In today's Taiwan, after ten years of organized and planned immigration development, the entire island's economic construction has begun to take shape. The nearly 200,000 immigrants are mostly from Fujian and Guangdong. Recently, a large number of refugees from the land-lost famine in the north have also been recruited. Numbering tens of thousands, the immigrant Han people developed Taiwan together with the Gaoshan and Pingpu people and became real pioneers. Ten years after the establishment of the China United Company, Han immigrants had spread all over the island, not just those along the coast. The cultivated land has been developed, which is the so-called smog land with very harsh natural conditions. The Han people were not afraid of hardships and went into the mountains to cultivate it. In the almost uninhabited area east of Jiefanling in eastern Taiwan, the Chinese Company only controlled a few farmlands. Farms and forest farms, but many Han immigrants spontaneously arrived there, "grouped into the mountains and cultivated the land", making these areas increasingly prosperous. The Chinese Company announced from the beginning that the entire land on the island was controlled by the Chinese Company, but for These spontaneous immigrants and settlers generally adopt a default policy. As long as these spontaneously formed villages pay a certain amount of taxes, they will send villagers to station or help these villages organize self-defense villagers.
As a result, even many of the original deer farms of the Gaoshan people were cultivated privately by immigrants or occupied by the immigrants. The mountainous areas near the eastern plains used to be Tufan deer farms, but now they are basically cultivated by the immigrant Han people. , looking as far as the eye can see, there are fertile fields everywhere in the mountains.
The situation in Luzon is different. Large tracts of land were bought by domestic business gangs. The Chinese Company relied on an efficient administrative system and strong military power to maintain stability. Since the land was sold in advance, all large landowners obeyed the Chinese Company. -Under the jurisdiction of the Luzon Governor's Office, a tax system was implemented in which the government and the people paid taxes together. On Luzon Island, the Han labor force recruited by various landlords and Chinese companies has reached 200,000.
After many twists and turns, the peasant immigrants came to Taiwan and other places from the breathless mainland, which was squeezed by the government. They finally had hope of getting their own land. Therefore, their enthusiasm for work was unprecedentedly high. They did not need a company organization and headed deep into the mountains. , many people from the mainland died on the land they developed because they were not accustomed to the acclimatization. The Chinese Company has always firmly controlled the land in Taiwan and has not implemented a large-scale land buying and selling policy in Taiwan. Therefore, there is no such thing as Luzon. In large estates and plantations, there is no class of big landowners or planters. The largest landowner in Taiwan is the China United Company. Even if it is the meritorious land allocated by soldiers or the permanent tenants of farmers, the land rights ultimately belong to the China United Company. Company, this is the iron law of the company set by Yin Feng in order to avoid the emergence of the big landowner class. Moreover, no matter who the cultivators are, in Taiwan and Luzon, Yin Feng actually implements a tax system in which the government and gentry all pay the grain. , does not recognize the privileges of the bureaucracy; on the contrary, the land allocated to soldiers who are disabled due to service is tax-free.
Therefore, in the areas under the rule of the Chinese Company, the basic social structure is merchants, military, workers, farmers, and scholars. The scholars who can only read the books of Confucius and Mencius are still insignificant figures and craftsmen in the rapid development of the Chinese Company. The actual status of the class is actually even more important. They are the most important figures in various factories of the Chinese Company.
Today, the Chinese Company's rule includes Taiwan, Luzon, the Ryukyu Islands, Jeju Island, and islands such as Penghu and Kinmen off the coast of Fujian. A large area of land in West Borneo in the South Pacific is called Nanya State, as well as islands such as Sumatra and Java. The Chinese colonies dotted all over the world have a population of Han immigrants and resident Chinese of more than 800,000. Including local indigenous people, Westerners, etc., the total population under direct jurisdiction exceeds more than 2.5 million. It is estimated that by next year, the number of Han immigrants under the jurisdiction of the China Company will exceed 100 Ten thousand.
Most of the shareholders of Zhonghua Company are businessmen from four provinces including Fujian, Zhejiang, Guangdong and Anhui. The main core decision-makers were all small figures who were at the bottom of Ming Dynasty society. Originally, these people had not received much traditional Confucian cultural education. Now, They have become accustomed to their roles under the rule of the China United Company and are no longer willing to return to live in the social system of the Ming Dynasty. They have seen the force of the Chinese army and the victories they have won in the past ten years have been enough for them to cultivate Have confidence in the armed forces.
The Han Ping father and son on the board of directors, and the Fujian and Zhejiang smuggling merchants represented by the Catholic An Heping have already tasted the sweetness of the Chinese company's model of combining force and business. The shareholders of these companies very much hope to occupy a stronghold on the mainland and change the current China. The company was in an unfavorable situation of being restricted in its supply of goods. This was the economic reason why they wanted Yin Feng to become king and confront the imperial court head-on.
At the same time, they knew very well that if Yin Feng was really recruited by the imperial court, those military personnel and the Quanzhou Zeng family might be able to find a good home, but they would surely lose everything after they returned to the Ming Dynasty system.
Now, they want to push Yin Feng to the point of breaking with the imperial court, so that their position in Luzon, Taiwan will be stabilized.
At the same time, the influence of traditional culture is also fermenting among these people: they rebel against the imperial court or even replace them. The prospect of leaving their name in history from the Dragon Lords is waiting for them: at least, by forming their own faction overseas, they will also create a country for future generations.
These prospects and their confidence in the Chinese Army enabled them to overcome the psychological barrier of rebellion. In fact, except for Zeng Qi, a court official with a formal 800-year imperial examination background, all of the people present were basically abandoned by the court and smuggled pirates. , rebellion is not a psychological disorder for them.
Yin Feng looked at Zeng Qi curiously. This father-in-law was the administrative director of the area ruled by the China Company. In the past, he tried his best to push the China Company to recruit An and Yin Feng to join the imperial court. Now, Zeng Yue actually persuaded him among his subordinates to become king. , which is quite strange.
Zeng Qi sighed: "Feng'er, your and the company's status is no longer what it used to be. At present, apart from continuing to use force to protect business and operate overseas trade, you have no way out. Once you fully join the imperial officialdom, , it is necessary to change course and overthrow many of the things the company is doing now, then the company will collapse; and if the company collapses, you will lose your importance in the eyes of the court and become insignificant. You and the company have offended too many people in the court. , if the company is over, you will be doomed, and my Zeng family, including hundreds of young and old, will also be doomed. I have figured it out in the past few days, and now our Zeng family and you, Yin Feng, are inseparable, so, I …”
Yin Feng nodded and said: "Father-in-law, you have always been thinking about me and the company. I understand this very well. Everyone, I understand what you mean, but I want to ask: What will happen if you raise the flag of rebellion now? It won’t be too early, and whether we have the power to fight against the imperial court,”
Among the people, Han Ping and his son were the ones who wanted Yin Feng to take over the most. Han Ping stood up and said: "Sir shipowner, you saved the lives of my Han Ping family, and I don't need to say any polite words to you; here are the following I served as a commercial inspection officer in 13 provinces in the Mainland in 2005, and I can vividly remember what I saw and heard. Mr. Zeng also saw in Fujian that hungry people are everywhere, and the ground is full of hungry people. The people are full of resentment, and the imperial army is still the same. It is even worse than the Battle of Penghu. At that time, we could fight against the imperial army of more than 10,000 with only a few hundred people. Now we have 30,000 strong soldiers. Even if the imperial court mobilizes all the soldiers from the nine sides, it will only be less than 100,000. Where? Will be our opponent..."
Yin Feng sees further than those who are bent on consolidating their financial status: over the years, he has planned corporate systems, opened new schools, introduced Western science and technology education, developed various advanced firearms, opened various workshops, and built giant warships. The influence caused by the East and West is limited to the coastal areas, and the provinces that go deeper into the interior are still following their own old path under the habit of traditional culture; and this road will definitely be a dead end.
Should we just sit in Taiwan and wait for the world to explode? By then, Yin Feng will be sixty or seventy years old. How can he still have the physical strength and energy to save the people? Even now, Yin Feng is nearly forty, and he already feels that he has no energy. It was not as good as ten years ago. He suddenly remembered a word, "Time waits for no one."
"Time waits for no one. Okay, father-in-law, brothers, what we are talking about tonight is of great importance, and you are not allowed to reveal a word."
Everyone said one after another: "We know this, but captain, please look at this..."
Yin Feng patted the table, but did not directly answer their questions. He stood up and said: "It is a matter of great importance. This matter cannot be decided hastily. I have decided that new development plans will be implemented in various places, and the recruitment of manpower will be the focus. The weapons research department and arms production must be strengthened, and attention should be paid to avoiding conflicts with the court in the near future... At the same time, I will go to the mainland to have a look..."
Everyone was shocked when they heard this. Zeng Qi was the first to speak: "This must not be done. Officials who regard you as a thorn in their side are everywhere in Fujian, from the court to the court. You can't take the risk..."
Yin Feng said resolutely: "Father-in-law, I must see with my own eyes what this court does before I can decide what to do next. When I returned to Ming Dynasty, except for the coastal areas of Fujian, Zhejiang, Guangdong and Nanjing, I have never been to any other government officials. The Art of War says: Know yourself and your enemy and you will be victorious in any battle. Once we decide to openly challenge the imperial court, it means war: war is a major matter for the country and cannot be taken carelessly, so we must have a detailed understanding of the imperial court."
He raised his hand to stop everyone's further persuasion: "Okay, everyone, needless to say, since you want me to take you to fight against the imperial court, then you must believe me: I will definitely make concessions after inspecting the domestic situation. Everyone is satisfied with the decision, either to compete with the imperial court for the world, or to separate and rule the roost..."
Everyone looked at each other and suddenly realized that Yin Feng did not consider compromise with the court as an option. Everyone was 80% sure of Yin Feng's future decision and began to get excited.
Chen Zhongji stood up and said: "The ship owner is going to the mainland and can no longer show up as a businessman. You are too well-known in business gangs everywhere, and there are too many businessmen who have met you..."
Zeng Qi said: "You can go as a scholar. The day of the imperial examination is approaching, and there are people who look like scholars walking everywhere. Generally, they will not attract special attention from the government..."
Lin Xiao quickly said: "Captain, you have to take Luo Aquan and the others with you this time, in case something happens..."
"Something happened, crow's mouth," Zhao Tie interrupted Lin Xiao, but he also said worriedly: "Ship owner, we still have to make some preparations. Your trip cannot be too far away from the waterway. Let the water flow The warship will only follow you secretly, and you will eventually see where you want to go,"
"Capital Master,"
Everyone was speechless, and finally Lin Xiao sighed: "Brother, my ship owner, this time you have conquered my army. The achievements of the Commercial Information Department and the Security Department in the past ten years must be It’s up to you to check,”