Chapter 511

So today he found a boy and bought a courtyard not too far from Su Qiao's place.

Compared to the mansion in Quanzhou, it is far too small.

Even compared to Su Qiao's house, it is only slightly larger.

Zheng Zhilong knew very well that there are too many hidden dragons and tigers in the capital.

He cannot stand out as he did in Quanzhou.

It is easy to offend people.

Indeed, he did not even dare to choose a large mansion when selecting a house, fearing he might invite trouble.

Thus, news that Zheng Zhilong had bought a mansion spread immediately.

When Su Qiao returned home, Zheng Sen specifically informed him and invited Su Qiao to light the stove.

Su Qiao thought for a moment and agreed, taking Liu Rushi to the Zheng family residence.

One must admit, the Zheng family is full of schemes, yet they leave no trace.

This Zheng family, outsiders and a miscellaneous General of pirate origin, is nothing but a tiny official in Jingcheng.

Among the officials in Jingcheng, eight or nine out of ten look down on him.

Even though he established merit in a naval battle against the Dutch.

Many civil officials also look down on him, and some even secretly harbor thoughts of squeezing him out.

But Su Qiao is different!

In Jingcheng, only Su Qiao is the most special; he holds no post in the court, yet enjoys absolute trust from Your Majesty Zhu Youjian, and not only that, he can even determine some trends in the court.

Many people dare not provoke Su Qiao.

Suddenly, those with hidden agendas, unable to figure out the relationship between Su Qiao and the Zheng family for the time being, will not make a move.

Su Qiao also knew the Zheng family's intentions; they planned to rely on him to block the malice of some people.

After the banquet, Su Qiao and Zheng Zhilong talked in the study for half an hour.

No one knew what they discussed.

Even Zheng Sen was driven out.

Finally, the two walked out of the study together, laughing heartily.

When returning home, Liu Rushi curiously asked one more question.

Unlike Zheng Zhilong, who was cautious, worried, and hiding his intentions, Su Qiao could not stay by Chongzhen's side forever; eventually, he would have to return.

Therefore, what the Zheng family valued very highly was, for Su Qiao, not so important.

It could be said casually, only instructing Liu Rushi not to spread it.

So he told her about the Zheng family's desire to leverage Su Qiao's influence to form an alliance.

Liu Rushi pressed, "Forming an alliance with us, what can the Su family gain?"

"Not much to say, not little to say; when Zheng Zhilong commands the navy, he will grant us some conveniences."

"Just that?"

Liu Rushi asked very disappointedly.

She was no longer the novice she was before; waiting for Su Qiao to be away for over a year, she basically knew a great deal about court affairs.

She saw through the Zheng family's perfunctory attitude at a glance.

"Hmm, there is also their overseas channels."

Actually, this is what Su Qiao valued.

After Zhu Youjian destroys Japan, the Great Ming's steps cannot stop; expansion in all directions will be the norm.

At that time, overseas channels are what Su Qiao needs.

"That is not worth it either; I feel the Zheng family is completely bluffing you, and I do not believe you cannot see it."

"Even if I see it, what then? Mainly, we do not need anything; if you want money, you already have nearly six or seven hundred thousand taels of silver there, which cannot be spent; if you want power? The key is I do not want to be so busy my feet never touch the ground; as for other things, there is nothing else I want!"

"So I look down on those things from the Zheng family."

Liu Rushi: "..."

After Su Qiao left the palace, Wang Chengen and other eunuchs, as well as the palace maids in the main hall, were all driven out by Zhu Youjian.

What Su Qiao said today about Nurturing bandits to increase one's own importance, he thought was a good method, and planned to discuss it with Laozu Sect in the group chat.

Indeed, as soon as he opened the group chat, he @'d both Zhu Di and Zhu Yuanzhang.

"Great-Grandfather, Su Qiao has returned; just now Sun Chen asked how to solve the Japanese pirates and the problem of court opposition to pacifying the Japanese; Su Qing proposed the method of Nurturing bandits to increase one's own importance; Sun Chen thinks it is very suitable; Great-Grandfather, what do you think?"

At this time, Zhu Yuanzhang was not in the palace; he was wandering around outside.

Potatoes and sweet potatoes, etc., have now been distributed to various places in the Great Ming for cultivation, allowing the common people to have high-yield grain and eat their fill.

Beggars have decreased, and laughter and joy have increased in Jingcheng.

Indeed, Zhu Yuanzhang, unable to stay idle, went out for a stroll to inspect incognito.

Discovering that Zhu Youjian had @'d him in the group chat, he found a place to sit down and rest.

"That boy has returned, has he? Nurturing bandits to increase one's own importance? Coming back and immediately proposing such a nasty trick? But it seems this method is not bad; do as you see fit. I see there is no crisis on your side anymore; Su Qiao will have to return then. Since your side is fine, there are still many matters in other places; just arrange for Su Qiao to go there and take a look."

Hearing that Zhu Yuanzhang wanted to send Su Qiao away, Zhu Youjian jumped up instantly.

"Don't, Great-Grandfather; this Su Qiao must wait a bit longer. The sea ban has just begun; we do not yet know how the Great Ming will proceed next. Great-Grandfather, you must give Sun Chen some time."

"You good-for-nothing brat! Give, give, give it to you! But you cannot drag it out too long!" Seeing Zhu Youjian's tearful appearance, Zhu Yuanzhang felt his anger rise.

365, Zheng Zhilong ascends to court!

Zhu Youjian: "..."

Before logging off, Zhu Yuanzhang did not forget to add one more reminder: "Some battles can be fought; some are unnecessary. Those who love war will perish; those who forget war will be in peril! Figure it out yourself!"

Without waiting for Zhu Youjian's reaction, he directly ended the private chat.

Zhu Youjian sat on the dragon throne, waiting alone for a while.

In his view, since the Great Ancestor had agreed, attacking Japan was already a done deal and could fully be put on the schedule.

Think of it, then do it!

Zhu Youjian himself was an impatient person.

He immediately stood up and shouted toward the palace exterior: "Someone come!"

"Your Majesty, this servant is here!" Wang Chengen heard the voice and was the first to enter.

Zhu Youjian nodded and asked: "How is the warship production at the Tianjin shipyard?"

"Replying to Your Majesty, the navy in Tianjin has already completed its full re-equipment. There are over one hundred thirty main capital ships, plus other medium and small vessels. Should we halt them?"

"No, do not stop!" Zhu Youjian said without a moment's thought.

"But Your Majesty, although the ships have been produced, the配套 cannons cannot keep up with the pace now; the main issue is a lack of copper!"

Indeed, it was a lack of copper!

There was no shortage of silver, but copper was coinage. Even though the money hall Su Qiao had arranged to open was already in business, using banknotes to buy copper coins or substituting silver, many still did not feel secure and stored large amounts of copper coins.

The court needed to cast cannons and required vast quantities of copper.

Copper was already scarce within Great Ming territory; now it was naturally even more scarce and insufficient.

Zhu Youjian had not expected such a situation; the joy on his face instantly froze. "In that case, what about the copper? Where is there copper? Bring it here quickly!"

"Your Majesty, this servant heard Mr. Su say that Japan apparently has vast amounts of copper and silver. Since Your Majesty intends to take action against Japan, why not have the navy go directly to Japan and seize their copper mines? Then Great Ming will lack neither copper nor silver and gold."

Wang Chengen said this without a moment's thought.

Hearing this, Zhu Youjian was stunned. "Did Su Qing say such a thing before?"

"Your Majesty, this servant remembers clearly; it was Mr. Su who said it. Besides, did Mr. Su not previously draw a world map? It is said that many mineral deposits are marked on it."

Wang Chengen reminded Zhu Youjian.

Zhu Youjian had truly forgotten this matter; reminded by Wang Chengen, he suddenly recalled that on the world map there really were many black and red special markings.

"Bring it out and let us see; I truly forgot about this!"

"Yes!"

Wang Chengen called two young eunuchs and hurriedly helped bring out the world map, hanging it on the wall.

Only at this moment did Zhu Youjian see on the map markings for copper mines, gold mines, iron mines, and various other annotations.