Jiang Zheng sat down and faced Fang Zian's expectant eyes and said slowly: "Master Fang, does he know which of our Song Dynasty shipping companies is the largest?"

Fang Zian thought for a while and said, "Last night's boss Zhou's family owns dozens of ships. Isn't it the largest shipping company?"

Jiang Zheng chuckled and said: "It seems that your master's understanding is not detailed enough. The Zhou family is indeed a big shipyard, but it is not the largest. The Zhou family owns twenty-eight ships, which is indeed quite large. However, in the shipyard

Among them, they are not even ranked among the top three. Guangzhou Prefecture's Li Ziyuan's shipping company has more than fifty seagoing ships, twice as many as the Zhou family."

"Li Ziyuan? Yes, yes, yes, I really think I saw this name in the file two days ago. Is he the largest shipping company?" Fang Zian said.

"Hey, the Li's Boat Shop is indeed a giant, but I don't know the biggest one yet. The combined scale of Li Ziyuan and Zhou Zhengcang's two families is not as big as that of another boat shop. That is the Quanzhou Zheng Family. Zheng Zhilong

I wonder if you have heard of this name." Jiang Zheng said in a deep voice.

"Zheng Zhilong? I've never heard of it." Fang Zian shook his head.

Jiang Zheng laughed and said: "Let's put it this way, the number of sea-going ships owned by the Zheng Family Shipping Company is 50% of the number of sea-going trade ships in the Song Dynasty. The Zheng Family has more than a hundred large ships that can go to sea for long voyages. The Zheng Family Shipping Company

It is the well-deserved number one shipping company in the Song Dynasty."

Fang Zian was shocked and said: "More than a hundred ships? Is this really a big deal? Isn't that a super giant shipping company?"

Jiang Zheng nodded and said: "That's not true. The Zheng family shipyard supports half of the people in Quanzhou Prefecture, and half of the people in Quanzhou are engaged in matters related to the Zheng family. From boatmen to porters at the dock, to shipbuilding and ship repair,

Go to the store where it is sold, and hundreds of thousands of people rely on the Zheng Family Boat Shop for their meals. Do you think it is a super Big Mac?"

Fang Zian frowned and said, "That's not right. Why is there no Zheng Family Shipping Company in the Yamen files I checked? I would not miss such a big shipping company."

Jiang Zheng smiled mysteriously and said: "Your Majesty, you are right if you have not seen the Zheng Family Shipping Company. The Zheng Family Shipping Company is not under the jurisdiction of the Municipal Shipping Department at all. They do not need to report figures and trade conditions. It is nominally under the jurisdiction of the Imperial City Shipping Department.

But that’s not actually the case.”

Fang Zian was stunned for a moment, his interest greatly increased, and he said with a smile: "This is quite interesting. It is obviously our Song Dynasty Shipping Company, but it is not under the jurisdiction of the Shipping Department. What is the origin of this Zheng family? Doesn't it enjoy privileges?"

Jiang Zheng chuckled and said: "My lord, you are right. The word privilege is most suitable for the Zheng family boating company. Yes, the Zheng family has privileges."

Fang Zian asked: "Who is this Zheng Zhilong? He actually has such privileges."

Jiang Zheng smiled and said: "If you save the emperor's life in times of crisis, you will also have such privileges."

Fang Zian asked: "How do you say this?"

Jiang Zhengdao: "When the Jin soldiers went south, they searched the mountains and seas to hunt down the emperor. The emperor had no place to stay on land and was forced to go to sea. He took the Zheng family's ship. The ships of the Jin soldiers and navy were at sea.

During the cruising search, the Zheng family not only sent out men and ships, but also organized their own nursing home and the local navy in Quanzhou to transform the Zheng family's ships into warships free of charge to protect the emperor. When the emperor was almost rounded up by Jin soldiers' ships off the coast of Quanzhou, Zheng Zhilong personally led

He led more than a dozen warships armed by his own sons to reinforce them. It was a heavy fog, and the Zheng family's ships were tall and suddenly rushed out of the fog. The Jin soldiers did not know how many there were, so they thought they were ambushed by a large naval force, so they blew their trumpets and fled.

The emperor is safe because of this. Think about it, is this the result of protecting and rescuing the emperor?"

Fang Zian was quite surprised. He didn't know that Zhao Gou had discovered something when he was drifting at sea.

This story happened. If all this is true, it really gave Zhao Gou a great help when he was in the most difficult time. From this point of view, the Zheng family has indeed done a good job in protecting him.

"After the Jin soldiers retreated, the emperor stayed at Zheng's house in Quanzhou for only half a month. Zheng Zhilong used his family's efforts to take good care of the emperor. Before leaving, he also donated 200,000 taels of silver to the court as a gift for the emperor and his ministers during the journey.

For the purpose of selling. In addition, he was given carriages, horses, food, ships, etc., which can be said to be the whole family's service. Later, after the situation stabilized, the emperor specially summoned Zheng Zhilong to come to An'an to receive the reward, and wanted to reward him with an official position, but Zheng Zhilong did not

I only made three requests to the emperor if I wanted to be an official." Jiang Zheng continued.

"What three requirements? It must be related to his overseas trading business." Fang Zian said solemnly.

"My lord is wise, it is indeed about business. The first request made by Zheng Zhilong is to allow his Zheng family shipyard to specialize in the spice business. Except for his Zheng family in Quanzhou, shipyards from all over the Song Dynasty are not allowed to trade spices with foreign countries privately.

Nowadays, most of the common spices such as agarwood, ambergris, borneol, sandalwood, musk and so on used on the streets of Song Dynasty are monopolized by the Zheng family, except for those secretly smuggled. The Zheng family’s spice shops are open all over the world.

, buy and sell by yourself, and the whole business is run by the Zheng family. The spices in the rest of the shops are all purchased from the Zheng family at high prices." Jiang Zhengdao.

After hearing this, Fang Zian realized that the big spice shops in Lin'an were indeed Zheng Ji's brands, and they must be the property of the Zheng family. Moreover, when he used the Dream number to smuggle, they cooperated in selling the goods.

Owner Ma Xin of Wanlong Commercial Bank consciously or unconsciously reminded himself to buy more spices. He said that the stuff was easy to sell and profitable. However, the cost of spice business was too high, and purchasing spices was also time-consuming and laborious, so Fang Zian just asked Wan Dahai to buy them.

Some. It seems now that Ma Xin hoped to get more smuggled spices back to sell.

Fang Zian admired Zheng Zhilong a little. His request seemed ordinary, but he saw the huge profits. Monopoly sales were a guarantee of huge profits, and in the Song Dynasty, the use of spices had been popularized among ordinary people.

Home. It may seem like a small spice business, but it has become a necessity of life. A wealthy family spends hundreds of taels of silver on purchasing fine spices every year. The more extravagant the society, the higher the demand for such luxury goods.

The higher the demand, the higher the demand. Zheng Zhilong took this point in mind and monopolized the spice business. The profits from this must be extremely huge.

"The emperor agreed to Zheng Zhilong's request. Zheng Zhilong only mentioned specializing in spices. It was not a big deal. The emperor wanted to be kind to the Zheng family, so he would not refuse it. The second request made by Zheng Zhilong was that the Zheng family shipyard would no longer have to

Under the jurisdiction of the imperial shipping department, the Zheng family paid a tax of 100,000 taels per year, so the court no longer had to deal with Quanzhou shipping matters. At that time, the shipping department in the entire Song Dynasty only received an annual tax of 300,000 taels.

Zheng Zhilong was willing to pay 100,000 taels per year and be responsible for the profits and losses. For the imperial court, it was a matter of ensuring harvests despite droughts and floods. Although it was not under the jurisdiction of the imperial court, as long as the silver could be handed over, the rest did not matter. The emperor agreed to this condition at that time

, felt that this was not a favor, but rather beneficial to the court. As a result, the Zheng Family Shipping Company gained the power to trade with foreign countries outside the Shipping Department. In order not to make this matter seem too special, the emperor insisted on rewarding it.

Zheng Zhilong was promoted to Quanzhou Shipping Department. In this way, the entire maritime trade in Quanzhou will be controlled by the Zheng family." Jiang Zheng continued.

Fang Zian frowned and smacked his lips: "Awesome, awesome. This Zheng Zhilong has a far-sighted vision and a big hand. So what is the third request?"

Jiang Zhengdao: "The third request is to ask the court for permission.

He, the Zheng family, trained their own navy to protect their ships and went to sea. Zheng Zhilong said that overseas trade is extremely risky, and storms and surges cannot be avoided by manpower, but the plunder of pirates can be avoided. The imperial navy has since

It is impossible to protect the Zheng family's ships for sea trade, and it is not allowed by law for ordinary people to raise private armed forces, so they can only ask the court to show mercy and allow the Zheng family to establish a regiment to protect the Zheng family's fleet. All expenses are paid by the Zheng family themselves.

If you pay for it, you can also recruit him to serve the court when needed. The emperor finally agreed to him and allowed the Zheng family to establish a naval army with a maximum number of 500 people to train troops."

When Fang Zian heard this, he was even more surprised.

This Zheng Zhilong is not just a businessman, he should be a powerful man. Not only did he monopolize the spice business and operate outside the jurisdiction of the court, but he also owned an army of his own. In the Song Dynasty, it was absolutely illegal for individuals to own an army. The Song Dynasty

The most taboo thing is this. When Taizu released his military power over a cup of wine, he was to guard against the hidden worries of owning an army. It sounds like the Zheng family's reasons are legitimate, and there is an upper limit for regiment training, but Fang Zian knows that all Zheng Zhilong needs is a

Permission. As for the upper limit of team training, who would take stock of how many private soldiers he has raised every day?

It can be imagined that in Quanzhou, the Zheng family was not only a wealthy merchant, but also a powerful local tycoon with a large number of private soldiers. He had not only stepped out of the jurisdiction of the imperial court in the maritime trade business,

The local government did not dare to touch him at all. It was a state within a state of the Song Dynasty, a private kingdom, and a separatist force. It may not sound like much, but this is obviously abnormal. Privileges can

Yes, but there are some privileges that you absolutely cannot have. I just don’t know how far the Zheng family has developed.

"Master Jiang, after talking for a long time, what is the way to make money that you mentioned? Why didn't I hear something?" Fang Zian said.

Jiang Zheng laughed and said: "Sir, the Zheng family is extremely rich. The total value of the Zheng family's overseas trade every year is tens of millions, and all of them are fine and precious goods. According to the rules set by the imperial court, the tax paid is tens of dollars.

Ten thousand taels are necessary. But every year the Zheng family only turns over one hundred thousand taels to the court. How much is left out? Your Excellency, a new official has been appointed and he is so wise and powerful. Why don't you go to Zheng Zhilong and ask for the silver? One hundred and eighty thousand taels are still available.

Didn’t you get it just by asking? Although there was an agreement with the court back then, but now that the prince is in power, the emperor is about to abdicate, and those old rules have to be changed. This is one. Second, the Zheng family controls

The spice business controls the whole Song Dynasty, and the profit from this is millions every year. If you can find a way to get the court to reduce his privileges, and everyone is involved in the spice business, I will make sure that the owners of the big shipping companies take a share.

Come and honor you. When the time comes, the adults will make a lot of money every day and just sit and collect the money, why not do it?"

Fang Zian burst out laughing, and Jiang Zheng also stroked his beard and laughed. Fang Zian smiled, suddenly stopped, and said to Jiang Zheng: "Master Jiang, Master Jiang, how much do you hate me? Then Zheng Zhilong obviously doesn't

It's so irritating. You are asking me to offend him and have a fight with Zheng Zhilong. You have bad intentions."

Jiang Zheng said hurriedly: "My lord, please don't say that. I really came up with the idea. I have heard about Sir Fang's ability. Others may not be able to do it, but my lord may pull out his teeth. Zheng Zhilong is indeed not good."

But no matter how easy it is to mess with, he is still a businessman. Our Shipping Department is in charge of him, as it should be. Isn’t he a citizen of the Song Dynasty? Of course, things are difficult to handle, but easy things can still be done until now.
Chapter completed!