"Your Majesty, our country's copper coins have excellent credit, but due to the heavy traffic coming out of the overseas trade border and the fully laden ships returning, they were smuggled overseas in large quantities. Even today's Xixia, Jin Dynasty, Japan, Jiaozhi, Goryeo and other countries have They used the copper coins of our country. Countries in Southeast Asia also imitated the copper coins of our country and minted their own copper coins. Due to the outflow of a large amount of copper coins and silver from our country, our country was short of silver coins."
Wei Liaoweng frowned and said worriedly:
"Your Majesty, if the export tariffs are reduced, a large amount of money will flow out. When the time comes, the world will change, which will probably make things worse."
Wei Liaoweng's words made Zhao Hong nodded slightly.
There is a shortage of money, the devaluation of money is rampant, and prices are soaring. The best solution...
The world's high-quality copper and silver origins are in South America, and gold mines are in South Africa and Australia. At the same time, Australia has huge iron and copper reserves, and they are concentrated in the east. If we don’t occupy them now, when will we wait?
"To the south after the Kingdom of Java, in the east of Australia, there are huge reserves of gold, copper and iron, which will be the focus of our Song Dynasty navy's southward march next year. At the same time, there are many unowned lands in Nanyang, which are vast and suitable for farming. They can solve the problem of our Song Dynasty. Potential food crisis.”
Zhao Hong thought about it and said it.
A few warships, dozens of cannons, and a few fortresses can occupy a large enough overseas land. Why not?
Moreover, it should not be called a colony because there is no need for bloody killings.
"Your Majesty means..."
Wu Qian asked carefully.
"Bo Ni is harvested three times a year. It is vast and sparsely populated, and can supply food for at least millions of people. Guawa is rich in coal. South of Guawa is Australia, which has a large amount of iron ore, gold ore, aluminum ore, etc. .As for the distant North and South America, gold, silver, iron, copper, and coal are everywhere.”
Zhao Hong looked at everyone and smiled.
In the so-called gunboat diplomacy in history, a colony can be established with a few guns and warships. In this era, those uninhabited islands seem to be accessible in the most gentle way.
Moreover, the "three high" industries such as firearms manufacturing, mining, iron smelting, and ceramic manufacturing can all be moved overseas in the future, and the Song Dynasty can enjoy its achievements.
Supporting the Song Dynasty with the world is the only way for the development of the Song Dynasty.
"Your Majesty, I heard from merchants from Southeast Asia that Longyamen Island in Nanyang is the main way into the Western Ocean. There are only one or two hundred people on Longyamen Island, and it is full of swamps and mire. It is a good place to park ships. If Your Majesty is willing, It can also be brought under the rule of the Song Dynasty."
As a coastal envoy, Zhao Shanxiang often traveled along the coast, had many contacts with overseas merchants, and was well-informed.
To be honest, Zhao Shanxiang looked down on these foreign lands from the bottom of his heart. Liuqiu and Qiongzhou are both remote places, let alone these wild lands thousands of miles away.
But the emperor liked it, and he was happy to join in the fun.
Aragon Teeth Gate is what later became Singapore. It is located at the strategic point of the Strait of Malacca and is also the choke point of the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
"Dragon Tooth Gate, when our navy of the Great Song Dynasty takes over this place, cultivates wasteland, cultivates fields, and builds a harbor, let's call it Dragon Gate."
Sure enough, Zhao Hong nodded and made a decision quickly.
In fact, even if Zhao Shanxiang does not speak, he will send troops to occupy this place as a base for westward expansion into the Pacific and expansion into the Arabian Sea and Africa.
Wu Qian was secretly surprised. The emperor's appetite was so great that tens of thousands of naval troops traveled thousands of miles away. The number was indeed not enough for so many places.
It seems that recruiting navy troops is urgent.
Zhao Hong looked at Wei Liaoweng and frowned slightly.
"Wei Qing, do you know how many prisoners there are in Qiongzhou and Leizhou?"
To go to the South Seas and enter the Western Seas, naval officers and soldiers alone are definitely not enough. A considerable number of immigrants and settlers are needed to consolidate the place.
"Your Majesty, there are more than thirty thousand."
Wei Liaoweng was stunned for a while. With this move, the emperor would not send prisoners to Nanyang again.
In the Song Dynasty, two to three thousand people were sentenced to death every year, and countless others were exiled. The former emperor Bintian and the new emperor ascended the throne, but the emperor did not grant a general amnesty to the world. It seemed that the emperor had already planned this.
"Ten thousand prisoners were sent to Bo Ni with the army, two thousand to Longmen, three thousand to Guawa, and ten thousand to Australia. Bo Ni and Australia were used as lands for colonization, and Longmen was used to build a seaport to facilitate the navy and communication. Merchant ships are stationed.”
As expected, Zhao Hong immediately made arrangements for next year.
Zhao Hong looked at Wu Qian with bright eyes.
"Wu Qian, do you understand what I mean?"
Champa is just a foothold in Nanyang, and military advancement is the foundation.
"Your Majesty, I understand that I will do my best to lead our Great Song Dynasty Navy to expand our territory and share your worries for Your Majesty."
It seems that the emperor's intention is to solve the problem of colonization in Southeast Asia first, and then expand further overseas.
I really don’t know how much more the navy needs?
"Longmen and Guawa can each build a water village. There are deserts and Gobis everywhere in Australia. There are rivers in the southeast and southwest, and there is sufficient precipitation, so they can be cultivated."
Based on the little knowledge in his mind, Zhao Hong solemnly warned so as not to waste people, money, manpower and material resources.
Aren’t Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney, Queensland, including that bullshit Sunshine Coast, all on the southeastern coast of Australia?
"Your Majesty, a single prisoner is probably not enough to support colonization."
Just building the water village fort and harbor would probably require thousands of people and several years. Wu Qian subconsciously felt that he was short of manpower.
The most fundamental thing is to relocate the people and take root.
"Huaidong is suffering from war, eastern Zhejiang and Fujian are densely populated with poor people, and people in Fujian and Guangxi have a tradition of traveling across the ocean. Therefore, the imperial court can immigrate from these places. However, you must first give me the entire Nanyang It’s done, let’s get a few strongholds first and establish a firm foothold.”
It’s hard to leave the homeland, and Chinese people have a strong sense of country. I wonder if overseas immigrants can live up to expectations?
The population of Sichuan has reached more than 13 million, and about one million immigrants have immigrated to Nanyang. I wonder if it is realistic now?
Zhao Hong looked at Wu Qian and thought for a moment.
"I give you two years, do you think it's enough?"
Two years later, the Mongolian army's invasion of Xia should have ended. At that time, it seemed that it was time to carry out ocean colonization.
"Your Majesty, I will do my best!"
Wu Qian secretly felt a lot of pressure. Various plans are coming one after another, so the Coastal Planning and Construction Department will be very busy.
"Your Majesty, most people in the Song Dynasty have a hometown complex, and they also pay attention to returning fallen leaves to their roots. If they leave their hometown and are thousands of miles away, I am afraid that there will be very few people who respond."
Sure enough, Zhao Shanxiang said cautiously.
Immigration of tens or tens of thousands may not be a problem. It may be possible to immigrate hundreds of thousands, but immigration of hundreds of thousands or millions may be even more difficult.
Without immigrants, how could the navy of the Song Dynasty take root in those foreign lands?
"Ms. Zhao, you are looking at the problem from the perspective of a scholar-official."
Zhao Hong angrily attacked this clan veteran.
"The poor have no clothes to cover, no food to eat, and each person only has two or three acres of land. If you give him 10 acres of land, three crops a year, and no taxes, what do you think he will make? And those merchants, as long as they can make a profit , let alone thousands of miles away, even if there is fear for one's life, one will go there happily without any hesitation."
What people need in life is opportunities, opportunities to change their situation. Once an opportunity arises, there is at least a half chance that they will seize it.
Isn’t it said that 20% of the people have 80% of the wealth? Of the 70 million people in the Song Dynasty, half of them would not be rich, right?
Even those rich people, in the face of absolute interests, may not venture across the oceans to seek greater benefits.
"Your Majesty, I am stupid. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
Zhao Shanxiang blushed and quickly blamed himself.
As a member of the imperial family of the Song Dynasty and a scholar-bureaucrat in Huanghuang, he was pampered and never worried about oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, rice and food. He was indeed not qualified to express his opinions on the imperial court's immigration matters.
"There is no such thing as stupidity and cleverness. The general trend can be seen by looking at the history books. If no one is willing to immigrate, the only option is to take coercive measures."
Zhao Hong said coldly, as if he was inspired.
Those poor people in the countryside and the proletariat in the cities believe that it is not difficult to make a choice in the face of a new look and huge temptation.
"Your Majesty, everything will be done if you are prepared, and if you are not prepared, it will be ruined. If you really want to immigrate, I'm afraid you have to start immediately."
Wu Qian subconsciously reminded him.
When migrating south, food is the foundation. Even if there are 100,000 immigrants, they will need food reserves of 500,000 to 600,000 dan.
We still need to explore the place, build houses, and arrange food, clothing, housing, and transportation one by one.
"Wu Qian, I leave it to you! Just report to me the people and property the navy needs."
Zhao Hong nodded and immediately kicked the ball to Wu Qian.
The Navy of the Song Dynasty wants to go south, survey the layout in advance, etc., all of which require money, not words.
As a result, the money in the pile sealing warehouse may be wiped out.
"Wei Qing, set up the Immigration Department, publicize the immigration issue in newspapers, and send official documents from the court to all prefectures, counties, towns, and towns. You can go back and take care of this matter."
Immigration really needs to start immediately.
Full board and lodging, no tax for three years, ten acres of fertile land per person, three counts a year... that should be enough.
Even if the effect is average next year, as the Song Navy continues to expand its territory, the people will slowly accept and get used to it.
Everyone received the decree with heavy hearts.
The emperor was in and out of things, everything was unexpected and everything was urgent.
"My lords, as the New Deal is implemented, the officials govern the Ming Dynasty and the people live and work in peace and contentment, the population of our Song Dynasty will increase. Let the extra people have land to cultivate and everyone can have enough to eat, and the dilemma of our Song Dynasty will be solved. It can be easily solved. Therefore, you have to run the Song Dynasty Naval Academy for me, the navy has to be trained for me, and overseas colonization and immigration have to be done well."
Without enough land and resources, the crisis in the Song Dynasty could not be resolved. Only if you have money and supplies can you fight the Mongolian army well.
"I will do my best not to disappoint His Majesty."
Zhao Shanxiang and Wu Qian saluted together, their expressions solemn.
The emperor was ambitious, and as trusted ministers, they had to do their best.
"Xianggong Wu, the naval academy must be well run and the navy must be trained well. If you want to colonize and go to Southeast Asia, you must also clean up the pirates on the southeast coast. On your way here, your majesty encountered pirates. It’s so violent that it makes people feel frightened.”
Wei Liaoweng couldn't help but interject.
"Your Majesty, give me half a year, and I will clear the southeast sea and not let your Majesty down!"
Wu Qian's face turned red and he immediately issued a military order.
Today's navy of the Song Dynasty has all its warships equipped with artillery, but it is still afraid of those chickens and dogs. If the navy of the Song Dynasty couldn't even deal with some pirates, how could it conquer the east and west and cross the ocean?
"Wu Qian, I believe in you, just do it with your heart."
Zhao Hong said warmly, seemingly not dissatisfied with what happened to the pirates.
In fact, the Coastal Warfare Department is training its navy, and it is only a matter of time before the sea surface is cleared.
"Your Majesty, Quanzhou Magistrate Zhao Rushi is waiting outside."
The guard came to report.
"Let him wait outside and come with me to Quanzhou Port."
Zhao Rushi, the prefect of Quanzhou, promoted Quanzhou Shipping Department. He really wanted to see what Quanzhou, the largest trading port in the world, was like, whether it really connected the sea to the country and made a lot of money.
