Chapter 2288

The courtyard where Zheng Zao lives is only about a mile away from Guangzhou City. Standing at the door, he can see the tall towers and continuous city walls of Guangzhou City not far away. Such city defenses are probably the only one in Annan that is known as the

Only the fortified city of Hue has the same scale. However, Hue City was unable to hold out for too long under the fierce offensive of the Haihan Army. It was captured in just a few days. At that time, the Haihan Army had not yet formed an army.

In two years, if that battle happened today, Hue City might not be able to survive even three days.

"How many days will it take for the Haihan army to attack the city of Guangzhou?" Zheng Zha looked at the city of Guangzhou not far away and secretly calculated in his mind. However, he knew very little about the combat power and defense status of the Ming army.

It is difficult to draw a clear conclusion on this.

"Your Majesty, the carriage sent by Furifeng to pick you up for the banquet has arrived." A guard reported softly beside him, waking Zheng Zha out of his deep thoughts.

It's not too far from the residence arranged by Li Nai for Zheng Zao and his party to the private house where Li Jifeng held the banquet. It actually doesn't take too long to walk there, but sending a special car to pick him up represents the Li family's respect for Zheng Zao.

, this kind of courtesy is certainly indispensable.

The Li family's manor outside Guangzhou has only been renovated in recent years. It covers an area of ​​more than 100 acres. The south side of the manor faces the river and has a dedicated dock. The manor is equipped with pavilions, pavilions, carved beams and painted buildings. Although it is a traditional Chinese-style building

, but a considerable part of the various daily necessities in the manor are high-end goods imported from Haihan State. It can be said that it is currently one of the most luxurious private manors in Guangzhou.

It’s also worth mentioning that this manor is right next to Haihan’s Office in Guangdong, reminding people passing by it all the time of the close relationship between Furifeng and Haihan.

When Zheng Zha arrived outside the manor, Li Jifeng, his three sons, and the main family members had already come to greet him outside the gate, which was enough to give Zheng Zha face. Zhang Jinbao arrived a moment earlier than him, and at this time he did not go first.

Go in and stay outside the door with the Li family to wait for Zheng Zha's arrival.

The reason why there is such courtesy, Zheng Zha thinks, is because of his special status. People regard Annan as a country and treat him as the prince of a country. This kind of treatment is what Annan people have experienced for hundreds of years.

to pursue the goal.

Zheng Zha was grateful and did not put on any airs after getting off the car. He quickly walked forward and greeted Li Jifeng and others. But Zheng Zha did not know that the reason why the Li family provided him with such high-level courtesy was not entirely due to him.

Just as you thought.

His status as the young prince of Annan is certainly one of them, but when it comes to the national level, it is really overthinking to think that the Li family values ​​Annan as a country so that they attach so much importance to his visit.

Annan has been included under the rule of China since the Qin Dynasty. By the Ming Dynasty, Ming Chengzu sent troops to destroy the Hu regime in Annan and restored his rule over the area. By the time of Ming Shizong, the then ruler of Annan, Mo

Dengyong asked for surrender to the Ming Dynasty, and Annan was established as the Annan capital commander of the Ming Dynasty until the death of the Ming Dynasty. Although the binding force on Annan in the late Ming Dynasty only remained on paper, even the Annan people

He was unwilling to admit that he was a territory belonging to the Ming Dynasty, but this relationship still continued.

The rise of Haihan in the South China Sea had a great impact on the historical development of Annan. After the end of the civil war between the North and the South, Annan stopped professing vassalage to the Ming Dynasty, and did not apply to the Ming Dynasty to change the ruler as it had done in the past two hundred years.

Anyone with a discerning eye can see that Annan wanted to break away from the Ming Dynasty, the suzerain state, and seek independence while the Ming Dynasty was too busy to take care of itself.

From this perspective, the emergence of Haihan actually played an objective role in splitting the Ming Dynasty. However, the Executive Committee probably would not choose to take the blame. In their view, Annan had long been separated from the Ming Dynasty.

It was just a matter of time. Moreover, when Haihan started his business, he happened to meet Annan, who could provide a large amount of manpower and energy. The cooperation plan of exchanging military assistance for these resources hit it off, so Annan, who had rapidly improved his military strength, had enough.

He had the confidence to break away from the Ming Dynasty and establish his own business.

In the eyes of the Ming Dynasty officials, Annan was completely a traitor who refused to obey discipline and betrayed his family. However, in recent years, there has been no armed conflict between Annan and the Ming Dynasty. Therefore, although the people are not close to Annan, they do not have much resentment.

As for whether the Annan people want to establish their own country and be on an equal footing with the Ming Dynasty, these things are too far away from ordinary people's lives. As long as a war does not break out, no one cares about what Annan will do.

The attitude of the businessmen is more practical. As long as there is money to be made, both Haihan and Annan will be popular trading partners.

Furifeng entered the Annan market almost at the same time as Haihan operated several local trading ports. So far, it has established multiple trading institutions in Annan, and the annual trade volume settled in silver has already been in six figures.

It is also a very important trading partner for Fulifeng.

However, due to objective reasons such as transportation, the exchanges between senior figures from both sides are not close. As for Furifeng, only Li Nai has been to Annan several times to preside over the establishment of a trade agency there. On behalf of Annan, Li Nai visited Furifeng in Guangzhou.

Among high-level figures, Zheng Zha is still the number one.

Li Jifeng believed that Zheng Zha's visit marked that the cooperation between the two parties had entered a new stage. Annanguo wanted to set up a quasi-official office in Guangzhou and asked Furifeng to assist in the preparation stage. This was an improvement for him.

Great opportunity for international impact.

If Annan's request is taken care of, then perhaps more countries will follow Annan's lead and ask Fulifeng to assist them in setting up offices in Guangzhou. Such favors will be of great help to Friifeng's overseas development in the future.

The benefits of trading activities are also self-evident.

So after receiving the news from Li Nai sent back in advance through the Haihan Office in Guangzhou, Li Jifeng believed that receiving Zheng Zha must maintain high standards, so he was given all kinds of courtesy after Zheng Zha arrived in Guangzhou.

As for Zhang Jinbao, who also came to Guangzhou for inspection, if he came alone, he would not enjoy nearly the same treatment as Zheng Zha. Although he is considered a social celebrity in Danzhou and the projects he came to Guangzhou to inspect are not small, after all, he still

If it's a little short of weight, it would be nice to have Li Nai come out to accompany him on his inspection work. Even if he could receive such a family dinner invitation, it would probably be after he has at least finalized the plan to cooperate with the Li family to open the Guangzhou branch.

However, Zhang Jinbao is used to the world and does not think there is anything wrong with the high-standard treatment provided by the Li family to Zheng Zao. After all, when he met Zheng Zao in Sanya, he was almost always accompanied by senior officials from Haihan. Li Nai

This kind of smart person will definitely imitate Haihan's reception standards after seeing this.

As the top rich man in Guangzhou, the wedding banquet Li Jifeng set for Zheng Zao and Zhang Jinbao was naturally very sumptuous. Even the cups, dishes and chopsticks on the table were very particular. The porcelain used had a soft luster and was as warm as jade. It was obviously

High-quality goods that are rare on the market.

Zhang Jinbao had a keen eye and recognized that this kind of porcelain had appeared at a banquet held by the Executive Committee. At that time, he wanted to buy a few pieces of the same style back to Danzhou for his own use. He also asked someone to inquire about the situation, and the answer he got was that this kind of porcelain was called

The new type of porcelain, which is bone china, has just been successfully trial-produced in Tiandu. The production capacity is extremely limited, so it is not sold on the market at all. And today I actually saw this kind of porcelain again at the Li family's family banquet. It goes without saying that this should be

The Li family obtained internal goods by virtue of their good relationship with Haihan's senior management.

In its original history, bone china was invented by the Englishman Josiah Spode, and its appearance was at the end of the 18th century, which was still more than a hundred years ago. However, Haihan believes that the market prospects of this kind of porcelain are excellent.

, so they completed the trial production work in advance and are already producing small batches. As one of Haihan's most important trading partners, the Li family also received a small number of samples. Li Jifeng regarded them as treasures. If it weren't for today

For occasions like this when it is necessary to entertain distinguished guests, the best that can be done at the banquet is to bring some glassware made in Haihan.

Zheng Zha didn't notice such details. He was more concerned about Li Jifeng's attitude towards Annan's preparations to set up an office in Guangzhou. Although he had already discussed it with Li Nai in detail before, after all, the head of the Li family was

Li Jifeng, not Li Nai, had to wait for the old man in front of him to make the final decision.

Zheng Zha also made some preparations before coming, such as understanding Li Jifeng's likes and dislikes. According to the information he had, Li Jifeng was extremely shrewd, but he was also very bold in making decisions. As long as he could provide him with sufficient benefits, he would be better off than he was.

Cooperation shouldn't be difficult.

After three rounds of drinking, the atmosphere at the table slowly became warmer, and Li Jifeng took the initiative to ask: "I heard that the young prince came to Guangzhou all the way this time, intending to open a permanent office in the local area to take charge of Annan.

Trade matters in Guangdong?”

As soon as Zheng Zha heard about the business, he put down the chopsticks in his hand, nodded and said: "The trade exchanges between Annan and Guangdong are increasing day by day, but Guangzhou has always lacked a specialized organization to assist these trade activities.

This move will definitely help standardize bilateral trade in the future and is also a good thing for businessmen on both sides."

Li Jifeng said: "The young prince is not an outsider, so I will tell you directly. I wonder if this organization will openly operate as an official Annan official?"

Zheng Zha pretended not to understand and asked, "Excuse me, Boss Li, is there any difference?"

Li Jifeng said: "I believe that the young prince also understands that the relationship between our country and Annan... is not particularly harmonious. Although this does not hinder private trade activities, if you want to open this institution on an official basis,

Then the local government may not be able to turn a blind eye, and there will inevitably be some obstacles."

"If this institution is opened in the name of the Annan government, the government may come forward to cause trouble. Am I understanding it correctly?" Zheng Zha asked.

Li Jifeng did not answer this question directly: "Li does not dare to speculate on the government's attitude, but if we can take the initiative to avoid some trouble, it will ultimately be beneficial to you."

Zheng Zha said: "I would like to ask for advice. I heard that when Haihan set up an office in Guangzhou, boss Meng Li also assisted here. How did they handle the relationship with the local government at that time?"

Zheng Zha's question was very targeted. As soon as Li Jifeng heard it, he knew that the other party was well prepared.

Only more than half a year after Haihan arrived in Sanya, he sent people to Guangzhou to set up an office to open up the trade channel between Sanya and Guangzhou. The role played by the Guangdong Office in Haihan's development history is indispensable. It can be said that

Most of the initial trade activities were realized through this channel, which helped Haihan gain a large amount of important resources in the early stage.

Zheng Zha also spent a lot of time researching the history of Haihan's fortune, and naturally he would not ignore the existence of this special agency. How Haihan used the Office to obtain various resources in Guangzhou at that time has always been

It's a question that interests him very much.

Li Jifeng responded: "Since the young prince knows about the existence of the Office in Guangzhou, he should also know that Haihan had not founded the country at that time and was not famous in Guangzhou. They set up an office in Guangzhou in the name of Haihan. Almost everyone

I thought this was just a business store, and would not have thought that this institution had other special functions. All the benefits that the government should receive were taken away, and Haihan's Office in Guangdong was just used as a timely payment system.

They are just fat sheep for tribute, as long as they don't cause trouble in Guangzhou. By the time Haihan rebels in Qiongzhou, the situation will have been different. Many people in Guangzhou will rely on Haihan to make a fortune. Even if the government wants to move the Guangdong Office,

He will also be constrained by too many interest entanglements. When I say this, does the young prince understand?"

What Li Jifeng means is that today's Annan is in a different situation from that of Haihan. Haihan was not yet famous when he established the Guangdong Office in Guangzhou. No one was wary of him, let alone regarded him as a foreign resident.

Look at the official institutions of the Ming Dynasty. In recent years, Annan has been trying to separate from the fact that the Ming Dynasty was formed and form its own country. If an agency in Guangzhou is established in the official name of Annan, the local government will inevitably react to this.

, after all, Annan is still nominally a territory of the Ming Dynasty, so how can we station official agencies in other areas of the Ming Dynasty without authorization.

However, considering Annan's face, Li Jifeng did not speak too directly. He believed that with Zheng Zha's mind, he should be able to understand what he meant immediately.

Zheng Zha was quite satisfied with Li Jifeng's explanation. He did not insist on setting up this organization in the name of the Annan government. He just listened to the opinions of Li Jifeng, a local snake, as a reference before doing so. It might be more beneficial to him.

Make appropriate decisions.

"Boss Li's words make sense, and I have learned from you!" Zheng Zhu responded politely: "I would like to ask Boss Li again. Do you have any other suggestions on this matter?"
Chapter completed!