How do the smugglers on the other side of the grassland make a lot of money.
The first thing is to transport contraband. The goods bought from the Ming Dynasty will be sold at a premium of several times, or even ten times, when they arrive on the grassland.
The more severe the government controls, the higher the premium will naturally be.
The second step is to purchase trophies from the tribes on the grassland side, and then sell them in the market on the Central Plains side.
Earn huge profits from it over and over again.
Zhu Ying's first career was in the smuggling industry, and he was the leader of the smuggling industry. Of course he was very aware of the fishy things involved.
In fact, these things are very simple when broken down. Only the civil servants kept it secret from the emperor.
Could the top ten imperial merchants of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, even at the end of the Ming Dynasty, be able to fight against the imperial court?
No, what they relied on was to deceive the superiors and conceal the information, spend money to win over relevant officials, and block all the news. Everyone knew it, but the emperor did not.
Coupled with the lack of pay at the border, many border soldiers were miserable. Whoever paid them was the father, which naturally led to the corruption of the entire late Ming Dynasty.
Even though the Ming Dynasty is already riddled with holes, as long as there are wages, the border gates are really not something that the Manchus can come in if they want to.
There is a saying from later generations: If there is a 50% profit, it will take desperate risks; if there is a 100% profit, it will dare to trample all laws in the world; if there is a 300% profit, it will dare to commit any crime .
And smuggling has far exceeded 300%.
If you are not careful, you will cause a huge wave. Instead of letting others make money, it is better to make the money yourself.
Of course, it doesn't mean that Zhu Ying will become a smuggler. Wouldn't that be poaching himself?
Just use Ming's current resources to control the behavior of these grassland tribes when the opportunity comes.
For example, now, let the grassland tribes unite to fight against the increasingly powerful Timur Empire.
Historically, Tamerlane died during his Eastern Expedition, but Zhu Ying didn't want to gamble.
He has changed too much now. Who knows whether Timur will be affected. Even if he is not afraid of Timur at all, it would be good to use some means to combat it now.
"I hope Ming will keep its promise." Mahamu said seriously. It was obvious that he agreed to send troops.
A relaxed smile appeared on Yao Guangxiao's face: "My Ming Dynasty's reputation is well-known, and this is not a matter of Khan's family, it involves the entire grassland, so please don't worry Khan."
The Junggar tribe is the leader of many tribes in Oara. Basically, if Mahamu agrees to something, the other two tribes will not refuse unless their interests are too different.
For Mahamu, especially all the tribes in Oara, they are envious of everything in Beiyuan.
Life in Beiyuan became better, and they could obtain a large amount of food, daily necessities, and even some precious goods from Ming Dynasty without risking the autumn wind.
Ordinary grassland people want to have enough to eat, and the grassland aristocrats are obsessed with Ming Dynasty porcelain, silk, and all kinds of luxury goods. They can only rely on the Central Plains dynasty, which has no products of their own. out ability.
In fact, recently, it has been very difficult for Mahamu to do so, because many small and marginal tribes have directly defected to Beiyuan.
If you want to join the Beiyuan Employment Association to take on tasks, not just prairie people can do it. You must have the permission of a tribe that has been registered in Beiyuan.
Nominally, Wala belongs to Beiyuan. These tribes return to the jurisdiction of Beiyuan without any psychological pressure at all, let alone betrayal. It should be said that returning is closer.
The arrival of Yao Guangxiao just gave Mahamu the opportunity to win over the various tribes in Oara.
These days, anyone who cooperates with Daming is basically making money. Of course, Mahamu will also get on this boat.
To be honest, Zhu Ying actually didn't know much about these things, otherwise he wouldn't have let Yao Guangxiao come over. Using Yao Guangxiao for such a simple matter would be like killing a chicken with a sledgehammer.
The rest of the matter fell into place. Wala basically agreed to everything the next day. Yao Guangxiao sent a message to the capital through Beiyuan, telling Taisun Zhu Ying that everything had been taken care of.
.......
"It seems that I have underestimated myself after all."
After Zhu Ying received the details in Yao Guangxiao's letter, she thought a little narcissistically.
Who would think that what was once the most worrying border threat to Ming Dynasty has now become the younger brother of Ming Dynasty.
It has only been twenty-nine years since the founding of the Ming Dynasty.
Six years ago, Zhu Yuanzhang also vigorously conferred the title of King of Frontier Fortress, hoarded a large number of troops to defend the grasslands, and even supported the three guards of Wuliangha to fight against him.
Looking back now, not only has the trouble of Beiyuan been solved, but also Wala behind it can be regarded as following the Ming Dynasty.
As for Daming, it doesn't even need to pay any money, it just acts as a trading platform.
Regarding property transactions on the grassland, not only is there no concept of loss, but there may also be some profit.
Of course, it’s good for Daming to operate at a guaranteed capital, and making money really comes second.
If the emperors of the Song Dynasty saw this, they would vomit three liters of blood.
They tried to make a marriage and pay tribute, but in the end they couldn't keep it.
Now that the Ming Dynasty does not make peace or pay tribute, it is simply a fantasy to make the grassland people obedient and at the same time make money from them.
In fact, even five or six years ago, it seems that some officials thought it was a fabrication and deception when they heard about it.
But now, it has become true.
"Did you really succeed?"
The news was quickly reported to Zhu Yuanzhang. After hearing it, Zhu Yuanzhang felt a little unreal.
The grassland worry that he had been thinking about was now going to become a sharp blade in the hands of Ming Dynasty?
"Grandpa, it worked."
"Not only Oara, but also Beiyuan also sent a letter, willing to jointly send troops to help the Eastern Chagatai Khanate."
"The Eastern Chagatai Khanate has now sent envoys to our Ming capital to discuss the specific details, and also brought a large amount of property to express their gratitude."
"Now that the three parties have joined forces, Timur's eastern expedition is probably coming to an end, and he will feel the pressure from the grasslands."
A faint smile hung on Zhu Ying's lips.
The Timur Empire was the only empire comparable to the Ming Dynasty. Under Timur's leadership and strong personal prestige, even though the entire political system had big loopholes, they were completely covered up.
The soldiers he led were just as powerful and brutal as he was.
The continuous war victories can be said to have brought the entire Timur Empire to its peak. Otherwise, it would not have given up its relationship with the Ming Dynasty and started war with almost the whole world.
Crazy Timur asked his army to directly attack all surrounding countries.
When other countries fight, they say they are attacked from both sides, but Timur is different. He surrounds everyone by himself. This domineering power alone is enough to make a large number of national soldiers fearful.
Daming and Timur could not go to war directly, but this did not affect Zhu Ying's use of the influence of the Ming Dynasty to promote the integration of grassland forces to conquer Timur.
The feeling of being the mastermind behind the scenes is really comfortable.
Zhu Yuanzhang also feels such comfort now.
"On the grassland alone, we can't see how much pressure it can put on Timur. It's like when the Six Kingdoms conquered the Qin Dynasty. It's difficult to achieve great things if they are not united. Moreover, the people of this grassland are much more complicated than those of the Six Kingdoms. "
"It is composed of tribes one after another. Each big tribe has a lot of accumulated conflicts. Some tribes between Wala and Beiyuan are almost feuding, and it is inevitable to hold them back and stumbling."
"Although we don't know much about the Eastern Chagatai Khanate, it seems that being suppressed and beaten by Timur like this, the interior was naturally a mess. Maybe there was a sense of unity at the beginning, but later on, it was roughly The spoils will be divided unevenly.”
"With so many tribes, no one obeys anyone, and no one has the reputation to stand up and command the heroes. Ha, I'm afraid it will be even more fragmented than the Six Kingdoms attacking Qin. At least the Six Kingdoms have a commander in chief."
Zhu Yuanzhang said with a smile, he was not optimistic about what great things these barbarians on the grassland could accomplish.
Especially this joint approach.
Timur is known as the Khan of the second day. Although it sounds very unpleasant, we have to admit that Timur himself does have a personal charm almost similar to that of Genghis Khan.
Ever since Timur detained the Ming envoys, Zhu Yuanzhang had attached great importance to them and continued to send people to obtain intelligence.
After gradually understanding Timur's family history, Zhu Yuanzhang still admired him somewhat.
This is much worse than myself, but the experience is similar.
Timur was also born in the uprising, but unlike Zhu Yuanzhang, Timur did not choose to resist to the end after initially taking control of the military. Instead, he saw the opportunity to legally inherit the position of his uncle Haji.
Seeing this, he promptly expressed his submission to the invader Tughluq Timur Khan.
Although he failed many times later, with his political skills and military talent, Timur survived the initial difficult period and grew rapidly.
Timur itself is not a descendant of Genghis Khan, and the Western Chagatai Khanate must maintain the legitimacy of its rule, at least in form.
Timur began to play the role of a narrow emperor to order the princes.
Now Timur naturally no longer needs a puppet king.
The most interesting thing is that Timur originally opposed Mongolian rule, but later found that other ethnic groups posed a greater threat to his rule than the Mongols.
The dragon-slaying warriors became evil dragons. Timur began to recruit and pay attention to the Mongolian army and formed a large number of Mongolian cavalry.
He even imitated Genghis Khan's war strategy and massacred the city.
Including the current expedition to India, the same strategy of massacre is adopted.
This is the slogan that shouts Khan the next day.
And Zhu Yuanzhang didn't think that some tribal alliances on the grassland could fight against such a character.
Troops in war are important, but command is even more important.
One soldier is raging, and the general is raging in a nest.
Zhu Yuanzhang was not optimistic that the Grassland Alliance could exert great pressure on Timur.
"That will happen later. No matter how they fight or how they fight, we can just wave the flag and cheer from behind."
"It just so happens that the gunpowder department's gunpowder and artillery have been updated again. The original old-fashioned armaments should be destroyed. It feels too wasteful. When the troops are mobilized over there, we will sell them all first."
"The envoys from the Eastern Chagatai Khanate are here. Let's sell a batch to them first so that we can get some money and then invest it in the Gunpowder Department for research."
Zhu Ying said indifferently.
He had never thought about the outcome of the fight between the grassland and Timur. For Ming, as long as there was a war on the grassland, it was a good thing.
After transporting so much food, and the various tribes on the grassland are making great efforts to have children, there must be a place to consume it.
If the grassland can really continue to grow, it will leave a big hidden danger for the Ming Dynasty.
Peace is based on strong strength, and weak countries have no diplomacy.
When the Ming Dynasty becomes weak, tribes such as Oara and Beiyuan who have benefited from the Ming Dynasty will definitely take a big mouthful of flesh and blood without hesitation.
How to prevent the grassland from posing a threat to the Ming Dynasty is a problem.
In fact, the solution is not too difficult from the perspective of future generations, which is to keep the grassland in a state of war.
To expand a little further, it would put the entire world at war, with only Ming Dynasty as a country in the safe zone.
Apart from the Ming Dynasty, the three empires of Tamerlane, Ottoman, and Byzantine were the most powerful.
But the current geographical location of the Ming Dynasty is very unique. It can be said that it is far away from the wars of the three major empires.
area.
At this time, the grassland has become the protective umbrella of Ming Dynasty.
It is impossible for the Ottomans and Byzantines in Europe to fight against the Ming Dynasty. The only one who is likely to have a war is Timur, but it is also very difficult.
Timur and Ming were in a situation where whoever struck first would suffer.
Weakening Timur through soft power is the right choice.
Ming Dynasty only needs to make a lot of war fortune.
After all, the Ming Dynasty is the undisputed number one power in the current sea area. No empire can compare with it, and the gap is more than a star and a half.
Zhu Yuanzhang pondered for a while and said, "With regard to the development of firearms, we have recently received a lot of news from the sea. Many other countries also have unique ideas in the development of firearms."
"Now that our Ming Dynasty Navy has continued to expand in recent years, it now has nearly 400,000 troops. We have recently been thinking about sending the navy to patrol the South and West Oceans."
"Firstly, it can strengthen the prestige of our Ming Dynasty in overseas countries and deter them. Secondly, it can also do some maritime trade."
Regarding the expansion of Ming Dynasty's influence, Zhu Yuanzhang has realized that it is not only costly and difficult on land, but in comparison, it is much easier on sea.
Especially in Nanyang, the naval route has been opened. Of course, we have to go to further places.
Zhu Yuanzhang had been listening to what the great sun said about the countries outside. In fact, Ming had only a vague understanding of the European region before. Now he was interested and wanted to send a fleet to sail.
Since ancient times, which emperor has not wanted all nations to come to court, and Zhu Yuanzhang is certainly no exception.
In Zhu Yuanzhang's heart, the Central Plains Dynasty was the center of the entire world, and the world should surrender to the Ming Dynasty, even in name only.
The title of the Celestial Kingdom is not a simple honorific, but a real power.
Today's Ming Dynasty has made Zhu Yuanzhang feel that it is the pinnacle of many dynasties in history. Even the powerful Han Dynasty and the prosperous Tang Dynasty have surpassed it.
In this case, more countries should surrender.
