The Ming Dynasty started with saving the eldest grandson

Chapter 251 New Topic
Regarding how to manage Nanyang, this is also a question that Chen Jingke has been thinking about.

How important Nanyang is to China can be known by anyone who has a little knowledge of international situations in previous lives.

It's a pity that at that time, the gateway to Nanyang was controlled by the US imperialists, so we could only spend more money to find other backup channels.

In this life, such a thing must never happen again.

The Ming Dynasty laid out the world a hundred years in advance. Not to mention other places, at least Nanyang must be in its own hands.

How to implement this plan needs to be carefully considered.

Referring to the experience of his previous life, he formulated a plan.

Occupying the gateway of Malacca Strait is only one step.

The second step is to build the Governor's Palace in Temasek (Singapore), move the people to settle here, and build it into the lock of Malacca.

There is another place that Chen Jingke thinks is particularly important.

It is really difficult to expect people of this era to understand this truth and formulate corresponding policies.

In the previous life, these island chains were used by the US emperor to block China. In this life, the island chains are used to protect China.

It is not difficult to conquer Southeast Asia, but the subsequent governance and development are difficult.

On a larger scale, it determines the future policy direction of Ming Dynasty.

And how to govern Nanyang is, to a lesser extent, related to the long-term peace and stability of the Ming Dynasty's oceans.

Whether this was the right path, he didn't know.

Far water cannot quench near thirst, what should we do now?
Making do for now? That’s not impossible.

Whether a stable and healthy business order can be established will determine the success or failure of the Nanyang strategy.

Chen Jingke didn't know exactly how to take this new path, so he could only try it with his own shallow knowledge.

Chen Jingke naturally wanted to perfect this model.

It will take another five years to complete Xiaoliuqiu and Chu State, and twenty years to complete the island chain plan.

But even if the academy is established, it will take a long time to cultivate talents that meet the requirements.

He personally sees no problem with this plan.

Then there are countries such as Bo Ni and Java, forming an island chain, completely turning Nanyang into the back garden of the Ming Dynasty.

What could serve as this rope?
Rely on land and agriculture? Stop making fun of me.

Only in this way can a whole be formed.

In Nanyang, Ming Dynasty must take a new path.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not Xiaoliuqiu (Taiwan), but Yazhou (Hainan Island).

The Southern Ocean is so large and the islands are so fragmented that a rope is needed to connect them.

Once stained, you will have to pay a greater price to correct it.

It was impossible for the Ming Dynasty to follow the old path of land farming, otherwise there would be no point in occupying Nanyang.

He looked around and found to his frustration that no one was available.

But the problem comes again. No matter how good the plan is, it must have the right people to execute it.

At this time, he became more eager to move the capital and build an academy.

But now there is no other way but to bite the bullet and move forward.

You can’t just rely on land and farming.

Of course, land and agriculture are the foundation of everything, and this will not change.

Of course, this does not mean that Xiaoliuqiu is not important, but it is relatively more cost-effective to build Yazhou.

And its west side is the Indochina Peninsula.

Then came the problem.

But he was unwilling to give in. Such a good blank paper was the perfect time to paint.

Therefore, one can imagine how important Yazhou was to Ming Dynasty.

Chen Jingke’s initial plan is to build Yazhou and Temasek in five years.

But again, no one is available, no matter how many ideas he has, it's useless.

If Ming Dynasty grasps this rope, it can truly control Nanyang.

Because this is a model, all policies implemented here will be widely used elsewhere.

All Chen Jingke can think of is industry and commerce.

Next is Xiaoliuqiu and Luzon...now called Chu State.

Building this place well is also an important part of the strategy of exploring Southeast Asia.

This range includes half of the world's population and one-third of the global economy.

Someone in the previous life made a calculation and drew a circle of four thousand kilometers with Yazhou as the center.

Xu Chailao's appearance gave him an unexpected surprise.

I didn't expect that there are such great talents among the people.

With a little training, he will be a good New Deal executor.

History has really buried too many talents, he couldn't help but sigh.

In fact, he has too little understanding of history.

Xu Chailao is not a talent buried by history, but a person who has left his name in official history.

In the original world, he successfully grew into a wealthy man in Luzon and became the leader of the Nanyang Ming people.

In the third year of Yongle, Zheng He, the eunuch of the Three Treasures, sailed to the West and arrived in Luzon. He was appointed governor of Luzon and took charge of the military, political, financial and cultural powers in the region.

He served until the 20nd year of Yongle, for years, which shows his ability.

It's a pity that Zheng He's voyages to the West were just for money and to promote the country's prestige, and had no real intention to explore Southeast Asia.

Xu Chailao also failed to make greater achievements.

But there is a saying that opportunities are reserved for those who are prepared.

He had that ability and was in that position. Ming Dynasty planned Southeast Asia twenty years in advance, but he still participated in it.

And got a better start.

Now that he has a suitable candidate, Chen Jingke decided to directly implement the New Deal in Nanyang.

I wrote down my plans one by one and prepared to show them to Zhu Yuanzhang tomorrow.

Halfway through writing the memorial, Fuqing came in with a tray and said angrily:

"Every day I feel so busy with government affairs that I don't even eat."

Chen Jingke raised his head and smiled: "Isn't it nice to have a difficult problem solved unexpectedly?"

Fuqing placed a bowl of lotus seed soup, two steamed buns and a plate of pickles on the table:

"Let's write after dinner."

Chen Jingke felt warm in his heart and said with a smile: "Thank you Princess Fuqing. I am truly blessed in eight lifetimes to marry such a virtuous daughter-in-law like you."

"Haha..." Fu Qing laughed out loud and pushed him gently:
"That mouth of yours can make women happy."

The couple flirted with each other for a while. After he finished eating, Fuqing asked:

"Are those two people really as capable as you say?"

Chen Jingke thought for a moment and said, "Ability is secondary, but courage is more important, and my ideas are more in line with my requirements."

"I have been unable to find the right person to implement some of my plans for Nanyang."

"When I met Mr. Xu Chai today, I discovered that he coincides with me on many ideas."

"Although it's not as comprehensive as mine, with a little training, it can still be put to use."

"That's great." Fu Qing was also happy for him, and then said thoughtfully:
"It seems that Mr. Xu Chai was expelled from his family. His wife and children followed him to Beijing. He still has no fixed address."

"Our family has a small courtyard on West Street. Let's lend it to him for a while."

This was to win over people for him. Chen Jingke was very moved:
"Just watch and do it... By the way, have you finished writing Pirates?"

Fu Qing nodded and said, "It's been finalized. I'll revise it again and show it to you."

Chen Jingke smiled and said: "The time is just right. With the east wind blowing across the sea, it will surely spread throughout the world."

Fu Qing said as he should: "This is natural. Your creativity and writing style will definitely be spread all over the world."

Chen Jingke laughed dumbly. This wife was becoming more and more immodest.

The couple chatted for a while, and then Fu Qing stood up and said:

"Okay, you go ahead and get busy. I'll wait for you when I go back." After watching her leave, Chen Jingke picked up the pen and finished the rest of the memorial.

Entering the palace the next day, when I saw Zhu Yuanzhang, I said hello in advance and said that I would report on Nanyang later.

This is the appointment time, so that Lao Zhu will not have to do other things.

Zhu Yuanzhang also knew this, and specifically ordered people to free up the time after the morning dynasty.

Zhu Xiongying was very curious and kept asking: "Is there anything else you are hiding from me? Tell me honestly."

Chen Jingke just told him that it would be a waste of time to go and listen together after the morning meeting. Now he asked him to tell him again later.

Zhu Xiongying was so angry that he almost hit someone, but he really didn't ask any questions.

The court today was relatively calm, and nothing particularly new was said. After following the procedures, everyone left the court and went about their own business.

Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Xiongying and Chen Jingke returned to Qianqing Palace together.

Everyone sat down, and Zhu Yuanzhang asked: "Tell me, do you have any new ideas?"

Chen Jingke submitted the memorial without any concealment and said directly:
"It's not a new idea. I've thought about it for a long time, but I haven't found the right person to execute it."

"Yesterday I found a good talent who can understand my thoughts, so I wrote it down to lobby His Majesty."

Zhu Yuanzhang had already opened the memorial, but when he heard this, he rolled it up and threw it aside, and said angrily:
"Then just tell us with your lips. We are too lazy to read and waste our eyes."

Chen Jingke: "..."

Zhu Xiongying gloated: "Haha... you deserve it..."

But then he smoothed things over and said, "The talents you are talking about are not the two people you met yesterday afternoon, are they?"

Chen Jingke said to himself, good brother, I didn’t teach you so much in vain.

"The main reason is Xu Chai Lao. Although he was born into a merchant's family, he does not have the shortcomings of a merchant."

"He understands business better than the average person, knows how to develop business, and knows how to limit it."

"With a little training, he becomes a rare new type of talent."

Zhu Yuanzhang said disdainfully: "What kind of new talents? Just say people who understand the ways of merchants."

"I don't believe that our Ming Dynasty has more than 70 million people and can't find suitable talents."

Ming Dynasty originally had a registered population of 60 million. Last year’s census found many illegal households.

Coupled with the naturalization of barbarians, the total population increased by more than 14 million.

There must be many people hidden, but the cost of continuing the investigation will be too high.

Moreover, population hiding is also caused by many problems such as institutional and economic problems.

Instead of worrying about this, it is better to focus more on system construction and improve the economy.

As long as these two aspects are done well, the number of illegal households will naturally decrease.

Otherwise, no matter how clear the investigation is now, there will still be shady accounts everywhere in a few decades.

Closer to home.

Hearing Zhu Yuanzhang's words, Chen Jingke smiled and said: "Your Majesty, what I mean by understanding business is different from what you mean by knowing how to be a merchant."

Zhu Yuanzhang raised his eyebrows: "Oh? What's the difference?"

Chen Jingke said: "The way of a merchant you mentioned is how to make money in business."

"In fact, wealth has not increased much, it is just a process of gathering from the hands of many people to the hands of a few people."

"What I mean by understanding business is a means to increase wealth and use it to enrich the country and strengthen the people."

Zhu Yuanzhang was confused for a while, what do you mean?
Isn’t that what business is all about?

Although Chen Jingke explained the importance of business to a country.

But one problem is always real.

Businessmen gather wealth in the hands of a few people through means such as reselling and hoarding.

In fact, the total GDP of society has not increased much.

This is actually related to the perception of wealth.

In ancient times, wealth was land, both in the East and in the West.

Whether it is money or power, it ultimately belongs to the land.

When you make money as an official, you end up buying land. Land is everything.

At this time, wealth is in kind, and money is also in kind—it can be food, cloth, or precious metals such as gold, silver, and copper.

Therefore, there were no financial crises in ancient times, only existential crises caused by insufficient production and distribution problems.

But when capital was born, wealth had a new definition, which was money.

The so-called capital is playing with money.

industrialization?
Modern people have given high significance to industrialization, but in the eyes of capital, industrialization is nothing more than a tool and a means.

The purpose is also to play for money.

Money is everything.

People have also invented many ways to play with money.

Stocks, futures, advance consumption, etc.

Everything is priced with money.

So there was the financial crisis and the milk pouring incident.

Before the advent of capital, throwing food away was unthinkable.

After the emergence of capital, it became normal for everything to be based on money.

What Chen Jingke said about business is also capital and playing with money.

Don’t take capital too seriously. Capital was first born in the city-states of Italy.

They also want to play with land, but the country is too small and divided to be able to play with it.

What should I do if I make money from doing business?
Other countries can buy land, but they can’t?
You can only play with money, and this is how capital is slowly played out.

Several people form a partnership to raise funds to buy a boat. Everyone has a partner, and that's how the shares come from.

Don't think that capital is evil. It is just a staged tool that appears in the process of human development.

Although many people criticize capital for its evil ways, from a materialist standpoint, it is only a phased product in the history of human development.

Its emergence directly destroyed the old classical society established by religion and feudal system.

A large amount of wealth was produced in a very short period of time, bringing mankind into an era of unprecedented abundance.

And it cannot be denied that capital is by far the most dynamic model.

When a better and more advanced model appears one day, it will naturally be eliminated.

Therefore, there is no need to give it too many complimentary or derogatory words.

Of course, his idea is very politically incorrect, but everyone has their own understanding.

All I can say is that I am grateful for the open era in my previous life that tolerated all kinds of different viewpoints.

There are many islands in Nanyang, and they are the maritime gateway of the Ming Dynasty and are located on the main transportation routes.

There are conditions for playing capital.

Of course, Chen Jingke would not directly tell Zhu Yuanzhang that he wanted to play capital and make money in Nanyang.

For people of this era, it is too shocking.

Not only the people of the Ming Dynasty could not accept it, but also the Westerners at this time most likely could not accept it either.

So he just told Zhu Yuanzhang:
"Your Majesty, the vast territory of Nanyang is dominated by islands, which is very unfavorable for governance."

"The key thing we want is not a place of control, but real and effective rule."

"We cannot let this place become a blood-sucking insect that sucks the blood of the Ming Dynasty. We must turn it into a place that provides supplies for the Ming Dynasty."

"This requires us to find a way to connect the entire Southeast Asia with one thing."

Zhu Yuanzhang is almost numb, what are you talking about? I don't understand at all?

Weren't we still talking about business just now? How come it has become a rope that connects everything?
He looked at Zhu Xiongying and found that his eldest grandson also looked confused.

At this time, he missed Zhu Biao very much. If such a big boy were here, he would definitely understand.

I don’t know how the Luoyang Palace is being repaired. Let’s hurry up and move the capital.

We will give up the throne to Biao'er immediately, and we will never worry about this again.

However, although I couldn't understand what Chen Jingke said, I could understand what he meant:
"Are you going to use commerce as a rope to connect the entire Southeast Asia?"

(End of this chapter)