The Great Industrial Ming Dynasty Started from Beiping

Zhu Gaochi returned to the Wenhua Palace, and soldiers and horses across the country were mobilized one after another. Zhu Di was also preparing to leave the capital. The power of the country and the power to supervise the country were handed over to the prince, but the civil and military officials in the court were not touched.

People have become accustomed to this phenomenon, which was unique to the Yongle Dynasty.

The emperor was away from Beijing all year round, and the country's political affairs were managed by the prince. This was a very special phenomenon. Looking at history books, only the Yongle Dynasty reached its peak, which promoted the extreme stability of the Ming Dynasty.

This is also the confidence that Zhu Gaochi has unswervingly promoted the social resource allocation model over the years.

At least when Zhu Di was alive, he gave Zhu Gaochi the courage to do many things without worrying about his own safety or whether it would bring instability to the Ming Dynasty.

"Since ancient times, businessmen have been an unstable group and have been suppressed by successive dynasties all year round. Based on the socio-economic production level at that time and historical limitations, it had a certain effect, but there were also some shortcomings."

In the side hall meeting room, six ministers, the cabinet, ministers and workers of various ministries, and dozens of people were sitting on Luotai chairs.

This is the new modification plan of Wenhua Palace.

His Royal Highness the Prince not only advocated the rule of the former Song Dynasty with the scholar-bureaucrats to govern the world, but also proposed co-governance with the people of the world. The film chiefs were introduced in the military households’ pellets and the market leaders were introduced in the market tracts. After many years of implementation, the environment at the most basic level has been improved. Stabilized.

However, the local countryside is still dominated by clans. However, due to the expansion of inspection yamen, the law has more support in the countryside, and clans are no longer left to take care of themselves.

Square table, square.

Square inside, round outside.

Zhu Gaochi sat behind the table on the north side of the inner quadrant, the cabinet ministers and the six ministers sat on the other three sides, and the remaining civil and military officials sat behind the outer round table, as well as a few clerks in the corners.

In the open space in the middle, there are colorful bonsais. There is a carpet under the bonsais, a chandelier above, glass windows, red floor-length curtains, and rows of kerosene lamps.

Paper, hard pen, tea cup.

"rustle."

The sound of writing filled the silent hall.

"Without agriculture, there is no stability, without industry, there is no wealth, and without business, there is no life; without agriculture, society is unstable; without industry, the country is not wealthy; without business, people's economic life is not active."

"Although the Daming Industrial Bureau and various organizations and upstream and downstream systems have effectively guaranteed the distribution of social resources and stabilized the living standards of ordinary people, the circulation of social resources is too complicated. Therefore, supporting the development of private commercial banks is not only beneficial to the Daming Industrial Bureau system. In addition, it is the flexible operation of social resources. Both are indispensable, and we must walk on two legs."

Zhu Gaochi read the manuscript.

The manuscript was not written by Zhu Gaochi, but was compiled by the library after listening to his request.

The development of industrialization to this day, as well as the improvement and development of the school education system, have cultivated many talents, who can now write manuscripts that satisfy Zhu Gaochi. He no longer needs to write the manuscript himself as before.

Some of the civil and military officials were old or middle-aged, and some had historical names that Zhu Gaochi had heard of, such as Jian Yi, Song Li, Lu Zhen, as well as the deceased Zheng Ci, Yu Xin, etc.

There are many names that have not appeared in history, especially now, because of the changes in the Ming Dynasty, more and more people have been affected, and many people have broken away from the historical trajectory and have a new life path.

Even Jin Zhong had passed away last year, and many of the Peking generals who had made great contributions had also passed away, so Zhu Gaochi was a little worried about Zhu Di, who was fifty-eight years old.

In history, Zhu Di died of illness on the way to the expedition. Is this still the case?

Zhu Gaochi couldn't bear it.

What makes Zhu Gaochi even more worried is his body. Although he is fine now, the original owner's lifespan is very short. Zhu Di also left a year after his death. In order to avoid accidents, Zhu Gaochi can only lay down a foundation for the Ming Dynasty while he is still alive. foundation.

Zhu Gaochi cannot make any system or idea unchanged forever.

This is something that history has proven. Just like the gate of a university, it is originally open and should be opened. But after it is closed, it is difficult to open it again, so it still needs to be looked at by the people themselves.

Just like Zhu Yuanzhang in the Ming Dynasty gave so many things to the people, they could even arrest officials who broke the law and officials who were protecting each other. If the local government still protected them, they could go to Jinling, but these things quickly disappeared.

Modern social customs in the West are the result of the struggle of the common people themselves.

In his last life, Zhu Gaochi had read many Western books, some of which he approved of, and some of which he did not approve of. There was one sentence that he liked very much, about British patent rights and the history of the struggle between nobles and craftsmen.

The evaluation given by Western scholars is that those craftsmen who are unwilling to fight for their rights have given up their rights and do not deserve sympathy.

This is completely different from the social public opinion in the East, because the public opinion environment in the East basically criticizes the nobility and gives sympathy to the craftsmen, which may indeed encourage some directions.

of course.

Zhu Gaochi also believed that the Qing Dynasty was one of the main reasons for reversing this phenomenon and causing people to lose their mentality of resistance.

Just as Marco Polo commented, those who were subjugated were very pitiful and sensitive, and hated the Khan's soldiers. Then didn't the people of the Qing Dynasty have such a mentality? It might be even worse.

Half convinced, half worried.

Zhu Gaochi didn't know whether the precious legacy he left for the Ming Dynasty could be inherited and carried forward by the people of the Ming Dynasty, because society is never fixed or moving forward.

Like the long river of history, it is normal to retreat if we do not advance.

Zhu Gaochi can only lay a solid foundation.

Now he is newly proposing the reform of the Ming Dynasty Law and the formulation of more detailed laws.

"But the destructive power of businessmen, I believe that everyone here has a clear judgment through the social phenomena in Goryeo. Suppressing the development of business is not conducive to society. Failure to suppress it will bring destruction to the people. It is an agricultural land annexation. Same nature."

"Then failure to guide business to bring correct results to society and the people will be the root of the country's downfall, and even the downfall of the world."

"The world is huge, and the Ming Dynasty has not yet explored it to the end. Commerce cannot be banned, because if commerce is banned, there will be commerce in other areas. If we don't advance, we will retreat, which will lead to backwardness."

"And Ming merchants overseas did promote domestic productivity, brought domestically needed resources, and expanded Ming's sphere of influence. They played many effects, which is undeniable."

People listened to His Highness the Crown Prince's speech and took notes one after another.

People have summed up some experience over the years. His Highness the Crown Prince's quotations are sometimes incomprehensible, but future facts have proved His Highness the Crown Prince's foresight.

"In ancient times, everything in the local area, including the population, was the property of powerful people. Therefore, before the Tang Dynasty, they were famous for their cruel officials, while corrupt officials were rarely recorded in historical records. However, since the Song Dynasty, the proportion of corrupt officials has increased, which is due to the popularization and decentralization of power. , from another perspective, it is also a kind of progress of civilization."

Zhu Gaochi said calmly.

"hiss."

Some people couldn't help but be surprised. His Highness the Crown Prince's words often made people think deeply.

Zhu Gaochi indeed thinks so.

What is a Saga valve?

They don't have to be greedy, because the land originally belongs to them.

Like a horse.

Giving him a high official position, even if it can increase his assets by 1%, he can even pay no money and use part of the funds to pay for the government.

But after the Song Dynasty, officials couldn't do anything anymore. They could only transfer part of the wealth from the operation of social materials to themselves, and return to their hometowns to build bridges and roads to fund education, which would make the gentry proud for a lifetime.

Well, before the Tang Dynasty, the population and wealth on the land belonged to aristocratic families, and the production relations between the two were essentially different.

"Therefore, during the Song Dynasty, the laws enacted had universal and clear provisions on property protection. It was the first dynasty in the history of the world to formally introduce the protection of private property."

"The former Yuan Dynasty destroyed the civilization developed by the Song Dynasty, leading to regression in all aspects. The Ming Dynasty inherited the Song system, but in many aspects, because it did not reach the economic level and social customs of the Song Dynasty at that time, there were many shortcomings."

"The current Ming law must learn from the property protection system of the Song Dynasty, which has distinctive characteristics of the times."

"Various legal provisions continue to be improved and become more enlightened. For example, the development of the commodity economy during the Song Dynasty, combined with the needs of society at that time, legislators protected the interests of relevant rights holders from all aspects."

"Nowadays, with the economic development of Ming society and the growth of people's wealth, such needs have become more and more vigorous. The Ming court must catch up with society and meet the needs of the people."

“From legal inheritance, subrogation inheritance, inheritance of property after household extermination, protection contract system, etc., we draw lessons from the legal framework of property protection in the Song Dynasty to create a perfect law that meets the needs of the Ming Dynasty’s industrialized society, is recognized by the people, and is recognized by the public moral order.”

Legal discussions on property protection have caused shock in society.

During the Yuan Dynasty, in the slave society, people lost their freedom and wealth. Although Zhu Yuanzhang in the Ming Dynasty issued an order to abolish slaves, he also retained the privilege of some nobles to use slaves. Although it was progressive, it was not as legal as the Song Dynasty. Improved protection of private property.

With the land annexation in the Ming Dynasty and the bankruptcy of the local economy, the needs of the people dropped to the pursuit of food and clothing. Therefore, in the end, the Ming Dynasty did not reach the height of civilization of the Song Dynasty.

The Song Dynasty was the pinnacle of Chinese civilization in ancient China, and this is not what historians say casually.

People have been used to it for more than a hundred years, but the sudden emergence of laws has indeed met the new needs brought about by social development. People are discussing it excitedly and supporting it vigorously.

Especially businessmen, they urgently need the court to issue such a law.

"This is actually His Highness the Crown Prince trying to win over us."

Zhang Bo from Heji Trading Company interpreted it in public at a business gathering.

Unlike many trading houses, Heji Trading Company did not expand aggressively in Goryeo. Instead, it followed the footsteps of the Ming Dynasty Industrial Bureau and made early arrangements in Bonidus and other areas. Therefore, although Zhang Bo often spoke out, he had been living well.

Because Ming Dynasty needs such Zhang Bo.

Zhang Bo was in line with the overall interests of Ming Dynasty and allowed Ming Dynasty to tolerate his weird personality. He could brag if he liked.

After hearing what Zhang Bo said, many businessmen suddenly realized.

"Over the years, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has issued one regulation after another, which has severely suppressed our businessmen." Zhang Bo said with a smile, and the surrounding businessmen looked complicated.

It's not that no one wants to imitate Zhang Bo. It's strange to say that Zhang Bo is the only one who is so presumptuous but still alive and well. Most of the others who dare to do this are punished, so no one dares to look down on Zhang Bo.

"However, as long as this law is promulgated, I believe that no matter how many complaints everyone has on weekdays, they will be able to go away today and no longer have to worry about their wealth."

The businessmen smiled.

But some people think about the bulk estate tax, and it would be great if the estate tax could be eliminated.

Many big businessmen passed away, and the death of the owner of each big trading house would trigger a big move by the tax department. Many conflicts occurred, and some big trading houses even disappeared because of this. But no matter how huge the scale is, the Tax Division cannot make concessions.

Because of each huge inheritance tax, the court was unwilling to let go, so the slogan of competing with the people became the impression of the businessmen on the court, and they often used this to criticize the court. Many people heard what the businessmen said and felt that the businessmen What they said makes sense.

The annual inheritance tax is paid to the Ming Dynasty Industrial Bureau, schools, and various organizations through the imperial court. It promotes social development through social mobility. In the ideological guidance of the social resource allocation model, the Workers' and Civilian Union guarantees the work benefits of every worker. Partial support is provided.

It also prevented a businessman from occupying an absolutely large share of social resources through hereditary inheritance. Unless the business firm is sold, a one-time inheritance tax will be levied, which allows the business bank to maintain its competitiveness.

There are constraints everywhere and business opportunities everywhere.

Contradictory society.

Yuan Rong was riding on the train, which was running on the Yangtze River Railway Bridge, and he could see the river under the bridge.

Thousands of sails on the river.

Cargo ships, passenger ships, fishing boats, grain ships, sand ships. Waterway inspection ships.

Yuan Rong, who was in his forties, still found it amazing even though he was used to seeing such scenes. He still remembered that when he was twenty, he married Zhu Yuying, who was eighteen. The capital was not like this at that time.

The same goes for Peking. I went to Peking when I was a teenager.

Time flies so fast.

Yuan Rong couldn't help but sigh that society is changing too fast.

A small change takes place in five years, but a big change takes place in ten years. It seems like a world away. I still remember the outing that Zhu Gaochi organized for his children in Peking when he was a boy. The boys and girls took a railway carriage for the first time.

After arriving in Shanghai County, I boarded a ship bound for Goryeo with the accompanying people and arrived in Seoul first.

The king of Seoul received Yuan Rong.

The Prince Consort of the Ming Dynasty.

"The imperial court does not support the king in taking back southern Goryeo." Yuan Rong rejected the King of Goryeo's request and explained seriously: "There are deep local conflicts in the southern part of Goryeo."

Li Fanguo frowned.

Being able to survive is a matter of ability.

My younger brother is no longer capable, but he dies. When he dies, he has failed.

Li Bangguo wanted to take back southern Goryeo.

Everyone in the country is scolding Li Fangyuan, thinking that Li Fangyuan caused the situation in Goryeo today. The loser must bear the responsibility. Li Bangguo does not want this. As the king of Goryeo, at least he can take back the southern part of Goryeo before his death.

Otherwise, after his death, it will be difficult for Goryeo to take back southern Goryeo.

Yuan Rong said with a smile: "Although the rebels in southern Goryeo were punished and expelled from Goryeo, it does not mean that the refugees will not continue to cause chaos. If the conflicts continue to deepen, new rebels will still be born, and the scale may be larger."

"Li Fangyuan is quite capable. He can't even suppress him. Now that he is gone, when chaos breaks out again in the Goryeo area, I believe there will be no one in Goryeo who can pacify him."

Li Fanguo listened to Yuan Rong quietly.

After all, it was just that the Shangguo did not want to unify Goryeo. Li Fangguo knew that it was useless to talk more, so he was unwilling to offend Yuan Rong and see how the Shangguo planned to arrange southern Goryeo.

Yuan Rong knew Li Fanguo's personality and was a person who knew how to advance and retreat.

It’s good to know how to advance and retreat.

Ming Dynasty is not afraid of being reasonable, but of those unreasonable barbarians.

As long as he can reason, Ming can get the maximum benefit at the minimum cost, but those barbarians who cannot communicate can only rely on their fists to speak, but the cost is very high.

Li Fangguo was able to reason back then, so over the years, the Ming Dynasty not only regained Anping Dusi and Hamgyeong Dusi, but also co-managed the Yellow Sea Road with Goryeo. Through its layout in northern Goryeo, it attracted a large number of refugees to southern Goryeo.

In the end, through conflicts, the southern region of Goryeo was detonated, causing the "unreasonable" South King of Goryeo to completely fail. Finally, the situation returned to a reasonable situation with Ming Dynasty, allowing Ming Dynasty to take advantage of all the benefits.

As for the hardship and displacement of the people of Goryeo, it was not what the Ming court pursued, but an inevitable phenomenon of economic development.

Could it be that Goryeo couldn't develop itself? The small court of Goryeo left its people with no food, clothing or warmth, but should they blame Ming Dynasty? There is no such truth in the world.

Therefore, Yuan Rong said confidently: "In order to maintain the stability and tranquility of the southern region of Goryeo, Ming Dynasty, as the suzerain state, has the responsibility and obligation to consider the people of Goryeo."

"Therefore, several rules have been formulated. The first is that property is protected. Anyone's assets and wealth in Koryo cannot be suppressed or controlled. This is uncivilized."

"The second is trade. Trade can increase economic development for the people, so Goryeo cannot ban trade, but must encourage trade. Ming Dynasty allows Goryeo merchants to trade with Ming Dynasty, and Goryeo also supports Ming merchants to do business in Goryeo for mutual benefit. Open together.”

"Finally, both the Ming Dynasty and Goryeo must protect the people's right to life and consider the instability of Goryeo. Therefore, Goryeo should recognize the factory protection teams established by Ming merchants in Goryeo and cannot prohibit or suppress them."

After listening to Yuan Rong's request, Li Fanguo was unwilling to talk anymore.

Can the merchants of Goryeo have the ability to do business in Ming Dynasty? Does Goryeo still have its own merchants? The small workshops in Goryeo were basically bankrupt, and the factories in Goryeo were all run by people from the Ming Dynasty.

They earned a huge amount of wealth from Goryeo and transported a huge amount of wealth back to the Ming Dynasty. They left no trace of it to Goryeo, leaving only a messy social environment and a miserable life for the people.

The combined strength of the factory protection team is greater than that of the local government. They also agreed to advance and retreat together, so that the government can keep an eye on the factory team and see who owns the world.

Li Fangguo was helpless.

The army was controlled by the Ming Dynasty, the economy was also controlled by the Ming Dynasty, the nobles also took refuge in the Ming Dynasty, and even the refugees were guided by the Ming Dynasty's businessmen in order to have a bite of food.

Li Fanguo is just a king, a king with nothing.

Li Fangguo, who knows how to advance and retreat, only wants to protect his family's wealth, life safety, and prosperity.

Li Fangyuan, who didn't know how to advance or retreat, is dead.

Southern Goryeo, which maintained a traditional agricultural society and resisted the footsteps of Ming merchants, was completely opened due to the Goryeo civil unrest the year before last. Li Bangyuan, who persisted for more than ten years, not only died, but also his achievements over the years. Dissipate completely.

After Yuan Rong left Seoul, he went all the way south.

Like a spring, no matter how firmly you resisted back then, it collapses quickly now.

The speed of land annexation in southern Goryeo is staggeringly exaggerated.

The refugees destroyed a lot, and with the new government decrees, the nobles who left the land belonged to the ownerless people. The Ming merchants obtained it from the rebels as spoils of war.

These spoils of war were repaid to the Ming Dynasty's trading houses.

Coupled with the collapse of the economy and the shortage of materials, Ming merchants purchased huge tracts of land at the lowest cost and controlled more than 30% of the acres in southern Goryeo.

For example, for jute-growing areas, southern Goryeo is more suitable than northern Goryeo.

The Ming Dynasty had a population of hundreds of millions.

With the development of commodity and material transportation, the demand for hemp rope and sacks seems to be endless, and there will be a shortage no matter how much production is produced. The output of factories is increasing every year, but social demand is also growing.

So jute was planted from northern Korea to southern Korea.

The number of agricultural acres in Goryeo was decreasing, and food production was decreasing. It was more difficult for the people to buy food, and they had no money to buy food.

With the annexation of agriculture, people had no land to farm and had no choice but to join the industry. However, there was no Workers' and People's Union in Korea, no social resource allocation model, a surplus of manpower, and the squeeze of capital. They could only get very little from working in the factory. of rations.

In the nineteenth century, the average life expectancy of a worker in London was twenty-two years. Workers in Liverpool, Preston and other Manchester towns were lucky if they lived to be nineteen.

In various factories and coal mines in the UK, there are not only old women and children, but also children of several years old. Anyone who can work will become cheap labor.

In contrast are the gentlemen.

British country gentlemen lived an extremely luxurious life. In the 1820s, most gentleman's houses had bathrooms, and some bathrooms had hot and cold running water.

In rapidly growing industrial cities such as London's St. Giles parish, where slum terraced houses had yards filled with faeces overflowing from toilets to a depth of nearly six inches, bricks were placed in the yards to allow residents to Don't wear wet shoes when crossing the yard.

This is capital society.

Why since the 19th century, people in the West have launched one movement after another? Because their lives were so miserable, advanced theories were finally born.

Yuan Rong observed the southern part of Goryeo all the way.

Thousands of naked refugees huddled under the city wall. The gatekeepers at the city gate did not allow them to enter the city to beg. There is no strong labor force, and there are no young and beautiful women. Such people have been selected long ago.

to the opposite.

When Yuan Rong entered Naju City, Jeolla Province, on the main road in the city, in the residential area of ​​Ming Dynasty merchants, not only straight roads were built, paved with stone bricks imitating those in China, but there were also brand new small buildings on both sides of the road.

In front of the gate of each building, a kerosene street lamp was erected.

Planted trees and built gardens make this residential area look like a paradise.

In the garden in front of the door, the male servant was moving furniture, and the maid was cleaning the yard. The cleaning was spotless, and there was no dust on the soles of her boots.

Just like in China, merchants in the Ming Dynasty established studios and appointed studio directors to manage the studios to maintain the governance of residential areas. They even established inspection departments to ensure the security of residential areas and prevent outsiders from entering.

The people living here include not only the owners of Daming Commercial Bank, but also middle and high-level managers from China.

Their children played in the garden.

There is a square next to the garden. There is a statue of Confucius and a fountain in the center of the square. Not far away is the school, as well as a Buddhist hall and a Taoist temple. Residents in the area paid for it and hired scavengers to keep it clean.

Yuan Rong, who had just entered the city from outside the city, felt a little uncomfortable being surrounded by people. The gap was too big.

This gap is like the difference between heaven and earth. (End of chapter)