Chapter 419: The First Fire Started by Yan Duxian
Yan Shaoting narrowed his eyes.

What exactly is the path to becoming rich enough to rival a country that you talked about?
In fact, dissect everything.

This is the most obvious path to colonization.

Because of its benevolence, righteousness and morality, the imperial court may not send a large number of troops to seize overseas territories.

Then he would gather a group of people and go out to sea to grab territory.

There have never been any overseas colonial interest groups in the Central Plains.

Then build one yourself.

The reason why I chose the Jin Party.

The reason is simple, and there is only one reason.

Because the Jin Party is not in Jiangnan.

This alone was enough for him to make a choice.

and so.

Yan Shaoting smiled and said cheerfully: "After all, this is a matter of great importance. It concerns the future of our clan. If you have any doubts, please feel free to speak up. You and I are two families. If we want to have a long-term relationship, we must be open and honest with each other."

This was the first time he personally took action to truly expand overseas and lead the Ming Dynasty on the road of overseas colonization, and it was also the first shot.

It is for this reason that he values ​​Zhang Xialing, a member of the Zhang family in Puzhou who is particularly tactful.

Got what Yan Shaoting said.

Zhang Xialing smiled and shook his head: "Your words are very important. The reason why I am willing to discuss this matter with you on behalf of the Zhang family of Puzhou today is that I am impressed by your past behavior and that you are a trustworthy person. As for my doubts, it is only that in the future, will there be any conflicts between the actions of the court and what we do overseas?"

Zhang Xialing did not ask how much wealth and benefits could be gained overseas.

He also did not ask how the Yan family would share the profits of this big deal with the other families that would join in later.

These are all unimportant things.

In this matter, the only thing that really matters is how these families should deal with their relationship with the court in the future.

Yan Shaoting couldn't help but look at Zhang Xialing with a profound gaze.

undoubtedly.

This is a truly smart man.

Whether there is benefit or not is not important. If one wants to stay in the Ming Dynasty for a long time, the first thing to consider is the interests with the imperial court.

He stood up with a smile, pulled Zhang Xialing back to his seat, and personally poured him a cup of tea.

Yan Shaoting then spoke up, "When the imperial court opened the sea, the navy's first mission was to protect our officials and merchant ships going out to sea. Because the sea route is long and there are many islands in the South Seas that are home to pirates and bandits, the imperial court also agreed to the navy's building of ports and garrisons in various parts of the South Seas."

Zhang Xialing smiled and nodded: "If I remember correctly, whether it is opening the sea or sending navy warships to sea for protection, they are all good strategies that the guests have advised in the court."

Yan Shaoting just smiled in response to Zhang Xialing's flattery.

He continued, "But the navy can't always protect the ships going out to sea. After all, facing the huge number of merchant ships going out to sea after our dynasty opened the sea, the court and the navy will definitely be stretched to the limit."

According to the court's plan, the navy would only set up outposts and build ports in several important locations in Southeast Asia, station naval officers and soldiers to maintain warships, and regularly sail out to sea to patrol the waters with the most merchant ships.

After all, the imperial court’s warships cannot always be used to protect merchant ships.

At least before the Ming Navy was transformed into the Ming Navy, there was no ability to do this all the time.

Yan Shaoting smiled and said, "In this way, the navy's duties in the future will become to garrison in various places overseas and patrol the seas along the way. As for us, the imperial court has not prohibited it. We can raise money and grain to build ships, recruit and hire people to go to sea, and use the imperial navy's overseas stations as a link to expand to the surrounding areas, or buy local land, or do some business with the locals, or recruit and hire people..."

At last.

Yan Shaoting stopped talking, but there was a clear murderous intent flashing in his eyes.

Zhang Xialing couldn't help but shrink his head.

After all, I am just a businessman.

Today, the Zhang family is just gradually developing from a merchant family to a family of officials and businessmen.

What is the final meaning of Yan Shaoting’s words?
Naturally, once these families unite, they will have to recruit and hire a lot of people when they go out to sea in the future.

At that time, these people will not only be able to buy land overseas and do business with local people, but they will also naturally become tigers and wolves, and engage in killing, burning and looting when business deals fail overseas.

Zhang Xialing couldn't help but whisper: "The court..."

Yan Shaoting smiled faintly, and said casually: "All the noble families in Beijing... Oh! By the way, Governor Xu Wenbi of the Tax and Military Office is also the son of a noble family in Beijing. When I left Beijing and headed south, I talked to the elders of each family."

He didn't say much.

Concise and concise.

But I think Zhang Xialing could understand it.

natural.

Zhang Xialing understood.

But he was both surprised and happy.

What was shocking was that if he had been hesitant today, this enormous wealth would have slipped away from him.

The good news is that not only has the Zhang family of Puzhou joined the group, but also all the families of the Jin Party will join in the future. What’s more important is that the group of meritorious officials in the capital seem to have already agreed with the Yan family to join the group.

Although these meritorious officials of the Ming Dynasty are no longer as brave as they were at the beginning of the founding of the country over the years.

But their family assets are still there.

When these people join the gang, they just randomly pull out some family generals and servants, who are all invaluable.

With these people taking the lead, the Zhang family and other families can pay to recruit and hire people, and they can definitely set up a very good team overseas that can "negotiate business."

Just when Zhang Xialing was filled with surprise and joy.

Yan Shaoting spoke softly, giving the final word to the man from the Zhang family in Fengling Township, Puzhou, Shanxi.

"Speaking of which..."

"My family, the headmaster of Changping Academy, has also contributed a lot of people and money to this matter."

After finishing speaking.

Yan Shaoting had already walked out of the house and stood under the corridor outside.

Zhang Xialing, who stayed in the room, had her entire face completely red.

That was the blush from being so excited that it couldn't be any more.

Nowadays, anyone with a common sense in the world knows who the principal of Changping Academy is.

Prince Yu took action in this matter!

The thoughts in Zhang Xialing’s head were almost soaring to the sky.

A feeling of floating in the air made his steps soften.

Although it hasn't started yet.

But Zhang Xialing was sure.

You bet right!
This is a gamble that the entire Puzhou Zhang family is betting on.

Damn, I made the right bet!

Looking at the young but charming figure outside the door frame.

Zhang Xialing clenched his fists excitedly and punched the air silently twice.

outside the house.

Under the corridor.

Yan Shaoting narrowed his eyes and looked outside the water post. It seemed that it was Wang Qian who was sitting in the carriage that Zhang Xialing and his party brought here.

He has been thinking about a question in recent years.

Can the Ming Dynasty really get better?

The answer is unknown.

At first, he wanted to make a comprehensive reform.

But he soon realized that this was simply impossible.

Thinking about those things at this time is nothing but wishful thinking and foolish dreams.

then.

He began to bring something different to the Ming Dynasty and make its foundation more solid.

Maybe wait until that damn ending is avoided.

The passage of time will cause some spontaneous changes to this land he loves.

It is based on this.

He chose to personally create a new interest group belonging to the Ming Dynasty.

An interest group that can shift the source of benefits from the Central Plains to the outside world.

When people start to pay attention to the outside world.

The people in the Central Plains will eventually be less exploited, and as the overall wealth grows, more and more wealth will be accumulated in the Central Plains.

The people at the bottom of society will eventually have a better life. This is the inevitable law of the development of things.

Because to go out, you must rely on internal people and things.

Then.

These people will actively or subconsciously give up some of their interests.

otherwise.

Who the hell is willing to go out to sea with you?

Just rely on these so-called meritorious officials? Or those gentry and merchants?
Relying on themselves to row boats and conquer the world?

At that time, there will be no need for us to explain or struggle ourselves. These people will take the initiative to give benefits to the people, so that the largest number of people can contribute to their overseas interests.

Transfer of contradictions.

That's it.

Just how it ends.

Yan Shaoting didn't know either.

All you can do is light a fire.

"Today, I have truly had the opportunity to see with my own eyes the talent of our guest."

"Looking at the whole court, I deeply believe that if you stay in the court for a long time, our Ming Dynasty will surely be as strong as the Han and Tang Dynasties, and restore the prosperity of the Central Plains!"

Zhang Xialing, with her feet soft and light, finally walked out of the house with full of excitement and came behind Yan Shaoting.

Yan Shaoting didn't look back, but just chuckled and asked: "Since Brother Zhang has made a decision, I think he should know what to do next."

Zhang Xialing nodded.

His face was still gleaming with excitement.

"I think the reason why you came to the south to visit six provinces is for this matter. Otherwise, I really can't think of any reason for you to come south in person."

After figuring these things out.

Zhang Xialing finally lost the nervousness he had when he first came here today, and his demeanor became calm: "This time, I am going south with the instructions of each family, and I have already made plans to enter Nanjing City with the guests. For this reason, several Shanxi businesses that still have some foundation have already sent people to Yingtian Prefecture."

This was the plan that the Jin Party had originally formulated.

If the deal with Yan Shaoting is reached, they may be able to use Yan Shaoting as the Prime Minister of the Six Provinces to extend the Jin Party's hand to Jiangnan. Even if it fails, Renyi is still there. Even if they cannot intervene, they should be able to set up some businesses in the south.

Yan Shaoting nodded and said, "In that case, I'll have to trouble Brother Zhang to stay with us in Matou Town for the next few days."

Zhang Xialing was stunned for a moment.

"Aren't you going to continue south now?"

Yan Shaoting finally turned around and looked at Zhang Xialing with a smile.

"Jiangnan."

“We need to break the deadlock.”

The place where the breakthrough was made was Matou Town, Huai'an Prefecture.

Zhang Xialing couldn't understand the reason behind this political conspiracy for a while.

But he still behaved himself and let the accompanying team enter the Matou Town Water Post.

As for Wang Qian, the son of Wang Chonggu, the Right Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate and Governor of Ningxia.

Yan Shaoting didn't want to see this annoying and ignorant young man again.

He specially gave Zhang Xialing a handwritten letter.

With this handwritten letter, Wang Qian could naturally go to Nanjing to visit a great scholar and study under him for a while.

And this is naturally the connections and resources brought by the three old masters Nie Bao, Wang Ji and Qian Dehong.

Zhang Xialing was also happy to leave behind Wang Qian, a young man who was still a little immature.

On another level, he also hoped to spend some time alone with Yan Shaoting. Although he had written a letter about what he had discussed with Yan Shaoting and had it sent back to Shanxi.

He also expected that every family in Shanxi would be happy to accept this matter.

But I am the first person to try it.

From now on, Yan Shaoting’s dealings with Shanxi will have to be conducted through himself and the Zhang family of Puzhou.

How many benefits can be generated from this?

Wang Qian could figure that out with his toes.

As for Wang Qian himself.

After receiving the letter to the famous scholar in Yingtian Prefecture, he was very happy.

Although I went to the south for sightseeing, if I could really study with the famous scholars in Jiangnan for a period of time, it would be of great benefit to my future imperial examinations.

Not to mention.

When I was in Shanxi, I often heard about the flourishing singing and dancing on the Qinhuai River in Nanjing!
As for the fact that Yan Shaoting wanted to stay at the water post in Matou Town.

On the contrary, the Grand Canal Governor Wang Ting and Huai'an Prefect Li Youzi expressed great pressure.

Although Wang Ting had the intention of surrendering.

But in the end, he still hoped to send this great god Yan Shaoting away.

Huai'an prefect Li Youzi was simply timid and cowardly.

Yan Shaoting only had to stay in Matou Town for one day, and in view of the assassination incident by the White Lotus rebels, he, the prefect of Huai'an, had to stay in Shuiyi for a day.

Otherwise, if something really happens again.

As the prefect of Huai'an, he would never refuse to die.

The two men had different thoughts, but that did not prevent them from sending express horses to Nanjing to convey the news that Yan Shaoting was going to stay in Matou Town, Huai'an Prefecture.

Except when they met Yan Shaoting, the two of them were like smiling Buddhas. Whenever they were out of Yan Shaoting's sight, they became uneasy.

Three days later.

Just when Wang Ting and Li Youzi were about to lose their appetite.

Yan Shaoting got up early, feeling refreshed.

When they arrived at the courtyard, apart from Zhu Qi and Liu Wan's men, there was only a team of soldiers from Huai'an Prefecture guarding outside the water post.

As for Wang Ting and Li Youzi who stayed in Shuiyi, they probably hadn't gotten up yet.

“This is the first fire that has been started.”

"Brother Qi, please keep an eye on the news from Nanjing."

Zhu Qi hummed and nodded.

As for Yan Shaoting calling him the Seventh Brother, he had objected, but it was of no use.

In the end I just let it go.

But the fact that he originally disliked the Yan Party has now long since disappeared and become a thing of the past.

Liu Wan brought a horse for Yan Shaoting from the newly built stable.

"Qingjiangpu is only about ten miles away from here. It will take at most half an hour to get there."

Yan Shaoting gave him a look and then jumped on his horse.

At this moment, Zhang Xialing just happened to rush out.

"Guest, I heard that you are going out for a walk today. If it's okay..."

Yan Shaoting sat on the horse and looked at Liu Wan with a smile: "I'll have to trouble General Liu to get a horse for our brother Zhang."

Liu Wan smiled without saying a word and waved towards the stable.

Some soldiers came over with horses.

Zhang Xialing climbed onto the horse's back with a smile.

Seeing that Zhu Qi and Liu Wan had gathered their men, Yan Shaoting nodded with satisfaction.

"set off!"

Since I have to stay in Matou Town Water Post, I will just sit and watch this first fire that I have started.

Of course, you can't let yourself be free.

Qingjiangpu.

It just happened to be a very suitable place.

In the entire inland waterways of the Ming Dynasty, except for the Longjiang Shipyard in Nanjing and the shipyards in Hangzhou, Quanzhou and Guangzhou, the shipyards in Anqing, Suzhou, Beixinguan, Jiujiang, Zhangshu Town, Raozhou and other places are not as good as the Qingjiangpu Shipyard which is about ten miles away.

Here.

It is one of the few shipyards in the Ming Dynasty, and it is the best shipyard in terms of both scale and capability!
…………

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(End of this chapter)