I heard Zhang Mingwei say to Emperor Chongzhen: "First, it is the blood letter of the King of Ryukyu. This is full of humiliation. If your Majesty responds in time, it will be known to other vassal states or friendly countries of the Ming Dynasty that the Ming Dynasty will not ignore them now." , which will help more overseas vassal states return to the Ming Dynasty!"
Emperor Chongzhen nodded after hearing this, but did not speak and continued to listen to Zhang Mingwei's words.
"Secondly, the background of this bloody letter is that the Ming Dynasty merchants were robbed in Ryukyu. His Majesty has just proved that he will make decisions for overseas Ming people, so our local Ming people were bullied when they went to do business outside, and Your Majesty responded immediately , it will give more people who are interested in sea trade confidence. In this way, more sea taxes can be collected!"
When Zhang Mingwei said this, he added with a smile: "This matter is actually related to the sea tax. Moreover, attacking the Japanese and taking the Japanese prisoners to North Korea for mining is a good thing, isn't it!"
Emperor Chongzhen nodded repeatedly after hearing this. According to what his husband said, making the decision for the King of Ryukyu is really not something that can be delayed!
"Also, taking this opportunity, the imperial court should publicize more and settle old scores with the Japanese, such as the Japanese rebellion in the south of the Yangtze River during the Jiajing period, and the Japanese invasion of North Korea and preparations to capture the Ming Dynasty during the Wanli period. Let the people's hatred for the Japanese be resolved It was re-energized and made everyone in the Ming Dynasty think that the imperial court should send troops to teach the Japanese a lesson!"
"Sir, that's right!" Emperor Chongzhen's expression became a little serious after hearing this, and he said coldly, "These Japanese are the most abominable people. We must teach them a lesson and destroy the Japanese country!"
Now that Ming Dynasty is stronger and more confident, his demands are higher. Otherwise, the goal of destroying the Japanese country would definitely not be mentioned.
"Yes, I have always wanted to kill the Japanese!" After hearing this, Prince Zhu Cihong also echoed, "Didn't he later send troops to occupy North Korea, Liaodong and even most of China! For the Japanese, just beat them to death!"
He has watched documentaries. China's modern history has the greatest relationship with the Japanese, so of course they do. Therefore, he said this.
Fang Zhenghua, who was waiting on the side, was confused. It was true that the Japanese sent troops to occupy North Korea, but when did they occupy Liaodong and most of China? Why is the prince talking nonsense in front of the emperor?
But who would have expected that after Emperor Chongzhen heard Zhu Cixiang's words, his expression became even more determined, he nodded and said in a decisive tone: "It is true that the desire to destroy myself has never died. I think that there is no need for such a foreign country to exist! "
"..." Fang Zhenghua was completely confused when he heard this. Could it be that he remembered it wrong?
However, this is impossible!
When Zhang Mingwei heard the father and son mentioning things about future generations, he couldn't help but glance at Fang Zhenghua. Seeing that he was confused, he naturally didn't know how to explain, so he changed the subject and said: "But if we, the Ming Dynasty, want to make decisions for the King of Ryukyu and teach the Japanese a lesson, we must It takes a strong navy. But now, the main strength of our navy is in Luzon!"
"Isn't it enough to transfer him back?" Upon hearing this, Zhu Cixi reminded him as a matter of course.
After hearing this, Emperor Chongzhen nodded and said: "Luzon has been conquered, and the King of Zhou will be a vassal. With the army there, it will be fine."
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Mingwei rejected him and said directly: "No, the Fujian navy in Luzon cannot be transferred back. We must continue to guard Luzon. First, we must ensure the safety of the sea route from Ming Dynasty to Luzon. Second, Deter the Dutch in Southeast Asia, especially Batavia. Third, and most importantly, to collect sea tax, we cannot just rely on the Fujian Navy!"
As soon as he heard about the sea tax, Emperor Chongzhen immediately changed his mind and said immediately: "Sir, what you said makes sense!"
Regarding a matter involving tens of millions in customs duties, he had no burden at all when he changed his mind.
"After the public opinion that the King of Ryukyu wants to punish the Japanese comes out, the court can emphasize the lack of naval forces to make the Ming Dynasty aware of the importance of the navy and carry out reforms." Zhang Mingwei said with a serious expression, "Your Majesty just didn't Is the Army also talking about it? Then take this opportunity to change the Navy to the Navy and improve its status. And expand the Denglai Navy, and the North Korean Navy will be renamed the Denglai Navy and the North Korean Navy."
After hearing this, Emperor Chongzhen couldn't help but want to complain: You were obviously the first to say the word "army", so I quoted it!
However, he also admitted that what Zhang Mingwei said made sense. Today is different from the past. The vassal kings compete overseas with the Western barbarians for global hegemony, and they all rely on the navy. It is indeed necessary to expand the naval force and convert the navy into a navy.
The Ming Dynasty did not care about the sea in the past, but now it must control it. Naturally, the emphasis on maritime forces is unprecedented.
Thinking of this, Emperor Chongzhen nodded and said, "Sir, what you said makes sense, what next?"
He knew very well that Zhang Mingwei definitely had a coherent measure, linking one link after another.
Sure enough, I heard Zhang Mingwei continue to say: "Changing the navy into the navy and improving the status of the sailors will definitely be welcomed by the sailors and make them return to the court and convince your majesty. In this way, when the sea tax is moved, they can Reduce surprises.”
After a pause, he continued: "In addition, the strength of the navy, that is, the strength of the navy, is related to the foreign trade of maritime merchants, and is also indirectly related to the prosperity of other people in the Ming Dynasty. Therefore, the imperial court's collection of sea tax, It can also reduce people’s resistance to this matter.”
Hearing this, Zhu Cixiang was a little curious and asked: "Sir, how does the strength of the navy have anything to do with other people?"
When Zhang Mingwei heard this, he turned to look at him and said with a smile: "The goods sold by Haimao are not produced by other people. Will the slow-selling and best-selling things they produce have a great impact on them?" ? For example, if raw silk is produced, in addition to maritime merchants, will those who raise silkworms also benefit? Will those who plant mulberry trees benefit? Will those who transport them benefit..."
Zhu Cixiang didn't expect that just sea trade could be related to the livelihood of so many people, and he was a little stunned.
Zhang Mingwei cited many examples at once, and finally concluded with a smile: "Economy is actually a science, and one move affects the whole body. Sea trade is one point. If this point is done well, the entire economy of the Ming Dynasty can be revitalized. Thus achieving a virtuous cycle. Therefore, sea trade is very important, which is why we need to build a strong navy to support it!"
Emperor Chongzhen usually talked a lot with Zhang Mingwei. He had some concepts like this and he naturally understood them better than Zhu Cixiang. But at this time Zhang Mingwei expanded these contents and said that he was also enlightened and understood a lot at once. He nodded repeatedly and said: "I am very lucky to have a husband. Otherwise, I would be a frog in the well and cannot understand these things."
He was sure that no one else in the world would have such knowledge as Mr. This kind of knowledge is actually very necessary for the emperor and even senior officials of the court to master.
If the emperor and senior officials of the court understood these principles, they would often worry about having no money, and would only focus on the land tax. There would be no other way except to increase taxes, increase taxes, and increase taxes for the people who live off the land. When the situation is bad and they are forced to survive, they are all forced to rebel!
Hearing Emperor Chongzhen's praise, Zhang Mingwei said modestly: "I am just standing on the shoulders of giants. It is the predecessors who have summed up the experience and I have learned from it. Now I hope to use all my knowledge to transform the Ming Dynasty. Let the Ming Dynasty become stronger, make the country richer and the people stronger, make the people happier, and be proud of being a Ming Dynasty!"
Emperor Chongzhen and Zhu Cixi both understood what he said, because they knew that Zhang Mingwei came from later generations.
However, Fang Zhenghua was confused again. On the shoulders of what giant? Previously, the emperor said that Duke Xingguo regarded heaven and earth as his parents, and now it was involved that the giants were all slaves under his feet. Faintly, he felt that Duke Xingguo had a very powerful background and would subvert his cognition!
In the matter of sea trade, under Zhang Mingwei's suggestion, we took advantage of the opportunity of the Ryukyu King's blood letter to prepare to officially start reform. The first one to bear the brunt is naturally the Shipping Department.
In today's Ming Dynasty, there is one person in charge of the Ministry of Shipping, starting from the fifth rank, two deputy officials, starting from the sixth rank, and one subordinate official, starting from the ninth rank. And this promotion may be a special appointment, or it may be held by both the inspector and the salt class promotion department.
In addition, the Municipal Shipping Department is subordinate to the Chief Secretary, so the power of taxation is completely in the hands of the Chief Secretary and other officials. It was not until the end of the Ming Dynasty that a fixed-amount tax package system was adopted, with Yahang acting as agent, and then Tiju, that is, eunuchs sent from the palace were responsible for nominal collection.
For future sea tax collection, this kind of organization will definitely not work.
At the suggestion of Zhang Mingwei, Emperor Chongzhen planned to improve the status of the Municipal Shipping Department. On top of the promotion of the Municipal Shipping Department, he would set up the post of Director of the Municipal Shipping Department, which would be held by Eunuch Bingbi, the Supervisor of Ceremonies. The deputy director-general is considered to be restrained and is held by one of the ministers of the household department, and is under the joint jurisdiction of the ceremonial supervisor and the household department. At the same time, the corresponding levels of the promotion and deputy promotion of the municipal shipping departments in various places have also been increased accordingly, which is from the third grade to the fourth grade.
In addition, the Metropolitan Procuratorate should also set up a special supervisory censor in the Municipal Shipping Department to prevent favoritism and malpractice. Of course, this is the bright side. Secretly, there are also occasional secret inspections by factory guards to ensure that the entire city's shipping department does not accept bribes and line their own pockets with taxes from the treasury. Among them, Jinyiwei is responsible for secretly investigating the navy and land anti-smuggling teams, and Dongchang is responsible for secretly investigating the civil service system of the Municipal Shipping Department.
Needless to say, after the entire municipal shipping department is reformed, it will no longer be possible for Yaxing to be a tax agency.
This matter has been discussed for a whole day before we have a general framework, and then some specific details. After the whole thing is launched, we will naturally discuss it with the cabinet and the six ministries and nine ministers.
Wei Zaode, the governor of North Korea who took office a year later, knew nothing about it and regarded the blood letter as a rare commodity.
