However, Liu Weichao and Emperor Chongzhen said that relying on administrative coercion for this kind of thing would not be very effective. The best method is to use economic means.
Only by using economic means instead of the one-size-fits-all commercial taxes passed down from Emperor Taizu can we promote what industries and restrict what industries according to the needs of the court!
In order to illustrate this, Liu Weichao specifically gave many examples to Emperor Chongzhen.
Emperor Chongzhen was surprised for a while by these suggestions. It turned out that taxes could be used in this way!
If it were the past, or another emperor, I am afraid that even if he knew how to do it, it would not be easy to do it.
Because taxes, such as the commercial tax of thirty to one tax, were set by Emperor Taizu, which is the ancestral system. If anyone touches this, there will definitely be interest groups who use the ancestral system to oppress people. In ancient times, filial piety was the most important, and ancestors
Under the system, the emperor did not dare to change it at will.
However, it was different with Emperor Chongzhen.
Emperor Taizu has appeared, and it is very simple for him to dare to violate the ancestral system. As long as he says that this is what Emperor Taizu agreed to, without him even having to say it, someone will think that he must have consulted Emperor Taizu.
Meaning, therefore, the biggest trump card against the emperor, ancestral suppression, does not exist.
After Emperor Chongzhen emphasized this in the imperial meeting in the Wenhua Hall, he turned around and prepared to use economic means to control it. However, this must be done with caution. Taxes cannot be changed just how they want. It involves a game of chess across the country, and must be carefully considered.
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On the fifth day after the imperial meeting summarized the first five-year plan, which was the last day of the food competition, Zheng Zhilong finally arrived in the capital.
After not coming back for more than half a year, Zheng Zhilong felt that the capital had changed a lot and was more prosperous.
Apart from anything else, the 50%-floor buildings outside the city opened his eyes. Although there were only a few buildings with 50%-floor buildings, it was precisely because they were few that they stood out.
Zheng Zhilong felt the changes in the capital, and he was even more certain in his heart that with the current strength of the imperial court, even if there was an additional empire, it would not be the opponent of the imperial court.
When he heard that he had arrived in the capital, Emperor Chongzhen immediately summoned him at Wuying Hall without letting him wait.
Because it involved Zheng Zhilong's secret mission to Liaodong, Emperor Chongzhen only had Wang Cheng'en, the eunuch and eunuch in charge of rituals, with him without Zheng Zhilong's special request.
As soon as he saw the emperor, Zheng Zhilong paid homage and expressed his gratitude to Emperor Chongzhen for sending someone to deal with the matter of his wife and children. Anyway, just to let the emperor know that he was really touched.
Sure enough, when Emperor Chongzhen saw it, he was very pleased with it and had a smile on his face. He immediately told Zheng Zhilong to do a good job and the court would not ignore his difficulties.
After finishing the polite remarks, Emperor Chongzhen asked: "Have you been to Shenyang?"
That was the puppet capital of Jianlu. He was still very curious about what the situation was like.
Hearing the emperor's question, Zheng Zhilong did not dare to neglect, and quickly replied: "General Mo went and gave the set of drinking utensils to Hong Chengchou. In addition, General Mo also found out very important news!"
When Emperor Chongzhen heard this, he did not speak, but stared at him, gesturing for him to continue.
So Zheng Zhilong went on to report: "According to what Aisin Gioro Dorgon, the pseudo-regent of Jianlu, revealed to the general, he said that Jianlu had also formed an alliance with some tsarist empire. The general had never heard of this tsarist empire, but
Dorgon gave the general a short-handled flintlock rifle, so the general estimated that it was a country among the Western Barbarians. Moreover, Dorgon also said that the Tsarist Empire was to the west of the Ming Dynasty."
Having said this, he added: "The general has brought the short-handled flintlock gun, and it is just outside the palace gate."
When Emperor Chongzhen heard this, he couldn't help but be a little surprised. This Jianlu really didn't stop, and even attracted another Western country to form an alliance? What is the strength of this Tsarist Empire?
At this time, although he was surprised, he was not panicked. Because he knew that if he asked Liu Weichao later, he would definitely know the situation of the Russian Empire. If Liu Weichao hadn't been there, he would have been worried.
With such a plan in mind, Emperor Chongzhen did not panic at all and continued to ask Zheng Zhilong: "Besides this Tsarist Russian Empire, is there anything else?"
After Zheng Zhilong heard this, he reported again: "When I was about to leave, I happened to catch up with the Japanese state who sent an envoy to Shenyang to compete with Jianlu to conquer North Korea..."
He gave an overview of the situation, and then said: "The general thinks that the Jianlu and the Japanese are incompatible with each other, and it is impossible to form a very good alliance!"
After saying this, he took out a memorial from his sleeve, presented it with both hands and said: "This is the memorial from General Wu of Dongjiang Town. General Tuomo will forward it to the emperor, hoping to continue to contain Jianlu and Japanese pirates in Korea!"
When Wang Chengen saw it, he came over to take the memorial and presented it to Emperor Chongzhen.
Here, Zheng Zhilong continued to verbally describe the current situation in North Korea, Wu Sangui's thoughts, etc.
Emperor Chongzhen, while listening to his explanation, read Zheng Zhilong's memorial.
He was a little confused, did Wu Sangui really dare to fight so hard? He was no longer the Wu Sangui in history, but a loyal minister and good general of the Ming Dynasty?
To be honest, Emperor Chongzhen had reservations about this.
When he saw the end of the memorial and found Zheng Zhilong's signature, he asked Zheng Zhilong: "Do you also think it would be more advantageous for him to be restrained in North Korea?"
After hearing this, Zheng Zhilong quickly expressed his opinion: "The general feels that General Wu really has to risk his life. If the food and grass reserves are sufficient, the general feels that Liaodong is a vast land with few people, and the Korean Japanese are not familiar with it. There is a lot to be done. And if General Wu makes a lot of noise there, it will also attract the Japanese to continue sending troops to Korea."
Emperor Chongzhen had told him before that he wanted to lure the Japanese out and eliminate them. In this case, if Wu Sangui caused trouble in North Korea, he could force the Japanese to eliminate Wu Sangui. And North Korea was so big, the Japanese would definitely increase their pressure from the Japanese. Only by sending troops there can Wu Sangui be surrounded and suppressed.
When Emperor Chongzhen heard this, he felt that it made sense. The more Japanese soldiers and two men who conquered the Japanese country, the more beneficial it would be to conquer the Japanese country in the future.
However, at this time, he did not make an immediate decision, but looked back and at least asked Liu Weichao's opinion before making a final decision.
Later, Zheng Zhilong talked about the transaction with Jianlu, and reported how much deposit he had received from Jianlu. Finally, he asked for instructions: "Your Majesty, the general has brought the money back to Dengzhou. It's time to How to deal with it?”
The amount of money was quite large. It's not that Zheng Zhilong didn't think it was a lot, but he didn't dare to stretch out his hand, just in case Emperor Taizu was watching from above!
The supplies that Zheng Zhilong needed to trade for building the captives were mainly ironware, grain, gunpowder and other military supplies, and they were urgently needed.
However, Zheng Zhilong also said that his territory is mainly in Fujian, which is far away from Liaodong. It will take time to send people back to purchase these supplies.
Emperor Chongzhen heard this but also did not reply immediately.
He would decide on these matters after discussing them with Liu Weichao.
After thinking about it, Emperor Chongzhen asked Zheng Zhilong: "When do you think the Jianlu and Japanese pirates will attack?"
Zheng Zhilong didn't hear the emperor's reply and didn't dare to urge him. After thinking about it for a moment, he replied: "Winter is coming soon. The Japanese have only reached the vicinity of Seoul now. It will take at least next year to get there." Control the entire North Korea. If General Wu does a good job, the Japanese control of North Korea will have to be postponed for at least another year. The general believes that the Japanese will not attack the Ming Dynasty before they completely control North Korea!"
He was still certain of this.
Unless the Japanese occupy North Korea first and carve up North Korea internally, it is impossible for them to shift their attention elsewhere. In other words, the biggest thing for the Japanese pirates in the past two years can only be North Korea's affairs!
With this in mind, Zheng Zhilong continued to introduce to Emperor Chongzhen: "As for the Jianlu side, I feel that their focus is also on opening up wasteland and farming in the north. In addition, they seem to want to integrate the various Mongolian tribes and accumulate strength. Although they and the Japanese We have formed an alliance, but we also want to guard against the Japanese. The current strength of the Japanese is definitely not enough."
Having said this, he hesitated for a moment, and finally continued: "In addition, although Dorgon did not say anything, the general felt that their alliance with the Tsarist Empire has not been finalized yet, and it will take time to finalize it. This matter. Therefore, as for the Japanese, they have also used the affairs of the Tsarist Empire to increase their bargaining chips on North Korea, but they are not tough."
Emperor Chongzhen did not expect that he would send Zheng Zhilong to Shenyang. It was definitely a bit unexpected to learn so much news!
In a good mood, he asked: "Is there any other news?"
"During these days in Shenyang, the general also noticed that the internal affairs of Jianlu were not monolithic!" After hearing this, Zheng Zhilong explained the political situation within Jianlu, especially the conflict of interests between the regent and the young emperor, and several The prince's different sides, and the Queen Mother's troubles.
When he said this, he hesitated for a while, but finally decided to confess truthfully, and told Emperor Chongzhen: "...when the puppet empress dowager Jianlu entertained the general, the general felt the infighting within them. In order for her son to be able to personally conquer the country in the future, this puppet queen mother of Jianlu resorted to all possible means and even threatened the general. The general accidentally got into trouble for a moment and did not dare to hide it from your majesty. She also asked your majesty to make the decision for the general. What will be done?”
Emperor Chongzhen was very surprised when he heard this. What did Zheng Zhilong mean? No matter how the fake queen mother threatened him, she could just slap her butt and run back to the Ming Dynasty. How could the fake queen mother threaten him?
To be honest, he couldn't think of anything to threaten, so he said to Zheng Zhilong: "Just tell me, I will naturally make the decision for you!"