A total of five copies of Xu Jingchang's evaluation report were issued, including one to Zhu Di, one to Pingzhang envoy Yao Guangxiao, one to Tianguan Jianyi of the Ministry of Personnel, one to the Governor's Office of the Fifth Army, and one to the General Affairs Department...
What Zhu Gaochi got was not a formal document, but a manuscript with many notes from Xu Jingchang, which was considered extra care for him, for fear that the fat man would not understand.
Therefore, Zhu Gaochi was the most relaxed that night. He read the report and explained it below, which was very relaxing... In the court, the biggest taboo is to let the emperor make decisions, especially for an emperor like Zhu Laosi, one of his
I decided that I might let everyone’s work go to waste for a few years.
Xu Jingchang analyzes the problem of nine sides. What is the core?
It’s not about whether to move the capital or not, nor how to strengthen border defenses and rectify military households... There is only one core problem, and that is that the two major civilizations of nomadism and farming cannot trade.
The nine sides start from Liaodong and continue to Gansu and Ningxia. The general direction is the line of the Great Wall, which is also the traditional dividing line between farming and nomadic people.
There is no need to talk nonsense about farming. China has been an agricultural society for thousands of years. It relies on intensive farming, men farming and women weaving to maintain a state of self-sufficiency.
It can be said that after thousands of years of development, the Central Plains of China has controlled all areas that are suitable or not suitable for farming.
The east and south reaches the sea, the west reaches the snowy plateau, and the southwest reaches Yunnan... Only the long northern line stretches for more than thousands of miles.
It is too difficult to farm in the north, and there are no natural barriers, so defense is difficult. The only way is to build the Great Wall and garrison heavy troops to resist the southern invasion of tribes.
Xia Yuanji immediately followed and said, "I second the proposal. I suggest that Duke Dingguo be made governor of the military affairs in Beiping."
The problem is this. If the north becomes prosperous, its financial resources increase greatly, and it can withstand the pressure of moving the capital, it can also be considered.
Then according to actual needs, we will arrange elite soldiers and generals to strengthen the defense.
Maybe you can suggest something to your father...
The old monk pondered for a moment and found that the article inside was really amazing.
Will I help you, or will I cause some trouble for you?
This creates a trade deficit... Daming can ask the other party to find ways to fill the deficit, such as developing mines or directional breeding of cattle and sheep in accordance with Daming's requirements.
Also awake was Jian Yi. He also read Xu Jingchang's report carefully. He didn't like the talk about trade. The exchange of goods was so important, as if the country's safety and security depended on trade...
…
The biggest problem with nomadic tribes is that they do not produce much except grazing cattle, sheep and horses.
It's like taking a big stone to plug the gap.
Farming is like this, but the nomadic tribes migrate in pursuit of water and grass... In the central and northern parts of the Eurasian continent, the endless pastures are their scope of activities. They are very vast, but also very barren.
You Xu Jingchang, you are very ambitious!
As for what?
Maybe it’s the word trade!
There were also barbarian tribes that moved in, but other barbarians soon filled in.
Of course, the people in the household department are also mixed.
Reading a wonderful article is like drinking nectar, and the whole person feels relaxed.
"Wonderful! So wonderful!"
In this way, what the Ming Dynasty needs in Jiubian is a mobile army of tens of thousands, or hundreds of thousands. In terms of combat capability, it is definitely far superior to the military households that are passively beaten.
If it was imperial trade, it would be different... For example, in one year, the grassland tribes purchased 10 million taels of goods and only exported 5 million taels to the Ming Dynasty.
Coupled with the harsh climate, there was simply not enough food.
But compared to the complicated capital move, this is obviously easier to accept.
Xu Jingchang was opposed to it.
You can also go directly to the grasslands to occupy land and breed them yourself.
Once the trade system is established, there will be taxation, and the value of the north will be better measured... With these gains, we can better organize our troops and maintain a strong force.
But after all, Xu Jingchang is not from the Ming Dynasty. He has a very broad mind... One key is to enable the two civilizations to trade and have normal exchanges of materials.
On the other side, Yao Guangxiao squinted his triangular eyes and looked carefully. He knew Xu Jingchang too well. This guy couldn't afford it early. There must be some benefit to him writing this thing.
When things come to the Central Plains, what should we do when faced with such a group of barbarians who want to die?
It is inevitable to build the Great Wall and strengthen defense.
The only problem is that Ming Dynasty does not have such talents.
At dawn, the officials gathered at the Meridian Gate, then entered the court and came to Fengtian Hall to pay homage to the emperor.
Xu Jingchang advocated the establishment of a trading system, the establishment of banks, and the assessment of the situation in various parts of the grassland to determine the level of risk... These ideas are all very good.
Xu Jingchang sorted it out all the way and found that northern border defense is indeed a very difficult problem to solve.
Daming can establish a complete set of assessments to score each tribe and determine the risk level for different areas.
Zhu Gaochi laughed happily, stayed up all night and was not tired at all.
In the Ming Dynasty, there really was no better way.
Those who are in good condition, close to the Ming Dynasty, and have some food left over will not take risks.
As long as my father doesn't act like a child and insists on moving the capital north, everything will be fine.
Next to it is an annotation in small print by Xu Jingchang... Trade that is not controlled by the imperial court can only allow some merchants to make money. After all, wealthy merchants only need gold, silver and silk. Even if they will buy some cattle and horses, the quantity is very small.
The barrier lake formed will only get higher and higher, contain more and more water, and become more and more dangerous...it does not fundamentally solve the problem.
The key issue is to open up trade and let the government control trade... Only in this way can we purchase in large quantities and sell to the mainland.
The Ming Dynasty had at least tens of millions of people and required an astronomical number of livestock. The consumption of meat was also quite astonishing.
Some people may worry that if this continues, what if the grassland tribes make huge profits and gain strength to compete with the Ming Dynasty?
This matter is simple...the trade between the two sides is in the hands of Ming Dynasty, and the wealth of their palace nobles is in the hands of Ming Dynasty.
Xu Jingchang then explained... This trade must be controlled by the imperial court, and the trade between the two parties must go through bank settlement.
Yes, Xu Jingchang also advocated the development of military power, and he believed that the investment should be larger and the troops should be more capable, but it should not be like here now, setting up too many guard posts and stationing millions of troops.
It looks like I have to praise Xu Jingchang again.
In the final analysis, the output of the nomadic people is too low and they can hardly guarantee their livelihood. The farming civilization in the Central Plains does not have much surplus, so it is impossible to raise the nomads... And even if they were raised in the Tang Dynasty, they must be prepared for the Anshi Rebellion, and even more
What's more, there will be a steady stream of barbarians in the future, and the Central Plains cannot afford to support them.
At this point, there is nothing. Even Zhu Gaochi is still wondering. In the past, the Ming Dynasty also had business and smuggling privately. They also made a lot of money here, but it was of no use. Is this cousin's idea okay?
He didn't rest either, so he just sat back and waited to go to court.
Now there are so many silk and satin workshops in the south of the Yangtze River, as well as countless tea and raw silk, and grain is purchased from Annan... It can be completely transported to the north, sold to the Mongolian tribes through the market, and sold to the Mongolian tribes in exchange for profits.
As for the issue of moving the capital, Xu Jingchang gave a separate reply to Zhu Gaochi... He himself had no opinion on moving the capital, but if it was to defend against the Mongols, he would immediately move the capital to Peiping.
The old monk thought for a moment, then gave a wry smile. He was the envoy of Pingzhangyuan, and Xu Jingchang was still his deputy... Now it seems that he got the school under Pingzhangyuan.
Zhu Gaochi already had an idea to increase the number of Enke, and he could even focus on the north and select a group of people who understand the people's sentiments.
As mentioned above, the key is trade. Moving the capital there is nothing more than strengthening the military and keeping tight security.
There is also an even more unpromising one, which is to give money, silk and food, and just live with it for a while, in exchange for a moment of peace...
If you stay in the grassland and die of cold and starvation, there is still a chance of survival if you go south. It is impossible not to risk your life.
And through trade, you can also understand the situation of the grassland... After you have figured out everything, if the Ming Dynasty is still afraid of dealing with the grassland tribes, then simply don't go out and shut yourself up at home. After all, the wind can blow you away.
If you run away, falling leaves will kill you.
"Your Majesty, Duke Ding Xu Jingchang has made great contributions to pacifying the border areas. I sincerely request you to increase the rank of junior officer!" Jian Yi was the first to stand up.
If Xu Jingchang's method is to be used, it is estimated that the number of officials will have to be increased... Looking at the world, among all the scholars, there are not many who understand this.
It's quite funny to say that in the huge court, apart from the Ministry of Household Affairs, there were almost no financial experts in the Ming Dynasty.
In good years, we can barely survive, but when we encounter wind and snow disasters, we have to go south.
Xu Jingchang's analysis was so refreshing that Zhu Gaochi read it several times and was very satisfied with it.
"It is necessary to open Enke again!"
There was just one problem, and he saw it.
As for those who are in a difficult situation and are ambitious, beware of them.
When things get to this point, there is basically no solution.
Xu Jingchang pointed out that after the two sides established a trade system, they could not prevent rebellion... but they could monitor the situation of each tribe.
And considering the huge consumption of the capital, there are even fewer goods that can be traded, which will only intensify the Mongols' southward movement.
Xu Jingchang’s school!
Promising dynasties will organize cavalry to launch counterattacks and completely defeat their opponents.
In short, not now, and not for this reason.
Daming can also provide some fodder to support their breeding of cattle and horses.
Because only the imperial court could mobilize a large number of ships, coordinate transportation capacity, and even build roads and bridges to facilitate travel... Any other merchants would not invest in public transportation facilities, and they could not do it at all.
Money moves people's hearts!
Even Qiu Fu from the Fifth Army Commander's Office took a step forward and said, "I also think what Duke Dingguo said is reasonable. Please give me your Majesty's advice!"
…
Zhu Di looked at several important ministers and couldn't help but laugh, "Why do both civil and military officials think Duke Ding is good? Prince, what do you think?"
Zhu Gaochi hurriedly said: "I am reporting to my father that Duke Ding has always had brilliant and extraordinary views. I believe that all matters concerning Beiping can be entrusted to Duke Ding."
