Brother Zhu Youxiao

Chapter 620 National Debt

"Boom bang bang-"

On the fifth day of the first lunar month in the 22nd year of the Apocalypse, with the sound of gun salutes at the port of Valencia, the Ming Dynasty and the Spanish Empire formally signed three clauses of the "Treaty of Valencia", including twelve clauses of the "Treaty of Trade".

[Article [-] of the Treaty of Valencia:
The Spanish Empire sold the colonies in the New World. In exchange, Ming would deliver goods worth 8000 million taels of silver as the purchase price.

The payment will be completed in ten years, and each year will be divided into equivalent goods worth 800 million taels, including but not limited to food, cloth, munitions, warships and other goods.

The second paragraph:
Within two years after the ratification of the treaty, Ming allowed Spain to relocate the 28 soldiers and civilians living in the New World.

The third paragraph:
The Ming Dynasty will establish a diplomatic mission in Madrid, Spain, where diplomatic officials will reside permanently, and the number of guards will be kept within 50. 】

The number of words in the "Treaty of Valencia" is not too many, but it basically finalizes the affairs of the New World.

Compared with the Treaty of Valencia, the subsequent "Trade Treaty" has more numbers, as many as thousands of words.

The content included the sale of warships, artillery, saltpeter, flintlock guns, pig iron, grain, and other commodities.

As the first year of the Treaty of Valencia, Ming needed to sell enough flintlock guns and cannons to equip 5 people, as well as 200 million catties of saltpeter, and [-] sailing battleships with a tonnage of no less than [-] tons to the Spanish Empire every year.

In addition, there are about 100 million shi of grain, [-] tons of various commodities that are scarce in Spain, such as brown sugar, sucrose, tea, cloth...

These commodities will witness the two countries' compliance with the "Valencia Treaty" and the friendship between the two countries.

After the announcement of this news, the morale of the Spanish army on the European battlefield soared. At the same time, Felipe IV announced that he would repay the military salary owed to the army in June, which undoubtedly brought the morale of Spain to its peak.

The French Prime Minister Richelieu was not surprised when he learned of this. After all, now is indeed a good opportunity to seize the colonies of the New World.

However, in the face of the growing Spanish Empire, Richelieu still sent a letter of credence to Daming, hoping that Daming would not directly participate in the war, and at the same time made a request to purchase arms.

Not only Richelieu, but also Charles I of England and Gustav II of Sweden also made requests for arms deals.

This will be a good opportunity for the five military governors of the Ming Dynasty to clear their inventory, so Li Quan also released the pigeons while returning to the voyage.

The homing pigeons landed and took off in a circle, from the South Kunlun Supervisory Commissioner to the Xiaoxiyang Supervisory Commissioner, then to Luchuan, and finally to the capital.

By the time the news it carried was brought to Zhu Youjian, it was already March of the 22nd year of Tianqi.

The golden roof and red gate, the antique style of Chengyun Hall, make people feel solemn.

Sitting in it, Zhu Youjian held a thumb-wide note, looked at the contents with a magnifying glass, and finally nodded:
"The goods under the treaty will be paid by Qi State itself, and Qi State will pay whatever the actual price of the goods is."

Zhu Youjian didn't let Qi Guo keep sucking Daming's blood, but asked Qi Guo to exchange real money for Daming's inventory.

Regarding this, Li Changgeng, who had just been sitting on a chair in the hall, also bowed and said:
"The Ministry of Households drew up a note, 16 flintlock guns and 300 Yanshan six-jin guns, plus twenty wooden warships of [-] tons. The price is [-] based on the real price of the imperial court to the vassals. Two full."

"If 200 million jin of saltpeter, 100 million shi of wheat, and 160 tons of other goods are purchased from the Nankunlun Supervisory Commission, the price should be [-] million taels."

"The total adds up to about 1707 million taels..."

Li Changgeng's quotation explained why Zhu Youjian was willing to give Spain so much money to buy the New World.

To put it bluntly, the cost price of these commodities was only 50 million taels, and the selling price to the vassal state was less than 180 million taels.

But in Spain, the price of these things is 800 million taels.

If Qi can successfully enter the industrial process in the future, the prices of these things will continue to decline.

In the hands of the Spaniards, the mines can only produce more than 600 million taels of gold and silver a year, but in the hands of the Qi people, 1000 million is probably just a base.

Spending less than 200 million taels of goods per year in exchange for a gold and silver producing area that produces 1000 million taels a year, plus a vast land, this deal is a huge profit for Qi.

Of course, Qi State could have directly sent troops to snatch the colonies, but in order to continue the religious war, it was Zhu Youjian's goal to support Spain in disguise.

Not to mention the following nine years of trade transactions, the batch of supplies delivered this year alone may allow the Spaniards to gain a firm foothold on the European battlefield.

As long as it is delayed until next year, Spain may be able to fight against the French-led Protestant League, and when it is delayed until the year after next, Spain will be able to launch a counterattack.

However, Ming can support Spain, and naturally it can also support France.

The population of France is much larger than that of Spain. A population of 2000 million is a huge market, waiting for the arrival of products from Qi and Ming.

The imperial store made money from the French and paid taxes to the French royal family, who then used the tax to buy arms and maintain the imperial store's status in France.

The only ones who are dissatisfied may be those local merchants and nobles in France.

But these things don't need Zhu Youjian to worry about. Compared with the royal stores that pay taxes honestly, the royal families of all countries may hate the businessmen and nobles who evade taxes the most.

This can be seen from the internal situation in the UK...

Zhu Youjian picked up another letter from the South Kunlun Supervisory Commissioner, and he opened it. The content was mainly about the British Civil War.

In the twelfth month of the 21st year of the Apocalypse, the opposition MPs in the United Kingdom began to criticize Charles I violently when he went out to suppress the civil unrest in the United Kingdom, and tried to submit a proposal to the Parliament to limit the king's power.

Not only that, the opposition arrested Charles I's favorite Earl Stratford and Archbishop Lauder successively in the cold winter.

After learning about the situation, Charles I left [-] troops to continue to suppress the rebellion, and then led [-] troops loyal to him back to London.

Instead of defending his favorites verbally, as in history, he directly ordered the arrest of opposition MPs and the release of his two favorites.

His behavior caused the masses in London to continue to demonstrate, and at this time Parliament also passed the "Great Protest" against Charles I.

The full text of the "Great Protest" has [-] articles. It enumerates the atrocities committed by Charles I, and demands that the king guarantee the freedom of industry and commerce, and that the government be accountable to the parliament.

Charles I, who held the military power and had the royal store as a financial source, not only refused to approve the "Great Protest" after learning of this, but also declared Pym, Hampton and other opposition leaders as "rebels".

When Li Quan and Olivares were discussing the "Treaty of Valencia", Charles I personally led the army to arrest Pym and others, but was strongly opposed by the people in London.

In the face of the London crowd with high revolutionary enthusiasm, Charles I ordered the suppression, causing the city of London to become a bloody city.

His approach intensified the extent of the civil war, and the civil war camp began to gradually become clear.

In the two camps, those who supported the king were mainly the feudal nobles, the upper-class monks of the Anglican Church, and some big bourgeoisie and bureaucrats who had close ties with the king. Most of them were Anglicans and Catholics.

Those who stood on the side of the parliament were mainly the new aristocrats, the bourgeoisie, urban civilians, handicraftsmen and yeoman, most of whom were Puritans.

Judging from the comparison of power between the two sides, the parliament has an absolute advantage, but Charles I is backed by the imperial store, and has a royalist army of 2 people in his hands.

Compared with the parliamentary army, half of the royalist army is equipped with flintlock guns.

Charles I, armed with the royal family, did not choose to flee to London, but chose to suppress the rebellion in London.

This greatly reduced the area that the parliament could control. Ports and London, as well as some densely populated cities, were occupied by the royalist army. Taxes directly paid to the royal family reached 60% of the total British tax revenue, while parliament only accounted for 40%.

The lack of finances has already stretched the parliament, and the lack of troops has made the two sides even more out of balance.

There are about 1 people in the parliamentary army, but most of them are militiamen without military training. Compared with the royalist army, they are weak.

In addition, in the hearts of the British people at this time, the king is still majestic and noble, so many people did not support the parliamentary army, but took a wait-and-see attitude.

However, the parliamentary army also has its own advantages, that is, the wave of revolution in Britain has become unstoppable, and many handicraft practitioners are willing to join the army to win for their camp.

Such an advantage allowed the parliamentary army to quickly break through from 1 to 3 in less than ten days.

At the same time, the people of Ireland in the west and Scotland in the north saw that England was in civil strife, and they also raised their flags again, demanding that Charles I step down.

The number of rebels in these forces was around 1, so the situation that Charles I had to face was to use [-] professional soldiers to deal with [-] rebels.

It is true that he is very confident, but for the sake of conservatism, he and France proposed the arms trade to Daming.

Charles I prepared gold and silver coins worth about 20 taels, and planned to buy flintlock guns, artillery, and varying amounts of saltpeter enough to equip 5000 people.

Richelieu and Gustav II also prepared about 80 taels of gold and silver coins, ready to buy enough flintlock guns and artillery for 2 people, and varying amounts of saltpetre.

For the European politicians of this era, most of them still think that Daming just wants to make money, and has no intention of meddling with European affairs.

Only Richelieu could keenly feel that Ming seemed to be controlling the battlefield in Europe, so he wanted to end the war quickly.

The current situation is already a very good situation for the French Bourbon Dynasty. If it is good enough to accept it, France is enough to become a powerful country on the European continent.

However, Daming's attitude obviously does not want the war to end, and France cannot tear itself apart from Daming.

Richelieu could only choose to fight Spain and the Holy Roman Empire, and then withdraw from them.

but……

"How could it be so easy..." Looking at the news in his hand, Zhu Youjian snorted lightly, and then confessed to Lu Wenzhao:
"Everything can be sold. In addition, tell Franz that the second transaction will be in February next year."

"Yes!" Lu Wenzhao bowed in response, and Zhu Youjian also put the note away with a smile.

The faster the second deal, the longer Spain can hold on.

By selling grain and commodities, they can resolve the domestic financial bankruptcy crisis, and with the flintlock guns sold by Daming, they can also quickly fight back and forth with Protestants on the battlefield.

The whole situation is still under Daming's control, but Europe is not chaotic enough, Lin Danhan has to be forced to do it.

Thinking of this, Zhu Youjian looked at the map behind him.

That territory is comparable to that of the Mongolian territory of the Golden Horde back then, and I am afraid that it will soon fall into the hands of Daming.

"How is the civil society this year?"

Zhu Youjian asked Li Changgeng with his back turned, but Li Changgeng said happily:
"Return to Your Highness, very good..."

"Since the beginning of spring, there have been many heavy rains in various places, many rivers that have stopped flowing have recovered, and many fields can be cultivated smoothly."

"The 15-year drought in Shaanxi has finally stopped. Since the beginning of spring, it has rained nine times in Shaanxi, and there is no sign of drought."

"In addition, the drought in Sichuan, Guangxi, Hexi, and Guizhou has disappeared. Although the drought in Shanxi, Beizhili, Shandong, Henan, Nanzhili, Huguang, Zhejiang, and Fujian is still there, it has already become serious. downsizing."

"The imperial court estimates that the cultivated land that can be recultivated this year will reach 9000 million mu, and the country's annual revenue this year will reach [-] million taels."

Li Changgeng said excitedly, and Zhu Youjian also knew that the most difficult time for Daming was finally over.

Although there will be another wave of counterattacks from the drought next year, the impact on Daming will not be too great.

Small glaciers are not terrible. The reduction in grain production caused by the drop in temperature can be counteracted with chemical fertilizers, but severe droughts cannot.

Zhu Youjian is not a fairy, and he can't make heavy rain.

If the production is reduced, there is still food to eat. In severe drought, we can only eat Guanyin soil.

Based on the current population situation of Daming, after next year, it may usher in an explosive growth.

The population peak of 100 million may be reached [-] years earlier, and this is not yet the peak population of Ming Dynasty.

What Zhu Youjian has to do is to push on this basis, and what he has to do...

"Your Highness, the Metropolitan Procuratorate is playing again..."

Zhu Youjian's thoughts hadn't settled yet, Wang Chengen walked in from outside the Chengyun Hall, and presented the memorial sent by the Metropolitan Procuratorate with both hands.

Before Zhu Youjian took it, he explained its content:
"After Sun Chuanting arrived in the southwest, he took Zhou Xi and others to investigate the case in the southwest. They were involved in a wide range of cases for a while, and everyone in the Western Army and the Southern Army was at risk."

"The news from the Metropolitan Procuratorate was not sent by Cheng De, but by Wang Kejian. The meaning of it is to keep His Highness, and hope that His Highness will suspend his surrender."

People from the Yanshan faction are not blind. Seeing that Zhu Youjian transferred back the officials who were excluded by them to go to other countries, Li Demao and Zhang Maocai also concluded that Zhu Youjian was very sure.

Coupled with the sudden subsidence of the severe drought, the pressure on the local government offices that were already under great pressure dropped sharply.

Without the drag of the drought, Zhu Youjian can deal with them with confidence.

Therefore, Zhu Youjian knew that even if this memorial was unbearable, it was a soft memorial of the Yanshan School.

"Your Highness, since Yanshan's service is weak, we just need to get through it safely, and then wait for October to abolish a group of Yanshan officials and replace students."

Li Changgeng didn't want King Qi to sink deeper and deeper into the muddy waters of Daming, make peace with the Yanshan faction, and then attack the Yanshan faction. Such a result would be acceptable to both parties, even the emperor would not be able to say anything.

"You're right..." Zhu Youjian nodded slightly, which made Li Changgeng heave a sigh of relief: "In that case, Your Highness..."

"The goal of suppressing Yanshan has been achieved, but if they don't get rid of them, how will the officialdom be cleared?"

Zhu Youjian's opening instantly made Li Changgeng nervous. He always thought that Zhu Youjian just wanted to take the opportunity to suppress the Yanshan faction. Now it seems that Zhu Youjian didn't want to suppress it simply, but was going to uproot it.

"They control [-]% of the teaching in government schools and government schools, and the students are trained by them. If they are dirty, the officialdom and government schools in the future will also be dirty."

"I planned 28 officials not for anything else, but for this day!"

While speaking, Zhu Youjian said to Li Changgeng with a stern face:

"Let the world know that although the drought has receded, the people are suffering. From today, the land tax will be exempted for two years!"

"Your Highness!"

Zhu Youjian's last move came out. The main officials of Yanshan were all entrenched in the township, and the township was dominated by land tax.

He asked Shen Tingyang to sell the grain in Huangdian and Changping warehouse in order to reserve enough silver, and the reserve of these silver was to deal with the lack of farm income in the next two years.

Li Changgeng didn't feel that Zhu Youjian did something wrong, and he also knew that once the world's land tax was exempted, the local money bags that the Yanshan School relied on would be useless, but the problem is...

"Your Highness! If there are 9000 million taels of taxes in the country this year, then the agricultural tax generated by the land tax will take up 5000 million taels."

"If the land tax is exempted for two years, then the government's tax will be reduced to 4000 million taels. This amount of silver is at most enough to pay the military salary and the salaries of hundreds of officials, soldiers and horses, not even the salary of the government servants."

"Not to mention that Guochao's industrial zone is still producing all kinds of machines, investing no less than 2000 million taels a year, plus the 2000 million taels for the railway, the annual deficit is more than 4000 million taels."

"Even if we sell the grain from Changping warehouse now, it will only be enough to recover 600 million taels at most."

"If it is really necessary to exempt the land tax, the country will have to stagnate for at least two years. Once the people are affected by disasters, the court will not even be able to pay for the disaster."

"In addition, Guochao used 200 million taels from the bank before, and now Guochao still owes more than [-] million taels of silver..."

From the standpoint of the Ming Dynasty, Li Changgeng did not support Zhu Youjian's waiver of the land tax, because the exemption of the field tax meant that if the Ming Dynasty suffered a disaster in the next two years, the imperial court would not be able to provide a tael of silver for disaster relief.

It is also impossible to transfer money from the bank, because the bank deposits are only more than 200 million taels at the moment. In response to the severe drought last year, the imperial court has already transferred [-] million taels.

The money has not been repaid by Daming until now. If the money continues to be borrowed, and this matter is used by people who want to use it, then there will inevitably be bank runs in various places.

It is easy to exempt from taxes, but when the court runs out of money and there is a run on the court, the reputation of the court will drop to the bottom.

Both Li Changgeng and the Yanshan faction thought that Zhu Youjian would abolish the Yanshan faction's own financial power by means of immunity, but they also thought about Daming's financial situation.

Not to mention exempting Juan from agricultural tax for two years, even if Juan was exempted for one year, the Ming Dynasty would not be able to bear it. This is the confidence of the Yanshan School.

"Your Highness, otherwise wait..."

Cao Huachun, who was standing aside, could not help dissuading him:
"At present, the Qi State has regained its lost land, and it only takes two years to mine tens of millions of taels of silver to support the imperial court."

"This year the household department can save several million taels of silver, and next year the household department can save even more."

"It's not too late to do it then..."

Cao Huachun knew that it was impossible for Daming to be exempted from agricultural tax under the current situation, but Zhu Youjian just proposed it, which made Li Changgeng, who was the Minister of the Ministry of Households, terrified and curious.

However, in the face of his curiosity, Zhu Youjian said lightly:
"When people run out of money, they can go to relatives and friends to borrow money. Can't the court do that?"

"Borrowing money?" Li Changgeng was taken aback, and Wang Chengen was even more curious: "Your Highness is asking Zhu Fan to borrow money?"

"Looking for them?" Zhu Youjian smiled contemptuously: "How much money they have, all of them can't fill the hole of 5000 million taels."

"The relatives of the imperial court are not other people, but the common people..."

Zhu Youjian glanced at the crowd, and everyone who heard the words froze.

Looking for people to borrow money?This kind of thing is simply a fantasy for them.

From Li Changgeng's point of view, borrowing money from the common people of Ming Dynasty is not as practical as printing banknotes directly.

Although the common people of Ming Dynasty could obtain the land tax, the drought still persisted, and most of the common people were still living in hardship.

Under such circumstances, how could it be possible to go door to door to ask the people to borrow money?

If it is a tax collection, wouldn't the words of exempting the land tax become empty talk?

Li Changgeng's face was full of doubts, but in the face of his distrust, Zhu Youjian talked eloquently:
"Generally speaking, to balance fiscal revenue and expenditure, we can adopt methods of increasing taxes and issuing more currency."

"Of these two methods, increasing taxes is a method that is taken from the people and used by the people. It is certainly a good method, but there is a certain limit to increasing taxes. If the tax is too heavy and exceeds the ability of the people, it will not be conducive to The development of production and will affect future taxation."

"Therefore, issuing more currency is the most convenient method, but this method is the least advisable, because using more currency to make up for the fiscal deficit will lead to serious inflation and have the most severe impact on the economy."

"I have told you about the consequences of these actions, but there is one thing I didn't tell you."

Zhu Youjian looked at Li Changgeng, and Li Changgeng also nodded.

In front of Li Changgeng, Zhu Youjian finally said how he planned to borrow money from the common people:

"Under the circumstances that it is difficult to increase taxes and cannot issue more currency, asking the people to borrow money to make up for the fiscal deficit is a feasible measure for my Ming Dynasty right now, and I call such a measure... national debt!"

　I'm going on a business trip tomorrow, and after packing my luggage, it's inevitable that the update will be late.

　　There are still two updates today, the second update is at [-]:[-] pm
　　
　
(End of this chapter)