Daming 1805

Prussia, Berlin, Headquarters of the Prussian branch of Dashi Clothing Company.

Yang Haiping, the shopkeeper in Prussia, was sitting at the table in his office, reading an invitation letter sent by his secretary Huang Junxian.

"The Berlin Chamber of Commerce and Industry is planning to organize a celebration parade and asked us if we would like to participate in the organizing event?"

The secretary beside him, Huang Junxian, explained with a strange expression:
"Shopkeeper, this is because we are Daming's property, so they sent a letter first and asked me to ask the shopkeeper what he meant.

"If we want to participate, their president will come to invite you."

Yang Haiping asked with some confusion:
"What are they celebrating?"

Huang Junxian was a little confused when he heard this question. Wasn't the purpose written on the invitation letter?

Huang Junxian tilted his head subconsciously and took a sneak peek at the invitation in Huang Haiping's hand to confirm that the content of the celebration was indeed written on it.

Celebrating the Prussian conquest of Denmark, the complete unification of Jutland, and the northern Prussian coastline finally being connected.

Therefore, the reason why my shopkeeper has this question now is not because he really doesn't know the answer to this question.

Instead, I was thinking about why Prussian businessmen celebrated Prussia's conquest of Denmark.

Sure enough, here Yang Haiping himself has continued to say:
"After going into undeclared war, taking the initiative to attack, and annexing another country, will the people take the initiative to organize celebrations after such things happen?"

Huang Junxian echoed in confusion:
“Perhaps the Prussians thought that this could be considered a big victory after all.

"Denmark is just a small country in our Ming Dynasty, but it is also a traditional country with quite a history in the West.

"The entire annexation to Prussia will definitely be recorded in their history."

When Yang Haiping heard the secretary's words, he stood up directly, and said to Huang Junxian, who was ten years younger than himself, in a teaching tone:

“Things are not that simple, and you cannot just look at the surface when analyzing things.

“His Majesty Emperor Shizu taught us to see the essence through phenomena and analyze the inner logic of things.

“The key is the inner driving force, what force operates internally to push something to happen and be realized.

"What is the reason that makes these private businessmen take the initiative to organize celebrations.

“Businessmen are profit-seeking, especially pure private businessmen.

"Will Prussia's annexation of Denmark bring any benefits to these businessmen?

“Then, are they able to continue to gain some kind of benefit from this celebration?

"Think about it?"

Huang Junxian was obviously taken aback after hearing this, and then thought about it in this direction:
"After Prussia completely conquered Denmark, the market in Denmark will be completely open to Prussian merchants."

Huang Haiping nodded slightly and then asked:

"What else? Think again."

Huang Junxian said a little uncertainly:

"It seems... since Prussia prepared for foreign war and started mobilization and related preparations, the domestic market in Prussia has become a little more lively.

“By the time of the Ming Dynasty and the New Year, the number of orders here has also increased slightly.

“Although it is far inferior to the original golden decade, sales have increased significantly compared to the same period last year.

"So, if Prussia launches a war, their domestic market will really be able to resume prosperity?"

Huang Haiping was more satisfied this time:
"It can indeed be seen in this way, and this is also a market change that we, as ordinary people, can directly see.

“If the Prussian court wants to launch a war abroad, it must find ways to raise funds and supplies.

“So starting from the second half of last year, Prussia began to issue national bonds and borrow money from several large private banks.

"After the imperial court got the money, they didn't just save it, they went to buy various items needed for the war.

“Including food, clothing, vehicles, medicine and other military supplies, as well as the most direct weapons and ammunition.

“The vast majority of these orders will be given to them domestically.

“When the corresponding manufacturers receive these orders, they will resume production lines that have become stagnant, and even recruit new workers to expand production capacity.

“This way there will be fewer unemployed workers, and workers will spend the money after they get it.

"So now it seems that the domestic market in Prussia is a little more lively than the same period last year."

Huang Junxian felt a sudden realization. He felt that he had thought of these situations, but he was not as clear as his own shopkeeper:
"The shopkeeper still sees things thoroughly..."

Yang Haiping was quite satisfied after hearing this, but the topic was not over yet. After a slight pause, Yang Haiping continued:
“Now that Prussia has won the battle, Denmark has almost unconditionally surrendered.

“The remaining funds and industries controlled by the Danish royal family and court will become spoils of war for the Prussian royal family and court.

“Even if it is a private property among the people, you can find a reason to help resist, resist the Prussian sky soldiers, etc., and confiscate it and turn it into trophies.

"These assets will be used to repay domestic debts borrowed by the Prussian court.

"Then, Prussian banks can get interest on loans, and ordinary Prussian people can also get interest on court bonds.

“After banks get the money, they will want to invest it again, and the money in people’s hands also needs to be exchanged for daily necessities.

“Manufacturers also hope to continue to produce more goods to sell to the court and the people.

“So in the next period of time, Prussia’s domestic market conditions will quickly rise.

“There will be another period of prosperity similar to the past golden decade.

“But this is just the reason for the improvement in the market and the benefits that manufacturers in Prussia have already received.

“If this kind of benefit only comes once, after they have obtained the benefit, they probably won’t celebrate it in a big way.

“They now even want us, outside Ming Dynasty manufacturers, to join their celebrations.

"Because they know this won't last long because this predatory harvest is a one-time thing.

“Denmark is a small country to begin with, the scale of local industrial assets is very limited, and the domestic situation is not good to begin with.

“The gains Prussia could gain would not allow the homeland to maintain a state of prosperity for long.

“To maintain prosperity, we need new sources of income.

"The key is that this time the Danish war was easily won, and they learned the lesson.

"They took the initiative to organize large-scale celebrations in the hope of continuing to obtain similar benefits in the future."

Huang Junxian suddenly realized again:
“They want to use folk celebrations to form a public opinion that seems to exist widely among the people.

"And then urged the Prussian court to continue foreign wars, making the Prussian royal family think that foreign wars would make his rule stronger!
"In this way, the Prussian court will continue to borrow money from the private sector and continue to purchase supplies for the war."

Yang Haiping's expression became serious this time:

"Yes, since war can make money and it is so easy, then let the war continue.

“This is what ordinary people take for granted.

“I estimate that the Prussian king and ministers would also have similar thoughts.

“If nothing else happens, the Prussian court may soon issue bonds directly in the name of war, or even in the name of unifying Germany.

"The government bonds issued by the Prussian court last year were still ordinary bonds, without any special name, so the funds obtained were not particularly large.

“After a complete victory in the first war, and then issuing bonds in the name of a unified Germany, the effect may be directly increased by an order of magnitude.

“With this money, Prussia will definitely take action against richer targets.

“Everyone knows that Prussia’s next war target is Austria.

“But the question is who is next, and who is the one after that?

“If we rely on war consumption to maintain the prosperity of the market, and if we want to gain profits through foreign wars, we must continue to fight the wars.

"The key is that Prussia will continue to win.

"Because once Prussia loses, let alone plunder assets from other countries, and even pay compensation to the victor of the enemy country.

“The initial funds for their war came from loans.

“After defeat, not only can we not repay our debts, but we also have to pay external compensation. What will be the outcome?
"In fact, there is no need to defeat, as long as there is no victory.

"After the war, if there is no money to repay the debt, the market circulation cycle that relies on the war will naturally not be maintained.

"It was only a matter of time before the Prussian court and royal family collapsed."

Yang Haiping is a native of the Ming Dynasty, and he has a natural mentality of superiority to the Westerners.

Coupled with the fact that he is an outsider, he naturally has a bystander mentality.Observation coupled with discrimination allowed him to quickly see clearly the problems existing in the path Prussia had chosen...

He also said it directly without any scruples.

After hearing this, Huang Junxian was a little tangled and said:
"Then...what if they...can really keep winning?"

Yang Haiping laughed dryly and said:
"Why do we keep winning? Even if we beat all the European and American countries, we, the Ming Dynasty, are still watching from the side.

"After it unifies the West, it can only declare war on the Ming Dynasty. They cannot be our opponent."

Huang Junxian actually thought of another possibility in his mind, but he didn't dare to say it directly.

What if Prussia really unified the West and then really defeated the Ming Dynasty.

Then Prussia would have no new war goals.

They will also collapse on their own, just like the Qin Dynasty that conquered the Six Kingdoms.

In fact, Yang Haiping also thought of it, and also felt that it was not appropriate to say it, so he avoided talking about it.

So the scene was quiet for a while.

Then Huang Junxian also remembered his purpose of coming here:

"So... do we want to participate in their celebration?"

Yang Haiping hesitated for a while:

"Let me ask the big shopkeeper for instructions... This kind of thing may even require His Majesty's approval..."

After Yang Haiping finished speaking, he returned to the table and quickly drafted a simple report and request for instructions.

Asked whether to participate in Prussian folk celebrations, and briefly explained his analysis and judgment.

Zhu Jingyuan's personal industries before he became the throne, that is, those industries of the food department, are now in the process of integration.

Referring to the construction of the royal consortium and the imperial village system, Zhu Jingyuan established a large food consortium to govern all large food industry industries.

A secretariat was set up at the top of the consortium, and several consortium secretaries were set up to assist Zhu Jingyuan in managing the consortium's affairs.

Chu Yuqiang, the former chief shopkeeper of Dashi Clothing Company, was naturally mentioned to the Secretariat because of his contribution to the Western world and business management model.

Now Chu Yuqiang's official position is "Secretary of the Dashi Consortium". In fact, he is Zhu Jingyuan's own secretary, and his status is similar to that of a cabinet bachelor in the imperial court.

However, compared to the bachelor who only has the right to make suggestions, the secretary of the consortium has a lot of decision-making power.

These secretaries themselves will also be in charge of one or two major specific industries.

Chu Yuqiang is naturally in charge of the management of Dashi Clothing Store, luxury clothing brand management, and petrochemical finished products.

At the same time, he also serves as a consultant to the Ministry of Rites and Honglu Temple, and can provide consultation and suggestions for foreign literature and art promotion.

In these matters, Chu Yuqiang is an absolute expert and is ranked among the best in the world.

Chu Yuqiang has now returned to his hometown and works at the headquarters of Dashi Clothing Company in the new capital of Yingtianfu.

He has the qualifications to write reports directly to the Ming Emperor and directly request phone calls and meetings.

He is the top business elite and upper class figure in the whole world.

Yang Haiping's news was first sent to Chu Yuqiang.

After reading it, Chu Yuqiang called the Secretary of General Administration without much thought and asked to meet the emperor directly.

Chu Yuqiang's business acumen is very sharp, otherwise he would not have reached this point.

Correspondingly, he also has a deep enough understanding and understanding of social and political issues.

Whether personnel from Ming Dynasty's industries in Prussia participated in Prussian civilian celebrations of war victory was by no means an ordinary business decision.

At two o'clock in the afternoon on February [-], AD, Zhu Jingyuan met with Chu Yuqiang in his office.

Zhu Jingyuan first read Huang Haiping's report handed over by Chu Yuqiang.

Then I fell into thinking that others could not understand.

Zhu Jingyuan remembered many things from his previous life.

Chu Yuqiang was also secretly observing Zhu Jingyuan's reaction.

When I found that the emperor fell into deep thought after reading the report, I knew that it was the right choice for me to come specifically to ask the emperor for instructions.

Because the emperor really cared about and valued this matter.

If he made the decision directly without specifically asking the emperor for instructions, it would definitely not be a good thing for him to wait until the matter was reported to the emperor through other channels in the future.

Even if the emperor will not blame or punish himself for this, he will show the impression that his mental defense is not entirely in line with his preferences.

After the scene was silent for a while, Zhu Jingyuan asked a question that surprised Chu Yuqiang:

"Lao Chu, in your opinion, are ordinary people in Prussia willing to participate in this kind of celebration?"

Chu Yuqiang was obviously taken aback, and then quickly considered several possibilities and angles of thinking:

"Your Majesty, I believe that the people of Prussia are willing to participate in such activities.

“Even if the owners and shopkeepers of these private manufacturers do not organize it, it is very likely that people will spontaneously organize some small-scale celebration activities.

"For example, small gatherings and banquets, or hanging some flags outside, or even holding outdoor parades."

“Because Prussia’s foreign wars did benefit them directly or indirectly.

"The direct one is the interest on the national debt, and the indirect one is the production demand brought about by the war demand and the extra wages they get.

"They can also realize this, and the country begins to prepare for war, and the pressure in their lives decreases.

“After the country wins the war, their lives will become better.

"This is only the first victory in the war. After they realize the benefits directly brought by the victory of the war, they will be more enthusiastic about this kind of thing.

"When Prussia defeats Austria on the battlefield...

"It is very likely that local people will spontaneously hold large-scale demonstrations without the need for businessmen to organize them."

After hearing this, Zhu Jingyuan put down the report in his hand and issued some orders to Chu Yuqiang that seemed to have nothing to do with Yang Haiping's request:
"Let Honglu Temple and the Ministry of Rites arrange for people to bring the best photography and video equipment to major cities in Prussia.

"The many facets of the changes in Prussian life during and after the war are documented.

“Make a point of documenting those celebrations.”

After hearing this, Chu Yuqiang agreed very seriously:

"Remember this, subordinates."

Chu Yuqiang is also talented in this kind of thing, so he already understands Zhu Jingyuan's purpose without Zhu Jingyuan finishing his words.

These videos and photos are future "criminal evidence".

When the Ming Dynasty wants to send troops to Taixi in the future, it can be punished with famous crimes.

It is also the evidence and reason to punish them after the war is over.

Zhu Jingyuan first arranged this matter that he was more concerned about, and finally responded to Yang Haiping's question:
"The managers of all the royal family and official industries of the Ming Dynasty in Prussia are not allowed to participate in any organization of related activities.

“In the industries owned by Ming private manufacturers in Prussia, it is not recommended that they participate in the organization of related activities.

"Ordinary Ming people in Prussia are also not allowed to participate in any celebrations.

“Once discovered, the relevant managers and Ming Dynasty employees will be directly fired from all Ming Dynasty royal families and government-owned industries, and the relevant industries will never employ these personnel.

"But if ordinary Prussians in Ming's industries in Prussia want to participate in related activities, Ming's managers should facilitate it.

“That is a matter within the Prussians’ own country and should be decided by themselves.

"Correspondingly, in the future, war-related activities within other countries will be carried out in accordance with this standard unless they receive my direct permission."

Zhu Jingyuan's orders were basically the same as Chu Yuqiang's own plan that he had considered in advance.

The Ming Dynasty's industries did not participate in the organization of the activities, and Ming Dynasty people were not allowed to directly participate. This was a statement that the Ming Dynasty official did not support this kind of war.

However, allowing Prussians in the industry to participate in activities alone does not object to them engaging in such activities.

Chu Yuqiang knew what he was doing, and at the same time he bowed and agreed very seriously again:

"Remember this, subordinates."