Bright Spring

He talked enthusiastically: "During the Hongwu period, the imperial court repeatedly banned the sea, and this national policy has not been changed until now. However, after the Jianwen Dynasty, the imperial court's supervision of local officials was weakened; Trade without paying taxes.

Until the beginning of Yongle, the imperial navy sailed to the west, but the private people were not allowed to go to sea. At this time, those officials and merchants who privately traded in the sea were frightened, and the sea trade business was once depressed.The imperial court wanted to monopolize the benefits, but the imperial court had to build and maintain a large number of sea-going ships and navy, which cost a lot of money; eunuchs and officials didn't know much about business, so Yongle's first voyage to the West must have been a loss.

Now His Majesty allows the Shen family to participate and monopolize the sea trade business, the situation will change again. "

Yao Fang listened and pondered, and said at this time: "I'm afraid the matter is not that simple. Many officials in the court are from Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong. The big businessmen in these places will definitely find ways to entrust The fellow officials who are officials speak out in the court to make the court change the national policy."

Xu Caiqi clapped his hands and said: "Mr. Yao is very knowledgeable! But by then, we have opened up business routes and seized the opportunity. With strong strength, we are not afraid of other families to compete. Besides, the Shen family is now considered a relative of the emperor. Who said It’s not sure if you can talk.”

Mrs. Shen should have told him what Xu Caiqi said.

Yao Fang nodded in agreement, and he thought to himself: The Shen family is very happy with my defection, and probably because they value their relationship.

The merchants of this dynasty cling to the powerful and officials, and the collusion between officials and businessmen has intensified after several rich merchants such as Shen Wansan were punished in the early days of the country.Landlords and businessmen have learned to be smart and know that they need power to protect them; so some bribe|bribed officials, and some even set up their own academies to train clan children to take imperial examinations and occupy a place in the officialdom.

For Yao Fang, a member of the imperial family, to join him, the Shen family seemed to be wishing for it.The two sides hit it off instantly, and were immediately ready to "merge together|dirty".

Xu Caiqi said: "We have opened a new business gang called 'Western Shipping Factory', the name is Western, but it also includes North Korea | Japan, as well as domestic business.

As long as the imperial government and army control the northern part of Annan State, we can open the water transportation of the Yuanjiang River (called Dajiang in Annan, Red River), and transport gold, silver, copper, emeralds, rubies, etc. land.Although the distance is long, it is still cheaper than land transportation.

If Mr. Yao doesn't dislike it, how about being the second shopkeeper of the 'Western Shipping Factory'? "

Yao Fang was secretly taken aback. He had just arrived, and the Shen family immediately asked him to be the second shopkeeper?But when he thought of his family status and relationship, he immediately understood his own value.

Because Yao Fang didn't answer right away, Xu Caiqi was still a little worried, and carefully persuaded: "I will be the big shopkeeper, and Mr. Yao will be the second shopkeeper. But don't worry, the benefits will definitely be indispensable."

Yao Fang immediately cupped her fists and said, "Shopkeeper Xu is so kind, I'd rather be obedient than respectful."

"Haha..." Xu Caiqi laughed out loud.Yao Fang also laughed along, the two of them looked like they hated seeing each other late.

Chapter 7: A Tranquil Battlefield

In the late spring of March, Zhu Gaoxu didn't feel any sad atmosphere of spring and autumn, because the weather became warmer and warmer after it became clearer.However, this calm season cannot allow him to use the scene to express his feelings and express his inner turmoil.

In the early morning, among the gorgeous palaces, moist mist shrouded the vegetation and corridors in the courtyard, birds were singing from nowhere, and the fragrance of flowers could be faintly heard in the air.

Zhu Gaoxu walked through the inclined corridor and came to Dongnuange which is the closest to his living place.

Someone inside had already started a day's work, the eunuch who was in charge of rituals brought in the memorial, and the maid was adding charcoal and spices to the censer, and the smell was still geranium.Because once, Zhu Gaoxu praised that the smell of spices is very unique.

After a while, Miao Jin also came in. She took a booklet, opened one of the pages, and asked Zhu Gaoxu to read it.It records the big and small things to be done this month, and the most important ones are written in blue and enlarged fonts.

Zhu Gaoxu did help Miaojin by letting Miaojin watch government affairs; she likes to write things down to make life more organized.But this is not Zhu Gaoxu's habit, he seldom takes notes, and usually just keeps them in his mind.

The most important thing to do in March is that Zhu Gaoxu will personally preside over the palace examination.There are two imperial examinations at the central level in the spring of the same year. The first time is called the general examination, and the second is called the imperial examination.The 300 people on the list in the general examination are called Gongshi, and they are actually equivalent to the level of Jinshi; because no one will fail the ranking in the next palace examination and be promoted to Jinshi, the palace examination is just a ranking.No. [-] in the list of No. [-] picks, or something, is the result of the palace examination.

The palace examination is different from the later college entrance examination, because those who pass the examination will directly become the rulers of the Ming Dynasty.And there are restrictions on the origins of the north and the south, probably four in the north and six in the south.Because once in the Hongwu period, all the candidates admitted by the chief examiner of the general examination were from the south; the Taizu heard that the northerners were petitioning to cause trouble, and in a rage he arrested the chief examiner, and held another round to admit all the northerners.Later, the court compromised and gradually formed the current system.

Secondly, there is another thing that must be done, which is to formally confer concubine Zhuang and concubine Zhuang.

However, Zhu Gaoxu didn't pay much attention to these necessary matters.It's just a step-by-step process, done in accordance with past experience and rules.What he is most concerned about is the national policy of expanding to the ocean that has been planning recently.

So Zhu Gaoxu neither read the memorial nor summoned the ministers. He sat on a chair and became dazed early in the morning.

After an unknown amount of time, Miao Jin's voice disturbed Zhu Gaoxu: "What's your trouble, Your Majesty?"

When he heard the sound and raised his head, he saw Miaojin standing beside him, watching him, but the eunuchs and maids in the Nuan Pavilion had disappeared.

Or because Miao Jin is slightly older than Zhu Gaoxu, and she often has the mentality of thinking of herself as an elder, her eyes make Zhu Gaoxu feel something maternal.He was shaken for a moment, and then blurted out: "Sometimes I feel hesitation and fear."

Miao Jin was silent for a while after hearing this, and said: "The Holy Majesty is not like this now. During the 'Battle of Sin', before every big battle, when did the Holy Majesty live peacefully? I couldn't sleep at that time, but now it is much better than before. Come on? Is it because the outcome of the matter cannot be determined, and the Holy One is worried about victory or defeat?"

When Zhu Gaoxu thought about it, it seemed that this was really the case, and he immediately felt a sense of confidant.He couldn't help but said: "National politics is a battlefield, but war is the most intense expression of contradictions."

Miao Jin's gaze softened a little, and she asked softly, "What is Your Majesty worried about?"

Zhu Gaoxu said: "What am I worried about? Occasionally, I also feel that it's just my own fault.

Look at this imperial court, which has perfected the imperial examination system for hundreds of years and selected officials from all over the country; then these officials follow the standards of Confucianism and morality, have mature administrative institutions and systems, and manage the country in a fairly orderly manner.Even in the turbulent years of the civil war, the stable ruling system was still not destroyed.

In this imperial palace, tens of thousands of people serve food and daily life, and Honglu Temple and other yamen are purchasing food materials, and the best specialties from all over the world are brought up as tributes.Sometimes I feel that even if I enjoy myself all day long, there will be no big problems.Then what am I fussing about? "

Miao Jin pondered and said: "Maybe the ministers are not willing to 'toss' the Holy One. If you only care about enjoying yourself, they will be more satisfied."

Zhu Gaoxu agreed: "Miao Jin is worthy of being born in a family of officials."

He went on to say: "The expansion and commercialization of maritime trade, there are various unknown risks. It is very likely to impact the current situation, aggravate the unevenness of the number, the impetuousness of the people, and the chaos of the world. What worries me most is , When the situation is out of control, it will endanger the rule... For example, the existing Baojia system restricts most people to the land, which makes the country's foundation very stable; but with the rise of industry and commerce, I am afraid that the population will flow faster.

At that time, the imperial court will not be able to rely on those profitable forces.As long as we think about it carefully, we can understand that all forces only care about their own interests|interests, no one is willing to spit out fat, this is just human nature..."

Zhu Gaoxu also wanted to talk about the historical|historical|historical situation at the end of the Ming Dynasty, but it must be weird to say so, so he gave up.

He used to get information from the TV network that there was a kind of big bureaucrat | big landlord and big capitalist monster among the gentry in the late Ming Dynasty, which concentrated | power, capital, land and other resources in one body.As a result, in the Ming Dynasty, industry and commerce prospered in some places, and some people accumulated a large amount of silver shipped from America and Japan, arrogance and luxury;Those gentry who have benefited are not willing to take their due responsibilities, they only care about their own interests.

Therefore, in the early stage of the capitalist transformation of the Ming Dynasty, the entire Ming Dynasty collapsed in all aspects of civilization, morality, finance, and rule; Doom for centuries.

Moreover, Zhu Gaoxu did not have systematic knowledge of economics, including the ministers who were loyal to him, nor did he have that kind of insight.The new changes filled him with uncertainty.

Therefore, people are always afraid of the unknown.

After he thought about it for a while, Miao Jin finally asked suspiciously: "If that's the case, why did Your Majesty do those things?"

Zhu Gaoxu said: "Because I feel that the voyage to the West may be China's last chance at this time. This is the only opportunity for us to continue to maintain our leading position."

Miao Jin's expression was even more confused: "There are small barbarian countries in all directions, and the Mongol Tatars are in a state of collapse. Why did the Holy One say that?"

Her doubts are quite normal.If Zhu Gaoxu didn't know the future, no matter what, he wouldn't be able to foresee things so far away. I'm afraid no one would have thought of it.

"Competition and danger come from the 'far west'." Zhu Gaoxu said seriously, "They are developing a more competitive civilization. With our current system, we will undoubtedly face asymmetrical blows."

Miao Jin frowned, shaking her head, speechless.

Zhu Gaoxu tried his best to explain: "In the far west, there was a period when the foundation of philosophy was formed, just like the era of Chinese philosophers and hundreds of schools, which established the tradition of the entire civilization.

We have formed a civilization that tends to sum up experience; medicine, feng shui, and governance are all improved in a large amount of historical practical experience.The West, however, tends to a philosophy of 'abstract model', which is not very practical at the beginning and tends to cause unwarranted contradictions.

But after a large number of technological inventions have been contributed by various parts of the world, such as our printing, paper, compass, gun|powder, etc.; More than a summary of experience, it can be called 'science'.Everything seems to be a predetermined process.

Perhaps in the farther future, the Western method will bring retribution to all human beings.But for at least two or three hundred years, something like that will undoubtedly be more powerful. "

Miao Jin was silent for a while, and softly persuaded: "The sage returned from the northern expedition, and he is still busy with various things every day, often meditating. My concubine asks the sage not to think too much. It doesn't matter if you rest for a while, and the people can do it too. Rest and rest."

After hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu sighed secretly, and pretended to be relaxed and joked: "If Xie Jin heard what Miao Jin said just now, he would definitely not accuse you of meddling in politics."

Miao Jin also showed a smile: "The concubine thinks that some of the words of the sage are quite reasonable. People just say what is beneficial, and it seems to be true."

Zhu Gaoxu said: "Truth is often in the hands of a few people."