Zhu Houzhao nodded slowly and said: "Uncle is right. But I have never thought of such a thing. It seems that I have to think about it carefully."
Zhang Yanling said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, the imperial court has banned sea trade, but private smuggling continues, and sea goods are coming in continuously. Instead of this, it is better for the imperial court to impose a sea ban, reopen the shipping department and trade with foreign countries, and open up maritime trade routes. In this way,
The imperial court can not only obtain finance and tax, but our Ming Dynasty's silk, tea and ceramics can also be exported for profit. This is a good thing that benefits the country and the people. The emperor should think about it carefully."
Zhu Houzhao pondered: "Uncle, if the sea is opened and the sea is closed, what will happen to the Japanese pirates at sea? I don't understand how these foreign goods entered our country. Aren't they afraid of Japanese pirates raiding?"
Zhang Yanling thought for a while and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty must be aware that the merchant ships of the Folangji Kingdom have occupied Tuen Mun Island, which belongs to Guangdong."
Zhu Houzhao nodded and said: "I have heard something. The Chief Envoy of Guangdong and Guangxi reported this matter before. The merchant ship of Folangji State docked at Tuen Mun Island for the purpose of supplying supplies, but it could not leave. I heard that the merchant ship of Folangji State stopped at Tuen Mun Island.
The ship was equipped with a Fo Lang machine gun, which was very fierce. Wang Hong, the governor of the seaway, sent people to negotiate but failed, so he proposed to the court to send out heavy troops to expel the ship. Li Siming, the chief envoy of the Guangdong and Guangxi Provinces, Si You, reported that the Fo Lang machine was
The Chinese merchant ships are borrowing supplies from the land, and there is no malicious intention. There is no need to make enemies with them. I also asked the courtiers, and Jiao Fang and others said that this matter is of no importance. It is nothing more than a deserted island. There is no need to mobilize troops. Those of the Fo Langji Kingdom are merchant ships.
It's not a warship. Our country, the Ming Dynasty, should show some mercy to overseas countries to show our magnanimity. I thought what he said was reasonable, so I didn't interfere."
Zhang Yanling laughed and said: "That's really magnanimous. That's an act of intrusion. Tuenmen is our Ming Dynasty's land. Just like the Tatars attacked our northern fortress, our Ming Dynasty border troops will resist the enemy with blood."
, don’t let the Tatars occupy an inch of my land. The sea area is also the frontier of our Ming Dynasty, how can we let others occupy it?”
Zhu Houzhao's face felt hot, and he heard the ridicule in Zhang Yanling's words.
"That is not occupation, Li Siming said, it is a temporary rest to replenish supplies. He should leave after that. If he doesn't leave later, he will be evicted again." Zhu Houzhao said.
Zhang Yanling nodded and said: "I hope so. I don't mean anything else by mentioning this matter, but I think that the fact that the merchant ships of the Folangji Kingdom can reach the coastal areas of Guangdong in the Ming Dynasty unimpeded shows two things.
1. The merchant ships of the Folangji Kingdom were not attacked by Japanese pirates. Either
Their military force is so strong that the Japanese pirates dare not offend them. Or the Japanese pirates are not as powerful as we thought. Secondly, these overseas commodities of our Ming Dynasty may have come from these Franconian merchant ships. This overseas trade business
If we don’t do it, we’ll leave it to others.”
Zhu Houzhao thought for a while and said: "What my uncle means is that the merchant ships of the Folangji Kingdom transported the goods to my Ming Dynasty, and there were people in my Ming Dynasty who responded and collected their goods and sold them in the Ming Dynasty. So there is no need to go to sea to contend with the Japanese pirates. Is it okay to be threatened by the Japanese pirates?
?”
Zhang Yanling said: "You can think so."
Zhu Houzhao said: "If that's the case, wouldn't it be a good thing for the merchant ship of the Folangji Kingdom to come to our Ming Dynasty? If it is according to what my uncle said just now, wouldn't it be a good thing to sell porcelain, silk and tea, which are products produced in our Ming Dynasty?
Isn't it better for the merchant ships of the Folangji Kingdom to come and deliver goods to our Ming Dynasty than to open up sea routes to trade with distant countries ourselves? There is no need to bear the risk of going to sea, and there is no need to worry about the harassment of Japanese pirates? "
Zhang Yanling looked at Zhu Houzhao speechlessly, not knowing what to say for a moment.
Zhu Houzhao said: "What? Is what I said wrong?"
Zhang Yanling said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, I'm afraid you don't quite understand business matters. The merchant ships from the Franji Kingdom come to Daming to make money from us, and our purpose from the Ming Dynasty is to earn money from the Kingdom of Fanguo. This Can it be the same? The money of our Ming Dynasty flows continuously into the pockets of the merchants of the Franji Kingdom. What good does this do to our Ming Dynasty? We want to make money to improve the finances and people's livelihood, not his imported goods."
Zhu Houzhao frowned and said: "We sell tea, silk, ceramics and other things to them and let them sell them to other countries. Isn't this also making money?"
Zhang Yanling smiled bitterly and said: "If you give someone a hand, you will be controlled by them. What if they only want money and don't buy goods? Or, if they buy our goods, but the price is extremely low, the gain outweighs the loss, so what? The sea route is in their hands, we are Then he lost the initiative. What kind of business is this? This is a loss-making business. If the imperial court wants to open sea trade, it must do business directly with the French country. What are you doing under the guise of the merchants of the French country? Let them make profits from it? "
Zhu Houzhao suddenly realized, scratched his head and smiled sheepishly: "Oh, I really thought wrong. I just thought that I could not open the sea ban and not be harassed by Japanese pirates. I took it for granted. This is indeed impossible."
Zhang Yanling nodded and said: "Your Majesty, I know that you have some concerns after all. These things cannot be solved overnight. We don't know what the situation is yet. Whether this matter can be done, and whether the sea ban needs to be lifted , all of which require on-the-spot investigation. I am willing to go to Guangdong to investigate the matter in person for the emperor. If it is feasible and if the benefits are great, I will write to Zhezi to request the lifting of the maritime ban and the development of land and sea. Trade routes, reopening the market, prospering commerce, promoting silkworms, weaving, dyeing, ceramics, firing, tea planting and other affairs. If this is just a matter of course, then let’s discuss this matter again. Let’s think of other ways to open up money. What does the Emperor think?"
Zhu Houzhao said: "Do you want to visit Guangdong?"
Zhang Yanling said: "That's right. Anyway, I don't have much business in the capital. The affairs in the capital camp will be taken care of by others. Since the emperor wants to do something big, I will go there for a trip."
Zhu Houzhao frowned and said: "That's good, but why does uncle need to go there himself? I just ordered someone to go and have a look. My uncle just returned from Ningxia to suppress the rebellion, and my little cousin was just born, so I will send you to Guangdong." Isn’t it a bit unreasonable?”
Zhang Yanling said with a smile: "Your Majesty, you don't have to worry too much. This matter was brought up by me. I must investigate it personally and see it with my own eyes. I can't pretend to do it to others. This matter is also of great importance. It is a major plan of the imperial court, so we can't be careless in the slightest. As for There is no need to worry too much about the affairs of my family. Everyone in my family is also a person who understands the righteousness. When I act for the country and share the emperor's worries, they will understand and support me."
Zhu Houzhao thought for a while and said: "It's okay. It's okay for my uncle to go and have a look in person. I don't feel at ease if someone else goes. My uncle's eyes are my eyes. Take a good look for me. It's also good to open a sea ban and open up sea trade." Important matters do require caution.”
Zhang Yanling said with great joy: "Thank you very much for your kindness, Your Majesty. I will leave in the next few days."
Zhu Houzhao nodded and said: "Okay. But uncle, it's best to keep quiet, lest others whisper in my ears. I estimate that as soon as they hear that I want to impose a sea ban, there will be a lot of opposition. I don't want to say anything about the horoscope."
Troubled by these things.”
Zhang Yanling smiled and said: "Your Majesty, don't worry. I planned to go incognito, and I didn't intend to make any noise. I also don't want to alarm the officials and merchants in Guangdong, but I won't be able to see the real situation."
Zhu Houzhao smiled and said: "Then it's settled. My uncle will make a hard trip and go incognito. Let's do this, I... will give you a secret order to do things easily at critical times. It will also help you do well in Guangdong. If you encounter difficulties,
Please read out my decree and the local officials in Guangdong can help you."
Zhang Yanling said happily: "Thank you, Your Majesty. It will be better if you have a secret order. I will go there according to the order, and many things will be much more convenient."
Zhu Houzhao nodded and said: "Just wait, I will ask Liu Jin to come and draft the decree."
Zhang Yanling hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, can you not let others know? I am going incognito. I don't want anyone to know."
Zhu Houzhao frowned and said, "You can't trust Liu Jin?"
Zhang Yanling smiled and said: "That's not the case, the incognito lunch box looks like incognito. It is best that only the emperor and his ministers know about this."
Zhu Houzhao thought for a while and nodded: "Okay, then I will use my private seal."
At that moment, Zhu Houzhao wrote a secret edict with only a few sentences: Zhang Yanling, the Marquis of Jianchang, went to Guangdong on official business according to my order. Officials from all over the country were ordered to help him do things conveniently.
As if Zhang Yanling had found a treasure, he carefully kept the imperial edict.
"Your Majesty, I will take my leave now. I will not come to say goodbye when I leave. I will go back to make arrangements and leave tomorrow."
"Okay, thank you for your hard work, uncle. I'm waiting for your good news." Zhu Houzhao smiled and said, "If I weren't afraid of causing trouble, I would have gone incognito with you. Unfortunately, I know this is impossible."
Zhang Yanling saw the envy in Zhu Houzhao's eyes, and it was not a pretense. Zhu Houzhao really wanted to go out for a walk. However, thinking about the consequences of the border patrol trip, the ground was shaken. Zhang Yanling did not mention it at all.
Dare to mention it.
"Your Majesty, I still want to say something." Before leaving, Zhang Yanling couldn't help but say.
"What else does uncle have to ask for? Just say it." Zhu Houzhao said with a smile.
"It's not a request, I just hope that the emperor can pay attention to the reform of farmland in Hebei. It's best to stop and make a good plan to avoid trouble." Zhang Yanling said.
Zhu Houzhao frowned and said: "That can't be done. The issue of sea ban and trade routes has not been mentioned yet. The reform of farmland is in progress, and may be implemented nationwide in the future. Stopping now will depress Liu Jin's morale. The imperial government's fiscal affairs
Things must increase. I also know the worries that my uncle mentioned, and I will remind Liu Jin to act with caution. But if this matter has started, it cannot be stopped easily."
Zhang Yanling was stunned for a moment, and could only say: "Well, maybe I am worrying too much."
Zhang Yanling said goodbye and walked on the long street on the water. It was noon, the water on both sides was sparkling with light, and the sunlight reflected on the long street on the water, which was exquisite, brilliant and stunning.
Zhang Yanling thought to himself: On the one hand, the emperor is worried about the sharp decline in the court's finances and taxes, and wants to increase fiscal revenue. On the other hand, he spends a lot of money to build such a long street on the water to satisfy his preferences. It is really a shame. I don't know what to say.
good.
But this is actually understandable. He regarded the Ming Dynasty as his property, and he must have felt that it was only natural to spend the money. What he cared about may not be the suffering of the people. He was just worried about whether his country was stable and whether he could still squander it wantonly.
Just enjoy it.
In essence, Zhu Houzhao is no different from other princes and princes. He originally just wanted to get a Franco machine gun this time, but now, he really wants to figure out something. If the maritime ban can be really relaxed, he can carry out
The sea trade was not done for Zhu Houzhao's sake, but for the sake of the Ming Dynasty and for the common people.