Pirates, merchants, no matter what your identity is, no matter how rich you are, you have no social status in the Ming Dynasty, and you are not even recognized as a Ming Dynasty person.
However, these two sea merchants who were despised by the government and even treated as criminals received the emperor's personal pardon and were qualified to meet him in the palace.
Only then did Li Dan and Yan Siqi finally feel relieved. Even though they had made some analysis and judgment before, it was not completely absolute and there were still some variables.
Now that I've been summoned to the palace, everything will be fine.
No matter how stupid or violent the emperor was, he would not go to so much trouble to trick people into the palace and then kill them.
Of course, Li Dan and Yan Siqi were still feeling uneasy. Besides being excited and thrilled, they also couldn't fathom the emperor's thoughts.
Entering the palace, the two great men who had roamed the seas were also intimidated by the majestic and solemn royal atmosphere. Their behavior and expressions became cautious, and they even felt a little nervous.
Inside the Qianqing Palace, Zhu Youxiao looked at the empty ginseng box, smiled faintly, and continued to stroke Xiaobai's big head.
"Your Majesty, Lady Bai is acting a little strange today!" Zhang Yu'er was very confused, wondering why Lady Bai had changed her personality and become so close to the Emperor.
Zhu Youxiao laughed and said, "He has become stupid, stupid, stupid and cute."
Zhang Yuer blinked her big eyes, not quite understanding what this "stupid and cute" meant.
Xiaobai shook his big head, raised his tail, and meowed at Zhu Youxiao.
Zhang Yuer opened her eyes wide. She understood this body language, which meant that Bai Niangniang wanted to play with you and hoped for more intimate actions.
Don’t be polite at this time, just stroke it hard!
But Zhu Youxiao didn't quite understand, but raised his head and looked at the palace maid who came in to report.
Zhang Yuer had no choice but to hold Xiaobai in her arms and give generous caress to the clingy Bai Niangniang.
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Maritime trade was most developed during the Song Dynasty. The Maritime Customs collected nearly two million strings of cash in taxes each year, which promoted the development of industry and commerce, and urbanization reached an unprecedented level of development.
In addition to lifting the ban on sea trade, the Song Dynasty's policy of attracting investment also played a huge role.
In the fourth year of Yongxi in the Northern Song Dynasty, Emperor Taizong of Song "sent eight eunuchs to carry imperial edicts and gold and silk into four groups, each group going to the various foreign countries in Hainan to solicit tributes and buy spices, rhinoceros tusks, pearls, and camphor; each group brought an empty imperial edict and gave it to the places they went to."
The Song Dynasty monarchs believed, "The profits from the maritime trade are enormous. If managed properly, the revenue could easily reach millions of strings of cash. Wouldn't that be better than taking from the people? I pay attention to this so that I can ease the burden on the people."
Therefore, the Song Dynasty encouraged maritime merchants to recruit foreign merchants to trade in China, saying, "If foreign merchants wish to come to the Song Dynasty by ship, they will be allowed to do so." The Song government would also grant official positions to maritime merchants who made significant contributions to attracting foreign merchants.
Zhu Youxiao condescended to send envoys to Korea and Japan, and also pardoned maritime merchants and summoned them personally, all for purposes similar to those of the Song Dynasty.
"No need for formalities, just stand up." Zhu Youxiao took his seat in the main hall and looked at these two legendary figures who had left a deep mark in history, feeling very emotional.
Li Dan was called Kapitan Li Dan or "Captain Mingempire" by European merchants at that time, which means Chinese captain.
Li Dan was not only a commercial competitor that gave the Westerners a headache, but his men also frequently robbed European merchant ships. He hated the Spanish the most because of their tragic experience in Luzon.
However, due to Li Dan's connections in Fujian, both the Dutch and the Portuguese often had to rely on him to provide raw silk and other Ming Dynasty goods.
Although Yan Siqi is not as powerful as Li Dan now, his achievements in history have earned him the well-known title of "King of Taiwan".
Zhu Youxiao was silent for a long while. Li Dan and Yan Siqi stood solemnly with their heads slightly lowered, feeling their hearts beating violently and pounding against their chests.
"Although you two are living overseas, you are still citizens of the Ming Dynasty," Zhu Youxiao finally spoke slowly. "Now that the imperial court has lifted the ban on sea trade, overseas Chinese merchants returning home will have legal status and can become naturalized citizens and settle there."
After a pause, Zhu Youxiao continued, "The Maritime Customs has introduced new regulations. I'm sure you've all read them. Do you have any suggestions?"
Li Dan and Yan Siqi exchanged glances and bowed together, saying, "Long live the wise emperor. We have no objection."
Zhu Youxiao smiled, waved his hand, and ordered the palace servants to take the documents and move the embroidered cushions. He said, "You two don't have to panic, and don't mention the common people. Please take a look at the regulations I have drafted, and then make your own decisions."
"...After the establishment of the Maritime Chamber of Commerce, the imperial court will only be responsible for tax collection, supervision, auditing, mediation, and punishing illegal activities according to the law. All other commercial matters will be resolved through internal negotiations within the Chamber of Commerce..."
If maritime merchants work together, their development will be more orderly, and they will become a force to counter the Dutch East India Company and even some British companies in the future.
At the same time, the Maritime Chamber of Commerce was also given the authority to arrest any sea vessel that did not "receive the letter and raise the flag", and half of the seized commercial goods would be used as a reward.
In other words, the Maritime Merchants Association could also play a role in preventing smuggling. Since they were both merchants and pirates, combating smuggling was a good way for them to make extra money.
In fact, Li Dan and Yan Siqi did not care too much about the regulations of the Maritime Customs and the charter of the Maritime Chamber of Commerce.
What did it matter if they earned less? A legitimate identity and the honor of returning home were the most important things. And the reward from Minjue made them stare with wide eyes.
"To show kindness and grant nobility to the people" was a policy implemented in the Han Dynasty. In the Western Han Dynasty, it was divided into two types:
The first is to confer titles, that is, when the country has a happy event or a great victory in battle, the people can be granted titles;
The other was to sell titles, that is, to buy them. When the government was in financial trouble or needed to raise funds for internal or external military campaigns, the people could donate money or grain in exchange for titles.
Those who obtain a title can obtain a fiefdom (a high-level title), be exempted from part or all taxes and labor service, have their sentences reduced, and have priority in holding official positions.
After the system was introduced, common people began to buy titles as a means of evading taxes and labor service.
As a result, the imperial court went back on its word and conscripted people with titles into service for various reasons, or imposed various other burdens on them.
Since the title purchased with money and grain donations does not bring any benefits, and the common people are not stupid, no one will spend a lot of money on it.
But everything has its pros and cons, and the same is true for people's nobility.
Zhu Youxiao believed that giving ordinary people who had made contributions to the country an honorary title and allowing them to enjoy certain special courtesies would have a very good effect.
Just like Li Dan and Yan Siqi, they are not short of money. What they lack is an identity, a status to bring honor to their family by returning home in glory!
Zhu Youxiao's provisional civilian nobility system was divided into three categories: Righteousness, Diligence, and Bravery. Each category was further divided into seven levels, and was awarded to merchants, workers, and soldiers who had made contributions to the state. These were the three titles of Righteous Merchants, Diligent Workers, and Brave Warriors.
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