During this time, some foreigners arrived in Chengdu from Zhoushan, and Deng Ming was very polite to the two envoys of the Tokugawa shogunate, and also seriously inquired about the trade between the Min family and Japan, as well as the main bulk goods of the Fujian army. Although Deng Ming also planned to conduct some direct trade with Japan, he did not intend to have a fierce competition with the king of Yeonpei County, and one of the envoys of the shogunate, named Kotaku Shengshun, gave Deng Ming a detailed account of the Japanese support for the Ming army.

It turned out that one of the most important goods sold by Zheng Chenggong to Japan was gold, using the Japanese gold price to cheapen silver, and then using silver to buy goods on the mainland and sell them to the South Seas, and after the capture of Taiwan, Zheng Chenggong's goods also appeared in sucrose, and the proportion gradually increased, but silver trading is still the largest and most important one.

Although the other party did not say it explicitly, Deng Ming could also understand one of the reasons why the shogunate implemented this policy, and Zheng Chenggong also mentioned this matter to Deng Ming, that is, the shogunate thought that if it allowed a large number of Western weapons to flow into the feudal state, it would form a serious threat to the shogunate.

However, the shogunate still helped the Ming army as much as possible, allowing Zheng Chenggong to trade in Japan, which of course had the propaganda offensive of the Ming Dynasty exiles in Japan, which made the Japanese shogunate think that this was a matter of cold lips and teeth, and there was also a sense of cultural closeness. After listening to the introduction, Deng Ming secretly made up his mind not to trade silver in Japan, so as not to have internal competition among the Ming army.

Kotaku Shengshun was responsible for inspecting the situation of the Ming court for the shogunate, and the exile of the Yongli government in Burma also frightened the Japanese shogunate, and Deng Ming's previous life The Japanese government and the opposition lost confidence in the Ming court's defeat. But this trip to the Yangtze River made him very satisfied, as the Sinicization faction within the shogunate, Kotaku was happy to see the ships of the Ming army unimpeded on the entire Yangtze River, in his opinion, although the Ming court lost a large territory of Guizhou, Hunan and Guangxi in the fifteenth year of the Yongli campaign, but the battle situation was not desperate, and also captured such important and famous cities as Xiangyang and Jiangling in Hubei. Both Kotaku and his companions decided that it would not be a problem to persuade the shogunate to continue to support the Ming court and allow the Fujian and Zhejiang Ming armies to trade in Japan, and they made this judgment clear and unmistakable to Deng.

"Thank you, envoy." Now that Japan is at peace, the upper classes are in greater demand for culture and luxury, and they also get a steady stream of silver from Iwami Ginzan, which has earned the reputation of the silver country in Europe.

Now Chengdu female workers are slowly resuming the production of Shu embroidery in Sichuan, Sichuan splendid is a luxury product that sells well all over the country, but although there is a strong market demand, this commodity is still a little too conspicuous, Deng Ming originally wanted to smuggle and retail along the Yangtze River. If the Japanese market can be opened, Deng Ming will be able to find a stable sales channel for the splendid industry in the effort to recover, and Zhoushan and Chongming will also be able to obtain sufficient profits.

And now what Deng Ming has to do is to prove to the Japanese that the Ming army is capable of self-protection, and only when the shogunate is sure that the silver obtained by the Ming army from Japan will not be turned into military expenses for the enraged Qing court to attack it, the Japanese shogunate will turn a blind eye to the Ming army's deals. The state of the Sichuan Standing Army made Kotaku even more satisfied, and he and his companions even loudly argued in front of their entourage, believing that the Sichuan Ming Army was ten times stronger than the shogunate had imagined. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Deng Ming expressed his hope that the shogunate would allow the Zhoushan army to purchase strategic materials such as red copper and saltpeter in Japan, and these materials would be given to the Sichuan army, and the shogunate could rest assured that it would never fall into the hands of the Qing court for Beijing's use.

Kotaku said that he did not receive this authorization from the shogunate, but he was confident that the shogun would gladly accede to Deng's request when they returned to Edo to report on the situation of the Sichuan army.

The Japanese envoys said that they would like to walk along the Yangtze River if it is convenient.

There is no natural diffusion of the population of Sichuan, and with the exception of the Mianzhu and Jiangyou immigrants who are fully supported by the government, the population is converging on the Chengdu-Xuzhou shipping route, which has all the necessities and luxuries of life, as well as all the factories in western Sichuan. With the exception of the booming shipbuilding industry, all other industries are trying to keep their factories as close to the Yangtze River as possible, so that goods can be easily loaded onto ships and shipped out of the Yangtze River - this ribbon area also encompasses all the industries in western Sichuan. Now the population has even moved in Zhengqijiang and Jiangjin, because the transportation here is as convenient as other areas along the river, and after Li Guoying's departure, the trade between Chongqing and western Sichuan has become closer and closer, and the profits have increased steadily, which has also attracted more and more people to work.

Deng Ming asked Liu Jinge to arrange this matter, first find someone to match the shogunate envoy and then go around Chengdu, when they set off for the return voyage, they can go around Xuzhou again, and even Deng Ming planned to repair a letter for the Chongqing defenders to receive them, which must have left a deep impression on the Tokugawa shogunate, and convinced the Japanese government and the opposition that it was only a matter of time before the Ming army recaptured the two capitals.

Representatives of the British, Spanish, and other trading houses were treated much less favourably than the Japanese envoys who were hospitable. Deng Ming always remembered what Zheng Chenggong had said with him in Nanjing, and guessed that the Min army could clash with the Xibaya at any time, so even if any trade agreement was reached, it would not be fulfilled at all. Moreover, Spain's anti-Chinese behavior in the Philippines also made Deng Ming very angry, if he didn't have an ocean-going sailor, he even had a symbolic plan to send troops to cooperate with Zheng Chenggong.

There was also a Dutch from Zhoushan, although the Min army had just seized Taiwan from the Dutch, and the Batavia side was still plotting to recapture it, but the Dutch merchants had already begun to try to restore trade: according to European tradition, since the war had been armistice, business could be done before the next war.

The Sichuan government was more enthusiastic about the Dutchman than the Spaniards, because Deng Ming only remembered that Taiwan was in the hands of the Zheng family from then on, and he knew nothing about the Batavia conspiracy, so Deng Ming thought that there should be no war between the Ming army and the Dutch, and trade would obviously last longer. However, the Dutch did not get much authorization from the Batavia Parliament or the Dutch East India Company, and this trip was basically just to release goodwill, and Taiwan's waterway control was in the hands of the Fujian army, and Deng Ming could not dictate to Zheng Chenggong's business or diplomacy, so Deng Ming did not reach any agreement with the Dutch, but only made it clear that he was willing to carry out trade in the Burmese region, and the specific content still needs to be negotiated.

Whether it was a Spaniard or a Dutchman, Deng Ming asked them about rubber, and as the Fifty-One Pavilion had more and more requirements for insulating materials, Deng Ming naturally remembered this thing. Although they had the impression that there was a lot of rubber in Southeast Asia, the Dutch and Spaniards who were asked shook their heads and denied this, and Deng Mingming thought about it, thinking that this showed that rubber could only be a South American product, otherwise the two Europeans would not know anything about it. So Deng Ming painted a large number of rubber trees, gave them all to the Spaniard, and entrusted him to go to South America to find them, and Deng Ming was willing to exchange porcelain and silk for gums.

At present, British power is the weakest in Asia, and its maritime power is far from being comparable to that of the Dutch, but the two Britons have no scruples or restrictions in any way. The two Englishmen said that whatever trade Deng Ming wanted to do, they would do their best to do it, such as building a cannon that Deng Ming imported from the Dutch and Spaniards, a kind of Hongyi cannon that the Ming court had loved before.

Deng Ming was not very interested in this bulky artillery, but when he saw that the two Britons were selling so aggressively, he casually asked them how many they had in their hands.

"Your Excellency the Duke can have as many as you want!" A red-haired Englishman's eyes lit up, and when he saw Deng Ming start to think about his suggestion, the Englishman's cheeks were red with excitement: "As long as His Excellency the Duke wants, dozens or hundreds of cannons are not a problem." ”

It turned out that these two people, the British, wanted to rob the merchant ships of the Spaniards or the Dutch, and then sold the guns on the ships to Deng Ming.

"Everything that the Dutch and Spaniards can sell to His Excellency the Duke, we English merchants have, and the price is cheap."

"Really?" Deng Ming was a bit of a surprise, because according to the accounts of the Dutch and Spaniards, Britain had neither a stronghold in Asia, nor a shipping capability to match them.

"Yes, we in England have the largest number of privateers in the world, and although Asia is far away, as long as His Excellency the Duke needs enough cargo, countless British captains are willing to serve you." The red-haired Englishman proudly claimed that he had a very powerful privateer, and they were willing to sack passing Dutch and Spanish merchant ships, and then sell their goods, cannons, and even ships to the Ming army cheaply: "As long as the Duke allows us to anchor in the port of the Ming Dynasty, repair the ships, replenish fresh water and food." We also promise not to disturb the ships of the Ming Dynasty, and if anyone violates this sacred promise, we law-abiding merchants are more than willing to watch the Duke hang the criminals. If the Duke fears that this will upset the Spaniards and Dutch, then we can also accept a secret supply port, such as Chongming at the mouth of the Yangtze River. ”

The two English merchants had other goods, such as the sturdy black slaves, which they were trying to sell, and promised to be disposed of according to the buyer's requirements, such as being muted or even castrated, and the British boasted to Deng Ming that this kind of cattle were better for farming than cattle and horses.

"It's just too far away, I'm afraid it doesn't count." The two zealous Englishmen also said that the British East India Company would be willing to send free samples to the Duke, but Deng Ming politely declined.

"As long as the Duke wants enough, he won't fail to count."

"And the duke gives an offer, whether it is up or not, we will calculate it." The two Britons still didn't give up.

"No, I don't need an exotic one for a while."

"They're not human, they're just orangutan-like animals that can learn human speech like parrots." The British hastened to clarify.

In the end, Deng Ming still disappointed the two Britons, saying that the other goods were fine, and the privateers could pretend not to know, so it was a trivial matter for them to revere the supplies. In addition, Deng Ming also needed some mathematical and geometric works, as well as the latest natural achievements in Europe, and Deng Ming was also very interested.

"No problem, Your Excellency the Duke can leave it to us with confidence, does the Duke need an interpreter?" The British also recommended math and astronomy tutors from Italy and Austria, both male and female, and they said that when they were looking for textbooks for Deng Ming, if they saw a good teacher, they would also help Deng Ming to tie him to China, and the price would be negotiable. Anyway, if Deng Ming is unwilling to ransom them, they can just push them into the Yangtze River when the time comes, and the British have always dealt with those black slaves who can't be sold.

"I like these British people." At the end of the talks, Ren Tang, who was listening, said loudly.

"Yes, it's very much in line with the Empire's spleen." Mu Tan and Zhao Tianba also agreed.

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