The most reckless man in the Ming Dynasty.

Chapter 314: Japanese Criminals and East China Sea Trade

The Japanese bear corvée labor? !
This seems like a good choice.

Zhu Houzhao and Yang Tinghe looked at each other and saw the joy in each other's eyes.

These Japanese are not human beings. To the Ming Dynasty, to use an appropriate word, they are "criminal people"!
Because they were guilty, the Ming Dynasty sent troops to attack them and completely destroyed their ruling center, turning them directly into a colony of the Ming Dynasty!

Since they are criminals, they are equivalent to slaves, similar to the slaves in the Ming Dynasty. Using them to perform corvee labor is undoubtedly an excellent choice!

Moreover, having the Japanese criminals bear corvée and hard labor will liberate the common people who were forced to do corvée. They can farm at home peacefully. The common people no longer have to bear the hardship of corvée and naturally will not be dissatisfied with the court. This is a great thing that will help the court win the hearts of the people!

Only Zhu Youlang's face changed slightly. He looked at Yang Tinghe tentatively and found that the chief minister of the cabinet did not oppose Zhongshan Hou's approach.

"Your Majesty, Lord Tang, I'm afraid that doing this will cause an uproar in the world!"

"Capturing people and using them as slaves is not in line with Confucianism and goes against the way of the saints. Once it is publicized, I'm afraid it will cause an uproar!"

Zhu Youju was not speaking for the Japanese. In fact, the life and death of the Japanese was none of his business.

On the contrary, Zhu Youlang was reminding Tang Hao and Zhu Houzhao that doing so would easily damage their reputation.

Well, the Marquis of Zhongshan was notorious and infamous, there was nothing much to say about him.

But His Majesty the Emperor is different. Tang Hao's proposal is undoubtedly a colonial idea, which is very different from Confucianism. If those gentry and nobles seize this opportunity to make trouble, I am afraid there will be a lot of trouble.

But Tang Hao just smiled indifferently when he heard it.

“If it doesn’t conform to Confucianism, does that mean it’s wrong?”

"Besides, this is against the way of the saints. Isn't this what the gentry have always been doing?"

Tang Hao sneered: "Among all the nobles in the court, who doesn't have a large number of servants and maids who have become slaves?"

"Are these servants not Han Chinese, and not citizens of the Ming Dynasty?"

"Since slaves can be bought and sold, and the gentry are accustomed to it, why can't these Japanese criminals be bought and sold, and used for corvée labor?"

After these words were spoken, Yang Tinghe's face darkened and he had no way to refute.

How to refute?

He has several servants and maids in his house!
This has long been a common occurrence among the people of the Ming Dynasty.

This is where the problem lies.

The way of a sage is to promote benevolence and forgiveness, and to emphasize benevolence, righteousness, and morality.

However, when it comes to the slave trade, Confucianism has already lost. No matter how good the gentry are to the servants in their mansions, it cannot change the fact that these servants are slaves. From the moment they put their fingerprints on the contract of sale, they are already slaves.

Since even the citizens of the Ming Dynasty can be bought and sold and treated as slaves, why can't the same be true for the Japanese criminals?
Could it be that these Japanese criminals are more noble than the people of the Ming Dynasty?
If anyone dares to speak like this, that person will instantly lose all his reputation and become notorious, and will be drowned in spit when he goes out!

In addition, most slaves and maids actually live worse than the pets of wealthy families, that is, "the rich have wine and meat, while the poor freeze to death on the streets." This phenomenon has always existed.

You can't buy and sell people just for your own enjoyment, but it's not okay for the imperial court. Moreover, the imperial court is not selling people, but forcing some Japanese criminals to do hard labor. They are not Ming people, so why is it not okay?
If this logic doesn't make sense, then unless there is no more slavery in the Ming Dynasty, the imperial court will announce the direct abolition of slavery, liberate this miserable group, and make all people in the world equal.

But how is this possible?
If all beings were equal, who would serve these gentry and gentlemen who only know how to read and write?
They have always believed in "a gentleman should stay away from the kitchen". They can't even cook, so are they going to starve to death?

Therefore, this is the essence of decadent Confucianism. On the surface, it advocates benevolence and righteousness and promotes morality and etiquette, but in reality it is full of despicable intrigues. It is just covered with a bright and beautiful coat. Once the coat is torn off, there is nothing to see inside.

These great principles of Confucianism, these ways of sages, are actually impossible for anyone to put into practice. But since they cannot do it, they cannot deny it, so they can only slowly turn into hypocrites who say one thing in front of others and another behind their backs. The ways of sages they talk about have become the best weapon for these people to restrain the emperor and criticize others!
This is decadent Confucianism!
This is the child of a famous education!
Yang Tinghe did not say anything and chose to remain silent.

Zhu Houzhao smiled and said: "That's exactly what happened!"

"Since you're a whore, why do you need to set up a memorial archway?"

"If anyone dares to object, I will order the servants and maids in his house to be dismissed. I want to see how these nobles can continue to clamor for the "Way of the Sage" without these servants to serve them!"

This time, Yang Tinghe finally responded.

Because he felt that His Majesty the Emperor had learned bad things from Marquis Zhongshan, and was speaking all kinds of dirty words and vulgar language, and had no imperial dignity at all.

“This is a good thing that benefits the country and the people.”

"For the common people, they would rather not have to endure the pain of corvée labor."

"For the country, corvée labor has not been reduced. On the contrary, all these young and strong laborers have been released, and the Ming Dynasty will have a large population. Then the grain production will naturally increase greatly, which will be of great benefit to the national strength..."

Everyone present could see the benefits of this strategy.

The only difficulty is that if the court really does this, there will definitely be some gentry and gentry clamoring, but as long as Yang Tinghe has no objection, their clamoring will be useless. After all, Yang Tinghe, the leader of the gentry, is not a decoration, not to mention that Tang Hao also gave him an Iwami Silver Mine to establish his prestige. I think with Yang Tinghe's ability and means, he will not be unable to solve such a small problem.

After this strategy was passed, the four continued to discuss some national policies and confirmed some details, and today's meeting ended here.

Tang Hao was the last one to leave, and Zhu Houzhao intentionally kept him.

"Savage, can this Yang Tinghe really be trusted?"

Zhu Houzhao asked suspiciously, "Are you sure he won't stab me in the back again?"

"Probably not, because there is no point in doing so!"

Tang Hao patiently explained: "The last time Yang Tinghe stabbed us in the back, his purpose was to prevent the princes of the royal family from entering the court to take power. In Yang Tinghe's view, this would plant hidden dangers for future generations. After all, no one can guarantee that the Ming emperor sitting on the dragon throne is always wise. If there is a tyrant, the princes of the royal family will have real power and will most likely take the opportunity to cause chaos."

"After all, these princes of the royal family also have the blood of Emperor Taizu Gao flowing in their veins. They can also sit on the throne, so Yang Tinghe's worry is not unreasonable!"

Zhu Houzhao nodded, reluctantly agreeing with this statement.

"I have reached a cooperation with him and given him the Iwami Silver Mine to integrate the power of the civil officials and gentry. With the help of Ning Wang Zhu Chenhao, we can eliminate those corrupt and bribe-taking bastards in the court. Then we can start with the Ministry of Personnel and clarify the administration of officials!"

Zhu Houzhao smiled with relief when he heard this.

He has been waiting for this day for a long time.

"What's the situation at the Five Prefectures? Has Yang Yiqing expressed his stance?"

"Yang Yiqing and Yang Tinghe are the same, both are loyal and virtuous people who put public interests above their own."

Tang Hao sincerely praised: "Although Yang Yiqing is a tough guy and has a stubborn personality, after talking to him, I found that he is very clear about the bigger picture and has chosen to fully cooperate in rebuilding the five prefectures. Even if his Ministry of War will lose more than half of its authority, Yang Yiqing doesn't care at all."

"On the contrary, what Yang Yiqing really cares about is whether I can stabilize the situation and whether it will cause chaos in the world!"

After hearing this, Zhu Houzhao remained silent, then sighed heavily.

"It seems that the court is not full of selfish officials. Yang Tinghe and Yang Yiqing are pretty good!"

"Of course, there have always been talented and loyal people in our country, but the biggest problem actually lies with the emperor!"

Tang Hao said this expressionlessly.

Zhu Houzhao immediately shouted angrily: "You damned savage, shut up!"

As soon as Tang Hao opened his mouth, Zhu Houzhao knew that this bastard wanted to mock his own father, Emperor Hongzhi, again.

"Get out of here and do your thing!"

Tang Hao chuckled and nodded, then turned and left.

After returning to the Dongguanting camp, Tang Hao fell into deep thought, looking a little tired.

Just at this time, Zuo Yidao brought good news.

"My Lord, the Imperial Guards have reported that North Korea has agreed to the East China Sea trade!"

Hearing this, a smile appeared on Tang Hao's face.

I don't think it's too surprising.

This is a secret letter from Tangmu, which records in detail the "scholar disaster" in Korea.

After Cui Dam returned to Beijing, he immediately went to visit the speculator Shen Zhen, and then, under the leadership of Shen Zhen, he went to the palace overnight to meet with the King of Korea Yi Gye. After some persuasion, Yi Gye really found it difficult to give up the huge profits from trade with the Ming Dynasty, so he appointed Cui Dam to lead the palace guards to take action that night!
Choi Dam arrested the leaders of the Sillin faction, including Counselor Yi Seok, Criminal Department Minister Kim Jeong, Grand Chancellor Cho Gwang-jo, Grand Chief of Staff Kim Seok, Deputy Superintendent Kim Hyuk, Chief Secretary Yoo In-sook, Left Deputy Secretary Park Se-hui, Right Deputy Secretary Hong Eon-pil, and Co-Deputy Secretary Park Hun, on the grounds that Cho Gwang-jo and others "formed cliques, promoted those who were loyal to them and dismissed those who were different from them, relied on each other in influence, occupied important positions, falsely accused the emperor of doing things for their own benefit, had no scruples, lured the younger generation, made a habit of trickery and incitement, used the younger to bully the older and used the younger to hinder the more powerful, thus turning the national situation upside down and deteriorating the government."

Lee Gye even prepared to execute Cho Gwang-jo and others, but was opposed by Lee Jang-gon, An Gang, and Jeong Gwang-pil. Thousands of Confucian scholars in Sungkyunkwan also cried out for justice for Cho Gwang-jo and others in Gwanghwamun. Lee Gye had to temporarily exile Cho Gwang-jo to Yeongju, and execute him on the way after he left Beijing. In addition, Kim Jeong, Ki Sun, Han Zhong, and Kim Seok were also exiled and either executed or committed suicide soon after. Dozens of people including Kim Hyuk, Park Se-hui, Park Hun, Hong Un-pil, Lee Seok, and Yoo In-sook were exiled, and An Gang, Kim An-guk, and Kim Jong-guk, who had sheltered them, were dismissed from their posts.

From then on, Li Yi slaughtered the Sillin faction in the court, and the old forces were in power again.

Moreover, because Cui Dam personally led the army to massacre the entire Silin faction, and because Zhongshan Hou Tang Hao promised to recognize only him, this famous Goryeo official who had been marginalized finally officially entered the power center of Korea and became the leader of the old meritorious forces in Korea, suppressing Nam Gun, Shen Zhen, Hong Jingzhou and others.

After the internal problems were completely resolved, Cui Tan did not forget how he gained his power today, so he immediately submitted a memorial to Li Yi requesting to conduct East China Sea trade with the Ming Dynasty. Li Yi naturally ordered Cui Tan to be fully responsible for the matter.

Cui Dam then visited Jeju Island again and determined the trade process and specific matters with Tang Mu who was in charge there. Since then, the East China Sea trade was officially opened.

After reading the secret letter, Tang Hao nodded with satisfaction.

It was worth it that he planned for so long!
The East China Sea trade will become the carriage that drives the development and transformation of the Ming Dynasty!
As for the Japanese criminals, they are another carriage that will change the Ming Dynasty!
(End of this chapter)