Daming: Dad, you are really not good at governing the country

In this slightly cold Huitong Hall, candlelight flickers and light and shadows dance freely on the walls.

Nakhon Ying, a prince of Suphanburi, spoke Chinese not fluently and had a flattering smile on his face.

He handed over a thick stack of banknotes with both hands and said, "Sir, this little gift is really not a sign of respect.

I also hope that you can say a few good words for me in the court of your country.

Our Suphanburi Kingdom has always had great respect for the Ming Dynasty. Since our ancestors, we have hoped to have eternal friendship with the Ming Dynasty and be as close as one family.

It’s just that we have encountered some difficulties in trade recently, which really makes us frown...”

The ambassador of Huitongguan frowned slightly and his eyes lingered briefly on the stack of banknotes.

There was a barely perceptible fluctuation in his eyes, which then quickly moved away.

The ambassador of Huitong Hall just coughed lightly and cleared his throat.

He said seriously, "Your Highness, this is not allowed.

Our Ming Dynasty has always been fair and strict, and treats friendly countries equally without any favoritism.

When it comes to trade, there is a set of strict rules to follow. How can I, alone, control them?
This concerns the long-term interests of both countries and cannot be taken lightly.”

There was a glimmer of disappointment in Kong Ying's eyes, but he still didn't give up.

He took a step forward and lowered his voice, as if afraid of being heard by others, and said, “Sir, you have extensive connections in the Ming officialdom and a great reputation.

Just be a little flexible and give us a hand.

If this can be accomplished, I, the Suphanburi Kingdom, will definitely reward you handsomely in the future, and will not let you worry in vain."

The ambassador of Huitongguan felt somewhat shaken; this stack of banknotes was indeed a great temptation.

But he also knew that if this matter was not handled properly, it might bring him endless trouble.

The ambassador of Huitong Hall frowned, thought for a moment, and then spoke slowly.

There was a slight tremor in his voice and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

"Prince Kong Ying, the laws of our Ming Dynasty are strict and will not be violated in the slightest.

If the amount of embezzlement reaches 60 taels of silver, it is a capital crime.

If the amount of embezzlement is even greater, the punishment that awaits him will be cruel and brutal punishments such as lingchi, dismemberment by five horses, and bone removal.

You and I have no grudges in the past, and no hatred in the present. Your Highness, please do not push me into a dead end!"

Na Kong Ying waved his hands hurriedly, with a more earnest smile on his face.

He explained in an anxious tone: “Please don’t misunderstand me, my lord. This prince has no intention of bribing.

Today, the reputation of Ming Dynasty's firearms is feared by all, and the novelty of its tactics is admired by all the neighboring countries, especially our Suphan Buri Kingdom.

There are many noble children in the country who admire the military culture of the Ming Dynasty. When they heard that your country has opened a Hongwu Military Academy, they all longed to enter it.

They hope to have in-depth exchanges with your country's young generals and learn advanced military knowledge.

The Ming treasure notes in my hand are the tuition fees they voluntarily offered. I would like to ask you to help present them to the Emperor of your country."

As he spoke, Kong Ying carefully observed the expression of the ambassador of Huitong Hall, his eyes full of expectation, hoping to dispel the other party's doubts.

The ambassador of Huitongguan then breathed a sigh of relief, and the tension on his face eased a little.

He said with a serious expression: "This matter is of great importance and cannot be taken lightly.

I need to report this to the Ministry of Rites immediately, and then the Ministry of Rites will submit it to Your Majesty.

This will take a long time, and I hope Your Highness will wait patiently.

After all, this involves the diplomatic relations between the two countries and the military education of our Ming Dynasty, so every step must be taken with caution."

The ambassador of Huitongguan knew that this matter was beyond his scope of handling. He had to report it to higher authorities and there was no room for error.

Kong Ying nodded hurriedly, like pounding garlic.

"To show our sincerity, we are willing to open up a number of commercial ports to facilitate private trade between the two countries.

Today, the Ming Treasure Notes have gained considerable prestige in trade between countries. Suphan Buri is willing to follow the principle of "mutual benefit" and designate the Ming Treasure Notes as the designated currency for trade settlement between the two countries.

In this way, trade between the two countries will become smoother and the friendship between them will become deeper.”

Nakong Ying hopes to express his sincerity and make this happen through these measures.

In fact, the Hongwu Military Academy itself was closely related to the planning of the brothers Zhu Gang and Zhu Biao, as well as the negotiations in Huitong Hall.

For Zhu Gang, who proposed the idea of ​​opening the Hongwu Military Academy in the Ming Dynasty, judging from the current situation, this matter is indeed feasible.

However, the road ahead is full of thorns and challenges.

Today, firearms play an increasingly important role in the military field of the Ming Dynasty. The tremendous power they demonstrate on the battlefield has become a force that cannot be ignored.

In several battles with the Northern Yuan Dynasty, the roar of firearms made the enemy terrified.

But the constraints of traditional concepts are like a towering mountain, blocking the road ahead.

Many officials in the court were deeply influenced by Confucianism and paid too much attention to the moral cultivation and military strategies of generals.

They made an impassioned speech in the court: "Our Great Ming governs the world with propriety, justice, benevolence and trustworthiness. Generals must be both virtuous and talented. Military tactics and strategies are the foundation of defeating the enemy.

Those strange and cunning tricks are nothing but unorthodox practices, how can they be accepted by the upper class!"

They disdained specific military technologies, especially firearms, which were considered "strange and cunning tricks".

After all, the long-standing tradition of heavy cavalry archery and cold weapon warfare in the military field has made some conservative generals prejudiced against firearms and new tactics.

They stubbornly believe that firearms are unstable in power, complicated to operate, and far less reliable than traditional weapons.

Just like the veteran general Chen Heng, who once cried out in the court: “Firearms are just a temporary fad, and the battlefield changes rapidly.

If something goes wrong with the firearm at the critical moment, wouldn’t my Ming Dynasty man die in vain!

Swords, spears, halberds, and horseback archery are the foundation of our army!"

This deep-rooted concept has seriously hindered the promotion and development of military academies.

It was like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing the students' enthusiasm for the use of firearms and learning new tactics.

But it is undeniable that the Ming Dynasty also had many favorable conditions to implement this matter.

At present, the Ming Dynasty has developed handicrafts and a strong scientific and technological foundation, just like a treasure house containing endless treasures.

The Firearms Institute has accumulated considerable technology in firearms manufacturing and is able to produce various types of firearms such as the bird-beak gun and the Hongwu cannon.

Those firearms craftsmen studied day and night, constantly improving their craft and contributing their wisdom to the development of firearms.

This undoubtedly provides a solid material foundation for the academy to carry out teaching on the use of firearms, and is like building a bridge to advanced military technology for the students.

At the same time, the imperial court also had the ability to form a professional teaching staff.

Those craftsmen and generals who had experienced many battles against the Northern Yuan Dynasty and Japanese pirates had accumulated rich practical experience.

Just like Zhu Gang's father-in-law Xu Da, Duke of Wei, he was not only familiar with the art of war, but also had personally experienced the power of firearms on the battlefield and was well aware of its importance in future wars.

Xu Da once said to his generals: "Times are changing, and our tactics must also change.

Although firearms have their shortcomings, given time, they will surely become the magic weapon for our Ming army to defeat the enemy."

These enlightened generals are like living military textbooks. They can serve as teachers in the academy and impart their knowledge and skills to the students. (End of this chapter)