Emperor Ming Dynasty

Chapter 544 The Problem of Face
The content of the winter solstice court meeting is boring, nothing more than singing praises.

The important court affairs have already been discussed.

However, if it is important, nothing is more important than the tribute envoys of the Franji people.

Some people were surprised that the red-haired and blue-eyed Westerner appeared at the court meeting.

The present presented was rather rare.

Clocks, knives, Spanish horses, and a box of personal gifts from King Philip III of Spain.

The rebates from the imperial court were porcelain, silk, calligraphy and painting, etc.

However, giving gifts is only secondary. The main purpose of the Spaniards is to crave the trade volume of silk.

With the establishment of customs, the establishment of customs, overseas trade increased dramatically.

As a result, chaos arose, with countless competitions for customers, and the silk guild was formally established.

Similarly, silk was born with standards, A, B, and C, and there were also requirements for the trade share of each standard.

So far, the price of silk has also entered the right track, and the folks have benefited greatly.

It's just that the export share of silk is limited, especially the top-grade first-class silk, which is hard to come by.

Helpless, the Spanish merchants had to use the name of the king to prepare to take the upper-class route, hoping that the emperor could add more top-quality silk.

The courtiers didn't care, but the cabinet believed that the established rules should not be easily changed.

Subsequently, the Spaniards asked for mutual establishment of embassies, allowing Spanish merchant ships to call at ports and other requirements.

At this time, the cabinet refused without thinking.

According to Zhang Shenyan: "Your country is just a king, but our country is the emperor and should pay tribute. How can we treat them equally? Absolutely ridiculous!"

At this time, the Kingdom of Spain was similar to Japan in the eyes of the ministers, and even far inferior.

Just like when the Sui Dynasty received the letter of credence from Japan, the self-proclaimed emperor of the country of the rising sun, the first feeling was humiliation.

Because in the Confucian worldview, China is the center of the world, and the rightful boss belongs to the role of father.

So, you small countries can ask for money, which father doesn't give his son pocket money?

But if you want to communicate with your father on an equal footing, this is disobedience and unfilial piety.

It's no wonder that Confucianism thinks so, and it's been like this for thousands of years.Anyone can fix their thinking.

Yan Chongxin even asked directly: "How many counties are there in your country? How many miles around, how many cities? Can you learn the way of Confucius and Mencius?"

The Spaniard answered in full, raising his head proudly.

Regarding this, Yan Chongxin said disdainfully: "It's only about the size of North Korea, and less than a province of our country. It's extremely ridiculous to say that they are equal."

The emperor found another way, and asked the Spaniards: "I heard that you and others stationed troops in our country to reclaim wasteland. Is there such a thing?"

Now, the Spaniard said confidently: "His Majesty the Emperor, all the territory of our country in Dayuan has been stolen by the Dutch. Your Majesty the Emperor can ask the Dutch to return it."

After finishing speaking, he described the hatefulness of the Dutch in every possible way, and finally said: "As long as Earl Zheng of your country sends out troops, the Dutch will definitely be defeated."

At this time, the situation of Taiwan Island was opposite to that of later generations. The most prosperous area was the Tainan area and the Chianan area, that is, Dayuan.

This is the place where Yan Siqi and other immigrants reclaimed it, and it is also the boundary where Zheng Zhilong transferred the victims.

Here Zheng Zhilong regarded it as one of the three caves of his own, so he later sent Fujian governor Xiong Wencan to recruit hungry people to Taiwan to reclaim wasteland and relieve social pressure.

The Dutch established a trading post with the Spaniards, and the Spaniards built a city in the chicken coop area of ​​Taipei, which was later captured by the Dutch.

It wasn't until Zheng Zhilong surrendered to the Qing Dynasty in history that the Dutch took the opportunity to control the Han Chinese settlements on Taiwan Island and control Taiwan.

Therefore, in history, when Zheng Chenggong regained Taiwan, he thought it was his father's fiefdom, and wrote a poem saying, "Open up the thorns and drive away the barbarians, and restore the original foundation in ten years."

Hearing such a statement, the emperor was stunned.

It turned out that this was the period when the sea coachman Holland was powerful, and Spain began to end.

Portugal became independent eight years ago, and the Netherlands became independent decades ago. It lost its cow, the Netherlands, and its army lost its power. It is inevitable to be lonely.

So the Spaniard immediately focused on dealing with the Dutch, and bluntly said that he was familiar with the chicken coop area and could lead the way.

"There is no rush to send ambassadors to each other."

The emperor glanced at the anxious officials, and said calmly: "You also know that our country has a lot of resistance. As long as your country helps me take down the chicken coop, no one will object to the ambassador."

Hearing these words, Zhang Shenyan felt as if he was about to suffocate.

The Spaniard was overjoyed and hurriedly responded.

The reason why the Spaniards are keen on ambassadors is that it is really not easy to find a place to settle for trade.

Portugal in Macau is so comfortable, the Dutch have chicken coops, but the Spaniards have nothing, and Japan and North Korea are beyond reach.

If an embassy is set up, merchants will be able to land and trade directly without intermediaries to earn the difference.

The cabinet's reaction to the establishment of diplomatic relations was indifferent, and they all thought it was inappropriate.

"If that's the case, let's set up another Li Fan Yuan!"

The emperor made a decisive decision without giving the cabinet a chance to refute: "All the barbarian affairs should be handed over to the Li Fan Yuan."

"How about North Korea, Ryukyu, Annan, etc.?"

"Following the king, the vassal state that understands etiquette is still under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Rites. Only such barbarian countries with different hair and clothes are handled by the Lifan Academy."

To put it bluntly, it is the inner vassal that pays tribute, and the barbarians of the outer vassal who do not pay tribute.

This is equivalent to drawing a safe zone. The Confucian system is still there and has not been changed. It is just that another system that does not belong to it has been established, and each plays its own way.

Immediately the impact was reduced.

The cabinet finally calmed down.

"Your Majesty, where is this gentleman?"

Zhao Shu narrowed his eyes, a little puzzled.

"It's just the old Little Liuqiu."

Zhu Yixi waved his hand and said: "The country that was not conquered during the Taizu period has now been reduced to the hands of barbarians, but it is still my people after all, and it is right to save it."

"How much troops will it cost? How much money and food?"

"The Donghai Navy is growing stronger and stronger, and with the cooperation of Nan'an Bo Zheng Zhilong, a few thousand soldiers can take it down."

Speaking of this, Zhu Yixi showed a smile: "I heard that Xiaoliuqiu has a vast territory with a radius of thousands of miles and hundreds of thousands of people, all of whom are victims of disasters in Fujian. After the barbarians are expelled, what do you think?"

The three members of the cabinet fell silent.

After a while, Zhao Shu resolutely said: "If it is really my Ming people, then naturally we will set up a state capital and organize households for Qimin."

The emperor nodded in satisfaction.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Shu continued: "If I don't care about it, I'm afraid I will be disobedient in the future, claiming to be the king, and full of ambitions. How can I save my face at that time?"

Well, in the final analysis, it is still a matter of face.

"That's right, anyone who writes official Chinese characters should be a minister of the Ming Dynasty."

Zhang Shenyan regained his composure and said solemnly.

(End of this chapter)