Daming: I can’t kill such a greedy prince-in-law?

Chapter 723 I Have a Dream (Please Subscribe!!)
"But brother-in-law, we sell advanced weapons to the vassal kings. What if they come later and surpass us?"

Zhu Biao was very much looking forward to the scene described by Ouyang Lun, but he was still a little worried about the current situation.

Seeing that Zhu Biao was still struggling with this, Ouyang Lun also understood that it was no use to draw a small pie now, and he had to draw a big pie for Zhu Biao!
"Cough cough!"

"Your Majesty, I actually have a great dream!" Ouyang Lun said seriously.

"Great dream? How do you mean?" Zhu Biao was stunned for a moment and then asked.

"Realize trade globalization and allow Ming to occupy the highest end of the global division of labor!"

Ouyang Lun said solemnly: "Of course, to achieve this, we first need to build a systematic framework from the political and economic levels. We can establish a central-level "Maritime General Administration" and local port branches to coordinate the management of overseas trade affairs, upgrade the traditional tribute system to a two-way mutually beneficial trade network, send missions to Southeast Asia, India, Arabia and even European countries to sign trade agreements, clarify trade rules, and ensure the dominant position of the Ming Dynasty in trade. At the same time, optimize the domestic industrial division of labor, the Jiangnan region focuses on high-value-added commodities such as silk and porcelain, the north develops minerals and military industries, and the coastal areas build shipbuilding bases and serve as foreign trade windows to form regional specialized production. Overseas, by establishing plantations and trade bases, integrating Southeast Asian spices, Indian gems, African gold and other resources, and building a global supply chain!"

"I have already started to do this. I believe your Majesty will understand once you hear it."

"Yes, brother-in-law, please continue!" Zhu Biao's eyes sparkled and he urged quickly.

"The next step is to ensure that we are ahead in technology. This is also what you, Your Majesty, are most worried about. We have established the 'Science and Technology Research Institute' and have been concentrating resources on developing key technologies such as navigation, gunpowder, and textiles, improving shipbuilding technology, building more advanced ocean-going ships, and strictly keeping high-end technology confidential, in order to ensure that the Ming Dynasty has a monopoly on core technologies."

"As long as we have a monopoly in technology, or more precisely, a huge lead, we will have the ultimate say in technology. Others are just our followers. Without our technical support, they can't even make a screw, let alone surpass us in technology!"

"Oh!" Zhu Biao nodded after hearing it.

"To ensure continued technological advantage, we must deepen education reforms and increase the number of vocational and technical schools, such as "maritime" and "engineering" schools, to train talents in navigation, trade and engineering, and improve the scientific and technological literacy of the whole people. At the military level, we should build a strong ocean-going fleet to protect maritime trade routes, combat pirates and competitors, and establish military bases in key waterways to ensure control of the routes. Through the policy of "supporting the military with business", we can use the profits from overseas trade to feed back the navy construction and form a virtuous circle."

"We in the Ming Dynasty have already started to do these two things, and they have been very effective. There are horses and others in the sea who are also doing the same, but we are still some distance away from achieving this goal!"

"No wonder I have found that the trade between our Ming Dynasty and overseas states has become more and more frequent in the past two years. It turns out it is because of this reason!" Zhu Biao felt that his mind was becoming clearer and clearer as he listened to Ouyang Lun's description. Zhu Biao even felt that his vision had flown beyond the Ming Dynasty and expanded to the vast ocean!

"Yes." Ouyang Lun nodded and continued: "In addition, the improvement of cultural soft power is also crucial. We can promote Confucianism through trade and diplomacy. The Confucianism here is not the backward thinking of those corrupt scholars, but a brand new thought. We can even change the name and call it Ming Thought!"

"The specific means are to set up "Da Ming Academy" overseas to attract foreign scholars to learn Chinese culture and cultivate pro-Ming elites. At the same time, allow religions such as Buddhism and Taoism to spread through trade, enhance the cultural appeal of the Ming Dynasty, and absorb the essence of foreign cultures, such as Arabic astronomy and Indian mathematics, to enrich the scientific and cultural connotations of the Ming Dynasty. In terms of diplomatic strategy, adopt a conciliatory policy towards neighboring countries, win over allies through trade and cultural exchanges; for distant countries such as Europe, suppress their trade expansion through technological and military advantages. "

"We haven't done these yet, but there will be plenty of time to do them later."

After saying that, Ouyang Lun reached out and patted Zhu Biao on the shoulder, "My brother-in-law, the emperor, don't always focus on the affairs of the vassal kings. You should have a longer-term vision and a bigger picture!"

"Do as I say. Through this series of measures, Ming can gradually realize trade globalization during your period, and occupy the commanding heights of science and technology, trade and production in the global division of labor, becoming the center of the world. From the initial rectification of the domestic economy, construction of ports and training of maritime talents, to the mid-term exploration of routes and establishment of trade bases, and then to the later expansion of the global trade network, Ming will establish its dominant position in global trade through technological monopoly, military support and cultural influence, and ultimately realize trade globalization and gain the right to decide."

"This is my dream, Ouyang Lun!"

"Just tell me whether it's great or not!"

"Well, great!" Zhu Biao looked at Ouyang Lun with admiration. This was the first time that Zhu Biao heard Ouyang Lun talk about his dream.

This dream was too big even for him, the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty!
“As for how to reap the benefits of small countries, ahem, it’s about management. I have more ways to do that!” Ouyang Lun smiled evilly.

"Once our Great Ming achieves globalized trade and has the power to make decisions, we can use a series of sophisticated economic, political and cultural means to gradually incorporate the subordinate small countries into the interest system centered on the Great Ming, thereby achieving the goal of 'cutting leeks'."

"First, the Ming Dynasty could use its technological monopoly and trade network to export high-value-added goods such as fine porcelain, silk and tea to these small countries, while purchasing their raw materials and primary products such as spices, minerals and grain at low prices, forming an unequal trade exchange. By controlling the currency settlement system, the Ming Dynasty could promote Ming paper currency as the only settlement currency for international trade, forcing small countries to rely on the Ming Dynasty's financial system, and then manipulate their economic lifeline through exchange rates and credit means."

"Secondly, the Ming Dynasty can cultivate pro-Ming elites in these small countries through cultural exports and religious dissemination, making them politically and economically dependent on the Ming Dynasty. At this time, the "Ming Academy" we established will play a role. The Ming Dynasty can shape a value system that respects Chinese civilization in these small countries, so that they voluntarily accept the leadership and rules of the Ming Dynasty. At the same time, the Ming Dynasty can establish military bases or garrisons in these small countries in the name of "protecting trade routes" or "maintaining regional stability" to further consolidate their political and military control."

"In addition, the Ming Dynasty could also exercise control through debt. For example, it provided loans to these small countries to support their infrastructure construction or economic development, but attached harsh conditions, such as requiring them to use resources or taxes as collateral. Once these small countries were unable to repay their debts, the Ming Dynasty could take over their key industries or ports, further weakening their economic autonomy. Through this "debt trap", the Ming Dynasty could achieve economic and political control over small countries without directly occupying the territory."

"Eventually, these small countries will gradually become vassals of the Ming Dynasty's global trade system, forced to provide resources and labor at low prices, while relying on Ming Dynasty's technology and goods, forming a one-way transfer of benefits. Through this implicit economic colonization, Ming Dynasty continues to extract benefits from small countries and consolidate its dominant position in global trade."

"Ah! This..." Zhu Biao widened his eyes. He didn't expect Ouyang Lun to think so far ahead.

Seeing Zhu Biao standing there in a daze, Ouyang Lun thought that Zhu Biao didn't understand something, which of course he did, so he decided to give an example. "Your Majesty, you should know about Siam, right?"

"I know. It seems to be a small country in the south of our Ming Dynasty, adjacent to Annan." Zhu Biao nodded.

"What should we do if we want to control Siam?" Ouyang Lun asked.

"Of course, we should send troops to conquer them." Zhu Biao said the most reasonable solution in his mind.

"No, no, it's a different era now. Why do we still need to use force to make people submit? We have to convince them with reason!" Ouyang Lun said with a smile.

After hearing this and seeing Ouyang Lun's smile, Zhu Biao even felt a little scared.

"We first signed a 'Treaty of Friendship and Commerce' with Siam. The treaty stipulated that Siam would open its major ports, such as Ayutthaya, to the Ming Dynasty, allowing Ming merchants to trade freely and import Ming Dynasty's high value-added goods such as porcelain, silk and tea at preferential tariffs. In return, Siam could export its abundant rice, teak and spices to the Ming Dynasty at low prices. On the surface, this seemed mutually beneficial, but in fact, the Ming Dynasty controlled pricing power and trade rules, which kept Siam's raw material export prices low, while Ming Dynasty's manufactured products were imported at high prices, resulting in a trade deficit."

"Secondly, the Ming Dynasty provided loans to Siam in the name of "technical support" for the construction of ports, roads and irrigation systems. These loans were settled in Ming paper currency and provided by the Ming Dynasty's "Ming Silver Bank" on the condition that Siam must use future rice production or tariff revenue as collateral. At first, Siam's economy prospered due to infrastructure improvements, but over time, the debt burden gradually increased. When Siam was unable to repay the loan on time, the Ming Dynasty demanded to take over Siam's port tariff rights and even directly control its rice export trade in the name of debt restructuring. Through this "debt trap", the Ming Dynasty not only obtained the economic lifeline of Siam, but also further weakened its financial autonomy."

"We encourage the children of Siamese nobles to study in Ming Dynasty, and give them a certain status and treatment, so that they can learn Chinese classics and the way of governing the country. After returning home, these students become pro-Ming factions in the Siamese court, pushing Siam to rely more on Ming Dynasty politically and economically. At the same time, Ming Dynasty further consolidates its cultural influence by supporting the construction of Buddhist temples in Siam, so that Siamese society gradually forms the value concept of respecting Chinese civilization."

"In terms of military, the Ming Dynasty stationed fleets in Siam's main ports and established military bases in key areas in the name of "protecting Siam from Burmese invasion." Although Siam gained temporary security, it actually lost complete control of its own national defense. The Ming Dynasty's garrison not only protected trade routes, but also indirectly supervised Siam's internal affairs to ensure that its policies would not deviate from the interests of the Ming Dynasty."

"In the end, Siam became a supplier of raw materials and a market for goods for the Ming Dynasty economically, a vassal of Chinese civilization culturally, and politically subject to the Ming Dynasty's military presence. The Ming Dynasty continued to extract benefits from Siam through this implicit economic colonization and cultural infiltration, while Siam unknowingly became a pawn in the Ming Dynasty's global trade system and was firmly controlled by it. This model was not only applicable to Siam, but could also be replicated to other small neighboring countries, allowing the Ming Dynasty to occupy an absolute dominant position in global trade."

"You already control their economic lifeline and high-level thoughts. Why do you need to use force? You just need to sit on the dragon throne in the capital and wave your hand, and they will come to your feet like a dog and submit to you!"

"Brother-in-law, I am convinced!"

"You are simply the guiding light of our Ming Dynasty!"

Zhu Biao gave a thumbs up, expressing his great admiration. He was even glad that Ouyang Lun was born in the Ming Dynasty instead of any other country.

With these means, he was not afraid of even the foreign countries outside, so naturally he was even less afraid of the vassal kings.

"Don't come!"

"You are the emperor and you are flattering me. If other officials knew about this, they would definitely impeach me!"

"I do this to fulfill my dream, and for Ming Dynasty. I don't want you brothers from the Zhu family to fight each other in the future of Ming Dynasty."

Ouyang Lun said angrily.

To be honest, Ouyang Lun was not too sure whether it was good or bad to say so much to Zhu Biao. Anyway, the current Zhu Biao was very different from the past Zhu Biao. The past Zhu Biao could definitely be described as "simple", but now he had nothing to do with "simple"!

Moreover, after Zhu Biao heard what he said, Ouyang Lun saw a hint of treachery in Zhu Biao's eyes!
It's over! It's over!

I wouldn't have done anything wrong in educating Zhu Biao!
After thinking about it, Ouyang Lun stopped worrying. Who cares! They are all emperors, so they have to be cunning, otherwise they will be controlled by other ministers in the future!

Moreover, when Zhu Biao learned these methods from him, it was not him who suffered, but the foreign countries around the Ming Dynasty.

The more capable Zhu Biao is, the easier it will be for Ouyang Lun in the future.

Thinking of this, Ouyang Lun felt much better.

Just as Ouyang Lun and Zhu Biao were talking about their dreams, Lan Yu also made progress!

Lan Yu led his 40,000 cavalry without delay and headed straight for the Northern Yuan army's camp. However, when Lan Yu arrived, the original Northern Yuan army had already left the camp. Except for the scattered camp frames, there was no one in sight.
(End of this chapter)