Why did the emperor rebel?

Chapter 1049 People need to think more

Qian is the sky, Kun is the earth, and the territory of public opinion.

The whole map of Kun Yu Wan Guo, which contains the meaning of the map of the territory of the world.

Although Daming has always claimed to be a superior country, he is not arrogant, thinking that there is only the Daming family in the world.

On the contrary, Zheng He's voyages brought back a lot of refreshing news. Therefore, anyone with a little knowledge knows that on the other side of the Western Ocean, there are countless small countries scattered all over the world.

This picture is called Kunyu Ten Thousand Kingdoms, and Wan is a false reference. The implication is that it includes the maps of all countries. No wonder Zhu Huixun said that the tone of this picture is so grand.

You know, even Zheng He, who traveled all over the West, would not dare to say that he can reach all the countries.

And, more importantly, just like what he just asked, whether it is Zhu Huixun or Zhu Shixun, the first reaction when seeing this picture is why is Daming so small?

Of course, this picture was drawn by Zhu Qiyu himself.

The complete picture of Kunyu Wanguo was completed in the Wanli period. It was published in large quantities and given to the nobles. I have read it.

Following this map into the palace, there were naturally missionaries from the West, and Zhu Qiyu learned from them that on the other side of the West, there were people from different countries with completely different civilizations and developments.

Of course, what he was particularly concerned about was the descriptions of those missionaries about Western firearms and some grains. In their descriptions, some places had extremely high grain yields and could be cooked three or even four times a year, and their firearms were powerful. , and far surpassed the firearms in Zhu Qiyu's cognition.

Nowadays, although Daming uses firearms, they are very restrictive, high in cost, low in power, short in range, and inconvenient to load ammunition. Most of the time, they can only shoot one round, and then they can only continue to fight with swords.

To put it bluntly, in terms of power and portability, bows and arrows are even more useful than firearms. In fact, this is also the reason why the Northern Cavalry was able to crush Daming.

Nowadays, the best firearms in Ming Dynasty are cannons that are easy to explode. Although these cannons are difficult to move, and they are easy to hurt people first, they are really good for defending the city.

As for other firearms, they are really not satisfactory.

Before the reorganization of the regiment and battalion, in order to test the strength of the Beijing battalion, Zhu Qiyu had personally watched the tactics of the Beijing battalion. To be honest, he was a little disappointed at the time.

The Shenji Battalion is the best army to use firearms, but even so, the main battle still has to rely on swords, guns, swords and halberds. Firearm warfare is certainly useful, but it is too restrictive.

Of course, this is Zhu Qiyu's conclusion after hearing the missionaries' descriptions of Western firearms and comparing the two.

Unfortunately, he has not seen the firearms described by these missionaries, but judging from their descriptions of the wars that took place in Western countries at that time, firearms did play a vital role.

It is not difficult to fabricate a lie, but it is too difficult to fabricate the details and direction of the war.

Therefore, this kind of firearm should indeed exist in the West. The missionaries' descriptions of many things are not clear enough, and the details are not clear.

At that time, Zhu Qiyu had no way to ask questions, so he could only guess from a few words.

In this period of time, the Western countries should have already produced self-generated firecrackers that can be stimulated by flint and are not afraid of wind and rain. In addition to improving firearms, the power of Western gunpowder is also stronger than that used by Daming today. They should also do it. improved.

This is what he values ​​most. Daming already has the habit of using firearms. If we can get these Western firearms and integrate them, at least on the northern border, it will be much easier.

In addition, Zhu Qiyu is also very interested in the fine varieties that the missionaries described, which are more than a year old.

According to them, these places are often backward in civilization, barbaric, and don't even know how to tend the fields, but the yield is high. After thinking about it, Zhu Qiyu attributes it to the grain they use, which may be better in itself.

It was at that time that he once lamented that Daming really knew very little about the whole world. Although Zheng He's voyages to the West cost a lot of money, they were not without benefits.

However, even though he read it carefully at that time, he didn't think about writing it all down. After all, he didn't think at that time that he would have another chance.

However, after waking up in Prince Yi's Mansion, Zhu Qiyu realized that he was a little sloppy, but there was nothing he could do.

Because of this, the map displayed now has many details that are different from what Zhu Qiyu saw.

He has tried his best to restore it, and he also specifically consulted various maps and geography preserved by the court, and even the nautical charts of Zheng He's voyages to the West, and he also used them for comparison.

In order to make the map more clear, he even doubled the original size to draw it.

However, even so, it can only confirm part of it, and there are still many ambiguities in the whole map.

Even so, for now, it is almost enough.

Of course, this cannot be said directly to King Min and others, otherwise, it would be difficult to explain how he was able to draw this picture.

You must know that this map not only has topography and place names, but also the customs, customs, and customs of many places. It is not easy to explain these seriously.

Therefore, in the face of Zhu Huixun's question, Zhu Qiyu pondered for a moment, then took out the speech he had prepared a long time ago, and said.

"It is said that during the reign of Emperor Taizong, there was a man from Taixi who sailed to Daming via Quanzhou Prefecture. He carried a map with him and said he came from Franji to search for China. He was shipwrecked on the way and only one person survived."

"At that time, it was difficult for the people in the government to distinguish the real from the fake, so they first sent the map they carried to the capital. However, it may be due to injuries and illnesses accumulated during the long voyage. Therefore, before the map arrived in Beijing, the Taixi man died of illness, and the map he brought was sent to the capital. In the palace, it was kept by Qin Tianjian."

"Later, Zheng He, the eunuch of Sanbao, used this map to plan his route when he sailed to the West, and proved that many countries in the map did exist. Zhufantu", after I ascended the throne, due to civil wars, I consulted many maps kept by the Ministry of War and the Qin Tianjian, and only then did I discover this old map."

"Therefore, after the war ended, I ordered the officials of the Qin Tianjian to draw this map based on the old map, combined with the maps left over from the Yuan Dynasty, Zheng He's nautical charts, and other sources."

Having said this, Zhu Qiyu pointed to the scroll in front of him and said.

"Except for the territory of the Ming Dynasty, the place marked in vermilion on this map is the place where the Sanbao eunuch passed by, and the records are detailed. However, the rest of the places are either recorded in ancient books or marked in the old map of Taixi. There are many places in it. Still needs verification."

"However, I consulted many ancient books of other countries brought back by the Sanbao eunuch, and many of them mentioned the bordering countries. Based on the two facts, it can be concluded that although the details of this map need to be corrected, the general terrain should be corrected. Unmistakable..."

These words turned several corners, and Zhu Qiyu immediately sent the origin of this picture to the Yongle era. Even if someone really wants to ask, this happened decades ago. A mere Thai and Westerner , I can't find it even if I want to check it.

Moreover, in order to increase the credibility of this picture, he also pulled Zheng He out. Anyway, no one knows how many ancient books Zheng He consulted when he went to sea. His signboard is still useful, at least, after Zhu Qiyu finished speaking, most of the doubts of the two people in front of him about the map disappeared.

However, even so, Zhu Huixun was obviously not very interested, said.

"So, my Great Ming territory is really that big?"

Seeing the appearance of this uncle, Zhu Qiyu couldn't help but laughed a little, and after thinking about it, he said.

"This map should be true, but most of the countries in it are the result of weak national power. In some places, even barren lands are still in the state of ruthlessness and blood. "

"Of course, there are also strong and prosperous countries, such as the countries of Thailand and the West, France, Italy and other countries. The national power is also strong, but there are often wars. I don't know what it is like now. However, a place as prosperous as my Ming Dynasty, I am afraid No."

After saying these words, Zhu Huixun's complexion finally improved a lot.

In his opinion, or in other words, in the eyes of Daming people, it is not that there is no national land outside of Daming, it is just that they are all lands that are not worth mentioning.

The prosperity of civilization and national strength is the self-confidence engraved in the bones.

So, recovering from the shock, Zhu Huixun looked the map up and down again, and asked.

"Your Majesty, this map is a novelty. Since it is a foreign country, it does not hinder my great enlightenment. However, if we can communicate with each other, it will be a good thing."

"I don't know if His Majesty drew this picture, did you want it?"

If he didn't realize it at the beginning, then when he thought about the matter of replacing the king and moving the vassal, Zhu Huixun felt that he had vaguely grasped the emperor's mind.

Sure enough, when he passed on the words, the emperor's eyes fell to Zhu Shixiu who was aside, and said.

"After all, this map is drawn with reference to ancient books. There is no real evidence for many places, and many details are not very detailed. Therefore, I have always wanted to send people to the sea to verify this map. As Uncle King Min said just now, if this map All the paintings are true, so it is a great thing for me, Ming Dynasty, to be able to communicate with the Western countries."

Unlike Zhu Huixun's casual remarks, Zhu Qiyu's last sentence was very serious.

Because only he knows best what this picture will mean to Daming if it can be fully confirmed, or if it can be perfected.

Since ancient times, all dynasties have pursued a policy of emphasizing agriculture and suppressing business. What is the reason?

In fact, it is very simple, that is, the exchange of merchants can only bring profits. In fact, the essence is to buy at a low price and sell at a high price. What will generate new wealth will only allow businessmen to grab profits.

However, in a unified country like Ming Dynasty, individual profits are meaningless.

What the Ming Dynasty needed was wealth, what it needed was a steady stream of grain, what it needed was cloth that could cover its body and keep warm, what it needed was all kinds of ironware and porcelain, and what it needed was more and more farming cattle...

And these are exactly what business cannot bring. This is the reason why Emperor Taizu established the country and suppressed businessmen as much as possible.

You know, like the kind of small households who are half-agricultural and half-merchant, they farm in the fields when they are busy, and go to the city to sell some fruits and vegetables, chickens and ducks raised by themselves, cloth weaving, etc., these are not only prohibited by the imperial court, but also very strict. encourage.

However, if it is a merchant who specializes in reselling and buying for profit, he will not have any output, but he will grab the wealth of the common people.

The more people who specialize in business, the fewer people are farming and weaving. Correspondingly, the total amount of food and cloth will decrease. From the national level, it will affect the revenue of the imperial court. suppressed.

This has been the case in all dynasties, not just the Daming family.

However, there is an important premise for this, that is, the entire country is in a relatively closed state.

Since it is closed, wealth is circulated in the country, and merchants do not engage in production, but grab most of the profits, and it is normal to be suppressed.

However, what if it is trade between different countries?

Since it is a transaction between countries, the behavior of merchants to buy low and sell high is actually to take profits from other countries and use them for Ming Dynasty.

In this sense, can merchants be regarded as another form of 'producer'?

On this point, Zhu Qiyu has always only had a vague concept.

At first, he came up with this idea when the Longqing switch was made. Before that, he always felt that it was unnecessary to communicate with the Western countries. After a fleet as large as Zheng He's voyages to the West, he felt that the sea ban was the best policy.

Therefore, when Long Qing switched it on, he actually disapproved. Of course, at that time, he had no choice but to disapprove.

After the Nangong Incident, it was not his lineage that inherited the throne, so he couldn't even dream of it, and even if he did, he probably wouldn't be believed.

However, to his surprise, after Longqing was switched on and off, Daming's tax situation showed faint signs of improvement.

Among other things, Emperor Wanli has collected mining taxes for so many years. Although there are many complaints from all over the country, it may have been collected for so many years, which can explain the problem.

Where did the money come from?
Of course, after Longqing was switched on and off, it flowed into Daming from the western countries of Thailand. Because of this, Zhu Qiyu gradually changed his view on the sea ban. At the same time, he began to rethink whether merchants were useful to Daming.

With this idea in mind, Wang Wen used the exchange market to negotiate terms with Tuotuobuhua during the War of Oala.

At that time, Zhu Qiyu had already made a plan. After the war, whether it was a big victory or a miserable victory, he would start trading with the grassland.

It is true that the mutual market has various shortcomings, but this is Zhu Qiyu's attempt to verify his own ideas.

In the end, it turned out that his idea was right...

(End of this chapter)