The Ming Dynasty’s Prodigal Son - Chapter 1780

[1780. Chapter 1692 Long live my emperor]

Luzon?

Fang Jifan suddenly became interested.

He glanced at Wang Jinyuan and pretended to fight: “You bitch, why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

Wang Jinyuan looked aggrieved: “You deserve to die, you villain.”

He then explained: “This memorial was sent to Quanzhou by clipper. , Quanzhou felt that the situation was urgent, and since it was sent to the government of this town, it used flying pigeons to deliver messages. Master, these flying pigeons to deliver messages are very valuable…”

Flying pigeons to deliver messages is indeed very expensive, and most people can’t afford it.

After all, to domesticate homing pigeons, you need to set up stations in various places, which requires a lot of manpower and material resources.

Moreover, this method of passing letters is not reliable, because no one can guarantee that if the pigeon flies halfway, it will be targeted by a conscientious guy like Zhu Houzhao, and then shot down, and then routinely boiled and plucked. , remove the internal organs, cut into pieces, add onions, ginger and garlic, add some soy sauce, add a little thirteen spices, stew.

There are too many variables in the process, so the imperial court will never choose this method for official documents.

But soon, someone discovered…the importance of message transmission.

Suppose there is a locust plague somewhere.

Whoever knows the news in advance will be able to realize that food prices may rise. For those who have been speculating in Beijing for a long time, if the advance is not to say a day, but even an hour, then purchase in advance and wait for the price to rise. , absolutely amazing.

With this huge benefit, many large business houses have begun to train homing pigeons and set up pigeon stations in various places. Not only large trading houses, but also exchanges also have specialized information transmission networks.

Zhenguofu and Xishan are not exempt from customs. Fang Jifan’s pigeons are big,…not too round, and extremely healthy.

Of course, when flying pigeons pass letters, the news is often brief, just a few words. After all, there is too much nonsense, and more pen and ink are needed, which will bring a huge burden to the pigeons.

Therefore… Fang Jifan only received a small note, which basically mentioned the matter of the report jointly signed by the governor of Luzon and the gentry. It is expected that the report will be sent to the Zhenguo Mansion in ten days and a half.

Fang Jifan pinched the note, a little confused, then frowned and said: “Aren’t these guys always not interested in war? Usually whenever there is a war in the court, everyone will be yin and yang.” If

something goes wrong, he must be a monster!

Wang Jinyuan said with a silly smile: “It’s not because of Sihai Commercial Bank, these two capitals, fourteen provinces, and various capitals, the people can probably eat enough. When people are full, they want to eat well. Many people I like to eat some desserts and use some spices. In the past, it was just to eat well. Now more and more people pay attention to eating well, so there is a huge demand for canteens and spices. The most exported goods from the Ming Dynasty by Sihai Trading Company are tea, silk and porcelain. , there are also many iron tools, but what can be imported into the Ming Dynasty is mostly spices, wood and sugar, especially sugar. As much as is shipped, merchants rush to buy it. Those gentry in Luzon, the fields produce sugar and spices. On the one hand, it is also produced in Java, and the Portuguese did not prohibit trade with merchants from all over the world. The sugar industry in Java has become a serious problem for Luzon sugar. On the other hand, if the Ming Dynasty takes Luzon, they can take advantage of the situation. Annexing land not only eliminates competitors but also increases one’s own production. This… is not killing two birds with one stone.”

Fang Jifan took a breath after hearing the sudden information from Wang Jinyuan.

This group of dogs in Jiangnan turned into wolves when they arrived in Luzon.

But think about it carefully, what is etiquette, justice and shame? How many of these scholars have always enjoyed the benefits of fame and made a living by exploiting tenant farmers? Isn’t it ridiculous that a group of people like this shout about propriety, justice and integrity all day long?

I think back then, this group of Confucian scholars were all extremely strong people. During the Warring States Period, they were attached to the monarch everywhere and expanded their territories. By the time of Qin and Han Dynasties, Gongyang School instilled the idea of revenge, and countless Confucian students, Some made suggestions for the expansion of the Han Empire, and some even did it themselves.

If you think about it carefully now, the difference between Confucianism in Song and Ming Dynasties and Confucianism in Qin and Han Dynasties is not that there is a problem with their learning methods.

The fundamental reason is that during the Qin and Han Dynasties, the Central Plains dynasty at that time had not yet reached its peak. There were many foreign races nearby, occupying fertile land. For Confucian scholars, what they relied on was the land, the empire’s The broader the territory, the more advantageous it is for them. Therefore, they continue to practice the ideas of great unification and revenge, seizing Baiyue, seizing Hetao, and seizing the land of Liaodong outside the pass for the empire.

But later on, the territory that the Central Plains dynasty could use for farming had reached its limit, and the Confucian scholars began to realize that fighting everywhere was not only not good for them, but also harmful.

Because to the west is a plateau, a barren land, to the north is a barren pasture where not much food can be grown, to the south are hundreds of thousands of mountains, and to the east is the vast ocean.

All the places where crops could be grown were planted. The imperial court’s conquest of foreign tribes could no longer bring any economic benefits, nor could it bring any land for cultivation. Instead, it aggravated the situation because it required a large amount of money and grain to supply military supplies. taxes. Not only that, because of the successive years of war, the gentry found that a large number of strong men had to go to the front line, while the number of tenant farmers they could drive became increasingly scarce.

This is obviously a loss-making business.

Over time, Gongyang Studies began to be gradually abandoned, and Confucian scholars began to rationally choose new knowledge. They no longer advocated conquest and were no longer interested in any war. They yearned for stability and lost their enterprising spirit.

The general environment will change a group of people.

But now, when these idiots discover that fighting can actually bring such huge benefits, their mentality will naturally change.

Of course, a scholar is a scholar.

If ordinary people change their thinking, they will probably still blush.

But the scholars are obviously different, they can still speak plausibly!

When they are timid, they will say that a gentleman does not stand behind a dangerous wall. When he suddenly wants to pick up a sword, there are even more reasons. All kinds of righteousness can always give you a perfect set of excuses.

Fang Jifan actually…changed a group of people.

“Ahem…” Fang Jifan coughed and sighed: “These guys really have no morals.”

After sighing with emotion, Fang Jifan felt that his spine became straighter, and he felt more and more like a ray of light in the dark night. of a white lotus.

He squinted his eyes: “It will take more than half a month to deliver the memorial?”

“Yes, this must be an urgent delivery, but from Quanzhou to Beijing… it is a long way. Even if it is urgent… …”

Fang Jifan waved his hand: “I know, get out of here immediately, and… call the prince here…”

…

His Majesty approved the court meeting.

This makes many people sharpen their knives.

Since Mr. Xie took the initiative and granted permission for the court discussion, at this time… many people were gearing up.

The ministers of the Ming Dynasty still dared to speak out.

Although His Majesty has recently severely killed this trend.

But migrating the gentry is too much. Many of these gentry are relatives of the officials.

Who can bear the thought of their relatives being exiled?

Now Luzon and Ming Dynasty are separated by the sea, and there is no news about his family.

Although the governor of Luzon sent a report saying that the settlement was done properly, most people just laughed at it…

This is just high-sounding rhetoric. What does it mean that it is done properly? God knows. How many people have died, how many people want to cry but have no tears.

Their greatest wish was that the court would be kind enough to allow the gentry to return to the Ming Dynasty and return the land they had previously seized.

If it really doesn’t work, just think of it as venting your anger.

After all, if something goes wrong, there is someone higher up to take care of it, isn’t there Mr. Xie?

After three or two days, it happened to be the middle of the month, and the court meeting began.

Emperor Hongzhi looked gloomy and had a very ugly face. After all, this court discussion was ostensibly aimed at the ineffective migration of the gentry from Xishan, but it was not aimed at me.

Emperor Hongzhi held his temper.

He wanted to know how many people in the court had any objections to this.

Just…just come and take a look.

All the officials entered the court and performed a great ceremony. Emperor Hongzhi ascended the throne, and all the officials shouted long live.

Emperor Hongzhi glanced at the ministers and was stunned: “Where is the prince?”

The officials also began to whisper.

Yes, where is the prince?

The prince excitedly asked for a court meeting. At first, he said a lot of harsh words, but now… where is the person?

Xie Qian looked calm, with no expression on his face, and he was surprised in his heart. Is the prince timid?

But a eunuch came in a hurry: “Your Majesty, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince said that he is not feeling well…”

Emperor Hongzhi frowned: “Oh, where is the discomfort.”

“This… Your Highness didn’t say anything.”

The officials began to discuss again, and for a while, There was a buzz in the hall.

Xie Qian asked at this time: “Where is the Duke of Qi? Could it be that he is also ill?”

The eunuch’s face twitched: “What a coincidence, he is really…also…sick…”

“…”

Emperor Hongzhi actually Is speechless.

It was you who boasted at the beginning, but now it is you who have disappeared.

“Your Majesty…” Xie Qian glanced at Emperor Hongzhi cautiously: “Look…”

Emperor Hongzhi waved his hand and they all ran away, leaving me alone to suffer this criticism?

“Then let’s wait until the illness is better. Xiao Banpan, go visit the prince and Duke of Qi. I heard that the prince and Fang Qing’s family are ill. I am very worried and have no intention of discussing with the court. I will leave the court today.”

There are many officials among the hundreds of officials .

The man shook his head, the prince and Duke of Qi… were really… impressed by them. I have never seen such shameless people.

“Your Majesty, let’s discuss it some other time.” Xie Qian seemed to be pursuing him. The prince and the Duke of Qi would eventually recover from their illness.

Emperor Hongzhi was silent for a long time, looking a little embarrassed. These two scammers are really… really…

Emperor Hongzhi said with a gloomy face: “Then… let’s choose another day…”

“Long live my emperor…” Xie Qian Without hesitation, bow down.

After hearing this, the officials seemed to feel that the prince and Duke of Qi could not hide from the monks but the temple, so they all shouted: “Long live my emperor!”

(End of this chapter)