I'm sure of the prosperous age of Kangxi and Qianlong!

Chapter 363 Merchant Pursuit of Profit
Maritime merchants from Shanghai, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong...the entire southeastern coast were mobilized by local officials and the Municipal Shipping Department.

Historically, although Shanghai was officially opened as a port after Yi Ya, at this time it was actually a small port, with many Chinese maritime merchants traveling here to trade with Japan.

The food Zhu Yijiong had on hand was needed not only to prevent disasters, but also to support the war of suppression in southern Hunan and western Guangxi, as well as to support the settlement of northern immigrants and the military defense lines in border towns.

It is definitely not enough to fight a large-scale naval battle, so we can only find a way from the maritime merchants.

The plan given by the cabinet is to contract out Luzon's commerce and ports in batches for a few years after conquering Luzon, so that those maritime merchants can donate their salaries.

When Zhu Yijiong saw the cabinet plan, he couldn't help but ask: "Why not directly issue national bonds?"

Wang Li was a little confused: "What is national debt?"

Zhu Yijiong said: "National debt is...the imperial court borrows money from ordinary people and merchants to do things, and when the time limit is up, the money will be returned to the people with interest. This is much more cost-effective than banks."

Before Wang Li could speak, the remaining three cabinet ministers were all shocked.He quickly spoke to dissuade: "Your Majesty, no, such national debt must not be issued indiscriminately. As your Majesty said, this national debt relies on the credit of the court. If this national debt is issued after just one war, the world will think that the court has no money or silver. If anyone knows, then the world will be in chaos and the good situation will be ruined!"

This is quite polite!

In ancient times, the credibility of the court was almost as worthless as freshly wiped toilet paper.

If the court really wants to borrow money from the people, the people will definitely be in chaos if they don't mention whether they can borrow the money.

Not only will the people be in chaos, but the local officials will also be in chaos.

It’s the court’s turn to borrow money to live, so what’s the point?

As the first assistant, Wang Li also considered more: "If your Majesty sets this precedent, there is no guarantee that future generations will be unworthy!"

It is very clear that if Zhu Yijiong, the founding emperor of the country, issued national bonds to fight the war, then future generations would follow suit.

It would be fine if they were just doing business, like Wanli... haha.

Zhu Yijiong did not insist: "I was just talking casually. In that case, let's do what you have decided!"

Not all systems are suitable for the present, and those systems of later generations were gradually formed after continuous reform and adaptation.

The cabinet plan was drawn up and then quickly sent out through the inns along the way.

Maritime merchants from all walks of life along the southeast coast heard that the imperial court was going to send troops to attack Luzon. The reason for sending troops was that the Spaniards in Luzon massacred the Han people.

No matter what the reason was, those maritime merchants did not even hesitate and enthusiastically donated funds.

Because the Spaniards in the Philippines are crazy, all Chinese who go to the Philippines to make a living or do business will be subject to heavy taxes.

These Spaniards were even more insane than the Dutch in Batavia. They first forced Han Chinese from all walks of life in Manila to work as maritime merchants, and then... massacred, robbed, and directly slaughtered Manila into a dead city.

Then, a group of crazy Spaniards just took the bloody gold and silver and stared at each other in Manila.

However, even after six massacres, a large number of Chinese maritime traders still went to the Philippines.

Because businessmen pursue profits!

Moreover, the Manchu and Qing Dynasty's maritime ban policy made it increasingly difficult for maritime traders on the southeast coast.

Now, the emperor wants to stand up for them, as long as the court doesn't ask for too much.It's just a joint donation of stipends, so they can still grit their teeth and support it.

As long as Luzon can be conquered, not only will they not have to pay heavy taxes to the Spaniards in the future, they will also have a complete monopoly on the trade routes and waterways there.

Such a good deal makes these maritime merchants smile from their dreams.

……

Zhu Yijiong agreed with the Dutch to send troops after the end of March.

Manila is located in the west of Luzon Island, on the east coast of Manila Bay and at the mouth of the Passi River.The entire urban area has a tropical monsoon climate, with only two seasons a year. From the beginning of spring to July this year, it is basically hot and humid, and in the remaining months, it rains every day.

To be honest, this place is really not for people.For most people, coming here is basically the same as going to Vietnam. In all likelihood, they will get acclimatized and get sick.

The Ming Dynasty also made preparations for this. The army responsible for recruiting Luzon was all Taiwan soldiers, and the Penghu Navy and Nan'ao Navy were all dispatched directly.

Before Ilse returned home, Hendrik Zwaldekron, the Dutch Governor (East India Company), was already impatient and began to recall and assemble the navy and army from various places.

And let the naval fleet attack all Spanish merchant ships in sight.

There was no way, the Spanish were forced to carry out massacres to relieve financial pressure.

The Dutch are also overwhelmed. As the European cane sugar market gradually becomes saturated, Java's sugar cane farms face fierce competition from cheaper Brazilian cane sugar.

A large number of farmers went bankrupt, and many desperate unemployed people became potential sources of instability.

The measure of the Batavia Dutch was to forcibly transfer all these unemployed people to Ceylon (Sri Lanka).

Historically, in three years the Dutch would take coercive measures and expel all Chinese in Batavia.

Well, they were a little better than the crazy Spaniards. They didn't massacre them when they came up (although they were still massacred later). Maybe it was Guo Xingye who frightened these maritime "overlords" back then.

"History of Kaiba" records: "In 1740, thieves were everywhere, and most of the criminals captured by the police were Tang people wearing black clothes and black trousers. After discussion, the authorities issued an order to arrest anyone seen wearing black clothes and black trousers. "

Now, China's opening of the sea has caused a large number of Chinese maritime merchants to start passively running on Batavia's financial market, coupled with the problems faced by the Dutch in the cane sugar market.

It can be said that the trouble Zhu Yijiong brought to these Dutch people made the Dutch people in Batavia even worse, so they thought of taking risks.

However, Zhu Yijiong's luck was pretty good. The current Dutch Governor Zwaldekron was a decisive man.

If he is not decisive, the Dutch governor will probably die in who knows what month this year.

This is the norm. Every governor who comes to Batavia basically dies early, probably because he is not accustomed to the climate.

Not only did the governor die early, but so did the local Dutch council members.

Almost every few years, several wealthy widows were born in Batavia.

These wealthy widows were basically indigenous women married there by the Dutch who came to Batavia, and some were Han women, even of mixed race.

Colonization is not just suppression. Even if the Dutch are so outrageous, they also know that they need to have a good relationship with the upper-class indigenous nobles of the colony.

There is no such thing as using barbarians to fight barbarians in Europe, but it has already begun to use this method.

Batavia.

The recalled naval commander De Wit was somewhat dissatisfied and said to Governor Zwaldekron: "Your Excellency Governor, we should expel all those greedy Chinese and take back our wealth instead of going to war with the evil Spaniards. "

Governor Zwaldekron said: "China is powerful and invincible. Now is the time when the Spaniards are at their weakest. Joining forces with China at this moment can completely expel the Spaniards from the Far East and monopolize the Far East waterways."

The Dutch and the Spanish have always been mortal enemies, not only religious enemies, but also because the Spanish once exploited the Dutch too hard.

Like the Dutch, who fought on all sides, the Spanish also made enemies everywhere when they were strong. This was almost the main theme of the European Age of Discovery.

Moreover, the Dutch governor was not simply venting his anger.The Netherlands suffered heavy losses in the previous War for the Spanish Throne.

Not only did it owe a huge foreign debt, but it also ruined the local naval power.Moreover, this unprofitable war also caused a domestic financial crisis in the Netherlands, and the patriotic sentiment of the Dutch people was greatly reduced.

What Governor Zwaldkron wants now is to win a great victory in the Far East, monopolize the Far East waterway, relieve financial pressure, and at the same time revitalize the Netherlands.

By the way, the West India Company, which was already unable to make ends meet, could breathe again.

(End of this chapter)