Borrow the day to change the day

Just listen to Zhong Jinwei playing to Emperor Chongzhen: "Your Majesty, if you want me to make a big contribution to the Ryukyu matter, you must first figure out what benefits I can get from Ming? This is the most practical and the most critical."

Emperor Chongzhen was taken aback for a moment, blinked his eyes, and said as a matter of course: "Master Zhong, Ryukyu is a vassal state of my Ming Dynasty. It is invaded by Japanese pirates, so it is natural to regard it as the master. Otherwise, which country will be willing to regard my Ming Dynasty as the suzerain country in the future?"

After hearing this, Zhong Jinwei asked an unexpected question again: "Your Majesty, what are the benefits of asking the Suzerain?"

Emperor Chongzhen looked at Zhong Jinwei and was stunned.He feels like a very common thing, such as eating, is a natural need of people, but Master Zhong asked the question of why people need to eat.

Zhong Jinwei could guess what they were thinking. He turned his head to look at the other colleagues in the hall, and found that they had similar reactions.

So, he replied to himself: "The suzerain state, in fact, is the boss of the vassal state. The transition of power in the vassal state requires the approval of the suzerain state and regular tribute to the suzerain state. At this price, if If the vassal state has something to do, the suzerain state has the responsibility to help it out. Your Majesty, is this roughly the case?"

Emperor Chongzhen nodded, and answered Zhong Jinwei: "It's almost like this."

"On the surface, it seems that it is really good to be the suzerain. But in fact, my Central Plains dynasty cares more about the status, and will not interfere with the transfer of power in the vassal state. Even if it is a tribute, it is also a symbolic meaning. More Instead, the vassal states pay tribute, and the Central Plains dynasty will return them tenfold. So much so that the vassal states are never tired of paying tribute, and even actively and frequently ask for tribute."

When Zhong Jinwei said this, he asked Emperor Chongzhen again: "Your Majesty, is that so?"

Emperor Chongzhen still nodded. The actual situation was indeed as Master Zhong said, so he did not deny it.

Upon hearing this, Li Tengfang, Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites, couldn't help reminding Zhong Jinwei: "Duke Xingguo, this is the king who does not rule the barbarians and the barbarians. Those who come will not be rejected, and those who go will not be chased."

Zhong Jinwei turned his head to look at Li Tengfang when he heard the sound, waved his hands and said, "Master Li, I don't care if these are dead or not. I just want to ask Master Li, is this strategy of dealing with vassal states really good? It will bring great benefits to Daming. What real benefit?"

When Li Tengfang heard this, Zhong Jinwei turned around and said to Emperor Chongzhen, "Your Majesty, the current relationship is actually more about being respected by the vassal states. This is true in form. But this kind of respect is based on the strong foundation of Daming."

Speaking of this, Zhong Jinwei raised his voice and said: "Isn't Japan also a vassal state of my Ming Dynasty? But when they were strong, they coveted my land of Ming Dynasty, so how can they respect it?"

As soon as Zhong Jinwei's voice fell, Wen Tiren caught the opportunity and immediately interjected: "Mr. Xingguo, you are extreme, and the vassal state also has the responsibility to do something for the suzerain state. For example, to conquer a certain force, the vassal state can also send troops to help. Recently The best example is that North Korea once sent troops to launch the Sarhu War with Ming Dynasty."

Zhong Jinwei was slightly taken aback when he heard this, and then immediately answered: "Okay, I admit that I am a bit extreme. But when I say this, I do not mean to completely negate the current diplomatic policies of Ming Dynasty, but to propose some improvements."

When Zhong Jinwei said this, the others let go of their rebuttals and were ready to hear how he could improve.

"Master Zhong, please continue." Emperor Chongzhen demanded.

Zhong Jinwei turned his head to look back at Emperor Chongzhen, and said seriously: "Your Majesty, if the suzerain country wants to last long, its strength must always be stronger than that of the vassal state. Otherwise, it is not uncommon for the suzerain to take the lead. Therefore, the foreign policy of the suzerain country, The goal must be to strengthen oneself, otherwise it will be a disaster for the country and the people!"

This hat was a bit heavy, and the few people who wanted to argue at first swallowed their words back.

But what Zhong Jinwei said was not wrong, so Emperor Chongzhen nodded slightly in agreement.

Zhong Jinwei received approval, and continued: "Therefore, based on this purpose, we can slightly improve the policy of paying tribute. Different strategies are adopted for different vassal states."

"Oh, master Zhong, let me be more specific." Emperor Chongzhen immediately asked after hearing this.

"For example, Ryukyu's geographical location determines that it may become a transit point for North America and the south of Ming Dynasty in the future, so they can be asked to open ports for free or at the lowest cost. The goods of Ming merchants can trade freely in Ryukyu, or charge the lowest tariffs, etc. .”

After Zhong Jinwei said one thing, he continued to give examples: "For another example, Japan has a lot of sulfur, and Daming needs it, so you can ask Japan for a tribute of sulfur. Of course, Daming will also give it a reward. The same price or a higher price is also acceptable. It doesn't matter, but this reward requires skill to achieve..."

"Wait, Master Zhong, you said that this reward requires skill, what kind of skill?" Emperor Chongzhen immediately asked when he heard something he didn't understand.

Zhong Jinwei had no choice but to suspend his narration, and replied to Emperor Chongzhen: "For example, rewarding the Japanese with some luxury goods, or other high-value-added but not very practical things. It makes others look like Ming's rewards are more valuable, but in fact, It doesn't change much about Japan's national power and so on, or it can lead to luxury."

Seeing Emperor Chongzhen nodded, Zhong Jinwei went on to say: "One principle is that a powerful vassal state, or a vassal state with ulterior motives or restless vassal states, must take various measures to suppress it; and for some weak and obedient vassal states, such as For North Korea, it can be properly supported. In the final analysis, it is through exchanges with vassal states to strengthen our Ming’s strength and eliminate potential threats from vassal states.”

Zhong Jinwei's statement is just a mild improvement, which has both lining and face, and it did not arouse the resentment of Wen Tiren and other old-style Confucian officials.

Therefore, after he finished speaking, no one objected to his suggestion.

Emperor Chongzhen thought for a while, and said with a smile: "It's so good. There are still details. Master Zhong might as well sort out a memorial. Discuss with the court and form a custom."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Although Zhong Jinwei didn't like writing memorials very much, he had no choice but to agree to the matter when it came to him.

Seeing that Zhong Jinwei agreed, Emperor Chongzhen suddenly remembered that he seemed to have been talking for a long time and hadn't answered the first question.

So, he couldn't help but smiled and said to Zhong Jinwei: "Master Zhong, how should we deal with the request for help from Ryukyu?"