I was living at the end of the Ming Dynasty, and I dealt a brutal blow to the Eight Banners!

September 11th, the fifteenth year of the Chongzhen reign.

The first negotiation between Tokugawa Iemitsu, the Count of Pinglu of the Ming Dynasty, ended with Tokugawa Iemitsu storming out of the meeting.

That night,

Lord Zhang hinted to Shi Lang and Lin Qingye to lead the Liaodong and Goryeo navies to plunder the coast of Japan.

September 15th,

Under pressure, Tokugawa Iemitsu returned to the negotiating table to discuss a treaty with Lord Zhang.

After three days of tug-of-war,

Finally, on the 18th day of the ninth month of the fifteenth year of the Chongzhen reign,

Tokugawa Iemitsu, the third head of the Tokugawa shogunate, and four retainers, along with Zhang Jingchuan, the plenipotentiary representative of the Ming Dynasty, the Marquis of Pinglu, and the Liaodong Military Commissioner.

In Ōmori, the castle of the Iwami Domain in Japan, the Ming-Japanese Treaty of Iwami was formally signed.

The Iwami Treaty consists of thirteen articles.

Among them, it was required that Japan be under the rule of the Tokugawa Shogunate:

First, the cession of the Iwami Domain and the Hizen Domain.

Second, pay the Marquis of Pinglu of the Ming Dynasty ten million taels of silver in military expenses, to be paid off in five years.

Third, only two ports were opened for trade: Nagasaki and Omori. People from other countries, such as Ming Dynasty and Korea, were allowed to reside there and have consuls appointed.

Fourth, unilateral tariff agreements stipulate that Japan must pay taxes and duties to the Jinzhou Chamber of Commerce of the Ming Dynasty when exporting goods, but Japan has no right to collect any fees for goods exported to Japan.

Fifth, permit registered merchants of the Jinzhou Chamber of Commerce to engage in free trade in Japan.

Sixth, the people of the Ming Dynasty enjoyed preferential treatment and exemptions in Japan.

7. The Ming Dynasty may recruit soldiers in the Iwami Domain and Hizen Domain on its own, and Japan should provide maximum support and refrain from interference.

In addition,

The Tokugawa Shogunate also agreed to redeem the territories of Nagato, Suo, Aki, and Izumo from the Ming Dynasty's Pinglu Earl for 500,000 taels of silver.

……

In Omori Castle,

Zhang Jingchuan is discussing with Zheng Zhilong the expansion of the Jinzhou Chamber of Commerce, planning to reorganize it according to the model of the Dutch East India Company.

Zhang Jingchuan was appointed as the president, and Zheng Zhilong as the executive president. There were seven vice presidents, five of whom were representatives of the Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Fujian business community, such as Su Mingyu and Zhou Wencai.

The other two seats were reserved for the Minister of Finance of Goryeo and Katsushige Nabeshima of Japan.

Next up are representatives of well-known businesses from various regions and prominent merchants from Korea and Japan.

The two trading ports of Nagasaki and Omori were managed by representatives sent by the Jinzhou Chamber of Commerce. As for the Hizen Domain and the Iwami Domain, apart from the pirate soldiers;

Two battalions of soldiers were also transferred from Goryeo to serve as a security force in order to maintain order within the domain.

As for Xu Anguo's Second Army, Zhang Jingchuan planned to transfer it back to Liaodong.

after all,

For Zhang Jingchuan, Liaodong was his base of operations.

"Sen'er, come quickly and pay your respects to the Marquis!"

When Zheng Zhilong saw Zheng Sen come in, he quickly greeted him.

Eighteen-year-old Zheng Sen quickly stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Zheng Sen greets Your Excellency!"

Zhang Jingchuan knew, of course, that the young man named Zheng Sen in front of him was Zheng Chenggong, the man who later recovered Taiwan from the Dutch.

“No need for formalities,” Zhang Jingchuan said with a smile, raising his hand. “Your father is my sworn brother, so we can be considered family!”

Zheng Zhilong laughed and said, "My dear brother, my son Zheng Sen has always held you in high esteem and has a great interest in leading troops into battle."

"I've heard about it," Zhang Jingchuan said with a smile, looking at Zheng Sen. "He led 20,000 pirate soldiers and fought a back-and-forth battle against the Japanese allied forces, who had a numerical advantage. He's a brilliant commander!"

"You flatter me, Your Excellency," Zheng Sen said, secretly pleased, but outwardly remaining calm. "Compared to the military achievements Your Excellency has made in the past two years, my contributions are nothing."

Zheng Zhilong smiled slightly and took the opportunity to say, "Brother, I have a favor to ask of you. I wonder if you would be willing to grant it?"

Zhang Jingchuan had a premonition, so he smiled and said, "We're brothers, so speak freely!"

Zheng Sen looked at his father with anticipation in his eyes.

"I wish to have Sen'er become your godfather and learn some skills from you. What do you think, my good brother?" Zheng Zhilong looked at Zhang Jingchuan expectantly.

“…” Zhang Jingchuan was momentarily speechless.

He originally thought that Zheng Zhilong intended for his son to become his apprentice, but he didn't expect that Zheng Zhilong wanted him to be his son's godfather.

In terms of status and identity,

Zhang Jingchuan doesn't even need to take in any adopted sons; he could form an army just by having enough people who want to be his grandson.

But Zheng Zhilong was, after all, a man of some standing, and he actually stooped to send his son to Zhang Jingchuan to be his adopted son.

It can only be said that Zheng Zhilong's success today is due to more than just luck and opportunity.

Although Zheng Zhilong was already the number one shipping magnate in the Ming Dynasty, with 20,000 pirate soldiers under his command, he still maintained a sense of awe towards the Ming court.

Moreover, because he had accumulated so much wealth over the years, the officials of the Ming Dynasty still had their eyes on him.

Moreover, most of his business was inseparable from the Ming Dynasty, so he lived a life of constant anxiety.

Fortunately, Zhang Jingchuan, whom he invested in, has now been granted a marquisate and has his own fiefdom.

Those Ming officials who had previously coveted him now hesitated and restrained their intentions.

It is also true,

Zheng Zhilong wanted his son to stay with Zhang Jingchuan.

However, Zhang Jingchuan was surrounded by many people, including many outstanding individuals. In order for his son to stand out, his status and background became particularly important.

Zheng Zhilong considered becoming an apprentice, but the relationship between master and apprentice can be close or distant, intimate or estranged.

In terms of leading troops and strategizing, his son was definitely better than him.

But when it comes to interpersonal skills, social connections, and keen observation, even ten Zheng Sens couldn't match him.

Zheng Zhilong was not at ease if it was just a master-disciple relationship.

Therefore,

He simply had his son become Zhang Jingchuan's godfather.

In this way, by having the title of adopted son, Zhang Jingchuan would be able to trust his son more.

Liaodong desperately needs a young general like Zheng Sen, capable of leading independently. If we could adopt Zheng Sen as our godson...

On the one hand, he could have a great help, and on the other hand, he could rely on Zheng Zhilong more effectively.

after all,

Zhang Jingchuan also planned to have Zheng Zhilong help him order three three-dimensional galleons from the Dutch, as well as hire a group of firearms experts.

After several tugs of the gun,

Zhang Jingchuan finally agreed and adopted Zheng Sen as his godson.

Zheng Zhilong had intended to organize a proper ceremony, but Zhang Jingchuan didn't want to waste his energy on it, so he simply had Zheng Sen offer a cup of tea and kowtow three times.

The matter of adopting a son can be considered settled.

As Zhang Jingchuan's adopted son, how could Zheng Sen manage without his own troops?

Zheng Zhilong originally wanted to select several thousand elite soldiers from the pirate army and his son, but Zhang Jingchuan refused.

Because the pirate soldiers' combat capabilities varied greatly, they were difficult to manage. Just look at what they did in Japan; they would even pocket any pretty stones they passed by to take back as ornaments.

Zhang Jingchuan wouldn't dare take a soldier like that.

Therefore,

Zhang Jingchuan then instructed Zheng Sen to recruit and train Japanese soldiers in the Ishimi and Hizen domains, and to bring them to Liaodong once they were formed.

After exchanging pleasantries for a while,

Zhang Jingchuan looked at Zheng Sen, who was beaming with joy, and said, "Since I've taken you in as my godson, I'll give you a name."

Zheng Zhilong and Zheng Sen both looked at Zhang Jingchuan. Bestowing a name was a matter of proper etiquette, so the father and son naturally had no objection.

Moreover, he was the first military merit marquis in nearly a century in the Ming Dynasty.

Zhang Jingchuan pondered for a moment and said, "Then I will bestow upon you the name 'Success'!"

Zheng Sen's eyes lit up.

He knelt and bowed, saying:

"Your son, Zheng Chenggong, thanks to my godfather for bestowing upon me this name!"

……