When he came to the lobby, Li Siming had already calmed down. He was the chief official of the Guangdong and Guangxi Provincial Government, the third-rank right chief envoy, and was nominally in charge of the administration of Guangdong and Guangxi provinces together with the left chief envoy Feng Zircon. He was the Mu
An administrative official who is on the defensive has no reason to be afraid in front of a marquis.
Besides, this is your own territory.
However, he still entered the Yamen lobby enthusiastically. Before anyone arrived, the voice came first.
"Oh, is it true? Is it really the Marquis Zhang of Jianchang who is here? This is really surprising."
Zhang Yanling heard the sound, took off his feet from the public case, stood up and looked towards the side door. He saw a fat and tall official with a shiny face entering the lobby with a smile on his face.
"If I guess correctly, this one must be the Marquis of Jianchang, Zhang Hou. I have admired you for a long time, I have admired you for a long time. I have announced that Li Siming, the right envoy of the Political Department of Guangdong and Guangxi, is very polite to Zhang Hou." Li Siming laughed loudly and bowed his hands in salute.
.
Zhang Yanling returned the courtesy and said with a smile: "Master Li, you are polite. I am waiting for Zhang Yanling in Jianchang. If you come, please take my name card. Please take a look at it, Master Li."
"No, no, no need to look at the famous post. Looking at the magnanimity of the Marquis, how can it be wrong? The name of Marquis Zhang is as loud as thunder, and I have been famous for a long time. When I saw him today, he was indeed very heroic and majestic.
What's rare is that you are still so young. Your future is limitless." Li Siming laughed loudly.
Zhang Yanling smiled and said: "Oh? I didn't expect that I am so famous? Even Mr. Li knows me?"
Li Siming said solemnly: "What's the point? Who in the world doesn't know the name of Marquis Jianchang? I'm not talking about the fact that Marquis Jianchang is a relative of the state, but because Zhang Houye escorted the Dushi City and fought a bloody battle with the Tatars. And not long ago.
He used to quell the rebellion in Ningxia, his tactics were thunderous, his actions were resolute, his strategy was superb, and his courage was superhuman. Who is not famous in the world?"
Zhang Yanling laughed loudly and said: "Sir Li is indeed a leader of Lingnan scholars. He is so good at praising others. I use these words and my face feels hot."
"Hahaha, what I said is the truth, and I am not exaggerating. I don't praise people easily, but after hearing about your story, Mr. Zhang, I can't help but admire you. In our Ming Dynasty, there are people like Mr. Zhang, who will definitely be the mainstay of the imperial court in the future.
, the pillar of the country." Li Siming smiled.
Zhang Yanling hurriedly waved her hands and said: "Don't praise me. If you praise me again, I will find a crack in the ground and crawl under it."
When Li Siming heard this, he stroked his beard and laughed.
"Sit down, please take a seat. Serve tea, serve tea quickly." Li Siming greeted Zhang Yanling to take a seat.
The master quickly ordered people to serve tea, and the two sat down on both sides of the public case. Li Siming smiled and said: "Master Zhang is from the capital?"
Zhang Yanling said: "Exactly."
Li Siming smiled and said: "Is it because I have business? Why didn't you notify me in advance so that I could go out of the city to meet you?"
Zhang Yanling smiled and said: "It is indeed business, and I didn't want to trouble Mr. Li. In fact, I have been in Guangzhou for three days. No, I will return to the capital in two days. If I don't come to visit the local adults, I will
Some of it is unreasonable.”
Li Siming was startled and said in a deep voice: "What? Mr. Zhang has been here for three days? This... is really unexpected. But I wonder what business Mr. Zhang has here? Has it been done?"
Zhang Yanling smiled and said: "Actually, it's not a big deal. It's like this. The emperor is planning to impose a maritime ban, so he ordered me to come and take a look. Guangzhou is the largest port in the Ming Dynasty, so the emperor ordered me to come and take a look.
The conditions for launching a maritime ban are met.”
Li Siming's eyes widened, and even his pupils showed surprise. But he quickly recovered his emotions.
"The emperor really wants to open a sea ban? That would be a great thing. Opening the sea ban and opening up sea trade with all countries will be beneficial to our Ming Dynasty. But why didn't I hear a little bit of news?"
Zhang Yanling said: "The emperor just has such an idea, but he has not made a decision. After all, the sea ban is the policy of our late Ming emperor, and the emperor is also hesitant. This time he just ordered me to take a look. The emperor will consult the courtiers for their opinions later.
Do you think this is a good thing, Mr. Li? Then I can convey Mr. Li’s opinions to the emperor."
Li Siming was stunned and said hurriedly: "I do think it is a good thing, but as the Marquis said, the maritime ban is a national policy of the Ming Dynasty, and we have to weigh it up before making a decision. Moreover, considering the situation in Guangzhou Prefecture,
Look, you still need to be more cautious."
Zhang Yanling said: "How do you say this?"
Li Siming smacked his lips and said: "The main issue is the safety of sea vessels. Japanese pirates are rampant and overseas waterways are blocked. If this matter is not resolved, the maritime ban will be in vain."
Zhang Yanling nodded and said: "That's true. However, I have been here for three days and I heard that the merchant ships of the Franji Kingdom sailed unimpeded. How did they deal with the Japanese pirates' sea lanes? I also heard that the ships of the Franji Kingdom occupied the
Tuen Mun Island, I wonder if there is such a thing?"
Li Siming's heart trembled, and he became extremely wary. Mentioning the fact that Folangji Kingdom was standing on Tuen Mun Island was something he had to face with caution. I don't know how much Zhang Yanling learned when he came here.
He chuckled and said, "It seems that the Marquis has inquired a lot about the past few days and learned a lot about things."
Zhang Yanling knew that Li Siming was testing him, so he smiled and said: "I have no choice. I am entrusted by the emperor to come here, so I don't dare to be lazy. If the emperor asks about things here after returning, he can't just ask all the questions."
Li Siming smiled and said: "Actually, the emperor has issued an edict, and I and other local officials have come to explain in detail. Didn't Mr. Zhang from the province travel all the way here? Since Mr. Hou is here, he actually came to the Yamen to inquire, and then
If you know the situation, why bother to inquire quietly in the city?"
Zhang Yanling said: "Didn't I say it? The emperor just had the idea of establishing a sea ban and chatted with me for a few words. He didn't want to cause trouble in the city. At that time, a group of people came to Zhezi and said that Taizu was responsible for the sea ban.
The national policy set by Emperor Gao cannot be changed. The emperor is most afraid of making trouble. Therefore, he asked me to come quietly to inquire about the situation. I happened to be bored in the capital, and I just wanted to go out and enjoy the mountains and rivers. "
Li Siming raised his eyebrows and said with a smile: "Hahaha, that's it. It turns out that the Marquis paid a private visit in disguise."
Zhang Yanling waved her hand and said: "What about private visits incognito? In fact, I haven't asked anyone about it in the past few days. I am personally opposed to the establishment of a sea ban. Why bother to impose a sea ban? Isn't it good to be safe and secure? I wanted to come when I arrived in Guangzhou.
The yamen asked the local officials to identify themselves. But then I thought, the emperor asked me to come here in a low-key manner, but I made a big show of it. Isn't it against the emperor's wishes? So I kept silent."
Li Siming smiled and said, "Then why did the Marquis come to my Chief Secretary's Yamen again?"
Zhang Yanling said: "It's not that I haven't found out some specific situations. I'm afraid that the emperor will ask me when I go back and say that I don't do my job wholeheartedly. So I thought of asking Mr. Li and other local adults to understand some specific situations.
, it’s just easier to do business when we go back.”
Li Siming laughed and nodded: "That's it. I understand."
Li Siming let down his guard a little. For a pampered noble like Zhang Yanling, he would definitely not want to come all the way to Guangzhou to do such an errand. People like Zhang Yanling should not come here for this kind of errand.
Presumably Zhang Yanling himself refused, but the emperor asked him to come, and he couldn't refuse. If he wanted to travel around the country and go out of the capital, if he asked for it, it would be nonsense. If he really wanted to travel, he would have to travel thousands of miles. Are you coming to Guangzhou on the way?
When Zhang Yanling came to Guangzhou, he probably just made some random inquiries and had fun for a few days. When it was time to go back, he came to the local government office to inquire about some information before returning to work.
However, Li Siming was still a little worried. He continued to probe and asked: "How did the Marquis know that the Folangji Kingdom was stationed on Tuen Mun Island? Did the Marquis go to sea near Tuen Mun Island?"
Zhang Yanling shook his head and said: "I didn't go. Why did I run into the sea? It's just that my men saw people from the Fo Langji country in Guangzhou, so they asked the people in the city. The people didn't know very well, but they knew it at least. A little bit, it was said that there was a merchant ship from the Fo Lang Ji country occupying Tuen Mun. So I felt puzzled. The Japanese pirates were so powerful. How did the Fo Lang Ji people cross the ocean? So I wanted to ask clearly. Go back. If the emperor asked me how to deal with Japanese pirates, I might be able to say a few words."
Li Siming nodded and said: "I see. The sea is very rough, so the Marquis does not need to go there in person. In fact, I have already reported the matter to the court about the ship docking at Tuen Mun, explaining the reasons and seeking the emperor's opinion. The merchant ships of the Folangji Kingdom actually sailed all the way from overseas, and their destinations were Ryukyu and Japan. They only stopped at the border of our Guangzhou Prefecture to rest and replenish supplies and food. We, the Ming Dynasty, are a country of etiquette and have always been treated with the courtesy of a country. People from other countries, so they proposed to stop at Tuen Mun for rest, and I think there is no need to turn them away. What do you think, Lord Marquis?"
Zhang Yanling nodded and said: "It turns out that we are just stopping for supplies and rest, so there is no need to be so petty. My Ming Dynasty has always been benevolent and virtuous in the world. The reason why the small countries in the outside world admire my Ming Dynasty is because we treat them magnanimously. Their request for stopping for rest and rest , it’s really no big deal.”
Li Siming pointed his finger and praised: "What Mr. Hou said can only be said by a generous and broad-minded person. Of course, there are people who object to this matter. They are talking nonsense about Folangji country occupying my Tuen Mun. Folangji country Thousands of miles away overseas, how can a few broken ships occupy the territory of the Ming Dynasty? Isn't this a joke? If the court feels that this matter is unacceptable, I will order my Nanhai Guards to drive them away. Then It's just a matter of a snap. But that's too petty. Didn't the emperor also decree that we expel the ships of the Folangji Kingdom? Didn't he also say that they were prohibited from docking? This shows the great kindness of the Ming Emperor. It was spread overseas through the mouths of the merchants of the Folangji Kingdom, and it was a good thing to promote the prosperity and prosperity of our country, the Great Tomorrow, and to bring back the hearts of small countries outside the country. Why not do it?"
Zhang Yanling nodded and said: "Master Li is absolutely right. In my opinion, Tuen Mun Island should just be left to the merchants of Folangji Country. A small overseas desert island, a place as big as a palm, what's so big about it? It's basically There’s no need to care.”
Li Siming was stunned and said with a smile: "That's not necessary. After all, it is my Ming Dynasty's land, how can I give it to others? I just let them stop for rest."
Zhang Yanling said hurriedly: "Yes, yes, that's what I said. Mr. Li still understands the truth. I am talking nonsense."
Li Siming chuckled and felt even more relaxed. It turned out that this was what Mr. Zhang was thinking. He was also worried that if he knew about Tuenmen being occupied by Folangji Kingdom, he would be suspicious and investigate. But he thought that
It's nothing to give away a small island. It can be seen from this that Zhang Yanling is a confused and dandy. This kind of person doesn't even know the importance of things, and maybe it's not worth worrying about at all.