"His Royal Highness the King of Xia has taught me such a method of benefiting the country. Aren't you afraid that if I go back and implement it in the Ming Dynasty, the Xia Kingdom will suffer from it?"
It was a pleasure chatting with Zuo Mengeng, which made Huang Shijun relax.
At the same time, he also couldn't understand Zuo Mengeng's thoughts. Why would he reveal such an important thing to him?
Could it be that Zuo Mengeng was really determined that he would join the Xia Kingdom?
Opposite him, Zuo Mengeng was calm and calm.
"Does Mr. Yu Yu really think that the method of immigration and development can be practiced in the Ming Dynasty?"
"Why not?"
Huang Shijun asked for more details.
Zuo Mengeng hit the nail on the head.
"Not to mention that the Ming Dynasty's monarchs and ministers were stubborn, even if they really promoted development, which of the surrounding enemies could defeat them? Even if they were defeated in battle, who would own the acquired land?"
Huang Shijun's originally smiling face suddenly turned miserable.
Zuo Mengeng revealed all the foundations of the Ming Dynasty in just one sentence.
The first step to open up to the outside world was extremely difficult in Ming Dynasty.
Thinking back to the original call to open the sea, wasn't it so loud that countless people were eagerly looking forward to it?
How did it end?
The drawings of Zheng He's treasure ship were burned, and the Moon Harbor switch became a flash in the pan.
You can't even open the sea, but you still want to expand the land?
For today's Ming Dynasty, the second step of the war cannot bear to be mentioned again.
Don't say that if you go out and beat others, you will be beaten to pieces in your own country.
Expand territory?
I'm afraid it's a thousand miles away.
As for the third step, it was the reason why it was impossible for the Ming Dynasty to expand its territory.
From the emperor to officials, dignitaries, and scholar-bureaucrats, they all have a unified title.
That's... the landowner.
What is a landlord?
Only those who take land as their own are considered landlords.
How much of the developed land can fall on the heads of ordinary people in front of these landowners?
I'm afraid there won't be any.
As for the Xia State, which gave every commoner three hundred acres of land, Ming Dynasty would not even think about it.
In the eyes of Ming Dynasty landlords, do untouchables deserve to own land?
If they really had this intention, why would the people of the Ming Dynasty be left without a place to stand and become refugees?
Since ordinary people cannot benefit from the development process, who will support such a policy?
Without the support of thousands of people, even if the land is developed, it will not be able to occupy it for a long time.
It was like this in the Han Dynasty, and it was like this in the prosperous Tang Dynasty.
In the Ming Dynasty, there will be no difference.
Huang Shijun understands this.
But precisely because I understand, I am even more desperate.
Because he deeply understood that Daming could not change anything.
Zuo Mengeng didn't hit him again.
By chance, the attendants over there had finished unpacking the boxes and took out pieces of food.
Zuo Mengeng took something with his own hands.
That thing was huge and had two giant pincers. When waving, the menacing black shadow startled Huang Shijun.
"Mr. Yu Yu is in for a treat. Come and try the king crab from this far north. I guarantee you will be hooked."
Huang Shijun woke up from his grief and looked at the crab as big as a bucket basin in Zuo Mengeng's hand. He really doubted his life.
"This...could this be the legendary crab spirit?"
His hometown is in Guangdong, not far from the sea. In addition, Cantonese people are not tired of fine food and fine meat, and they prefer delicious food, so they are quite familiar with seafood.
But he had eaten sea food all his life, and he had never seen such a big crab.
Zuo Mengeng pointed to the sea area north of Jilin Province on the map and said: "This kind of big crabs are produced here. Because the waters are cold, they are long, strong and plump. Crab meat tastes like pork or duck meat. thick."
While he was talking, he had already used utensils to disassemble a big crab.
The crab legs were cut open, and the white crab meat inside was as thick as a writing brush.
Brush it with oil, fill it with minced garlic and other ingredients, and place it directly on the grill. The meat will be fragrant in a short while.
Zuo Mengeng's purpose was not just to treat guests.
"For foreign development, it is better to face the sea than the land. The sea is connected in all directions and communication is smooth. Moreover, sea-going ships are huge and carry a lot of cargo. The income from a business trip is more than ten times or a hundred times that on land. In addition, , the sea is actually a huge granary. The harvest from fishing in the sea can greatly make up for the lack of farmland production. You see, this is a big harvest for the Xia Kingdom."
Zuo Mengeng handed the roasted crab legs to Huang Shijun.
Huang Shijun imitated his example and pressed a piece of tassel against the crab shell, and a piece of fat crab meat entered his mouth.
After chewing carefully, the crab meat is delicious and juicy, and full of satiety. It was far from the sea food he had eaten before, leaving only the aroma of cooking.
"It's hard for three or five people to finish one of these crabs."
His guess was not wrong.
"This kind of sea crab weighs seven or eight pounds. Just one crab is enough for a family of three to have a meal. And it's all meat, and it's much better than rice."
Huang Shijun saw everything.
"Although this item is good, if it is shipped thousands of miles away, it will inevitably be expensive. I'm afraid it is not affordable for ordinary people."
Zuo Mengeng praised the seafood, but Huang Shijun said that ordinary people could not afford such seafood.
"Hahaha, Mr. Yuyu has a sharp eye."
Zuo Mengeng was quite honest and wanted to start cooking other seafood.
"Does Mr. Yu Yu think ordinary people can afford this?"
Huang Shijun took a closer look and saw that it was a squid.
"This thing is quite ordinary."
What Zuo Mengeng said again frightened him.
"This year alone, the Xia Kingdom's catch of yuyu alone is three million jins. Mr. Yu Yu is wondering if it can make up for the lack of food."
Huang Shijun paused, and the food in his mouth lost its taste.
"Alas, my hometown is right by the sea. Even if the products are not as huge and diverse as the far north sea, if the sea can be opened up, it will not be good governance for the people."
Seeing his transformation, Zuo Mengeng was quite happy.
"It's more than that. Guangdong and Guangxi are adjacent to Annam and Champa, and even going to Batavia is closer. If the people are allowed to set foot on the ocean, what will the vast population and narrow land of Guangdong and Guangxi mean?"
As a Cantonese, Huang Shijun understands the problems in his hometown better than Zuo Mengeng.
"Will this be the case when the Xia Kingdom unites the world?"
This problem is beginning to hit the alley.
"The people of Guangdong and Guangxi are pleased with this policy?"
Huang Shijun sighed and did not answer.
There was no need for him to answer.
In fact, the people in Guangdong and Guangxi are the same as those in Fujian. Although the imperial court strictly prohibited the sea, there were still many people who could not survive taking risks.
If the Xia Kingdom ruled Guangdong and Guangxi and implemented the policy of opening up, the local people would not know how happy they would be.
Huang Shijun understood that based on this alone, the people of Guangdong and Guangxi might not be on the side of Ming Dynasty.
It's a pity that he has been a loyal minister of the Ming Dynasty all his life, but he can only watch the Ming Dynasty collapse little by little.
The feeling is beyond words.
Looking back on this resignation, it is a kind of relief.
"I don't rely on my muscles and bones for strength. I can't control the general trend of the world. I just want to return to my hometown and love the mountains and rivers. As long as my heart can be at peace, I will be content."
Zuo Mengeng did not persuade him to stay and must serve Xia Guo.
"No, no, no return to Shunde. Mr. Yu Yu puts aside his worldly affairs and travels leisurely in the mountains, which is really enviable."
Huang Shijun's eyes flashed with surprise, and he had no idea that Zuo Mengeng even knew the local slang in Shunde.
Just these kind words made an old man who had been in officialdom for many years burst into tears.
