People in the Ming Dynasty are lawless

Chapter 492: Both Kindness and Force! Colonial Rule!
Xia Yuanji made it clear to the civil and military officials here again: if you dare to oppose the policies of our Ming Dynasty, you must all go to Ming Dynasty and build the Great Wall for us. It is not as good as you imagine.

You can live a life of debauchery, do whatever you want in your own country, but if you come to our country, you can only do hard labor and you will be tortured to death in less than three months.

And this is the punishment we give to those officials or slaves who disobey our Ming Dynasty.

If you want to do so, the ships of my Ming Navy are always ready for you.

When Xia Yuanji said this, the happiest people sitting on the side were Lan Yu and others.

After being persuaded by Xia Yuanji, Lan Yu and his men felt that they should give these officials or the local people some benefits so that they would all turn to the Ming Dynasty and become hens that lay eggs for the Ming Dynasty. They did not want to kill the hens to get the eggs.

If they don't want to trouble the people of Ming Dynasty to provide them with food and fodder in the future, they can ask the people of Sanfuqi to provide them with food and fodder.

This is simple, convenient, and relatively close in distance, and it can also be a disguised way of punishing the people who collude with pirates. It is a good thing that kills two birds with one stone.

Therefore, they did not oppose giving them some benefits. They originally did not want to give them any benefits. Now that they had given them some benefits and heard Xia Yuanji's warning to these civil and military officials, they were so scared that they knelt on the ground, kowtowed and begged for mercy. None of these civil and military officials dared to say a word. They were so scared that they had no opinion at all.

Lan Yu and the others really enjoyed listening to it.

This is how it should be. Even if you know about such punishment, it may be troublesome to implement it later.

After all, the warships of the Ming Dynasty Navy were not meant to escort these slaves to the Ming Dynasty to build the Great Wall.

But being able to scare these people and make these high-ranking officials kneel on the ground can also be considered a spiritual victory.

At this time, civil and military officials were waiting for Xia Yuanji's final judgment on them.

Xia Yuanji said: "Of course, if you can implement the policies of the Ming Dynasty, you should be able to gain some benefits.

I think you have all heard of the Kingdom of Annan, where our Ming Navy has set up a trade transit station.

I also know how much benefit the trade transit station has brought to the development of Annan in the past two years."

After these words were spoken, the civil and military officials below had heard about them to some extent.

After all, they are well-informed. In order to confront the countries on the Indochina Peninsula in the South Seas, they have always maintained a large number of spies in various countries in the South Seas.

Now I heard that the trade transit station of Annan was established by the Ming Dynasty. The number of merchants has increased exponentially, and the ships coming and going are almost covering the sea surface of the harbor.

It can also be seen that almost everyone in Annan is involved in business.

Even ordinary people could sell their agricultural products to the Ming Dynasty and get Ming Dynasty's treasure notes.

It is said that although the Ming Baochao is just a piece of paper, it is very valuable and can be used to buy a lot of things. It is convenient, easy to use, and it also maintains its value.

Every citizen makes a lot of money, and they are all envious.

However, they have had tense relations with the countries to the north for decades. For a little bit of profit, they colluded with pirates to oppress other countries, and other countries have long hated them.

Not to mention allowing them to participate in trading, even if their ships enter the waters of countries in Indochina, they may be killed by other countries' navy as pirates.

They could only sigh and watch their neighbors to the north doing business in full swing and making so much money that their hands were tied.

If Chen Zuyi and his gang of pirates were still around, they could use their reputation as pirates to bully those countries, forcing them to give up their best ports, provide them with the best services, or even collect protection fees directly.

But now the pirates are long gone, and Chen Zuyi was killed by the Ming Navy. What can they use to scare others?

Especially when they saw that Annan could receive a considerable amount of tolls simply because of its good relationship with the Ming Dynasty, and that every country offered a lot of good things to Annan in order to curry favor with him, they were so envious that their eyes were purple.

If this happened in their own country, would they still need to go through the hard times of smuggling trade?

Wouldn’t it be better to do business directly with the Ming Dynasty?
When they heard Xia Yuanji say this, they were very envious and wanted to know what Xia Yuanji meant by this.
Can we get such benefits if we join the Ming Dynasty and become its territory?

Come to think of it, we are now the territory of the Ming Dynasty, we are the people of the Ming Dynasty, and we should enjoy such good treatment.

Xia Yuanji said, "You are not convinced now, because you have not enjoyed any benefits. But this time, I will tell you that if you can implement the policies of the Ming Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty can allow you to join the trade of the trade transit station.

You should know, what is the biggest source of income for you guys?
It should not be the result of exploiting the people and squeezing the little bit of agricultural products out of them.

Instead, the continuous smuggling trade was able to directly bypass the court's tax detection and put all the profits directly into their own pockets.

But such profits require risking your life, and even if you have put all the profits into your own pockets, it is still far less than doing business with the Ming Dynasty.

Therefore, after arriving in Pontus, the first national policy to be implemented was to continue to implement the reforms implemented by the king.

Most of the tax revenue will come from the landlord class, the bureaucratic class, and the wealthy class, and the common people will be exempted from 90% of taxes. "

When he said this, the civil and military officials below suddenly widened their eyes.

Why did they oppose the king and why did it end up like this?

Isn't it because in the struggle with the king, although they defeated the king, the king committed suicide, and the king's most trusted general also committed suicide, but they also lost the war against the enemy accordingly.

Even though the Majapahit army did not annex the entire Srivijaya, Srivijaya was still in name only.

After being rescued by the Ming Dynasty, it was natural for the Ming Dynasty to take over the entire Sanfuqi.

But what they didn't expect was that after Srivijaya came, the first thing he wanted to implement was the so-called reform that they hated.

Isn't this just returning to the starting point after all the trouble?
Our country was destroyed because of this reform and change, but now you want us to continue to implement the reform and change. This is like rubbing salt into the wound, this is bullying, this is a slap in the face.

But even so, some officials did not dare to speak out against it.

They understood that once they opposed, it would be just like what Xia Yuanji said: You are slaves of our Ming Dynasty. Allowing you to stand here and meet with us is already the greatest compliment to you. What else do you want?
Do you want to go to Ming Dynasty to build the Great Wall? Do you want to be unable to survive for even three months?

After the previous threats, even though these civil and military officials knew they had to carry out the reform, they did not dare to speak out against it because this reform was what they hated the most.

After seeing their performance, Lan Yu realized how effective the previous intimidation was.

Xia Yuanji continued, "Of course, to implement such reforms is like cutting your flesh with a knife. You will feel pain. You oppose the king because of this, and the king died because of this."

When these officials heard what Xia Yuanji said, they were filled with resentment.

Do you know why these things are still done?

Aren't you just teasing us on purpose?

Now we have agreed to become your prisoners, we have agreed to become your slaves. We even knelt on the ground and begged you just now, and you actually rubbed our dignity on the ground like this, isn't this a bit too much?
Even if you are the suzerain state, even if we are your subjects and your slaves in the future, it should not be like this.

Xia Yuanji ignored them and continued, "The reason why Bendu came here to implement this reform is mainly because the Ming Dynasty wants the food here, but when the people want to grow food and live, they can't be put under too many shackles.

As for you, the Ming Dynasty originally wanted to exploit you, squeeze you, and take away all your wealth and hand it over to the Ming Dynasty.

In this way, we have gained some spoils from this war.”

When Xia Yuanji said this, all the civil and military officials below shuddered.

Their country's army has been destroyed, and now it is the Ming Navy that controls Srivijaya.

If the Ming Navy really did this, they would not have the ability to resist at all.

For this reason, they looked at Lan Yu who was sitting next to Xia Yuanji.

Lan Yu was dressed in military uniform at this time, and exuded a murderous aura.

What I mean is that we originally wanted to do this, but after the Grand Commander came, we gave you some face and didn't do it. You should be grateful.

The civil and military officials below were all extremely smart and knew that if it were not for Xia Yuanji, it would be difficult to ensure that their family's wealth would be preserved.

Xia Yuanji explained again: "The reason why I do this is to give you face, and I hope you can cooperate with the next national policy of the Ming Dynasty.

While the Ming Dynasty is promoting this national policy, it will not exterminate you all."

This is what the civil and military officials wanted to hear the most. They pricked up their ears to listen to what Xia Yuanji had to say.

Then Xia Yuanji said: "The reason why Pontus mentioned Annan as a trade transit station is to leave you a way out.

From now on, the Ming Dynasty’s governance here will be divided into two parts.

First, implement light taxation on the common people, so that they can live and work in peace, produce more grain, and live a relaxed life.

However, we will adopt another governance method for you. You can get in touch with the trade transit stations, directly transport goods to the trade transit stations for trading, and enjoy the same treatment as Annan.

As for the future grievances between you and Annan, or even the countries in Indochina, they will be mediated by the Ming Dynasty. You don't have to worry about your ships being raided by other countries on the sea. In this regard, I think this should be much better than simply putting pressure on the local people.

Even if you have to pay heavier taxes than before, it should be just a drop in the bucket compared to the profits."

When the civil and military officials heard this, they were overjoyed. If they could really do this, it would truly be a blessing in disguise.

They were originally doing business in Sanfuqi and were all thinking about going to the trade transit station.

But that's not possible. The hatred between the countries in Indochina is too deep. Everyone wants to kill them, and they will attack and rob their ships whenever they see them.

How dare they go north with such fanfare?

They could only smuggle goods secretly and cooperate with smugglers from Annan and Siam. They had to let them take 60% of the profits before they could transport the goods to trade transit stations to sell them.

They suffered countless losses from this back and forth.

But it would be great if we could become citizens of the Ming Dynasty and enjoy the same rights as those in Annan.

The Ming Dynasty could also mediate the hatred among other countries towards itself, which was a rare good thing.

This seems to be better than when Srivijaya was an independent country.

At least for those vested interests, this is the best thing.

Why did they have to oppose the king so loudly? It was because the king had harmed their interests.

They don't care whether you are a king or not. As long as your reforms conflict with our interests, you will die.

Even without the participation of the Ming Dynasty, the king's reforms would have been difficult to succeed.

Because the vested interests in Srivijaya were so powerful, it would be naive for the king to carry out reforms at this time.

After Xia Yuanji said this, the expressions of the civil and military officials below obviously looked much better.

Then Xia Yuanji continued, "Of course, the reason why the Ming Dynasty treats you so well is also for the sake of the Ming Dynasty.

You are just the colonized people of my Ming Dynasty. We all know that you have resentment in your hearts, but you'd better put it away.

Because even if you have resentment, you can resent it when you keep it in your heart, but once you show it, don't blame the Ming Dynasty for being cruel.

The Ming Navy now has 50,000 to 60,000 troops. In the next few years, or even more than ten years, the Ming Navy will become larger and larger.

That is, it will penetrate into every corner of your Sanfuqi.

If you don't speak out your hatred, we won't take it seriously. But if you do, we will skin you alive and put your heads on display. The Ming Dynasty has plenty of tortures to deal with you."

Xia Yuanji's words were full of murderous intent, and the civil and military officials below shrank back in fear.

It seems that the Governor is not only funny, but also very cool and hot.

The civil and military officials immediately shook their heads and said, "We dare not, we dare not, sir. Whatever you say is what we have to do."

Xia Yuanji looked at them, glanced at them, and said again, "So in order to prevent people like you from cheating, the Ming Dynasty will set up a customs office in Sanfuqi. The so-called customs office is similar to a land checkpoint.

Every overseas trade transaction must be registered and taxed at the Maritime Customs.

The trade goods you bring back from foreign countries must be inspected and taxed at the Maritime Customs Port.

No prohibited items may be brought into or out of Srivijaya.

At the same time, the Ming Dynasty would set up a trade department in Srivijaya to manage all businesses in Srivijaya.

Only businesses registered with the Trade Department can engage in overseas trade.

Every year, the Trade Department will rate the companies, and if they are rated as medium or low, their qualification to trade overseas will be revoked immediately.”

……

(End of this chapter)