"Your Majesty, I don't know." Xu Qin said with a pinch on his neck.
Zhu Di almost choked and said what? You actually said you didn’t know? It made him laugh out loud.
"Well, I'll tell you one by one, why did you beat Han Yi, a subordinate?" Zhu Di first found his first crime.
"Return to Your Majesty because he deserves a beating. He said, 'It's a small thing for the people of Ming Dynasty to starve to death, but it's a big thing for foreign envoys not to eat beef.' So I beat him until he can no longer eat meat."
Xu Qin's attitude was very arrogant, as if he had done something great. Waiting for Zhu Di to praise him.
"His words were inappropriate. As a superior, just reprimand him. If you really don't like it, you can adjust your position. Why should you be so disrespectful of face?"
Li Zhigang's beard trembled with anger. People say that family scandals should not be made public, but now the Ministry of Rites' jokes have resounded throughout Yingtian Mansion.
"Sir, the temper he had before he was replaced is already dead. This man has no enlightenment in his heart and regards a foreign race as his ancestor. I very much suspect that he has impure blood and is a traitor to our clan and an outright traitor."
Xu Qin was impassioned, as if not killing Han Yi was not enough to anger the people.
"It's nonsense. Han Yi is indeed a bit strict in his work, but he is meticulous and has passed the examination of the Ministry of Rites for three years. How come you have said that he is such a heinous person?"
Li Zhigang couldn't stand his nonsense anymore, so he scolded him.
"This kind of person is so flattering in the prosperous times. If he really ascends to a high position, wouldn't he do things like 'serve his friends and not care about the people'?"
Xu Qin said loudly that since he defeated the Japanese envoy, he had thought of all the details and had already thought of a lot of excuses.
Here he changed Cixi's sentence "I would rather be with friends than domestic slaves". It was changed to 'Serve your friends as slaves and don't care about the people'.
This sentence was really impactful, making Zhu Di's face gloomy, and Li Zhigang's chest heaving with anger.
The key is that Han Yi himself failed to live up to his expectations, and what he said cannot withstand further investigation. Now this bastard has caught the pigtails.
"What about the self-esteem of my Ming Dynasty? What about the pride of my Ming officials? What about the pride of my Ming people who live in the Ming Dynasty? Is he reading the Four Books and Five Classics? I think he is just flattering the horse."
Xu Qin really got into it. He actually said that he was moved and roared impassionedly in Wuying Palace.
"Although Han Yi did something inappropriate, he did it in accordance with the imperial court's decision. Do you think the imperial court's 'thick and thin' approach to paying tribute is wrong?"
Xia Yuanji, the Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, stared at him and asked, "This old man is involved in private affairs and is leading Xu Qin in the direction of opposing tribute."
These are all old bureaucrats. How could they be moved by his impassioned words? They have long since lost their youthful enthusiasm, and instead focus on solving problems.
Xia Yuanji asked the fundamental question. This is a stupid thing Zhu Yuanzhang did. Treat foreign envoys favorably, let them feel the great grace of Ming Dynasty.
Xu Qin was not so passionate as to be a fool. If he directly said something was wrong, he would say that Zhu Yuanzhang was wrong.
This old guy Xia Yuanji is very evil. Even if you are the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, you can't solve it. What do you expect from me?
And now, in order to prove that he is the legitimate emperor, the chairman is protecting Zhu Yuanzhang everywhere. All Zhu Yunwen's reforms were changed back.
So at this time, Zhu Di was the first to say that the policy was wrong.
"Times have changed. During the Taizu period, the world was initially settled. Internal and external troubles caused the need to stabilize these small countries. Now, after decades of recuperation, our Ming Dynasty no longer needs to have such scruples."
Xu Qin said with confidence. He doesn't hope to change anything, he just hopes that these bureaucrats can listen and solve today's problems.
Suddenly he missed his maid so much, wouldn't it be nice to lie down in the gentle land. After this matter is over, go back and make glass and make money secretly.
I'll never come out again. I've had enough of coming to this ruined palace every three days.
"That's why you act so recklessly? It seems like you have saved some money, but what do these small countries think of our Ming Dynasty? Once they stop paying tribute, it will not be a good thing for our Ming Dynasty after all."
Xia Yuanji said.
"Xia Shangshu, that's not a lot of money. I specially asked the principal to calculate it. According to the standard supply calculation of Huitong Hall, it will cost about two hundred thousand taels of silver to come and go from this group of people. How many people can we support with two hundred thousand taels of silver? How many people can we build with two hundred thousand taels of silver? How much ordnance?”
Xu Qin frowned and said. Xia Yuanji was noncommittal.
"This is not counting the reward given to them. Chief Gao Yu has calculated it through the envoy's credentials. The things they brought are probably worth 200,000 taels of silver, but our reward will be eight to ten times."
Xu Qin said with a sneer, but Xia Yuanji was not moved at all.
"Coming to the DPRK from all directions is not only about the court's reputation. What's more important is the status of the Ming Dynasty as the sovereign state. You only saw the inflow and outflow of a million taels of silver. Do you know how much money it would cost to fight a war?"
Xia Yuanji said. Thick exchanges and thin exchanges can bring small countries back to their hearts and allow them to become external vassals of the Ming Dynasty. Recognize the Ming Dynasty's status as a suzerainty. It's worth spending some money this way.
"Lord Xia, I yearn for 'All Nations' Clothes and Crowns' more than you do. But I don't buy it with money, and I don't tighten the stomachs of the people of my Ming Dynasty and support a bunch of white-eyed wolves. I also make them think that I, the people of Ming Dynasty, are stupid and have too much money."
Xu Qin said that he had long expected that he would be criticized by some people over the matter of the joint library, so he had been prepared for it.
As the saying goes, "The clothes and hats of all nations worship the crown", these scholars understand better than him what kind of prosperous age it was. The Tang Dynasty never gave anyone money.
"Tang Yiqiang died." Li Zhigang said softly. The Tang Dynasty was very strong, but in the end it was too strong and the country fell.
"It's better than the shame of Jingkang." Xu Qin retorted forcefully. The Northern Song Dynasty liked to send money to foreigners. In the end, the emperor himself, his wife and children gave it away.
"My Ming Dynasty is not weak to the Song Dynasty." Zhu Di finally spoke, and he finally followed Wai Lou and joined the debate.
The discussion on the topic has long gone off topic, but it finally came to the original issue, how to treat these foreign envoys.
"Your Majesty is absolutely right. We are not weak to the Song Dynasty. On the contrary, in today's world, the Ming Dynasty is the strongest in the world.
"We have the most elegant culture, the most gorgeous uniforms, the best silks, porcelain, and tea, the largest fleet, the most majestic buildings, and the most powerful emperor in the world."
"We are so powerful and rich, except for Daming, they can't get the same things as Daming anywhere else. So they have nowhere to go except Daming. They should beg Daming to call them daddy.
Why is he now a father coaxing his son? I am worried that if I coax them for a long time, they will really consider themselves their fathers, while some of us in the Ming Dynasty will consider themselves our sons.
The strength of my Ming Dynasty was not given by those foreigners. It is the monarchs and ministers of our Ming Dynasty who work hard and think hard, and the people of our Ming Dynasty work hard and sleep well night and day. How can you throw it at someone lightly? Your Majesty, the promotion of rice and the fighting of rice and hatred! "
Xu Qin stood upright and said everything in one breath at the top of his lungs. This was a line he had performed several times in private in the past two days.
At this moment, he finished it in one go. He felt that he had some potential as a speaker. He was sonorous, powerful, well-founded, and his performance was perfect.
I've flattered you so much, don't you believe I can't fool you, Zhu Di?
"What do I mean by profound insights? Isn't this just your drunken nonsense that day? It's just that it's more organized."
Zhu Di said with a sneer.
What did Xu Qinxin say? Am I talking nonsense while drunk?
Could it be that I had said all these things when I drank too much that day? I said why he gave me an official position in the host and guest department. It turned out that I had heard it before.
"Your Majesty, whether you are drunk or sober. Those small countries have seen the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty, and they are reluctant to go anywhere else.
Allowing them to pay tribute is already a gift and cannot be coaxed anymore. Bad boys become more courageous by coaxing.
The Japanese envoy coaxed him too much and spoiled him too harshly. He actually dared to rob the Korean envoy and yelled at the humble minister..."
Xu Qin continued.
His impassioned speech really touched Zhu Di's heart. Is it the most powerful empire in the world and the most powerful emperor in the world?
He was very pleased that he was so great. This feels very good.
What this bastard said makes sense. How could a man who was clearly a father be caught by his son? It was already a blessing for Ming Dynasty to trade with them.
"Don't say it so nice. I can let you do whatever you want, but can you guarantee that there will be no problems with the tribute ceremony? And you can also guarantee that they will be willing to come next time!"
Zhu Di is a mature politician. He can be moved, but it cannot affect his reason. The face of all nations coming to court is still needed.
"If your Majesty is trustworthy, this matter can be left to me to handle. I only need a few conditions to ensure that they come here."
Xu Qin said confidently.
"How much silver is needed?" Xia Yuanji asked next.
"There is no need for the Ministry of Revenue to contribute a penny, and the lower official can also earn a sum of money for the Ministry of Revenue, no less than two hundred thousand taels."
Xu Qin said conservatively.
After he said this, Zhu Di and Xia Yuanji looked at each other with disbelief in their eyes. This child must have lost his mind and gone crazy.
"No jokes before you." Zhu Di said calmly.
"Your Majesty, how about this, you contract all the tribute ceremony to Wei Chen. After the completion, I will pay 200,000 taels of silver to the Ministry of Household Affairs, and I will be responsible for the rest."
Xu Qin vowed that he planned to undertake the tribute ceremony. Why didn't I think of this before? This is a good deal.
Xia Yuanji almost jumped up when he heard it and was about to agree. It was perfect to have someone take this huge blame for him.
Because of this matter, he has been so worried these past few days that several of his hairs have turned gray.
Seeing Xia Yuanji's eager eyes, Xu Qin prayed in his heart, Xia Shangshu should speak quickly! You can't say anything else if you promise His Majesty.
"Boy, although I won't give you anything in return, the tributes and gifts will go to the palace. You don't need to spend money from the Ministry of Revenue?" Zhu Di confirmed again.
"Your Majesty, there will be nothing missing from the palace. And it doesn't cost a penny. Leave the rest to the ministers and ensure that the envoys leave happily and come back happily next year."
Xu Qin offered everything, and he said to your Majesty, please agree as soon as possible.
Xia Yuanji could no longer sit still and kept rubbing his hands. No matter what method Xu Qin had, even if it was robbery.
Anyway, it's best to pick out the household parts as soon as possible. Just as he was about to speak, Zhu Di spoke first.
"No, three hundred thousand taels." Zhu Di sat on the ground and raised the price.
"Okay, just as your Majesty said. Afterwards, we will hand over 300,000 taels to the Ministry of Household Affairs." Xu Qin gritted his teeth and agreed.
I think you can finally nod this time.
"No, five hundred thousand taels." Seeing that he agreed too quickly, Zhu Di raised the price.
Xia Yuanji glanced at Zhu Di, and he probably felt that His Majesty seemed a little shameless. Is this something a human being did?
I want it for free, but you keep raising the price?
"As long as your Majesty agrees to my two conditions, half a million is half a million. I accept it," Xu Qin said.
If you increase the price, I will have conditions.
"One million taels, I can agree to you two conditions." Zhu Di said.
"Your Majesty has a keen eye and has reached the bottom line. You can't do more, and this tribute official will be contracted for three years." Xu Qin said.
"Okay, I also agreed. Please tell me two conditions." Zhu Di finally agreed hesitantly.
Xu Qinxin said that Chairman Zhu was worthy of being an emperor, and he judged that this matter was very profitable based on instinct alone.
Ji Gang listened to Xu Qin's impassioned speech and looked at Zhu Di's face and the looks of several adults. He knew that his efforts were in vain.
He knew that Xu Qin's flattery touched His Majesty's buttocks, and his words touched His Majesty's heart. This level has passed.
