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

"What is that thing hanging on the mast?" Zhang Shikang looked at it and wanted to ask but was not sure.

"General, that is actually a chamber pot, which has the same function as the toilet in the Ming Dynasty.

The Japanese believe that this can ward off evil and avoid disasters." Zheng Zhilong explained.

The Oriental civilization at that time was naturally much more backward than that of the Ming Dynasty, and of course more superstitious.

"I guess your Zheng family collects protection fees by using the Zheng family flags flying on those ships?" Zhang Shikang said casually.

The Zheng family monopolized three or four major shipping routes. All merchant ships sailing on these routes had to fly the Zheng family flag, otherwise they would be robbed.

"Protection fee? This is the first time I've heard this term. Marshal, you are wise. This is what you mean." Zheng Zhilong did not deny it and was even a little proud of it.

A large merchant ship costs three thousand taels, a medium-sized merchant ship costs two thousand taels, and a small merchant ship costs one thousand taels. There is no deception.

And it's just a round trip. If you want to continue trading, you have to pay the protection fee again.

Just relying on this income, the Zheng family can make a lot of money.

In addition, the Zheng family certainly also had its own caravan, which was why when Zhang Shenyan came to bribe him with one million taels of silver, Zheng Zhilong treated him almost like a fool.

In the end, I was too lazy to even pay attention.

In fact, the Donglin Party came again later, and the silver notes they brought reached five million taels.

Zheng Zhilong accepted it with a smile, and everyone else accepted it with a smile as well.

Five million taels is a windfall for the Zheng family, so it’s better not to miss it.

As for what the Donglin Party members wanted him to do, of course he didn't do it. As smart as he was, who would stand on the same side with a dead person?

"What are those big ships?" Zhang Shikang pointed at a few warships that were larger than silk ships but slightly damaged.

"Replying to the Marshal, that is a galleon captured from the red-haired barbarians. My shipbuilder is studying it and has made quite a few progress. I believe that in time, our Ming Dynasty will be able to replicate this kind of ship." Zheng Zhilong said with a smile.

"I see that we have several ships. Can you give me two of them? I will pay you according to the market price." Zhang Shikang said.

The Ming Dynasty currently lacks everything, but it does not lack money.

As the main warship of the Dutch, the galleon must have its advantages. Its sails alone have many more than those of the Ming Dynasty's Fuzhou ship.

"Since the Marshal has spoken, how dare I disobey?

There is no need to ask for a price, they are all captured and a little damaged." Zheng Zhilong said generously.

In his opinion, the court had neglected maritime affairs for so long that it did not even have a decent shipyard, let alone skilled shipbuilders.

Without a suitable shipyard and capable shipwrights, just repairing the damage to the hull is a hassle.

He was not afraid that the imperial court would use shipbuilders to replicate this kind of Dutch warship, but they did not have the ability to do so.

"Really? Then I'd like to thank you in advance.

It is a blessing for the court to have the Zheng family!

The ship has been given to us, so I think all the cannons and muskets on board are also there, right?" Zhang Shikang said with a smile.

This praise put Zheng Zhilong on a high pedestal. The Dutch cannons on the Galleon's ship had been dismantled long ago. The Dutch cannons not only had a long range and high accuracy, but also had great destructive power.

Since the Battle of Liaoluo Bay, Zheng Zhilong has been ordering people to study and develop the latest Dutch cannon.

But after several years of experimentation, there was no success, which made Zheng Zhilong particularly depressed.

"Of course, reinstall them all for the Marshal."

Zheng Zhilong felt that he was being fleeced again, and even though he had evidence, there was nothing he could do.

Zhang Shikang's ultimate goal, of course, was the Dutch artillery.

Although galleons have their advantages, naval battles ultimately rely on artillery. As long as the artillery is powerful enough and can fire far enough, the disadvantages of the warships will be compensated.

Given the current shipbuilding standards and craftsman reserves of the Ming Dynasty, it would undoubtedly be quite difficult to replicate a galleon.

But artillery is different. It does not require complete shipyard facilities, and its structure is not complicated.

According to Zhang Shikang's understanding of the industrial level of that era, it was nothing more than the fusion of various common metals such as copper, iron, and tin. To put it bluntly, it was to improve the toughness and performance of the artillery through alloy technology.

The Ming Dynasty was able to develop more than a dozen variants of the old-style French cannon using only the old-style French cannon that flowed into the court during the Wanli period.

As long as we get the latest artillery from the Netherlands, it should not be difficult to replicate it in time.

"However, it seems that my navy fleet is still lacking a decent flagship!"

Zhang Shikang struck while the iron was hot, and at the same time his eyes were looking at the large Fu ship not far away, which spoke for itself.

With Zheng Zhilong's shrewdness, it was clear to him that Zhang Shikang had his eyes on the No. 1 Fuchuan ship. This largest Fuchuan ship was used as the flagship in several fleets of the Zheng family navy.

Zheng Zhilong only felt his lips were dry.

"Marshal, building the No. 1 Fuchuan is very labor-intensive and the cost is not low. Even my Zheng family only has a dozen of them." Zheng Zhilong said with some embarrassment.

"You don't have to send this. The court will pay for it!" Zhang Shikang emphasized, and then gave him a look of great expectation.

"I know that the Marshal has no shortage of money. In fact, the Marshal does not need to go to great lengths to get a navy. With me here in the Ming Dynasty waters, there will never be any problems." Zheng Zhilong said what Zheng Zhibiao had said at that time.

But you guys made all the money.

You are all engaged in smuggling, and now you tell me that you can do this and that because I have your Zheng family navy, you are kidding me.

Your Zheng family eats meat, the previous Donglin Party officials drink soup, and the gentry in the opposition lick the bowl.

So when I got to the imperial court, all I could smell was the smell!

"Why are you so stingy? What's yours is yours. As the marshal of the army appointed by His Majesty himself, how can I not even have a fleet?" Zhang Shikang glared at Zheng Zhilong unhappily.

Do you still want your family’s title?

Seeing that Zhang Shikang was beginning to look unhappy, Zheng Zhilong finally gave in.

Zhang Shikang became more and more greedy, saying that he did not mind the old ships in the Zheng family navy, and finally got a No. 1 Fu ship in active service.

However, Zheng Zhilong's offer was as high as 360,000 taels, which only included the No. 1 Fu ship itself and the onboard cannons, muskets, etc., but did not include all the sailors, gunners and ship workers.

Zhang Shikang was not afraid that the old man would raise the price, unless he no longer wanted the title of Ming Dynasty.

It feels good to get something for a while, and it will be more pleasant if you keep getting something for a while.

As the Grand Marshal, his visit to Zheng Zhilong's humble home was certainly not in vain.

The Zheng family might have a strong navy, but in the Ming Dynasty, Zhang Shikang was fully confident that he could use the army to drive the Zheng family out of the Ming Dynasty.

Just because of this threat, Zheng Zhilong did not dare to offend easily unless he moved.

After getting the flagship of the Ming Navy, Zhang Shikang was in a good mood and asked again:

"As far as I know, the trenches of our Ming Dynasty have always been occupied by a group of small French people.

You should know about those shameless guys, right? "

PS: Little Franji, that is, Portugal, is also known as Fruit Teeth/Naughty.

Big Franji, that is, Spanish, is also known as pressed duck.

The Red-haired Barbarians refer to the Netherlands.

Haojing, that is Macau.