Zhu Yuanzhang's cold eyes instantly focused on that man, and he said word by word: "No one can deceive our prince!"
The man hurriedly knelt down on the ground and said, "It is the guilty minister who speaks recklessly, but His Highness the Crown Prince is wise and prudent and discerns between loyal and traitorous people. He is as clear as a mirror, candle and rhinoceros carved on all sides. No one can deceive the hearing and hearing."
"snort!"
The people around him moved slightly, guessing that next time this person would have no chance to come in to discuss politics. Unfortunately, he had just climbed up from the place, but he didn't know the rules of the court. Anyone who did anything bad could never get involved with the prince.
The Minister of Rites bowed and said: "Your Majesty, the overseas land is very desolate, the barbarian people are like ghosts and inhumane, and they cannot be educated. In addition, the waves on the sea are dangerous and dangerous. If you are not careful, people and ships will capsize and be buried at the bottom of the sea. Our Ming Dynasty has everything, so why waste the people's energy on it?"
Yu Hai, Your Majesty!"
"Outer vassals are very sneaky. If the people are lured by them, they will disturb the peace of the coastal states."
"The most important thing is that once sea trade is opened, merchants will be in trouble, the people will be uneasy, and there will be many worries."
Seeing that everyone was unanimous, Chen Youzong stood up as the spokesman for the prince and the Jiangnan nobles and said: "I think the benefits of opening up sea trade outweigh the disadvantages. Now that the court is short of money and food, the only way is to increase revenue and reduce expenditure. As the emperor, I am rich all over the world, so I can eat and drink according to what I know."
It’s just four dishes and one soup, and it’s worse than a wealthy family in the south of the Yangtze River.”
"The Queen is the mother of the country, and she leads the concubines in the harem to mend and weave old clothes every day. From the time of the Qin Dynasty to this dynasty, the thrift of the emperor and the empress is unparalleled in ancient times. The whole court respects it and follows it. It can be said to be the most economical!"
At this point, no one dared to interrupt him. They could only bow and salute in unison: "Emperor, empress, sage!"
Zhu Yuanzhang also looked much better on his face: "Frugality leads to restraint, and covenant leads to the prosperity of all kinds of good deeds; luxury leads to wantonness, and wantonness leads to the indulgence of all evils. They are the key to government, and they are called publicity and purity. The way to build a family is frugality and diligence."
Those who are frugal will make the best use of it. Those who value the basics and neglect the basics will have peace in the world. I hope all the ministers will encourage you."
"I will teach you."
Chen Youzong continued: "We know that the imperial court is short of money and food, and it is not a waste of extravagance. What can we do if we are frugal without extravagance? It can be seen that today's emphasis is on increasing revenue. The huge profits of sea trade were recorded in detail in the Song and Yuan Dynasties, and no one can surpass them!"
Chen Liang, the right minister of Zhongshu, said with a gentle smile: "What the general envoy said is biased. Don't we know the importance of open source? The salt, iron, wine, and promotion of agriculture and mulberry are all for this purpose."
"What You Cheng said is true. It is imperative to open up the country, but stability is the first priority. The benefits of maritime trade are illusory and cannot be relied on at all. It is better to work hard and seek within."
Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes finally fell on Hu Weiyong: "What does the Prime Minister think?"
Hu Weiyong took out a memorial from his sleeve and said: "I have heard that in the coastal states, not only the merchant families built sea ships in order to make profits from the sea, but also some ordinary people did the same, losing their family property and following the wind. This shows that the merchants are prosperous and the farmers are prosperous.
Sang retreat."
"So-called merchants, if men don't farm and women don't weave, their clothes must be literary and their food must be meat. They don't have to suffer the hardships of farmers, but they can gain hundreds of millions. If everyone does this, the country will be in danger."
Zhu Yuanzhang's brows furrowed again. This was also something he was worried about. Shang was different from the other three types of people. Scholars, farmers, and workers could all be found. However, businessmen did not focus on production. They rushed to the state and the government in pursuit of profit. It was difficult to control and collect taxes and move corvee labor.
But it was still relaxed after a while. The merchants were low and it was difficult to achieve success. In addition, the benefits of sea trade were real. Of course, the most important thing was that I had already made up my mind and couldn't stop it.
But it was unavoidable to feel irritated. The opening of sea trade was much more than this. The capital city was close to the sea. If there was an attack from the sea, there would be no time to react and mobilize troops. Relocation was inevitable.
Moving the capital will cause more problems...one hair will affect the whole body.
But there is nothing to be done. Since these things are inevitable, it is best to arrange them during his reign. If he does not leave a peaceful country for his son, I am afraid that he will not be safe in the future even after he dies.
………………
A group of businessmen in silk robes carefully adjusted their sleeves and looked a little nervous. They were the leaders of various merchant gangs, and they were waiting for the prince's summons.
The old man with a gray beard at the head closed his eyes and meditated, but his face was a little pale, and his feet moved slightly from time to time. They had been waiting here for more than an hour, and he was really old and couldn't stand still.
"Master Jiang, why don't you go sit down and rest for a while? I have always heard of His Highness's reputation for kindness, and I think he will be considerate of you."
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Jiang Yuan opened his eyes slightly and smiled and said: "It doesn't matter, if I can see His Highness once, I will have no regrets in this life. Besides, at such an age, if you can stand for a while, you still have to stand for a while. There will be more time to lie down in the future."
The old man was funny and elegant, and the others felt much more at ease. They whispered a few words in agreement. Not long after, Liu Jin came over to summon him. The old man stamped his feet and saluted Liu Jin, and then took the lead, followed by the others.
The house prepared by the Zhang family was not small in size, especially the main hall, which was spacious and bright. Zhu Biao met with many shipyard officials and master craftsmen here today to discuss the specifications of sea-going ships to be built in the future and suggestions for marine artillery.
Compared with them, businessmen are naturally ranked last. They are a very important link, but they are also the best substitutes. As long as Zhu Biao is willing, he can support substitutes at any time.
A group of more than twenty people lowered their heads as they entered without even daring to look up at the prince. They knelt down obediently. After all, even if they had tens of thousands of dollars in wealth, they were just ordinary people.
"The common people are waiting to see His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. May His Highness be safe forever."
Zhu Biao stretched out his hand to signal, and Liu Jin quickly supported Jiang Yuan. He was seventy or eighty years old, not to mention Zhu Biao. Even Zhu Biao would not let an old man of this age kneel down easily.
"Bring a stool to the old man."
Jiang Yuan raised his head slightly and glanced at the prince, then hurriedly said: "Your Highness has destroyed the common people..."
Zhu Biao smiled and said: "It's Mr. Jiang, I heard my father talk about you before leaving. There's no need to be polite to me."
Jiang Yuan shed tears and sighed: "Ah, the common people are so grateful to Your Highness. I never thought that Your Majesty would still remember that this old man can die in peace now."
Zhu Biao comforted him with a few words, but he was indifferent in his heart. She was born in Jiangyuan, a wealthy family, and had been doing business since he was a child. When the Ming army was in decline in the past, he once gave him a hundred thousand taels of silver as a reward, and he is now the leader of Huizhou merchants.
As if he just noticed it: "You guys should get up too."
"Thank you, Your Highness, everyone."
There are several major business gangs, eight major business houses, and some local wealthy businessmen, with more than 20 people in total. These are the leaders of the Ming Dynasty's business. They can be called the powerful ones on weekdays, but when they get to the main table, they are really not on the stage.
It's not because of their personal fault. Businessmen have no status. No matter how much money they make, if they commit crimes, getting into the yamen is not as good as a poor scholar. The county magistrate's ruthlessness can disturb their peace.
However, the change may begin now. The development of handicraft manufacturing and the high taxes generated by trade will make their status continue to rise. This is an inevitable result.
Originally it was a self-sufficient small-scale peasant economy, and whether there was a business or not was not that important. In fact, the imperial court would generally try to reduce the number of merchants.
But after maritime trade is opened, the government's finances will increasingly rely on them, and not only these, the prosperity of maritime trade will inevitably give birth to a profession, pirates.
The emergence of pirates will also force the caravans to begin to pursue the ability to protect themselves. As the caravans expand, their strength will also grow, forcing the court to begin to pay attention to and recognize their status.
The economic base determines the superstructure, and non-human resources may change it.
The improvement of businessmen's strength and status is actually not a good thing in Zhu Biao's heart. Regardless of the virtues of businessmen, they have no status now, but it still does not stop them from selling private salt and even selling ironware to the grassland for profit.
In the final analysis, what do businessmen want? Those who are interested in money are sweet, hot and poisonous!
If it is partial, it can keep the appearance, and if you pick it, it will be smooth. It is good at curing hunger and relieving the troubles. If you are greedy, take it, and it is good if it is even. If it is not even, the hot and cold will interact with each other, causing cholera.
There is no time to collect the medicine, and if it is taken irrationally, it will hurt the spirit. Since it is popular, it can summon the gods and channel ghost energy. If it is taken irrationally, it will weaken the will and hurt the spirit, so it must be avoided!