Zhao Gou was very interested in Han Shizhong's idea of acquiring civilian ships. His only worry was that shipbuilding would take too long, and it would take at least ten years to build an army. He was worried that there would be many variables in the process. If there were shortcuts, of course
It couldn't be better.
"Han Aiqing, can sea ships really be used as warships?" Zhao Gou asked.
Han Shizhong bowed and said: "Report to your Majesty, when I was in command of the Navy in Zhenjiang Prefecture, there was a Wanshi Fu Ship in the army. It was huge in size and was used to transport grain in humble positions. However, there was a heavy fog and it was
There was a violent collision with a three-thousand-stone warship in the Yangtze River. The warship was hit and sank, but the Fuchuan was unharmed. Only then did I realize that the Fuchuan was very strong.
After thinking about it, since it can sail in the depths of the ocean and withstand rough waves, it must be very strong, so there is no problem with its sturdiness. It is even stronger than a warship. It can collide with enemy ships, but in combat
It is lacking in functionality. It is a cargo ship after all, which is why Beizhong said it needs to be slightly remodeled."
Zhao Gou nodded and asked Qin Hui: "I remember how many large merchants there are in Lin'an. Who has the most lucky ships?"
Qin Hui bowed and said: "At most, it's Zheng Tongquan, but it seems that many of his lucky ships have been given to the Western Army. I don't know how many ships he still has in his hands. Next is the Wang Zhenbang family, which has nearly a hundred lucky ships, and then the Yu Wanfeng family.
There are about fifty lucky ships, and there are also some small maritime merchants, I don't know about them."
Zhao Gou suddenly remembered something, "I remember that my uncle also had a lucky boat! I gave it to him."
Zhu Shengfei said from the side: "That's right. In the eighth year of his reign in Shaoxing, His Majesty gave Uncle Wei twenty blessing ships to transport tribute tea from Fujian Road."
Zhao Gou nodded, "Give him some land compensation and take back these lucky ships. In addition, we must also take back the lucky ships of other maritime merchant families. We must be courteous first and then fight. We will exchange land for them. If you want to be an official, I can do it."
Grant them official titles and let them honor their ancestors. If they insist on refusing, then don't blame me for not being considerate of the people."
Speaking of this, he glanced at Xu Xiantu again and said, "Over there with Zheng Tongquan, Xu Xiangguo should go and talk to him! If he persists in his persistence, I can also go and talk to him in person."
"I obey the order!"
Zhao Gou said to Han Shizhong again: "The preparation of the naval force is of great importance. I hope Han Aiqing will do his best. If you need anything, you can ask me directly."
Han Shizhong bowed and said: "Your Majesty, although Wang Gui is a fierce general, he is not familiar with the navy and has no experience in the navy. I want to arrange for him to train soldiers on land. I want to recommend another person to be the left deputy commander of the navy.
Responsible for training the navy."
Zhao Gou did not want Han Shizhong to recommend his former generals again. This was one of the taboos that Zhao Gou could not tolerate. He asked quietly: "Who does Han Aiqing want to recommend?"
Of course Zhao Gou knew about Zhang Gongyu. When Wanyan Wushu searched the mountains and seas and drove Zhao Gou into the sea, Jin soldiers and warships were in hot pursuit. At the critical moment, it was Zhang Gongyu, the Mingzhou defense envoy at that time, who led Mingzhou
The navy defeated the Jin soldiers and navy and saved Zhao Gou's life.
However, later Zhao Gou publicized his rescue as a manifestation of God's protection, and Zhang Gongyu's contribution was also wiped out. He has been serving in Mingzhou for ten years.
Zhao Gou recalled Zhang Gongyu's contribution back then and that he had nothing to do with Han Shizhong. Zhao Gou immediately agreed to Han Shizhong's request and made Zhang Gongyu the deputy governor of the navy and the commander of the capital to assist Han Shizhong in training the navy.
.........
After all the naval affairs were arranged, Zhao Gou left Xu Xiantu behind again. He stood in front of the window with his hands behind his hands and said for a long time: "I should not have accepted Qin Xianggong's suggestion when it comes to negotiating with Chen Qing, so I am quite passive now.
, I have thought about it again and again, and I would like to ask Xu Xiangguo to preside over the negotiations with Hu Yun."
"I am willing to share your Majesty's worries!"
Zhao Gou nodded happily and said: "I won't mention Jiangling Prefecture and Ezhou, but I want to keep Jinghu North Road, at least Suizhou, Yingzhou, Fuzhou and Hanyang Prefecture, which is east of the Han River. This is
My bottom line, based on the guaranteed bottom line, is that Aiqing will strive to return to Xiangzhou, and Fangzhou and Jingmen Army can give it to them, but I don’t want to lose Xiangyang. In addition, Aiqing from Bianliang must try to gain some practical benefits."
Xu Xiantu sighed secretly in his heart. Chen Qing had already swallowed such an important strategic place in Xiangyang. How could he give it up again? However, he did not want to disappoint the emperor, so he had to vaguely agree, "Wei Chen will do his best!"
.........
In the guest room of the Zheng Mansion, the tea was already cold, and the maid served the second cup of tea. Zheng Tongquan was really under great pressure, and Xu Xiantu came to put pressure on him personally. If the discussion could not be settled today, the emperor would personally come to talk to him.
Xu Xiantu patiently advised: "Actually, the emperor has been very tolerant. He uses acquisitions. Otherwise, if you give an order and forcibly recruit them for military use, there is nothing you can do. Therefore, we should be grateful for the emperor's tolerance and give some face.
Otherwise, if Zheng Yuanwai only considers Jingzhao's interests, what will the emperor think?"
Zheng Tongquan was silent for a full quarter of an hour, and finally sighed: "It's not that I don't understand the tolerance of the sun, it's just that Mr. Xu came late."
"What do you mean?" Xu Xiantu's face darkened slightly.
"I have decided not to engage in overseas trade, so the remaining one hundred lucky ships were sold to King Yong last year at a discount of 6,000 guan per ship. This was the price offered by King Yong. I agreed immediately. King Yong
He has helped me a lot, and he wants to buy my seagoing boat, which I really can’t refuse.”
At this time, Zheng Tongquan's eldest grandson Zheng Ming came over and handed a small sandalwood box to his grandfather. Zheng Tongquan took the box and smiled at his eldest grandson: "Go!"
Zheng Ming bowed and left. Zheng Tongquan opened the box, took out a contract and handed it to Xu Xiantu, "Ms. Xu will know after reading it."
Xu Xiantu took the contract and opened it. Sure enough, it was a transaction contract, selling one hundred thousand-stone fortune ships to Chen Qing. After depreciation, the price was six thousand guan each, a total of one hundred ships. The following parties were Zheng Tongquan and King Yong's special envoy Hu Yun.
, it is also stamped with the seal of King Yong. Judging from the ink marks and red seal, it is indeed about a year or two old.
Xu Xiantu was greatly disappointed and said for a long time: "How can I explain this to the emperor?"
"Otherwise, what would Mr. Xu think if I donate another five hundred thousand yuan?"
Xu Xiantu shook his head, "This is not a matter of money, but an issue of attitude. What the emperor wanted was ships, but Zheng Yuanwai gave all the ships to the Western Army, leaving none of them. How could the emperor accept it? Old Zheng! This is
This time you went a little too far."
Zheng Tongquan's face changed slightly, and he hesitated and said: "I still have two river fleets, both of which are thousand-stone cargo ships. There are about five hundred ships. Otherwise, I will donate them all!"
"The emperor is preparing a naval army, what's the use of a thousand-stone cargo ship?"
"It must be useful. The navy also needs logistics and transports various supplies. You can't use warships as logistics ships!"
Xu Xiantu thought it made sense, so he nodded and said: "Okay! In addition to the five hundred thousand yuan you donated, I will convince the emperor that you hand over the ship and money to Lin'an Mansion as soon as possible."
He stood up and said goodbye. Zheng Tongquan secretly wiped his sweat. His hundred ships sailed from Mingzhou to Quanzhou only ten days ago. This contract was just completed. He asked a skilled person to make the ink and seal old.
He thought for a moment, and he still had to tell Hu Yun about this matter. After all, it was a five-hundred-stone cargo ship!
He changed his clothes and hurried out.
.........
Xu Xiantu left the Zheng Mansion and immediately went to the palace to meet the saint.
After Zhao Gou patiently listened to Xu Xiantu's report, he was really dissatisfied and said: "Zheng Tongquan did a good job and sold all the ships to Chen Qing. Didn't he think that I would buy it too?"
Although Xu Xiantu exerted all his strength on Zheng Tongquan, he would still put in a good word for Zheng Tongquan in front of the emperor. After all, Zheng Tongquan still paid him 10,000 yuan of restaurant dividends on time every year, which was actually protection money.
"Your Majesty, I saw the contract with my own eyes. It was signed in August last year. It should be that Chen Qing helped Zheng Tongquan last year and owed him a big favor. Chen Qing wanted a sea ship, so he used a sea ship to repay the favor."
After a pause, Xu Xiantu saw that the emperor's face was ugly, and he quickly said: "In order not to disappoint His Majesty, he is willing to donate five hundred thousand-stone cargo ships, which can be used for the navy's logistics support and transportation, and then donate another five hundred thousand yuan.
Your Majesty, I think it is not easy for Zheng Tongquan. He is really sincere in being able to do this."
It was actually a free donation. Zhao Gou's expression finally softened, he nodded and said, "Okay! Thank him for his generosity for me."
Zhao Gou was stingy at heart. He said he wanted to exchange land for ships, but that was just his talk. He would be stupid if he took it seriously.