The disputes between the government and the public in the capital have never stopped, the alternating struggle between the new and the old, the opposition between the civil and the military, the turbulent hearts of the people, the emperor's suppression of the hearts of the people, and the general trend of reform that has been brewing to the extreme...

Everything is intertwined and surrounded by this capital city, or is silently brewing.

In Jiangnan, compared with the undercurrents in the capital and even the entire north, this front line is much simpler.

Tens of thousands of troops occupy natural dangers in the rivers, holding the political symbol of Jiangnan, the land of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and the Jiangnan Navy that was enough to suppress a sea border.

In this way, we naturally firmly grasp the strategic initiative, and with the strong army in the north that can be supported at any time, several provinces in the south of the Yangtze River are naturally as stable as Mount Tai.

Of course, stability has returned to stability, but several provinces in the south of the Yangtze River, and the country was established in a state of war, and after the establishment of the Later Nanming, the war started again almost every day.

In such a state of war, there is naturally no gentleness. If there is a slight turmoil, it is a cruel and bloody suppression. Moreover, when it is almost adjacent to the Southern Ming Dynasty, most of those who are dissatisfied have already fled to the territory of the Southern Ming Dynasty.

Under such influences, this rule under constant wars seems to be much more stable to some extent than several northern provinces.

However, in recent months, although the war is still endless, Daheng's focus in Jiangnan has no longer been above war.

Ningbo, a natural port that was lonely due to the previous Ming ban on the sea, also became the center of the storm in Jiangnan for the first time.

Once upon a time, when the unique monopoly formed by the former Ming Dynasty's sea ban policy, the port of Quanzhou, Fujian was the most famous place in the maritime trade circle.

Especially since Chongzhen's death, Li Xiu, a military man, was in power and Jiangnan was disloyal, Quanzhou Port, Fujian, almost openly ignored the maritime ban.

When Li Xiu usurped the throne and established himself, Quanzhou Port also followed the trend and completely broke through the strategy of maritime ban. He stood openly on the land of Jiangnan and became the largest port in the world. Of course, under the advantage of monopoly, even in Nanming today, it is the only port that can break through the strategy of maritime ban.

Quanzhou Port, which is making money every day, provides almost half of the financial and tax sources of the Southern Ming Dynasty, and also provides unparalleled confidence to the Southern Ming court.

Now, with the victory of the Jiangsu-Zhejiang Sea Battle initiated by the Jiangnan Navy, Daheng directly overturned the so-called maritime ban strategy of the former Ming Dynasty. Ningbo Port, which has more geographical advantages than Quanzhou, naturally became a place of attention in the entire Jiangnan.

Military wars are no longer the focus of Daheng in Jiangnan, and Ningbo Maritime and Vessel are the real focus.

"Ningbo Port was the world's largest commercial port during the Tang and Song dynasties. According to historical records, during the Tang and Song dynasties, Japanese pirates, North Korea, and Western barbarians flocked to it, and cargo ships filled with ceramics, tea and silk were waiting to go from time to time. Ningbo Port was mast-like like forests. When Ningbo's maritime tariff revenue reached its peak, it even supplied half of the taxes of a country in the Southern Song Dynasty!"

Above the Ningbo Port Fort, Hong Chengchou talked quietly at the busy scenes on the sea.

Yan Shun smiled and said, "I don't know much about finance and taxation, but Ningbo is the estuary of the sea, connecting the inland land, which is definitely not comparable to Quanzhou!"

"It takes less than a few years to think that Ningbo Port will surpass Quanzhou. This will not only add a large amount of financial and taxation to the court, but also weaken the financial and taxation power of the pseudo-Ming Dynasty. The establishment of Ningbo Port can be said to be a success in one fell swoop."

Speaking of this, Yan Shun couldn't help but sigh: "This Li Dingguo is a talent, and it's not in vain that His Majesty has worked hard to cultivate it!"

"According to Your Majesty's training, Li Dingguo is probably the leader of the next generation of generals of Daheng!"

"With his ability, as long as he does not make big mistakes, this will definitely be the case in the future!"

Yan Shun chuckled, then seemed to remember something: "By the way, are the tariff income in the past three months clear?"

"I heard that this number is quite large!"

"Ha ha ha ha!"

Hong Chengchou laughed happily: "You are wrong, you are more than just a small number!"

"You and I have all benefited from Li Dingguo!"

Hearing this, Yan Shun became more and more curious. Although he was in charge of the military of Jiangnan, Ningbo Port was established because of the report of Li Dingguo. Therefore, after its establishment, it was also stationed by the Jiangnan Navy. Ningbo Finance and Taxation was under the jurisdiction of Hong Chengchou and took over the treasury, which naturally had nothing to do with him.

Although he heard some rumors on weekdays, he had never deliberately inquired about the specific numbers.

"Three months, the tariff silver reached more than 600,000 taels!"

"There is more than a month left before the end of the year. Although Ningbo Port has only been open for less than half a year, it is estimated that it will be only in this small half year. The total tariff revenue is expected to be nearly one million taels!"

"so much!"

Yan Shun was also shocked. He knew that during the Chongzhen period, the whole year of taxes was not counted as the grain collected or the silver in finance and taxation, which was only more than three or four million taels. There were still many of them that were not paid all year round.

It is because of this pitiful financial and taxation silver that it could not afford the military's expenses for war, and this was the chaos that had been caused by reform and lasted for so many years.

The emperor fought for so many years and went through countless difficulties and obstacles, so he barely created the general trend of reform. Now, the reforms in the northern provinces are still brewing. How did Ningbo port achieve such results?

Three months, more than 600,000 taels!

You know, this is the result of the initial establishment of Ningbo Port, and there is also the result of Nanming constantly making trouble there!

"In the coming year, I estimate that the tariff income will reach nearly three million taels!"

Yan Shun was a little amazed: "If Jiangnan is pacified, the sea ban is completely lifted, and the annual tariffs on Ningbo Port are entered into, wouldn't it be a step further?"

"Won't."

Hong Chengchou shook his head: "Ningbo Port can have so many tariffs now because our Daheng has only let go of Ningbo's port, and due to the war, the important areas along the river have been completely blocked."

"Whether it is an overseas Western barbarian, a pseudo-Ming merchant, or a maritime business specializing in maritime trade, if you want to enter Daheng's business system, you can only enter through Ningbo Port."

"In this way, there will naturally be so many fiscal and taxation in Ningbo Port. In the future, the south of the Yangtze River will be pacified and the sea ban will be overturned. Then the coastal market will be more than Ningbo. Of course, the important areas along the river will not be blocked. In this way, the tariff revenue of Ningbo Port will naturally only drop sharply!"

"I am thinking a little bit!"

Yan Shun chuckled: "Two or three million taels a year, this is not a small amount. Your Majesty knows it, and he will probably be happy. Li Dingguo has made great contributions, and we really benefited from him!"

"Haha, that's natural!"

Hong Chengchou also laughed happily. This is not just a benefit, but a gift to him for the momentum of rising up!

Originally, he was in charge of the land affairs in Jiangnan, and due to many reasons such as war, the progress has been extremely unsuccessful. In fact, he has not made any contributions except for all the traditional taxes being paid.

But now, in charge of Ningbo Port Finance and Taxation, the annual investment of millions of taels of silver is undoubtedly a huge political achievement.

With this political achievement, he is sure to win. As long as he does not make big mistakes in the middle, he will definitely be in charge of the national financial and taxation strategies in the future. A minister of the court, or even the assistant to the cabinet, is not a delusion!

"Okay, Lord Hong, please clearly count the tariff silver as soon as possible. This governor can arrange elite soldiers to escort them to Beijing as soon as possible."

"Master Hong, please go and find Li Dingguo to see where you need money. We will summarize and count them. To hand in a memorial, it will also help you relieve this painful day."

"Hahaha, that's natural. Governor, don't you want to expand the Nanjing Armory Factory? And Li Dingguo, but he has been thinking about building a shipyard, and now it can be realized!"

Yan Shun chuckled: "I am not in a hurry. The navy's shipyard is the top priority. The tariffs on Ningbo Port are entirely subject to the navy. If the navy is not strong and cannot protect peace, Ningbo Port will be abolished!"

"The pseudo-Ming navy is eyeing it now, and the Jiangnan navy is still weaker. The navy shipyard must be put on the agenda as soon as possible."

“It’s true.”

Hong Chengchou nodded: "I'll go find Li Dingguo later and deliver a memorial as soon as possible to see if I can ask Your Majesty to approve the money first."

"Now that Liaodong has been pacified, the Denglai Navy is not a big deal."

"If your Majesty knows the situation in Ningbo Port, he will probably send the Denglai Navy, who is transporting grain to the capital, to assist in the defense again."

"Take this time, it's just enough to build the shipyard."

"As long as the navy can completely defeat the pseudo-Ming navy and wars on land, it's nothing. The generals of the pseudo-Ming are constantly fighting and defending friendly forces like guarding tigers. Such an army is worse than the rebels who rebel in the civil war back then."

"If the situation in the north was not special and it would be difficult to start a big battle, the little emperor would have to flee for a while."

Hong Chengchou looked at the sea, his eyes full of worry, and slowly spoke: "It is easy to solve the problem on land, but the navy is difficult."

"The Fujian Navy is the main force. Although Zheng Zhilong was a former pirate, he may not really be devoted to the Pseudo-Ming. However, the Fujian Navy under Nanjuyi was not a weak brigade. The Fujian shipyard is also under Nanjuyi's jurisdiction, which is enough to control Zheng Zhilong."

"I heard that the pseudo-Ming court is preparing to build another naval division. Although we started above this naval division, we still walked too slowly under the financial constraints!"

Speaking of this, Hong Chengchou couldn't help but sigh:

"The pseudo-Ming navy has been uneasy for a day, and I will be in peace for a day!"

"I heard that they were still setting up checkpoints in Penghu to intercept Western-Air merchant ships, and even expel Western-Air merchant ships who wanted to come to our Ningbo Port!"

"The same is true for pseudo-Ming maritime merchants, setting up checkpoints and various obstacles..."

"The Jiangnan Navy is now even sending warships to escort merchant ships!"

"Otherwise, it would be impossible to add a few more tariffs to Ningbo Port!"

"Besides, the warships on the Western Barbarians are not weak brigades, and the navy is not strong. It is not just a matter of tariffs, but a matter of peace and stability in the entire sea border."

Yan Shun nodded: "Your Majesty is extremely disliked by the Western Barbarians. If you pacify Jiangnan in the future, the navy's troops will probably be the first one to attack those Western Barbarians."

"And I have heard of the Western Navy who randomly occupy a land overseas, and that is a daily gain of gold."

"In the future, the navy went to sea. With His Majesty's ambition, it will inevitably be like the Western barbarians. The navy will also conquer cities and plunder land and spread the king's transformation."

"He, Li Dingguo, was really given great expectations by His Majesty!"
Chapter completed!