By now, Zheng Zhilong already owned more than a thousand warships and cargo ships, and was extremely powerful; he also established his own base in Japan, with Hirado Island as the center.
Although it has begun to move to Taiwan on a large scale in recent years, it still maintains a strong presence in Japan. The most important point is that this is the source of its raw materials.
Zheng Zhilong also conducted a lot of trade here and was able to recruit warriors for his own use.
Zheng Zhilong also made friends with many powerful politicians here, and even had connections within the shogunate. He also married the daughter of a powerful Japanese official, achieving his goals through marriage.
Everything was going very smoothly until Xu Xinsu and the other two had a falling out.
Xu Xinsu was also an ambitious man. He was Li Dan's sworn brother in the past, and the two had a very good cooperation and had never had any major problems in this regard.
When Zheng Zhilong took over, Xu Xinsu was very dissatisfied. He felt that after Li Dan's death, the position should be his. Who was Zheng Zhilong? Was he worthy of it?
Under such circumstances, the conflicts between the two sides will accumulate and deepen.
Xu Xinsu also wanted to form a fleet, so he colluded with the Dutch.
Because the Dutch urgently needed to trade with China and obtain raw silk and other items that were urgently needed by the Japanese routes and the head office, Xu Xinsu received advance payment of purchase funds from the Dutch on many occasions, with the amount reaching tens of thousands of taels.
These funds not only demonstrate the Dutch's trust in Xu Xinsu, but also illustrate the scale of Xu Xinsu's business and his position in the Taiwan Strait trade at that time.
Xu Xinsu did not disappoint the Dutch. He actively used his mainland business network and once shipped 250 dan of raw silk to the Dutch at one time after receiving advance payment from the Dutch.
Xu Xinsu asked the Dutch to help him eliminate pirates on the Zhangzhou-Taiwan route, and at the same time provide him with certain weapons and personnel for self-defense, but the effect was not very good.
After falling out with Zheng Zhilong, the conflict between Xu Xinsu and Zheng Zhilong escalated, and Xu Xinsu was greatly affected.
Under such circumstances, Xu Xinsu was also very decisive and chose to surrender to the Ming government.
No one knows what role Xu Xinsu plays in the Imperial Household Department, but he is now the deputy director of maritime trade of the Imperial Household Department.
Although Zheng Zhilong was furious and wanted to kill Xu Xinsu in Quanzhou, he had no other choice. Xu Xinsu was in such high position and power that he could not afford to offend her. If he wanted to buy goods from the Ming Dynasty court, he could only endure it.
Xu Xinsu also took revenge on Zheng Zhilong, and the conflict between the two sides became more and more intense.
This time, the Ming Dynasty's Royal Navy attacked. Although Zheng Zhilong used many methods and spent a lot of money to try to find out the news, it was all in vain and he didn't get any news.
On the contrary, according to the reports from his subordinates, Xu Xinsu has been very arrogant during this period of time. He seems to be partying every night in Quanzhou and is said to be living a very good life.
There was also a rumor that Xu Xinsu said that his good days were about to come, which made Zheng Zhilong very vigilant.
If your opponent is happy, you may be in trouble.
Zheng Zhilong understood this principle very well.
This time, after pulling the goods out from the Ming Dynasty, he led the fleet north and soon encountered the Royal Navy of the Ming Dynasty, and then followed the Royal Navy.
But he didn't expect that the reaction from the Royal Navy seemed a bit intense.
After the battle horn sounded, Zheng Zhilong's face looked a little ugly.
Why do you feel like hitting yourself?
Sure enough, as he expected, the Ming Dynasty's royal navy really took action.
The battleship began to accelerate and approached this side at full speed.
Zheng Zhilong was not confident about this royal navy.
It was said that this was a fleet built at great expense by the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, using the most advanced warships and artillery of the Ming Dynasty. Zheng Zhilong did not quite believe this, as he believed that his own team and artillery were the most powerful.
What's more, we have a lot of ships and people on our side, so we are not afraid at all.
Zheng Zhilong didn't move, waiting for the other party to come closer.
If they wanted to ask questions, it would be a good opportunity to talk. Maybe I could even establish a relationship with someone from the Royal Navy.
In this way, he would not be afraid of Xu Xinsu.
Zheng Zhilong felt no pressure to surrender to the imperial court and seek support from the imperial court.
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