What is paradoxical is that a truly prosperous age cannot be separated from businessmen, and the power of businessmen can easily affect political decisions.
Behind the Donglin Party in the late Ming Dynasty was the Jiangnan Consortium, a large number of landlord interest groups. Out of consideration for the interests of businessmen, they asked the court to cut commercial taxes, resulting in the government's fiscal revenue coming only from farmers. In the face of natural and man-made disasters, farmers could not pay taxes at all, and refugees with their families spread everywhere, causing tornadoes and destroying the fate of the Ming Dynasty!
From this perspective, the Donglin Party was responsible for the collapse of the Ming Dynasty.
What Zhu Yunwen has to do now is to set the tone, that is, to allow businessmen to become a force, but not to let them influence the court and become a powerful party, like a fierce horse that is not allowed to run away.
Farmers are the cornerstone of a prosperous era, and businessmen are an important force in a prosperous economy.
Although the farmer base is large, farmers are generally poor. This reality determines that agricultural taxes cannot be raised too high, lest people lose their families and shake the foundation.
Although the merchant base is small, merchants are generally wealthy. This reality determines that business taxes cannot be too low, lest businessmen collectively become larger and form a consortium that threatens the court.
Out of this consideration, Zhu Yunwen decided to give businessmen a certain status and let their voices be heard in the court. In this way, he told the businessmen that the court recognized and respected them and that they were no longer humble and inferior.
Of course, this kind of benefit is not given in vain. The floating tax rate strategy has matured and is only waiting for an opportunity to launch it. Zhu Yunwen believes that the opportunity is not far away, so before cutting off the businessmen, they need to give them a sweetener.
Of course, businessmen's suggestions for the Grand Canal must also be considered. Zhu Yunwen wants the Grand Canal to operate in the long term and "make money" through this river. After all, the Grand Canal needs repair and maintenance, and the Yellow River also needs to be managed. If there is no profit at all, , relying solely on the Ministry of Household Affairs' annual investment, Xia Yuanji will submit his resignation sooner or later.
A horse galloped over, stopped thirty steps away from Zhu Yunwen and others, handed Liu Changge a document, and then rode away.
Liu Changge handed the document to Zhu Yunwen. After reading it, Zhu Yunwen said to Xia Yuanji and others: "The King of Yan, Wei Guogong, and Dai Shangshu have arrived in Jining."
With smiles on their lips, Xia Yuanji and others split into four groups. Calculating the time, it was time to arrive at Jining City.
"Summon King Hami's envoy tomorrow."
Zhu Yunwen gave instructions, and then led people to patrol along Mata Lake. He would occasionally stop to chat with craftsmen and migrant workers, and listen to the difficulties of the people.
The next day.
Zhu Yunwen publicly met with Saiji and others, the envoys of King Anke Timur of Hami, in the government office of Jining.
Sai Ji led the people into the palace, with an unhappy look on his face, and took the lead to attack: "Is the Ming Dynasty monarch so rude? I have come all the way here, but I am not allowed to enter the capital, and arrange to meet in this desolate place, so humiliating the envoys , isn’t your country afraid of making King Hami dissatisfied?”
Before Zhu Yunzhen could say anything, Zhu Di became unhappy and walked out: "The emperor of tomorrow personally came to Jining to meet with the envoy. He has already given you enough face. To be so aggressive and disrespectful is how a subordinate should behave. Really? If an envoy of yours makes a quarrel because of his rude remarks, can you bear the responsibility?"
Saiji felt a strong pressure and couldn't help but panic.
Zhu Di's words were not unreasonable. Now that Hami could not offend the Ming Dynasty, he was angry just because he could not go to the prosperous Jinling and was arranged in this backward place. Not to mention that he had not seen the real master for a long time, so he was inevitably a little angry.
Zhu Yunwen raised his hand, motioning Zhu Di to step aside, and looked at Saiji calmly: "The purpose of your coming to Ming Dynasty is to see me, not to go to Jinling. If you go to Jinling and I don't return to Beijing for a few months, that's The real neglect, arranging for the envoy to go to Jining to meet, is that I value the envoy from Hami. If the envoy thinks that this place is not as prosperous as the capital, he may as well go to the capital after completing the tasks assigned by Anke Timur. "
Saiji felt much better after hearing this, and quickly expressed his position: "We also made a mistake for a moment, so please don't blame me, the Emperor."
Even if someone gives you face, you still need to carry it around, otherwise you won't be able to complete the task and you will be stuck in your head after you go back.
Saiji took out the documents of King Ankh Timur of Hami and handed it over.
Zhu Yunwen smiled lightly and looked down. There were many words, but the content was very simple. He could sum it up in one sentence:
I call you big brother, and you have to protect me from now on.
This is a letter of invitation. Anke Timur wanted to learn from Mahamu and others, get canonized by the Ming Dynasty, make good friends with the Ming Dynasty, and hoped to set up a horse market to trade with Song Sheng in exchange for salt, iron, tea and other supplies.
Zhu Yunwen read the document back and forth twice. He always felt a little strange, but he couldn't explain why. He had to raise his head and said to the envoy: "Anke Timur wants to ask for a title. He belongs to the Ming Dynasty and has opened up mutual trade. I have no idea about this." If there are no major objections, we will arrange for the cabinet and officials from the Ministry of Rites to come up with a strategy and implement it as soon as possible."
"After hearing this, King Hami will definitely sing and dance to celebrate this exciting news."
Saiji didn't expect Daming to be so decisive and immediately laughed.
Zhu Yunwen smiled and nodded: "You come from Hami, and you must know more news than the Ming Dynasty. I must have heard about Timur's great victory in the Ottoman Empire in the Western Expedition and the capture of Bayezid alive. Ankh Timur can Any ideas?"
Saiji's heart sank. Zhu Yunwen finally asked this question and had to say: "Timur has won a great victory in the Western Expedition and looted countless things. He should have returned to Samarkand by now. King Hami was very worried and even heard that Timur I want to send envoys to the Ming Dynasty, hoping to remind the emperor of heaven that Timur intends to conquer the east, and must not be soft on his envoys!"
Zhu Yunwen raised his eyebrows, Timur is going to send envoys? I'm afraid this is not an envoy, but a spy? Find a water source, find a garrison, get a glimpse of the city defense, understand the strength of the troops, and provide complete intelligence for subsequent operations. These are all side tasks of Timur's envoy, right?
Anke Timur also had no good intentions. He didn't mention this matter in the document. If he hadn't asked about it himself, the envoys probably wouldn't have mentioned it. This group of people probably wanted to watch the war between Timur and the Ming Dynasty.
It’s just that Anke Timur is stupid. If Timur is coming, if he doesn’t capture Hami, how can he attack the northwest of the Ming Dynasty? With Timur’s wisdom, he will never offend the Ming Dynasty, Oara and Tatar.
Zhu Yunwen tapped his fingers on the chair twice and looked at Xu Huizu.
Xu Huizu understood, took out a map, unfolded it in front of Saiji, and then said: "Anke Timur reminds our emperor, and our emperor also wants the envoy to remind Anke Timur. You guys have a look."
"Well?"
Saiji and others were a little surprised and turned to look at the map.
Xu Huizu explained: "It is not a secret that Timur has the intention to march eastward. I have heard about it early in the morning. However, if Timur wants to march eastward, he must pass through Yilipali and then enter the Hami area. Only then can he attack The Ming Dynasty launched an attack at the northwest city gate. Anke Timur defended Hami, shouldn't we be more nervous?"
Sergey looked a little pale.
What this minister of the Ming Dynasty said is right. Timur's Eastern Expedition must attack Yilibaoli, which is also called the Eastern Chagatai Khanate. Timur has always wanted to conquer this place to prove that he is the Mongolian Zhengtong is the most outstanding one among Temujin's descendants.
For a long time, Timur exerted pressure and tried to make the local rulers black, opening up the channel for the Eastern Expedition. But God is not as good as God, and Hei Erhuo was killed. His successor Shamichagan was an ambitious young man who wanted to regain the territory occupied by Timur. Naturally, he would not continue to fight for it. Timur prepared food for the Eastern Campaign.
I heard that Shamichagan was working hard and organizing troops to prepare for the northern and western expeditions. The northern expedition was to fight against Oara, and the western expedition was to fight against Timur.
More than once, Saiji heard King Anke Timur of Hami greet Shami Chagan's family. The more unruly and unruly this guy was, and the more he provoked Timur's cripple, the more likely Timur would advance his eastern expedition and Shami Chagan would die. It doesn't matter, but without Yili as a barrier, who will ensure the safety of the Hami area?
You must know that what Timur is best at is war and massacre. If he didn't run out and was massacred...
Saiji knew the worries of King Anke Timur of Hami, and he also knew that he had to hold on to the Ming Dynasty at this time. Once Timur came, he could ask for political asylum and run to Jiayuguan to seek survival.
"King Hami is indeed worried about this, but he is a little helpless."
Sergey said something extremely helpless.
Xu Huizu stepped aside, and Zhu Yunwen said seriously: "Anke Timur is willing to surrender to the Ming Dynasty and become a minister of the Ming Dynasty. Then the Ming Dynasty has the responsibility to protect him. Go back and tell Anke Timur. In order to guard against Timur, Ming Dynasty, We will fully support Yilibaili and hope that Anke Timur can open the passage and protect Ming military resources from entering Yilibaili. If Anke Timur is willing, he can also cooperate with Ming Dynasty and Yilibaili to fight against Tiemur Mu'er."
"this……"
Sergey was a little surprised and a little nervous.
If the Ming Dynasty wants to support Yilibaili, it will inevitably take advantage of Hami. This means that the Ming Dynasty will extend its military power from the Jiayuguan area to Hami, and even extend to Yilibaili!
You must know that the transportation of military supplies must be escorted by the army, not migrant workers. Who knows if this group of people will put on cloaks in the blink of an eye, transform into an army, and attack King Hami unexpectedly.
"With the Ming Dynasty's national power, do we still need to join forces with Yili?"
Sergey hesitated and asked.
Zhu Yunwen laughed loudly, stood up and said coldly: "If the Ming Dynasty wants to destroy Timur, there is no need to join forces with anyone. But you also know that I love the people like a son and the soldiers like a son. As long as I can stop Timur for one more day, I will If Timur loses one more soldier, the Ming Dynasty may lose one less soldier! My move is just to weaken Timur to the maximum extent and reduce the losses of the Ming army!"
Saiji nodded repeatedly. After all, he was facing Timur who had fought countless battles. It was understandable that Ming should be more cautious and ask for a helper. But, what if Daming has other thoughts?
It’s hard to find good people these days...
