Chapter 181: Before I Leave, I Want to Take Zheng Sen With Me

"I really want to buy a ten-thousand-ton cargo ship."

"No sails needed to roam the seas; whoever displeases me, I'll catch up and ram them to sink."

"Fast speed, no one can escape."

"Cast entirely of steel, no one can damage it."

The wooden sea ship rose and fell with the waves, and most of the surrounding bodyguards looked uncomfortable, nearly vomiting.

Only Lin Dao remained unchanged in expression, still able to voice his feelings.

"Too bad, lacking professional talent."

"Not to mention daily maintenance and fuel supply."

"Just operating it, you can't find anyone."

Lin Dao was aboard a sea ship, part of a massive fleet, heading south to Jinjiang, Fujian.

Zheng Zhilong, who actually controlled most of Fujian, was a very sensible man.

Lin Dao summoned him to surrender, and he surrendered on the spot.

He surrendered joyfully.

The infamy of Commander Lin had long spread throughout the world.

From the Emperor down to the yamen runners, not one was spared.

The homes of local gentry and powerful clans were even ransacked, people and all.

Zheng Zhilong had originally prepared to take his whole family aboard a ship and flee overseas.

But Commander Lin actually offered him a surrender~~~

This level of importance seemed to be given only to the Guan Ning Army under heaven.

Not exactly, the Guan Ning Army surrendered on their own initiative.

Zheng Zhilong was very happy, actively inviting Lin Dao's army into Fujian to cooperate in controlling the prefectures.

He even concentrated the fleet between Jin and Xiamen, forbidding any ships to set sail.

The various camps traveling by land had already completely controlled all parts of Fujian.

Lin Dao set sail from Huating County heading south, directly rushing to Jinjiang to meet Zheng Zhilong.

"Unless someone forces me."

Lin Dao looked up at the seagulls soaring in the sky and muttered to himself, "If Zheng Zhilong rebels before the battle and sends a fleet to ambush me."

"If he really dares to do that, I'll let him see what a ten-thousand-ton giant beast is~~~"

"His son might have that guts, but Zheng Zhilong probably doesn't."

Anhai Town, Jinjiang, the Zheng Residence.

Inside this super luxury mansion covering over a hundred mu, the leaders of the Empress Dowager Zheng Group were preparing.

They were about to go to Xigang to welcome Commander Lin, and were finalizing their inspection of the gifts.

"Big Brother." Zheng Zhibao looked at the jade throne golden Buddha over a foot tall before him, greatly surprised, "Isn't this too vulgar?"

To welcome Commander Lin, Zheng Zhilong had prepared many gifts.

Most were mainly gold and silver.

At a glance, the glittering gold was very dazzling.

The Eighteen Zhis all expressed that these gifts were really too vulgar.

"You don't understand."

Zheng Zhilong's one sentence made everyone shut up, "I must make Commander Lin feel that I am just a vulgar man."

Looking at the clock not far away, Zheng Zhilong stood up, "The time is about right, let's go welcome Commander Lin."

The core members of the Empress Dowager Zheng Group all stood up and followed.

Almost all of the Zheng core were present.

Only the eldest son Zheng Sen and subordinates like Shi Lang were far away in Taiwan and other places.

He was also worried that Lin Dao would wipe them all out in one pot.

At the Xigang riverbank, the righteous army stationed here had sealed off the surroundings.

Zheng Zhilong and the others carrying gifts quietly watched as sea ships docked one after another.

When most people disembarked, their mental state was not very good.

After all, the waves at sea were great, far incomparable to inland rivers and lakes.

When Lin Dao disembarked, however, he was spirited and walked with quick steps, like an old hand who had sailed ships for years.

It was not pretended, nor had he drunk gunpowder water; it was purely that his physical quality was good.

"Zheng Zhilong~~~"

Seeing a tall young man with extraordinary bearing, surrounded by bodyguards, walking over.

Zheng Zhilong knew the main person had arrived, and immediately led everyone in a great bow.

"Kneeling to welcome Commander Lin~~~"

Lin Dao stepped forward and walked to Zheng Zhilong's front.

Only then did he speak, "Get up and talk."

"Thank you Commander Lin~~~"

The Commander Lin who had basically pacified all places under heaven, though not yet claiming the title of Emperor.

But in actuality there was no difference from the Emperor.

Zheng Zhilong understood this clearly, and was extremely respectful.

Zheng Zhilong, upon rising, slightly lowered his head, his gaze looking at his feet.

Lin Dao surveyed him closely.

Dressed in a yuanwai's robes, his complexion was slightly pale and he was noticeably plump.

He did not look like an old sailor, but rather a wealthy master who had lived in comfort.

Since taking control of maritime trade, Zheng Zhilong had basically not gone out to sea again.

Enjoying luxury year-round in his Jinjiang mansion, his skin had whitened and his body had fattened, which was only natural.

"Nicholas Yi Guan."

Lin Dao's one sentence made Zheng Zhilong's heart tighten: "Where is your son?"

When he was in Aomen, he had once been baptized, his baptismal name Nicholas Caspar.

Later he became the big boss of the group, and in Minnan dialect the big boss is called Yi Guan.

Usually they called him Zheng Yi Guan; those who knew his baptismal name Nicholas were truly few.

As for his son.

Zheng Zhilong hurriedly called his sons forward.

"Commander, these are my sons Zheng Du, Zheng En, Zheng Yin, Zheng Xi, Zheng Shimò~"

Lin Dao looked at him, half-smiling.

"Commander, please forgive me." Zheng Zhilong knew what he meant and hurriedly explained: "Eldest son Zheng Sen went to Taiwan on business, unexpectedly caught a wind-cold, and for a time could not return."

"Ju Bao Lou sells medicine for treating wind-cold."

Lin Dao spoke bluntly: "Find a fast ship to fetch Zheng Sen; before I depart I must see him."

"Yes yes~"

Zheng Zhilong broke into a sweat on his forehead and repeatedly assented.

He was a combination of super maritime merchant and pirate, with thousands of ships under his command and hundreds of thousands of men.

In many people's view, there was no need to be so humble; at worst he could just run out to sea.

But this was the Chongzhen Spacetime, not several hundred years later.

Overseas were all barbaric lands; how many people who cherished their homeland were willing to be forever exiled from home?

And for these maritime merchants, land was the true foundation.

Without the goods source on land, where would there be maritime trade business?

Without business there was no silver; without silver they could not support the huge fleet group.

Those who ran the sea—what loyalty was there to speak of?

With silver there was loyalty; without silver, who were you?

Zheng Zhilong understood this principle very well, so he behaved extremely sincerely.

"Commander~~"

Zheng Zhilong gestured to the many gifts he had brought: "These are just vulgar items; please accept them with a smile, Commander."

"Good."

Looking at the gold and silver before him, Lin Dao nodded with satisfaction: "I like them very much."

He truly liked them.

Recently gold prices in the Modern World had skyrocketed, and gold was easy to sell; it was indeed his favorite thing.

The huge entourage, all the way, arrived at Zheng Zhilong's luxurious mansion in Anhai Town, Jinjiang.

Stepping into this super-large mansion covering over a hundred mu, Lin Dao casually said: "Maritime trade indeed makes money."

In the Modern World, a sea ship costing many hundreds of millions could recoup its cost after a few voyages; maritime trade had always been an extremely profitable business.

Zheng Zhilong's heart tightened, and he hurriedly declared: "Willing to present it to the Commander."

"This is your home."

Lin Dao laughed and waved his hand: "How can one give away one's own home?"

This place was indeed very beautiful.

The main structure was a five-bay, thirteen-frame xieshan-style building, with three gateways, double fire lanes, and five courtyards in depth.

Flanking wing halls and towers, pavilions facing each other, arranged as a barrier.

Surrounded by walls, with occasional embellishments of hills, terraces, quiet chambers, ponds, small bridges, winding paths, and exotic flowers and grasses.

Arriving at the main hall, Lin Daozheng sat in the center.

To his left stood the righteous army officers; to his right were the Zheng clan's high-ranking members headed by Zheng Zhilong.

Surrounding them were many guard soldiers in armor.

Lin Dao wasted no words and went straight to the point.

"Regarding the Zheng clan."

"My arrangement is to make you the Maritime Trade Pioneers."

"You are now developing Taiwan well, but it is not enough."

"First drive away the Red Hairs (Netherlands) in Taiwan, then use Ryukyu as a springboard to eye Japan."

"Aomen to the south must certainly be recovered, and Luzon Prefecture occupied by the Great Franks (Spain) must also be recovered."

"Those who come to adventure are all scum and trash, having committed countless evils."

"Just exterminate them all."

Zheng Zhilong wore a difficult expression.

Japan, Great and Lesser Frankish machine persons, and Red Hair people were all his business partners~~~

"If you are unwilling," Lin Dao said with a smile, "I permit your entire clan to go out to sea and find a place to become kings and hegemons."

"Dare not, dare not!" Zheng Zhilong hurriedly saluted: "Commander, you are too serious."

"We all follow the Marshal's lead."

"The Marshal has given an order; naturally we must obey."

If the Marshal wants to fight, then we can only fight.

But how long to fight, how to fight — isn't that still up to them to decide?

Drag it out, demand military pay, and in the end say we didn't win — that's no trouble at all.

Lin Dao smiled again. "I am a man of resolve."

"I have already made up my mind to join the Age of Great Navigation, to explore and occupy every land that can be found."

"My resolve will not waver."

He calmed his breath. "Arranging these tasks for you is giving you an opportunity."

"I have already built numerous shipyards in various places, invested countless manpower, material, and resources, vowing to forge a fleet surpassing the scale of Zheng He's fleet in those years."

"Once this fleet takes shape and puts to sea, your Zheng clan can shift to civilian transport."

"Before the fleet puts to sea, I will review your work progress."

"If all objectives are achieved, your benefits are naturally indispensable."

"If one objective is missed, benefits halved."

"If nothing is accomplished."

Speaking here, Lin Dao rose, his gaze sweeping over the Empress Dowager Zheng Group crowd. "Then you, too, have no necessity to exist."

His words were calm, but landing in the ears of Zheng Zhilong and the others, they were like a thunderclap.

Zheng Zhilong and the others were not stupid.

They understood all too well what the power of a nation meant.

Once shipbuilding begins with the strength of the whole country, in a few years a massive fleet can be produced.

Perhaps experience is somewhat lacking, yet they can gain a constant stream of reinforcements, and continuously expand in scale.

This is something Zheng Zhilong's fleet cannot compare to, no matter what.

Glancing at the sweat-drenched Zheng Zhilong, Lin Dao strode outward.

"I have said all that needs saying; you consider it well."

"I have disturbed you today; farewell."

"Right, in some days I will head south to Lingnan; before leaving I must take Zheng Damu with me."

Armor Leaf shook, clanging like thunder.

After Lin Dao left with a large batch of armored soldiers, the Empress Dowager Zheng Group people all gathered around Zheng Zhilong, asking what to do.

"What to do?"

Zheng Zhilong heaved a long sigh. "What else can we do?"

"Either disobey, and with one family's strength oppose all under heaven."

"Or obediently do the work, seek a future way out."

This is not a multiple-choice question; they fundamentally have no choice.

Their roots are all on the Continent; could they really abandon their roots and flee far overseas?

"Fifth Brother, you take a fast boat and quickly make a trip to Taiwan, bring Fusong back."

(End of Chapter)