The content of the winter solstice court meeting is boring and nothing more than singing praises.
Important court matters have already been discussed.
However, the most important thing is the tribute envoys of the Franji people.
The appearance of a red-haired and blue-eyed Westerner at the court meeting surprised some people.
The gifts presented are quite rare.
Clocks, knives, Spanish horses, and a box of personal gifts from King Felipe III of Spain.
The imperial court's gifts in return were porcelain, silk, calligraphy and paintings, etc.
However, giving gifts was only secondary. The Spanish's main purpose was to increase the silk trade volume.
With the establishment of customs, overseas trade increased dramatically.
As a result, chaos arose, with countless competitions for customers, and the Silk Guild was officially established.
Similarly, silk has also been born with standards, three levels: A, B, and C, and the trade share of each standard also has requirements.
At this point, the price of silk has also returned to the right track, and the people have made huge profits.
It's just that the share of silk exports is limited, especially the top-grade first-class silk, which is hard to come by.
With no choice, the Spanish businessmen had to pretend to be the king and prepare to take the upper-class route, hoping that the emperor would add more top-quality silk.
The courtiers didn't care, but the cabinet believed that the rules set cannot be changed easily.
Subsequently, the Spanish requested that each other establish embassies and allow Spanish merchant ships to dock at ports.
At this time, the cabinet refused without thinking.
According to Zhang Shenyan: "Your country is just a king, and our country is the emperor, and we should pay tribute. How can we treat them equally? This is absolutely ridiculous!"
At this time, the Kingdom of Spain was similar to Japan in the eyes of its ministers, or even far inferior.
Just like when the Sui Dynasty received the certificate of credence from Japan and claimed to be the emperor of the Land of the Rising Sun, the first feeling was humiliation.
Because in the Confucian world view, China is the center of the world, and it should be the boss and the father.
So, you small countries can ask for money, but which father doesn’t give his son pocket money?
But if you want to communicate with your father on an equal footing, this is disobedient and unfilial.
It’s not surprising that Confucians think so. This has been the understanding for thousands of years. Everyone will have fixed thinking.
Yan Chongxin even asked directly: "How many counties are there in your country? How many miles in radius and how many cities? Can you learn the teachings of Confucius and Mencius?"
The Spaniard answered categorically, raising his head proudly.
In this regard, Yan Chongxin said disdainfully: "It is only as big as North Korea and less than a province of our country. It is ridiculous to say that it is equal."
The emperor took a different approach and asked the Spaniards: "I heard that you are stationing troops in our country and reclaiming wasteland. Is this a problem?"
At this time, the Spaniard said confidently: "Your Majesty, your Majesty the Emperor, all our territory in Dangyang has been stolen by the Dutch. Your Majesty the Emperor can ask the Dutch to return it."
After speaking, he described the abominations of the Dutch in every possible way, and finally said: "As long as your country, Count Zheng, sends out troops, the Dutch will be defeated."
At this time, the situation on Taiwan Island was opposite to that of later generations. The most prosperous areas were the Tainan area and the Jianan area, that is, Dajuan.
This was the area where Yan Siqi and other immigrants reclaimed land, and it was also the area where Zheng Zhilong later moved the victims.
Zheng Zhilong regarded this cave as one of his three cunning rabbit caves, so he later sent Xiong Wencan, the governor of Fujian, to recruit hungry people to Taiwan to reclaim wasteland and relieve social pressure.
The Dutch established a trading point with the Spanish, and the Spanish built a city in the Jilong area of Taipei, which was later taken away by the Dutch.
It was not until Zheng Zhilong surrendered to the Qing Dynasty in history that the Dutch took the opportunity to control the Han settlements on Taiwan Island and control Taiwan.
Therefore, in history, when Zheng Chenggong regained Taiwan, he considered it to be the restoration of his father's fiefdom. He wrote a poem that "opened up the thorns and hazes to drive away the foreigners, and it took ten years to conquer the original foundation."
After hearing such a statement, the emperor suddenly understood.
It turns out that this was the period when the Dutch, the sea coachmen, were powerful, and Spain was beginning to end.
Eight years ago, Portugal became independent, and a few decades ago it even allowed the Netherlands to become independent. The Netherlands lost its cows, and its army also lost its power. It is inevitable that it will become lonely.
So the Spaniards immediately focused their attention on dealing with the Dutch, and bluntly said that they were familiar with the chicken coop area and could lead the way.
"There is no rush in sending ambassadors to each other."
The emperor glanced at the anxious ministers and said calmly: "You also know that our country has a lot of resistance. As long as your country helps me win the chicken coop, no one will object to the ambassador."
Hearing these words, Zhang Shenyan felt like he was suffocating.
The Spaniards were overjoyed and rushed to respond.
The reason why the Spaniards are keen on ambassadors is that it is not easy to find a place to do business.
The Portuguese in Macau are so comfortable. The Dutch have chicken coops, but the Spanish have nothing. Japan and North Korea are even beyond their reach.
If an embassy is set up, businessmen can land and trade directly without middlemen making profit.
The cabinet's reaction to the establishment of diplomatic relations was lukewarm, as they considered it inappropriate.
"If that's the case, then let's set up another Lifan Yuan!"
The emperor made a decision without giving the cabinet a chance to refute: "All barbarian affairs will be handed over to the Lifan Yuan."
"What about North Korea, Ryukyu, Annan, etc.?"
"Countries that serve as kings and understand etiquette are still under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Rites. Only barbarian countries with different costumes are handled by the Lifan Yuan."
To put it bluntly, it is the distinction between the inner vassals who pay tribute and the barbarians of the outer vassals who do not pay tribute.
This is equivalent to drawing a safe zone. The Confucian system is still there and has not been changed. It is just that another system is set up that it does not belong to, and everyone plays their own role.
The impact force was immediately reduced.
The cabinet was finally appeased.
"Your Majesty, where is this important officer?"
Zhao Shu squinted his eyes and said a little puzzled.
"It's just Xiaoliuqiu in the past."
Zhu Yixi waved her hand and said: "The country that was not conquered during the Taizu years has now fallen into the hands of barbarians, but after all, it is still my people, and it is necessary to save them."
"How much troops will it cost? How much money and food will it cost?"
"The navy of the East China Sea is getting stronger day by day. With the cooperation of Zheng Zhilong, Nan'an Bo, we can capture it with a few thousand soldiers and horses."
Speaking of this, Zhu Yixi showed a smile: "I heard that Xiaoliuqiu is a vast territory with a radius of thousands of miles and hundreds of thousands of people, all of whom are victims of the Fujian disaster. What do you think after expelling the barbarians?"
The three cabinet members were silent.
After a while, Zhao Shu said decisively: "If we are really the people of the Ming Dynasty, then of course we should set up a state capital and organize households to equalize the people."
The emperor nodded with satisfaction.
Unexpectedly, Zhao Shu continued: "If we don't care about it, I am afraid that in the future, some people will have a disobedient heart and falsely call themselves kings, and their ambitions will be rampant. Then how can I, the Ming Dynasty, have any face?"
Yes, in the final analysis, it is still a matter of face.
"That's right, anyone who writes with Chinese characters should be a minister of the Ming Dynasty."