I

  Chapter 437 435 [If there is no food, grab it]

   Nanjing.

  Nanzong Kong Zhenyun, who was conferred the title of Duke Yansheng by Zhao Han, came to Nanjing to meet the emperor before he went to Shandong to be proclaimed.

  Kong Zhenyun also made meritorious service. When the Datong army attacked Zhejiang, he accompanied the army to persuade several counties to surrender.

  At this moment, Duan Duan was standing upright, listening to Zhao Han's admonition.

"I went to Qufu, so I can cooperate with the government to restore the people's livelihood in Qufu," Zhao Han said to Kong Zhenyun. "Shandong has suffered from locust drought, military disaster, and plague one after another. This year, the Yellow River burst its embankment and flooded the southwestern border of Shandong. The people are in dire straits, and the dead Countless, you don't want to add chaos to the officials and the people. Do you know?"

  Kong Zhenyun hurriedly bowed: "I would like to follow your Majesty's instructions!"

  Zhao Han waved his hand and said, "Go."

  Kong Zhenyun bowed and stepped back, cautious in his words and deeds.

  Datong army won victory in Shandong and Henan, Zhao Han has already settled down in the world, in Kong Zhenyun's view, he is even more majestic, and there is something imperceptibly pressing on him.

  The person left, and Zhao Han continued to review the memorial.

  After half an hour of processing, Zhao Han stopped suddenly, thought carefully for a moment, and Zhu approved: "Yes. Let the Ministry of Rites take full responsibility."

  But the deans of the five major medical schools jointly signed a petition to set up a medical school in Qintianjian.

  In the Ming Dynasty, there was a imperial hospital, but Zhao Han didn't set it up. He always consulted famous doctors from Jinling Medical College when he was sick.

  The doctors under Zhao Han's administration, although their social status has improved, there is no institution similar to Tai Hospital. In the past two years, he has made great achievements in preventing and controlling the plague, so he became bolder and took the initiative to ask the emperor to set up a medical center.

  Doctors with official status were called "doctors with crowns and belts" in Ming Dynasty, and everyone who practiced medicine wanted to wear crowns and belts.

   After reviewing the memorial about Taiwan, Zhao Han immediately said, "Bring those little Francophones over here!"

   Not long after, several Spaniards were brought in front of Zhao Han by the female officer, accompanied by a Chinese interpreter.

  The leader immediately knelt down and kowtowed: "Jose, the Spanish envoy, pays homage to His Majesty the Emperor of Datong, China."

  The officials and people under Zhao Han's own rule do not need to kneel to the emperor. But envoys from other countries or forces, including Fu Geng sent by Li Zicheng, would kneel whenever they liked, and Zhao Han did not stop them.

  Zhao Han asked: "Have the Dutch gone north?"

Jose said: "Great Majesty, those damned Dutchmen sent troops to raid our stronghold, fortunately they were repulsed by brave Chinese soldiers. But the Dutch retreated to Santo Domingo (Freshwater) and started building a castle there. I beg His Majesty the Emperor to send troops to expel them immediately, otherwise it will not be so easy for the Dutch to fight after the castle is built."

  In addition to chicken coops, Spain also used Tamsui as a colonial base in Taiwan. They built a wooden fence by the river as a city wall, and built an earthen fortress in the city, stationed fifty soldiers, and named Danshui "Santo Domingo".

  A few years ago, Taiwanese natives repeatedly attacked Santo Domingo, beating the Spaniards to abandon the city and destroying the Spanish castle.

  Now the Netherlands is suddenly going north, planning to build a castle in Tamsui, which is under the jurisdiction of Taipei County!

  This time not only the Spaniards asked Zhao Han to send troops, but even Sun Chuanting, the magistrate of Taipei, was asking for instructions on whether to go to war to drive the Dutch away.

  The reason why Sun Chuanting didn't do anything directly was because he knew that Zhao Han was buying war horses through the Netherlands. In case of a fight with the Dutch, leading to the cessation of the trade in war horses, it would be a big conspiracy if you can't bear it.

  The problem is that the Netherlands only sent a mission before, and tried everything possible to please the Chinese emperor. Why did he suddenly come to touch the tiger's **** again?

  Zhao Han couldn't figure it out, and couldn't understand it.

Zhao Han said to Jose: "Go back and tell the Governor of the Philippines that Spain must give up its claimed occupation of the chicken coop. The entire island of Taiwan is China's land. The chicken coop, which is your city of San Salvador, must be handed over to Datong officials for management ...I allow the Spaniards to stay in the coop, allow you to keep a church, and allow you to open a trading post. However, you must abide by the laws of the Datong court!"

   "Of course, that's what the governor intended." Jose immediately accepted.

   In other words, only by handing over the chicken coop to China can Spain continue to stay and do business, otherwise they will not be able to withstand the Dutch attack at all.

  Even if Zhao Han didn't bring it up, the Spaniards would ask China to take over the chicken coop.

  Since Spain is so sensible, Zhao Han also wants to express his attitude. He said with a smile: "I have two gifts, one for the King of Spain and one for the Governor of the Philippines. I hope the friendship between the two countries will last forever."

   "Thank you, His Majesty, the great Emperor of China Datong!" Jose hurriedly thanked him.

   As for gifts, give porcelain.

  Official kilns in all provinces, including Jingdezhen, have begun to be privatized.

  Actually, there were not many official kilns in Daming, and there were only a total of fifty or so in the whole country. This thing does not make money at all, and it needs local funding to make it, and it also needs to recruit porcelain firing craftsmen to serve for free.

  It can be said that it is a waste of money, the local government is losing money, and the artisans who burn porcelain are oppressed. The palace can only get porcelain for free, and all the profits in the middle are earned by eunuchs and civil officials.

   It is better to sell the official kilns to merchants and privately owned ones.

   Regarding royal expenses, the results are now being discussed. The annual royal expenses are directly extracted in proportion to customs, tea, porcelain, salt, textile and other taxes.

  Next year, the royal family's expenditure is expected to rise to 800,000 taels.

  During the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, Chinese multicolored porcelain had matured, but blue and white porcelain was mainly exported.

  Zhao Han wanted to help Wucai Porcelain open up overseas markets, so he just took this opportunity to give one to the King of Spain and the Governor of the Philippines. Multicolored porcelain is definitely more in line with the aesthetics of European aristocrats, and I can break my head for this stuff in the future!

   It’s time for a foreign ministry to be established, not only to deal with foreign countries, but also to deal with Li Zicheng, the Manchus, and Mongolia.

  For example, instigating against the Mongolian nobles, inciting Mobei Mongolia to attack the Manchus, or alienating the Manchus nobles, etc.

  This institution should not have too much power and should be affiliated with a certain ministry.

   Whether or not he is attached to the Ministry of Rites, Zhao Han has not thought about it for the time being, and he will discuss it with the minister slowly in the future.

  But said that Jose and other members of the diplomatic mission were arranged to rest in the hotel while waiting for the official diplomatic letter from Zhao Han to the Spanish Governor.

  In the evening, he received several pieces of porcelain.

  The most exquisite one was given to the King of Spain, and the lesser one was given to the Governor of the Philippines. Members of the mission each received a small multicolored cup, and José also received a teapot as an extra.

   "This is more beautiful than Clark porcelain!" Jose was shocked, holding the teapot and cup with trembling hands.

  There are only two gifts, if he returns to Europe, Jose can make a fortune.

   Given the gift, you can wait for the order. The Governor of the Philippines will definitely send a fleet to buy multicolored porcelain.

  The Netherlands is similar, maybe they can use multicolored porcelain to directly trade Indian Mawarima.

   It’s not one for one, but a porcelain bowl for several excellent war horses!

   Of course, you have to learn a lesson first.

  Zhao Han used a red pen to reply to Sun Chuanting's memorial: "The barbarians of Fanbang are fearful of power but not virtuous. If the enemy invades, attack and wipe them out!"

  As soon as the memorial to Taiwan was finished, the three cabinet ministers and the Minister of War rushed to see Zhao Han.

   "Your Majesty," Pang Chunlai clasped his hands, "an emergency report has been sent from the north, and the slaves have moved out of Beizhili, and the whole family has withdrawn to the outside of Shanhaiguan."

  Zhao Han was stunned, then laughed: "It's a strong man who can sever his wrists."

  The situation in the north this year is very strange. In Shanxi, Shaanxi, Shandong, and Henan, only some places are dry, and most areas have frequent rains, and some places even have floods. Only Beizhili continues to suffer severe drought in the whole province.

  If the Manchus still stay in Beizhili, there will be a great famine next year.

   Return to Liaodong as soon as possible, and you can replant some grain.

  Li Banghua said: "Your Majesty, you should send troops quickly to occupy Beizhili before Li Zicheng!"

Zhao Han shook his head and said, "It is impossible to send troops in large numbers. The epidemic situation in Beizhili is also serious, and there are droughts and famines everywhere. Send Qingqi to the north to occupy as much as you can. Send some officials to govern, and don't rush to divide the land for the time being. Let the people of Northern Zhili find their own way of life."

   Zhao Han really ran out of food. The previous war had caused the price of food in the south to soar.

  The hungry people in Henan and Shandong can only provide symbolic relief. If the mess in northern Zhili is taken over again, people's livelihood in the south will be severely affected, and it is estimated that wages in cities will not be enough to buy rice.

   Following Zhao Han's decision, all divisions stationed in the north sent dragoons northward to occupy states and counties.

  During the ten-month period, Hejian Mansion and Baoding Mansion were captured, but only half of Zhending Mansion was occupied. The other half of Zhending Mansion was preempted by Li Zicheng, and both sides maintained restraint, and there was no conflict over the territory.

   Li Zicheng, like Zhao Han, seems to send troops quickly, taking as much as he can.

   Moreover, after occupying the city, they only wish to govern the city, and the people outside the city let it fend for itself. It can only be like this for the time being, and it is better to fend for itself than to be exploited by the Tartars.

   Li Zicheng's ruling center is, after all, closer than Zhao Han's, and the speed of dispatching troops is much faster.

  Xuanfu, Baoan Prefecture, Yanqing Prefecture, half of Baoding Prefecture, and most of Shuntian Prefecture were all taken by Li Zicheng. Zhao Han only occupied a small half of Shuntian Mansion, and pushed northward to Bazhou and Tianjin.

  Both sides agreed to ignore Yongping Mansion, because it was next to Shanhaiguan—it was not worthwhile to garrison heavily, and it would be very laborious to transport grain and grass.

  But said that after the Manchu Qing returned to Liaodong, due to food shortages, they did not choose to cultivate their health and rest, but immediately launched a war!

   Internally, the Manchu Qing forced the barbarian Jurchen to give food. If they don't hand over enough food in accordance with the regulations, they will easily slaughter a certain tribe and rob them of food, livestock and women.

   Externally, attack North Korea to the south, and plunder Khalkha Mongolia to the north.

  The king of North Korea is going crazy. He has already surrendered to the Manchu Qing, and even the king's personal firearms team has been handed over to the Manchu Qing to take them out to fight. As a result, Nima was also looted, and northern North Korea was almost robbed, and it also brought plague to North Korea.

  In northern North Korea, ten rooms are empty, and famine and plague are spreading rapidly.

   On the Mongolian side of Khalkha, the Chechen Khan tribe closest to the Manchu Qing also paid tribute to the Manchu Qing long ago.

   As a result, more than 20,000 Manchu cavalry and Mongolian cavalry suddenly sent troops to attack the Chechen Khan.

  The Chechen Khan has 30,000 cavalry, but they live scattered on the grasslands and graze, so there is no time to gather. He was killed all the way to the Khan Court by the Manchu cavalry, Chechen Khan Shuo Lei died in battle, and his son Babu was supported by the Manchu Dynasty as the puppet Khan.

  Shuo Lei died unjustly, this guy has been plotting to backstab Man Qing.

  In history, after another four years, Shuo Lei instigated the Horqin tribe to rebel, and he himself went out to help. As a result, he was defeated by the Qing Dynasty, Shuo Lei died tragically, and the Chechen Khan continued to pay tribute.

  The Manchu Qing Dynasty, which was about to run out of food, quickly obtained sufficient food by virtue of internal and external wars.

   It’s just that North Korea was almost collapsed, and the Chechen Khan and Mongolia have never recovered from it. The Manchu Qing did not massacre the Chechen Khan, but they robbed their cattle and sheep. I don’t know how many people will starve to death this winter.

  Datong, Dashun, and Daqing are short of food.

  The Qing Dynasty, which seems to be the worst, is the fastest food recovery.

  (end of this chapter)