Daming: The most ruthless tyrant in history

Chapter 424 Foreign Trade

"Your Majesty, it may not be a big problem to reopen the Zhangjiakou Fort Checkpoint and add the Hukou Fort Checkpoint."

Bi Ziyan looked serious and expressed what he was thinking, "It would be difficult to facilitate the establishment of a checkpoint in this Guihua City. After all, this place belongs to the Tumut tribes, and the relationship between our dynasty and the above-mentioned tribes is not the same. It’s not particularly good right now, and if you stay away from our territory and go deep into Guihua City, I’m afraid no one will dare to go and start trade.”

The Tumut tribes mentioned by Bi Ziyan actually live in the Tumo River area, which is the Qiantao Plain, and adjacent to it are the Hetao tribes and the Dongtumote tribes.

The greatest benefit of agricultural civilization is that no matter how many wars it goes through, it will eventually move towards unification, and it will inevitably move towards unification.

But nomadic civilization is different.

The special geographical location, coupled with the unique civilization system, makes it possible that under the rule of the vast grassland, there may be a very strong unified nomadic force in a certain period, but often with the death of the founder, this strong nomadic force will disappear. It will fall apart.

“It’s difficult to make it happen, but just because you haven’t done it, it doesn’t mean it can’t be done.”

Zhu Youxiao smiled slightly and said: "Don't draw conclusions prematurely on everything. I think this matter needs to be done first, and we will try to solve it if it is not successful. I have some ideas concerning the affairs of the North. The Qing family can take a look first. .”

"Yes."

Bi Ziyan responded.

The reopening of the northern passes is an important part of Zhu Youxiao's grand strategy. Its purpose is to open up the passage in and out of the grassland and prepare for the future conquest of the grassland.

Under the understanding of many people, it is very easy to enter and exit the grassland. After all, the grassland must be vast and flat, but in fact this is not the case. Whether you are starting from Beizhili or Guanzhong, Or starting from the northwest border, there are actually very few areas suitable for large-scale marches.

In ancient times, marching and fighting were all about logistical supplies. Without sufficient logistical supplies, no matter how many elite troops you send out, you will eventually end up in the grassland.

Precipitous terrain and complex terrain must be fully understood. Which ones are suitable for large-scale marches, which ones are suitable for small group attacks, and even how to plan the logistics supply line? There are many ways to do this. If you want to become a A general who leads an army in a war, let alone the commander of each front army, is the commander of a partial division. If you are not capable, the result will be that the entire partial division under your command will be annihilated!

Therefore, the ultimate goal of reopening the various passes in the North is not only to conduct trade with various grassland tribes to increase the reserve of war horses and add industries based on grassland trade, but more importantly, to explore the terrain in advance to prepare for possible outbreaks in the future. Prepare for the grassland war.

"Your Majesty, do you plan to hand over all the reopened gates in the North to the Clan's Mansion?"

After reading the dossier, Bi Ziyan's expression changed and he said in surprise: "There is no precedent in our country. The reopening of various customs in the North should be under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Household Affairs, and a local government office should be established. In order to ensure that all the affairs are running smoothly, but now it is up to the head of the sect’s palace to take charge, then this matter will inevitably cause a lot of controversy.”

"The Qing family should be aware of the oral smuggling case, right?"

Zhu Youxiao asked rhetorically.

"clear."

Bi Ziyan nodded.

Although the case initially made little noise, as a group of factory guards returned to Beijing, a large amount of money was confiscated, and the captured demons and monsters were executed, the matter caused quite a stir in Beijing.

However, the capital and the court at that time encountered many things, and this matter passed quickly.

But Bi Ziyan, as the Minister of Household Affairs, took this matter very seriously.

During the period when the imperial government prohibited the closure of the customs, there was actually a group of people in Shanxi who secretly carried out smuggling and even bribed many local officials and generals. This was no small matter.

What surprised Bi Ziyan was that, logically, the matter should be further investigated, but there was no news after that, which inevitably made Bi Ziyan think too much.

"When the Beidi Customs reopens, we will inevitably face the question of whether smuggling will still exist if we are far away from the control of the capital."

Zhu Youxiao said with a serious expression: "Everything in the world is bustling because of profit, and everything in the world is bustling because of profit. Since the imperial court is going to reopen Beidi Guanguan, then there will definitely be people flocking to it. After all, the imperial court wants to rely on Guaguan to collect taxes. There will be people who want to make profits by relying on Guaguan."

Bi Ziyan nodded in approval.

This is inevitable. "Can the Qing family ensure that after the Beidi Pass is reopened, there will be no problems with the above-mentioned passes?"

Zhu Youxiao leaned forward and asked Bi Ziyan a question, "The most important point is, can the Ministry of Household Affairs Department handle the matter of opening up the naturalization city?"

Bi Ziyan fell silent.

He couldn't make any guarantees.

"Let the clan government take full responsibility. I just want to achieve a few ideas."

Zhu Youxiao continued: "First, if there is any problem with the corresponding government office in the future, I will investigate the clan office responsible for the matter."

"Secondly, the treasury can have an extra stable financial source. The head of the clan's palace is responsible for the customs clearance in the north. Every year, he must transfer the corresponding clearance silver to the Ministry of Households according to a certain amount. Regardless of whether the clearance is good or bad, this money must be paid. .”

"Thirdly, I previously set up a special Thirteen Banks to include the capital of Jingxun, which has gradually developed the Thirteen Banks in Tianjin. I plan to set up another business in Guihua City in the future to accommodate the newly promoted Xunxun. The noble capital participated in it and stationed in Guihua City on behalf of the imperial court in the form of armed merchants."

This……

Bi Ziyan looked surprised. He never thought that the emperor would actually want to set up an armed merchant house in Guihua City. This would ensure his own stability. But the key to the problem was the Tumut tribes living in Tumo River. How could you agree to such a thing?

And the most critical point is that if this matter can really be achieved, wouldn't the armed merchants there become the dominant one?

But Bi Ziyan didn't know that Zhu Youxiao had deeper considerations.

Sometimes monopoly is better than decentralization.

Especially when there is serious smuggling.

Reopening the passes in the North is bound to attract a large number of people, but if you want to curb smuggling, you must find another way, such as mastering the more transcendent trade routes beyond the Great Wall.

Guihua City is a choke point! !

Any decision or decision-making must not be divorced from the real context. If you take too big a step, it is easy to get hurt and fall down.

"Of course, if you want to join an armed firm, the newly promoted nobles and incumbents will not be able to command more than a corresponding number of personal guards in the army from now on."

Zhu Youxiao lifted up the sleeves of his robe and said in a sonorous tone: "I want to do a pilot project in the capital camp first to completely separate the personal armed force of the personal guards from the Ming army. It is precisely because of this bad habit that This has led to the unscrupulous phenomenon of using empty pay to drink soldiers' blood. I must completely put an end to this bad habit in the future."

"Your Majesty, I have something to say."

Bi Ziyan said, "Have you ever thought about the impact that armed merchants might have on the imperial court?"

"Of course I have thought about it."

Zhu Youxiao smiled and said: "It will become a common practice to support the Ding family, but that is something to be considered later, not to mention that I have to take corresponding measures to kill it. For the court at the moment, the most important thing is to increase revenue and reduce unnecessary losses. , Do you think what I said is correct?"

Armed companies are a symbol of foreign development.

During the Ming Dynasty's foreign development in the middle and early stages, it was not enough to rely on the official level alone, and the pressure was too great. However, if private individuals could be involved, the corresponding laws could be gradually clarified, so that everyone in the Ming Dynasty would know the majesty of the Ming Dynasty's laws, and ensure that the Ming Dynasty would There will be no changes within the country. As for overseas, the establishment of order will inevitably be accompanied by bloodshed.

What's more, when the Ming Dynasty really controls a large number of overseas territories, a group of groups in the Ming Dynasty will inevitably be banned by him. If you want to stay in the mainland, you must abide by the local rules. Don't even think about servants. Don’t even think about land, I’m afraid many people will make corresponding choices...

(End of this chapter)