At the end of Song Dynasty: I want to be the master of ZTE

Chapter 73 Overseas Affairs

"The little citizen Zhang Deyu pays homage to Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor. Long live the Emperor."

"No courtesy." Zhao Shi pointed to the chair next to him and said, "Sit down and talk."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Zhang Deyu rested half of his buttocks on the chair, showing no sign of extravagance like spending thousands of dollars on a car.

Zhao Shi said: "Don't be cautious. I called you here to see you. I want to tell you that once the chariot comes into your hands, it belongs to you. You can do whatever you want and no one is allowed to interfere."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Zhang Deyu calmed down a little.

Zhao Shi said: "I have something else to ask, and I hope you can tell me the truth."

"What your Majesty asks, Xiaomin will definitely say everything." Zhang Deyu said quickly.

Zhao Shi said: "In this auction, if the delivery is in grain, the discount will be quite large, but you are unwilling to transport grain back from overseas. Is the profit from grain trading so meager?"

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, knows that the price of grain overseas is actually very high, and there is no profit in transporting grain back." Zhang Deyu explained: "According to the climate, all the southeastern countries can eat three crops a year, but most of them are slash-and-burn farming, and they can only get one crop a year. I don’t know how to compost the soil, so the yield is actually not high.

Moreover, the land is rich in products, and the people have little food to survive. They are too lazy to cultivate, so there is not much food.

In fact, a lot of the things we ship overseas include grain. Shipping grain back from overseas is actually a loss-making business. "

Zhang Deyu didn't lie, because this dynasty's maritime trade was unprecedentedly developed, but there was no record of large-scale food imports. The only imported Champa rice was used as seeds.

The living environment is too good and people can live casually, but they are too lazy to farm, which leads to food shortages. This is the general situation in the southeastern countries.

"What if the dynasty sends troops to the southeastern countries to occupy their land to support the people?" Zhao Shi asked.

"The mountains are high and the waters are far away, so it's not easy to attack." Zhang Deyu replied: "The combat power of all countries is average, but they don't accept Wang Hua, and there are many mountains and dense forests so it is easy to maneuver around. When Wang Shishi is tired, he can calmly fight back.

Moreover, the place is full of miasma, and the water and soil are not suitable for it, which can easily breed plague. In fact, it is not difficult to win, but there are many obstacles to occupying it. "

Zhao Shi asked again: "If you want to attack the army wholeheartedly, who can be the target?"

Zhang Deyu was silent for a moment and said: "Not long after the founding of the Annan Chen Dynasty, its king Chen Huang worked hard to govern, and the country became stronger and stronger. The overlord Chen Yuan is still here. Father and son are of the same mind, and their strength cannot be underestimated.

Moreover, it is unwise to make friends from far away and attack close by. If we attack, we must completely surrender to the Yuanlu.

Champa was ravaged by Chen Dynasty, Chenla and other countries, and was poor and weak. However, its soldiers and civilians dared to fight, so it was not easy to conquer. Moreover, when the king's army entered Champa, Chen Dynasty and Chenla were frightened and surrendered to the Yuan captives. This must be considered.

Other countries are too far away to relocate their people in large numbers, and attacking them is useless.

Your Majesty, Liuqiu is still under development, and Yuanlu is eyeing it. It is too early to say anything about seeking overseas opportunities. Your Majesty understands this clearly. "

The professional's words made Zhao Shi's heart feel cold.

I thought that if the country was short of food, we could buy or even rob it from abroad, but I didn't want to be a cunning person. It seemed that the gain was not worth the loss.

But grain-producing land is necessary, because food is the basis of all actions. Even if it cannot be used now, it does not mean that it cannot be used in the future.

Zhao Shi looked through the official records and asked: "South of Liuqiu and north of Mayi State, there is no Zhu on the big island. How is this place?"

Zhang Deyu replied: "This place has no country, many savages, and no trade, so few people go there.

The common people speculated that he was alone overseas, or that he might be similar to Liuqiu, so he could send envoys to investigate. "

The little emperor is talking about Luzon Island, but at this time there is no name Luzon, and there is no explanation of its specific name.

Generally speaking, the names of overseas countries are translated with local accents. The premise is that there must be a unified political power. There is no country like Luzon, so naturally there is no name.

In fact, for the little emperor, the maps at this time were very unfriendly. Not only were their shapes very different, but their names were also different from those of later generations, which made them dazzling to look at.

"How many ships does your family have?" Zhao Shi asked suddenly.

Zhang Deyu was stunned for a moment and replied truthfully: "One hundred and twenty-two ships."

Zhao Shi said: "What if I use you as an envoy to spread the word to various countries, organize fleets to transport grain to the country, and at the same time investigate the geography and human relations of all parties?"

Zhang Deyu immediately bowed down and said: "I dare not ask you for what I want!" After all, in the era of imperial power, official positions were supreme, and the wealth of his family was not worth the amount of a county magistrate.

Zhao Shi looked at Zhang Jian and asked, "What do you think?"

Zhang Jian replied: "None of the ministries have corresponding duties. The Ministry of Household Affairs is responsible for transferring money and food, the Ministry of Rites is responsible for informing various countries, and the Imperial City Department and the Privy Council are responsible for investigating local geography and people. Your Majesty wants to unify the three powers. If it goes against the rules of the court, I cannot obey the imperial edict."

Money, food, etiquette, and soldiers are almost the responsibilities of the general manager. It is normal for Zhang Jian to be unwilling.

"I think that we can set up a maritime department under the household department, and set up a doctor to handle maritime duties such as shipping department, ship pilot, sea trade and so on.

Zhang Deyu has no great merit and cannot rise to a high position suddenly, but he can be the chief minister. "Chen Yizhong showed his presence.

The Hubu is in charge of the government orders, tributes, and conscription of households, land, money and valleys in the world, and is in charge of the world's wealth. It has jurisdiction over the five departments of Zuocao, Youcao, Duzhi, Jinbu, and Cangbu.

Now that the emperor is so concerned about maritime affairs, of course Chen Yizhong would like him.

"The investigation should be left to the Navy of the Privy Council, and the Ministry of Etiquette should be responsible for the promotion of various countries to avoid unclear responsibilities." Chen Yizhong gave a solution.

"It will be handled in this way, and the ministries will discuss it." Zhao Shi nodded in response, and said to Zhang Deyu: "Qing is responsible for overseas grain transportation, and every million stones will be promoted one level."

"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty. I will repay you with all my heart." Zhang Deyu bowed.

The rank of chief officer, starting from the seventh rank, is equivalent to the first magistrate of the county, which is already not low, and the emperor has clearly given the promotion method.

From the principal to the minister, 1000 million stones of grain and about [-] ships are needed.

As long as there is no shortage of money, Zhang Deyu is confident that he will become a minister within ten years. There is nothing he can do. Luxurious people have many friends.

As the boss of the household department, Ma Tingluan did not express his opinion.

Chen Yizhong's proposal was to increase his authority, and there was absolutely no reason to object. As for his subordinates' meritorious service and promotions, wasn't it the boss who led them?

When Zhang Deyu was promoted to minister, Ma Tingluan estimated that he had become prime minister. Instead of rejecting him, he needed to win over him as a confidant.

So, it was settled.

After leaving the business, Zhang Deyu was in a trance, still in a dream.

"Master, master~" the old servant Zhang Zhou shouted.

"Ah." Zhang Deyu came back to his senses and asked, "What's the matter?"

"The old servant saw his master in a trance. Is the emperor in trouble?" Zhang Zhou asked.

Zhang Deyu replied: "No, the official promotion was given to the head of the Haisi Department of the Ministry of Revenue, an official of the seventh rank."

"Congratulations, master." Zhang Zhou said with a smile on his face, "I don't want to have such a great opportunity to make the Zhang family prosperous."

A servant born in a family has a coexistence of honor and disgrace with his master. If the Zhang family is good, Zhang Zhou will be prosperous. If the Zhang family fails, he will have no choice but to be down and out. Therefore, when he heard that Zhang Deyu got the official position, Zhang Zhou was happy from the bottom of his heart.

"Officials have great trust and should do their best to repay the favor. I'm thinking about whether to offer Cheng Yu back." Zhang Deyu said.

"Master, can you elaborate?" Zhang Zhou asked.

Nothing is impossible.

Zhang Zhou was an absolute confidant and knew more things than his own son. Of course Zhang Deyu explained in detail.

"The master is a fan of the authorities." Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "The official family values ​​​​love and righteousness, how can they be willing to do such a thing to get rich by breaking their promises? The master still transports the chariot to the Japanese country and sells it at a good price. He does not want his gold and silver, as long as the iron ore and Food, I think His Majesty will definitely be happy."

"What you said is true, and it should be so." Zhang Deyu nodded.

The Japanese rulers and the emperor have been fighting openly and secretly, and both sides are trying to increase their authority. The emperor's carriage is an excellent symbol, and it will definitely sell for a good price.

As for Goryeo, another big country in the north, it was rubbed back and forth by the Liao, Jin, and Yuan countries. Regardless of whether it still had money, it definitely didn't have the guts to buy the Emperor of Song's chariot.

(End of this chapter)