acres of fertile land outside Hangzhou City. A seventh-rank official can't save his family fortune in his entire life.

After Liu Jin came back, he didn't say anything, but carefully put the receipts in a brocade box, which was almost full. It can be seen that this was not the first time, but he would send them to the princess.

Most eunuchs like to save money, either to subsidize family members outside the palace, or to have a living when they are old and weak in the future, or to find a way for themselves.

But he is different, his family members have already passed away, although there are still a few distant relatives, but they have never had any contact with him, and he does not expect his adopted son to offer incense.

My grandfather is a nostalgic person, he will definitely arrange for someone to take care of him when he is old, even a hundred years later, he will probably be allowed to be buried with him in the mausoleum, he will have no worries about his life and death, money and land deeds are nothing.

As for Bentou, even though he is physically handicapped, he is blessed by God to serve His Royal Highness, His Royal Highness, the eldest son of the founding ancestor and the future Emperor Taizong.

As a personal eunuch, he has a very good chance of being famous in history. His blood cannot be passed on, but his name and deeds can last forever, such as Gao Lishi, the first virtuous eunuch in the ages beside Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty.

In the early years, when His Highness the Crown Prince was not in charge of government, there was a big main hall in the palace, storing all kinds of ancient and modern books, and famous Confucian scholars took turns to teach the Prince. Learned a lot.

Among the virtuous eunuchs of all dynasties, Cai Lun, Gao Lishi, Yang Fuguang, and Qin Han are all role models. They should work hard and strive for strength. With this ambition, things outside of the body are not worth mentioning.

Half an hour later, Liu Jin reported: My lord, Huang Yuanshou, the Tengchong guard commander you want to summon, has arrived.

Zhu Biao put down the official report from the coastal state capital: Summon in.

If he hadn't happened to be in Senping Beach in the South China Sea for his outstanding achievements in suppressing bandits and resisting the Japanese, and the Shengyu Military Department had been promoted to three ranks in a row, and transferred to Tengchong to serve as the Tengchong Guard Commander, Zhu Biao would not have remembered this Daming Commander who became the King of Boni in a foreign land After all, he is not called Huang Senping yet.

Not long after, a majestic and mighty figure walked in, without any sign of shrinking or apprehension, he bowed neatly and saluted: The last general of the Tengchong Guard General Huang Yuanshou pays his respects to the general.

Zhu Biao raised his eyebrows slightly: Oh? Who was under his command at that time.

When the last general accompanied the general in the Northern Expedition, he served as a cavalry captain under the command of Nanxionghou.

Okay, get up.

After carefully looking at him, Zhu Biao nodded and praised: Good man, no wonder he made such great achievements in Senping Beach, and wiped out the elite gang of Japanese pirates who have been wandering around for a long time.

The last general didn't dare to claim credit, the main thing is the meritorious service of Marquis Jinghai.

It seems that you admire Marquis Jinghai very much. Don't worry, the court has its own calculations. Marquis Jinghai's reward is coming soon.

Come, give me a seat.

After thanking Huang Yuanshou, he sat down cautiously: The last general has been working in the Coastal Garrison since the Northern Expedition. At the beginning, he could only resist the invasion of Japanese pirates with all his strength. Fortunately, the general has a far-sighted vision and sent the Marquis of Jinghai to eliminate the Japanese invaders...

This Huang Yuanshou is thoughtful, much stronger than ordinary guard generals, not to mention being handsome, at least leading an army alone is enough, so he can stand out, it can be seen that there have been no good opportunities.

Of course, it is more likely because he is from Quanzhou, Fujian, not from Huaixi, so he has a good opportunity, and it is not his turn to make meritorious service, but after all, he is a talented person. , That's why the father was promoted to three ranks in a row and specially conferred as the chief soldier.

Zhu Biao talked with him for a long time, and he probably knows a lot about the coastal affairs, but after all, he got the information from paper, and now he wants to open the sea trade, so there are more things to consider.

The imperial court transferred you to Tengchongwei, Yunnan, what do you think?

Huang Yuanshou was taken aback for a moment: The last general has never been to Yunnan, but since it is an imperial edict, he must obey it.

Yunnan has just been pacified, and Pingxihou's subordinates are short of people, and they have a lot of future prospects. But in my opinion, it's a little bit of a waste of your talent to just go to appease a guard.

Huang Yuanshou's eyes lit up: The last general has also gotten used to being on the coast in the past few years. He has some experience in naval warfare, and he may also be able to go to sea with the Marquis of Jiangyin.

Zhu Biao ignored him and said to himself: You have fought against the Japanese and bandits on the islands in the South China Sea, so you should know something about the situation in the countries in the South China Sea.

Huang Yuanshou was a little puzzled, but he answered honestly: The small country in Nanyang is weak and poor. There are Japanese pirates invading and looting outside, and there are constant conquests inside. The people are as ignorant as savages.

If you are allowed to go, maybe you can support a country?

Huang Yuanshou stood up in panic and was at a loss: This... General... Your Highness, the last general doesn't understand.

Although Nanyang is poor, once the maritime trade opens up, several islands, ports and straits will be extremely important in the future. If they are placed in the hands of outsiders, it will be difficult for my palace to sleep. I hope you will take them for my palace.

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It seems to be closely connected (╯﹏╰)