.Chapter 863: Fences (Part 2)

While Wu Baipeng met Zheng Song, he was silent in the back hall of the head, holding a banquet to entertain Chinese business representatives from various countries who came to pay homage.

About two months ago, Chen Si informed the overseas Chinese from all over the country through the Nanyang Company, hoping that they could send representatives to gather with him. The news spread, and the entire overseas Chinese circle in Nanyang was in full swing. You should know what they were - they were criminals who had always been regarded as fugitives by the court, and would be arrested and sentenced once they returned to their country! The local chieftain vassal kings took advantage of this and unscrupulously oppressed and exploited them.

Forced to leave his hometown due to his livelihood and being regarded as a traitor by his motherland, this is the eternal pain in the hearts of overseas Chinese.

But now, the second auxiliary of the cabinet of the Ming Dynasty, Chen Taibao, who was in charge of the southwest, wanted to receive them. This was undoubtedly an admission and an acceptance. This was a good thing that overseas Chinese dared not dream of in their dreams! So after a brief silence, overseas Chinese in the South China Sea began to sign up enthusiastically... Anyone with a certain identity hoped to participate in this pilgrimage. As long as you can meet the old master of Chen, not to mention anything else, your value will definitely double after you go back. At least those chieftains and vassal kings must consider before they go crazy. What if they sue the Heavenly Dynasty?

The enthusiasm shown by the overseas Chinese made Zheng Ruozeng laugh and cry. In just half a month, more than 50,000 people from various offices came to sign up. If they were invited, Chen Ge Lao would have to go bankrupt. So after asking for instructions and silence, he re-announced the banquet rules, with a total of three tables and thirty people, and the number of overseas Chinese in various countries was allocated according to the number of overseas Chinese in various countries.

Most people are discouraged. People are more likely to know themselves. How can such extremely scarce resources fall on ordinary people? Even ordinary wealthy businessmen, the powerful, dare not do this. But in this way, those who really call the wind and rain and dominate the other side can no longer sit still - they all regard obtaining a place as a proof of their own strength! So all the big guys used their energy and used strange tricks, such as bright, dark, dirty, and flowery, and all the ones that could be used.

Later, this battle of the overseas Chinese circle attracted strong interest from all countries in Southeast Asia, from princes and the common people, and even regarded it as the "Thirty-one overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia". This unexpected public attention made the big guys even more difficult to fight, and they even had to win a ticket for status.

Seeing that the scene was a little out of control, it would be detrimental to the unity of overseas Chinese, Zheng Ruozeng had to ask for instructions and remain silent again, increasing the number of banquets to ten tables, increasing the number of times three times, a full tenfold increase, and using lots to decide the number of attendances, gradually calming down the battle. But it was only calmed down on the surface, and secretly, they still tried every means, regardless of the cost, hoping to get the first ticket... It is said that the non-Chairman ticket has been sold for 50,000 taels per ticket, which is extremely outrageous, but it also reflects the overseas Chinese's attention to this visit.

As for the qualifications of the main table, they are not something that can be bought by money. They are all selected one by one after Zheng Ruozeng repeatedly considered. They are basically the presidents of the Overseas Chinese Association of Myanmar, Siam, Khmer, Chameng, Zhenla and other countries. However, today, these people who stomp their feet and tremble in the southeastern Peninsula are particularly slight, fearing that some of the etiquette will annoy the master of the host who is the host.

Chen Mo also attached great importance to this banquet. He not only adjusted the guests' seats, but also personally asked about the menu of the banquet and put forward his own opinions... According to Chen Mo's requirements, the ingredients used in the banquet, including fresh fruits, vegetables and meat, all came from China. For this reason, Nanyang Company specially purchased it in Hepu, Guangxi and Qiongzhou, Hainan, and transported it to Da Nang in one day with a Clipper.

As soon as the boat arrived at the dock, it transported a truckload of food that was kept fresh from ice to the headquarters. The chefs brought from China immediately started to rectify it. Finally, before the dinner began, they presented Chinese dishes with all colors, fragrance and flavor. Only when Zheng Ruozeng introduced that the guests realized that the exquisite food in front of them, including the fruits they had enjoyed before, were all from the Ming Dynasty. In addition, everyone was puzzled. They didn't know why Master Chen had to pay so much attention to the cost. Is it just to show off his show?

Seeing everyone's puzzled eyes, silent in the first-class regular clothes, he smiled and said, "What do you think in your heart? You might as well speak freely."

All present were extremely smart and heroes who knew when to stop and when to show up. Now that Mr. Shen asked, he naturally had to answer enthusiastically. Even if he said something wrong, it was no big deal. At least he could still be familiar with him.

"Being able to eat local delicacies in this foreign land of Southeast Asia makes it difficult for villains to hold on to themselves, and I can't help but burst into tears and can't hold on to the homesickness..." This is the lyricist and the safest way to answer. I gave him a glass of wine to relieve my sorrow with a silent smile.

"Looking at the fact that these fruits and vegetables are so fresh, from picking to transporting them, it will take less than a day at most. It can be seen that Central and South are close to the local area. It is not as many people think that Java is the end of the world." This is a rationalist, which has caused silent nodding and praise, and naturally there are wine.

So everyone answered enthusiastically, and the words were varied, and even each dish was interpreted to express a profound meaning. Silence was just a laugh, but did not speak, and obviously was not satisfied with the answer.

After a moment of silence, a handsome man in his forties, who was sitting outside, stood up and bowed to the silence, "Sir, the villain understands what you mean."

"Oh, so many people didn't say it." Silently smiled, "How dare you be sure?"

"Actually, you have already carved your thoughts on each of us's tableware." The man smiled confidently.

When everyone heard this, they picked up the shallow disc in front of them, and saw four characters written in seal script on the bottom of the disc. Although it was seal script, the characters were very simple, so everyone present could recognize it and blurted out: "The body and earth are the same..."

"Yes, the body is the same as the earth!" Chen Si finally straightened his waist and said to the standing person: "Do you know the meaning of these four words?"

The man replied with a little excitement: "The villain is a Buddhist. He has seen these four words in the Amitabha Sutra, so he keeps his mind. The four words "The body and earth are not two" have some meaning in the Buddhist scriptures. But I think that the adults use it on this occasion today to tell us that since we are Chinese, we should eat things produced in China. By extension, we overseas wanderers have roots in China. No matter how far they float, we cannot forget our motherland. We are born and die as ghosts of the Ming Dynasty!"

"Good words!" Amid the cheers of everyone, Chen Si personally put a cup on the cup and said, "Is this official surname Gao? Where is the person who lives now?"

"My Lord Hui, the villain's surname is Li, and his name is Yuxi." The man quickly took over the wine and said respectfully: "A native of Anping, Fujian, now lives in Luzon."

Chen Si asked him again what kind of business he made and when he would go abroad. Looking at everyone's envious and jealous eyes, the man replied respectfully: "A villain has gone to Guangdong to do business with others since he was twelve years old. Later, his business went to Macau and learned foreign languages ​​to communicate directly with Europeans. In the 44th year of Jiajing, Nanyang Company recruited Chinese to do business in Luzon, and no one dared to take risks. Because the villain had been dating Westerners for a long time and knew the importance of Luzon, he was the first to sign up. In addition, I knew foreign languages ​​and could trade with Westerners, so he was appointed as the first executive director of the Luzon Exchange, responsible for building bridges and leading the trading of Chinese and Western countries..." He said it lightly, but everyone couldn't help but look at him with admiration because the Luzon Exchange was really an institution.

The Spanish attacked the vassal states of the Ming Dynasty. As a punishment, the court prohibited Spanish ships from entering the South China Ocean, but business could not be stopped. Therefore, the Ming Dynasty's maritime merchants could only be used by the Ming Dynasty. Both parties re-exported in Manila or the Daimao Port, and then transported them back to Mexico by Spanish ships. The Luzon Exchange established in Suzhou was the only legal place for both parties to bid for and trade, and its importance was self-evident.

Director Li did a good job. Over the past few years, Luzon's trade order was well organized, and the number of taxes has risen sharply, exceeding that of ordinary provinces. The contribution in taxation finally made the court admire the overseas territory of Luzon... Only then did those stubborn and arrogant adults realize that the colonies have this benefit!

It was precisely because of the sweetness that the court made such a great determination to Nanyang this time. As the supervisor of the trade order of Luzon, Li Yuxi naturally made an indelible contribution. Last year, he was named Qianyiwei, and was given a crimson official uniform to express his recognition. Seeing that he was wearing an official uniform without grades, he knew that the other party had received honorary awards from the court, so he called him "Shiwai".

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Chen Shu immediately asked him to sit at the main table, and through Li Yuxi's words, he gave the four words "The body and earth are the same" to everyone present... In addition to asking everyone to remember their patriotic thoughts, he also wrote inscriptions in person to every guest who came to the banquet. When they were given the words given by the old master, everyone was naturally overjoyed and promised that they would hang them in the most conspicuous place after they returned, and they would be ordered to work day and night and remember them forever.

Those great men were not allowed to let people go. Seeing that Li Yuxi had stolen the limelight, he naturally could not call him Dumei. So after drinking for three rounds and the dishes were over, someone said to silently: "The king's visit is to boost the prestige of the country, and to support us, the expatriates. Wherever there is something useful to us, the lord can do whatever he wants. If we have ten strength to make nine points, pigs and dogs are worse than pigs and dogs!"

With this saying, someone said: "It is extremely stupid to hear that the imperial court ordered all countries to transport military rations, but those vassal kings dared to remain indifferent." "Yes, it is better to seek others than to ask for others. Although the Chinese have only been in Southeast Asia for decades, the newly opened rice fields are more than they originally had. It is true that the Indochina Peninsula is rich, but it is because of us. Now the imperial court wants food and grass, why should we leave the near and far? We are willing to bear it with all our strength!" So you donated 50,000 stones and I donated 30,000 stones, just a cup of tea. The military rations pledged by the overseas Chinese have exceeded one million stones, which is enough for the army to eat in Annan for two years...

This feeling of fish and water moved Chen Si. He stood up with a glass of wine and said to the overseas Chinese loudly: "It is no secret that all compatriots have been treated unfairly by the court. The court regards you as ruthless ministers and traitors, believing that you are no longer Chinese. Even today, the court has decided to give you an explanation today, there are still many fools saying that you are profit-oriented and desperate people. I did not refute, because I know that the language is pale, and if you want to reason, it is impossible to convince others." As he said that, he raised the donation list with unwashed ink and said loudly: "But this, this heavy contribution can make everyone shut up! The emperor will see clearly, and the people in the world will see clearly. Although you live overseas, you are still the most loyal people of the Ming Dynasty!

The silent words made the overseas Chinese present sigh. They recalled how their helpless "Celestial Rebels" were deprived of wealth by the local indigenous people again and again, and re-exploited with blood and tears. Whenever they think of these, the overseas Chinese cherish everything in front of them, so their love for their respective overseas Chinese associations and Nanyang Company was so enthusiastic. They would give full help to the imperial army. One is to expect the army to show the power of the Ming Dynasty, and the other is to expect the court to reward them later, give them some care, or at least admit it... Only with both, can the overseas Chinese stand up completely in Nanyang and no longer act according to the faces of those indigenous people.

"Don't worry, those days will never return." Chen Si keenly noticed the ups and downs of everyone's emotions, and said loudly: "Today, on behalf of the court, I will issue your Ming passports to everyone here!"

"Passport?" Everyone has never heard of this new word.

At this time, the messenger brought a stack of neatly-packed "handwritten books" with copper plates. Each book was the size of a palm, and was covered with a dark red gold-plated cardboard case, which looked very solemn.

When he picked up a book in silence, everyone saw four gold-plated words "Da Ming Passport" written on the cover, with a line of smaller fonts printed on it horizontally, which was vaguely "Da Ming Ministry of Revenue, Ministry of Rites, and Ministry of War jointly issued it." Although they couldn't figure out what this was for, everyone's hearts thumped away first.

Then he heard a silent voice: "Protection is protection, care, care, and together it is protection and care... This is a document issued by the three ministries of the Ming Dynasty, requiring all countries to protect and care for the people of the Ming Dynasty!"

segmentation
Chapter completed!