The Japanese pirates made money off him, and he could turn around and make money off the Japanese pirates. Back and forth, he dragged Quanzhou Guard into the water as well.
The newly arrived Deputy Commander of Quanzhou Guard, Jiang Fangzheng, had previously served in Datong Prefecture and had close ties with the north.
At the time, the little emperor had only just ascended the throne. The Three Yangs trod carefully in court, and the Empress Dowager also tried her utmost to preserve the governing rules from the late Emperor's reign, not daring to handle matters with sweeping, drastic measures.
Prince Lu discovered that money was easier to make in the north, so he worked with Jiang Fangzheng to sell goods there.
"But over the past two years, the north has become increasingly unstable. And His Majesty has grown up and begun to rule personally, so Prince Lu became much more cautious," Sun Xin said. "Jiang Fangzheng was promoted from Deputy Commander to Commander and no longer wished to be too entangled with the north either, so they gradually reduced their dealings there."
Pan Yun asked, "Could they really cut things off just because they wanted to?"
Sun Xin gave a bitter smile. "Exactly. This was not something they could sever merely by wishing it so. Wang Zhen would be the first to refuse, which was why Prince Lu wanted even more to achieve something in maritime trade, so Wang Zhen would stop pressing him."
It was all money. Whose money they earned made no difference, did it?
Wang Zhen only cared about getting money and treasures.
But for Prince Lu, it was different.
Colluding with Japanese pirates meant colluding with Japan, a tributary state separated from him by a stretch of sea.
But colluding with the Oirats and other