Optimus One Pillar of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 180 Chapter 170 Seven Profit Driven

Iwami Ginzan is located in Shimane County, Japan. It was the largest silver mine in Japan during the Japanese Warring States Period and the Edo Period.It is estimated that its output was as high as about one-third of the world's production at that time.After that, the silver mines gradually dried up, and after the Meiji period, copper mining was the main focus.

Sado Island is an island off the coast of Niigata Prefecture in Japan, with an area of ​​more than 1601 square kilometers.The Sado Gold Mine on the island was discovered in 150, and has since developed into the largest gold mine in Japan. By the time he closed the mine, a total of 600 million taels of gold and [-] million taels of silver had been mined, making it a proper Treasure Island.

Of course, whether it is the Iwami Silver Mine, Sado Treasure Island, or the South American Bodosi Silver Mine, which was just discovered this year and later mined 21 million taels of silver.Compared with South Africa's Rand Gold Mine, which has not yet been discovered but has since mined hundreds of millions of taels of gold and remained the world's largest gold mine until the [-]st century, they are nothing more than drizzle.

However, although the Iwami Silver Mine and Sado Treasure Island cannot be compared with the Bodosi Silver Mine and the Rand Gold Mine, aren't they so close that they can see cash immediately?You need to know how the navy, which once dominated the world as a maritime hegemon and the sun never sets, developed?
To put it bluntly, the Sun Never Sets Navy relies on plundering Spanish ships transporting gold and silver from Latin America, thus making everyone see the money in this business.Then the whole imagination of "The Sun Never Sets" was opened up, and everyone enthusiastically invested in this business. Even the Queen "The Sun Never Sets" shamelessly participated in the pirate ship and encouraged the citizens to rob others.

In this way, the sun never sets and the most powerful navy in the world has been developed. From robbing the two teeth on the Iberian Peninsula at the beginning, it has become robbing the whole world.

In fact, for every major undertaking in the world, if it wants to become stronger and bigger quickly, profit is the biggest driving force.This is why the few pirate ships that the Sun Never Sets at the beginning can later develop into the most powerful navy in the world.As for Zheng He's ocean-going fleet, Zheng He had to beg his grandfather and grandma every time he went to sea, and begged the emperor for permission. In the end, he only went to sea seven times and had no choice but to stop.

Zheng He’s mind is really speechless!Sino-Ocean, an activity that was hugely profitable at the time, turned out to be a loss-making business for him time and time again.Not only did he not make a dime every time he went to sea, he also asked Zhu Di, Emperor Chengzu of the Ming Dynasty, and Zhu Zhanji, Emperor Xuanzong of the Ming Dynasty, to sponsor him with a large amount of treasury silver. Just think of Zheng He's brains!Really no business sense!
So in a sense, Zheng He is the biggest sinner who caused Zhonghua's later tragedy.Because it was Zheng He who did not earn a dime during his seven voyages to the West, but instead consumed a large amount of treasury silver.This made the rulers after the Ming Dynasty mistakenly believe that going deep blue would be a burden that would cost money, and it was better not to do it.So from now on, they will only focus on their own one-third of an acre of land and no longer look at the sea.

And if Zheng He had some brains at that time and could use his overseas voyages to make huge profits for the Ming Dynasty, would the national policy of the Ming Dynasty in the future still be to close the country?So Zheng He is the number one sinner who caused me to plant flowers and close the country.

Wang Daoqiu is a time traveler. He is a prophet in this sixteenth century. He knows countless successful experiences and failures in the original time and space.Therefore, on the road to developing a future ocean-going navy, he chose the successful experience of the sun never setting, and refused to become that idiot like Zheng He.

In this generation, Wang Daoqiu planned to let the rulers who grow flowers see the money in developing an ocean-going navy from the beginning, use money to stimulate those people, and let them happily spend all their money and connections to actively work for me. Planting flowers and investing in ocean-going navy.Therefore, the Shijian Yinshan and Sado Treasure Islands in the Japanese country were the chicken blood that Wang Daoqiu planned to use to inject those Ming rulers.

The so-called wealth and silk are touching people's hearts. When Wang Daoqiu said that Japan had massive gold and silver minerals, Emperor Jiajing and Lu Bing were not surprised after hearing this, and their eyes released greedy eyes.

Emperor Jiajing stared at Wang Daoqiu with bloodshot eyes, "Wang Qing, is there really such a big gold and silver mine in the Wa country?"

Taking the bait, Emperor Jiajing took the bait. Seeing Emperor Jiajing's greedy look, Wang Daoqiu felt happy.Then he suppressed the smile in his heart and said seriously to Emperor Jiajing: "Yes, Your Majesty, the Japanese country does have mountains of gold and silver. I am willing to guarantee this to Your Majesty with the head on my neck."

"No, no, what did Wang Qing say about the head? I still believe in Aiqing when it comes to prospecting for mines."

Wang Daoqiu confirmed that the Japanese country had gold and silver mountains. Emperor Jiajing was also filled with pride and said words of comfort to Wang Daoqiu.He turned to Lu Bing and said: "Lu Ermao, please quickly use the power of your Jin Yiwei to search for good sailing young men among the people and send them to Dengzhou for training. Next spring, our Ming Navy must use the naval guns Aim for the coast of Japan."

"Here"

For gold and silver, Emperor Jiajing began to use the power of Jin Yiwei to search for outstanding sailors for the future Ming Dynasty's ocean-going navy.Of course, Jiajing, who is a money fan, is helping others in vain.No, as soon as Emperor Jiajing finished giving the order to Lu Bing, he turned back to Wang Daoqiu and said: "Wang Qing, say hello to those people later and tell them that this ocean-going fleet was originally negotiated with Lu Fang every year. I don’t want the 300 million taels of silver, but will exchange them for [-]% of the shares. In addition, I will secretly build the ship’s wooden beams, and the shipbuilders and gunsmiths will go to Dengzhou. Let’s take this matter seriously.”

With the temptation of gold and silver, Emperor Jiajing was ready to use the power of the country to support the construction of the ocean-going navy. This was what Wang Daoqiu wanted to see.Moreover, Wang Daoqiu believed that Emperor Jiajing chose to invest in shares despite the 300 million taels of silver he was guaranteed to earn every year. This would also stimulate the nobles to strengthen their confidence and increase their investment.Therefore, Wang Daoqiu supported Emperor Jiajing's decision with both hands and feet, and assured Emperor Jiajing that he would definitely persuade the nobles to make concessions and try their best to give Emperor Jiajing [-]% of the shares. .

There was another hugely profitable business, and now Emperor Jiajing was becoming more and more pleased with Wang Daoqiu.So for the first time, everyone started to serve Wang Daoqiu.

After finishing a meal that everyone was happy with, it was time to go about their own business. Wang Daoqiu and Lu Bing went to find the nobles to talk secretly.

After a period of difficult bargaining, after Wang Daoqiu assured the nobles that although their shares had been reduced, the guaranteed income previously promised to them would not be reduced, the nobles reluctantly gave Emperor Jiajing [-]%. shares, giving Lu Bing half of his shares.

Thirty percent, although not the [-]% that Emperor Jiajing wanted, could allow the nobles to cut off such a large piece of meat.Moreover, these [-]% shares are already the largest shareholder, and no one else holds more than half. I believe Emperor Jiajing can accept this share allocation.So Wang Daoqiu and Lu Bing accepted this matter.As for Emperor Jiajing, if he doesn't like it, let him go and make peace with the nobles.After solving this matter, the next step is the Longevity Ceremony of Emperor Jiajing.In ancient times, there was no audio equipment, so it was unrealistic for a single-person program to be heard at a distance. Therefore, the programs on such grand ceremonies in ancient times were all large-scale singing and dancing, so that everyone could see them, and everyone could hear them clearly. Everyone can hear it.

Later generations of Wang Daoqiu came and had no interest in these so-called ethnic songs and dances. Therefore, at the Longevity Ceremony of Emperor Jiajing, after completing the birthday greetings and giving gifts and entering the eating and dancing stage, he left his single dining table.

Wang Daoqiu left his dining table and went to Jue Changan's place first, chatting with him for a few words. Then he went to Fujiwara Takumi's place and said a few polite words to the future Japanese king. .Finally, he shamelessly moved to the table where the ladies were eating.

When I came to where my mother and Shen Xiangning were sitting, they also shared a small dining table, but the small dining tables of mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were right next to each other.

Wang Daoqiu walked over, ignoring the surprised looks of the ladies around him.He squeezed into a stool with his mother, Mrs. Xu.After sitting down, he picked up vegetables for his mother and asked in a low voice: "Mom, are you still used to the food in the palace?"

"I'm used to eating, I'm used to eating. The last time I accompanied your mother-in-law and Xiangning to the palace, the Empress had already given me a royal meal once. The Empress is a good person. Last time she said she loved eating meat, the Empress remembered it. Live. Look, Shitou, what the queen gave me on this table is all meat. When we were in Huzhou, there was no shortage of fish and shrimps there, but this meat was expensive. Our family usually only cuts one meat per month. Meat was eaten twice to satisfy my craving, each time weighing one or two kilograms. There were so many people in the family, and one person couldn’t hold more than a few chopsticks. It was only in Beijing that my mother had meat to eat every day. For this reason, she only wanted to eat meat every day. If you eat, your father will scold your mother, saying that you have learned bad things about stone, how can an upright official eat meat every day!"

Xu has never read a book since she was a rural woman since she was a child, so her words are illogical, and she can say whatever comes to her mind.But Wang Daoqiu didn't mind it at all, her mother had suffered all her life, and it was only after she arrived in Beijing that she lived a life full of meat.Wang Daoqiu liked his mother's happy look.

So when his mother was happy, Wang Daoqiu comforted his mother in a low voice: "Mom, don't listen to dad. The emperor rewarded his son for seeing his hard work. Mom, think about it, what is the status of the emperor?" Ah! Can he reward us with three or five copper coins at a time like we, the landowners in the countryside, can? A reward from the emperor is at least hundreds or even thousands of taels of silver. Even the courtyard where we live now was also rewarded by the emperor. , my son didn’t spend a penny.”

"Yes, yes, my son is capable. Sister-in-law Qiu told mother about the house. She said that the emperor rewarded it and asked the craftsmen in the palace to renovate it with good materials used in the palace. Sister-in-law Qiu said that the house is now If you want to sell it, you need at least several thousand taels of silver. It’s weird, it’s thousands of taels of silver! You can earn the stones as long as you want, but my mother has been farming all her life and hasn’t earned even 1000 taels of silver!”

Speaking of the fact that Wang Daoqiu's current house was awarded by the emperor, Mrs. Xu looked proud of her son.But when she talked about farming, Xu remembered another thing that made her worried.

So Mrs. Xu said to Wang Daoqiu with a sad face: "By the way, speaking of land, mother wants to shovel the garden in our backyard. Mother saw that there are more than four acres of land. Such a large piece of land can't be planted." Those flowers and plants were spoiled by neither eating nor drinking. Now that your father is also an official here in the capital, and both of you are here, how can mother return to our country? So mother wants to plant those fields. , Mom mentioned this matter to your father, but your father gave me a lesson and forbade me to do that. Shitou, can you help mother persuade your father about this matter? Mom wants to farm. "

Mrs. Xu has been farming for half her life. When she saw some empty land, she wanted to plant something on it. This can also be said to be a common feature of the older farmers who grow flowers. Wang Daoqiu knew this.Moreover, Wang Daoqiu felt that the so-called decency of a wealthy family was nothing compared to his mother's liking.

Therefore, Wang Daoqiu was happy to support his mother when it came to shoveling the garden to plant the land.However, Shen Xiangning was his wife and the mistress of the house, and given Shen Xiangning's background, she must have liked flowers more than crops.Therefore, Wang Daoqiu still had to do Shen Xiangning's work to fulfill his mother's wish.

So thinking of this, he left the table of his mother Xu, went to the table of his wife Shen Xiangning, and said in a low voice: "Xiangning, my mother has been farming all her life. She likes to farm. She looks at the crops, fruits and vegetables in the field." , she feels at ease. So look at the garden in our backyard, can you shovel it for your mother to plant the land?"

Shen Xiangning is a merchant's daughter, Wang Daoqiu is a dignified Liuyuan Jidi, Taifu, and a cabinet scholar.In this era, the identities of the two are one heaven and one earth.But even so, Wang Daoqiu has always treated her with respect, and would ask her for advice on family affairs, just like this time shoveling the garden and farming.

Shen Xiangning felt very sweet that her husband, who was now a powerful man, could still treat her equally.Moreover, Shen Xiangning and her mother-in-law Xu have lived together for several months. She is well aware of Xu's nature of loving farming and never being idle.

Therefore, as soon as Wang Daoqiu asked her for her opinion on this matter, she timidly said: "Husband, I am in charge of everything about my body, but husband, can you keep the pond in the backyard and the pavilion in the pond? When I am free, I just like to sit there and look at the lotus flowers in the pond."

"No problem, no problem. I'll just ask my mother to shovel those flowers and plants. No filling in the pond is allowed."

"That concubine thanked her husband."

(End of this chapter)