Chapter 670: It’s all these powerful and powerful people who have caused me so much trouble!
After Shen Shixing arrived in Songjiang Prefecture, he began to pilot navigation insurance.
Due to the inevitable risks involved in maritime trade, insurance was born in this environment. This is a method that came from the Netherlands, a lowland region in western Thailand, to reduce the risks of maritime trade and increase the enthusiasm of ships to go to sea.
Antwerp, the busiest port in the Netherlands, has a ship insurance policy with a maximum voyage of 33,000 miles, and insurance merchants set premiums based on comprehensive factors such as tonnage, quantity, hydrological risks, and piracy.
The Ming’s longest voyage insurance business is one hundred thousand miles, which is an ultra-long global trade insurance, followed by the ocean trade insurance of 50,000 miles, and the Ming’s territorial sea insurance business of 33,000 miles, and Four types of offshore insurance covering ten thousand miles.
Following the success of Songjiang Prefecture’s pilot program of marine insurance, the Michigan Shipping Department followed suit and established a government-run insurance office to operate insurance and encourage overseas voyages.
This is originally a good policy to encourage going to sea.
Zhu Yijun did not encounter a crying driver in Jiaozhou Bay. Wang Yi'e did not arrange such a link, but the Ming Emperor still read the files of Jiaozhou.
“From this case, I saw the alienation of money from people.” Zhu Yijun put down a pile of files. These files are a series of cases, all of which revolve around one topic: insurance fraud. .
More than 95% of the Ming Dynasty’s sailing ships returned home, which means that for every one hundred ships that went to sea, more than 95 ships could return smoothly and fully loaded. This was due to the Ming Dynasty’s excellent shipbuilding technology and commerce. The scope was still limited to the Nanyang area within the Strait of Malacca, and the Ming Dynasty spared no effort to clear out the pirates, creating a myth.
The scope of marine trade insurance is constantly expanding, and the average income of Daming Marine Trade Insurance has reached an astonishing 5%, and the balance other than compensation can reach 5% of the total insured funds.
Marine trade insurance is like a huge casino, and the Ming government-run insurance is the banker. Since there is a banker, there must be some cheating.
The Liu family in Jimo County has been a maritime businessman for generations, so they focused on insurance compensation. At the beginning, Liu Pinghai, the head of the Liu family, was cautious and did not dare to go overboard and repaired some aging ships. Improper operation eventually led to various accidents on ships at docks and ports, and compensation was obtained.
Any new thing grows in a wild environment at the beginning of its development, and maritime trade insurance is no exception. There are many officials and insufficient personnel, so it is impossible to conduct a detailed inspection of the accident. It is found that it is indeed an accident or even a sinking. According to the regulations , compensation will be paid according to regulations.
As soon as Mr. Liu started this, all the merchants in the Ming Dynasty were like cats that smelled fishy smell, and they acted upon the wind. Soon, Shen Shixing discovered that the return of ships in the Ming Dynasty and the rate of return were declining, and he discovered a little bit. After the clues were revealed, the insurance offices of the shipping companies in the five major cities began to patch it up and added the number of years. In other words, the insurance premiums of the ships would increase with the number of years.
The overall insurance business of Da Ming is constructed based on the system construction of Antwerp insurance merchants. The age factor is a summary of Da Ming’s practice.
There is generally no problem with the age of the ships in the West. There are too many pirates in the West, and some ships will not survive the day of aging.
There is no need to insure a ship that is more than fifteen years old. The annual insurance money is enough to buy a new three-masted plywood ship.
Liu Shi Liu Pinghai saw that there were no loopholes to exploit, so he did not give up because he saw the loopholes in Ming Dynasty's official insurance.
The government-run insurance department does not have the power to investigate, summon crew members, search, arrest, etc. In other words, the Ming government-run marine trade insurance cannot conduct a comprehensive investigation of the accident. , Liu took advantage of this loophole and became bolder.
This time, Liu chose a new strategy, breaking the ship.
The insured ship A did not sink at sea. After forging personal and material evidence, ship B brought it back to the port for claim settlement. However, the ship that should have sunk was driven into the shipbreaking yard for dismantling. Then sell them in batches, one fish and two to eat.
The Liu family’s approach was very secretive, but a loud-tongued daughter-in-law of the Liu family told her family about it. Soon, what should have been a secret became an open secret. Due to various reasons such as the large scale of government-run insurance and the difficulty of auditing, Ming maritime merchants began to empty out the insurance funds that should belong to the public.
Soon, Wang Yi'e discovered the clues to this incident. Because it originated from the Maritime Bureau of Mizhou City, the situation in Mizhou was the most serious.
The disadvantages of the official camp appear. The official camp represents the face of the court and the emperor. Many times, knowing that there may be problems, but in order not to be too rigid and not to lose face, all accidents are needed When conducting investigations, the lack of manpower makes it difficult for government-run insurance.
As a last resort, after Wang Yi'e and Shen Shixing exchanged letters, they connected the tax bureaus and tax bureaus in various places to the government-run maritime trade insurance.
The sea may not know if the ship sinks, but trade can speak. If your ship sinks, your cargo should also sink. Your cargo is still there, so how could your ship sink? After the Tax Inspection Institute and the government-run Insurance Department cleared all the procedural links, the trend of forging personal and material evidence, concealing and dismantling ships was finally curbed.
In the autumn of the twelfth year of Wanli, Liu Pinghai, the unwilling Liu family, became more courageous. He was used to getting something for nothing. This is what happened. Liu Pinghai felt that it would be okay if he did this, so his behavior became more and more bold.
This time, Liu Pinghai began to bribe many officials in the insurance department, forged insurance policies, and obtained insurance money.
A white wolf with empty hands, a ship that does not actually exist, but the procedures are complete. After being insured, it will sink soon. Everything is legal and legal, but the insurance money is earned.
When Liu was giving bribes, he always had one sentence that was particularly touching: It's not your money anyway, it's the public's money. If you don't take it, others will.
How to turn public money into your own money is the starting motive for Liu to become unscrupulous in the entire case, and it is also the basic logic of the entire insurance fraud case.
Paper cannot contain the fire. In the year-end plan of the twelfth year of Wanli, this kind of insurance fraud was investigated. Soon, all relevant officials of the Mizhou Shipping Department were imprisoned, and the Liu family was also imprisoned. As a result, Liu Pinghai fled abroad and was captured before he even left the port.
Is Liu the only one who is unlucky? All maritime merchants were unlucky.
In order to prevent public money from becoming private money, the five major shipping companies began to make the entire compensation process lengthy, and soon the compensation cycle began to become longer. The compensation requirements must have a tax payment certificate from the tax inspectorate. , there must also be proof of completion of the case from the Tax Inspection Institute and Coastal Defense Inspection, which extends the time for compensation from three months to one year.
Everyone complains about the lengthy process, but this is the result of the struggle. Everyone must bear the consequences together, and no one is exempt.
"Your Majesty, this case is quite representative." Zhang Juzheng said solemnly: "If Liu cannot be tried, then insurance, which is supposed to promote the prosperity of maritime trade, will provide a safe place for dangerous maritime trade. The systematic exploration of the bottom line has completely failed. Sometimes, heavy punishment is needed.”
“I don’t want to be scolded as a traitor to the people every day, and I don’t want to kill people every day, but sir, you. Seeing what Liu has done, what can I do? I can only kill them," Zhu Yijun said with emotion.
Isn’t this Liu looking for death? The money in the insurance pool is indeed public money.
But in all maritime affairs, the emperor's internal funds accounted for half of the shares. This was done through bribery, but it was also a compromise in the court's exploration to ensure the smooth implementation of the policy. The money for the insurance pool was indeed public money. Money, everyone’s money, but equally, it’s the emperor’s money.
What I don’t want is for these powerful right-wingers to harm me!
Zhang Juzheng discovered that His Majesty is a mature politician. Looking at what he said, he was so shameless and not guilty at all.
"Seventy-two people died and more than 400 were exiled. After this case, I hope to curb the trend of defrauding people. Of course, if they insist on continuing, I can also play with them. "Play." Zhu Yijun looked at Feng Bao and said, "The confiscated Liu family's property will be used for Chidao from Kaifeng to Jiayuguan." "I obey the order."
Chidao from Kaifeng to Jiayuguan has another sponsor. The Zhashe households in Xitucheng were forced by Zhu Yiyi to donate a lot because they celebrated the departure of His Majesty the Emperor. Tianjin secretly tied up with Japanese pirates and set up a private sea market. Akira Kawama, who trafficked opium, also contributed a part.
Zhang Juzheng frowned and realized that the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty was probably searching his house during his southern tour this time! Just to make up for the shortfall from Kaifeng to Jiayuguan Chidao! On this southern tour, the huge investment from Kaifeng Prefecture to Chidao in Jiayuguan will probably be recouped.
Wang Yi'e said that to solve some problems, strong means are needed to ensure downward allocation to ensure domestic demand.
"Your Majesty, can you donate a little? It's not much. There is still a surplus of 2.4 million silver in the family. If you don't bring this money with you in life or death, I will share your majesty's worries and solve the problems for the court. This is what it should be." Wang Chonggu said eagerly.
Zhu Yijun looked at Wang Chonggu and asked: "Erect an inscription for Cifu at Jiayuguan?"
"Okay, okay." Wang Chonggu said immediately without being pretentious.
It is true that he shared His Majesty's worries and solved the problems for the court, and it is also true that he wanted to erect a monument. As a rebel, he was recognized by His Majesty after the Li Sanhu assassination case, but the world still does not recognize his achievements as Wang Chonggu.
Everyone was involved in what happened in the last years of Longqing and the beginning of Wanli, and everyone knows what happened.
Wang Chonggu only has one son. Wang Qian can already take care of himself. Wang Chonggu’s money can be used to exchange for his reputation.
"Good." Zhu Yijun said with a smile: "When the time comes, I will personally write a letter of praise. It will be erected not only in Jiayuguan, but also in Puzhou, Cifu's hometown. There are many monuments on Chongguchi Road. To commemorate his achievements, he built one next to the Zhongyong Temple in Puzhou. What did Wang Cifu think? "
"This is very good, very good!" Wang Chonggu wanted to build a monument in his hometown after hearing this. , already beaming with joy.
“Your Majesty, when accumulating wealth becomes more and more important in the Ming Dynasty, and even becomes the most important thing, moral norms will also change accordingly, and they are changing now. The laws of the Ming Dynasty The improvement and system construction need to keep up with this change, otherwise the conflicts among the people will not be alleviated, and turmoil will follow. "Zhang Juzheng reminded His Majesty that the moral norms of the Ming Dynasty are changing.
It used to be about accumulating virtue, but now it is about accumulating wealth.
Copper, silver, gold, these general equivalents, these currencies are generally recognized, and currency becomes a medium for storing value.
General equivalents are generally recognized by people, and they can be used to exchange for the fruits of other people's labor. This power of exchange does not have to be exercised immediately, but can also be exercised when needed. Therefore, money, a special commodity, It has become a perfect tool for storing value.
Value and wealth that essentially belong to everyone can be possessed privately through various methods. The possession of value means that power is possessed by private individuals. The influx of large amounts of silver is intensifying this contradiction and prompting The reason why all this happens is people's desire and greed for money.
Is human nature inherently evil or inherently good? Human nature has both evil and good qualities, which is a contradictory unity.
What the court has to do is to improve the law, promote the construction of the legal system, make society more equitable, and prevent unrest.
The next day, Emperor Ming went to the seaside. The wind at the seaside was still biting at this season. Emperor Ming put on a thick cloak and went to the seaside with Queen Wang and the emperor's eldest son Zhu Changzhi.
Those who have not witnessed the sea with their own eyes cannot imagine the vastness of the sea, nor can they imagine the rough waves of the sea. Zhu Yijun saw the sea with his own eyes. The sea with three feet of waves without wind, the waves rolled forward and hit the shore. The rocks broke into a piece of crystal spray, and when the water fell, the rocks came out. As the tide receded, the rocks on the seaside changed from a black shadow on the sea to a piece of rocks.
There are dozens of fishing boats on the sea preparing to go out to sea. These are hard-working fishermen who are going to various sea fields to plant kelp. Kelp is a specialty of Shandong. The scale of planting is gradually expanding. The sea breeze is still very cold, but the sea breeze is still very cold. The enthusiasm of the fishermen cannot be contained.
Zhu Yijun originally planned to try fish meat, which is sashimi, but Zhang Hong stopped him. His Majesty could not eat it, and the great medical officer Pang Xian also stopped him. It is true that marine fish are not freshwater fish. In theory, parasites from marine fish cannot survive in the human body.
“Your Majesty, during the Three Kingdoms period, Chen Deng, the governor of Guangling, was extremely depressed, flushed in the face and unable to eat. He asked Hua Tuo for treatment. Hua Tuo used medicine as a guide, and Chen Deng vomited. The insects were all red-headed and shaking from head to tail. When asked about the reason, Hua Tuo said: "It is caused by eating too much raw clams. It will die in three years. Chen Dengguo died in three years."
"It's true." "Hua Tuo was helpless." Pang Xian told a story from the Three Kingdoms period.
The eldest son of the emperor, Zhu Changzhi, looked at Pang Xian dumbfounded and spit out three liters of worms? ! What a terrible scene.
"Your Majesty, the medical officer at the Nagasaki Governor's Palace, Xu Wei, reported that the most serious problem in Japan is schistosomiasis. If there are really these problems, I have no ability to take good care of it." Pang Xian said bluntly, Your Majesty, you can eat if you want, but if something goes wrong He just ran without even looking.
Can't be cured, hopeless, farewell.
"If you don't want to eat, don't eat." Zhu Yijun was told by Pang Xian that his scalp was numb, and he immediately expressed that he cherished his life and would not eat sashimi, neither freshwater fish nor saltwater fish. In this day and age, There is really nothing you can do about parasites.
Zhu Yijun gave up sashimi, even though he heard it was delicious, just like he gave up trying Gao Liji and the Japanese wandering girl.
The Emperor of the Ming Dynasty was patrolling the south, King Lu was making mischief, and the Japanese country was in the midst of internal and external troubles at this time. Oda Nobunaga, who had not been seen for a long time, was assassinated by gunpowder, and finally appeared in public again, and as soon as he showed up, he There was a big fuss!
Oda Nobunaga promulgated the "Search District Law".
The land inspection law requires the use of unified weights and measures to clear the entire Japanese land, clarify cadastral ownership, classify it according to different conditions such as land fertility, precipitation, and harvest, and determine the specific conditions of the land. Things like tribute and conscription.
Oda Nobunaga requested that temples and daimyo’s farmland should also be inspected, and specific tax standards should also be stipulated. All monks and daimyo should also be taxed, and they should follow the basic principle of one public, two citizens. Tax rates shall not be levied additionally.
If you refuse to comply, you will be punished.
At this time, Oda Nobunaga was almost on the opposite side of all meat-eaters, but he still had to do it, even in the face of several assassinations.
As soon as this Prosecution Law came out, the whole country was in an uproar!
What is strange is that Oda Nobunaga's opponent, Mouri Terumoto, did not immediately stand up to oppose, and used this as a reason to gather opponents to resist, but chose to remain silent.
Mouri Terumoto's silence made everyone realize that Oda Nobunaga and Mori Terumoto may have reached some kind of tacit understanding.
On February 28, the thirteenth year of Wanli, two small boats from the Maori family and the Oda family sailed into Nagasaki Bay at sunset. They looked like two ordinary boats. After all, the Japanese merchant ships, the Maori family and the Oda family, maintained close business ties with the Nagasaki Governor-General of the Ming Dynasty.
But behind these two ships are two huge fleets on the sea outside Nagasaki Port. The naval forces of Terumoto Mori and Nobunaga Oda can be said to be deployed in full force. This deployment is not Not to attack Nagasaki, but to defend each other.
The passengers on these two small boats were Mori Terumoto and Oda Nobunaga themselves. They came to the Nagasaki Governor's Palace to negotiate in person about the war, the implementation of the Prosecution Law, the food crisis, and Treasure money.
If these two life-and-death enemies could sit down at the same table and talk, they had to mention the guarantee given by the Nagasaki Governor's Office.
Long-term governor Xu Wei promised: No assassination will ever occur during the negotiations at the Nagasaki Governor's Mansion. Once anyone is assassinated during the negotiations, the initiator will be the enemy of the Nagasaki Governor's Mansion.
The Nagasaki Governor's Mansion has 4,000 guest soldiers, and the Nagasaki Governor's Office has 4,500 soldiers guarding Qianhu in Osaka Bay. In April, the Ming Dynasty will mobilize 4,500 troops from the Zhejiang Nine Battalions to attack the Nagasaki Governor. Replenish the government's military strength.
Once the Nagasaki Governor's Office completely stands on someone's side, whoever it is will inevitably become the winner.
After Oda Nobunaga heard that the Nagasaki Governor's Office had the idea of resolving conflicts, he was overjoyed. Before setting off, he promulgated the Prosecution Law and quickly rushed to Nagasaki. Oda Nobunaga was never afraid of death. He was afraid of unfinished ambitions. .
"It's ridiculous to say that. In the past, I just wanted to be the leader of Owari Kingdom. Now, I hope that Japan will become better." Oda Nobunaga met the Governor of Nagasaki, Xu Wei, and revealed He continued with a very sincere smile: "No matter what the outcome of this negotiation is, I would like to thank Ming Dynasty for its willingness to bring peace to the Japanese country."
"Commander Li, thank you again during the incident at Honnoji Temple. Send troops to support. "
Oda Nobunaga did not expect any good results to come from this negotiation, but Oda Nobunaga was grateful for Ming's willingness.
Being able to sit down and talk together is already a blessing in itself.
"The war and food shortage in the Japanese country have seriously affected the refining of silver. We don't care what happens to you, but the refining of silver must not have any impact because of the war." Xu Wei He once again stated his position. The reason why they were asked to come to Nagasaki for negotiations was that Daming also had his own demands.
The Japanese country is short of food, which has already affected the flow of silver into the Ming Dynasty. At this time, the Nagasaki Governor's Office cannot ignore it no matter what.
Originally, Xu Wei and Sun Keyi judged that this was a short-term food shortage, and there would be no shortage when the food was harvested. However, as time went by, things became more and more difficult to control, and the people became more and more frustrated. It's getting more serious.
In just three months, more than twenty-three riots occurred on the ground of Japan. The common people rose up in rebellion, even in Iwami Ginzan. The mining of silver stopped for nearly a month. Time began to slowly recover.
At this point, the Nagasaki Governor-General had to step forward.
"It should be so." Oda Nobunaga sat down.
"Oda Sekihaku, I was indeed the murderer in the last assassination, and I was indeed the assassin sent, but we all know why Oda Nobutaka died," said Terumoto Mouri. He remembered the last time he sent an assassin to kill him, which made him very depressed.
In the Japanese country, it was very common to send assassins. Before the war, it was just like a war etiquette to send some assassins. However, successful assassinations were rare. They were just meant to do it. Terumoto Mouri just sent them casually. Among these people, who would have thought that the assassin could actually walk up to Oda Nobunaga and shoot him to death with one shot?
Mouri Terumoto said indifferently: "Of course, the person was killed by the assassin I sent. If you insist on fighting me to the end, I will accompany you."
"Talk about national affairs. Let’s not talk about family matters.” Oda Nobunaga replied very calmly.
"Mao Li Huiyuan, are you plotting against Ming Dynasty's water and fertilizer technology?" Xu Wei looked at Mao Li Huiyuan and talked about the newspaper sent by the capital.
Mao Li Huiyuan offered three million silver to buy the Ming Dynasty's water and fertilizer craftsmanship from the Ming Dynasty's inner ghost. Chen Sheng was active in Beijing, and was finally captured by King Lu and sent to Jiejieyuan, where he was punished by Ming Zhengdian.
Mouri Terumoto said quite calmly: "I am the lord of the country and the lord of the daimyo. The Japanese country is so short of food. I am plotting water and fertilizer not just for myself. I have a clear conscience. The Ming Dynasty will hold it accountable. "Kill or behead at will."
Water and fertilizer are used to increase food production. Terumoto Mori dares to come to Nagasaki, not because he is not afraid, but because he must come. If he does not come, the Nagasaki Governor's Office and Oda Nobunaga will not come. If they stand together, Maori Huiyuan will also be defeated. Both the left and right may die, so it is better to break into this dragon's pond and tiger's den.
Not to mention anything else, as long as the Nagasaki Governor's Palace restrains his navy and ground attack, the Maori family will be unable to resist at all.
"If I kill you and chop you up, wouldn't you become a hero of Japan?" Xu Wei sneered and shook his head and said: "If you really want it, you can tell the Nagasaki Governor's Office and I will present it to Your Majesty on your behalf. Your Majesty does not sell crafts. , can’t I sell you some water and fertilizer? You’re sneaky and secretly obtained the formula and made it like this.” "
The theory of public and private is based on the theory of contradiction. Public and private are a relative concept. Public includes a larger collective, while the Ming Dynasty and the Japanese state are obviously two collectives. Chen Sheng betrayed himself for money. The collective, damn it, but Maori Huiyuan is for the collective benefit of the Japanese country.
The Ming Dynasty and the Japanese Kingdom are two competing, even incompatible groups. When fighting each other, it is normal to use all means. From the standpoint of the Japanese Kingdom, Terumoto Mori is right, Nagasaki The Governor-General really arrested and killed Mouri Terumoto, and he really became a hero.
But from Ming's point of view, there must be an explanation. Then these three million taels of silver are punishment. Daming has caught the ironclad evidence that the other party is sneaky.
"I lied to Chen Sheng. In fact, I had no intention of paying so much money." Maori Huiyuan said helplessly: "But this matter has disturbed the country, and it should be like this."
Daming doesn’t want to apologize, just compensate.
"I must arrive at Nagasaki Port in three months. When His Majesty visits Songjiang Prefecture in the south, I will also give gifts to Your Majesty." Xu Wei gave the deadline very clearly.
Xu Wei doesn’t care about false reputation at all. He actually has one idea: if Mouri Terumoto is alive, more Japanese will die in the struggle with Oda Nobunaga or his successors. This is Xu Wei’s fundamental goal , destroy the Japanese.
“Then, let’s discuss the local law.” Xu Wei spread his hands and said, “Don’t you, the meat-eaters, feel sad that the country of Japan has been brought into such a state by you?”
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Oda Nobunaga immediately said: "So we must focus on agriculture and suppress business. All the grain will be used to make wine to supply the enjoyment of the coastal cities. It is a war and the civilians are not hungry. Now a large amount of grain is being brewed. As soon as the price of food rises, people will immediately Hoarding, civilians also began to store food, which resulted in less and less food on the market."
Xu Wei looked at Oda Nobunaga in surprise and said: "You mean to blame the Ming Dynasty for opening the sea. Frequent trade has caused Japan’s food crisis? Are you not fooling around? Did Ming buy wine from Japan? Or did Ming sell Japanese grain to our country? Blame everything on Daming! Whatever happens, you always find reasons and excuses. It’s your own problem!”
Xu Wei almost laughed at what Oda Nobunaga said. The hidden meaning behind the words is all caused by Ming Dynasty.
"No, what I mean is that the current agricultural affairs in Japan cannot support commerce at all. The rise of maritime trade will lead to such chaos. Therefore, it is necessary to examine the local laws and clarify the cadastral." Oda Nobunaga waved his hands repeatedly, even if he had this idea in his heart, he did not dare to show it.
"Why don't you just issue a lockdown order?" Maori Terumoto asked dismissively.
Oda Nobunaga said: "With this in mind, I have already drafted an order to lock down the country, expelling all outsiders, prohibiting trade with outsiders, except for the Ming Dynasty, prohibiting ships other than Feng Shu ships from ferrying, and prohibiting the return of overseas Japanese. To Japan."
"Huh? Are you crazy?" Mouri Terumoto looked at Oda Nobunaga blankly, he said that, Oda Nobunaga had already planned.
(End of this chapter)