Chapter 1791 Establishing the Shibo Division again and two other things
"You draw up a decree to establish a Municipal Shipping Department at the mouth of the Dagu River (later Haihe) in the Bohai Bay; rename Haijin Town to Tianjin and establish a Tianjin Municipal Shipping Department." Yun said to a member of Zhongshushe.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Zhongshushe was stunned for a moment, lowered his head and began to draft the imperial edict. But the doubts in his heart were unavoidable: 'Why did Your Majesty suddenly set up a shipping department in Hebei Province? The industry and commerce in Hebei is not prosperous.
Compared with Zhili, Guangdong, and Zhejiang, even Shandong is more prosperous than Hebei. Why is it located in Hebei?'
‘It is precisely because Hebei’s economy is backward that it is necessary to establish a Municipal Shipping Department to boost Hebei. What’s more, setting up a Municipal Shipping Department in Hebei also has other purposes.’ Yun thought to himself.
He has been planning to establish a shipping department in the north for a long time. The Baoan Shipping Department and the Shanghai Shipping Department were both extremely successful. Baoan and Shanghai, which were originally unknown, have become one of the most prosperous places in the Ming Dynasty. In order to boost the northern economy
, to increase the population in the north and increase the centripetal force of northern merchants towards the court, it was necessary to establish a shipping department in the north.
What needs to be considered next is where the city's shipping department will be located. First of all, Jianghuai Province and Shandong Province were rejected along the Yellow Sea. The economy in this area is underdeveloped, and there are not many goods that foreign merchants need locally. For maritime
For merchants, the distance from the Shanghai Shipping Division is not too far. Even if it is established, many maritime merchants will still go to Shanghai instead of the new Shipping Division, so it cannot be located here.
The next choice is the Bohai Sea coast. In order to make it as convenient as possible for domestic merchants to do business here, it is best to be near a river. In this way, there are only three candidates left: Lijin at the mouth of the Daqing River, Tianjin at the mouth of the Hai River, and Tianjin at the mouth of the Hai River.
Leting at the mouth of Luanhe River.
After repeated thinking, Yun finally eliminated Lijin and Leting and chose Tianjin. From the perspective of promoting the northern economy, Leting was eliminated first. Although the Luanhe River is also a big river, it crosses the Great Wall not far to the north.
Entering Daning, it will not lead to the development of many places, and the number of merchants who can take advantage of river transportation is also extremely limited. On the contrary, the Haihe River and Daqing River cover a very wide area. The Haihe River system is very developed at this time, connecting many rivers, and you can reach Baodi to the north
, three rivers; to the northwest, it connects Tongzhou and Beiping City, and can even be traced to Xuanfu; to the west, it can lead to Baoding Prefecture, Zhending Prefecture, close to Shanxi; to the south, it connects to Hejian Prefecture, and you can even row to Anyang, Henan Province. Daqing River
It is the eastern section of the Yellow River in later generations. It traces back from Lijin, the mouth of the sea, through Putai, Qingcheng, Jiyang, Jinan Prefecture, Dong'a, Dongping Prefecture and other places. After digging the canal along with the Yellow River that diverts the Huaihe River into the sea, it can also enter Henan, connecting
Kaifeng Prefecture, Xi'an Prefecture and other large areas of Qin and Henan provinces. In comparison, of course Leting was excluded.
After further comparisons, Yuan excluded Lijin and chose Tianjin. In addition to promoting the development of the north, Yuan also established this city for the purpose of promoting the transformation of Mongolians. Religion can only play half the role in solving the Mongolian problem once and for all.
The other half depends on economic means. During the Manchu and Qing Dynasties, the Mongolians were spiritually castrated through Tibetan Buddhism. However, without the large rewards given to Mongolian princes by the Manchu and Qing Dynasties every year, the Mongolian princes would not be able to enjoy a luxurious life.
Even if they are mentally castrated, they will still want to go south to plunder, not to mention that many princes do not really believe in Tibetan Buddhism. If they live in poverty, to some extent, they are not as good as a small landowner in the south.
, will definitely take the lead in going south to plunder, even if it means risking his life.
It is impossible for the Ming Dynasty to give out large sums of rewards every year like the Manchu Qing Dynasty. It is not a question of how much it costs. In fact, with the opening of various workshops, it does not cost much to buy the goods needed by the Mongolian princes, and the annual fiscal surplus
Enough; but the Ming Dynasty launched a war with the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty in the name of "expelling the Tartars and restoring China". In order to unite the people, Yun continued to awaken people's minds about the brutal rule of the Mongols and the memories of the evil-minded people who acted as a collaborator.
Opposing all "foreigners" including the Mongols has become politically correct in the Ming Dynasty. A small reward is okay, but a large reward to the Mongols will cause a stir in both the government and the public, and will also undermine the legitimacy of the Ming regime. It is not acceptable at all.
this way.
Since there are no rewards, the only way to do this is through mutually beneficial trade, which allows the Mongols to trade cattle, sheep, horses, cattle, sheep skins, wool and other grassland specialties in exchange for goods. Ordinary herdsmen can live a decent life, and princes can live a luxurious life. But now only with
The purchase of grassland specialties by merchants from the three border provinces of Hebei, Shanxi, and Shaanxi is simply not enough to make life easier for the Mongols. In order to increase the purchase of grassland specialties, Yun chose to move closer to the north, where the water system can reach all the way to the Haihe River near the border.
Tianjin, at the mouth of the sea, serves as the city's shipping department.
In addition, there is another purpose in choosing Tianjin as the location of the shipping company. The textile industry is one of the earliest industries to develop in modern capitalism. Businessmen from countless countries have used cheap textiles to pry open the doors of many countries. In addition to
There is no other way to go but to be shut out in China. Now the silk textile industry and the cotton textile industry have emerged in the Ming Dynasty, but the wool textile industry has not yet developed due to the lack of sufficient wool in the Central Plains. Yun hopes to promote the development of the Ming Dynasty by purchasing wool from the Mongolian grasslands.
The rise of the woolen textile industry in Tianjin and other places could not only strengthen Ming Dynasty's industry and commerce, but also find an industry for the north, the best of both worlds.
Yun was thinking as he stood up and walked to the wall covered with maps. He raised his head and looked at the location of Tianjin on the map. "In the end, your place will become the most economically developed place in the north. This time the capital is not in Peiping. Originally, it was your place that became the most economically developed place in the north.
I don’t think Tianjin’s geographical location is very good, but if you break it down, for now, as far as my requirements are concerned, there is really no other place on the northern coast that can replace Tianjin." Yun said to himself.
"Your Majesty, the imperial edict has been drafted." At this time, he suddenly heard the person from Zhongshushe who had just given the order say. Yun turned around and took the draft from his hand, read it from beginning to end, handed it back to him and said: "
There is no need to modify it, just write it in the imperial edict."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Zhongshu Sheren agreed and was about to leave.
"Do you think it's appropriate for me to establish a shipping department in the Bohai Sea in the north?" Yun suddenly asked.
"Of course it should. Compared with the south, the lives of the people in the north are worse, and the industry and commerce are worse. It is a good thing to establish a municipal shipping department to promote the development of industry and commerce in the north." Zhongshu Sheren said.
"After?" Yun asked again.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me for being stupid. I can only think of these benefits at the moment," he replied.
"But I think you seem to have something to say. You don't have to hide it in front of me. Just say whatever comes to your mind. Even if you say something wrong, I won't blame you." Yun said.
"Your Majesty, I think that there are only two shipping departments in Shanghai and Bao'an in the south, which is a bit too little. Another shipping department should be established in Fujian. Besides, in the former Song Dynasty, the shipping department was opened to foreign countries to allow them to do business.
The place is Quanzhou, Fujian, and it also has historical origins." The man from Zhongshushe gritted his teeth and said.
"Open a shipping company in Fujian?" Yun paused and asked, "Are you from Fujian?"
"I am a native of Fujian. Although I have selfish motives for saying that a shipping department should be established in Fujian, I do believe that establishing a shipping department in Fujian is good for the court." Zhongshu Sheren said hurriedly.
"My dear, there is no need to explain. I also know that establishing a shipping department in Fujian will be beneficial to the court." Yun said, at the same time he lowered his head and pondered.
Fujian's geographical location is actually a bit awkward. In terms of distance from Nanyang, it is slightly farther than Guangdong. In terms of nearby industrial and commercial development, the number of goods needed by foreign merchants is not as good as that of Shanghai. Historically, after the opening of five ports for trade, Shanghai and Guangzhou were respectively
It is the first and second largest cargo handling port. Xiamen and Fuzhou, the two cities that are open to the public in Fujian, are not as good as the above-mentioned cities together. The benefits of opening up are not big.
However, Yun raised his head and glanced at the person in front of him. Since this person from Zhongshushe was mentioned in front of him, it means that this is the voice of Fujian people, at least the Fujian gentry. It is not good to ignore this voice. Not to mention one more city
A shipping company will provide an additional source of income, so there is no harm in opening one.
"Don't worry, dear, you can also write to your folks in your hometown and tell them that I will definitely open another shipping company in Fujian. But now I have just decided to open a shipping company in Tianjin, and we still need to start from Shanghai and Bao'an.
The Shipping Department has transferred officials to establish the Tianjin Shipping Department, but for a while there will be no manpower available; when the Tianjin Shipping Department is established, I will establish the Municipal Shipping Department in Fujian." Yun Tong said.
"On behalf of the folks in my hometown, I would like to thank Your Majesty for your grace." The man from Zhongshushe hurriedly knelt down and said.
"My dear, you don't have to be like this, get up quickly." Yun said again.
When he got up, Yun asked half-jokingly: "Why, the local gentry and people in Fujian are looking forward to opening a shipping company?"
"Your Majesty, most people in Fujian are willing to open a trading company." He replied very seriously: "Fujian has many mountains and little land. If no one in the family is doing business, life will be very poor, so there are many businessmen in Fujian. Since they are doing business, it is natural.
The most money can be made by doing business with foreign companies. However, because Shanghai and Baoan have set up shipping companies, Fujian has no shipping companies. Fujian merchants have to go to Shanghai and Baoan to do business. The cost is much higher and the money they can earn is less.
.So people in Fujian are looking forward to opening a shipping company to do business locally and make more money."
"I will definitely establish a shipping department in Fujian." Yun emphasized again. But he remembered something again and said: "Although I haven't chosen this place yet, it will definitely not be Quanzhou. Quanzhou was occupied by the Semu family in the late Song Dynasty.
The family captured the Han people and brutally oppressed the Han people. At the end of the Yuan Dynasty, the Pu family was destroyed in the Baxi War and the Semu people were killed. Although decades have passed, I am afraid that there are still knots in the hearts of the local people. So I will not be in Quanzhou.
The Municipal Shipping Department was established."
Hearing this, a look of disappointment appeared on Zhongshushe's face, although it was quickly hidden. He is from Quanzhou. Since the Tang Dynasty, Quanzhou has been the place where shipping companies have been established on the southeast coast. He has always believed that if a business was opened in Fujian,
Fu must be Quanzhou, so he said those words in front of Yun. As for the resentment against the Semu people, the people of Quanzhou naturally still have it. After all, it has only been fifty-one years, and those who witnessed it back then even massacred the Semu people.
There are still people who are still alive and will talk about this past event with their children and grandchildren. But at most they are more careful when doing business with the Semu people and they will not turn them away. But I didn't expect that His Majesty would exclude Quanzhou first.
Quanzhou people who have been looking forward to it will naturally be disappointed.
But he didn't say anything else. Firstly, His Majesty's reason was legitimate, and secondly, since Your Majesty had already said it and was heard by many people, he would not go back on his words and it would be useless to say more. He just bowed again and returned to his seat.
The emperor copied the imperial edict and handed it over to His Majesty for review after the copy was completed. If there are no problems, he would seal it.
"Go and deliver the imperial edict to the General Affairs Department." Yun ordered another person. This person went to the General Affairs Department with the imperial edict and the completed reply.
After giving this order, Yun approved a few more memorials. Seeing that it was already noon, he stood up and stretched, putting aside the unfinished memorials, and rushed to Kunning Palace. Today is February 10th.
On the fifth day, Xiyao gave Min'er the last day to choose her husband, and asked him to go back at noon to ask Min'er together. Of course he had to go back.
But at this time, two more memorials were sent up. Yun asked casually about the contents, and the person who sent the memorials replied: "Your Majesty, one of them is the memorial sent back by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince from Suzhou, and the other is from Gezhi.
Memorial from the court.”
"Huh?" Hearing this, Yun stopped, took the two memorials and looked at them carefully, and said with a smile: "The errand I entrusted to the prince went very smoothly. Even some craftsmen who were dissatisfied with the treatment went to the mansion to beg.
, was also persuaded by him to leave; the establishment of a trade union has also begun to advance, yes, the prince has done a good job."
"How can steam engines improve so quickly? I saw a month ago that they could only pull thirty kilograms of things, but now they can pull hundreds of kilograms of things? Moreover, a government-run coal mine uses a steam engine to pump water, and it is very efficient.
High, which greatly improves mining? This is also very good. My father wants to order a reward for Zhang Xuexi who developed the steam engine, and other officials of Gezhiyuan also have rewards. There are also coal mines that use steam engines. When other coal mines are unwilling to use them, they are willing to
If you use it, I will reward you."
Yun was very happy to see that the contents of these two memorials were good things. But he thought of what he was about to do in Kunning Palace, and his mood became depressed again.
"Guan family, it's getting late. It's time to go to Kunning Palace, otherwise the Queen..." Lu Yi reminded in a low voice at this time.
"I understand." Hearing his reminder, Yun was about to put down the two memorials and go to Kunning Palace. But he thought again, one memorial was related to Wenyuan, and the other could also be considered to be related to Min'er.
, the first one can be used to make Xiyao happy, and the latter one may be used to make Min'er happy, so he put the two memorials into his sleeves and took them to Kunning Palace.