Invincible Zhengde

Chapter 148 Convincing Liu Daxia

After being silent for a while, Liu Daxia finally said, "Why does Your Highness want to find the former eunuch of Sanbao?"

Although Zhu Houzhao said before that he wanted to learn more about Nanyang, Liu Daxia didn't believe it. For Da Ming, Nanyang was a barren land, and the threat came from the north, not from the south.There may be harassment in southern Xinjiang, but that's just disgusting people. If there is any serious threat, it is not at all.

Zhu Houzhao took a deep look at Liu Daxia, of course he knew what Liu Daxia meant, and the expression on his face became serious.

"This time I went to Yangzhou and discovered something!" Zhu Houzhao also became serious this time: "So I want to find out!"

Liu Daxia was originally waiting for Zhu Houzhao to continue, but unexpectedly Zhu Houzhao did not intend to continue, and Liu Daxia could not continue to ask, but Liu Daxia also paid attention.Liu Daxia is from Huguang, and he doesn't know much about the coast, but His Highness knows about Zheng He, which is naturally related to the sea ban.

After thinking about it for a while, Liu Daxia thought of a possibility, and he didn't hold back, and said directly to Zhu Houzhao: "Your Highness, isn't it related to the sea ban?"

The sea ban in Ming Dynasty has a long history. At the end of Yuan Dynasty and the beginning of Ming Dynasty, the Japanese princes separated each other.attack each other.The feudal lords who were defeated in the war organized warriors, merchants, and ronin (that is, Japanese pirates) to carry out armed smuggling, plundering and harassment in the coastal areas of Daming.In this regard, during the Hongwu period, in order to prevent the remnants of coastal naval lords and pirates from disturbing, Zhu Yuanzhang ordered the implementation of the maritime ban policy that began in the Ming Dynasty.

The main object of the early sea ban was commerce (commercial ban), which prohibited Chinese from doing business overseas, and also restricted foreign businessmen from trading in China (except for tribute).

During the Yongle period, although there was Zheng He's voyage to the West, only the tribute trade was released, and private individuals were still not allowed to go to sea.

Up to now, Ming's sea ban still exists and is very strict, but Zhu Houzhao also knows that this kind of sea ban can only lead to smuggling.Capital is bloody, and at the same time they are adventurous, they dare to do anything.Why was Zheng He's voyage to the West opposed, because he brought tribute trade.

The imperial court makes a lot of money through the tribute trade every year, but it does not allow private business, that's all, and at the same time, it brings a blow to the smuggling business.

In front of the powerful fleet led by Zheng He, smuggling is courting death, and that’s not the way to do it. Anyway, there are official trading channels, so you don’t have to risk your life to smuggle, so just trade with the official, and you may earn less. A little bit, but the victory lies in stability, and the profit can be guaranteed, so why not do it?

Whose interests are harmed by this, of course, the big merchants along the coast. Although they can't go to sea for trade, they are very familiar with smuggling.

Wang Zhi, the owner of the Wufeng ship during the Jiajing period, was so powerful, where did they get the money to hire people, where did they get the money to build the ship, and they all came from smuggling.Changing rice into mulberry in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, why? It’s not that these smugglers need a lot of silk to smuggle, which is a high-profit behavior. When the United States banned alcohol, the underworld smuggled alcohol directly to Chicago typewriters.

Zheng He's voyages to the West were counterattacked, and the later Ming Dynasty tried to open the sea several times, but was still killed by those engaged in smuggling.

Zhu Houzhao didn't expect that he just came to check Zheng He's old files. Liu Daxia thought of Haiban, smiled softly, and Zhu Houzhao said, "What do you think, sir?"

Although Zhu Houzhao didn't answer directly, Liu Daxia still felt that His Royal Highness was acquiescing, and Liu Daxia felt a thump in his heart.Is His Royal Highness the Crown Prince going to revive the old view of Emperor Taizong?Do you want to go to Nanyang from a new start?Liu Daxia didn't expect to be banned from the sea, because it was too big.

This is a matter, once it gets out, it will definitely cause an uproar, Liu Daxia immediately fell silent.

Why didn't Zhu Houzhao secretly read Zheng He's old files?Because this is not a trivial matter, I can't hide it at all. After pondering for a moment, Zhu Houzhao sighed lightly and said: "Sir, this time when I went to Jianghuai, I found that many places in Jiangsu and Zhejiang have been changing rice into mulberry. Some people ignore it." Daming's maritime ban is selling silk overseas."

Hearing Zhu Houzhao's words, Liu Daxia suddenly raised his head, the expression on his face was full of shock: "There is such a thing?"

Zhu Houzhao nodded: "Yes! These people don't care about making money, but the court can't ignore it!"

Although Liu Daxia is the minister of the Ministry of War, he has been in the officialdom for a long time. How could he not understand what this means?Changing rice to mulberry means that rice will not be planted, but mulberry trees will be used to raise silkworms. Usually, nothing will happen, but if there is any disaster, it will be a big deal because there is no food.

What the imperial court relies on to maintain stability is food. Whether it is the northern Xinjiang or the northwest, they all rely on Huguang, Jiangsu and Zhejiang to provide food, even the capital is the same, that's how the grain comes from.

Once rice is changed to mulberry, rising food prices is a trivial matter, but once encountering war or disaster, the court will naturally be stretched, and a little carelessness will lead to disaster. This is a big deal!
"Has Your Highness ever told His Majesty about this matter?" Liu Daxia looked at Zhu Houzhao and asked quickly.

Zhu Houzhao shook his head: "Not yet, I can see that this is a bigger case than the Yangzhou salt smuggling case. Once the court moves, there will be chaos in the southeast. Now not only can't move, even the news can't be leaked. Those People colluding with the outer seas, even Japanese pirates, if they are not careful, they will cause disasters in the southeast, so we must plan in the long run."

"I came to find Zheng He's old files, just to find some solutions. If it doesn't work, see if I can build a navy."

"The navy in the southeast is probably useless. It's hard to say how many officials are involved in this matter. I hope you don't leak the news."

Zhu Houzhao said and looked at Liu Daxia seriously: "Originally, I didn't plan to say it, Mr. Naihe, alas!" Having said this, Zhu Houzhao sighed, and then continued: "I thought if it was possible, would it be possible? Exterminate the Japanese pirates and businessmen overseas together, otherwise they may not be able to stop them from selling things outside."

Hearing Zhu Houzhao's words, Liu Daxia wanted to slap himself a few times, let you ask, let you ask, now put yourself in it?

Standing up from the chair, Liu Daxia hurriedly bowed to Zhu Houzhao and said, "Don't worry, Your Highness, I will never leak the news. When Your Highness transfers the old file, I will strictly order the people in the Ministry of War not to spread it. But I think , this matter should be discussed with His Majesty, right?"

It is a fact that Zhu Houzhao prepared Jiangsu and Zhejiang to change rice into mulberry. This is what Zhu Houzhao planned to use to persuade Liu Daxia when Liu Daxia hid the chart. Now it seems that the effect is not bad.

(End of this chapter)