The Han culture is spreading strongly in Southeast Asia

Chapter 388: Firearm Colonization, Coal, and Iron

The issue of muskets has always been Mo Zibu's biggest concern, no doubt about it.

Because even if he is a time traveler or an emperor, there is no one he cannot be shot down with one gun.

This thing is just like the crossbows that people used to keep privately. It poses a huge threat to the rulers.

On Mo Zibu's desk were dozens of petitions, all of which were urging Mo Zibu to prohibit civilians from owning muskets.

The masters are also afraid. From now on, if they fail to do something well, they will encounter someone who is determined to kill them. No matter what rank you are, you will die.

Even now, in just five or six months, there have been more than fifteen cases of deaths and injuries caused by revenge using muskets in Guangzhou alone.

Fortunately, Mo Zibu flipped through the letter and found that all the people who wrote the letter were old bureaucrats. There was no Jinshi who had just passed the special examination or officials who had been trained in the "Party School". He couldn't help but feel relieved.

As a simple ruler, he naturally does not want all his people to have guns.

This thing will be useless in the future when airplanes, missiles and drones are flying all over the sky, but in this era when there is not much gap between military and civilian weapons, it is still quite troublesome.

But as an emperor who was determined to revive China and greatly expand the living space for future generations, Mo Zibu knew that not only could he not prohibit the people from owning guns, but he had to strongly support them.

We even have to take the initiative to lower the price of muskets, not to say that everyone can own one, but at least every household can have one.

Why was his policy in Southeast Asia so successful?

That’s because when we were in Southeast Asia, every family had a gun.

Over the past twelve years, countless indigenous warriors have been killed by the guns of the Han Chinese who have crossed the border. And countless wild elephants, tigers, and crocodiles that inhabit the jungles and swamps have been killed and eaten by the guns.

This ability applies not only to the Han Chinese men who have crossed the border, but also to Han Chinese women and children, who have this ability when they are armed with muskets.

It can be said that without muskets, especially the large number of crudely made hand cannons produced by the Luokun and Pattani arsenals, the four or five hundred thousand Han people under Mo Zibu would never have been able to conquer such a large territory.

However, this reminded Mo Zibu that the musket could only be in the hands of the Han people. If the natives had the musket, it would not be fun.

So, just when Kang Liangbao, Chen He and others were being beaten in public outside the Nancheng Yamen of the Wucheng Bingmasi, Mo Zibu issued a new decree.

Anyone in any province of Dayu, whether internal or external, who dares to hold a gun will be executed immediately!

Even the native vassal armies of the vassals were only allowed to use swords and not guns.

Among the Westerners in Dayu, only those from France and the Double Eagle Kingdom who carry a gun license are allowed to carry muskets, while people from other countries are not allowed to do so.

Outside the Nancheng Bingmasi Yamen, Kang Liangbao, Chen He and several Shaoguan scholars were beaten and screamed in pain, but Ye Mingyue was not beaten and even had a bench to sit on.

Because he was the son of Baron Coeur and a republican councilor, according to the law, he could be exempted from general criminal punishment unless he committed crimes such as high treason, disobedience, unfilial piety, murder, arson, rape and looting.

Of course, it does not mean that there will be no punishment at all. For example, if they commit crimes such as forced purchases and sales, embezzlement and bribery, they can pay compensation and then pay money to atone their sins.

If the crime is not serious enough to send people to jail, then servanthood can be used instead.

Look, they were sentenced to ten strokes of the cane each. Kang Liangbao, Chen He and others screamed in pain from being beaten, but Ye Mingyue didn't have to scream because a native servant he brought with him was taking his place in the punishment.

However, the patrolmen from the Bingmasi saw that the dark and thin servant was not Chinese, so they showed no mercy and beat him with all their might. Ten blows almost killed the native, and he couldn't even scream.

The reason for this regulation was that according to the law at that time, the most serious crime besides beheading was exile.

The vassal states were all located in the southernmost part of Southeast Asia, which was already the standard of exile of 5,000 miles, so naturally they could be treated more preferentially.

Finally, the execution was over. The commander of the Southern City Military Command stood up and bowed to Ye Mingyue. "Gentleman, Chengtian Prefecture is not Nanyang. You must be more careful with your words and actions in the future. I have done my duty this time and I am truly sorry for the offense."

The people who were watching the excitement cried out in surprise. They originally thought that Emperor Mo's vassals and republican parliamentarians were all talking nonsense.

This kind of thing sounds unreliable, and is probably not as good as a minor official in Guangzhou, Chengtian Prefecture, let alone compared with a legitimate scholar, but the result made them drop their jaws.

It turns out that this Nanyang vassal and republican parliamentarian is actually a lord!
Not only can it exempt one from general punishment, but it can also allow court officials to treat one with courtesy.

Moreover, the emperor had already issued an order that wealthy families were not allowed to own slaves, and even their own children had to be released. However, these vassals could run around with native servants and enjoy their service. It was said that even if they were beaten to death, they would only be fined thirty taels of silver.

The people in the crowd who cast the most envious glances were not the unlucky ones like Kang Liangbao and Chen He, but a few wealthy businessmen who happened to pass by.

Being a vassal is difficult for others, but it is not difficult for them.

For example, Ye Mingyue's father, Ye Xiancai, was awarded the title of Baron of Kecheng because Ye Xiancai killed nine native warriors, was praised by the emperor, and then borrowed money to recruit twenty Hakka people.

It is not very large. Kecheng Island is only the size of a county on the mainland, with more than 5,000 native people and more than 900 Chinese.

For wealthy merchants like them who earn hundreds of thousands of taels of silver a year, it is not difficult to recruit dozens or hundreds of people, equip them with muskets and steel knives, and conquer such a territory.

Moreover, Baron Kecheng is already considered a big one among the barons. There are even smaller ones who have only one or two thousand natives under their jurisdiction.

With such a small scale, the benefits gained, especially the political benefits, are simply too great.

Mo Zibu also expected that someone would take advantage of this loophole, but only in this way would the people under his rule be willing to go to Southeast Asia to colonize their fiefdoms, so Mo Zibu could tolerate it.

Because this is a typical balance of rights and obligations. Emperor Mo does not give such treatment to the people below. The people below are not fools. How could they possibly spend their own money to recruit people to fight the natives?

Similarly, any vassal who enjoyed such high treatment and obtained something equivalent to a privilege must continue to colonize.

While the people below were plotting against Mo Zibu, Mo Zibu also tied them up.

This is Emperor Mo's colonization policy. China has a large population and does not need to force the local people away due to the harsh living environment like Britain and France did. He is also willing to delegate power as long as you fulfill your obligations.

The world is so big, and in this era when people are gradually becoming more aware, we should not think that all the good things are in the hands of one family or one surname.

Not only will that not benefit future generations, it will be even less beneficial to the people and the entire nation.

. . . .

Qiongzhou Prefecture, Ya County, Tiandu Village.

At this time, Hainan Island had not yet become a province and was still under the jurisdiction of Guangdong Province.

At this time, Hainanese, a unique local language formed by mixing Minnan dialect with some Li dialect and other Cantonese words, had not yet been fully formed.

Therefore, the entire Qiongzhou Prefecture, that is, the entire Hainan Island, speaks Minnan dialect with a Quanzhou accent as the main language, and people can basically communicate with Minnan people from Quanzhou.

In other words, at this time, the majority of people on the Leizhou Peninsula and Hainan Island, with the exception of the extremely rare old Cantonese people like the Mo family, spoke the Minnan dialect. Liu Zhisan, wearing a short coat, looked like an old man from the Li ethnic group.

In Hainan today, the Han and Li ethnic groups are very similar. Apart from the differences in their ethnic costumes during festivals, their languages and living customs are basically the same.

Next to him, the man who was still wearing his official uniform and refusing to take it off even in the hottest weather was Pan Youdu, the fourth son of Pan Qi, the general merchant of the Thirteen Hongs.

Historically, this man was known as one of the four richest men in Guangzhou, along with Wu Bingjian, Lu Guanheng and Ye Shanglin.

Historically, a few years later, his father Pan Qi would use money to buy him a full Jinshi status, and he even became a Hanlin Academy Shujishi for a time.

Although the Hanlin Academy scholars of the Qing Dynasty were incomparable to those of the Ming Dynasty, they were still very noble. Pan Youdu was also very good at pretending to be cultured, and he liked poetry and prose, and could write some rhythmic poems.

But just when Pan Youdu thought he could sit back and relax as the Qing Dynasty's white glove, he ended up being squeezed dry by the Qing court.

The intensity of the situation was so great that even with his ability, Tongwenhang was unable to make ends meet. He applied for closure but was forced to reopen, and almost all his family property was gone.

But it's not too late now. This talented man in business and management has not yet had time to defect to the Qing Dynasty.

Liu Zhisan couldn't help laughing when he saw that Pan Youdu was very concerned about the official uniform of the sixth-rank Hanlin scholar and the Internal Affairs Minister.

Having followed Mo Zibu for eleven years and served as the Prime Minister of the Fuxing Company, he knew that under Emperor Mo, as long as you had talent, it was much easier to become an official in Dayu than in any other era.

Because the emperor was ready to break the previous practice of selecting officials only from Confucian scholars and through imperial examinations.

Of course, according to Liu Zhisan's original idea, he did not recommend that the emperor forgive these Manchu nobles and white gloves.

Liu Zhisan felt that it would be too easy for these people to be spared without depriving them of their property. They should all be arrested and interrogated by the people from the Palace Security Department, just like they did with Mr. Cai.

If we plunder their property and hand it over to Fuxing Company, we will have the start-up capital for the coal and iron base.

But as soon as he finished speaking, he was scolded by the emperor. Liu Zhisan still remembers the emperor pointing at his nose and scolding him.

"Liu Zhisan, are you crazy? Are you thinking that I am Li Zicheng and entering the capital?
Even if I am, look at your shitty appearance, do you look like Liu Zongmin?
I'm now worried that the wealthy gentry in Fujian and Guangdong will dig holes and bury their money instead of investing it. But you, on the other hand, suggest that I use torture and plunder as soon as I enter Guangzhou. After this, how many people will dare to invest their money?
All the mining and foreign trade in the world depends on Fuxing Company alone, so that's what you want, right? "

The emperor's scolding brought out the little thoughts in his heart. Then, several of his capable men were transferred by the emperor to serve in the army and local officials. After one of them was caught for corruption and his property was confiscated, Liu Zhisan completely gave up the little thoughts in his heart.

It won’t work if it’s not extinguished!

He now had no idea how many of the middle and senior management in Fuxing Company were from the Palace Security Department, or were simply spies planted by the emperor himself.

"Lieutenant, this Tiandu Iron Mine is truly blessed by nature!" Pan Youdu touched his official uniform happily for a long time before walking over and speaking to Liu Zhisan.

Well, the name Litai sounds strange, but it is the name given by the people below according to the official name of the governor is Zhitai and the governor is Futai.

Since he is the Prime Minister, he is naturally called the Prime Minister.

"This mine is estimated to have a yield of over one million tons and is very easy to mine. It is only fifteen miles away from the Ya County port. Once we get there, we can load it onto a ship and ship it to Anguang Prefecture in Guangnan Province. This is truly a gift from heaven to Dayu, a gift from heaven to China."

Liu Zhisan was also infected by Pan Youdu's excitement. He stood up and looked at the mine in the distance and said:
"More than one million tons, at least three million tons. That's what the Emperor said, and that's also what the French surveying team estimated."

There was no ton as a unit of measurement in ancient China, and the situation in the West was similar at that time. They had not yet completely fixed the definition and use of the unit of ton, and the most commonly used were still various pounds.

And my Emperor Mo Da quickly seized the opportunity to bring up this concept. He was even prepared to round down the measurement units such as liang, jin, and shi that had been passed down in China for so long.

For example, the value of one dan was changed from 120 jin to 100 jin, one jin was changed from 16 liang to 10 liang, and the actual weight of one liang was changed from less than 50 grams to approximately 50 grams.

Of course, this will also require a number of sophisticated weighing methods and instruments, which have already been studied. Mo Zibu will take this as the first step for the new China to begin to attach importance to science.

Of course, it is not enough to just entertain yourself with the measurement units, you have to get others to recognize them.

Therefore, an important task of the third French mission was to take advantage of the good relations between France, the Habsburg Monarchy and China to roughly unify the weights and measures of the three parties.

China is the leader of the East, France is the tower of Western civilization, and the Habsburg Monarchy has a significant influence in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe.

In this way, as long as the three parties agree, it basically means that most of the world agrees.

At the same time, taking advantage of this favorable situation, China can once again squeeze Britain hard and establish its position as one of the world's top powers.

Liu Zhisan looked at Pan Youdu's eyes filled with reverence and shock, and said quietly, "Your Majesty is the Holy Son of Heaven, born in response to the will of Heaven. Naturally, he knows everything."

Well, Liu Zhisan was not flattering, but he really did feel that way.

Because every time he wanted to do something in Fuxing Company, he would start to pave the way for the emperor, and the emperor would react immediately.

Not only did they know how he operated, they even knew what the consequences of his actions would be. It was exactly like a miracle.

At first, Liu Zhisan thought that the emperor had placed many spies around him, but later he found out that it was not the case.

He didn't tell others some of his ideas. Sending spies is not like planting worms in the stomach, so it is impossible to find out, but the emperor could understand.

Liu Zhisan could only believe that this thing was a miracle.

In response, Mo Zibu could only say that he had witnessed countless instances of the outrageous manipulation of monopoly companies in later generations. No matter how clever you, Liu Zhisan, are, you can't outsmart the summaries of two hundred years of capitalism.

Mo Zibu may not know how to solve this problem, but he can see at a glance what some of your policies are intended to do.

Pan Youdu naturally understood that the reason their Pan family could still be so prosperous was all due to the emperor's magnanimity and great grace. He raised his hand toward the north in the direction of Guangzhou.

"Your Majesty has received the mandate of Heaven and is the Purple Star who has descended to earth to rescue millions of Han people. Naturally, you are omniscient and wise.

I, Pan Youdu, was born during the time of such a sage ruler. I will not be afraid of any difficulties or obstacles and will strive to build Guangnan's coal and iron industry for His Majesty!"

What else could Liu Zhisan say? He was just a little greedy and wanted to get more benefits for Fuxing Company. In this way, he could rely on this big tree and might be able to taste the power of the East Factory Supervisor during the Ming Dynasty in the future.

But that's all. He was born in Mingxiang and witnessed the emperor's rise from nothing to power. He had his own little tricks, but he wouldn't dare betray the emperor or do anything to harm him, even if you put a knife to his neck.

Seeing Pan Youdu worshipping the emperor so much, Liu Zhisan felt a sense of vigilance as if he was being washed ashore by the waves behind him.

"Well said, your Hanlin Academy and my Fuxing Company both belong to the Nei Si Cheng, which used to be the Inner Court.

Today, His Majesty is a man of extraordinary talent and does not favor officials or eunuchs. This has allowed the former power of the Imperial Household Department to be glimpsed by outsiders. Naturally, we must serve His Majesty wholeheartedly.

As long as Guangnan's coal and iron industry is well developed, we may be able to produce a few key officials in the future."

(End of this chapter)