Late Ming Dynasty: Oops, I am surrounded by the Donglin Party

Since he was going to meet Zheng Zhilong, for safety reasons, Zhang Shikang not only took his own 1,000 guards on board the ship, but also ordered Sun Dasheng, the lieutenant general of the Beijing camp cavalry, to lead 5,000 cavalry to Quanzhou, Fujian by land.

Zhang Shikang had been full of confidence since he captured Nanjing, especially after receiving the news that the northern barbarians had been repelled by Lu Xiangsheng.

A few days ago, the Embroidered Uniform Guard reported that Huang Taiji had been patrolling the nine borders of the Ming Dynasty for more than a month without finding a breakthrough. Instead, the Governor of Xuanda, Lu Xiangsheng, designed to wipe out a 2,000-man Manchu Eight Banners infantry. It can be said that he lost more than he gained.

Huang Taiji found that there was no opportunity to take advantage of and finally had to withdraw his troops.

The rebels in the south of the Yangtze River have been eliminated, the threat in the north has been resolved, and the bandits in the southwest will also lose their best opportunity.

Once the imperial court has dealt with the aftermath of land reform and tax reform and stabilized the situation across the country, it can eliminate it in one fell swoop.

What Zhang Shikang needs to do now is to restore production to the greatest extent possible and stabilize the people's hearts.

In addition, he would go and meet Zheng Zhilong to see what kind of person this old man is, whether he can be used by the court, and how to use him.

In any case, before the Ming navy can ensure coastal safety, the power of the Zheng family must be relied upon.

Zhang Shikang thought about it and realized that the Ming Dynasty was really short of everything, including warships, sailors, food, and shipbuilders.

Only the Zheng family can provide support for all of these, which is why Zhang Shikang made the trip in person.

Maritime affairs are an indispensable part of the future of Ming Dynasty finances, and it is not enough to rely solely on subordinates to deliver messages.

"Marshal, if there is nothing else, I will order the fleet to set sail." Ma Tong, the first mate of the Zheng family fleet's flagship, asked.

After Zheng Zhibiao left, he temporarily appointed the flagship's first mate as the commander of this small fleet.

While Zhang Shikang was fighting the Southern Army, the Zheng family fleet was patrolling various parts of the river to prevent the Southern Army from sneaking across the river.

It has been more than three months now. This small fleet was originally hired, and Zheng Zhibiao also said that the hiring period of the Zheng family fleet is three months. If it exceeds one day, an additional three months of commission will be paid.

Ma Tong never mentioned this matter. I think it was Zheng Zhibiao's instruction before he left. Rules are rules. Who can blame Zhang Shikang for having such a high profile?

"Let's set sail." On the deck, Zhang Shikang glanced at the Nanjing city road in the distance.

After receiving the order, Ma Tong signaled to the flag bearer on high ground, and more than a hundred large and small warships immediately headed east.

"Ma Tong, how does your master treat you?" Zhang Shikang asked for no reason.

After Zheng Zhibiao left, Zhang Shikang had frequent communications with Ma Tong. He was quite interested in Ma Tong and often talked with him about maritime affairs.

Zhang Shikang didn't know why Ma Tong's father gave him such a name, but it had to be said that Ma Tong, who was nearly 40 years old, had quite rich experience in maritime affairs.

Not only did he travel to the South Seas with Zheng's fleet, he also went to the East Sea, and the farthest he reached was the coast of the Lesser Atlantic Ocean, which is the west coast of India.

Ma Tong participated in most of the Zheng family's naval battles, including Zheng Zhilong's elimination of his old enemies such as Xu Xinsu, and two naval battles against the Dutch Navy.

Ma Tong didn't know why Zhang Shikang asked this, but after thinking about it, he said:

“Replying to the commander, I have followed the Zheng family for many years. Although I have met the head of the family many times, due to my low military position, I have never had any communication with him.

However, I am responsible for sharing your worries and I was able to marry and have children thanks to the salary provided by the Zheng family. I am naturally grateful to the head of the Zheng family."

"There is one thing I don't quite understand. Your family's head owns a huge fleet and monopolizes several shipping routes. Why have I never heard of the Zheng family occupying territories overseas?" Zhang Shikang asked again.

It is said that it is better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix. In fact, Zhang Shikang has always been quite curious.

This question really stunned Ma Tong. After thinking for a while, he said:

“The cost of occupying territory is high, but the benefits are not great, and it takes too much energy to govern it.

My family is mainly engaged in trade, and we don’t really care about so-called territory.”

In view of the territorial concept formed by Zhang Shikang in later generations, this is actually a difference in thinking.

In later generations, even extremely developed countries would constantly argue over minor territorial disputes, and even go to war.

But in today's era, there is not even a clear territorial division between countries, and there is often only a rough national border.

In addition to the vague concept of territory, Chinese people are also influenced by Confucianism and are often unwilling to wage war overseas.

The high cost of governance mentioned by the United Malays National Organization is also a major reason. In the overseas territories, especially in Southeast Asia, there are various chaotic indigenous tribes with different languages and cultures.

Compared to this, it is much easier to just participate in trade.

"What a waste." Zhang Shikang sighed.

Such a huge fleet is just for the purpose of making money. Silver does have the attribute of currency in Ming Dynasty, but it is not so popular if we look at the whole world.

Except for East Asia and some areas in Southeast Asia that were influenced by Chinese culture and recognized silver, the whole of Europe and Libya looked down on silver. Their currency was gold.

The Ming Dynasty did not have high silver reserves, so it used it as currency, but if we look at the world, the silver reserves are much higher.

Looking at later history, after European colonists completely colonized America and Australia, they obtained a large amount of silver.

Then they only needed to bring the silver dug from America to exchange for large amounts of silk, tea and porcelain from the Ming Dynasty.

In other words, using silver as currency would lead to inflation sooner or later, which would be a waste of money for the European colonists.

Similarly, if Zhang Shikang changed this situation and made the Ming Dynasty gradually transition from the silver standard to the gold standard, then the so-called tremendous wealth of the Zheng family would be nothing more than a pile of metal.

Therefore, Zhang Shikang felt regretful that he had such a huge naval force but did not know how to deepen colonization and occupy new territories just to make money. It was really a pity.

As we all know, territory is the most important wealth.

Thinking of this, Zhang Shikang narrowed his eyes and smiled:

"Commander Ma, I'd like to ask, for a talent like you, how much salary can the Zheng family give you every year?"

Ma Tong couldn't help but shudder when he saw this. He remembered that the last time the great marshal smiled with his eyes narrowed, he was discussing the purchase of a ship with Zheng Zhibiao.

In the end, the Zheng family not only gave the court a hundred grain ships for free, but also accepted the job of building warships for the court. Ma Tong remembered very clearly that Zheng Zhibiao was very depressed when he left.

"In reply to the commander, I am only the first mate of a Fu ship, not a talented person at all.

As for the annual salary...it's about 160 taels."

Even in this day and age, being asked about annual income is a very sensitive matter.

But Ma Tong knew that the young commander was always like this, so he had to tell the truth.

"That's all? What a waste of talent!" Zhang Shikang pretended to sigh.

In fact, an annual income of one hundred and sixty taels was already higher than the annual salary of a third-rank official in the Ming Dynasty.

But Zhang Shikang still said so. After all, the cost of the navy is high and the profits from maritime trade are not small.

"I am unworthy of this position! Zheng family is full of talented people, and I am just a small pawn." Ma Tong said modestly.

"Then are you willing to follow me and be a pawn?"

After going through several twists and turns, Zhang Shikang finally asked what was in his mind.

……