Xichang's investigation results were quickly submitted to Emperor Chongzhen's eucalyptus.
It was a group of salt merchants who received the news late and did not have time to participate in the share auction. However, they were optimistic that the stock price would appreciate. They also thought that the current stock price was too expensive, so they tried to lower the stock price by spreading rumors, and then bought in large quantities.
to make a profit.
In response, Emperor Chongzhen kept his word and ordered the houses of these people to be confiscated in order to deter other stock traders who tried to use illegal means.
From this matter, matters related to the salt industry also attracted the attention of Emperor Chongzhen.
In the past, he asked Wang Dehua of Dongchang to raid the homes of the top ten salt merchants in Yangzhou. Later, according to Liu Weichao's suggestion, he no longer restricted the sale of salt, but increased the production of salt and opened up the supply.
Moreover, in terms of the quality of table salt, the effective method provided by Liu Weichao is also used to make higher quality table salt. Because of the large-scale production, the cost is very low, so that after the table salt is circulated on the market, the price is similar to that of private salt. However,
The quality is much better, which basically squeezes out the space of private salt.
For the common people, the price of salt has dropped several times compared to before; for the imperial court, because of the huge increase in salt production, the salt tax has also been greatly increased, which can be regarded as killing two birds with one stone.
This time, because of the salt merchants' stock speculation, he paid attention to the salt industry again. After verification, he found no special problems.
There is one thing. Originally, these salt merchants purchased goods from the coast and then transported them to inland places where salt was not produced for sale. They used their financial advantages to crowd out others and obtain greater profits.
Unexpectedly, the construction of railways made transportation in many places more convenient, which further reduced the profit margins of these salt merchants. Therefore, these salt merchants paid attention to stocks, and they would be the next profit makers.
Where there is a lot of money, they have come up with ways to use rumors to suppress stock prices.
This matter made Emperor Chongzhen realize that the benefits of convenient transportation to the people of the Ming Dynasty were far more than what he had thought in advance. Although the construction of this basic transportation required a huge investment in money and grain in the early stage, the benefits were obvious!
However, it is not easy to set up a joint-stock company to invest in these infrastructures, because if you want to make a profit, many railways cannot be repaired and there will be no money. The imperial court now has some money, so it has to invest in this area!
When Emperor Chongzhen had a better understanding of governing the country, time soon came to the end of the 21st year of Chongzhen.
The poetry meeting spearheaded by the cabinet attracted the greatest enthusiasm from Confucian students, especially the Jinshi scholars in the capital. All of them wrote a lot, participated in the poetry meeting, and even promoted it spontaneously.
It can be said that the imperial court did not put much effort into this poetry meeting, but it was held with great vigor and was most successful.
Some of these poems and lyrics praised the peace of the world, some expressed the emperor's wisdom, and some longed for a better life in the future, etc. It can be said that a hundred flowers bloomed. A large number of calligraphy, paintings, etc. also emerged.
A few days before the Chinese New Year, Emperor Chongzhen sent it to Liu Weichao. At the same time, he communicated via video chat and said to Liu Weichao: "Take a look first. If you think it's not enough, or if you need any other poetry or the like, just say it."
yes."
At this point, after a pause, he immediately continued without waiting for Liu Weichao to speak: "You don't know, this poetry meeting that I asked the cabinet to take the lead in organizing was very lively, even more lively than I imagined, and again
It will certainly not be difficult for them to come up with some good works!”
Hearing this and the tone of Emperor Chongzhen's words with a bit of surprise, Liu Weichao thought of a situation and said seriously to Emperor Chongzhen: "Just in time, I also want to remind you of something!"
"What's the matter?" Emperor Chongzhen was very serious when he heard this, and immediately asked.
Liu Weichao looked at Emperor Chongzhen and said: "I know you vigorously promote the study of Buddhism, which is good. However, I feel that Confucianism cannot be ignored. It is equivalent to the construction of spiritual civilization and cannot be ignored. The most basic things such as etiquette, justice, and integrity cannot be ignored.
, it would be disgusting if it disappeared!”
When Emperor Chongzhen heard this, he knew that Liu Weichao's words were inspired by his thoughts. He immediately nodded and said, "You are right, I know it!"
In fact, during the Chongzhen period, that is, at the end of the Ming Dynasty, the social atmosphere had actually turned to luxury, comparison, etc., and the fine traditions of China were basically abandoned. What kind of women were pursued, scholars, and swaggering through the market wearing women's clothes?
, not ashamed, but proud, this situation abounds!
Loyalty to the emperor and serving the country is not the mainstream. The poor are good for themselves, and the talented are helping the world. All these are abandoned by the people of this era. That is why the Manchu invasion came, and the scholars immediately knelt down to welcome it.
Liu Weichao actually reminded Emperor Chongzhen about this kind of ideological matter. Therefore, he established the Department of Political Affairs and revised the "Da Ming Code" to stipulate that if etiquette exceeds the rules, etiquette and music cannot be allowed to collapse!
Nowadays, with the economic development of the Ming Dynasty and the improvement of people's living standards, there will inevitably be new pursuits. This social landscape needs to be paid special attention to.
Liu Weichao couldn't change much in his own world, but he could directly influence Emperor Chongzhen, so of course he had to be reminded.
However, overall, everything is looking good. Even the stock issuance of Nanyang Minerals Co., Ltd. was much smoother after cracking down on those who spread rumors and caused trouble.
The major shareholder of this company is the imperial court, which is directly under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Industry. Because it is mining in Nanyang, the company's security and middle-level personnel should have the ability to handle crises. Veterans are undoubtedly the most suitable people for this type of people.
, Therefore, the Ministry of Industry has announced to the whole country that it is preparing to recruit veterans in high-tech. And this has stimulated more people to actively participate in the compulsory military service system.
Emperor Chongzhen did not expect this kind of positive promotion. Therefore, he was very happy after seeing the evidence collected by the factory guards.
This Chinese New Year at the end of the 21st year of Chongzhen, at least Emperor Chongzhen is going to have a good year.
However, for others, it is the opposite, also because of that sentence: Some people are happy and some are sad!
On the Batavia side of Nanyang, the interim governor Kui Yi had received reports from Annan's subordinates. He knew that the Ming Dynasty had begun to attack Annan, which made him nervous.
Regarding the power of the Ming Dynasty, as a Dutchman who had been captured and arrived in the capital, he knew better than anyone else.
The first time he was captured, he was lucky. He was not executed or even punished as a coolie. However, if he was captured by the Ming Dynasty again, he knew very well that his end would not be much better!
In other words, they must not be captured by the Ming Kingdom. Not only him, but also all the Dutch, the Ming Kingdom will never be merciful!
For this reason, he has been keeping a tightrope in Batavia, trying to squeeze out the last bit of benefit from this colony, but he must escape before the Ming army attacks.
Although Batavia was built by the Dutch with great difficulty, the strength of the Ming Dynasty made it impossible for the Dutch to win by holding on to Batavia. Even if they were unwilling to do so, they would have no choice but to give up.
On the Nanyang side, the Ming army closest to Batavia was the Ming army stationed in Luzon.
For this reason, Kui Yi has been monitoring the Luzon side. Once the Ming army arrives with new reinforcements, it means that they are ready to take action against the Dutch.
Another sign is that the Ming Dynasty took action against Annan.
Therefore, after receiving the news from Annan, after careful consideration, he decided to move the Governor's Palace to the Lion City on the Strait of Malacca.
Because he felt that once the Ming army came to attack, they would attack the Lion City first and occupy the Strait of Malacca, because this was a battleground for military strategists. Back then, the Netherlands also wrested it from the Portuguese.
Once the Ming army captures the Lion City and controls the Strait of Malacca, it will not be so easy for Batavia to escape, and it is likely to be intercepted by the Ming army. And if it is in the Lion City, once the Ming army comes
If you attack and run away directly, it will be much safer.
Preparing for a rainy day is common to both the East and the West.
After the relocation of the Governor's Palace, there are still two sailing warships left in Batavia, which are relatively fast. Due to the large-scale reduction of personnel, most of the management of Batavia is left to Akito.
Did it.
This is not to say how kind the Dutch are. It is to say that Kui Yi left a way out for himself.
If he is accidentally caught by the Ming people, at least the Dutch treat the Ming people in Batavia well, and the punishment is likely to be reduced.
If the Ming people were slaughtered like the Spaniards in Luzon did, it would stimulate the Ming army. Not only would it be difficult to escape, but they might also be captured and pay a heavy price.
In the final analysis, to put it in one sentence, Ming Dynasty has become stronger and let Xiyi know what can and cannot be done! Otherwise, Xiyi will never have such good intentions!
……………………
The Dutch on the Nanyang side still had an escape route and could escape back to the west. Therefore, compared to the Dutch, the Tokugawa shogunate in Japan did not have such a good escape route.
Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu regretted joining the Qing Dynasty countless times. Originally, he was about to complete the seclusion, but in the end he was dragged into the water by the Qing Dynasty.
Fortunately now, not only did North Korea not swallow it up, but it also lost millions of soldiers and civilians sent to North Korea. As a result, Japan's strength suffered heavy losses, the entire navy was wiped out, Kyushu Island was captured by the Ming Kingdom, and even Honshu Island was lost.
More than half.
The emperor was killed by the Koreans. He actually didn't care. What he cared about was that he was already surrounded by the Ming army on Honshu Island. It is estimated that next year, if the Ming army launches a general attack, the Tokugawa shogunate will also be finished.
!
what to do?
This is a question that Tokugawa Iemitsu thinks about every day when he wakes up. After much thought, he finally came up with a solution!