As for the next meeting, since it was just more symbolic than practical, there was nothing to discuss.
Only one thing was discussed.
What was discussed was that the privy envoy Fang Fengshi and the Minister of Rites Pan Chengzuo requested to determine the time for the prisoner presentation ceremony and asked the emperor for permission.
Zhu Yijun finally accepted the request from the Ministry of Rites, set a date, and then announced his resignation.
After retiring from the court, Qi Jiguang left the Xunzhi Gate together with Duke Yingying and Duke Dingguo.
Duke Dingguo first took the initiative to invite Duke Ying and Qi Jiguang, "Can you two come to my place to hang out together when you are free?"
The nobles of the Ming Dynasty are generally relatively free, so they often have time to do these entertainment activities.
"Okay, Qi Shuai no longer leads troops, so he must be free now, right?"
The British Duke agreed first and asked about Qi Jiguang.
Qi Jiguang glanced back, then cupped his hands and said with an apologetic smile: "I'm really sorry, but I would also like to ask the two princes, Your Majesty, for your Majesty's decree, for me to go to the political hall of Qianqing Palace today to participate in the discussion of politics."
"That's it."
The British Duke replied with some disappointment, and then said: "It doesn't matter, it can be done another day."
"Then another day! Today is really not the time."
After Qi Jiguang came back, he handed over and left, followed by the eunuch who came to pick him up.
Then, Duke Yingying and Duke Dingguo and other military honors watched helplessly as Qi Jiguang, Zhang Juzheng, and Fang Fengshi from the court team on their side entered the inner court talking and laughing.
"Hmph, what are you so proud of?!"
At this time, Duke Dingguo couldn't help but snorted, his face turned down, and then he said: "It's just because we old nobles don't have the opportunity to go to the battlefield to serve the country, otherwise we will not be worse than him after the first and fourth grades of meritorious officials."
Because of his contribution to the founding of the country, his ancestor Qi Jiguang was awarded the fourth rank of Dengzhou Guard Commander Qian by Zhu Yuanzhang as a hereditary official.
Therefore, Duke Dingguo called Qi Jiguang the fourth-grade hero.
At this time, the British Duke couldn't help but ask: "What do you think the inner court is like? How is it different from the previous dynasty?"
Ding Guogong said: "Who knows, unless there is a chance to discuss politics and go in and take a look."
"Don't worry about the future. Qi Yuanjing deliberately came so early today, which is obviously a hint that we old nobles should stand with him, a new noble, and support the coexistence of civil and military affairs."
The British public smiled and said.
Duke Dingguo nodded after hearing this: "You are right, that's why I took the initiative to invite him, but I was not convinced. I don't even know what it's like in the political hall!"
"It's time to impose strict requirements on our children. Maybe we will have the opportunity to serve the country in the future."
The British Duke said at this time.
…
Political Hall.
Zhu Yijun was sitting behind the eucalyptus, looking at Zhang Juzheng, Fang Fengshi, Qi Jiguang and others who were filing in, and said, "Bring another chair over and let Qi Qing sit opposite me."
Zhang Hong raised his hand and said yes.
Then, Zhu Yijun said: "What I want to talk about today is the issue of tax rates in Hirado and Nagasaki."
Immediately, Zhu Yijun asked Qi Jiguang to talk about the trade situation in Hirado and Nagasaki areas.
Qi Jiguang answered seriously, even telling the interest rates for specific goods such as cotton yarn, sugar, and lead powder.
"Cotton yarn in Kanai costs seventy taels of silver per stone, but in Hirado and Nagasaki it can be sold for sixteen to eighteen taels of silver."
"The sugar in Kanai costs one liang per shi, but in Hirado and Nagasaki it can be sold for 3 liang or 5 yen to 5 liang or 1 shi."
"The white lead powder in Kanai is 20 liang and 1 stone, but in Hirado and Nagasaki it can be sold for 6 liang and 1 stone to 7 liang and 1 stone."
When Qi Jiguang made the report, Fang Fengshi, Wang Guoguang, Zhang Xueyan and other officials in power all looked horrified.
They knew that the sea profits were rich, but they did not expect it to be so rich. Then they thought about the fact that Qi Jiguang and others only brought nearly 30,000 soldiers and horses to the Japanese expedition, but they brought back 3.5 million taels.
All of a sudden, the inherent impression of the dangerous ocean became more and more diluted in their hearts. The question arises spontaneously: Why is the Japanese country so rich? How much wealth does it still have?
At this time, Zhang Xueyan first announced: "Your Majesty, I believe that the taxes levied by the original native chiefs of Hirado and Nagasaki are too heavy. It is obvious that they only care about making profits but not supporting the people with taxes, so they should be reduced."
"But we can't just surrender all of them, some of them will be increased! For example, if we sell grain from other Japanese countries, we can prevent our country's grain from being shipped out in large quantities. At the same time, for imported goods to our Ming Dynasty, such as gold and copper mines to our Ming Dynasty, it will not only The country is not short of smelting skills, but it only lacks raw ores such as gold and copper.”
Zhu Yijun nodded and said: "I have ordered the National Taxation Department to negotiate with the Minister of Economy and Strategy Japan the tax rates for the corresponding goods based on the pros and cons of this dynasty."
"According to the order!"
Qi Jiguang was overjoyed and responded to all the ministers.
"Your Majesty, I believe that the firearms and gunpowder of this dynasty are not forbidden to the Japanese, but they cannot be sold by private individuals, but should be sold by specialized government agencies. This is not entirely for profit, but to help some Japanese people who are willing to respect us. The benevolent native chiefs of China can restore peace as soon as possible to avoid being annexed by some ambitious and powerful tribes;"
"In my opinion, it is best for Japan to maintain its status quo and not engage in conquests. If there is no war, everyone can produce, which will increase the benefits of trade."
"In addition, when the currency of the dynasty is implemented in Japan, it is just to transport silver coins directly, which consumes too much. It is better to use a certain amount of silver coins as stacking capital and issue banknotes in Japan to replace the silver coins, which are only implemented in Japan. It is beneficial to dump the goods of this dynasty, and can be exchanged for more ores and other goods."
Wang Guoguang then suddenly stood up and started to speak.
Zhu Yijun said: "I also believe that it is important to mediate the conquest of the Japanese country. This is also the mission that the superior country should have. I inherit the destiny and have the obligation not to cause the lives of people to be devastated by unjust wars. The political affairs hall needs to discuss it next. Now, I will recommend several ministers who I will appoint as ministers to mediate the war between Dongyi and go to Japan to take charge of this matter. They will participate in the impeachment of the Dongyi chieftains who have launched conquests without permission. They can also request the court to provide assistance to the invaders, such as providing low-interest payments. , help them protect the soil, or directly provide firearms, etc.; in short, I don’t want another unjust war to happen in the world and damage the way of becoming a king!"
"It is feasible to issue banknotes to replace silver coins in Japan. Japan has no idea about the excessive issuance of banknotes. It is suitable for the Ministry of Household Affairs to choose good Chu paper (exclusively used for ancient banknotes), but it must be protected against counterfeiting to benefit the local people's livelihood."
"Your Majesty is so benevolent and benevolent, and the world knows that there will be no more Japanese troubles in the future! In my opinion, when necessary, we can directly send the king's troops to conquer, to prevent unjust wars from happening, and to prevent these barbarian chiefs from being blamed. Years of conquests have led to the emergence of extremely evil and murderous people who do not follow the right path and harm the peace of the world."
At this time, Liang Menglong, Minister of the Ministry of War, also proposed.
Zhu Yijun nodded: "It is very good. Regardless of Han or barbarian people, those who can control living beings must be virtuous. I have inherited the destiny and should punish the ungrateful people. Since you are my ministers, I need to punish the ungrateful ones." generation, and promote the virtuous generation.”
All the ministers bowed their hands and said yes.
At this time, Zhang Juzheng said: "Your Majesty, according to what Commander Qi just said, the Japanese people have been treated like animals due to successive conquests, but many of the people in the country are landless. The purpose of the new government is to enrich the country, strengthen the army and benefit the people, so It should be noted that because of the low life of the Japanese, a large number of Japanese were introduced into this dynasty as slaves, which affected the people and greatly reduced their income!"
"That's what sir is concerned about."
"This dynasty is the country above, and the people of this dynasty are the people of the country above. They are my people. They are the foundation for maintaining the country above and the center of the world. Therefore, we cannot think about the people."
"The so-called people are valued means that the people of the above country should be valued."
Zhu Yijun nodded. Zhang Juzheng and he had united their minds and decided to strengthen national ideals as a strategy to ease class conflicts in the future. It was not surprising that Zhang Juzheng took the initiative to raise his concerns for the Han people and said:
"What I mean is that the imperial court has issued an edict to establish a nationality system. The population survey has just been carried out, which is convenient for the implementation of this system; no one who is not a national of this dynasty is allowed to enter."
"Your Majesty, if there are foreign barbarians who need to pay tribute or need to enter the country to report the invasion of our country, how should we allow them to pass?"
At this time, Zhang Juzheng asked.
Zhu Yijun said: "Just like the road guide in the early days of the Republic of China, you can apply to the government to issue a customs clearance document as a certificate of entry. The imperial court should set up an inspection department in the corresponding border area to be responsible for this matter. The capital is under the control of the Ministry of Punishment. Anyone who smuggles or smuggles in or Those who trespass are all guilty, and the Ministry of Punishment shall directly convict them according to the law."
"yes!"
Zhang Juzheng and Yan Qing, the Minister of Punishment, stood up and replied.
Zhu Yijun continued: "In addition, the large number of landless refugees in this dynasty and the large number of Japanese slaves in the newly occupied areas who need to resume production must also be dealt with. The former must make them rich, and the latter must make them able to It will bring benefits to this dynasty and bring about greater trade.”
