Chapter 227: Enemies and Friends at Sea

From the six departments’ yamen to the Linjing Palace, you have to pass through Fengtian Square. Since Emperor Chengzu of the Ming Dynasty moved the capital to the capital, the magnificent palace city has been built for more than 200 years. As a giant structure that can be ranked in the forefront of the entire history, Fengtian Palace stands in the vast palace city. It is enough to be called the center of the world and the tranquility of the four directions.

Needless to say, the aesthetics of the predecessors, when passing by Fengtian Palace, just a sneak peek will be shocked by its grandeur and magnificence. The golden light at noon poured down, and the palace was carved with jade pillars and the walls were shining with pearls. In front of the palace, there were rainbows and clouds, and golden water. Everything was beautiful and strange.

Being in it, you can not only feel the heritage of the ancient country, but also discover the aesthetics of the Chinese people. Some things are the innate wealth of the people living on this land. Chen Heng looked at Fengtian Hall with greed, and then followed the eunuch closely, and walked into Linjing Hall with Fu Qingyuan.

There were many people in the hall, mostly officials from the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Military Affairs, and the Ministry of Households. In addition to the heads of the three ministries, Gu Zaiyong, Wang Ziteng and others were also seated here.

When Chen Heng and Fu Qingyuan came in, Yao Ziran happened to see them, and he winked and nodded at them. Chen and Fu came forward to pay their respects, and then stood aside in a proper manner, continuing to listen to the big guys' meeting.

Listening to their words, the two newcomers gradually figured out the whole story. It turned out that the British sent a message through the officials of the Honglu Temple, wanting to establish closer trade relations with Dayong.

At first glance, this matter sounded just normal. In previous years, caravans from various countries also went to Suzhou, Hangzhou, and Guangzhou to purchase. Foreign merchants who came here with money are also an important part of the national finance.

But this time, the British suddenly made a request, wanting Yangzhou's exclusive purchasing rights in the future. They are so shameless that they want to achieve a 60:40 cooperation model without spending a penny, just by flattering the superior country.

Chen Heng felt it was incredible and furious. It was because the superiors in the court thought that this matter had great potential. First, the foreign trade of Qiupu Street has not yet been spread out and has not improved. This time, letting the British come forward to do it for them not only saves labor costs, but also does not have to bear the risk of sea transportation. Let the latter come forward on their behalf and communicate with other foreign merchants, and it is even more wonderful to sit back and enjoy the fruits of their labor.

Second, the two countries have been friends for a long time, and the barbarian envoys were sincere in their words this time. They also promised that even if the cargo ship capsized at sea, they would pay out of their own pockets to compensate Dayong for its losses, and their attitude was full of sincerity. In addition, the British have been paying tribute to the court for many years. Considering the dignity of the two countries, the senior officials headed by Gu Zaiyong tended to agree.

Chen Heng felt speechless when he heard them say "the dignity of the superior country", "the two countries have a long-standing friendship", "the barbarians are loyal to the Celestial Empire".

But he knew that it would be useless to just sulk. If he directly opposed at this time, it would ruin his excuse to intervene later. He had to suppress his temper, secretly remember the words of the adults in his heart, and think about his own response.

Since Li Zhi could specially call him here, there must be a time for private performance. The key is how to convince His Majesty and what His Majesty thinks in his heart. After all, national affairs depend on Li Zhi's thoughts. Chen Heng was like a calm hunter, quietly lurking in the palace.

The ministers talked for about half an hour, and gradually showed signs of reaching an agreement. Li Zhi's mentality was the most funny thing to say. He actually didn't care about the British people's thoughts and intentions, but cared more about the performance of the ministers.

Perhaps it was because of his rebellious thoughts that he had obtained the position improperly. When Li Zhi saw that the civil officials had reached an agreement, he always used some imperial tactics and wanted to show the fact that he was the emperor all the time.

He had such thoughts because he had been suppressed for a long time. Li Zhi intended to suppress this matter and make long-term plans. The civil officials naturally would not object. Among them, only a few people guessed Li Zhi's thoughts and knew that His Majesty was most reluctant to see the civil officials reach a tacit understanding.

Heart disease needs heart medicine to cure. The emperor took off his dragon robe and was just an ordinary person who ate grains. Those who guessed Li Zhi's thoughts were unwilling to waste their thoughts on the British affairs, and it would not affect their promotion and wealth.

When everyone stood up and left together, Chen Heng silently fell behind the team, eager to attract Li Zhi's attention. But when he stepped out of the palace gate, Li Zhi did not speak to keep him. After walking a dozen steps outside the palace and separating from his colleagues, Chen Heng was caught up by the eunuch and called back into the palace.

"Your Majesty."

Entering the palace again, Chen Heng saluted with Fu Qingyuan, and just as he stood up, he saw Li Zhi's tired look. The latter waved his hand, indicating that the two ministers did not need to be polite, and said straight to the point: "Mr. Chen, you and Mr. Lin are involved in the affairs of Yangzhou. What do you think about this matter?"

The advantage of the Six Departments over the Hanlin Academy lies here. Compared with the Hanlin Academy who bows to literary affairs, the Six Departments obviously have more say in practical matters.

Hearing this, Chen Heng immediately bowed and said: "Your Majesty, please forgive me for my impoliteness."

When Li Zhi heard this, he knew that his minister had different ideas. He immediately said happily: "Approved."

"Your Majesty, I sincerely ask your Majesty, I wonder what your Majesty wants?" Rhetorical questions are always the best sentences to attack the heart, and they can also best drive other people's thoughts. After Chen Heng finished speaking, he held his breath and bowed his head, immediately bowing his head to apologize for being rude.

Li Zhi frowned slightly. What Chen Heng said was not in line with the official's manners. But seeing the boy's respectful expression, he didn't think much about it. He just said, "Go on."

Chen Heng said, "When I was a commoner, I often heard the idea of ​​comparing prices. The envoys of the red-haired foreigners and the Portuguese will come to the palace to pay tribute tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. Your Majesty may as well let the officials of the Honglu Temple tell them about this. Let's see their reactions, and your Majesty will understand it at a glance."

He thought for a long time in the palace last time, and felt that no matter what method he used, it would be difficult to argue with his superiors on the righteousness. In this case, why not muddy the situation and drag the red-haired foreigners and the Portuguese into the water together. As long as the latter know the British's thoughts, Chen Heng doesn't believe that they will not come out to disrupt the situation.

You must know that Britain has just finished the battle for maritime hegemony with the Portuguese, and is competing with the red-haired foreigners for maritime trade. Calculating the time, it should be not long after the end of the Second Anglo-Dutch Naval War that we learned in high school textbooks.

With such hatred, Chen Heng doesn't believe that they will sit back and watch the British monopolize the trade of Dayong, and let themselves fall behind in this maritime battle.

Li Zhi didn't think about it, he was just interested in different opinions. The emperor who believed in listening to both sides was eager to achieve a great cause that was not inferior to Han Wu and Tang Zong.

Seeing that Li Zhi agreed to this matter immediately, Chen Heng knew that the matter had been settled. Some things seem complicated and difficult, but as long as you jump out of the current situation and stand from the perspective of an outsider, it will be much easier to deal with.

Returning to the yamen with Fu Qingyuan, Chen Heng sat slowly. His seat was in the corner, a little far from the window, but facing the Fengtian Hall.

The ancient palace seemed to be a giant that came from the long river of time, standing quietly on the ground.

Chen Heng didn't say much, just silently retracted his gaze and buried his head in the files.

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That night, Chen Heng returned home, but he didn't forget to see Daiyu. It's just that the family had just finished dinner, and his sister had taken the initiative to bring Zijuan to the door.

"I said I would take a rest and then go to see you." Chen Heng was a little surprised by Daiyu's sudden visit, but very pleasantly surprised.

"During the meal, I saw that my brother was worried." Daiyu smiled and asked with concern, "But did you encounter any difficulties in the palace today?"

The beauty was willing to help, and how could Chen Heng not be moved by such tenderness. He hurriedly led Daiyu to sit down, took the initiative to pour tea, and gave a cup to his sister, and then said: "It's not a difficult thing, but I feel that fate is really wonderful."

Seeing Daiyu's face showing some curiosity, Chen Heng told her what happened during the day. These two people are smart, and they are in a relationship of sharing weal and woe in the future. Chen Heng talked in detail and even pointed out several difficulties that were not easy to tell outsiders.

Lin Daiyu has been listening silently. She also has deep feelings for Yangzhou. When she first heard that the British wanted to help the people of Yangzhou do business, she was very happy.

But after listening to Chen Heng's explanation of the cause and effect, she couldn't help but exclaimed: "Brother, are you worried that the British will use Dayong's power to dominate overseas?"

"Yes, and no." Chen Heng smiled, and he talked about his worries again. Now Dayong is trapped by internal strife and external difficulties, and it is really not the time to covet the sea. If the step is too big, it will really be a mess.

But if the British are allowed to take the resources on the sea too easily. Then in the future, when Dayong recovers, it will inevitably miss the best opportunity to free up its hands to layout the sea.

The competition between countries has always been a place for vertical and horizontal alliances. Dayong has a vast territory, which is several times the land of Britain. Although there is no dominant sea master at the moment, the hard work of tens of millions of people in the country makes Dayong enough to become a force that influences the world's current situation.

Su embroidery, Hangzhou embroidery, Shu embroidery, Yangzhou embroidery, Ru kiln, official kiln, Ge kiln, etc., are all hard currencies that can be shown. The people of foreign countries all admire the style of the Celestial Empire, and they seek a treasure but cannot get it.

With so many treasures in hand, as long as they are used properly, it will not only benefit the country and the people, but also strengthen the country and the people. Chen Heng was really unwilling to let the British get the opportunity in vain.

"Brother, are you worried that the British will be enemies with Dayong in the future?" Daiyu was really smart. She could hear the other party's concerns from Chen Heng's few words.

Chen Heng couldn't say it clearly about such future things. He just said indifferently: "How can your life and property be tied to the thoughts of others."

Daiyu immediately understood her brother's thoughts. She put herself in his shoes and thought about it, and felt even more regretful: "But your brother's remarks, when it comes to the court, must be insignificant, and there are few like-minded people."

If there is a choice, Chen Heng would not want to be a lonely innkeeper. But after all, he came to this world and learned this skill. In the future, I will start a family here, and my children will be born and raised here.

In this case, let's be an indomitable bell ringer. Chen Heng smiled and said in an unusually cheerful and generous manner: "Do your best."

Whether it is the perseverance of Yugong moving mountains or the overestimation of Jingwei filling the sea. Some things must be done to be at peace with the conscience.

Chen Heng thought so in his heart, and the smile on his face became more open, which made Daiyu more fascinated.

If her brother was discouraged by this matter, he would inevitably lose his style. If he only knew how to talk big, it would make people feel frivolous. Only this kind of unyielding demeanor in the face of all difficulties is what Daiyu can't help but love.

The conversation with his sister not only relieved Chen Heng's worries, but also made him gradually sort out his thoughts. He thought about the strategy for the next day and the day after tomorrow, and then turned his attention to the unfinished things yesterday.

"Sister, have you finished writing the tips?" he asked with a smile.

How can this person change the topic so easily? Daiyu couldn't help blushing, nodded again, and then silently took out the brocade bag. Chen Heng took it and was about to explain the matter clearly first. But the latter didn't want to hear some words that made people blush. He just stretched out his hand and blocked the other's lips.

"Brother, let's open the brocade bag first."

Seeing his sister so shy, Chen Heng screamed in his heart that it was strange. He followed the beauty's wishes, lowered his head to open the brocade bag, and took out a folded white paper from it. Chen Heng opened it and saw a pair of birds flying side by side on the paper.

He laughed and said, "Okay, okay, now I have to owe my sister something."

"Why, brother, don't you want to?" Daiyu pursed her lips and turned her head away proudly.

How could Chen Heng agree to this, and even laughed: "Don't say one thing, ten or a hundred things, I can agree to my sister."

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The next day, Chen Heng worked in the yamen for half a day. Before finishing the food sent from the palace, Fu Qingyuan ran to his table excitedly and said, "Chixing, you really got it right."

"What?" "What did Chixing guess?" Colleagues gathered around him. Everyone was puzzled: there was nothing big happening in the palace recently, which was worthy of Fu Qingyuan's happiness.

"It's the envoys from the Red Barbarians! I heard that they are now dragging the Portuguese to argue with the British in front of the emperor." Fu Qingyuan laughed, "There is a big quarrel in the Fengtian Hall now, and officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Honglu Temple have all gone out."

They are not qualified to meet foreign envoys in the court. They can only gather here and make noise to entertain themselves. Chen Heng couldn't help but put down his chopsticks. He was only half full, but he couldn't get up his appetite. Thinking that Li Zhi would call him in soon, he decided to eat to this extent, so as not to be too full and become slow in reaction.

After waiting until Shenshi, Li Zhi ordered someone to summon Chen Heng to the pavilion in the Imperial Garden. The weather has dropped significantly in the past few days. When Chen Heng arrived, he saw that Li Zhi was still wearing a single layer of clothes, and he couldn't help but care about his health.

"I am in good health." Li Zhi laughed happily, probably recalling the scene in Fengtian Hall today, and he excitedly said to his ministers, "Mr. Chen, you really should take a look at the envoys of the three countries."

Perhaps he thought this scene was too interesting. Li Zhi also asked Xia Shouzhong to come forward and tell Chen Heng again. Hearing that the red-haired foreigners were willing to offer one million taels of silver in exchange for the right to purchase Yangzhou for the next five years. Chen Heng's eyebrows jumped, these Dutch people seemed to be doing business.

But when he heard again, the other party was taking installments. Chen Heng couldn't help laughing again. Good guy, he still wanted to deceive the officials of Dayong as fools.

After Xia Shouzhong finished speaking, Li Zhi couldn't wait to ask Chen Heng what he meant. Now, he has great trust in the other party's judgment on this matter. Chen Heng's words alone made the envoys of the three countries quarrel. How could Li Zhi ignore his favorite minister again? He had just ordered people to invite the envoys of various countries back to the Honglu Temple, and he couldn't wait to call Chen Heng to make a reply.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me for asking again. What does Your Majesty want?"

Because of the precedent, Li Zhi began to seriously think about Chen Heng's implication this time. He has been in battle for a long time, and now all the preparations of the Yong Dynasty are to prepare for a decisive battle with Jianguo. This enemy is the heart of Yong. If it is not defeated, the country will not be at peace.

Li Zhi narrowed his eyes, and looked at Chen Heng who was bowing, and said, "Stand up. Zhixing, who among them do you think can help us?"

"Your Majesty." Chen Heng said in a clear voice, like the cry of a crane in the wind, "I would like to ask for a general map of the world from the Ministry of War."

"No need to trouble the Ministry of War." Li Zhi immediately said to Xia Shouzhong, "Send someone to the imperial study." He paused for a moment, thinking about something, and said, "Call the prince as well."

"Yes." Xia Shouzhong got the order and hurried out of the pavilion. After a long time, the map and the prince came into the pavilion together. What was surprising was that the grandson of the emperor, who had not been seen for a long time, was also here. Li Zhi laughed and scolded this kid for not studying hard, and ordered his children and grandchildren to sit beside him, and said to Chen Heng, "Chen Qing, if you have anything to say, just say it. Only a few of us know what happened today."

When Xia Shouzhong heard this, he stepped back a few steps from the pavilion and ordered the palace guards to step back a dozen steps. Chen Heng took a deep breath, stood in front of the grandfather and grandson, pointed to a certain place on the map held by the palace servant, and said: "Your Majesty, this is Britain."

Chen Heng glanced at the pavilion and saw that the food box he and Li Zhi used to play chess was still on the stone table. He took out a black piece from it and placed it on it, and marked the location of the Portuguese and the red-haired barbarians.

This map is a secret of the court. Looking at the world, only a few people can see it. Li Jun saw it for the first time, and when he learned about the fighting relationship between the three families from Chen Heng, he couldn't help but exclaimed that it was wonderful.

Li Zhi also heard for the first time how the British defeated the Portuguese, and now he is deeply involved in the fight between the red-haired barbarians. He has led troops and fought in person. How could he not know how to use the contradictions in it? He was blinded by the glory of the Celestial Empire before.

At this moment, Chen Heng explained it clearly in a few words, and Li Zhi became more interested and asked: "Chen Qing, who do you think is more suitable for us to win over?"

People who have been soldiers are good at this. When they speak, they are simple and direct. It is not easy to be bound by red tape, and it saves Chen Heng the effort of persuading. The latter immediately said: "Red-haired barbarians." Without waiting for Li Zhi to ask, Chen Heng took the initiative to explain: "Now the British are strong, and our help to him is just icing on the cake. If we want him to become a helper of Dayong, we must win him over and persuade him. The host and guest are replaced, and we are dependent on others and controlled by others."

Hearing this, Li Zhi nodded secretly. He really couldn't afford to lose face.

"Besides, we have to hand over the benefits of Yangzhou. With this help, Britain will be even more powerful and will become a big problem. By then, even if the ship is on the sea, it will come and go like the wind. Advance and retreat are all in the hands of the enemy. If it loses the passivity, it will inevitably fall into the disadvantage."

"The red-haired barbarians are now defeated in two battles and need strong support." Chen Heng paused, "He got our help, which not only gave him room to continue fighting with the British, but also exacerbated the contradiction between them. The British will never sit idly by and watch the red-haired barbarians come back to life. The war between the two countries is even worse, and the red-haired barbarians will not have second thoughts."

Li Xian said: "Lord Chen, according to what you said before. The red-haired barbarians are small in national strength. If they are still defeated in the end, won't it make Dayong and Britain have a grudge?"

To be honest, such concerns are correct. But between countries, if they only want to be self-sufficient, it is not impossible not to help each other. But the first prerequisite is that the sword in your hand must be sharp enough.

Chen Heng said in a deep voice: "Your Highness is right to worry. But when the British defeat the red-haired barbarians and dominate the world, who will be their next opponent?"

Li Xian was speechless immediately. He was only the crown prince. It was not his time to make the final decision on national affairs, and he would not take his future and reputation to guarantee the British.

Li Zhi wanted to be famous in history. Hearing this, he immediately said angrily: "How can I allow others to sleep peacefully beside my bed? There is no need to say more about this matter. Chen Qing, you go back and write a memorial and present it tomorrow."

Li Zhi made the decision so quickly because the red-haired barbarians were willing to spend one million taels. The old thief of the red-haired barbarians may not really want to accomplish this. But they will definitely not allow the British to benefit. They can't afford such a price.

The red-haired barbarians asked for one million taels at the beginning, which made Li Zhi see a wider room for negotiation. He needs money, his Dayong needs money, and his troops need money even more.

I'm late, hahahaha, don't blame me, brothers, there's a lot of work at the beginning of the month. Tomorrow is Monday, a slight adjustment. It will start to explode on Tuesday.