Liu Xiang and the other three walked to the middle of the village while talking, and the three of them stopped in front of the Zheng Mansion mansion, looking at the stele workshop being built in front of them and were a little dumbfounded.

"What are you doing here?" Liu Xiang, who reacted first, subconsciously asked.

The steward of the Zheng Mansion, who was supervising the work, immediately stepped forward and carefully explained to the three of them: "My master was canonized as a male of Chiayi County by His Majesty because of his exploits in opening up Taiwan, and he was rewarded with a stele in recognition of his merits. ”

"Nonsense, how could this Taiwan be pioneered by Zheng Yiguan? The credit of Brother Yan and the brothers, this makes him alone? Liu Xiang suddenly said angrily.

Chen Xinji saw that after the surrounding workers and villagers heard Liu Xiang's shout, they all stopped and looked at this place in a daze. He immediately tugged at Liu Xiang's shirt to stop him from continuing to be angry.

Liu Xiang finally held back, although there were many contradictions between the various leaders of the Eighteen Zhi, they had never shown it in front of the masses at the bottom. After all, in the face of the huge opponent of Daming, no one will take the initiative to expose the internal division.

Yang Tiansheng looked at everything in front of him, and his heart tightened violently. After Yan Siqi's death, he funded Zheng Zhilong, thus allowing Zheng Zhilong to receive most of the power left by Yan Siqi.

However, Zheng Zhilong did not become his puppet because of this, but grew into an independent force. He spent a lot of money, but he created another Yan Siqi at sea, which was obviously not the ending he wanted.

But what's even more ridiculous is that this former male pet has now become a county man, which makes Yang Tiansheng feel very bad.

Chen Xinji whispered to the two: "No matter what, we have to meet the deputies who have come back first, and we have to find out what they encountered in Beijing before we can decide what to do." ”

Liu Xiang nodded approvingly, and said coldly: "Yes, if the emperor does not distinguish between right and wrong, he will give all the benefits to Zheng Yiguan." Then there is no need for us to follow behind Zheng Yiguan and eat that bit of leftovers. Zheng Yiguan can plunder the coastal areas of Fujian and Guangdong, can't we? ”

The three of them quickly reached an agreement, so they bypassed the workers who were working on the construction and walked into the Zheng mansion.

As soon as the three of them entered the door, Zheng Cai had already received the news and came out to greet them. Under the leadership of Zheng Cai, the three of them walked into the Juyi Hall.

The Juyi Hall was crowded with people, and Zheng Zhilong, who was sitting at the top, was wearing a gorgeous unicorn robe. Zheng Zhilong looked at the crowd below with some satisfaction, the pirate leaders who were rude and unliterate in front of him in the past seemed a little restrained today.

Zheng Zhilong knew very well that what these pirates were in awe of was the clothes on his body, and from then on he would be a person with status.

After Zheng Zhilong saw Liu Xiang and the others walk in, he didn't wait for Liu Xiang and the others to speak, so he stood up and said: "This time, we went to Beijing to accept Zhao'an on behalf of everyone, and not only met Your Majesty, but also obtained favorable conditions for Zhao'an from Your Majesty.

I see that the people are almost there, so it's better to let Brother Zheng Cai remember for everyone, the Zhao'an conditions we brought back. I dare say there could be no more favourable conditions. Brethren, this ocean will be ours in the future. ”

Looking at the pirates cheering for Zheng Zhilong's words, Chen Xinji and Yang Tiansheng's faces were a little ugly, obviously after receiving the legitimacy of the imperial court's seal, Zheng Zhilong's authority in the pirate group was strengthened.

Liu Xiang didn't intend to let Zheng Zhilong become the real commander of Eighteen Zhi so easily.

"The favorable conditions of the imperial court, we can all see it clearly, isn't it wearing it on you now? Brother Yiguan, you can't eat meat by yourself, and you must leave some soup for the brothers. ”

Liu Xiang's abrupt words interrupted Zheng Zhilong's words, and also calmed down the pirates who had just been elated by the success of Zhao'an, and they all looked at Zheng Zhilong with some suspicion, not knowing if what Liu Xiang said was the truth.

When Zheng Zhihu took a step forward and wanted to refute Liu Xiang out loud, Zheng Zhilong smiled and said, "Do you think that the dress I am wearing is too show-off?" Actually, I deliberately put on this gift dress to show you today, just to tell you.

In the future, everyone will have the opportunity to wear such clothes, and I am just one step ahead of everyone. If you want to know how to get such clothes, then just listen to the conditions we brought back. ”

"So what are you waiting for? Let Leader Zheng tell us about it quickly. The pirate leaders in the hall shouted impatiently.

Zheng Cai took out not a few pieces of paper, but a booklet. It was the first time the pirates had heard of such detailed recruitment conditions.

At first, the pirates listened with interest, but soon they were bewildered by the trivial provisions.

After listening to it for nearly half an hour, Zheng Cai only read half of the booklet in his hand. The pirates below finally couldn't take it anymore.

"Leader Zheng, although these conditions you read are very good, we can slowly understand them in the future. We just want to know how the court intends to place us, and what we can do to put on the clothes of the big boss..."

Zheng Cai, who was interrupted by these pirates to announce the conditions, looked up at Zheng Zhilong and asked with his eyes.

Zheng Zhilong clapped his hands, quieted the pirates and said, "Since this is the case, then let Brother Zheng Cai talk about it briefly." ”

Zheng Cai immediately closed the pamphlet and said, "The conditions that Grandpa Lu negotiated with us on the island last time have been approved by His Majesty.

In addition, His Majesty also opened five ports in Fuzhou, Quanzhou, Zhongzuo, Xiangdao and Humen, and Zhongzuo was renamed Xiamen.

The above five ports, plus Beigang, set up six garrison areas, the three garrisons of Beigang, Xiamen, and Xiangdao appointed our personnel, and the other three garrisons were handed over to the sailors of Fujian and Guangdong.

In addition, Xiamen, Humen, Fuzhou, and Beigang will build military ports and ship repair and construction plants.

Macao and Manila are connected in a straight line, the sea area is divided into two parts, north and south, and the sea area on the north side is managed by the Taiwan Strait patrol envoy, which is served by Zheng Zhilong, a man from Chiayi County. The fleet is stationed in Beigang and Xiamen.

The southern sea area is managed by the Nanyang patrol envoy, and the fleet is stationed on Xiangdao. Whoever has the ability to control the sea area from Malacca to Guangzhou Bay will be appointed by this Nanyang patrol envoy.

Anyone who occupies a piece of terra nullius overseas, immigrates more than 1,000 people, manages and collects taxes for three consecutive years, and explores the geographical environment of the surrounding area, may apply to the Maritime Representative Council for colonial recognition, and if it is approved, he will receive the title canonization of His Majesty..."

The pirates, who were originally sleepy, immediately became active when they heard the arrangement of these official titles and titles.

Yang Tiansheng's clan brother Yang Liu couldn't help but interject and asked, "Then if we occupy an unowned land on Taiwan Island, can we also get this knighthood?" ”

Zheng Cai shook his head and said: "Taiwan Island has been counted in the name of Zheng Xunyue, and if you open up the wasteland, you won't be able to get the title." ”

Liu Xiang suddenly instigated with bad intentions: "This Beigang, Taiwan, was reclaimed by Brother Yan with us one hand and one foot, why is it that the credit is now on the official brothers, is this a bit excessive?" ”

"Liu Xianglao, what do you mean? Do you want to destroy Zhao'an and continue to be your sea overlord? Zheng Zhihu couldn't bear it anymore, and jumped out directly to accuse Liu Xiang.

Zheng Zhilong's face also turned completely black, and he no longer stopped his brother from making trouble with Liu Xiang. Not to be outdone, the subordinates behind Liu Xiang jumped out, looking like they were going to do something with Zheng Zhihu.

The pirates in the hall were originally some energetic elements who were afraid that the world would not be chaotic, and when they saw the Zheng brothers confronting Liu Xiang's subordinates, they not only did not step forward to dissuade them, but began to cheer happily.

Zheng Cai didn't want Eighteen Zhi to split up because of this kind of thing, and he also hoped to end the matter of Zhao'an as soon as possible, so that he could take over the position of the Xiamen garrison as soon as possible.

"Why should Commander Liu be like this, there are many islands in the South Seas, as long as you occupy one island casually, you can be knighted. Why bother with things that have already passed? We made this matter of Taiwan Island clear to His Majesty when we were in Beijing.

Brother Ling had already accepted it in front of His Majesty, even if you have a blue nose and swollen face, this Chiayi County man is also Zheng Xunyue's envoy. I think everyone should be calmer and don't be so impulsive. ”

Liu Peng immediately said honestly to his brother Liu Xiang: "That's true, Your Majesty personally made the referee and gave the male of Chiayi County to the leader of Zheng Da. ”

Liu Xiang glared at his younger brother fiercely, and then reluctantly called back his subordinates. Although he really wanted to destroy Zhao'an, looking at the faces of everyone in the hall, he also knew that it was now a public anger.

As a representative of Guangdong maritime merchants, Liu Xiang hopes most that Eighteen Zhi and Daming will continue to confront each other.

Fujian is close to Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Jiangxi and Anhui, and it is also a place where tea is produced, so it can be said that it is more convenient to organize the export of raw silk, porcelain, tea and other goods.

At this time, Guangdong was far away from the most economically developed Jiangnan region, and the degree of development was not enough, except for Guangzhou, Foshan and other regions, other places were still in a state of primeval forest. As a result, the types of goods exported overseas by Guangdong are relatively scarce.

If Shibazhi continued to confront the imperial court, as long as he plundered the coastal areas of Fujian a few more times, then those merchants who did overseas trade would definitely choose to switch to Guangdong to trade at sea.

Ships going to sea from the mouth of the Pearl River will inevitably pay Liu Xiang protection fees. And Zheng Zhilong, who was far away in Taiwan, could not accurately attack the ships on the ocean of Guangdong. In this way, Liu Xiang's power in the pirate gang will surpass that of others.

This is why Liu Xiang has always been not enthusiastic about Zhao'an. However, Liu Xiang is also very clear that his subordinates are eager to live ashore, after all, every sea voyage in this era is no different from gambling on life.

The court was able to give them a chance to go ashore, and the pirate leaders and old pirates who had already amassed a large amount of money must be eager to go ashore. To stop them at this time is undoubtedly suicide.

After Liu Xiang gave in, the pirates quickly voted to approve the conditions for recruitment. They immediately discussed how to divide the official positions of the imperial court.

The Beigang garrison was given to Pan Bizheng, and the Xiangdao garrison was given to Liu Peng. Liu Xiang, Yang Tiansheng, Li Kuiqi, and Zhong Bin all wanted to compete for the position of Nanyang Patrol Envoy.

After finally repelling the other pirate leaders who were intent on encroaching on the official position, the four finally decided to compromise. They regarded Palawan, the Mekong estuary, the Natuna Islands, and the Strait of Malacca as key points to control the South Sea, and each of them chose one place to develop. Whoever completes the control of a certain point first is the first Nanyang Patrol Envoy.