Haisheng Mingdi

Chapter 898 Royal Charter
"Inland tycoons moved to Sandu, poor people from the Central Plains immigrated to the frontier, and now a large number of so-called criminal parties are relegated to the border. This is really going to turn the world upside down."

"A good thing, if it can't be broken, it can't be built. According to me, this is where the great emperor is wise. After completing these three things, it will surely establish the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty for at least 300 years."

In a teahouse outside the Imperial College, a group of young scholars are discussing current affairs. As the scholars who are the most charming sons of heaven, they are undoubtedly the most promising imperial elites. Especially after the world is peaceful, scholars will be the ones who will govern the country main force.

In recent years, the emperor intends to reform the academic system. In addition to the imperial examination system, a college system has emerged. Schools at all levels have sprung up like mushrooms. They all have their own specialties and do not focus on the content of the scientific examination. This also forces the current imperial examination. It is also slowly changing. It is no longer purely the stereotyped art of the Four Books and Five Classics. More disciplines have been added, and even the proportion of policy theory has been re-emphasized.

Just reading the Four Books and Five Classics at home, and studying stereotyped essays, it is very difficult to be admitted to Jinshi now.Now it’s not the first few years when Emperor Shaotian started. Now the reduction of the number of Jinshi has returned to normal. Three years and one subject will only admit 400 people, and then add the quota admission of Jinshi by province, which makes the competition more intense. The Jinshi will then take part in the palace examination, and the emperor will decide the ranking, and the first-ranked champion Lang will be selected for second place in the ranking.

There are also many people who fail the imperial examinations, so they go to colleges and universities instead. Those who are talented can be admitted to secondary colleges, and those who have the status of Juren can directly be admitted to higher education institutions. After graduation, they are directly assigned to The central and provincial government offices, or the military, or some imperial and government-run institutions have a very good future. No matter how they enter the system, they will be promoted if they do well.

Another student from Imperial Normal University said bluntly: "I think the real power lies in the new decree promulgated by the imperial court. This is the ultimate move that will really affect the future structure."

All the young people in the imperial capital know that the new policy this fat classmate mentioned actually refers to the edict issued by the emperor after returning from his western tour this year. It was issued suddenly without any prior debate, but once issued, It can be said that there was an immediate uproar.

Although this edict came out a little suddenly, it had a great impact.

Because this is an imperial edict about authorizing trading companies to colonize overseas, the imperial court granted royal charter licenses to some qualified trading firms or companies, allowing them to go to sea for trade and colonization. Whoever grabs the land first, then Ming will protect whose privileges, No one else is allowed to rob again.

The emperor implemented a dual system for the charter licenses issued by these trading companies, that is, the board of directors system of trading companies and the board of supervisors system of the imperial court.

These companies are funded and established by shareholders. They can also issue shares, recruit more small and medium shareholders, and share interests and risks. Everyone pools money to buy ships and goods, and everyone shares dividends when they make money. They also share losses when accidents happen, because maritime trade has the biggest The biggest risk is that sometimes it is easy for the entire ship to sink into the sea with its cargo, and lose all capital. Therefore, if a group of people builds more ships, or even recruits more small shareholders to raise money, then everyone will take a share in each ship. Then even if a ship sinks, all the capital will not be lost.

But now that Ming's merchant ships are going further and further away, they are also beginning to face the threat of many old-fashioned colonists. For example, although Ming occupies Singapore at the western end of the Strait of Malacca, the Dutch here are stronger, and the Pacific route from Luzon to America, The Spaniards have a monopoly, and on the other side of the Indian Ocean, the British are stronger.

In addition to storms at sea, merchant ships also face pirates and even the plots of those colonial countries. To ensure safety, it is best to be armed, and even let them go overseas to establish their own trading stations, strongholds, and even colonies.

In essence, this is just using folk power to make up for the shortcomings of the imperial court. The imperial court can't reach out everywhere and decentralize some power appropriately. This kind of cooperation takes what is needed.

Privately established trading companies, joint stock boards, licenses issued by the imperial court, and then certain dry shares, even board seats, the company's business is mainly decided by the board of directors, but the company's board of supervisors is mainly composed of civil and military officials sent by the imperial court or The board of supervisors supervised the board of directors to ensure the interests of the imperial court in the company, and even the battles, contracts, formation of troops, and command operations involved in the company's foreign colonization were mainly authorized by the board of supervisors.

The board of directors is the actual partner of the company, responsible for business decisions, and the board of supervisors is actually a representative sent by the imperial court, not only responsible for supervising and auditing, but also responsible for more professional looting, war, and diplomacy.

In essence, it is not much different from colonial trading companies such as the British East India Company and the Dutch East India Company, except that the Ming court has slightly stronger control over trading and colonial companies.

There are also few licenses issued in the early stage, and they must have a certain scale to be eligible to apply. On a route, too many licenses will not be issued to avoid vicious competition. Those small and medium-sized companies that cannot obtain licenses can only rely on these large companies. Only under the name of the company can the colonization permit be obtained. The imperial court let a large company manage it, which also reduced costs and strengthened supervision.

Anyway, as soon as this edict was issued, the royal family took the lead in establishing Nanyang Trading Company, Donghai Trading Company, Siberia Trading Company, Yindi Trading Company, Australia Trading Company, India Trading Company, Myanmar Trading Company, and Africa Trading Company.

Officials such as the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Ministry of Industry also immediately established several official trading companies.

Even among the private sector, many trading companies have applied for licenses, and they have seen the benefits behind this edict. Risks and benefits coexist. If they can obtain colonial rights, that is the power to grab land.

Even after the colony is robbed, they only have economic privileges, but for those powerful relatives, they are very aware of the huge profits, and some of the current policies of the imperial court have made many people feel the crisis. If you can get some land overseas, in this case, you can have more retreats.

It's like the emperor's eldest son-in-law, the son of Zhou Rui, the former admiral of Nanyang. He went to Johor, Nanyang to make trouble, and supported a king to come out. He actually controlled a large island. That is the mouth of the strait on the golden waterway. Now there The volume of trade in China is astonishing, and the population is also growing rapidly. Those insignificant and deserted islands, big and small, are now worth doubled.

If Concubine Zhou developed this land with a license, it would be very scary if the proceeds belonged to private individuals. Even if some of it was distributed to the court, taxes would have to be paid, but such a large land.

Nowadays, it is impossible to own a real fief in the Central Plains. Even in the borderlands, it is only to obtain the economic rights to build manors and pastures on some land.

And building a colony overseas is really the emperor of the land.

What kind of indigenous sultans and kings are not puppets?
"There are so many trading companies recently, which stock did you buy?" A student asked with a smile.

They belonged to the elite class, and they studied in the imperial capital, so they had a good understanding of the country's affairs, and they were the first to interpret these latest policies.

Those trading companies that have sprung up like mushrooms, including royal, government, and private companies, many of them have obtained colonial licenses, are issuing stocks to raise more capital, so that they can buy ships and goods, and even recruit mercenaries to purchase weapons and armaments. , Even buying insurance, etc., all of which require a lot of money, and raising money by issuing shares can also spread risks.

"I bought a few royal and government companies, especially the Nanyang Trading Company. I think they bear the royal name and the scope of business is the most promising. In addition, there is a private Pacific Trading Company. I think the prospect is also good. Yes, their announcement says they are focusing on the Luzon Islands.”

Another person said, "I am more optimistic about Rui'an Xiangdongyang Trading Company. This company mainly operates in the direction of Japan, and the major shareholders behind it are all Yuanxun, and they are mainly from the background of the Eastern Palace. They are all the father-in-law of the prince."

Japan is rich in silver and copper, and now it is imported into the Central Plains in large quantities, and the slave trade is also very popular. Japan's Northern and Southern Shogunate are inseparable. Bian himself has a strong garrison and is still close to Daming, so the college student felt that there would be nothing wrong with buying the stock of Rui'an Xiangdongyang Trading Company, which had a background in the East Palace, and just waited for the dividends.

He even told his classmates proudly, "The shares of Rui'an Xiangdongyang Company were not issued much, and they were sold out once they were released. Increase the price to buy Ruianxiang’s stock, it’s all gone up by 100%, and the momentum will continue to rise.” He bought 30 silver dollars in Ruianxiang’s stock, and the value increased by 30 yuan in a short period of time. To him, it's nothing, but it's interesting that this thing can appreciate so quickly, which shows that he has a good vision.

"I heard that there is a guild hall at Daqianmen, and now there are many people who specialize in selling and trading stocks. They specialize in buying and selling stocks, bonds, etc. It is very lively."

"Well, it's true that many big companies have issued shares recently, not only these trading companies, but also those military enterprises."

One supervisor held a reserved attitude, thinking that the current policy is not necessarily good.

"The Dutch East India Company and the British East India Company have amazing power and strength. They have countless ships, hired workers and mercenaries. If our trading companies like Ming Dynasty obtain licenses, they will also develop colonies all over the world, even Grabbing land and colonizing may weaken the power of the imperial court, and even a few generations later, powerful and famous families may have a separate regime overseas, and even stand on their own, wouldn’t it be troublesome then?”

"I think you, my dear brother, are a bit unfounded. Aren't the boards of directors of those trading companies supervised by the supervisory committee appointed by the imperial court? Their armed forces have to be overseas and cannot return to the mainland. Moreover, these colonial armed forces are also under the command of the supervisory committee. Command is also included in the imperial court's command sequence, and even their weapons and equipment are provided by the imperial court, but the imperial court has expressly stipulated that trading companies and colonies are not allowed to produce weapons by themselves, and must purchase from the imperial court."

"And the imperial court also stipulated that many handicraft manufacturing industries, especially some processing industries such as shipbuilding and iron and steel smelting, are not allowed to be set up in colonies. What is a colony? A colony provides raw materials and cheap labor, and becomes a As for the place where our products are sold in the Ming Dynasty, you said that with these restrictions, how could the colonies threaten the imperial court?

Even if they make a separatist regime and rebel, as long as the court cuts off their confession, cuts off their supply of ships, weapons and even commodities, and stops accepting the raw materials they produce, do you think they can't surrender immediately? "

"I think the sage is still wise and great. It's a great way to grant colonial licenses by the royal family. The world is so big, and there are so many territories overseas. Properly authorizing those powerful and honorable nobles and letting them go out to explore is also an increase. The power of Ming Dynasty also allows them to share the benefits. This is a win-win situation.

Otherwise, if these noble families are locked up in the Central Plains, they will definitely have to make trouble sooner or later. At that time, they will either annex the land, or oppress the people, and make a mess. It is better to guide them to open up overseas for Daming, so as to curb those European colonists By. "

The country does not need to spend a penny or send a soldier. It can use these companies to go out to colonize, curb foreign colonial companies, and conquer those natives. The risks are theirs, but the royal court can share the benefits, and even drive trade and manufacture Industry, upgrade military manufacturing industry, shipbuilding industry, etc.

Overseas colonization will inevitably bring cheaper raw materials, open more trade markets for Ming, provide a market for manufacturing, and bring cheap slaves, etc.

This is simply a bonanza.

In comparison, some possible risks, especially political risks, are actually less of a problem.

There are so many trading companies, and there are not only one or two colonial companies. It is impossible for them to dominate, let alone big enough to threaten the imperial court.

After all, the emperor had patched it up in advance. These trading companies can colonize overseas after obtaining licenses, and even get the monopoly protection of the emperor and the court. However, the emperor has stated that some high-end manufacturing industries cannot be established in colonies. What shipbuilding? They are not allowed to make weapons, even needles. They have to import them. They just provide raw materials. Those who have timber resources will sell timber, those who have ore resources will sell ore, and those who have agricultural conditions will engage in planting.

Anyway, they are not allowed to upgrade their industries, let alone comprehensive industries. The consequence of this is that relying on the mainland of Ming Dynasty, through import and export trade, these colonies can become rich, especially the trading companies that control the colonies will definitely make a lot of money, but there are If you are self-reliant, don't even think about it.

Many colonial countries in history have done this to those colonies. This kind of colonial economic policy is even stronger than strong ships and guns, making it impossible for them to leave their homeland.

If the colonization failed, the shareholders and merchants lost their money, and the employees and mercenaries hired by the merchants died. The imperial court did not lose, but if they succeeded, the imperial court could get dividends, taxation, and Cheap raw materials, and increase the commodity sales market.

Of course, businessmen will also benefit a lot if they succeed. In addition to bringing huge financial benefits to shareholders, these colonies can even become overseas fiefdoms for those powerful relatives, which is also an additional protection for them.

Everyone is happy, win-win cooperation.

The imperial court also engages in colonization, but the imperial court's colonial model is still very different from what is now released to trading companies, and what is now released is only a supplement to the imperial court's external development.

But it is also a kind of appeasement and compensation for the nobles and powerhouses. Since the mainland is not allowed to be annexed, and there are even many political restrictions, they must be given a appeasement compensation, and this compensation is quite good now.

"When I'm waiting for an internship, I also want to go overseas for an internship. Japan, North Korea, Annan, Myanmar, and Longyamen are all fine."

"Why don't you go to Siberia, Yindi, Australia?"

"Let's forget about those wild places."

A group of people laugh.

(End of this chapter)