Daming: I, the emperor who trains the carpenter

Chapter 791 Chongzhen who cried blind, the shogunate locked the country

"Princess, from now on, His Royal Highness, please take care of me."

The Chief Eunuch of the Daming Department of Rituals, Wei Zhongxian, the Chief Eunuch of the Inner Palace, smiled and handed over the house deed and several commercial deeds of the Xinwang Mansion to the Xinwang Concubine Zhou.

"Eunuch Wei, what is this?" Concubine Xin was a little at a loss. How could she give these things to herself? Shouldn't these royal properties be managed by Zhu Youjian?
Wei Zhongxian explained: "The matter between you and His Royal Highness Xin Wang is clear to the emperor. The emperor said that you are intelligent and virtuous, and manage your family well. It is His Royal Highness Xin who is wrong, not you. His Royal Highness Xin Wang has made a mistake now. In the future, Xin Wangfu The family business still needs you to take care of it. The emperor redeemed Prince Xin’s Mansion, plus the three shops and two fields of the royal family. These are all handed over to you. In the future, Prince Xin’s Mansion will be your head. If I make you angry again, you can go directly to the queen."

Concubine Xin's eyes turned red, she sniffed her nose and put them away solemnly. This is the emperor's trust in her and her approval: "Please report to Your Majesty, Eunuch Wei, the concubine knows."

"The servant girl has gone back, and Xin Wang's mansion will entrust the princess."

After leaving Zhou's house and getting into Zhang Haogu's steam car, Eunuch Wei's expression also eased: "Finally, the errand assigned by the emperor has been completed."

"It's fine as long as it's done. Only Eunuch Wei can handle this kind of thing." Zhang Haogu said with a smile.

"Master Zhang, don't you want to get involved in this matter? Why are you still here?" Eunuch Wei was a little curious. He knew that the emperor wanted Zhang Haogu to come here at first, but Zhang Haogu was unwilling. Originally, Eunuch Wei They all thought that this time they came by themselves, but Zhang Haogu still came with him.

Zhang Haogu sighed, what can he do?
Queen Zhang Yan begged him for this favor, what else could he do.

Now one tael of silver is only equal to one hundred treasure bills, and the currency of Ming Dynasty is valuable, but for the people of Ming Dynasty, because the Tianqi Dynasty used all treasure bills, not gold and silver, so domestic price fluctuations are almost non-existent, everyone How much to earn or how much.

Today is the 13th year of the Great Apocalypse and the tenth year of Kanei in Japan. Tokugawa Iemitsu announced his new decision at the beginning of the year. He decided to close the country.

According to the strict order of the shogunate, the Dutch and French people can enter Nagasaki to do business, but it is easy to come in and difficult to get out. After all, Japan is closed to the outside world at the moment, and no entry or exit is allowed.

Huang Liji asked: "Wo Kingdom is right next to my Ming Dynasty. Since I opened the sea, I have always been a big importer of raw silk and silk. There have been no troubles in my trade with my Ming Dynasty in these years. Now this suddenly happened. The question is, is there something hidden in it?"

Zhang Haogu smiled: "Okay everyone, it's not a big deal for Western trade to be blocked in the short term. When Nanyang Development Company manages Nanyang well, the next step is to manage Western Ocean."

"Huh?" Zhang Haogu looked at Eunuch Wei. The question Wei Zhongxian asked was not simple.

So there was a dispute in Tokugawa Iemitsu's mansion.

Zhang Haogu nodded: "That's right, the merchants of Ming Dynasty should not be bullied in vain. The navy commissioned several new ships and retired a batch of warship artillery. These warship artillery were awarded to Nanyang Development Company for them to organize Fleet to explore the Western Ocean."

Qian Qianyi smiled and said: "This is a good idea."

But to the outside world, the appreciation of Daming's currency undoubtedly increased Daming's income.

And because Daming is close to Dongying, it still has some preferential treatment for merchants of Ming Dynasty, but it only allows merchants of Ming Dynasty to enter and exit Nagasaki to do business, and the supervision of business is also very strict, raw silk, satin and other commodities have adopted high taxes , making businessmen very uncomfortable.

As a result, many Dutch and French people were trapped in Nagasaki, and all their goods were owned by the shogunate.

The descendants of the daimyo are the daimyo, the descendants of the samurai are the samurai, the merchants are the merchants, and the farmers are the farmers. As long as the influence of the outside world is shielded and the domestic situation is maintained, the Tokugawa family can continue to rule Japan, because the descendants of the generals are also Definitely the next general.

Zhang Ruitu flipped through the book: "Recently, not only is there a problem in the west, but the east is also not peaceful. Many businessmen said that they have received a lot of blame for doing business in Japan, and business in Japan is not as easy as before."

Qian Qianyi stroked his beard and smiled: "Hahaha, with His Majesty and Yuanfu here, there is nothing to worry about. This burden does not fall on the old man."

The domestic currency reform had an impact on Daming's overseas trade, but it was not serious. Ming's merchants could still carry boatloads of goods to sea for trade, earning massive amounts of gold and silver back home.

Lu Xiangsheng also said: "Governor Qian is always in Nanyang, which is always more convenient than us. Let him watch and deal with Western affairs, at least to establish a front for the imperial court."

This forced the merchants of the Ming Dynasty to act in groups, and the retired warships and artillery of the Daming Navy were also bought by the merchants to arm their merchant ships.

Now that Japan has imposed a sea ban, if these Dutch and French people want to come to Japan to do business, they can only come to Nagasaki, and they cannot go to other places.

"Now the imperial court has a port in Nanyang, so that the navy fleet can patrol Nanyang for a long time. As for the western ocean, the imperial court is now unable to influence, not to mention that the imperial court cannot continue to expand its influence. The surrounding countries are wary of the imperial court. "

"We can't go on like this. What if people from the Ming Dynasty, the Netherlands, and the Franji people don't come to do business?"

Zhang Haogu said: "Master Zhang, the Ministry of Rites sent someone to ask the Japanese envoys to find out about the internal situation of the Japanese country. We should make plans early. The amount of raw silk and satin from Jiangnan, Southeast and other places exported to the Japanese country is not small. If the business is cut off, it will be a big loss for the court."

"Okay! Even if we don't have to do business with Westerners, we can reject the Dutch, the French, their armor, their technology, their culture and ideas, but what about Ming? Can you reject the merchants of Ming Dynasty?"

As soon as these words came out, everyone fell silent.

The issue of the currency reform of the Ming Dynasty can be regarded as the disappearance of the waves. Naturally, the change from the silver standard to the gold standard is not a word of the court. The whole of the Ming Dynasty can complete the reform within a few days. How banknotes are linked to gold also needs to be determined.

"However, without the weapons, armor, technology and books brought by these foreigners, how could we have achieved what we are today? We are learning from the technological achievements of the Westerners, improving our iron guns and armor, and changing our army, so Only the shogunate can subdue the vassal states in the world. If these vassal states obtain newer technologies from foreigners, what should we do?"

Zhang Haogu said: "It is feasible."

"It's not a bad thing to suffer some setbacks now. We will work hard to manage Nanyang first. Nanyang Capital is still in the initial stage, and we only think about the interests of the West. This is a long way to look at Shu, which is prone to problems."

"This kind of thing won't happen! The general has ordered the country to be locked down. If there is a vassal state that dares to trade with foreigners privately, then such a vassal state with a heart of disobedience should be taken away early."

Tokugawa Iemitsu sat on his knees very firmly, and he nodded slightly: "Indeed, Da Ming is very close to us, and Da Ming is also very strong. If we want to fully implement the plan to lock the country, will Da Ming stop us?"

And Ming's trade is so profitable, it naturally attracts more covetousness, and now the sea route of Ming's merchants from the Strait of Malacca to the Indian Ocean has become much more dangerous, and pirates often plunder.

Although he has ruled the world of Dongpu and is an undoubted general, Dongpu still faces many problems.

Whether it is the pirates in the West or the anomalies in the Japanese kingdom in the East, it is really not a problem for Daming. Is there any problem that can pose a threat to Daming, which is now a strong country and a wealthy people?

If there is no accident, Zhu Youjian will stay in the palace for the rest of his life, even if he comes out, it doesn't matter, nothing will happen.

However, Tokugawa Iemitsu, the shogun who is only 30 years old this year, is still dissatisfied with the current situation.

Huang Liji asked: "Can you let the navy go on a tour of the West?"

A few people chatted and laughed, and settled a series of things.

There is no such enemy outside that can be against Da Ming, outside of Da Ming, there is absolutely no single enemy.

"Without the interference of these outsiders, the shogunate will only get better, will it get worse?"

Seeing Zhang Haogu's appearance, Eunuch Wei smiled, and then asked seemingly unintentionally: "Master Zhang, what do you think of His Highness Wang Xin?"

"His Royal Highness Xin, His Majesty has been worrying a lot during this time, alas." Eunuch Wei sighed while speaking.

Qian Qianyi said: "There is Ceylon on the Western Ocean, which can be used as a springboard for the imperial court in the Western Ocean. If the imperial court's influence can be extended to Ceylon, it will undoubtedly be beneficial to the imperial court's future strategy."

Qian Qianyi snorted coldly: "It's just a Japanese country. He once provoked me, Daming Haijiang, and the court didn't care about it. How dare he make trouble?"

Zhang Haogu silently glanced at Eunuch Wei, this one is about to start acting like a demon again.

"Nowadays, the imperial court's tax revenue is mainly commercial tax, and overseas trade tax is getting higher every year. How much silk tea is exported overseas by the imperial court every year? How much porcelain and cloth? How much tax revenue does this account for? Now Western trade is hindered, and it is not for the imperial court. Good thing." Qian Qianyi said while holding a booklet.

Now the Wa country is in the third shogunate of the Edo period, the prestige of the Tokugawa family has climbed to the peak, and the control over the various parts of the country is also being strengthened. 56 foreign vassals are working in Edo, and the prestige of the Tokugawa shogunate Constantly improving, the influence of the shogunate has reached the highest level in three generations.

The original banknotes of one tael of silver equal to one thousand treasures definitely cannot be directly set on the gold standard, and the silver is not said to be useless. After all, the silver output of Ming Dynasty is not much, and the silver is still the same in Daming and other countries in the world. It is a precious metal, so silver can still be exchanged for a certain amount of treasure notes, but it has shrunk ten times compared to before.

As for Tokugawa Iemitsu's decree and what happened in Nagasaki Town, the elders of the shogunate also have opinions.

Eunuch Wei’s desire to confide was interrupted by Zhang Haogu’s words, he silently looked at the front, a little dissatisfied: “Why did this arrive so soon.”

Looking at these brochures, Zhang Haogu couldn't help laughing and said, "There will be a lot of things at the beginning of this year, everyone should be prepared, I always feel that I will be busy in the future."

For example, many foreign business travelers, the culture, ideas and various novelties they brought, are not good news for the shogunate who wants to maintain permanent rule, or for the Tokugawa family.

He hates these foreigners, he hates these barbarians who bring all kinds of ideological atmosphere, they have already caused damage and influence to the rule of the Tokugawa family, and these abnormal things are not good.

This is the Dongying conceived by Tokugawa Iemitsu. He is 30 years old. He is a powerful general. He does not reject Western culture, but he only sees it for himself. As for the people, samurai, and those restless daimyos , it is better to be honest.

But the reason for their weakness is because Daming is stronger.

Out of Nanyang, Ming's deterrence has become almost non-existent, and instead it has become a symbol of wealth. Pirates like to rob Daming's merchant ships very much. Although the danger level is high every time, the rewards of success are enough for the pirates to obtain massive wealth. .

"Ahem, Eunuch Wei, we're at the palace now."

Daming's currency change will not only affect the Ming family, but also the surrounding countries and even Western countries. But who makes Daming the center of the current world and the place where wealth from all over the world gathers?

This is not only the self-confidence of the princes of the Manchu Dynasty, but also the self-confidence of every Ming citizen. The Tianqi Dynasty is so powerful and proud.

Is there anything else that could make a dynasty more powerful than ever feel like it is facing an enemy?
No, it doesn't exist at all!

"As for the surrounding countries, they are all vassals of my Ming Dynasty. If they have no intention of rebelling against my Ming Dynasty, why would they be wary of my Ming Dynasty? The old man thinks that what Lu Xiang said is inappropriate. Western lands should be explored, and they still need to be explored. "

At this time, there was also an internal debate in the Japanese country of Japan.

Dongpu is too far away from the Western countries, and too close to Ming Dynasty, can the Western countries be rejected, and Daming be rejected?

Zhang Ruitu was thoughtful: "This is really worth noting."

Zhang Ruitu nodded: "Well, the old man saved me."

It is forbidden to sail by ships other than the book ships, and it is forbidden for the Japanese who are stranded in foreign countries to return to the country. Stricter control measures are adopted for the Westerners. The French and the Dutch are all imprisoned in Nagasaki. Other places do not allow foreigners to approach
After the two naval battles between the Ming Dynasty and the Dutch, the power of the Dutch in the east was greatly weakened. In addition, the Franji people were not strong in the first place and were always suppressed by the Spaniards. Therefore, Iemitsu Tokugawa has no psychological burden I chose to pack these two soft persimmons together.

If you want the Tokugawa family to rule the world for a long time and serve as the shogun for a long time, you must put an end to these external influences and maintain an unchanging and stable situation in the country.

A middle-aged man said: "According to the policy that Ming has always implemented, they don't care about these things, they care about their own development and influence. Ming is very powerful, so they are proud, they don't look down on any places and things outside the Central Plains, But the shogunate is far overseas, and its relationship with Daming is not very close, and we are still a country that will not be conquered by Ming, so it should be safe for us to close our doors."

As for how to sell goods in Nagasaki, Nagasaki Town has the final say, and Nagasaki Town is behind the shogunate. To put it bluntly, the Tokugawa family has directly monopolized Nagasaki's business, and they don't want those foreign names to get involved. These foreign names are not allowed to trade with outsiders.

Lu Xiangsheng nodded: "Yes, the influence of the imperial court is mainly in these surrounding countries. Even Nanyang has not yet been fully controlled by the imperial court. As for the Western Ocean, the influence of the imperial court is really limited."

Qian Qianyi is now a very radical pioneer, he took a sip of his tea, with a calm expression on his face: "It's a mediocrity not to be envied by others, my Ming Dynasty is strong and the people are rich, and we come to court from all over the world, how can the western barbarian countries not be jealous? If they are jealous of me, Daming, they will give up their martial arts and not go to the West, and if their strength increases in the future, they may come to my Daming to steal money."

"General, Da Ming is not someone we can provoke, we should treat Da Ming with caution."

And the merchants of Ming Dynasty were not doing well in overseas trade, and they also frequently appeared on the cabinet's desk, causing the cabinet elders to constantly discuss solutions.

Yes, Westerners refuse because they are too far away from the East. At present, whether it is the Dutch or the Franji people, with the strong rise of Ming Dynasty to re-explore overseas, their strength in the East is very weak. No threat to the shogunate.

Lu Xiangsheng shook his head: "It's unrealistic. There are only so many navy fleets in the imperial court, and all the seas in the East and South China Seas have to be patrolled by fleets. If you want to go to the West, you need a new fleet. I’m not familiar with it, and the supply of the fleet is also a problem.”

News from the West, news from the Ming Dynasty, and all kinds of novelty brought about the complex and changeable domestic situation. Tokugawa Iemitsu, who didn't like opening up to the outside world, looked at the foreigners pouring in from his own country. There is always a disgusting feeling that a lot of bugs have entered into one's own castle tower.

After replying to Zhu Youxiao and Zhang Yan, Zhang Haogu did not forget to take a look in front of Xinwang Mansion when he left the palace, seeing three or five servants busy in front of Xinwang Mansion, Zhang Haogu left silently.

The implementation of a series of decrees in Nagasaki Town naturally aroused the anger of the merchants, but Japan was ruled by the shogunate after all, and they had no choice but to swallow their anger and do some business first.

Qian Qianyi said: "I understand Yuan Fu's meaning, but we can't just sit and watch the interests of the merchants suffer. In the final analysis, the loss is all the court's money."

But soon someone retorted: "But today's Ming Dynasty implements overseas policies. They actively communicate with other countries, and their trade exchanges are very frequent. They use this method to exert their influence in various countries. If we lock the country, they will How could you not pay attention?"

"You also said that now Da Ming is actively exerting influence in various countries. If we don't lock the country now, is it possible that we have to wait for Da Ming to influence our shogunate? Don't you know what is the mainstream thought and culture of Da Ming now? "The person who spoke at the beginning refuted it righteously.

He looked at Tokugawa Iemitsu very seriously, leaned over and said: "General, your policy is correct. If the shogunate wants to maintain a long-term and stable rule, it is very important to block external influence."

"The shogunate needs to lock down the country."

(End of this chapter)