The first navigator of the Ming Dynasty

"Lord Qi, are you going to see Your Majesty?"

Qi Tai, the secretary of the military department, took a fold and rushed to the Wuying Palace: "There is just news from below that the tribute ship of the Nanyang tribute has been hijacked by pirates, and Your Majesty has summoned me."

"Have you heard? Your Majesty has also summoned Zheng Hai, a thousand households of Jinyi Wei, for fear that he wants to talk about the matter of cutting down the feudal domain.

Qi Tai said: "Lord Huang, didn't Your Majesty agree to your plan to cut the domain? Why do you still

talk to Zheng Hai about cutting the domain?" Taichangqing Huang Zicheng was full of worries, and explained to Qi Tai as he walked: "You don't know, Your Majesty and Zheng Hai have a very good personal relationship, and the two of them almost have nothing to talk about. Do you know why Your Majesty is so jealous

of King Yan?" "Why?" "

It's all because of Zheng Hai! This son used to be a guard under King Yan and admired King Yan very much. He often said to His Majesty that King Yan was brave and invincible, and he was invincible. Your Majesty's rejection of your plan to cut the feudal domain may also have something to do with the Imperial Gift. "

Huang Zicheng is biased against Zheng Hai.

He attributed the reason for Zhu Yunwen's rejection of Qi Tai's plan to reduce the feudal domain to Zheng Hai, intending to win Qi Tai together to deal with Zheng Hai.

Listening to Huang Zicheng's words, Qi Tai suddenly became a little angry.

Qi Tai had also heard that Zheng Hai was against cutting the feudal domain. But he didn't expect that the reason why his plan to cut the feudal domain was not accepted by Zhu Yunwen was because of Zheng Hai.

This made him feel disgusted with Zheng Hai.

"If he often says in front of His Majesty that it is not the one who cuts the domain, maybe His Majesty will give up cutting the domain. This son's demagogy towards His Majesty has to be worrying!" Huang Zicheng shook his head, looking unwilling.

Qi Tai frowned, looked at Huang Zicheng, and asked with some concern: "Then Lord Huang, is there any way to stop him?"

"There is a way, but it still needs Lord Qi's cooperation. "

Lord Huang, please speak!" Huang

Zicheng leaned into Qi Tai's ear and whispered a few whispers.

Qi Tai nodded and said, "Lord Huang, this method is very good! Just do it

!" Huang Zicheng laughed and said, "Then there is Lord Lao Qi!"

Zheng Hai and Xu Huizu, the Duke of Wei, walked into the palace, followed the eunuch, walked through the long corridor, and walked all the way to the Wuying Palace.

When Zheng Hai walked into the Wuying Palace, in addition to Zhu Yunwen, only Fang Xiaoru and the eunuch were prosperous.

Seeing Zheng Hai and Xu Huizu walking in, Zhu Yunwen briefly told the two of them one thing, which was the incident of pirates hijacking Nanyang tribute ships in Jiangsu and Zhejiang.

"I know that the two of you have gone to Jiangsu and Zhejiang to prepare for coastal defense. I'd like to hear what you think about pirates.

Xu Huizu said: "Your Majesty, since the founding of the first emperor, pirates in Jiangsu and Zhejiang have been plaguing the imperial court. The imperial court has repeatedly appeased the sea, but it has not been able to exterminate all the pirates..."

While listening to Xu Huizu's narration, Zheng Hai pondered the problem of piracy in the Ming Dynasty.

The reason for the repeated prohibition of piracy is not that the imperial court's crackdown is not severe enough, nor is it that the measures to ban the sea are not in place.

On the contrary, it is precisely because of the strict maritime ban policy implemented by the Ming Dynasty that many fishermen along the coast are forced to take the road of crime in order to make a living.

With the exception of the most vicious professional pirates, most pirates are desperate fishermen who have no choice but to become pirates.

The problem of piracy has always plagued the Ming Dynasty, in fact, the problem of piracy is not only a political problem, but also a diplomatic and people's livelihood problem, which is essentially an economic problem.

If all the coastal residents were not forced to make a living, Zheng Hai believes that few people would want to become pirates.

"Zheng Hai, what do you think about the issue of pirates?"

Zhu Yunwen found that Zheng Hai was silent and took the initiative to ask Zheng Hai's opinion.

Zheng Hai replied with a serious expression: "The minister thinks that the problem of piracy is a complex problem that cannot be solved overnight. As far as the minister knows, there are two main types of pirates.

Seeing that everyone was listening carefully, Zheng Hai continued: "One is the professional pirates who do all kinds of evil, who make a living by looting and burning, and we must resolutely crack down on this type and exterminate it by force. There is also a category of pirates, most of whom are poor fishermen along the coast, who have no choice but to become pirates in order to make a living.

Listening to Zheng Hai's analysis, Zhu Yunwen and Fang Xiaoru on the side both nodded in agreement.

Zhu Yunwen asked again: "Zheng Hai, do you have any specific countermeasures?"

"The minister thinks that the best way is to lift the sea ban and carry out overseas trade, so that the coastal people can develop and become rich..."

"Ridiculous

!" Xu Huizu interrupted Zheng Hai's words with a worried expression: "Your Majesty, this Zheng Hai is going to openly violate the ancestral precept of the previous emperor that 'no one can go to the sea'! Your Majesty must not listen to his nonsense!" To deal with piracy, it is necessary to adhere to the sea ban and at the same time use force to exterminate them.

"Fang Aiqing, what do you think?" Zhu Yunwen looked at Fang Xiaoru.

Fang Xiaoru bowed lightly and said slowly: "Minister, agree with Wei Guogong's point of view. The law of the ancestors is immutable, and the legacy of the emperor cannot be violated.

"Zheng Hai, I also agree with Wei Guogong's point of view that the ancestral precepts of the emperor cannot be violated. Do you have any other way?"

Zheng Hai glanced at Xu Huizu and Fang Xiaoru, and said helplessly: "Back to Your Majesty, this is the only way to completely solve the problem of piracy. If we rely only on encirclement and suppression by force, we can only treat the symptoms and cannot completely solve the problem of piracy.

Fang Xiaoru took the initiative to step forward and clenched his fists and said: "Your Majesty, to solve the problem of coastal residents becoming pirates, we can move the fishermen inward." At the same time, giving the fishermen some land for them to cultivate can also solve their livelihood problems, and it is not necessary to violate the laws of the ancestors.

"Your Majesty, this method is not advisable!" Zheng Hai listened to Fang Xiaoru's suggestion, and hurriedly retorted: "There are so many fishermen along the coast, not to mention whether there is land for them to cultivate, even if there is, it depends on whether they are willing to move inward..."

Zheng Hai shook his head and retorted: "Your Majesty can't! If the fishermen are forced to move and cultivate the land, it may lead to more resentment and more fishermen to defect to the pirates." This method is not advisable!" Fang

Xiaoru was silent, Zhu Yunwen was in a dilemma, and the hall was silent and quiet for a while.

Suddenly, a eunuch walked in and whispered a few words in the eunuch Changsheng.

The eunuch Changsheng said: "Your Majesty, Qi Tai, the squire of the military department outside the palace, and Huang Zicheng, the Taichangqing, ask to see you.

"Please!"

Zhu Yunwen's eyes suddenly lit up, and he felt like he had seen a savior and found someone who could solve the problem.

Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai walked in, and Zhu Yunwen also asked the two about the solution to the pirate matter.

Huang Zicheng secretly glanced at Zheng Hai and replied with a smile: "The minister agrees with Wei Guogong and Mr. Fang's opinion. "

Qi Tai, what can you do?" Zhu Yunwen looked at Qi Tai, the secretary of the military department.

Qi Tai Zhengse said: "The minister thinks that the soldiers will block it, and the water will cover it." There is no other way to deal with pirates than to clear them out strongly!"

Zhu Yunwen nodded seriously after hearing this, and asked again: "Then for the matter of clearing out pirates, Qi Shangshu, can the Ministry of War have a recommended candidate?"

"The minister has a candidate, maybe you can give it a try." "

Tell me quickly, who is the candidate you recommend?"

"Your Majesty, the minister recommended Li Jinglong, the Duke of Cao Guo. He has trained troops in Huguang, Shaanxi, Henan and other places, and is a leader among the young generation of generals. Your Majesty may order him to lead an army to exterminate the pirates.

Zhu Yunwen thought for a while, looked at Xu Huizu, and asked: "Wei Guogong, do you think it is appropriate to send Cao Guogong to clear the pirates?"

Xu Huizu replied: "Your Majesty, Cao Guogong has never practiced water warfare, nor has he trained troops in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, I'm afraid..."

Huang Zicheng stepped forward and interjected.

"You say, I want to hear it, what can you do?"

"Your Majesty, Cao Guogong doesn't understand water warfare, we can send someone familiar with water warfare to assist him, if you don't know about Jiangsu and Zhejiang, we can also send someone familiar with Jiangsu and Zhejiang to help."

Huang Zicheng paused, looked at Zheng Hai with a smile, and said: "I heard that Zheng Qianhu has inspected coastal coastal defense and knows a lot about Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and His Majesty can send Zheng Qianhu to assist Cao Guogong."

Zhu Yunwen nodded thoughtfully.

Qi Tai stepped forward and added: "Your Majesty, if you are familiar with water warfare, you can recommend Chen Xuan, the commander of the Sichuan Xingdu Division, to assist Cao Guogong."

"Wei Guogong, what do you think?" Emperor Zhu Yunwen asked Xu Huizu again.

Xu Huizu glanced at Zheng Hai and nodded, "The minister thinks it's feasible!" "Zheng Hai

, then send you to assist Cao Guogong, I hope you can help me deal with the pirate matter."

Zheng Hai glanced at the people in the hall and stepped forward and said, "The minister can assist Cao Guogong, but the minister has one matter, and I hope that His Majesty will make the decision for me."

Zhu Yunwen was a little curious: "You say." "

The minister and Xu Miaojin of the Wei Mansion really love each other, but some people have been obstructing the minister from asking to marry Xu Miaojin, disliking that the minister has no father and no mother. If we exterminate the pirates and return triumphantly, the minister hopes that Your Majesty will give us both a marriage.

Zhu Yunwen glanced at Xu Huizu and promised, "Okay! I promise you!"