Zhou Hezhi, Zhou Lingao and Zhu Zhiyu lived up to their great trust and were commended by Zhu Hengjia after returning from Japan.
Especially Zhu Zhiyu, who spent several years in Japan frugally, but managed to raise a donation of 100,000 taels of silver for the imperial court. Such integrity is truly valuable.
Zhu Hengjia appointed Zhu Zhiyu as the head of the Zhengliupin Concierge House.
After the addition of four ports to Japan's trade, the Ming Dynasty's tariff revenue increased significantly, especially export taxes. Although in later generations, in order to promote exports, all developed countries abolished export taxes. But in this era,
Export tax is the mainstream, and what kind of productivity determines what kind of tax. Zhu Hengjia is a time traveler and knows the importance of promoting exports. He sets the export tax very low, only 5%, which is far lower than other countries. Even so,
There are also hundreds of thousands of taels of silver added every year.
In addition to tariffs, industrial taxes, and commercial taxes have also increased significantly. The Daming Bank has made a lot of money. Once foreign trade is invigorated, the number of deposits and loans increases dramatically, and the bank's income will naturally increase.
In order to earn military expenses for the Northern Expedition, Zhu Hengjia also ordered navies from various places to take turns escorting merchant ships for a fee. According to the level of the warship, each ship charged a different fee. Originally he just tried to do it for fun, but unexpectedly because of the large number of pirates, the merchants at sea
I would rather spend a lot of money to hire a naval escort. This business is actually very profitable. I can easily earn hundreds of thousands of taels every year.
Originally, Zhu Hengjia wanted to set up a foreign trade company to directly transport silk, porcelain and other goods to Japan for sale. But now there are many businesses doing foreign trade business. As a time traveler, he was very aware of the disadvantages of big pot rice, so he gave up. Euphemistically speaking, not
Compete with the people for profit.
After making enough money, I was about to go on the northern expedition, but suddenly I received a congratulatory and help-seeking form from the Ryukyu Kingdom.
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"The king of Ryukyu Kingdom, Zhongshan, paid tribute to his ministers, and with tears in his eyes, he said:
The emperor's favored destiny governs all directions. His holy virtues are applied to all nations, and all nations are forever imbued with culture. The emperor's benevolence is widespread, and the Xiansu etiquette of the eighth birthday is gathered in Tongting, and he calls three times to praise him.
Worship Yang. Your Majesty, the Emperor, rules the world, sees everything equally, considers all things in the world, and guides hundreds of kings. His voice and spirit fill the universe, and his moral teachings are abundant in every corner of the sea. His ministers have been loyal to their feudal lords, honed their integrity, and returned with all their hearts.
Destiny, praise virtues wholeheartedly. If you adhere to the principles of the future, good luck will last forever, and the Golden Ou will be eternal, like the rising sun.
Today, the Shimazu clan, the chieftain, invaded Ryukyu. They captured our ancestors, occupied our islands, slaughtered my people, and plundered my wealth. They also set up a military base in Naha, and their every move was hijacked. What's more, they forced small countries to do so.
, abandoned China and became a vassal in Satsuma. If things go on like this, the country will not be a country. The ministers dare not betray the deep kindness of the Ming Dynasty and abandon the territory of their ancestors. The Fuwei Heavenly Dynasty sent troops to assist us in Ryukyu. Like the kindness of heaven, it will never be forgotten.
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The great sincerity of a small country comes from the heart! The passion is beyond words. I would like to pay tribute to you. September 6, the second year of Guangwu."
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After reading this request for help from Ryukyu King Shangzhi, Zhu Hengjia was in a dilemma.
The Satsuma Domain is now an important trading partner of the Ming Dynasty, so it is not easy to offend. However, it would not be appropriate to allow them to annex Ryukyu.
This Ryukyu Kingdom is not an ordinary vassal state, but a model country of the Celestial Tribute System. It is the most "respectful" among the Ming Dynasty's tributary states ("Wanli Yehuo": "Of all the countries in this dynasty that pay tribute, Ryukyu is the most respectful, and the court etiquette is the most respectful.")
They are also very different from other foreigners").
What kind of deferential method?
The "History of the Ming Dynasty" records the number of formal tributes paid by various countries: Japan nineteen times, Korea thirty-seven times, Java thirty-seven times, Annan eighty-nine times, and the Ryukyu Kingdom up to one hundred and seventy-one times, almost close to the total of all countries.
.
Not to mention, he was very respectful to the envoys of the Celestial Dynasty.
Chen Kan of the Ming Dynasty said in "Envoy to Ryukyu" that the official system of the Ryukyu Kingdom was very simple, and most of the civil servants were specially appointed to pay tribute.
Whenever a new king ascends the throne, the Ming Dynasty envoys go to Ryukyu to confer the title. The Ryukyu king will personally go out three miles from the capital to greet him, kneel three times and nine kowtows to the angels; enter the palace, enshrine the imperial edict, and knelt three times and kowtow again; and then
, knelt down to listen to the decree, and after listening, they knelt three times and kowtowed nine times. After the king kowtowed three times, the officials also kowtowed three times to the angels, while the Chinese envoys only had to cup their hands. Then, they invited the angels to eat seven times in a row.
A big meal, a banquet in the wind, a farewell banquet, a boating banquet, etc. Gifts and bribes, not to mention more words.
Entertaining the Great Angel is a top priority for the Ryukyu Kingdom. Several yamen have been set up to be responsible for the reception, including the Library Affairs Department in charge of accommodation, the Banquet Management Department in charge of banquets, the Letters Department in charge of documents, etc. There is even a "Civilization Office"
"It's not just about cleaning the streets and painting the walls, but more importantly, expelling prostitutes. Our country, Ryukyu, is a civilized country in the East China Sea. How can there be prostitutes?
Of course, tit for tat, the Ming Dynasty was also very good to the Ryukyu Kingdom. It was so good that it made the North Korean envoy jealous. One word describes the relationship between the two countries: as close as brothers. Now that the younger brother is in trouble, does the elder brother want to take care of it?
Moreover, the Ryukyu Kingdom is located between Taiwan Island and Kyushu Island in Japan. Its geographical location is extremely important. It is a transit point for trade between various countries and is known as the "Jinjiang Bridge of All Nations". If the Japanese occupy it, our Ming Dynasty's Taiwan and southeastern seaboard will not be in trouble.
It's safe.
Emperor Guangwu felt that he couldn't control it for a while, and then felt that he should control it. He was hesitant, so he summoned Sun Kewang, the minister of the Concierge Court, and Zhu Zhiyu, the chief minister, to the palace to inquire.
"Sun Qing, Zhu Qing, this Ryukyu Kingdom has always been deferential to the Ming Dynasty. The Japanese Satsuma clan invaded Ryukyu and occupied five of their islands. Please tell me, does the Ming Dynasty care about this matter or not?"
"Your Majesty, I think the Ryukyu Kingdom is deferential to the Ming Dynasty mainly because of profit, but not really loyal to the Ming Dynasty," Sun Kewang said.
"Oh, why did Sun Qing say this?"
"Your Majesty, the Ryukyu people are fond of doing business. Every time they come to China to pay tribute, they bring a large amount of goods purchased from Korea, Japan, Siam, Sumatra, Java, Luzon and other places for sale. They also buy silk, tea, etc. from the Ming Dynasty.
The goods were resold in various countries, and the profits were tenfold when they came and went. Our Ming Dynasty exempted Ryukyu envoys from food and lodging, so that most of the envoys were businessmen. They came to our Ming Dynasty and ate and drank for free.
There is also ten times the profit, so I am naturally happy to pay tribute."
What? Eating and drinking for free? How can this be done?
Zhu Hengjia frowned and asked Sun Kewang: "Sun Qing, I specifically told you last time that when envoys from various countries come to our country in the Ming Dynasty, they need to take care of their own food and accommodation. Have you followed suit?"
Sun Kewang hurriedly said: "I have complied with His Majesty's order and let each country's missions bear their own expenses."
"Well, that's good!"
Sun Kewang added: "Your Majesty, I have received the news that four years ago the Qing court sent envoys to confer the title of King of Ryukyu Zhongshan, the former Ryukyu prince Shangzhi, and the current Ryukyu prince Shangzhi also surrendered to the Qing court."
"What!"
Zhu Hengjia was furious: "Shang Zhi is so bold! Now that he has surrendered to the Qing Dynasty, he still dares to ask me for help!"
"Your Majesty, I think that surrendering Ryukyu to the Qing Dynasty is a helpless move," Zhu Zhiyu said.
"Oh, Zhu Qing, please tell me."
"Your Majesty, the late Ryukyu prince Shangxian sent envoys to Ming Dynasty many times to request for canonization. The last time was to request the late Emperor Longwu for canonization. As a result, not long after the envoy arrived, the late emperor died for his country. The envoy made his own decision and followed the Qing army.
He entered the capital and surrendered. The Qing Dynasty sent envoys to Ryukyu to confer the title. When they arrived, Shang Xian was dead. The Satsuma clan was aggressive towards Ryukyu. Shang Xian's younger brother Shang Zhi wanted to use the power of the Qing Dynasty to fight against the Satsuma clan, so he just confessed to the Qing Dynasty.
Surrender".
"Humph," Sun Kewang snorted, "Master Zhu said it too lightly. That Shangzhi not only surrendered, but also handed over to the Qing court the imperial seal that the Ming Dynasty canonized them, and asked the Qing court to grant them a
"New Imperial Seal".
"Hahaha", Zhu Hengjia laughed angrily, and to Sun Kewang, Zhu Zhiyu smiled and said: "I often tell you that there are only interests and no friendship between countries. How? As soon as I saw that the Ming Dynasty was weak, the Ryukyu Kingdom immediately
He ran to the Qingluo side. Okay, okay, okay, this Shangzhi is really a talent! He just flattered the Tatars, and in the blink of an eye, he was able to ask for my help!"
"Your Majesty, how to deal with the Ryukyu Kingdom's request for help?"
"Don't worry, let's wait for the Ryukyu envoy for half a month, and then I'll see him again."