The waves hit the ship, causing it to heave and sway. But for those who have been sailing for many years, walking on the ship is as easy as walking on flat ground.

Guangdong sea merchant Huang Cheng stroked his beard, held the side of the boat, and looked at the vast ocean thoughtfully.

"Uncle." Zheng Zhilong came over, handed a telescope to his uncle, and said, "Will we be suppressed by Li Dan and Yan Siqi when we go to Shanghai?"

Maritime merchants are also divided into gangs, such as the Zhangzhou Gang, Quanzhou Gang, Guangzhou Gang, etc.

Huang Cheng smiled, took the telescope and raised it to look. After a long while, he put it down and said, "Yiguan, the sea is so vast. Even Li Dan and Yan Siqi can dominate it alone, right?"

"Besides, the imperial court is in charge now, and they can't completely control everything." Huang Cheng pondered and said, "The tactic of presenting a letter and planting a flag is powerful, and granting a title and returning home is also extremely clever. I didn't expect that even a giant like Li Dan could be subdued."

Zheng Zhilong's nickname was Yi Guan. When he was seventeen, due to the family's difficult livelihood, he and his younger brother went to Xiangshanao (Macau) to work as a businessman with his uncle Huang Cheng.

During his business trip, Zheng Zhilong was influenced by the Portuguese and was baptized as a Catholic. His Christian name was Nicolas Gaspard, also known as Nicolas Yiguan.

Zheng Zhilong was also a language genius. He was not only proficient in Minnan dialect and Portuguese, but also Japanese, Dutch and Spanish.

Hearing his uncle's sigh, Zheng Zhilong was unconcerned. He said, "With the imperial court and Japan involved, if Li Dan wants to resist, he can only go to Southeast Asia. How can he give up the business he has built for so many years?"

"Besides, Li Dan may appear powerful on the surface, but how many of the merchants are actually attached to him and not absolutely loyal to him?" Zheng Zhilong pursed his lips with a hint of sneer. "If he doesn't understand the current situation, even such a powerful force will fall apart."

Huang Cheng nodded slightly, looking at his nephew with admiration, and said with a smile, "The official saw it clearly, and Li Dan also knew this, so he obeyed obediently. It was also because he saw the opportunity quickly that he came out on top and was appreciated and valued by the court."

Zheng Zhilong actually agreed with this. Although he mocked Li Dan in words, he also admired Li Dan's decisive judgment in his heart.

"The court is looking for people who are proficient in various languages. Are you interested in trying it out?" Huang Cheng looked at his nephew expectantly and said, "Perhaps this is an opportunity to rise to prominence!"

Zheng Zhilong hesitated and did not answer immediately. Huang Cheng did not urge him. He patted his nephew's strong arm vigorously, turned around and looked around with a telescope.

The court is very different from before.

Of course, my uncle hopes that he can make a name for himself. It is easier to get an official position if you have someone in the court, and maybe he can help him more in his future business.

But Zheng Zhilong fell into deep thought and had not figured out whether he should go or not.

………………Dividing line………………

Starting from June and July of the second year of the Tianqi reign, changes were gradually felt throughout the Ming Dynasty.

It’s just that some people don’t feel it very obviously, while others feel it is serious.

The lifting of the maritime ban and the raising of flags under orders had a great impact on the maritime merchants, who had to participate in this reshuffle, either actively or passively.

Clearing the garrisons and paying salaries, and granting land to the government, gave many military households and ordinary farmers arable land and hope for survival;

The military training and the organization of new troops affected officers and soldiers from north to south, and also changed the composition and combat methods of the Ming army.

From the central government to local governments, the dismissal, demotion, and resignation of officials shook the Ming Dynasty political arena at an astonishing speed and number.

But those who understand know that this may just be the beginning, and there will be bigger and more policy measures in the future.

In fact, Shaanxi, Henan, Shanxi, and northern Zhili are undergoing even greater changes, or they can be regarded as a preview of other places.

Looking at the heads hanging on the city gate, Zhao Huaili, a captain of the Yulin Guard, swallowed hard, lowered his head, urged his horse, and entered the city.

The court's three-month grace period had passed, but no one expected the severe punishment to be beheading as a warning to the public.

The head hanging on the city gate belonged to the Yulin garrison officer. He "seized the garrison farmland, secretly occupied it as his own property, and succeeded his grandson, occupying it with ease. He refused to pay any grain of grain that should have been paid..."

In other words, the officer in charge of the military farm must have been taking a chance, thinking that after so long, the occupied military farmland had become private property and would not be discovered.

But he and some others were mistaken. As soon as the deadline arrived, at a meeting convened by Governor Zuo Guangdou, they were apprehended by soldiers. The Imperial Guards read out the imperial edict, and they were immediately beheaded without delay.

Soon after, news came that Prince of Qin Zhu Cunshu had been severely punished by the emperor for occupying military settlements and had been escorted to Beijing by the East Factory.

If the head of the garrison commander wasn't enough, then a vassal king would be added. The imperial court's harsh punishment came down suddenly and sharply.

In fact, that was all. Although there were officers who invaded the land and were killed in Henan and Shanxi, their number was not large.

But once the news spread, who would dare to continue to "resist strict measures"?

The officials and gentry who had encroached on the land, their hope of getting away with it, immediately rushed to the governor's office as fast as they could, crying and begging to return the land, fearing that they would be severely punished if they were a step late.

Zhao Huaili witnessed this scene and was initially heartbroken about having to give up his farmland. But upon seeing the chopped-off heads and the ugly behavior of the officials and gentry, he felt relieved and even somewhat pleased.

People are like this, always looking at the gains and losses of others to weigh whether their own decisions are correct.

If he had not been punished so severely, Zhao Huaili would have regretted it deeply, blamed himself for being cowardly, and thought about making up for it in the future.

But when he saw those guys who were taking chances and getting into trouble, he admired his own wisdom and decisiveness. He gave up his land and property, but gained safety and saved his life.

When he arrived at the military headquarters in the city, many garrison officers had already arrived. Zhao Huaili dismounted and walked forward to greet the officers he was familiar with.

"Lord Sun has been promoted again," someone whispered. "He is now the commander-in-chief, governor of Shaanxi military affairs."

Zhao Huaili immediately pricked up his ears. He really didn't know this news.

"You've done a great job clearing the garrisons and paying the bills; the court is rewarding you!" Someone smacked their lips enviously, "But this imperial favor is truly incredible. Lord Sun has only been in Shaanxi for a little over half a year, hasn't he?"

Li Qianzong nudged Zhao Huaili with his elbow and said, "The You family has two successful people. I heard that Old Wang is going to send his son to a martial arts school as well. Have you ever thought about going to the capital to study martial arts?"

Zhao Huaili chuckled twice and said, "Your news is not accurate, is it? How come I was so angry that I was bedridden after hearing that Old Wang had returned the military farms?"

"It wasn't yours to begin with, aren't you just waiting to lose your head?" Li Qianzong shook his head and said, "Besides, can we warriors get sick from such a small matter?"

As they were talking, the sound of horse hooves came from afar, attracting everyone's attention.

"Yeah? It's Old Man Wang Wei. He looks so energetic, he doesn't look sick at all. And Old Man Hou, why is he out too?"