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Chapter 810: Third-Rank Black Lady

"… Low rice prices hurt farmers? But if we don't develop new policies, how can we ensure that the people have enough food and clothing?"

Yuan Keli probably understood the general principle, but he couldn't figure out why. Since ancient times, every dynasty has been worried about not having enough food and cloth, so why would more and more cloth cause more trouble?
"Li Qing must be hungry. Someone, come and get some snacks for the Chief of Staff!"

Seeing that Yuan Keli followed his own ideas, Hong Tao was no longer in a hurry to teach him. He waved his hand and asked someone to prepare food, saying that it was for the Chief of General Staff, but in fact he was a little hungry.

"It's not that you don't know the solution, you just haven't thought of it. Why has the customs' collection rate been rising year after year? It's because the products produced by the Ming Dynasty are deeply loved by foreign countries, and more and more people are buying them.

Since the factories are producing more and more in the Ming Dynasty and the prices are getting lower and lower, why not sell more to foreign countries? My map only outlines less than 30% of the world, and more than half of it has not been purchased from the Ming Dynasty.

It's not that they don't want to buy, but the roads are blocked. Although seagoing ships save manpower, the journey is long and it is not possible for ordinary people to do it. In addition, many countries are not near the sea and cannot be connected.

At this time, we have to think of another way. In fact, since the Han and Tang Dynasties, the products of the Central Plains have been transported to Persia through the Hexi Corridor and the Western Regions. As long as it is opened up, the products of the Ming Dynasty can be continuously transported to the West through caravans.

By then, let alone adding four more provinces with the new policy, even if all the two capitals and thirteen provinces implement the new policy, the products produced will not have trouble selling. Li Qing, please do another calculation. How many people in the Ming Dynasty can be fed by so many factories and farms? "

After eating two cornmeal cookies and drinking half a cup of hot cocoa, Hong Tao felt that his brain was getting more adequate blood supply, so he turned away and continued to explain to Yuan Keli the importance of an export-oriented economy to the stability of a country's economic development.

Adhering to the consistent principle of cheating as much as possible and whoever can cheat will be the first to do so, one-third of this explanation is the truth, one-third is nonsense, and the other one-third is nonsense.

"…Your Majesty has great foresight, and I cannot even compare to him! However, both the Han and Tang dynasties have tried to open up the Western Regions, but they spent countless national resources and ultimately failed. We must be more cautious and not act rashly."

This was probably the first time Yuan Keli had heard the theory of using export economy to boost domestic industry, or the first time he had heard it in such a complete way. He only took a bite of the tortilla and kept it in his hand without moving.

He thought about it for a long time but couldn't find any major problems. Even though he was still reluctant to launch a large-scale westward expedition, he could only admit that the idea was correct and warn the emperor not to be impatient.

"I never said that we should implement it immediately. At present, the Jurchens and the left wing of Mongolia are still the first choice. It will be difficult to take care of both ends if we don't deal with them thoroughly. Wait a little longer. You can't eat hot tofu in a hurry. When spring comes and flowers bloom, it will be a severe winter for Lindan Khan!"

Yuan Keli agreed in principle to the idea of ​​opening up a trade route to the Western Regions, and Hong Tao followed suit, saying that he would not launch a war against the West in the short term.

In fact, he did not have a specific plan to move westward, because there were two hungry wolves lying in the east and north, and he would not be able to go anywhere unless he got rid of them.

At the end of September, the Forbidden City welcomed several dusty guests. Huang Nanping, the commander of the South China Sea Fleet, led the expeditionary fleet to complete the construction of Enniao Port and returned to the court in triumph.

"I have colluded with foreign nations without the imperial edict. Please punish me, Your Majesty!" Huang Nanping knelt down before they could exchange pleasantries. He kept saying that he had committed a crime. "Although the commander-in-chief has violated military orders, it is understandable. I hope Your Majesty will understand!" Then there was Wang Yuanjing, the chief of staff of the South China Sea Fleet. He was even worse, with a tearful tone in his voice, which was very touching.

"If any of you dare to kneel, I will have the Imperial Guards drag you to the Imperial Prison and torture you first! If you have something to say, just say it. Don't try to use this self-torture trick on me. Huang Nanping, you go first, tell me what you did?"

The originally good mood turned from sunny to cloudy immediately after the group of soldiers made a fuss. Hong Tao slapped the armrest of the throne, stood up and shouted, so that there was no large group of people kneeling in the Yangxin Palace. Then he walked to Huang Nanping with his hands behind his back and squatted down, with a fake smile on his face, biting his back teeth and giving an ultimatum.

"...I married the daughter of the local tribal leader...I didn't covet her beauty, but I was attracted by her dowry. With that piece of land, we can build a city and barracks. We only need to station a thousand households, and even if we can't provide support in time, we can still defend against powerful enemies."

Huang Nanping raised his head slightly, then lowered it again. He had seen this expression on the warship before, whenever he couldn't catch any fish, he would have bad luck if he got close to it. He gritted his teeth and confessed everything.

"The commander-in-chief had no other choice. The local blacks are ignorant of etiquette and reason, and their leader cannot be moved by small favors. I persuaded the commander-in-chief to agree. If you want to punish me, I am willing to do it!"

Chief of Staff Wang Yuanjing also looked up and glanced at the emperor with his peripheral vision. His thoughts were different from Huang Nanping's. He had seen the emperor's expression when he was really angry more than once. It was slightly different from now. It was probably fake. So he quickly added a few words, pulling the responsibility onto himself.

"Where is the person? Did you bring her back?" As expected, when the emperor heard that Huang Nanping had married a black concubine, not only did his brows frown, but the corners of his mouth also slightly raised.

"...Stay, stay in Luzon Port..."

"Hey, what's the big deal? Are you afraid that I can't snatch it from you? Send someone to take it over as soon as possible, and confer the title of Third Rank Lady on you, and grant you a mansion in the West City. No need to thank me, you are expanding the territory for the court, and you have done a great job without any guilt. You too, will be rewarded with merits and honors, and keep up the good work.

Now let's discuss in detail how many people should be stationed at Enniao Port and how to supply it. Building it is only the first step, the more important thing is to defend it, especially to prevent the Europeans from taking it away!"

What the generals considered a serious crime was a merit to the emperor. It was not just talk, but he really gave them titles and rewards. As for the military law's provisions on intermarriage with foreigners, let's not mention it at this time. It's useless to mention it, because the emperor is the commander-in-chief and has the power to change the military law.

"I left behind two Qin-class warships, an armed cargo ship, five centurions led by the captain of Rodri, and thirty craftsmen. There is no shortage of meat in the area, with whales in the sea and game on land, but there is an urgent need for food.

At the beginning of next month, three armed cargo ships will carry sufficient food and tools to Enniao Port. After that, a group of garrisons will be rotated every other year, with a number of no less than 500. The General Staff is also preparing to teach the local indigenous blacks to grow wheat and vegetables so that they can be self-sufficient in food and drink as soon as possible. "

This question was not something Huang Nanping could answer, so Zhu Haiou quickly took over the conversation and presented the plan designed by the Naval Staff, waiting for the emperor's approval.

(End of this chapter)