[Ming] Wuzong's Chronicle of Rebirth

"Zhao'er, you mentioned the idea of ​​reopening the commercial routes in the Western Regions of the Tang Dynasty the day before yesterday. Do you have any detailed ideas?" Zhu Houzhao once mentioned the idea of ​​reopening the Silk Road to Zhu Youtang, but Zhu Youtang vetoed it. he.The ancient countries on the Silk Road are no longer suitable for human habitation due to the arrival of the Little Ice Age, and Turkey stole China's textile technology as early as the Song Dynasty, and the charm of silk has been greatly weakened.

Zhu Houzhao also became anxious because of this incident. With the arrival of the Little Ice Age, the temperature dropped and crop production decreased. In this society dominated by agriculture, no Ming emperor can restore the failure of the Ming Dynasty.Now he can only pray that he will grow up quickly, and that he can use his modern knowledge to help this gradually weakened country get out of the gloom, and no longer be enslaved by the Tartars and suffer from the war.

"I went back and asked Master Liu for advice. Although the commercial roads in the Tang Dynasty could not be reopened, it is still possible to reopen the mutual market in the northwest." Failures again and again told Zhu Houzhao that the real history does not survive in textbooks.Even if he has modern knowledge, it is only on paper.When he really wants to do something, he should combine the knowledge at that time to do things.

"Tell me carefully." Zhu Youtang was used to discussing important national affairs with Zhu Houzhao.Although this child often takes it for granted to do some naive things, but some ideas do make people suddenly enlightened.

"In the previous mutual market and Tonggong, the old calendar of our ancestors paid more attention to Tonggong. But Tonggong cost a lot of money, and the wildness of the northwestern tribes was not open, so they often disturbed the people along the road on the Tonggong road. I think we are completely wrong. Direction." The Ming Dynasty actually attached great importance to the ancestral system, but under Zhu Houzhao's constant hints, Zhu Youtang no longer paid much attention to this matter. "The Tonggong court paid a lot and rewarded all kinds of finances, but it was only a temporary comfort to the northwest. But their wolfish ambitions still exist."

"I think that to solve the problem in the Northwest, the most important thing to solve is the problem of the people at the bottom of the tribes in the Northwest. As long as the people in the Northwest want what they want, why don't you worry about eradicating those old people from the Yuan Dynasty who caused chaos in the Northwest." Pay more attention to the power of the people at the bottom, especially in the Ming Dynasty when the destructive thermal weapons had not yet been used on a large scale.

"Your statement is quite novel." Seeing that his thoughts had finally matured, Zhu Youtang said happily.

"The one who wins the hearts of the people wins the world. Now that Hami has been taken back, it is better to open a mutual market in Hami, spread more advanced planting technology to the northwest, and sell grain to Hami in exchange for horses. As long as the people in the northwest know the benefits of peace, they can have a stable life. Environment, naturally will not follow those people with ulterior motives to provoke war."

"In the end, you're just talking in general terms." Seeing his excited expression, Zhu Youtang couldn't help hitting Zhu Houzhao badly.

"I'm just a kid, so it's good to be able to do this." Zhu Hou looked after Zhu Youtang with a smile on his face, knowing that he was bullying him sincerely, and pretended to be wronged: "Daddy knows how to hit people .” After finishing speaking, she put on a face and covered her face with her sleeve and cried twice.

Zhu Youtang hurriedly went to coax him, but Zhu Houzhao took off his sleeves and stuck out his tongue at him, saying, "Tell Daddy to bully me."

Zhu Youtang smiled awkwardly. Seeing Liu Dong sitting there well-behaved, he taught Zhu Houzhao a lesson: "You see, Liu Dong is several months younger than you, but much more stable than you."

Liu Dong was suddenly praised by Zhu Youtang, and he murmured in embarrassment: "Liu Dong is naturally not as good as the prince's brother."

Zhu Houzhao pursed his lips and said indignantly: "Liu Dong has Liu Dong's goodness, he is the best in the world. But I also have my own goodness. I don't know how to appreciate it."

Liu Dong was even more embarrassed when he heard it, his face turned red to the base of his ears, and he whispered in a voice like a mosquito: "I don't have...the number one in the world...Brother Prince, don't talk nonsense."

Zhu Hou took care of Liu Dong as a young daughter-in-law, patted him on the shoulder to comfort him and said, "Look at this appearance, look at this character, how can you not be the best in the world?"

Seeing that Zhu Houzhao made Liu Dong almost turn into a cooked shrimp, Zhu Youtang also laughed and said, "Your father dares to be the number one in the world with his determination. If you study hard, you might not be able to be the number one in the world worthy of the name in the future."

Liu Dong murmured yes.Zhu Youtang said to Zhu Houzhao again: "A person's character and knowledge are the most important, and his appearance is the last. Why do you make fun of others with this?" Zhu Houzhao also nodded to admit his mistake.

Zhu Youtang checked the homework of the two of them again, and seeing that both of them knew everything by heart, he left the Wenhua Palace and went to the Yangxin Palace to deal with political affairs.On the way, I saw Zhu Houzhao’s snowmen made by others, and the more I looked at it, the more cute I felt, so I ordered Jiang Cong to ask everyone in the palace to make some snowmen in Kunning Palace as usual, to make fun of Mrs. Zhang who was unable to go out.

On the way, Zhu Youtang had already prepared a draft in his heart, and was going to talk to Ma Wensheng about the re-opening of the mutual market in Hami.

From a long distance, Zhu Youtang saw Ma Wensheng kneeling outside the hall.Seeing Zhu Youtang approaching, Ma Wensheng turned around and pleaded guilty to him: "This humble minister is not good at things, please punish him by the emperor."

Zhu Youtang helped him up and said with a smile: "Ma Aiqing only has great achievements, so why do you say that it is not good for you to do things." Seeing that Ma Wensheng was wearing thin clothes and his lips were already blue from the cold, he told Jiang Cong: "Old man Jiang, pour Ma Aiqing a cup of ginger tea. .”

Ma Wensheng hurriedly stopped him and said, "Eunuch Jiang is the emperor's servant, so he can't do it, he can't do it."

Zhu Youtang said with a smile: "You are the pillar of my Daming, how can you not stand his cup of tea?"

Jiang Cong hurriedly bowed and said: "The villain is just serving the emperor. He is no better than Mr. Ma. Of course, the villain is willing to serve Mr. Ma." After finishing speaking, he hurriedly went to make ginger tea.

Zhu Youtang hurriedly said, "It's cold here. Let's talk inside." Ma Wensheng followed Zhu Youtang inside.

Unlike the freezing weather outside, the Xinuang Pavilion of the Hall of Mental Cultivation is as warm as spring.Zhu Youtang was supposed to be working in the Qianqing Palace, but Mrs. Zhang saw that the weather was getting colder this year, so she asked someone to tidy up the West Nuan Pavilion of the Hall of Mental Cultivation to make Zhu Youtang's cold body feel better.

"Although Shanba escaped, since he is not here, it is also suitable for the deployment of the next plan." Zhu Youtang sat on the special warm chair, feeling more comfortable.

"I don't know what's the holy plan?" Ma Wensheng saw that he had made a mistake, and Zhu Youtang still had such an attitude, so he naturally understood that Zhu Youtang still had to rely on him.

"I don't know what Ma Aiqing thinks about the re-opening of the mutual market?" In fact, it is not only Zhu Houzhao who knows that open trade and exchanges are of great benefit.Naturally, Zhu Youtang also knew it, but it was because of the Shanba and Turpan people in the past.Now that Shanba is not here and the Turpan people have been defeated, this matter can naturally be put on the agenda.

"In the sixth year of Hongzhi, the imperial court closed Jiayuguan because Aheima led an army to attack Hami at night and killed Amulang. Now that Aheima has fled, it is not impossible to reopen Jiayuguan." Ma Wensheng actually has the idea of ​​reopening the mutual market.This time, the army of the Ming Dynasty broke through Hami in just one night. Although Shaanxi and Pakistan were not rescued, all the tribes in the Northwest were shocked, and the re-opening of the mutual market would not bring disaster.

"According to the military newspaper, most of the city that was taken back this time is also an empty city. It's a pity to abandon this city. Why don't we transform it into an exchange market. I heard that Xu Jin is not only good at leading troops, but also economically. Isn’t it?” Zhu Youtang naturally wanted to find a reliable person if he wanted to reopen the exchange market.It is not good for talented people to be assigned to Hami for no reason, and no one wants to open a mutual market where it is hard to say whether they will succeed or not.Xu Jin just happened to have just fought a losing battle, and it was just right for him to be sent to Hami to open the exchange market.

Ma Wensheng knew that this was a good opportunity for Xu Jin to commit crimes and make meritorious service. As long as the mutual market is successful, there is no worry about the future. He replied: "Yes. Xu Jin is a civil servant who entered the martial arts, and he is also very good at local governance."

"That's how it is. You go down and write a report on the re-opening of the exchange market in Hami, and submit it in two days." Zhu Youtang thought for a while and then said, "The money for opening the exchange market may not be paid by the treasury. I heard that it will be closed. After Jiayuguan, merchants in the Northwest complained that they were cut off from their sources of income, and now they can also benefit from the re-opening of the mutual market, so let them raise money for the opening of the mutual market.”

After hearing Zhu Youtang's words, Ma Wensheng felt that it was inappropriate, "My lord, this is a state matter, how can some merchants be allowed to intervene."

"Naturally, it is not their turn to intervene in state affairs, but Hami is now an empty city. Road construction and house building require money for everything. If they want to do business in Hami, they will naturally have to pay. Let them claim these things." This method Zhu Youtang also heard it from Zhu Houzhao.If the imperial court only paid for the army, it would naturally save a lot of money.

Ma Wensheng had no choice but to nod in agreement.At this time Jiang Cong brought ginger tea.

"Recently, the Ministry of War is busy with military affairs, and I won't keep you anymore. You can drink this cup of ginger tea and go." Seeing Zhu Youtang's rushing appearance, Ma Wensheng drank the ginger tea in one gulp, said goodbye and left.

In fact, Zhu Youtang also understands that this is not a good look for the court, but the military affairs in the Northwest need money, the snowstorm in winter also needs money, and the New Year's celebrations of various countries need money.Moreover, Zhu Youtang plans to do a big event next year: open the sea ban.

In fact, the Ming Dynasty's sea ban and seclusion are two different things.The Qing Dynasty's closed-door policy strictly restricted and prohibited foreign exchanges and trade, while the Ming Dynasty's maritime ban was mainly to curb the intrusion of Japanese pirates along the southeast coast.

During the maritime ban period of the Ming Dynasty, trade was mainly carried out through tribute and government offices, and foreign exchanges continued.Moreover, from Yongle to Jiajing period, due to the stability of coastal defense and social stability, non-governmental exchanges also increased day by day.

Now it is the Hongzhi period, Japanese pirates have not yet prevailed, and the sea area is still stable. Zhu Youtang wants to increase fiscal revenue by lifting the sea ban.

In the tribute, Fanbang only needs to pay tribute to some less valuable things, and the court must reward several times the property.In this regard, the court completely lost money.Besides the government-run business, the big businessmen, officials, and eunuchs who monopolize in the government-run business often collude with each other to enrich their own pockets, and the money that the court can receive is often only half or even one-third of the receivable.

Zhu Youtang made a calculation, opened the sea ban, increased trade, although the difficulty of tax collection has increased, but the base has also increased, and the proportion of tax revenue that the court can get has also increased. No matter how you calculate it, you are making money.Moreover, since the sea ban was lifted, Zhu Youtang naturally had a reason to spend more money to develop the navy.