Aztec Immortal One Thousand Four Hundred and Thirty-One There is a certain amount of money and food in the world. Who exactly benefits from the benefits of sea trade?
One Thousand Four Hundred and Thirty-One There is a certain amount of money and food in the world. Who exactly benefits from the benefits of sea trade?
"The law of Taizu, Emperor Taizong established the capital, and our dynasty is based on the north...this...is!...What Fantai taught is this! The students are really...suddenly enlightened...suddenly enlightened!..."
In the study room, facing Chief Minister Wang Zhe's suggestion, Shi Wende looked stunned, nodded repeatedly, and could not say any unnecessary words.
This sage's path, Taizu Taizong, and the Ming Dynasty's national policy were all pressed together. How could he dare to say "no"? But in his heart, he still couldn't fully agree.
After all, the chief envoy said that he was "farmer-based and businessmen were late", "the north and the south are integrated", he said that "the common people pursue profit" and "merchants are cunning"...
However, during his years of sea trading, Shi Shi had many interactions with farmers, merchants, pirates, gentry, soldiers, officials, and people of all kinds. The intuitive experience he gained, what he saw, saw, and heard was nothing like the cloth.
The so-called "righteousness of saints" in the mouth of the political envoy is completely different!
The chief envoy said, "Encourage farmers to bring peace to the people." However, the population in Zhejiang increased, and the gentry annexed a large number of land. As a result, more and more farmers were landless and had little land, and tens of thousands of people were in poverty. Everyone was destitute.
Once the fields are planted, how can we “encourage farmers” and “pacify the people”?
Just like the "sailors" recruited by the Shi family, aren't they all unable to survive on the farm, so they are forced to go to sea to find a way to survive? Zhejiang is better, and Fujian further south has eight mountains, one water, and one farmland!
There are even more sea lords in Fujian, and there are even more countless ordinary people who went to the scourge of Southeast Asia and died in barbaric foreign lands!
Let's talk about "converting rice to mulberry" and reducing grain production. Aren't the villages in Zhejiang provinces where mulberry cultivation is really large-scale the most serious mergers and acquisitions by gentry and large households? In fact, most of the profits from sea trade have been lost.
The hands of those "sitting tigers" who are supplying and receiving goods all fall into the hands of those gentry and noble families!
According to the laws and unspoken rules of the Ming Dynasty, the gentry were protected by fame and had various connections, and they did not pay any money or food at all...Huh? No! I, Mr. Shi, now have the fame of being a civil servant, and I can barely squeeze into the bottom of the gentry!...
Shi Wende was silent for a moment, Wang Zhe stroked his beard and said nothing, and the study immediately became quiet. This kind of silence brought him more pressure than when the chief envoy spoke. So Shi Wende tried his best to maintain a smile and continued to be a student.
With a humble attitude, I asked for advice.
"Fantai, you just said that peace in Zhejiang lies not in sea trade, but in encouraging farmers... I wonder how we should do this to encourage farmers?..."
"Hmm... The study of sages puts persuading farmers first. And Zhu Zi once wrote an article "Encouraging Farmers", which mentioned in detail the key points of "Encouraging Farmers". Sicheng, you need to read this article "Encouraging Farmers"
"Nongwen", recite it carefully... When I look for Jinshi, the first thing I look at is 'Loyalty, Trust and Righteousness', and the second point is to look at the knowledge of 'Encouraging Farmers', whether you are familiar with it..."
The chief envoy, Wang Zhe, stroked his beard and became surprisingly kind when talking about knowledge. He liked to be a teacher and gave guidance to those who would make progress. This was also the most "warm-hearted" relationship in Confucian culture at this time.
"In addition to government supervision, there are three key points in persuading farmers. The first is that 'spring has arrived and the earth's pulse has risen', 'soak the seeds and plant the seedlings, and plow deeply and shallowly'. Every prefecture and every county must
Arrange officials to encourage farmers and teach farmers and people that they must abide by the farming season and work intensively to ensure the yield of the fields."
"Secondly, 'Farming is our main industry, but millet, beans, hemp, wheat, vegetables, tomato and taro are also edible.' Rice is mainly grown in the south of the Yangtze River, millet can be grown in dry lands, and hemp can be grown in mountainous areas.
, beans, vegetables, and calla yam can be planted in ponds... A variety of varieties are needed to prepare for spring famine..."
"The reason why converting rice to mulberry is harmful to the country and the people is not only the reduction of rice production, but also the large amount of weaving and brocade, which consumes too much people's manpower and easily delays the harvest of other cereals, fruits and vegetables... This reduction again and again
If the reduction continues, I am afraid that Jiangnan will not only be unable to support itself in food, but will have to transport food from Huguang! And you must know that the world’s money and food have their own fixed amount! Let’s not talk about money, food will definitely not be reduced anymore!…”
Having said this, the chief envoy Wang Zhe raised his brows, with a hint of murderous intent flashing in his eyes. After this spring inspection, he was very dissatisfied with the situation in the fields in Zhejiang and some of the people behind it.
For a traditional Jinshi like him who was born in the north, the developed commodity economy in the south of the Yangtze River, especially the benefits brought by sea trade, has made the world's food increasingly scarce. However, Huguang's grain is driven by profit, and a large amount of it is shipped to the south of the Yangtze River.
The food supply north of the Yellow River has been decreasing, or the cost has greatly increased. Food is not grown in the south of the Yangtze River, and food is not grown in such good land, which eventually leads to food shortages in the border areas. This is simply a cancer, a cancer that poisoned the entire Ming Dynasty!
…
"Well... there is also the third and most important point in promoting agriculture, water conservancy and plowing cattle! 'The benefits of ponds are the foundation of farming, especially when we work together to build them', 'The power of plowing is all due to the power of cattle'. Zhejiang
In a land, water conservancy must be repaired frequently. Only with water can there be good fields, and only with canals can there be fields! And these fields must be plowed deeply with cattle to further increase production. Anyone who slaughters cattle without authorization is a serious crime against farmers.
.Once caught, they will be punished according to the law and killed to serve as a warning to others!…”
"The learning of saints is based on agriculture. And in agriculture, water conservancy is the most critical. Therefore, 'water repair' is a top priority that will benefit the present and future generations!"
"Last year, the Yellow River overflowed and there were even several executions. Liu Gong resolutely took up the responsibility of repairing the river and supervising and regulating the Yellow River... Compared with the achievements of such a saint, whether it is military achievements in border affairs, local education, or court affairs
His martial arts skills are somewhat dwarfed by comparison!…”
When talking about Liu Daxia's management of the Yellow River, the face of the chief envoy Wang Zhe showed a rare vivid expression, showing his sincere admiration and yearning.
In the Confucian agrarian culture, military exploits to expand borders and support for emperors are all inferior to "building water conservancy"! And among all "building water conservancy", the most important thing is "regulating the river" and regulating the Yellow River!
"Controlling the Yellow River" is almost the most valued by the Confucian scholar-bureaucrat class, the hardest to obtain, and the highest honor and prestige! This is the real "great contribution of a saint, benefiting the common people". Once you have done a good job in repairing the river, you will first have a smooth career.
Secondly, in terms of reputation, scholars will also be respected by everyone. In the future, they will definitely leave a mark in the annals of history, shining a bright light on their family and future generations!…
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! In comparison, the opening of sea trade and the expansion of border areas by military exploits are not in line with the "sage education" and "agricultural values". These things,
Even if it is done successfully, it may not be a credit. But once it is done badly, it must be a huge sin!
"Building rivers and encouraging farmers is the right way of a saint! And this city's shipping and sea trade..."
The chief envoy Wang Zhe's eyes were deep and he shook his head slightly. He looked at Shi Wende's face and spoke in a tone of guidance to the students.
"Sicheng, the world's money and food have their own destiny! Maritime trade is really harmful to our Ming Dynasty. The people along the coast are pursuing profits and converting rice into mulberry, which greatly reduces the food supply... I have already said that this is one of the 'food' in money and food.
Character."
"And the word 'money' in this money and grain, which I haven't mentioned before, is another big disadvantage caused by sea trade! Japanese merchants came with a large amount of luxury treasures, and also took away the copper coins and treasures of our dynasty...
As a result, copper coins decreased, and even Shaanxi experienced a money shortage! Copper coins are used by villagers for rural trade. The fewer copper coins, the more desolate the countryside will be!..."
"Fan merchants and Japanese merchants came with a lot of silver, which greatly increased the amount of silver... and silver is used by citizens for trade. The more silver, the higher the price. In the city of Hangzhou and Ningbo, the price of rice is double that in the countryside and several times that in Shaanxi.
…”
The chief envoy Wang Zhe narrowed his eyes dangerously as he spoke. Then, he narrowed his eyes like this, stared at Shi Wende, and spoke meaningfully.
"Sea trade is secretly booming, and copper coins are flowing out. The more money there is, the more money there is, and the villagers and citizens are suffering from it. Sicheng, you said, among the benefits of sea trade, the imperial court has not gained a single cent, and the common people have not gained much, and the majority has not.
Who gets it? And if sea trade really develops, can the common people really benefit? Can the imperial court really benefit?..."
"As for now, behind the Ningbo ship trade, to what extent are the Ban people and Japanese people, and how much are the gentry and powerful people from the coast?..."
