At the end of February of the 23rd year of Chongzhen, the Tokugawa shogunate delivered the first phase of 500,000 taels of gold, 5 million taels of silver, and 20 million jins of copper to Osaka on time.
At the same time, the number of Japanese applicants reached 300,000.
To be honest, this number was somewhat beyond Chongzhen's expectations.
He originally thought that it would be good if 100,000 Japanese people applied.
But he didn't expect that 300,000 Japanese people would come to apply.
But when he thought about it more carefully, Chongzhen understood the reason.
Because the strength and prosperity of the Tang Dynasty left an indelible impression in the minds of the Japanese people. Although the Ming Dynasty was slightly inferior to the Tang Dynasty, it was still a prosperous and prosperous country in the minds of the Japanese people.
To put it more bluntly, it is probably the same reason that Latinos in another time and space yearned for Amu Xinke. Amu Xinke is a paradise in the hearts of Latinos, and Ming Dynasty is also a paradise in the hearts of Japanese people.
Therefore, the Japanese did not have much resistance to going to heaven to seek life.
That is to say, the current communication system is backward. If the communication system was slightly more advanced, Chongzhen seriously doubted that at least three million Japanese would have poured into Osaka in the past few months.
As the number of people increased, so did the number of ships.
"Zheng Qing, are the number of merchant ships sufficient?"
"Don't worry, Your Majesty, the number of merchant ships is sufficient."
As early as the end of the first month, Zheng Zhilong transferred more than 2,000 merchant ships from Jiangnan.
More than 2,000 merchant ships transported 300,000 Japanese without any pressure, except that the roads were a little more crowded.
"This saves trouble and saves me another trip to Incheon Port." Jiang Tianyi next to him said with a smile. He was originally worried that the number of Japanese applicants would be small and he would not be able to collect 300,000, so he planned to make another trip to Incheon.
"We are going to Incheon too," Chongzhen said, "but we need to transport these 300,000 Japanese back to Jiangnan first."
The North Koreans were not very obedient. After Li Jian succeeded to the throne, he immediately stopped the plan to send workers to the Ming Dynasty. The Ming Dynasty sent several groups of envoys to urge him, but Li Jian still refused to let go.
It seems that Zhu Cijiong's departure has given Li? room for fantasy.
Therefore, it is necessary for the Ming Dynasty Navy to go to Incheon Port to show its military power.
After a pause, Chongzhen said to Zheng Wangcai, the manager of the Osaka Company: "Shopkeeper Zheng, from now on, one of the main businesses of the Osaka Company is to continuously transport Japanese slaves to the south of the Yangtze River, and then trade. Remember this carefully."
"Yes, the common people have accepted the decree." Zheng Wangcai nodded repeatedly, "The common people must obey it unswervingly."
"Shopkeeper Zheng, you will change your title to a minister in the future, and you have already donated Yuanwailang of the Department of Household Affairs." Gao Qiqian on the other side reminded Zheng Wangcai with a smile.
This is already a basic operation.
All merchants and factory owners who cooperate with the Ministry of Internal Affairs can spend money to donate Yuanwailang to the Sixth Ministry.
Of course, this Yuanwailang only has an official status and is not a registered civil official of the Six Ministries, so he does not have the right to participate in the Great Court Meeting or the Wenhua Palace Meeting.
"Thank you Eunuch Gao for your teaching."
After thanking Gao Qiqian, Zheng Wangcai asked again: "Your Majesty, I still have something unclear. After the army leaves, will some troops be left permanently stationed in Osaka?"
"Of course." Chongzhen replied without thinking.
"Osaka is already the territory of the Ming Dynasty, so it is natural that troops should be stationed to protect it."
After a pause, Chongzhen said again: "I will leave a mixed brigade permanently stationed in Osaka to protect the merchants and people."
Hearing this, Zheng Wangcai felt relieved. With a brigade of Ming troops stationed there, Osaka would be safe, and he could safely be the boss of Osaka Company.
…
At the end of March, a training ship from the Naval Academy was training on the river.
The original Naval Academy has been officially renamed the Ming Naval Academy.
Li Yucheng, Zheng En, Yao Qisheng, Yu Chenglong and other classmates are learning distance observation on the deck of the training ship. The four students in the same group have their own division of labor. Li Yucheng is responsible for holding the telescope for observation.
Yao Qisheng and Yu Longcheng are responsible for the most complicated calculation part.
Zheng En was left in the end and was responsible for drawing the calculation results into a nautical chart.
By the way, Zheng En is also the third son of Zheng Zhilong, the Duke of Fujian.
Although Zheng En was the third son of the Duke of Fujian, he did not have much arrogance and got along very well with his classmates at the Naval Academy. He even treated Li Yucheng, a Korean, equally.
Li Yucheng was observing the river with a telescope when a black shadow suddenly broke into his field of vision.
Because the black shadow appeared so suddenly and was so huge, Li Yucheng screamed in surprise.
"Zhongming, what do you call a thief who is a thief?" Zheng En said angrily, "Could it be that he saw the goddess descending to earth? Or saw the seven fairies stripping off their clothes and bathing in the Yangtze River?"
"No, it's Zhou Yu!" Li Yucheng shouted excitedly.
"The Zhou Yu is back, the Zhou Yu is back from Japan, the Zhou Yu is back!"
Li Yucheng was so excited that his voice trembled. His excitement was not fake. In fact, the reason he chose the Naval Academy was because of the Zhou Yu.
On the day when the navy took the oath of war, the Zhou Yu left a very deep impression on Li Yucheng.
It was also from that day that Li Yucheng vowed to become a naval officer of the Ming Dynasty!
"Really? Have your Majesty and my father returned from Japan?" Zheng En was also overjoyed when he heard this, and immediately climbed to the observation deck on the bridge as quickly as possible.
Now you can see clearly.
The Zhou Yu is really back.
The huge dark hull is clearly visible on the Yangtze River.
Behind the Zhou Yu were thousands of warships and merchant ships, which not only covered the river, but even stretched for dozens of miles on the Yangtze River, making it a spectacular sight.
At this time, the Zhou Yu also spotted the training ship on the river and immediately blew its whistle in greeting.
Hearing the loud air whistle, more students from the Naval Academy poured out of the cabin, ran to the deck, and even climbed to the bow of the ship from the top of the official hall to wave.
…
Kang Wanwan had already received the news that the Chongzhen Society would return at the end of the month.
Fang Wenzhen and others still felt that a victory ceremony should be held.
"Kang Gong, Your Majesty has returned triumphantly from the Eastern Campaign against Japan, wouldn't it be better not to hold a welcome ceremony?" Zhan Yangzhi said, "After all, this is a triumphant return, and it is different from others."
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! "Don't you still know the temper of the Holy Emperor?" Kang Wanwan said helplessly, "What he hates most is formal official articles, so The organization of the welcoming ceremony not only failed to do good things, but also led to complaints."
"But, Mr. Kang, didn't he hold a grand swearing-in ceremony last time when His Majesty went on an expedition?"
The speaker this time was Wang Tao. In the chamber of commerce reelection at the beginning of this year, Wang Tao and Sun Tinglan were both elected as one of the representatives of the Yingtianfu Chamber of Commerce, officially joining the ranks of wealthy businessmen.
The current threshold for running for Yingtianfu Chamber of Commerce representative is a net worth of five million.
After five years of hard work, Wang and Sun's net worth has exceeded 5 million.
"That one is different." Kang Baiwan said, "That's to strengthen the military's power."
Sun Tinglan said: "Organizing a victory ceremony and offering prisoners to the palace can also strengthen the military's power."
Kang Baiwan was still not sure in his heart. In line with the principle of doing too much, he would be wrong, and not doing well, he would rather be more conservative even though he was not sure.
Immediately he said: "Forget it, I'll just wait for the Lord's summons."
Chongzhen's edict soon arrived at Chaoku Street, asking Kang Wanwan and representatives from the Yingtian Chamber of Commerce to rush to Dinghuaimen to meet him. A group of merchants quickly set off for Dinghuaimen.
…
About half an hour later, the Zhou Yu slowly moored at the pier.
When the departure was imminent, Gao Qiqian knelt down and said goodbye to Chongzhen: "Long live my lord, I bid farewell to you."
"Why are you crying, old man?" Chongzhen felt a little reluctant to give up. After all, they had been getting along day and night for more than five years, and Gao Qiqian was indeed impeccable with him.
However, the elimination of eunuchs is imperative. There will be no need for such things as eunuchs in the Ming Dynasty in the future.
"Get up quickly." Chongzhen gave him a slight kick, then smiled and cursed, "Nanjing is the capital of Liuzhou. I will definitely come here often. There are many days when you and I will meet each other."
"When will Long Live Master come to Nanjing? I must let this slave know."
"I understand, next time I come to Nanjing, I will inform you first, okay? It's like life and death, really."
Gao Qiqian stood up and wiped the tears from his cheeks, then turned around and staggered down the gangway. Only then did Chongzhen realize that not only was Gao Qiqian's steps not as strong as before, but his body had also become stooped.
After Wang Chengen was sent away to be raised, Gao Qiqian was also left in Nanjing to be raised by Chongzhen.
However, Chongzhen did not dwell in the sad mood for too long, because Kang Wanwan and the others arrived.
Chongzhen didn't even have the Zhou Yu, so he directly summoned Kang Wanwan and other chamber of commerce representatives on the deck of the Zhou Yu.
"This trip to the Japanese country can be said to be a fruitful return." Chongzhen said with pride, "There are 300,000 Japanese people, including 280,000 Japanese men and women in their prime. I believe that with these 280,000 Japanese slaves working
, at least within half a year, there will be no more labor shortages in eight prefectures and one state in the south of the Yangtze River."
"There are actually 280,000 slave workers?" Kang Wanwan and others looked excited when they heard this.
After a pause, Chongzhen asked Kang Wanwan again: "Kang Gong, have the 90,000 craftsmen who originally belonged to the Hanyang Iron Smelting Workshop been released?"
"Your Majesty, we have been released." Kang Baiwan stood up in a hurry and echoed, "Before the end of last year, the 90,000 craftsmen of Hanyang Iron Smelting Workshop had been released."
"Just put it back." Chongzhen nodded happily.
Then he said: "We can negotiate the price now."
Kang Wanwan said: "Your Majesty, what I mean is that your Majesty can just set the price directly."
"How can that be done?" Chongzhen waved his hand and said, "This is market behavior. Naturally, it must be set by the market. Before the labor shortage breaks out, how much does it cost to buy out a strong labor force in eight prefectures and one state in the south of the Yangtze River?"
Kang Wanwan replied: "If the market price before the labor shortage broke out, the price of boys and girls was between one and two yuan. Some of the smart ones or those with good looks were sold for more than five yuan."
"The price of a young slave is around ten yuan."
"The price of a maidservant is not fixed. The price can be as low as five yuan, or as high as hundreds or even thousands of yuan. Last year, a Korean maid was sold for a high price of one thousand yuan."
"What, a thousand? Who bought this Korean maid?"
Kang Wanwan said with some embarrassment: "It's Eunuch Wang."
Chongzhen suddenly looked constipated, Wang Chengen?
