If it weren't for the surprising coincidence of the name "Willem van Gogh", if it weren't for Zhu Ciyang's preference for Van Gogh's works in his previous life, I'm afraid this low-level businessman from United East India would not have left any turbulence in history.

However, now, not only did he meet the actual ruler of this huge empire, but he was also lucky to talk to him and explain and promote his country's culture.

"So, your surname does not come from inheritance?" Zhu Cixuan lived in the Netherlands for a long time in his previous life, but he had no in-depth understanding of Dutch history and culture. In fact, his only gain in the Netherlands was that he learned some German, and later he often used it as a joke during dinner parties.

"Yes, the great crown prince." William replied respectfully: "I don't need a surname in my hometown. When I walked out, I took the name of my hometown as my surname."

Van means "from" in Dutch, not Von, which means "sealed in German". The pronunciations of the two are very similar and often have a confusing effect on unfamiliar people. Gogh is just an inconspicuous small countryside, and even William cannot even explain exactly which province it belongs to.

Because it happens to be at the junction of the two provinces.

Obviously, the possibility of him being related to the great painter in later generations is extremely low.

"Do you know how to draw?" Zhu Cixuan asked again.

"Uh, I'm very sorry, the great Crown Prince, I can only keep accounts, uh, and a little bit of Japanese," William said.

The dialogue ended here, and His Highness the Crown Prince picked up the teacup. The eunuchs beside him announced the end of the summons in a timely manner.

After William came out of the Central Army tent, he was arranged to be in the Huitong Pavilion in Fuzhou City. He immediately took out the pen, ink and paper, recorded the meeting, and wrote it into a diary and letter.

Being able to meet such a high-ranking figure is enough to become his spiritual wealth left to his descendants.

If expressed in later generations, his descendants are much higher in their style when they show off!

"Bin, did the eunuchs decide the meeting time in the palace of the Ming Dynasty? Or because the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty was too young,..." William came out of the room and summoned his own affairs, but still couldn't figure out the scene at the end.

"careful……"

"Well, is this a secret? Don't worry, no one can hear what we are saying." William said with peace of mind.

He Bin's face showed a congestion and said, "You know there are German priests in the palace, so our omnipotent prince is likely to understand German and Dutch. In addition, no etiquette country will let the servants decide the time for the meeting. Even if the crown prince is young, it is impossible."

"Then why is it up to a servant to decide the time for me to sue?" William said even more puzzledly: "Is it because he can see the prince's mind?"

"Because..." He Bin originally wanted to tell him the rule of "sending tea and sending guests to the guests" that he had been in the Song Dynasty, and earlier there was "order soup to send guests to the guests". However, this knowledge was not within the salary range, and it also exceeded his Dutch expression ability, so He Bin just said: "Because he has followed His Royal Highness the Crown Prince for a long enough time."

William accepted this explanation. Whose personal servant missed any of the owner's habitual small moves?

He asked again: "Bin, when will the talks on business affairs begin?"

He Bin smiled awkwardly: "Mr. Van Gogh. I'm afraid this matter is not something you and I can decide. I think the Ming court will first understand it before formally discussing the conditions for trading."

"Well, that's right." William nodded: "But I have the responsibility to inform Mr. Oufuwat of what Mingguo has learned. If your fellow countrymen want to learn anything about the company from you, you should also tell me without reservation. This is your obligation."

"It should be, sir." He Bin responded without any pressure. As he uttered this phrase countless times - especially when he didn't understand what the Dutch were saying.

As a foreigner with different races, William was not allowed - he did not dare to step out of the Huitong Pavilion. He Bin was often called to handle various affairs as a general official. When the young but mature William always stared at He Bin for the first time when he saw him, he asked him if the people in Ming had asked any information about the joint company.

He Bin's answers are always trivial matters. The fact is that he has helped the staff of the First Guards Army compile a complete set of Dutch intelligence records in Southeast Asia, winning good popularity. The Jinyiwei, who came from the north recently, was also very polite to him, and tried several times to see whether he was willing to be a spy of the Jinyiwei.

As the visitor of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, He Bin reached the peak of his life.

"So, a new territory and a new world will inevitably give birth to a new family." Zhu Cixuan sat in the tent, with Zheng Zhilong, He Bin and a group of staff officers sitting under it. This was not a meeting, but a routine afternoon break, with refreshments in front of everyone.

"Oufuwat's ancestor was a fisherman. He was just an assistant to a primary school, not even an official. After leaving his country, he became a vassal state." Zhu Cilang said in a brisk voice: "And the young man with freckles on his face can also come to see me seriously on behalf of a country. It's interesting to think about it. He Bin, what is the salary there?"

He Bin quickly stood up, sat down timidly under the command of the crown prince's hand pressing, and said, "Red-Furious Yi..."

"Use a formal name, don't despise your opponent." Zhu Cilang interrupted He Bin and reminded him.

He Bin quickly changed his words: "The Dutch people don't pay high. The young man once heard Van Gogh complain that the salary here is twice as much as his own country, but the trauma to his body is four times. However, their main income here is to sell private goods. Oufurt bought commercial goods from Chinese maritime merchants in Chicing City, and sold them to Japan with the company's fleet, making huge profits."

"He only took office last year, so brave?" Zhu Cixuan asked.

"Your Highness, he was the director of a Japanese merchant store before, so he is familiar with it."

"Does the Governor General of Batavia care?"

"Your Highness," He Bin smiled, "This is already known to everyone. Even the Governor General himself smuggled goods. Last year, a large company ship unloaded the company's employees' private goods on the island, and the hull suddenly floated three feet! These Thais didn't live long in the East China Sea and the South China Sea, so they had to make some money as soon as possible and then return to their country for the rest of their lives."

Zheng Zhilong gently pulled the corner of He Bin's clothes and signaled him not to be proud of himself.

He Bin did not realize this. He only saw His Royal Highness smiling brightly, but did not notice that the officers in the seat looked at him with some complex expressions.

Although His Highness the Crown Prince emphasized that Taiwan is the homeland of China and the territory of the Ming Dynasty, some people still regard the capture of Taiwan as a way to expand their territory.

Especially knowing the huge economic benefits contained in Taiwan, wouldn’t it be a good thing if he could defend Taiwan in the future? Besides, the Crown Prince’s suggestion was not obvious enough: No matter what his origin was before, as long as he opened up a new territory, he could become a superior person.

Now He Bin has revealed the inside story of overseas enclaves first. Who can do peace in the future?

"This is human nature," Zhu Ciyang said, "and it is also the seventeenth gentleman in the United Company who is too petty."

He Bin raised his head in surprise and said to himself: He hasn't shaken out the seventeen gentlemen yet. How did the Crown Prince know about such a secret matter? Could it be that the Jinyiwei has already...

"If I ask me, the income from overseas enclaves should be based on the shares of the people, and everyone will get the money. In this way, everyone will get the benefits, and the governors will not dare to lose money on the public or private matters. Otherwise, his subordinates will not do it." Zhu Cixuan said.

"Your Highness said very much, but it is a blessing for us to expand our territory for the country, and everything else is nothing more than a cloud." Fang Jiahong's work progress was very satisfying, so he gave him more honors.

"You can't say that." Zhu Cilang shook his head and said, "You are a Jinshi for 17 years, aren't you?"

"I was lucky enough to be granted the title of Jinshi by the humble official position." Fang Jiahong said humbly.

Zheng Zhilong's heart trembled. He hadn't heard the captain say that he was a Jinshi! A Jinshi also came to join the army to eat food?

Zhu Cixuan said: "Don't you remember the Analects of Confucius?"

Fang Jiahong suddenly blushed, like a ripe shrimp.

Zhu Ciyang knew that many people here had never read the Analects of Confucius and said, "At the time of Confucius, Lu State had good governance: Anyone who bought a slave abroad who was a slave abroad could reimburse the ransom after returning to China. Confucius's student Zigong was very rich, but he did not reimburse the compatriots after replacing him, and he thought he was a righteous act.

"When Confucius learned about it, he pointed out that Zigong's approach was wrong. Why? Because not everyone is as rich as Zigong and can bear the ransom, but everyone has a sense of shame. If Zigong's behavior comes first, people will be ashamed to reimburse the expenses to the office.

"On the one hand, I feel ashamed, but on the other hand, I am really unable to catch it. What will happen? The result is that fewer and fewer people are willing to redeem the Chinese people for the country, and in the end, everyone simply thinks it is out of sight."

Zhu Cilang also said: "Loyalty, righteousness, benevolence, courage, courtesy, righteousness, integrity and shame. This is the quality of a gentleman. He can only discipline himself, not others. A country must be a mixture of gentlemen and villains. If the country formulates laws based on the standards of a gentleman, it will inevitably make the villain turn his back on the motherland. If the country formulates laws based on the standards of a villain, the villain will be restrained and guided well, and moves step by step towards the behavior of a gentleman. A gentleman is still a gentleman. Those who sit here now will probably want to promote the rule of the order in the future and should remember what I said today."

Everyone here does not label as a "gentleman" or "villain" on their faces, but their admiration is the same. Although a gentleman does not mind "a good fortune", a villain can be regarded as a guarantee: equal benefits are shared, and as long as the rules are followed, they can still make a fortune legally.

Zheng Zhilong felt this deeply.
Chapter completed!