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Chapter 126 Relationship Between Countries
He didn't get angry, and looked at the three assistant ministers according to his temper and asked: "The capital needs a lot of food, and the capital has been hit hard, and it also needs a lot of food. The amount is too big, you ask the people to hand over so much How can they wait until after the fact for food but only compensation after the event?"

When Hu Guang said this, after a pause, he raised his voice and said solemnly: "My attitude is to try not to disturb the people, otherwise, in order to solve the people's livelihood problems in one place, it will cause people's livelihood problems in another place, and so on. What's the use?"

"Or Qing and others tell me how to avoid this problem without affecting the salt tax?" When he said this, his tone was a little harsh.

After hearing this, Wen Tiren bowed and played back: "Your Majesty is merciful and considerate, I am deeply ashamed, but His Majesty's orders are to be obeyed!"

You sycophant, Cheng Jiming couldn't help but slander in his heart.Shoufu succumbed to the holy will and lost his shield.

Hu Guang nodded in response to Wen Tiren's words, then looked at Cheng Jiming and Zhou Yanru and said, "You two, why teach me?"

Between the words, it was already a bit impolite.Cheng Jiming and Zhou Yanru looked at each other. They had experienced the methods of the emperor. They probably opposed it for the sake of opposition, but if they couldn't provide a solution, they might be scolded as old men.

Thinking this way, the two bowed together and said in submission: "The ministers are stupid, and only obey your majesty's orders!"

Hu Guangjian unified his opinion, and when he really wanted to speak, Wen Tiren played again: "Your Majesty, there is no precedent for this matter, and the amount of salt is large, how can it be distributed to the people?"

This is a detail, it is no problem to propose it to check for omissions and fill in vacancies.Hu Guang thought for a while and then said: "The amount of each serving of Yanyin is indeed too large for ordinary people. Let's do it like this. The government will receive Yanyin in exchange for table salt and then distribute it to the counties, and then the counties will distribute it to the county. Just give food to the common people!"

Having said that, he turned his head to look at Cao Huachun and said, "In addition to asking the Metropolitan Procuratorate to send a censor to supervise this matter, your East Factory should not be idle, and send someone to supervise secretly. If there is any violation of law or discipline or difficult problems , report to me immediately."

"Slave obeys the order!" Cao Huachun immediately respectfully agreed without the worries of their civil servants.

When Hu Guang said this, his heart moved, and he thought of something, but it was inconvenient now, so he suppressed his thoughts first, and waited until the discussion was over.

Then, he thought for a while and said: "My Ming Dynasty has been plagued by disasters. Apart from the calamity of Jianlu, there has been a severe drought in the Northwest for years. The demand for food, no matter how big it is, is not too much. Qing and others should know about the tragic situation in the Northwest. Therefore, I have decided to..."

Upon hearing this, the few courtiers below stood up straight and looked at him, waiting for him to announce something.

Hu Guang glanced at them, and then slowly said: "Send angels to various countries in Southeast Asia and ask them to pay tribute to food. The amount needed should not be just a show, and we should do our best..."

"Ah, Your Majesty, this... I'm afraid it's not good?" Zhou Yanru was the youngest, he couldn't hold back when he heard it, and even interrupted him before the emperor finished speaking.

Hu Guang wasn't angry, he just looked at him and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Your Majesty, I am a kingdom of heaven, a country of etiquette. I am afraid that it is inappropriate to ask for... from a subject country like this?" Although Zhou Yanru was not sure about his words, his expression was very clear. Expressed, it is wrong.

Cheng Jiming also bowed and saluted, and then said: "Your Majesty, the tribute set by my Ming Dynasty is actually just a formality. Its purpose is to let the countries in the four directions regard my Ming Dynasty as the suzerain state, and their kings must be replaced by my Ming Dynasty." Canonization by the court. Maintaining its etiquette is fundamental, promising it for profit, and luring it for profit are the means. Throughout the dynasties and dynasties, there has never been a suzerain state asking for tribute from the subordinate states, let alone designated food. "

"Yes, my great Ming Dynasty has a vast land and abundant resources. If I ask for such ordinary things as food from the four kingdoms, I will be laughed at by those barbarians, and I will lose the demeanor of a big country!" Zhou Yanru nodded in agreement.

The two of them spoke positively, but Wen Tiren kept his head down and remained silent.

He knew in his heart that what these two people said was generally speaking. Since the past dynasties, the so-called tribute has more of its political significance.But right now the emperor is a pragmatic person, and this kind of argument is definitely not in line with the holy will, not because the emperor is young and does not understand the meaning of politics.

Sure enough, after hearing what they said, Hu Guang frowned again. As soon as they finished speaking, he heard him categorically shouted: "Daming is now an eventful autumn, with floods in the south and drought in the north, and the ravages of Jianlu. Disaster relief requires money and food everywhere. I don’t ask them for money, which is the style of a big country. In Southeast Asian countries, food is cooked three times a year, which is a common thing. Letting them only provide food is for their consideration. Is there anything else to argue about such a thing?"

"Your Majesty, don't expose your family ugliness to the outside world!" Cheng Jiming hastily advised again, "If you let the Sifang Yiguo know the inside story of my Ming Dynasty, I'm afraid there will be misunderstandings!"

Hehe, family ugliness should not be publicized, it is really the rhythm of slapping a swollen face and making a fat man.Hu Guang sneered in his heart. Seeing that Wen Tiren hadn't spoken, he looked at him and asked coldly, "What does Wen Qing think?"

"I think your Majesty's words are justified. The current strategy is to appease the country." Wen Tiren replied calmly.

As soon as these words came out, the other two immediately attracted puzzled eyes, and when they saw the emperor showing a gratified expression, they immediately slandered Wen Tiren, a sycophant, in their hearts.

Hu Guang felt that his decision to promote Wen Tiren as chief assistant was the right thing to do.After he nodded in response to Wen Tiren, he turned his head to look at the other two, and said solemnly: "You have also said that Sifang Yiguo knows that my Ming Dynasty is weak, and is afraid of alienation. This is the real relationship between countries. That is, the interest relationship, and everything else is false.”

"Let me put it simply and bluntly. Between countries, whoever has a hard fist is the boss. If a weak country wants to be recognized and protected by a strong country, it must pay protection fees. The previous tribute, from now on , throw them all away, I only want benefits, not face!"

"..." The Wenhua Palace was very quiet, as if everyone was frightened by the emperor's blatant and straightforward words.

"Your Majesty, this is the work of barbarians. My Heavenly Kingdom is a state of etiquette..."

Before Zhou Yanru finished his remonstrance, he was interrupted by Hu Guangda: "Then what do you mean, the benefits are better given to friends than to the people of Ming Dynasty? Seeing the people of Ming Dynasty waiting for food, I would rather they starve To die, to be a thief, to rebel, to overthrow our Ming Dynasty, you don’t want to lose that face, do you?”

(End of this chapter)