Listening to Zhang Anshi's direct response to his request, Qiu Fu smiled knowingly.
As if he had settled an important matter on his mind, he said with sincerity: "Your Highness, I have just now understood that it is his luck that this boy Qiu Song can be as close as a brother to Your Highness. It is getting late, I have to go back as soon as possible.
Make some preparations and let this go.”
Zhang Anshi looked at this old man with white beard and hair. He seemed to be in good spirits, but he was dragging his lame leg and was about to rush thousands of miles away to continue fighting for it. He couldn't help feeling filled with emotion in his heart and in his eyes.
I feel a little more respectful.
Immediately he said: "I'll give one to Shi Bo."
Qiu Fu left.
Zhang Anshi then ordered someone to go to the palace in Qixia to inform him and be prepared to have a new member of the family in the palace.
But soon, he no longer cares about these personal matters, as what is supposed to come will always come.
Three days later, Zhu Di summoned Zhang Anshi to see him.
This time, a large amount of detailed gold and silver storage information has been placed on Zhu Di's imperial record. Although the specific number will probably take several months to be calculated, just looking at the tip of the iceberg is enough for Zhu Di to make a living.
Happy with joy.
Zhu Di, who had always been in a good mood when meeting Zhang Anshi, said with a friendly smile: "Yesterday, Zheng Banban came to see Zhang Anshi and talked about the customs and local conditions in Europe. I want to permanently station elite troops here.
Now, in a ten-year rotation, we will recruit merchants, civilian households, etc., and station them for a long time. We will replace the Venetian merchants with merchants from the Ming Dynasty. What does Zhang Qing think?"
Zhang Anshi smiled and said: "Over in Europe, the reason why Venetian merchants appeared is because of market demand. Now that the Venetian merchants are gone, it is extremely necessary to replace them quickly. Therefore, I think... I want to quickly
The replacement requires three aspects of preparation.”
Zhu Di couldn't help but suppress his smile, and said with an attitude of being ready to listen carefully: "Tell me."
So Zhang Anshi said: "Now that Venice is Fubo Prefecture, Genoa is Zhenhai Prefecture, and several islands and coastal lands in North Africa and the Near East are owned by our Ming Dynasty, we will take this opportunity to
It was built as a transshipment and distribution center for the maritime trade between our Ming Dynasty and Europe. These are almost all key places in Europe. If we occupy them here, then the problem of maritime trade will be more than half."
After a pause, he continued: "Second, we should make good friends with the Pope of Rome..."
After Zhu Di heard this, he said indifferently: "He is a barbarian monk, why should we be friends with him?"
Zhang Anshi said: "Your Majesty, the reason why the Venetian merchants appeared is precisely because of the great influence of the Roman Pope. Those believers who believe in the Pope must abide by the precepts and must be forced to pay tithes. Therefore,
The status of the Pope is as stable as Mount Tai, which is beneficial to our Ming Dynasty."
"And once the authority of the Pope is challenged, the monarchs of European countries will have to open their eyes. At that time, they will receive taxes, which may be used to recruit more troops and train more soldiers.
To strengthen oneself. In that case, why not... let the Pope collect this tax and use it to support monks, big and small?"
Zhu Di couldn't help but said: "It's really weird."
Zhang Anshi curled his lips and smiled, then said: "The information I got from Europe is that at this time, the most powerful monarch in Europe, the King of France, can only get 80,000 pounds in taxes every year. But the Pope
Your Majesty, the Knights Templar, who collect tithes for the Pope, have an annual income of six million pounds. Your Majesty, think about it, if these six million pounds were not taken by the monks, if they were given to European countries
King, what good will this do to my Ming Dynasty?"
Zhu Di frowned and said, "So, peace with Rome is the most important thing?"
Zhang Anshi said: "Exactly, not to mention that Europe is too far away after all. Force alone is not enough, but skill is needed. Now I take this opportunity to make good friends with it, and I can use the authority of the Pope to protect me.
With the endorsement of merchants from Zhenhai and Zhenhai, you can do business in Europe with ease, and you can also take this opportunity to cooperate with the Pope."
Zhu Di nodded: "That's it...I will send you a letter of credence after some time."
Having said this, Zhu Di looked at Zhang Anshi steadily and said: "What words should I use?"
Zhang Anshi said: "This depends on Your Majesty, but your attitude can be gentler."
Zhu Di nodded.
Zhang Anshi added: "The third is to take advantage of the trade with Europe to continue to improve the various trading stations and vassal areas on the route between Europe and the Ming Dynasty. This is a sea journey of tens of thousands of miles, and a sea ship has to drift so far.
, there need to be at least a dozen or even dozens of ports along the way. The imperial court should strongly encourage ships to explore new routes and discover islands along the way. At the same time, the imperial court should also take this opportunity to increase investment."
Zhu Di smiled and said: "This is easy to handle, as long as it is profitable. After all, this is a profitable business. The money that the Venetian merchants can make, I, the Ming Dynasty, have earned it. If I take out the money... I will treat it as if it is on this sea."
Just build a railway."
Zhang Anshi couldn't help but laugh: "Your Majesty is truly a sage, and he hit the nail on the head."
Regarding this, Zhang Anshi admired Zhu Di very much. Although Zhu Di, the emperor, loved money, he was not stubborn about spending money.
Zhu Di put his hands behind his back and chatted enthusiastically for a while. Then, Zhu Di started to get down to business.
Zhu Di took a sip of tea and said slowly: "In the past few days... Yi Shi Ha Lai reported something. He said that today the prices of gold and silver in the East and West markets of the capital, and even in Qixia's market, are slightly higher.
Signs of depreciation. I heard that this is a merchant, and I also learned about the Songjiangkou. I am afraid of the flooding of gold and silver...Has Zhang Qing heard about this?"
Zhang Anshi said calmly: "A little."
Zhu Di saw Zhang Anshi's calm expression and couldn't help but said in surprise: "Oh? Zhang Qing isn't worried about it?"
Zhang Anshi said: "In the past few years, the imperial court has actually imported a lot of gold and silver from all over the world through trade, but the prices have not fluctuated much. Your Majesty, please don't forget that every year the customs statistics of the gold and silver flowing into our country are
But these are astronomical figures.”
After hearing this, Zhu Di nodded and said: "That's true. In the past... there was so much inflow, but the price did not rise. What... is the reason?"
Zhang Anshi said: "It's very simple. Although there is more gold and silver, Your Majesty has forgotten it. Over the years, the products of our Ming Dynasty have also been increasing. Not to mention other things, just talking about steel. Ten years ago, the steel smelted by the Ming Dynasty was
Compared with today, it is less than one-tenth. There is also cotton spinning, which is several times more than before. To put it bluntly, gold and silver are just a medium that replaces the value of goods, but because of its rarity, it has become the most suitable currency in the world.
.”
Zhang Anshi paused and then said: "Therefore, with a large amount of gold and silver input, if our Ming Dynasty was still ten years ago, the steel produced every year was limited, the cotton spinning was limited, and even the grain produced every year... was also limited. Then what is on the market?
The goods have not changed, but the gold and silver have increased. Naturally, this will cause the price of gold and silver to plummet. Because there are more people holding gold and silver, but fewer people have physical objects in their hands."
Zhang Anshi talked eloquently: "But while gold and silver are increasing, production is also increasing rapidly, and a balance has been reached between them! The input of gold and silver has made the market demand more vigorous, and the strong demand,
The resulting increase in production and output will be a great benefit to the court and the people."
After hearing this, Zhu Di couldn't help but nodded: "What you said makes sense."
Zhang Anshi continued: "But this time, the difference is that so much gold and silver came in all at once, and they came all at once. The market was worried, which triggered the devaluation of gold and silver. This has actually been happening for a long time.
This is as expected."
Zhu Di couldn't help but stare at Zhang Anshi curiously: "What should we do?"
Zhang Anshi smiled and said: "It shouldn't be like that."
Zhu Di: "..."
What is the difference between answering this and not answering it?
In Zhu Di's speechless expression, Zhang Anshi added: "As long as this depreciation is within a more reasonable range, there will be no hindrance. Even because of the sudden increase in gold and silver, the increase in physical prices will actually make producers earn money."
The money is pouring in. They have seen better expectations. In addition, the imperial court is now overhauling the railway, and the demand for steel, sleepers, cotton spinning, machinery, and tools is huge. This will further encourage all manufacturers to
, try every means to expand production."
"In this way, Your Majesty, although our currency has increased, the output has also been greatly improved. Major workshops are expanding, and the railways need more labor. At this time, we want to recruit more
Manpower inevitably requires money to be processed. At least for now, His Majesty has more gold and silver in his hands, which can support the construction of the railway more easily."
Zhang Anshi paused and continued: "Businesses can take this opportunity to make a lot of money. Military and civilian people have more places to produce, and wages can also rise. And for the entire Ming Dynasty,
In other words, driven by these, I am afraid that the output in the past few years will increase many times. Isn’t this the way to enrich the country and strengthen the people?”
After hearing this, Zhu Di couldn't help but open his eyes slightly, smacked his lips in surprise and said, "Is this okay?"
Zhang Anshi said with a smile: "This is just a good expectation! How it will be specific needs to be observed. The ancestors often said that there must be a degree of relaxation. After all... but it still needs this degree. All of this needs to be controlled within a certain limit.
The range is sufficient.”
Zhu Di lowered his head seriously and pondered for a moment, then said: "Well... that being the case, let me observe a little more. Jinyiwei also needs to keep an eye on some briefings related to prices around the world, and they must be placed with me at any time.
On the desk.”
Zhang Anshi smiled bitterly and said, "But I am no longer the commander of the Jinyi Guards."
Zhu Di glared at him and said, "I don't care, Jin Yiwei is not doing well, I only ask you."
Zhang Anshi: "..."
Well, as a minister who works for the emperor, he is unable to refute.
At this moment, Zhu Di suddenly changed the subject and said, "Did Qiu Qing's family go to look for you?"
Zhang Anshi said: "Yes, he is going to Chennai."
A look of emotion appeared on Zhu Di's face, and he said: "Well, I have got his start. Alas... He is just like me. When he gets old, he will eventually have to run for his children and grandchildren."
Zhang Anshi then smiled and said: "Your Majesty and the Duke of Qi are running around because they have hope, so although it is hard work, they are also happy. It is said that all the prosperity in the world is for benefit, and all the earth and soil are for benefit. There are thousands of times in the world.
This is true for kings of kings, princes of thousands of families, and kings of hundreds of families. But there are still many hungry and cold people in the world. What they are running for is not hope, but just food for now..."
Zhu Di always felt that there was something in Zhang Anshi's words. After pondering for a while, he raised his eyes and looked at him and said, "What exactly do you want to say?"
"Your Majesty understands his ministers." Zhang Anshi said: "What I mean is that since we have money, then... it is time for the emperor and grandson to take drastic measures."
Zhu Di, who had been in a good mood for a few days, finally became serious again and said: "The emperor's grandson... has no money, so you have to keep an eye on him. After all, he is still young, so I am still worried."
Zhang Anshi immediately said: "I obey the order."
Zhu Di added: "Besides this, I plan to order someone to go to Zhan Ji to serve as a secretary."
Zhang Anshi raised his eyes in surprise, and couldn't help but become deeply curious, and said: "You are just a secretary, why does your Majesty need to ask special questions?"
The so-called secretary is actually a secretary, just a civil servant. How can he actually be used by His Majesty?
This is surprising enough!
Zhu Di said: "Chang Sheng has grown up, and he has benefited a lot from me. It's time for him to go out and experience something."
Zhang Anshi: "..."
He was actually his eldest son, which was really beyond his expectation.
However, Zhu Di completely ignored Zhang Anshi's feelings and sighed: "I have spent so much gold and silver, I hope... this new policy can be extended to the whole world."
Zhu Di's voice lacked a bit of the excitement that had characterized these days, and was instead slightly mixed with a hint of depression.
He is old, and looking back on the past, Jing Nan was his great achievement, but he can seek to seize the nephew's position. After all, no matter how great his martial arts skills are, there are inevitably flaws in his beauty.
If you think about it carefully, the New Deal was the second half of his life, and it almost ran through most of the major events of the Yongle Dynasty. This matter was not only related to his personal reputation during and after his death. It was also related to the country, the country, and the Ming Dynasty.
Eternal inheritance.
Zhu Di was willing to give out all his wealth so generously. From a military perspective, it was nothing more than a waste of money.
It's just the outcome that makes people worry.
After all, Zhu Di still has lingering fears about the lessons brought about by the failure of the Jiangxi Railway construction!
Looking at Zhu Di's increasingly older face, Zhang Anshi couldn't help but comfort him: "Your Majesty, please rest assured. I am in charge of the ministry here, and I have the emperor's grandson as the vanguard. I will never dare to disappoint Your Majesty."
"Yes." Zhu Di nodded and said, "You are very confident. What I am worried about is the lesson learned in Jiangxi."
Zhang Anshi said: "Today is different from the past. In the early days of Jiangxi, the hearts of the gentry were in the hearts of the gentry, so it was extremely difficult to achieve anything. But now, what I have planned is to change the hearts of the people and involve countless soldiers and civilians.
Hope with them...so...it will definitely succeed."
"hope?"
Zhu Di murmured to himself.
………………
This chapter only has 4,000. I am too tired today and can’t write anymore. I have almost recovered. I just have a sore throat. I drink porridge every day and feel a little tired. That’s it for today. I hope everyone can understand.