The most reckless man in the Ming Dynasty

Jeju trade!

I only recognize you!

Tang Hao's words undoubtedly gave Cui Tan great confidence!

You must know that this is the trade between Ming Dynasty and North Korea. How amazing will the profit be?

Because of the emergence of a foolish king, Lord Yanshan, and the constant fighting in the court, the political situation in North Korea was corrupt and the national power was declining day by day!

If we can seize this opportunity to start Jeju trade with the Ming Dynasty, we might be able to use these trade profits to reverse the dynasty's decadent status quo!

And Cui Tan himself is destined to become the old leader and re-enter the center of the court!

At this thought, Cui Tan stopped pretending.

He looked at Tang Hao with red eyes, and asked with a slight vigilance: "Tang Hou helped me rise to the top, so what did Tang Houjiang get from me?"

"Hahaha..." Tang Hao suddenly laughed when he heard this.

"You are a bad old man in his sixties or seventies. You may be gone one day. What else can I have against you?"

Cui Tan: "..."

Well, he shouldn't have asked more.

This thief Zhongshan Hou is famous for his bad mouth!

"I just want to lend your hand to promote trade between the two countries."

Tang Hao replied lightly: "The Japanese country has been conquered by our Ming Dynasty. Now it is a slave country of our Ming Dynasty. There will be no Japanese pirates again in the future!"

"The last hidden danger in the East China Sea trade has also been resolved, and the three countries will be dominated by the Ming Dynasty, North Korea and Ryukyu. This is a good thing for mutual benefit. Naturally, the three countries can benefit earlier if it is carried out earlier."

"After you, Cui Tan, take this opportunity to become a powerful official in North Korea, you should do your best to safeguard this East China Sea trade, nothing more!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Tang Hao turned around and walked away, leaving Cui Tan, who was horrified and inexplicably frightened, secretly.

Was the Japanese country destroyed by the Ming Dynasty?

Oh my God!

That's the Japanese country!

What the Yuan Dynasty had not accomplished back then was accomplished by the Marquis of Zhongshan?

Since the Ming Dynasty Navy has the ability to massacre and conquer the Japanese country, doesn't it mean that... if North Korea does not agree to trade in the East China Sea, then the Ming Dynasty Navy also has the ability to send troops to massacre North Korea?

When he thought of this, Cui Tan couldn't sit still.

Today's Ming Dynasty is no longer the declining Ming Dynasty!

Under the planning of Zhongshan Hou, the Ming Dynasty Navy has become a being that all countries in the East China Sea need to respect and look up to!

Therefore, this East China Sea trade must be facilitated!

Even if it is not for yourself, you must do it for North Korea, otherwise North Korea will be the next Japanese country!

Cui Tan is not stupid, so he naturally understands the verbal threats from Marquis Zhongshan!

So he rushed back to North Korea overnight, ready to give it a try!

When Tang Hao learned the news, he was not surprised.

Cui Tan is a smart man. The reason why he chose to hide in Jeju Island before was precisely because he had no support behind him, so he did not dare to get involved in the struggle between the two major powers in North Korea.

Tang Hao gave him the confidence and confidence, which came from the terrifying profits of this East China Sea trade.

Li Yi, an ordinary emperor, of course also loves money, and no one will have trouble with money.

As long as Cui Tan goes back to persuade, coupled with the incident of "taking the zodiac sign as the king", Li Yi's bloodbath of the Shilin sect will probably be carried out immediately, and then under the leadership of the old forces, the East China Sea trade with the Ming Dynasty will be officially launched!

Of course, if Li Yi insists on being reserved and pretending to be aloof like the King of North Korea, then Tang Hao doesn't mind leading the Ming Dynasty Navy northward to visit North Korea. As for how many people will die and where they will be hit in the end, That's not something Tang Hao can decide.

After settling the North Korean affairs, Tang Hao called Wang Dabao again and gave him solemn instructions and warnings.

Under Tang Hao's previous reminder, Wang Dabao and other garrison troops had built a customs between North Korea and Jeju Island.

The huge profits from sea trade will definitely stimulate a lot of smuggling. Whether it is North Korea or the Ming Dynasty, those people can do anything. This requires the Ming Navy to be more powerful and be able to search for anything on the sea at any time. Any vessel that fails to pay its duty must pay a fine of three times or five times the duty.

The tariffs collected by the customs belong to the imperial court, or to be precise, the emperor's wealth. According to the Ming Dynasty system, this is actually a commercial tax. The gentry and Jin gentry have not yet realized the importance of commercial tax, which gave Tang Hao and Zhu Houzhao an opportunity. Opportunities to replenish internal funds.

"Master Hou, how does the Jeju Customs operate?"

"If the customs wants to collect taxes, then it must leave a navy to specifically attack those who do not want to pay taxes and deliberately smuggle!"

"Otherwise, everyone will go around the customs to evade the customs duties, and the customs duties will definitely not be collected. But our guardsmen are not strong in combat..."

Wang Dabao is indeed a talent. When he received the order from the Marquis of Zhongshan to build a customs, he immediately learned about this aspect.

For example, the reforms carried out by the Marquis of Zhongshan at Linqing Customs are undoubtedly the best example to learn from.

However, one problem is that Linqing Customs is located in an important inland area, and it is controlled by the government. Merchants have to pay taxes even if they don't pay taxes.

But this Jeju Customs is different. If there is no powerful navy to suppress it, why should they pay taxes to you? Not to mention that Jeju Customs is facing two foreign countries, North Korea and Ryukyu, and it will be even more troublesome to deal with it. .

"What? Do you regret taking this good job?"

Tang Hao couldn't help but joked after hearing this, making Wang Dabao's face turn red.

"It's actually simple. Just pick a suitable place on Jeju Island and demarcate a port specifically for trade between the three countries."

"All fleets entering this port for trade, whether they are from Ming Dynasty, North Korea, or Ryukyu, all need to pay taxes. You must keep this in mind."

"In order to facilitate taxation, we do not care what the goods are on the ship. We levy taxes according to the size of the ship. How much tax is levied on each material is posted at the entrance of the port to make it clear to ship owners. The simpler and clearer it is, the less likely it is for smuggling. The more complex and cumbersome the fraud, the easier it is to hide evil. "

"This business tax may not seem like much, but it will last a long time, and it will eventually go into His Majesty the Emperor's internal funds, so you must pay enough attention to it. In other words, you are helping His Majesty the Emperor make money now!"

As soon as these words came out, Wang Dabao was shaken all over and his face turned red with excitement.

That is His Majesty the Emperor!

Aren’t we now successful and become His Majesty’s servants?

"But what you said makes sense."

"There still needs to be a naval force on Jeju Island."

"I will leave a general and a naval force. I estimate that His Majesty the Emperor will also send a guard eunuch, and then add you as the commander of the Jeju Guard. In the future, this three-party check and balance pattern will be formed. Your Jeju The guards are responsible for maintaining the normal operation of the port; the navy soldiers are responsible for patrolling around Jeju to combat smuggling forces; and the guarding eunuchs know everything!"

"After I return to Beijing, I will discuss it with His Majesty and draw up a charter as soon as possible."

In fact, in this way, Wang Dabao's power was divided.

In the past, he, the commander of the Jeju Guard, was the number one person on Jeju Island. According to this three-party check and balance pattern, he would be the number three person.

However, Wang Dabao had no idea about this. He was originally a child of an ordinary farmer. He had an official career and wealth today because of the support of the Marquis of Zhongshan. He could do whatever the Marquis told him to do, and he didn't have so many ambitions.

"Don't worry, you are from me!"

"Whether it is the navy or the guarding eunuch, whoever dares to commit corruption or bribery, or who dares to bully others with power, please send a message to me!"

Tang Hao smiled and patted Wang Dabao on the shoulder, who immediately became full of energy.

This Jeju Island was forcibly taken from North Korea by the Marquis, and he put in so much effort and hard work to establish the trade pattern of the three countries in the East China Sea!

As the commander of the Jeju Guards, I will never allow anyone to destroy the Marquis's hard work!

no way!

The next day, Tang Hao left Tang Mu and three thousand navy soldiers behind, and he continued to lead the fleet back to the Ming Dynasty.

There is no way, Tang Mu is the most respected and trusted person by Tang Hao among the generals, and he is also the most intelligent person.

He stayed to guard Jeju Island and would not return home smoothly until North Korea formally agreed to open trade in the East China Sea.

We have to be prepared for this. The Korean king Li Yi suddenly went crazy and refused to join the Ming Dynasty's East China Sea trade. Tang Mu would also respond immediately. Three thousand navy soldiers were enough to suppress the Korean waters.

As for the military merit rewards for Tang Mu and other soldiers, naturally they will not miss a penny. Tang Hao will naturally get all what they deserve, and then send soldiers to rotate, but they will return home a little later.

After seeing off the main fleet, Tang Mu smiled and patted Wang Dabao on the shoulder.

"The young man is very good. He is highly respected and trusted by the Marquis."

Wang Dabao laughed twice and saluted Tang Mu respectfully.

"Thanks to the general for the support."

"You don't need to thank me, we all work with the Marquis to make ends meet."

Tang Mu waved his hand with emotion and warned: "You will protect Jeju Island for the Marquis and the Ming Dynasty for the rest of your life, which is enough for you to be glorious and wealthy and leave a name in history!"

Wang Dabao nodded with deep understanding, and then stood beside Tang Mu, watching the main fleet gradually disappear on the sea level.

"General, will North Korea agree?"

"It's best if they agree!" Tang Mu sneered, "Otherwise, I'll have to take my brothers to North Korea!"

"Now the hegemony of the East China Sea is in the hands of the Ming Dynasty. I believe that the North Korean king Li Yi will not be so stupid!"

It is said that after Cui Tan returned to Wangjing, the capital of North Korea, he immediately went to secretly meet with Shen Zhen.

Speaking of which, the current old Xun forces are still somewhat similar to the structure of the Three Ministers, except that they are replaced by three powerful ministers: Shen Zhen, Nang Gun, and Hong Jingzhou.

Compared with Nan Gun and Hong Jingzhou, the reason why Cui Tan chose Shen Zhen was not because of how noble Shen Zhen's morals and outstanding virtues were. On the contrary, Shen Zhen was famous for being "extremely talented and greedy for fame". People who are greedy for power.

When Pu Yuanzong, Cheng Xiyan, Liu Sunting and others conspired to launch a coup to depose Yanshanjun, Shen Zhen joined them. She claimed to be "good at planning and dealing with changes" and was called a "think tank". Later, the coup was successful, Li Yi succeeded to the throne, and Shen Zhen also He was appointed as a third-class hero of the Jingguo period.

Subsequently, the three ministers repeatedly forced Li Yi to eradicate his dissidents and consolidate the power of the old people. Most of the conspiracies came from Shen Zhen. For example, Shen Zhen and Nangun reported the coup plot of Li Ke and others, which led to the purge and massacre of the Li clan. , and Shen Zhen herself was granted the title of Lord of Huachuan. Since then, she has successively served as the teacher of Hongwenguan, Youyin of Hancheng Prefecture, observer of Huanghaidao, Hu, Xing, Licao and judge, and Kaicheng Prefecture's left guard, etc., and has been rising all the way.

In other words, this Shen Zhen is an out-and-out opportunist who will do anything to advance his career.

It is precisely this kind of person who is the political ally Cui Tan needs most now.

After all, Cui Tan is not considered as an old noble power, and is not accepted by the Sillin faction, so the best way is to conspire with Shen Zhen and use Shen Zhen as a springboard to officially become the leader of the old nobles!

Shen Zhen still has some impression of Cui Tan, after all, he is the descendant of Cui Ying, a famous minister of Goryeo!

But the two sides had no contact before, and Cui Tan is now just a Jeju official, who has long been squeezed out of the court center and has no real power.

So Shen Zhen didn't care about this small character at all, and waved his hand to ask the housekeeper to send him away.

Now that his plan with Nan Gun has succeeded, King Li Yi is afraid and suspicious of Zhao Guangzu. The next step is to consider how to add fuel to the fire, then Zhao Guangzu and his Sillin faction will definitely die!

Shen Zhen was thinking with a frown, but he saw that the housekeeper had returned. He was immediately angry and said: "Isn't it like you drove that guy away?"

"Master, Cui Tan insisted that he had something important to report, which was enough to prompt the king to make up his mind!"

Hearing this, Shen Zhen was stunned at first, and then smiled playfully.

"Interesting!"

"Really interesting!"

"I want to see what good ideas he has!"

A moment later, Cui Tan successfully entered and met Shen Zhen in the study.

Shen Zhen held the scroll in his hand and glanced at Cui Tan with a little contempt.

"Let's talk straight!"

"What can you do to make the king make up his mind?"

Cui Tan didn't waste any words and answered directly: "Jeju trade?"

Hearing the word "Jeju", Shen Zhen's face suddenly darkened.

"Cui Tan, did you secretly surrender to Zhao Guangzu, so you use these insidious tricks in front of me?"

Almost subconsciously, Shen Zhen felt that there was something fishy in this!

Who doesn't know that the Jeju Horse Farm incident has now become an indelible stain on the old meritorious forces, and those scholars are still madly criticizing the three ministers for selling out their country for glory!

As a result, at this critical juncture, you Cui Tan mentioned the Jeju trade again. Isn't this deliberately giving the Shilin faction a reason to criticize the old meritorious forces?

Is this Cui Tan here to die?

Cui Tan did not change his face, but just changed the words.

"Or the East China Sea trade!"

East China Sea trade? !

Hearing these four words, Shen Zhen's eyes suddenly burst into a gleam.

"What exactly happened?"

"Tell me in detail!"

Cui Tan sorted out his thoughts and explained the cause and effect in a dignified manner.

"The Great Ming Zhongshan Marquis led the Great Ming Navy to attack Japan, and now has completely conquered Japan, and Japan has also become a slave country of the Great Ming Dynasty..."

This sudden shocking news directly changed Shen Zhen's face!

Japan has become a slave country of the Great Ming Dynasty, which is definitely not good news for North Korea!

If it is true, then Korea will be under the control of Ming and Japan, and will have to be more submissive to Ming in the future, and dare not make any offensive moves, then Jeju Racecourse will never be taken back!

And the key is that since Ming has the ability to annihilate Japan, can they also annihilate Korea?

This question is terrifying to think about!

"Ming conquered Japan and eliminated the threat of Japanese pirates."

"Then the Ming Zhongshan Marquis proposed to carry out the East China Sea Three Kingdoms Trade on Jeju Island, mainly Ming, Korea, and Ryukyu!"

Cui Tan told the truth, and Shen Zhen was overjoyed!

"Hahaha..."

"God really helps me!"

He has always been smart, how can he not see that this is a great opportunity?

Ryukyu's backward indigenous barbarians are fine, what good things can they have, just some local specialties, Korea still looks down on them!

But the Ming Dynasty was different. After all, it was the suzerain of the Celestial Empire. Their specialty silk, tea, porcelain, etc., were expensive luxury goods that the nobles in North Korea were eager to buy. How amazing was the profit?

Every time North Korea sent an envoy to the Ming Dynasty to pay tribute, it could make a fortune by reselling the gifts given by the Ming Dynasty after returning home. Not to mention that now it has directly opened up the East China Sea trade and can trade anytime and anywhere. How amazing would the profit be?

Unimaginable!

Crazy!

Not to mention Shen Zhen, even if Li Yi heard it, he would join in at all costs!

The key is that the Jeju horse farm incident is precisely the excuse for the Sillin faction to attack the old meritorious forces. Now Cui Tan took the initiative to send this good thing to Shen Zhen. With the help of this matter, Shen Zhen is absolutely confident that he will immediately force Li Yi to massacre Zhao Guangzu and other Sillin factions!

Almost without thinking much, Shen Zhen immediately got up and pulled Cui Tan.

"You have done a great deed!"

"Follow me to the palace to meet the king immediately!"

"Zhao Guangzu and others are about to die, hahaha..."

Cui Tan pretended to be terrified and wanted to refuse, but Shen Zhen forced Cui Tan to enter the palace because he knew the East China Sea trade best. Shen Zhen did not even inform Nan Gun because of personal selfishness, which gave Cui Tan a great opportunity to steal the old honor leader!

Li Yi was disturbed late at night, and his temper was naturally a little irritable.

But the person who came was Shen Zhen, one of the old honor officials, so he could only bear it.

However, Shen Zhen's next "East China Sea trade" made Li Yi overjoyed.

He was worried about the empty treasury and no money and food. Now the Ming Dynasty took the initiative to propose East China Sea trade. If North Korea successfully joined it, what would he worry about the empty treasury?

Must join the East China Sea trade!

Then Li Yi looked at Cui Tan and learned the details in detail.

Shen Zhen proposed at this moment that if North Korea wants to join the East China Sea trade, it must first eliminate Zhao Guangzu and other Sillin factions.

Li Yi naturally knew the details of this.

Originally, because of the "riding horse to be king", Li Yi was afraid and suspicious of Zhao Guangzu.

Now that Zhao Guangzu and other Sillin factions blocked his financial path, Li Yi naturally no longer hesitated.

"In this case, then Shen Qing will trouble you..."

"King!" Cui Tan suddenly said, "Zhongshan Hou once made it clear that he only recognized one minister in the East China Sea trade!"

As soon as these words came out, Shen Zhen's face changed drastically, and he looked at Cui Tan in shock and anger.

Li Yi was stunned at first, then looked at Cui Tan meaningfully, and nodded after thinking for a moment.

"Then I'll leave this matter to you!"

"All the members of the Shilin faction, including Counselor Yi Yu, Criminal Department Minister Jin Jing, Grand Censor Zhao Guangzu, Grand Minister Jin Xi, Deputy Supervisor Jin Hui, and Chief Secretary Liu Renshu, will be arrested and imprisoned!"

Cui Tan knelt down to receive the order, but his back was straight.

It's no wonder that he pretended to be a grandson in front of Shen Zhen!

Haha, this shrewd opportunist can also make mistakes!

As long as he arrested Zhao Guangzu and others and massacred the Shilin faction, he would naturally win the recognition of the old meritorious forces.

So far, after tonight, he Cui Tan will become the iron-blooded leader of the old meritorious forces!