Daming: The most ruthless tyrant in history

Chapter 895 Justified

Make money!

This was what Zhu Youxiao clearly wanted to do in the new year. Under the grand background and strategy of strictly enforcing the administration of officials and cleansing the southeast, Zhu Youxiao ordered a group of government offices with a brand new look to follow the banner of reform and launch actions to reshape tax laws and reaffirm the laws in those areas where the court had lost the initiative and shaken its control in the past.

The money obtained from these areas was stamped and minted into new coins by the Mint and then circulated to the industries to be supported. While expanding the circulation of the new coins, the central government's control over the supported industries was strengthened. The most critical point was the central government, or more precisely, the military controlled by Zhu Youxiao. Both the army and the navy would gradually change and become stronger in this process.

Once this big cycle is formed, the impact and deterrence it produces will expand.

Zhu Youxiao will cause chaos in the southeastern provinces.

This is the price of going too far!
Zhu Youxiao wanted to use this method to let those who were doing this overtly or covertly know his will and attitude. If anyone dared to continue to cross the bottom line, he would continue to increase the stakes.

As long as the northern provinces remain in chaos during this process and the areas involved, including the army, are changing, Zhu Youxiao will always have the confidence!

Because of the Jianlu Rebellion, many northern provinces, especially those around Liaodong, Northern Zhili and surrounding areas, have undergone major changes.

Especially with a group of talented, responsible and visionary governors and governors-general taking office, Zhu Youxiao didn't think that there would be any more chaos in the northern provinces. If that really happened, wouldn't everything he had done before become the biggest joke?

"Your Majesty, is it too hasty to set up a special administrative commission in Dongfan?"

After the joint court meeting ended, Zhu Youxiao convened another court meeting in the Dongnuan Pavilion a few days later to try out military spending in Liaodong and address some of the special financial needs.

The ministers summoned this time were the cabinet ministers and the Minister of Personnel!

The one who raised objections, or more accurately, felt suspicious, was Qian Qianyi, the Second Assistant to the Cabinet. Since Sun Ruyou was dismissed from his post and arrested, and because of various events that happened before and after, Qian Qianyi's state of mind had changed.

Especially those events that happened in the southeast caused heavy losses to many groups of the Donglin Party. Qian Qianyi, the party leader, felt very uneasy.

"Too much haste?"

Zhu Youxiao leaned against the cushion, staring at Qian Qianyi with a half-smile, "Then according to your opinion, when should the Dongfan government establish a provincial government?"

"Your Majesty, that is not what I meant."

Qian Qianyi was shocked and bowed to explain: "I think that setting up a special administrative commission in a cold and barren place like Dongfan would be of no benefit to the country and the court."

"At the beginning, Liaodong was changed from a military governor to a provincial governor, and a large number of officials were transferred to Liao to serve. The Ministry of Personnel was busy for a long time, but even so, it caused great controversy in the court and the public."

Minister of Rites Cui Jingrong frowned and glanced at Qian Qianyi's back.

You bastard, if you oppose it then oppose it, why do you have to involve me in this?
"As a newly opened land, Dongfan should be brought under the rule of the king. This is indeed what the court should do."

Qian Qianyi suppressed his uneasiness and continued, "It's just that this place is isolated overseas, and the southeastern provinces are not yet stable. I think that even if we want to set up a system to control the people and demonstrate the power of our dynasty, we can just set up a prefecture and let Fujian govern it. Setting up a province is not worth the loss."

"Finished?"

Zhu Youxiao said calmly.

"I have finished speaking."

Qian Qianyi said nervously.

"Is this the vision that a cabinet vice-chairman should have?"

Zhu Youxiao stared at Qian Qianyi and sneered.

Qian Qianyi's heart beat faster.

Although Zhu Youxiao hated Qian Qianyi, a sophisticated egoist, he wanted to keep him in the cabinet, if for no other reason. Before the stubborn problems in the southeast were completely eradicated, Zhu Youxiao wanted to keep these so-called interest representatives where they should be, so that he could let them fight each other and gain insight into their private actions.

Zhu Youxiao's attitude towards various political parties has always been clear.

Either they wipe out the entire group, like the Qi Party and the Zhejiang Party, or they only kill the superficial guys, then those behind the scenes will change their allegiance, which will bring variables and hidden dangers.

Or you can keep it for now, and when a specific incident occurs, find out the context bit by bit, find out all the people, and finally eliminate them and the interest groups behind them!

Zhu Youxiao knew that it was impossible to completely eliminate political parties. When the old party was gone, a new party would appear. As long as power existed, this thing would always be there.

Therefore, the essence of reform is to make the cake and then divide it. During this period, if there are groups whose interests are affected and who oppose the reform, they should be eliminated and new interest groups should be supported to replace them. When the next cycle comes, new breakthroughs should be sought to continue.

"The southeast is in such chaos now, let's not talk about what the Ming Dynasty thinks and feels." Zhu Youxiao snorted coldly and stared at Qian Qianyi.

"Let's say the European maritime forces that responded to our dynasty's opening of the sea and came to Tianjin from the South Seas learned about this on their way north. What would they think?"

"Why? Just because of the unrest in the southeast, the opening of Tianjin to the sea was stopped?"

It is not impossible.

Qian Qianyi thought to himself, he only dared to think about this in his mind, if he really dared to say it out loud, he would be attacked by the emperor.

The impact of Tianjin's new policy of opening up the sea has been gradually expanding with the passage of time. Apart from other things, the monopoly of Tianjin's Thirteen Hongs on foreign affairs has had a huge impact on the Ming Dynasty.

With the opening of the sea, the scale of maritime grain trade continues to rise, which speaks volumes.

"Your Majesty, I think the Dongfan should establish a provincial government."

Under such circumstances, Wang Xiangqian stepped forward and bowed, saying, "If this place can be established as a province, it will be beneficial to the court. In particular, I know that since Wei Zhongxian and his men were ordered to go south, some Western barbarians have wanted to invade this place. I just want to think that it is better for this place to be occupied by the Ming Dynasty than by the Western barbarians."

"Although the Dongfan are isolated overseas, they are not far from our Ming Dynasty, especially Fujian and Guangdong. If these places are occupied by the Western Barbarians, it will have a huge impact on our dynasty!"

“This is also one of my considerations.”

Zhu Youxiao nodded and said, "Although Dongfan is very poor, many Ming people have moved here in the past two years, and the coastal areas are well governed."

"When rebellions broke out in Fujian and Jiangxi, I was thinking about one thing: if people who had no way out in the above-mentioned places were given another way out, would they choose to take the risk?"

"Your Majesty wants to set up a province in Dongfan to speed up immigration to Fujian, Guangdong, Jiangxi and other places, so that the groups that have lost their land under your rule can move away, thereby reducing the pressure on the southeastern provinces."

As soon as these words were spoken, Zhu Guozuo, Bi Ziyan, Wang Xiangqian and others immediately made the connection.

"It's easy to say that we should ask Fujian to manage the Dongfan, but how practical is it?" While everyone was thinking about it, Zhu Youxiao glanced at Qian Qianyi.

"There is a vast ocean between us, and the situation on the sea is very changeable. If something unexpected happens in Dongfan, can Fujian respond in time? Instead of this, it is better to let Dongfan take care of itself!!"

Zhu Youxiao had long been clear about setting up a province to govern Dongfan. In fact, not only Dongfan, but also Qiongzhou Prefecture under Guangdong would be set up as a province in the future. In Zhu Youxiao's eyes, these two places were the treasures of the sea of ​​Ming Dynasty and the bridgeheads for conquering Central and South China and Southeast Asia in the future! At this stage, the development of the two places is indeed in a very backward situation, but if they are both upgraded and governed, and five to ten years are spent on continuous immigration and governance, can there be changes?

As the political level has been elevated, should the military level follow closely?
What does the Ming Dynasty Navy lack?
Not a battleship.

But it is a strategic location on the sea!

At the beginning, every possible means was tried to bring Jeju Island, which belonged to Korea, under the actual control of the Ming Dynasty. Wasn't this for the purpose of having a strategic location on the sea?
If you have no support at sea, what's the use of having so many warships?
"besides!"

While the ministers were thinking about different things, Zhu Youxiao changed his tone and said, "I want to set up a province in Dongfan, and I plan to call it the General Administration of Customs, and send a branch directly here."

"Since the sea is open, the taxes that should be paid must be paid in full!"

"I don't know about the Southeast, they think they are doing it secretly. Humph, I'm afraid many people in the court know how much smuggling there is at sea, including the cabinet!!"

A word stirred up a thousand waves.

The ministers in the palace, especially Qian Qianyi, felt their heartbeats quicken even more. Once some things were made clear, it would mean that the emperor was extremely dissatisfied.

"Since I have already tried out the new customs tax in Tianjin, I will extend it to the whole country in the future," Zhu Youxiao said with a sharp look.

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"When it comes to maritime affairs, the Ming Dynasty's attitude will be equally clear from now on. It is impossible to start and stop. Now that we have started, we must implement it thoroughly."

"I have made up my mind. I will first set up a provincial government in Dongfan. As for the provincial governor's office and the provincial governor's office, we will discuss them later. Cao Lutai will be the left governor, and Zou Weilian will be the right governor!"

"As for the officials of each prefecture, state, and county, the Ministry of Personnel will examine the existing groups. If they pass, the Ministry of Personnel will issue a certificate of appointment. If they fail, another virtuous person will be selected to take the position."

Well, the Ministry of Personnel has to clean up the mess again.

When Cui Jingrong heard this, he immediately came to his senses. The fundamental purpose of asking him to participate in the court meeting this time was to let him promote those people in Dongfan to the appropriate positions.

As for the rest, it has nothing to do with the Ministry of Personnel.

Does Cui Jingrong dare to object to this matter?

dare not!

"So be it."

Under such circumstances, Zhu Youxiao waved his hand and said, "The cabinet should draft an imperial edict as soon as possible and present it to the emperor. After I have read it, I will issue it in the name of the cabinet."

"The ministers obey the order."

Everyone immediately bowed.

Zhu Youxiao wanted to promote the establishment of a province for Dongfan in a reasonable and legal manner and asked the cabinet to clarify it. The key point was that the central government officials, even the cabinet, had no right to intervene in matters related to Dongfan. Zhu Youxiao had to solve and deal with it directly.

This treasure island on the sea must be handled according to Zhu Youxiao's will. Once the foundation of the treasure island is firmly established, it can be under the management of the central authorities.

"Has the inner court coordinated with the people to be sent to Dongfan?"

After Zhu Guozuo and his companions left, Zhu Youxiao picked up the teacup at hand, lifted the lid, and asked Liu Ruoyu who was serving him.

"Your Majesty, the coordination has been completed."

Liu Ruoyu lowered his head and said, "Especially the people from the various shipyards. Wang Zheng has selected a group of people from various places. When they gather in Tianjin, they will take a ship to Dongfan together."

"Tell Zhang Yixian to take all the people sent to Dongfan with him."

Zhu Youxiao finished his tea and said sternly, "Handle this matter for me. The current Dongfan needs to make up for its shortcomings. If the vassal Ryukyu is to be restored, the Dongwa will definitely not give up."

"As for the maritime power in Dongfan, we can't just rely on those Han merchants overseas. We must be strong enough ourselves. What happened in Fujian, Zhejiang and other places is a lesson!!"

"What the Ming Dynasty lost at sea will eventually be recovered. Right now, the Ming Dynasty must not only develop its maritime power along the coasts of the northern provinces, but also in the south."

"The southeast is in chaos. It is unrealistic to expect it to develop in a short period of time. However, there is a chance for the east. I want Wei Zhongxian to understand the secret order seriously."

"The slaves obey the order."

Liu Ruoyu immediately bowed and said, "I will personally go there and tell Zhang Yixian exactly what the emperor has told me to do."

"Also, let's go to Shaofu again."

Zhu Youxiao extended his hand and said, "Emphasize to Sun Guozhen and others that the customs branch officials sent to Dongfan must be selected from the best. Customs duties must be implemented along the coast of Dongfan, including Ryukyu. People must also be sent there."

"Since the European maritime forces have traveled thousands of miles to engage in maritime trade around the Ming Dynasty, they must abide by the rules of the Ming Dynasty. Customs is one of the barriers of the Ming Dynasty!"

"The slaves obey the order."

Liu Ruoyu bowed again.

Zhu Youxiao established a province to rule Dongfan after taking into account feedback from all parties and feeling that the time was ripe. He tried out armed taxation in Dongfan with a special system of naval force + customs + garrison eunuchs. Anyone who dared to evade or even evade taxes would be resolutely punished and eliminated.

This is an attempt.

Wei Zhongxian and his men did a good job in Dongfan and also had influence in the Nanyang areas. So, Zhu Youxiao should take advantage of the situation to establish the rules at sea.

Zhu Youxiao certainly knew that doing such things in Dongfan would inevitably intensify maritime conflicts, but some things must be tried.

The maritime forces of European countries certainly have a considerable influence in Southeast Asia, but the Ming Dynasty is no pushover either. In this geopolitical game, the Ming Dynasty has never used its advantages.

Now Zhu Youxiao wants to use all of these.

Only through great destruction can great construction be achieved.

Once the Ming Dynasty has resolved some of its long-standing problems and cancers, and as domestic changes continue to intensify, it will be an inevitable trend to open up to larger-scale maritime trade.

If that comes to pass, maritime conflicts will only become more intense.

So we need to recruit a group of people to adapt to this atmosphere in advance.

Wei Zhongxian and his men are very good. They have been in Dongfan for so long and have a deep understanding of the maritime forces of European countries and the South Seas. Let them hold the front first, and when the Ming navy is initially built up, the systematic navy can be deployed under the will of the central government. By that time, even if there is a full-scale conflict with the maritime forces of European countries, they will not be too passive!
(End of this chapter)