unclear

Chapter 1090 Arguing with the Philosopher 2
"Not in my lifetime! I don't know about things that are far away, let alone arrange them. As for how you want to run the empire, at the beginning it will be like now, everything will be decided by me alone, and then handed over to the relevant officials to carry out the specific implementation.

When the time is right, we can gradually delegate power and let more officials take on more responsibilities. But I don’t know when the time is right, or what the performance will be, so I can only think about it while I am doing it.

Spain's biggest problem was not a lack of wealth, but rather unequal distribution. The benefits of the New World went to a small number of people, who got too much and didn't know how to use the wealth; while the majority got too little, and didn't know how to use it.

This has caused huge economic problems, as wealth is concentrated in the hands of a very small number of people, who use this wealth to monopolize various fields and continue to make greater profits.

However, most people do not have the capital to invest for profit and can only serve as the lowest-level labor force. After going through untold hardships, they can only get enough food and clothing, and thus lose their ability to consume.

When money cannot circulate effectively, it will not be effective. Too much money will not only not make the country rich, but will make civilians bankrupt. Because the influx of a lot of money will cause inflation, money will become less and less valuable, and goods will become more and more expensive.

Thirty years ago, the Ming Empire was facing a similar problem. Some people were getting richer, but the court and the people were getting poorer. But after thirty years of hard work, I have partially solved this problem, and then you see the scene.

I won't go into the specific details. If you want to know, you can ask Prime Minister Oyani and Grand Secretary Silva. They have experienced almost the entire process of the reform within the empire and have a lot to say about it.

But I still feel that this is not enough, not because of the lack of wealth, but because of the lack of power. For example, you just mentioned the problems of the Holy Roman Empire. I have ways to solve them, but I don’t have the power to solve them.

It is precisely because those who hold power have not fulfilled their responsibilities that this protracted war has been caused. As a result, a large amount of wealth has been burned in vain and many people have lost their lives.

If these powers were in my hands, things would probably be different. There would be no war in Europe, and the resources and people used for war would be building cities, factories and mines in the New World or Africa. Or, as in the Royal Academy, studying some subjects that would benefit mankind.

Unfortunately, those in power will not give up power easily. They will fight to protect it even if they know they are powerless. The only way to take power away is to hurt them, scare them, knock them down, or step on their heads.

So I must fight the war and win it. To achieve this goal, I need the help of many people. For example, Mr. Galileo, Mr. Mason and you, as well as officials and soldiers. "

Descartes' question is very clever. It sounds simple, but it is very difficult to answer. It involves many principled issues such as political system, governing philosophy and organizational form. Since it is a principled issue, it cannot be skipped, otherwise it is equivalent to not answering it.

Hong Tao's answer was clumsy, with detailed explanations for each branch, and basically speaking the truth. However, the result did not sound very bright, giving people a feeling of extreme ambition and darkness.

But this was intentional on Hong Tao's part. He believed that when facing a great philosopher with great insight, it was best not to use flowery words and political jargon to cover up some intentions. These tricks could fool the people, ministers and generals, but it was difficult to confuse the philosopher.

Hypocrisy is probably the quality they hate the most. When they are considered hypocritical, they will not only lose respect, but also fail to hear any valuable advice, and may even be treated with hostility.

"...I have to admit that Your Majesty is the most honest and bravest emperor so far, at least in the records. But also the most absurd and ambitious emperor. Compared with you, the most powerful Habsburg family in Europe can only be regarded as a supporting role.

I have never heard anyone say such an idea in person. You are going to rule all the people and lands on the earth, conquer dozens of countries and hundreds of ethnic groups! This is incredible, it is simply the incarnation of God. But I think it is impossible, the reason is very simple, look at the current situation of the Holy Roman Empire. There are dozens of large ethnic groups and hundreds of small ethnic groups inside it, and they have never been brought together. No matter whether the monarch is wise or not, and no matter what means are taken, it is still in a state of division.

You might say that you are more capable than the rulers of the Habsburg family! Yes, I agree with this and I admire it very much. But don't forget that what you are doing is also many times more difficult.

I don't think you have the ability to do this. Not only you, but anyone else does. Because in addition to the ability, the most important thing is that you don't have enough time. It is very likely that you will run out of time before you complete the first step. After all, human life is limited. "

Descartes did not laugh at the emperor's arrogance, and gave full recognition to his courage to reveal the dark side of his heart to outsiders. But the praise was only so much, and the rest was all criticism.

In his eyes, the emperor of the Ming Empire at this time was no longer as lovable and respectable as before. He was a devil in human skin, trying to impersonate a god. He was more terrifying than a pure devil.

"Come, have a taste. This is the snack I eat when I'm hungry at work. It can quickly eliminate hunger, replenish energy, and make people feel refreshed."

Hong Tao had no reaction to this sharp criticism. If Descartes did not object, but applauded loudly and encouraged him to do it, he would be angry. He did not immediately refute, but pushed the lacquer tray brought by Wang Chengen forward and carefully explained the black food piled inside.

"…It tastes a bit like cocoa tea, with dried fruits in it?"

Descartes didn't hesitate. He reached out, picked up a piece and put it in his mouth. He chewed it with a crunching sound, then pursed his lips to taste it carefully, and quickly gave the ingredient list.

"Well, the ingredients are roughly the same. It's called chocolate, and it's made from cocoa powder in a factory in Shandong. It's been produced for several years, and it's always sold very well. It's so good that it can't be exported at all. All the products are sold domestically, but the supply still can't meet the demand.

But I don’t really like it, so I had some dried fruits mixed in, so it tastes better and has a richer flavor. You can’t eat too much, because eating too much will make you fat and affect your normal eating.”

What Hong Tao showed Descartes was indeed chocolate, the same as the chocolate of later generations. And there were three kinds: sweet, original, and with dried fruits. This kind of food has been invented for more than ten years, but the production has not been very high, not because it is difficult to produce, but because it is not easy to preserve.

Especially in the summer, if it is not placed in an ice cellar, it will become soft and sticky as the ambient temperature rises, which not only looks bad but is also difficult to handle.

However, human nature's preference for sweets cannot be erased, and chocolate can satisfy that need. Where there is demand, there is supply, and factories specializing in chocolate production came into being, all concentrated in the north, with semi-civilian and semi-military properties.

More than half of its products are supplied to the military as emergency supplies in military rations, and only a little less than half is sold domestically, so there is no time to pay attention to exports, and none of them flow into the European market.

(End of this chapter)