Kong Zhenyun of Nanzong, who was conferred the title of Yanshenggong by Zhao Han, came to Nanjing to meet the emperor before going to Shandong to be granted the title.
Kong Zhenyun can be regarded as having made great contributions. When the Datong Army attacked Zhejiang, he accompanied the army to persuade several counties to surrender.
At this moment, he stood upright and listened to Zhao Han's instructions.
"When I went to Qufu, it was a good idea to cooperate with the government and restore the people's livelihood in Qufu," Zhao Han said to Kong Zhenyun. "Shandong Province has suffered from locust drought, military disasters, and plagues one after another. This year, the Yellow River burst its banks and flooded the southwest border of Shandong. The people were in dire straits and died.
There are countless others, so please don’t cause any more trouble to the officials and the people. Do you understand?”
Kong Zhenyun quickly bowed: "I would like to obey your Majesty's teachings!"
Zhao Han waved his hand and said, "Go."
Kong Zhenyun bowed and stepped back, being cautious in both words and deeds.
The Datong Army was victorious in Shandong and Henan. Zhao Han had already dominated the world. In Kong Zhenyun's view, he was even more majestic, and something was invisibly weighing on him.
This person left, and Zhao Han continued to review the memorial.
After half an hour of processing, Zhao Han suddenly stopped, thought carefully for a moment, and Zhu said: "Yes. Leave it to the Rites Department to handle it with full authority."
However, the deans of the five major medical schools jointly petitioned to establish a medical center in Qintianjian.
In the Ming Dynasty, there was a Taiyuan Hospital, but Zhao Han did not set one up. Whenever he was sick, he would consult famous doctors at Jinling Medical College.
Although the social status of the doctors under Zhao Han improved, they did not have an institution similar to the Imperial Hospital. In the past two years, they had made great achievements in preventing and curing the plague, so they became bolder and took the initiative to petition the emperor to set up a medical clinic.
Doctors with official status were called "ceremonial doctors" in the Ming Dynasty, and everyone who practiced medicine wanted to have the title.
After reviewing the memorial about Taiwan, Zhao Han immediately said: "Bring those little Franji people here!"
Not long after, several Spaniards were brought to Zhao Han by the female officer, along with a Chinese translator.
The leader immediately knelt down and bowed: "Jose, the Spanish envoy, pays homage to His Majesty the Emperor of Datong, China."
It is true that the officials and people under Zhao Han's own rule did not need to kneel before the emperor. However, envoys from other countries or forces, including Fu Geng sent by Li Zicheng, knelt down as they pleased, and Zhao Han did not stop them.
Zhao Han asked: "The Dutch went north?"
Jose said: "Your great Majesty, those damn Dutch sent troops to raid our stronghold. Fortunately, they were repelled by the brave Chinese soldiers. But the Dutch retreated to Santo Domingo (Tsui) and started building a castle there.
Please ask His Majesty the Emperor to send troops to expel them immediately, otherwise it will not be so easy to fight when the Dutch build the castle."
In addition to chicken coops, Spain also used Tamsui as a colonial base in Taiwan. They built wooden fences near the river as city walls, and built earthen forts in the city. They stationed fifty soldiers and named Tamsui "Santo Domingo."
”.
A few years ago, Taiwanese natives attacked Santo Domingo one after another, forcing the Spanish to abandon the city and destroying the Spanish fort.
Now the Netherlands suddenly went north and planned to build a castle in Tamsui, which is under the jurisdiction of Taipei County!
This time, not only did the Spanish ask Zhao Han to send troops, but Sun Chuanting, the magistrate of Taipei, asked for instructions on whether to start a war to drive away the Dutch.
The reason why Sun Chuanting did not take action directly was because he knew that Zhao Han was buying war horses through the Netherlands. If a fight with the Dutch led to the severance of the war horse trade, it would be a small impatience but a big plan.
The problem is, the Netherlands had just sent out an envoy before, trying every possible means to please the Chinese emperor. Why did it suddenly come to touch the tiger’s butt again?
Zhao Han couldn't understand and couldn't figure it out.
Zhao Han said to Jose: "Go back and tell the Governor of the Philippines that Spain must give up its claim to occupy Chicken Coop. The entire island of Taiwan is Chinese land. Chicken Coop, which is your city of San Salvador, must be handed over to the management of Datong officials.
.I allow the Spaniards to continue to stay in the chicken 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, this is the governor's original intention." Jose accepted immediately.
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.
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 wanted to express his attitude. He smiled and said: "I have two gifts, one for the King of Spain and one for the Governor of the Philippines. I hope that the friendship between the two countries will last forever."
"Thank you so much, His Majesty the Great Emperor of China Datong!" Jose thanked him quickly.
As for gifts, give me porcelain.
Official kilns in various provinces, including Jingdezhen, have begun to be privatized.
In fact, there were not many official kilns in the Ming Dynasty, and there were only about fifty in total in the country. This thing was not profitable at all, and it required local funding for firing, and porcelain-firing craftsmen were recruited to serve for free.
It can be said that the people were wasted and the money was wasted. The local government suffered financial losses, and the porcelain craftsmen were oppressed. The palace could only get porcelain for free, and all the profits were made by eunuchs and civil servants.
It would be better to sell the official kilns to private merchants.
Regarding royal expenses, the results have now been discussed. The annual royal expenses are directly extracted in proportion to taxes on customs, tea, porcelain, salt, textiles, etc.
Next year's royal family expenses are expected to rise to 800,000 taels.
During the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, China's multicolored porcelain had matured, but the main exports were blue and white porcelain.
Zhao Han wanted to help open the overseas market for multicolored porcelain, so he took this opportunity to send one piece each to the King of Spain and the Governor of the Philippines. The multicolored porcelain is definitely more in line with the aesthetics of European aristocrats, and he will be able to break new ground for this thing in the future!
It is time for the foreign affairs department to have its components, not only to deal with foreign countries, but also to deal with Li Zicheng, the Manchus and Mongolia.
For example, inciting rebellion against the Mongolian nobles, inciting Mobei Mongolia to attack the Manchu Qing Dynasty, or alienating the Manchu Qing nobles, etc.
This organization should not have too much power and should be affiliated with a certain ministry.
Zhao Han has not yet decided whether to be affiliated with the Ministry of Rites. He will discuss it with the ministers slowly in the future.
However, it was said that Jose and other members of the mission were arranged to rest in the hotel while waiting for Zhao Han's official diplomatic letter to the Spanish Governor.
That night, he received several pieces of porcelain.
The most exquisite piece was presented to the King of Spain, and the second one was presented to the Governor of the Philippines. Each member of the envoy received a small colorful cup, and Jose also received a teapot.
"This is more beautiful than Clark porcelain!" Jose was stunned, holding the teapot and cup with trembling hands.
With just two gifts, Jose would be able to make a fortune if he returned to Europe.
After giving out the gifts, you can wait for the order. The Governor of the Philippines will definitely send a fleet to buy colorful porcelain.
The Netherlands is similar. Maybe they can use colorful porcelain to directly trade Indian Marwari horses.
Not one for one, but one porcelain bowl for several fine 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 are afraid of power but not moral. If the enemy comes, attack and annihilate them!"
As soon as the memorial on Taiwan was completed, the three cabinet ministers took the Minister of War and hurriedly asked to see Zhao Han.
"Your Majesty," Pang Chunlai cupped his hands and said, "an emergency report has been sent from the north. The Tatar slaves have moved out of Beizhili and their entire clan has withdrawn outside Shanhaiguan."
Zhao Han was startled, then laughed: "It can cut off a strong man's wrist."
The situation in the north this year is very strange. In Shanxi, Shaanxi, Shandong, and Henan, there are only local droughts. Most areas have frequent rains. Some places even have floods. Only Beizhili continues to suffer from severe drought in the entire province.
If the Manchus and Qing Dynasties still stay in Beizhili and do not leave, a great famine will inevitably occur next year.
If we return to Liaodong as soon as possible, we can replant some food.
Li Banghua said: "Your Majesty, you should send troops quickly to capture Beizhili before Li Zicheng!"
Zhao Han shook his head and said: "It is impossible to send out a large number of troops. The epidemic in Beizhili is also serious, and drought and famine are everywhere. Send light cavalry north to occupy as much as you can. Send more officials to manage it. There is no rush to divide the fields for the time being.
Let the people of Beizhili fend for themselves."
Zhao Han is really out of food. The previous war has caused food prices in the south to skyrocket.
The hungry people in Henan and Shandong can only receive symbolic relief. If the mess caused by Beizhili 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.
As Zhao Han made his decision, all the divisions stationed in the north sent dragoons northward to occupy the prefectures and counties.
In ten months, they captured Hejian Prefecture and Baoding Prefecture, but only occupied half of Zhending Prefecture. The other half of Zhending Prefecture was occupied by Li Zicheng first. Both sides maintained restraint and did not conflict over the territory.
Li Zicheng's side seems to be like Zhao Han, dispatching troops quickly to occupy as much as they can.
Moreover, after occupying the city, we only want to govern the city and leave the people outside the city to fend for themselves. For the time being, we can only do this. It is better to fend for ourselves than to be exploited by the Tatars.
After all, Li Zicheng's center of rule was closer than Zhao Han, and he could dispatch troops much faster.
Xuanfu, Baoan Prefecture, Yanqing Prefecture, half of Baoding Prefecture, and most of Shuntian Prefecture were all captured by Li Zicheng. Zhao Han only occupied a small half of Shuntian Prefecture and pushed north to Bazhou and Tianjin.
Both sides unanimously ignored Yongping Mansion, because it was not cost-effective to garrison heavy troops there next to Shanhaiguan, transporting grain and grass would be very laborious, and without garrisoning heavy troops, it would be easy to be attacked by Tatars.
However, it is said that after the Manchus returned to Liaodong, due to the shortage of food, they did not choose to cultivate their health and recuperate, but immediately launched a war!
Internally, the Manchus forced the savage Jurchens to provide food. If they did not hand over enough food as required, they would often massacre certain tribes and take away food, livestock and women.
Externally, attack North Korea to the south and plunder Khalkha Mongolia to the north.
The king of Korea was going crazy. He had surrendered to the Manchus. Even the king's personal soldiers, the Fire Gun Team, were given to the Manchus to take out and fight at will. As a result, they were robbed, and northern Korea was almost emptied.
Korea brought the plague.
In northern Korea, ten houses were empty, and famine and plague spread rapidly.
On the Khalkha Mongolian side, the Chechen Khan tribe closest to the Manchu Qing Dynasty had also long ago paid tribute to the Manchu Qing Dynasty.
As a result, more than 20,000 Manchu cavalry and Mongolian cavalry suddenly sent troops to attack the Chechen Khan.
The Chechen Khan tribe had 30,000 cavalry, but they were scattered around the grasslands grazing and had no time to assemble. They were killed by the Manchu Qing cavalry all the way to the Khan's court. The Chechen Khan Shuolei died in the battle, and his son Babu was supported by the Manchu Qing Dynasty as the puppet khan.
Shuolei died unjustly, this guy has been plotting to backstab the Qing Dynasty.
Historically, after another four years, Shuolei incited the Horqin tribe to rebel, and he went out to help. As a result, he was defeated by the Manchus, Shuolei died tragically, and the Chechen Khan tribe continued to pay tribute.
The Manchu Qing Dynasty, which was about to run out of food, relied on internal and external wars to quickly obtain sufficient food.
However, North Korea was almost collapsed, and the Chechen Khanate and Mongolia also fell into decline. The Manchu Qing did not massacre the Chechen Khanate, but they robbed other people's cattle and sheep. I don't know how many people will starve to death this winter.
Datong, Dashun, and Daqing are all short of food.
The Manchu Qing Dynasty, which seemed to be in the worst situation, actually recovered its food supply the fastest.