I'm really not the carpenter emperor

This also shows that there is no middleman for Ming Dynasty's trade to the west, and more than half of the goods going to the west are sent to the Spice Islands and Southeast Asia.

No one has touched this whole piece of cake yet.

This middleman is different from the imperial merchants in the Weaving Bureau. Taking over the trading rights of the Spice Islands is equivalent to opening the door to the Western world through trade.

If it works properly in the future, it may even become the No. 1 trade between Daming and the West!

Merchants can't afford to be early without profit. Maritime merchants have been sailing on the misty sea for many years, and they can't go home several times a year. Compared with ordinary businessmen, they are more tiring, more dangerous, and are looked down upon by others.

Huang Cheng is not the first person to see this opportunity, and many other large-scale maritime companies have also seen it.

Although the current Emperor Tianqi is young, his vision is extremely vicious, and he has a long-term perspective.

From the continuous restructuring of the Weaving Bureau in recent years, anyone who is a little shrewd can find that the imperial court will not be limited to the current silk trade, and will definitely vigorously develop trade in the future.

Silk, tea, porcelain... All kinds of oriental goods will be continuously shipped to the west!

At this moment, just like the situation in the world at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, every day cannot be wasted. In the next ten years, there must be a merchant in Ming Dynasty who was selected by the imperial court to dominate the entire trade between the East and the West.

Huang Cheng hoped that this person would be himself!

He had never been so close to his dream, but just because he mishandled a sentence, it was another dream, and he missed it!

It may be that Nan Juyi's joy made Huang Cheng temporarily forget the governor of Fujian in front of him. It was not as simple as it seemed on the surface.

After Huang Cheng left, the smile on Nan Juyi's face froze for a moment, he silently drank the cold tea on the table, and asked:

"What does Yang Qianhu think of this Huang Cheng?"

In response, a person came out from the shadows in the room, with a hooked nose and a square face, with the badge of the Fujian Governor's Office hanging on his waist.

The so-called Yang Qianhu deliberately lifted the badge around his waist, and then sat down on the stool that Huang Cheng had just sat on just now as if there was no one else present, and said:

"What about him, Futai knows better than me."

The two looked at each other and smiled, but Nan Juyi's smile clearly revealed deep fear and indescribable fear of the person in front of him.

Yang Huan, who ranked third in the "Five Biao" of the eunuch party in history, is now a thousand households of Jinyiwei, under the tent of Fusi Tian Ergeng of Beizhen, and serves as the chief supervisor of the Zhangzhou Supervision Department under the Fujian Governor's Office.

After laughing for a while, Yang Huan suddenly turned cold, and he said:

"It seems that we need to find another candidate."

……

The news that Huang Cheng hit it off with Fujian governor Nan Juyi hit it off, and with the speed of a tornado, it swept through the maritime business circles in half of the south of the Ming Dynasty.

Those who don't know why are usually only jealous and envious, and they are just for chatting after dinner.

Some people can see through the "sinister" intentions of Huang Cheng and Nan Juyi's friendship at a glance. Naturally, their sense of crisis has doubled, and they start to ask for connections everywhere to find a way out, wanting to be one step ahead of Huang Cheng and win such a cake.

Here, there is such a sea merchant who is not well-known at the moment but has a little capital, called Xu Xinsu.

Xu Xinsu, a native of Tong'an, Quanzhou Prefecture, Fujian Province, was a representative of maritime merchants and pirates in the late Ming Dynasty. He was sworn brothers with Li Dan, the leader of Japanese Chinese maritime merchants, and had a long-term friendship.

When Li Dan was working hard in Japan, Xu Xinsu had been building a supply network in Quanzhou, Zhangzhou and other places, and then shipped the silk and other commodities Li Dan needed to Taiwan, and then transferred them to Li Dan.

Therefore, although Xu Xinsu is unknown in the southeast sea area and few people know about it, he has become one of the big merchants in Taiwan Strait trade.

At the beginning of the second year of the Apocalypse, the conflict between the Ming Dynasty and the Netherlands intensified along the coast of Fujian. As the Dutch invaded Penghu and built forts, the attitudes of the two sides began to turn hostile.

The newly appointed governor of Fujian, Nan Juyi, promised to trade in Zhangzhou Port in order to force the Netherlands to withdraw from Penghu.

But the ambitions of the Dutch didn't stop there. They refused to negotiate and kept sending delegations to make false peace talks, but they secretly dispatched fleets, blocked the coast of Zhangzhou, and robbed merchant ships.

The Fujian locals reported the seriousness of the situation to the capital, and Emperor Tianqi attached great importance to it, and ordered the Fujian navy to intervene in this matter and never back down.

Since then, the trade conflict between the Ming Dynasty and the Netherlands has evolved into a war of aggression and resistance to aggression.

One of the main reasons why the Dutch invaded Penghu was that the real silk obtained from silkworm cocoon reeling, also known as raw silk, is one of the luxury goods that are extremely favored by the upper class in the West.

Under the pressure of the royal family and nobles, the Dutch East India Company began to purchase silk vigorously.

The domestic silk production in Daming was gradually controlled by the imperial court. The Dutch wanted to buy silk or silk from Daming, but only a small part of the Maritime Chamber of Commerce sold wool.

Most of the supply of goods is in the hands of the "imperial merchants" who cooperate with the imperial court, which forced the Dutch East India Company to start cooperating with the imperial merchants.

At the same time, since the 48th year of Wanli, the increased tariffs imposed by the supervisory department not only dissatisfied domestic maritime merchants, but also really damaged the profits obtained by Dutch merchants after transshipment.

Due to the limited funds of the Dutch East India Company, and the fact that the purchase of silk at present is completely paid by the Ming court, it is ridiculously expensive, so they had to reduce the amount of silk they purchased.

By the beginning of the second year of the Apocalypse, members of the Dutch royal family and nobles once again put pressure on the East India Company, hoping to buy more silk from Ming Dynasty and make it into various luxury goods to satisfy the circulation of the upper class.

This is why the Dutch East India Company invaded Penghu earlier than in history.

Not only that, they also made a blockade of Zhangzhou Port and sent a fleet for reinforcements, which are unique things in history.

Compared with the historical intention of opening ports to trade and occupying Taiwan, this time the Dutch are aggressive and want more benefits.

To put it bluntly, this war is equivalent to the Netherlands using force to force Daming to relax the export of silk and give them more favorable prices and tariffs.

But will Zhu Youxiao agree?

The answer must be to let them go!

It took two years, little by little, to finally control domestic silk production, just to make wedding dresses for you Dutch people?

Don't even think about it!

Even Zhu Youxiao would like to take this opportunity to study the composition of the Dutch fleet. If we can't build strong ships and guns in a short period of time, we can imitate them if we use our ingenuity?

In this battle of Penghu, we must not miss it. We must show the prestige of Ming Dynasty in the world, and we must beat the Dutch. By the way, let's study their strong ships and guns.

In the future, they can use their own strong ships and cannons to blast open their country!

Speaking of this, I have to mention Xu Xinsu.

After the Dutch invaded Penghu, they quickly noticed the largest "Ming-Japan" trade leader at this time, Li Dan.

But Li Dan often sees the beginning and the end. He married a wife and had children in Japan, and basically lived in Japan. Dongchang has been trying to arrest him but can't find anyone, let alone the Dutch "invited" him to talk about trade issues.

What should I do?

Soon, the Dutch thought of a good idea, that is, Li Dan's good brother, Xu Xinsu, who is currently a big business in Taiwan.

Xu Xinsu was also unlucky. When he first arrived in Penghu, he caught up with the Dutch invasion and successfully became the hostage of the Dutch who forced Li Dan to lead the trade to Penghu, and was detained.

But sometimes, you don't understand a person's brain circuit.

The experience that everyone was watching the joke this time, for Xu Xinsu, it became an opportunity for him to break away from Li Dan and connect with the Dutchman.

Li Dan's righteousness is worthless to him.

During the days when the Dutch were imprisoned in the Penghu Fortress, Xu Xinsu was not idle at all. She actually used her identity and experience as a trader on both sides of the strait to gradually gain the trust of the Dutch.

Chapter 249 Let's Divide the Cake

In the ninth year of Wanli, the Netherlands got rid of Spanish rule through the War of Independence. Although it was not recognized by Spain at that time, the Netherlands has started its own rise since then.

After independence, the Netherlands is also eager to develop its own overseas trade like Portugal and Spain.

Due to trade frictions such as plundering of resources, the Netherlands and Portugal became hostile, and all ports in Spain and Portugal began to be closed to the Dutch.

The Dutch had no choice but to find a new route to Asia by themselves.

In the two naval battles in the Java and Malacca Straits, the Dutch fleet defeated the Portuguese fleet, and the Dutch began to develop their maritime trade rapidly.

If the business gets bigger, there must be a special management department. Therefore, 20 years ago, the Dutch East India Company was established, and their leader was called the "head".

The current head of the Dutch East India Company is called Cohen, and Zheng Yiguan was awarded the directorship by him. Gao Wenlu, the "commander in chief" who is currently leading two fleets to invade Ming Dynasty, enjoys a high reputation in the Dutch East India Company.

The Dutch East India Company, this is not the kind of "company" of later generations.

Although it is formally a joint stock company, it has its own mercenaries, can even issue currency, enter into formal treaties with other countries, and has the power to colonize and rule the place.

These are the rights granted by the Dutch royal family to the Dutch East India Company for the development of overseas colonies.

Because of some operations by Zhu Youxiao, the silk trade was gradually monopolized by the "imperial merchants" under the Ming court within two years. At this time, silk had become one of the irreplaceable luxury goods among the Dutch nobles.

Under constant domestic pressure, coupled with Zheng Yiguan's betrayal, Cohen, head of the Dutch East India Company, became furious and authorized Gao Wenlu to block the Fujian coast of Daming.

A Ming-Dutch trade war inevitably broke out.

……

The Fujian navy is mobilizing warships, planning to have a large-scale naval battle with the Dutch fleet. On the other hand, the Zheng family is also making intensive preparations.

In addition to sending a fleet to intercept another Dutch fleet supporting Zhangzhou Port, Zheng Yiguan is also making preparations to break through the enemy's fortress from the inside.

Having spent many years at sea, he knew that the fortress of the Westerners would either be built before he built it, or it would be difficult to take it down.

The fort built by the Dutch was chosen on the top of a hill that is easy to defend and difficult to attack, leaning against the sea cliff, and below is the second fleet sent by the Dutch East India Company.

In the art of war, this is a big taboo, but in the eyes of Daming who needs to recover Penghu as soon as possible at this time, it has become a headache.

What Zheng Yiguan was worried about was that if the raid didn't work and the Dutch retreated into the fortress, it would be difficult to win in the short term, even if they employed a lot of people.

In this way, it violates the original intention of a quick battle, and both sides suffer!

At this time, Xu Xinsu, who was accidentally stranded in Penghu, came in handy.

On this day, Zheng Yiguan was secretly dispatching the Zheng family fleet and soldiers on land, planning to take advantage of the situation to recover Penghu after the Fujian Navy liberated Zhangzhou Port.

While preparing, a sea merchant wearing a blue silk robe came to see him, saying that he was Xu Xinsu's biological younger brother on the sea.

Zheng Yiguan was overjoyed, and quickly put down what he was doing to meet with him in person.

The visitor was dressed as a sea merchant, and when he got on the deck of the ship, he took off his silk robe, put it aside, and with the sea breeze blowing, he saluted and said:

"My permission is Cheng, I have met Zheng Shoubei."

Zheng Yiguan is now the Zhangzhou garrison officer of the imperial court. He has an official status and a different status. When Xu Cheng meets him, he is naturally inferior and acts as a humble gesture.

Besides, even if that wasn't the case, he came here this time to save his brother Xu Xinsu from the Dutch, take the opportunity to make meritorious service to the imperial court, and use the power of the government to protect their business along the coast.

Zheng Yiguan didn't care about this little garrison officer at all, he let out a soft "um", and his eyes kept flickering, looking up and down at the sea merchant in front of him.

After seeing him take off the silk robe, there is another hole in the inside.

Xu Cheng was wearing a leopard skin vest, buckskin boots, and a handmade straw hat made of sturgeon skin. At first glance, he looked like a pirate, not a sea merchant, but a pirate who had been plundering the sea for many years.

"What's the matter, what does the Dutchman say?"

Zheng Yiguan stood with his hands behind his back and asked quietly.

Xu Chengdao: "I corresponded with the Dutch beforehand, presumably because my brother has already gained their trust, so it went smoothly, and asked me to enter the castle to discuss cooperation."

"This time the Dutch are thinking hard, what do you want to buy?" Zheng Yiguan turned his head, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, obviously interested.

Xu Cheng laughed loudly and said:

"It's not for the raw silk. The Dutch want to buy two hundred dans of smuggled raw silk from my Xu family, and they also said that they can pay all the silver taels in advance."

Zheng Yiguan learned about the situation in some western countries at this time from many people, and immediately sneered: "Oh, it seems that Cohen was really urged by the nobles in the country to have no choice."

"Pay all the money in advance, so they won't be afraid that your Xu family brother will run away?"

Zheng Yiguan's words obviously contained some factors of contempt. Xu Cheng heard it, but he could only smile awkwardly, pretending that he didn't hear it.

"Nowadays, the supervisors and inspectors are strict, even our Xu family has some goods on hand these days, so we dare not go to sea easily!"

"If the supervising department gets the news, I'm afraid there will be more disasters on our side, so how dare we take it hard!"

Xu is a man in his thirties, so humbly calling a little doll in his twenties, although he speaks decisively, he always feels something is wrong in his heart.

Zheng Yiguan took a few steps forward, picked up a musket bought from the Dutchman, and said with a smile: "In that case, I should thank you very much."

"If it wasn't for my Zheng family's thin noodles, you wouldn't be leaving this trip, would you?"

"What is Zheng Shoubei talking about..." Xu Cheng looked shocked and explained repeatedly:

"The purpose of this trip is to save my ineffective elder brother. I am honored by the Zheng family. I am too happy to be happy. How dare I complain?"

"Haha, you boy."

Zheng Yiguan suddenly laughed out loud, and asked vaguely:

"The imperial court's Fujian navy has assembled near Zhangzhou Port. This area is not peaceful. After saving Xu Xinsu, where are you going?"

"Are you still doing business in Penghu and Yizhou?"

How could Xu Cheng not know the meaning of Zheng Yiguan's words? This is because he also took a fancy to Yizhou, an island under the weak jurisdiction of the imperial court, and was competing with the Xu family for territory!

Right now, people are under the eaves and have to bow their heads.

With the Zheng family having the priority of doing business in Fujian, their maritime power will definitely increase by leaps and bounds. Zheng Yiguan is also Zhangzhou's garrison. I am afraid that even Li Dan can't do it clearly. With Xu Xinsu and himself, he can't fight at all.