Yinreng had another consideration in his mind. The money in his private treasury had been increasing over the years, and he would not have any descendants in this life, so after his death, he didn't know which grandson's pocket the money would fall into.
It would be better for him to do more for the people while he is still alive.
He had only been in Weihaiwei for a year, and the people in the surrounding towns were living much better than before.
The daily food, drink, and shelter expenses of the five or six thousand people in Weihaiwei were considerable. Of course, this money was military funds allocated by Kangxi, but he also paid for every extra meal.
In the past two years, he not only emptied his own pocket, but also the pockets of Yin'er and Kangxi. Yin'er was busy expanding the market, so he had to build factories around the capital and even near the ports in southern Fujian.
In addition to supporting the Eighth Prince in his search for crude oil mines, Yinzhen has also spent a lot of money in the past two years.
Kangxi was even more direct.
Ever since the expansion of the navy began, the Ministry of Revenue began to frequently complain about its poverty to Emperor Kangxi, who eventually decided to pay half of the navy's military expenses. Before Yinreng came to Weihaiwei at the beginning of the year, he had mentioned water conservancy issues in Jizhou, Sanjin and other places to Emperor Kangxi many times.
He also hinted that the official road in the Beijing-Tianjin section had been completed and the Twelfth Prince had some free time.
Not long after he arrived in Weihaiwei, he received news that Yinlu had accepted the task of building a reservoir in Jizhou.
Kangxi received the most silver, but he was also the one who cheated the most people in recent years.
People in Weihaiwei were happily distributing rewards, but the capital was in an uproar!
Because Yinzhi reported the results of this battle and the amount of money he had robbed, the military heroes in the court were so envious that their eyes turned red. They said that the Japanese pirates had robbed the Qing merchant ships many times, and it was too easy for them to just learn this little lesson!
Yinzhi only brought 3,000 people to the island, but he was able to recover property worth 6 or 7 million taels. This battle was so damn worth it!
Sun Tzu's Art of War says: Do not move unless it is advantageous.
With such huge profits hanging in front of them, how could they not move?
So, in the next few days, there was a lot of clamor in the court, trying to get an opportunity to march to Japan.
Even a group of old guys covered in wounds came out to join in the fun.
This gave Kangxi a headache——
You said you even need crutches to walk, why are you causing trouble?!
However, before a conclusion could be reached, envoys from Japan arrived in the Qing Dynasty.
As for what they are here for, of course, they are here to seek peace.
The quarrel in the court temporarily ended.
Everyone wants to see how the Japanese want to solve this problem.
As soon as they saw Kangxi, the Japanese envoys burst into tears as if their father had died. They talked about how many people had died in the previous war and said that they didn't know why the Qing Dynasty sent troops to attack the Japanese island. Their country had always been a loyal vassal of the Qing Dynasty.
He was smart enough not to mention the money.
Kangxi felt disgusted.
There must be a limit to pretending to be ignorant when you know the truth.
Kangxi did not tolerate him and asked him bluntly why Japan had planted spies in the Qing Dynasty and why there were pirates outside Tianjin Port, and how he explained it.
The Japanese envoy subconsciously denied that Xi Zuo and the pirates were from Japan, saying that someone set up a trap to slander them in order to frame Japan.
Kangxi sneered directly,
"Since you say that's slander, please provide evidence. Without evidence, it's impossible to convince me and my people that they are not Japanese based on empty words."
The Japanese envoy was stunned. How could he prove that those spies were not Japanese?
He knew clearly in his mind that those people were clearly!
When the Japanese envoy saw the civil and military officials standing beside him watching him with eager eyes, he immediately knew what was going on and gave in.
It shows that Japan is willing to compensate the Qing Dynasty for the piracy incident and will send troops to patrol the waters outside the Japanese island in the future to escort passing merchant ships.
When Kangxi heard the word "compensation", he immediately became interested. He didn't care that the pirates refused to admit that they came from Japan, and asked him to tell him about it.
However, as soon as the Japanese envoy opened his mouth, Kangxi lost interest.
Compensation of 10 million taels of silver?
Just sending away beggars!
"If this is your attitude, then I think there's no need to continue the discussion. For the ten million taels of silver, I'll have my navy go to the Japanese island and get it yourself!"
When the Japanese envoy heard this, he broke out in a cold sweat.
He didn't think that Kangxi was threatening him. After all, in the war that had just ended, the Qing Dynasty only used 3,000 people to easily break through their defense line.
If more troops are dispatched this time, Japan may be on the verge of national destruction!
"Your Majesty, we are willing to pay 50 million taels of silver as compensation!"
After hearing the 50 million taels, Kangxi's expression finally relaxed. These 50 million taels could cover the annual tax revenue of the Qing Dynasty!
But it hasn't met his psychological expectations yet.
"One hundred million taels of silver!"
Kangxi narrowed his eyes and said a number that made everyone present breathe faster.
However, the Japanese envoys immediately jumped up and down.
"What?! No!"
Fifty million taels of silver was already the maximum amount they could come up with. If they took any more, the entire Japanese nation would starve to death in the next five years.
Why was it so easy for the Qing army to steal so much silver from those two cities?
Because that is the tax collected by the two counties in the middle of the year!
In addition, the Qing army seized hundreds of years of savings from merchants and nobles in the county town, and only then were they able to plunder such a large amount of silver.
The annual tax revenue of the entire Japanese Empire was only about 15 million taels. The envoy knew that if he agreed to pay the 10 million taels of silver today, he would commit suicide by seppuku after returning to Japan, and even his family would be disgraced because of him.
If that were the case, he might as well refuse and die in the Qing Dynasty. At least his family would be safe.
The envoy's mind was full of thoughts and his face turned pale.
"Don't agree? If you don't agree, I'll let the navy get it themselves!"
"Your Majesty, it's not that I disagree with compensation, but this 10 million taels is simply too much. This 50 million taels is the greatest sincerity we can offer!"
Kangxi stared at the envoy's pale face and pondered for a moment.
It seems that this ten million taels is indeed beyond their ability to bear.
"Then let's pay it back in 80 million taels. I allow you to pay it back in 10 years. If you still don't agree, then we'll meet on the battlefield!"
"this......"
The Japanese envoy still looked embarrassed, but Kangxi was not interested in listening to his bargaining. He stood up and
"That's it for today. I'll give you five days to think about it."
After Kangxi finished speaking, he left the Golden Palace, and the remaining civil and military officials looked at the Japanese envoy as if they were looking at a shining human-shaped gold nugget.
Eighty million taels!
More than twice the amount of silver in the national treasury!
This Japanese pirate is really rich!
Those who are smart have already started thinking about how to make money from the Japanese pirates.
Anyway, there are no restrictions on the bannermen doing business now, otherwise...
Should they also form a caravan and go out to sea?
No, I have to go to the Ninth Prince and ask him about the price of the treasure ship.
If it's suitable, buy one and try it out!
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