In November, there was a heavy snowfall in the city of Nanjing, but the entire city was covered with a white world.

But for Ning Yu, it is not a simple snow, because once it snows heavily, it will undoubtedly be a huge disaster for some poor people and homeless people living on the streets.

In previous years, these people were on the margins of society, and their deaths did not attract anyone's attention, even some officials who loved the people like children did not regard these people as their own people, but thought that these people died when they died, and were dragged out of the city and sold.

Because they have no value, even an able-bodied adult can still work, but these people have no other way but to die.

Although Great Chu has been established for two years, and Nanjing, as the first good place, has also changed its appearance and become more and more prosperous, Ning Yu's ideas, as well as the power of the imperial court, cannot penetrate all strata and reach everyone.

"It can't be like this, at least in Nanjing."

Ning Yu looked at the ministers in front of him, his face was a little heavy, "The Nanjing prefect wants to come up with a plan and submit it to the cabinet and me urgently, for the people who were damaged in this heavy snow, as well as those homeless wanderers, we must treat them well, at least we must ensure that they have a way to survive this heavy snowfall." After next year, those who can work will be arranged to work, and those who cannot work will be arranged to work in welfare institutions under the Royal Consortium. ”

Under the leadership of Ning Zhongjing, the cabinet officials all bent down and saluted, "Your Majesty's benevolence is the blessing of the people of my Great Chu and the blessing of the world." ”

Regardless of whether the emperor's style is a show or not, at least it has become a way for many people to live.

Ning Zhongjing's face was a little heavy, "In the past two years, Nanjing has received a lot of development and progress, and the society has become more and more peaceful, but there are still many people who are not under the shadow of the imperial court, this is still the capital of Great Chu, not to mention other provincial capitals, and the work of the imperial court needs to be more solid." ”

Seeing that Ning Zhongjing's words were indeed quite sincere, the look on Ning Yu's face also improved a little, and he said in a low voice: "After all, Da Chu has just been established, our foundation is thin, and many things have not been done in place, as long as you still have the people in your hearts, it will naturally get better and better in the future." ”

"What Your Majesty said is a shame for the ministers."

After Ning Yu finished talking about this, he spoke: "I probably know what the Japanese Emperor and the Shogunate envoys mean by this visit....... Although I have some thoughts in my heart, I still want to hear what Zhu Qing means. ”

After listening to this, although the ministers below had no expression on their faces, they had already mentioned it in their hearts, because it was obvious that this was another test of Ning Yu's teaching to the ministers.

For Ning Chu, in the future, with the end of the Northern Expedition, the rest will actually be to clean up the domestic mess, such as taking Tibet, such as further expelling the Great Righteous Army to Xinjiang, so as to completely take Shaanxi, Gansu and other places...... But those are no longer the main things, just follow the rules.

In Ning Yu's view, the real challenge in the future is actually the process of colliding with the tributary system of the East and the colonial system of the West...... In the relevant report of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, Portugal and other countries have extended their tentacles to East Asia.

In this process, force is a necessary guarantee, but force alone is not enough, it also needs a group of ministers with an international vision, and these people cannot fall from the sky, so Ning Yu can only slowly adjust the current courtiers and let them progress.

Of course, if someone is unwilling to progress, then Ning Yu will not force the other party, but this son can't continue to sit down, it's better to go where it is cool.

In this kind of matter, it is natural that Song Enming, the secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stood up, although he was pleased that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was becoming more and more important, but he also felt more and more the pressure brought by this position.

"Your Majesty, the ministers thought that this time the Japanese shogunate envoys came to my Dachu, and they should look at it from two aspects, one is that they have the intention of testing our country, hoping to return to the traditional tributary trade system, and the other is that they also hope that through communication with the Celestial Empire, they can cut off the pressure brought by the strong feudal lords in Japan."

Oh, it seems that this person is a good official......

Ning Yu couldn't help but sigh in his heart, through the current information, he was able to analyze the current thoughts of the shogunate, but he still really worked hard, at least he took what Ning Yu said. The point is that this person only analyzed the situation, but did not say the strategy of dealing with it at all, and it seems that he is still relatively conservative.

However, Ning Yu didn't care, and said softly: "What about the other secretaries, what else do you think?" ”

And this time, before the cabinet bigwigs could speak, Ning Zhonghai, the secretary of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, jumped out and said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, in the eyes of the ministers, this time is also a good opportunity for us to open up trade with Japan. ”

Although Japan is poor now, they don't even have a few pants, but they have gold in their hands...... This is what Ning Yu is very envious of at the moment, and if he gets his hands on Japan's gold through trade, it will naturally be a very good thing.

Thinking of this, Ning Yu had a smile on his face, "Yes, Ning Shangshu is very thoughtful, but we have to take a long-term view, how can we just be enough for daily trade?" If you can control Japan's economy....... Hehe, then our strategy towards Japan is more than half completed. ”

Taking control of the Japanese economy? Everyone was shocked by Ning Yu's words, they didn't expect Ning Yu's ambition to be so big...... However, the thought of the benefits of controlling the Japanese economy made everyone secretly swallow a few mouthfuls of saliva.

A trace of surprise flashed on the face of Cui Wancai, the deputy assistant of the cabinet, and he said softly: "Your Majesty, if you make this policy, is it related to our currency?" ”

"Hehe, that's right, my idea is to take the coinage rights of Japan and make the Central Bank of Dachu also the central bank of Japan, so I plan to arrange for an envoy to visit the shogunate."

A sneer flashed on Ning Yu's face, to deal with the greedy Japanese, you have to learn to fish, how can you catch this big fish if you don't put some bait?

"Your Majesty, how should the matter of the Satsuma Domain be handled?"

Now it is Shoufu Ning Zhongjing who is speaking, and he has always been angry about the Japanese Satsuma Domain's infringement of the majesty of the Celestial Empire, so he specifically mentioned such a sentence.

"The affairs of the Satsuma Domain should be distinguished from the shogunate, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs ordered that the Satsuma Domain hand over the culprits who had invaded the Ryukyus, and release the Ryukyu king to return to the country, and at the same time, the corresponding losses of the Ryukyu Kingdom and our Great Chu should be compensated."

Ning Yu snorted lightly and made a request that was clearly impossible to achieve, but this was also what Ning Yu wanted, and after Satsuma objected, there would be enough reason to send troops to Kyushu Island and nail a nail in Japan.

"But what if the emperor and the shogunate insist on protecting the Satsuma Domain?"

"Don't pay attention to the emperor's intentions, if the shogunate insists on protecting the Satsuma Domain, then call them and see if they choose to cooperate with my Dachu or choose to be my Dachu's enemy."

Ning Yu had a smile on his face, "I believe Tokugawa Yoshimune will make a rational choice. ”

..........

The Japanese shogunate envoy Matsudaira Tsunayoshi never saw Ning Yu again, but in contact with Song Enming, the secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he got another good news, that is, when they returned, Ning Zhonghai, the secretary of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, would return to Japan as a prince.

Lose in hake, but gain in herring. This is good news that is exciting for Matsudaira Tsunayoshi, and it is also good news that he can deal with Shogun Tokugawa Yoshimune.

Matsudaira Tsunayoshi naturally did not mean to disapprove, but only politely proposed that he could send someone back to Japan to inform the general first, so that when Ning Zhonghai visited, he could prepare relevant etiquette and entertainment matters in advance.

At the same time, another not-so-good news was passed on to Matsudaira Tsunyoshi, that is, the emperor's request to the Satsuma domain.

In the first three requirements of Matsudaira Tsunayoshi and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there is still a sense of maintenance for the Satsuma Domain, although this is not for the sake of the Satsuma Domain, but for the sake of the general himself - but at the moment, Ning Chu, while throwing down an important bait, also gave his own purpose, that is, the Satsuma Domain.

Looking at Song Enming, who was righteous and stern, Matsudaira Tsunayoshi was stunned for a moment, and then regained his smile and said humbly: "The Satsuma Domain will never become an obstacle to the friendship between the two countries, and the foreign minister will know the great things with the shogun." ”

Song Enming nodded lightly and said with a smile: "Please also ask the envoy to tell the general the meaning of His Majesty the Emperor, my Heavenly Dynasty will naturally not do such a thing as breaking the letter and breaking the promise, and please also seriously consider the sincerity of Your Majesty my court." ”

Matsudaira Tsunayoshi couldn't help but show a wry smile on his face, if he was a general, everything would naturally be easy to say, exchanging a Satsuma domain for the right to trade with Ning Chu was a deal that could be done. But at the moment, the matter is too important for the general to decide.

"Please also rest assured that the foreign minister will do his best to facilitate this matter."

After this secret talk, the Japanese shogunate mission naturally got what it wanted, and although the emperor's mission was received by Ning Yu, it did not talk about anything substantial, but only got a few promises from Ning Yu that were not light, such as ensuring the status of the emperor and related treatment, but there was no further details.

For the Emperor's Mission, it is naturally a little unwilling, but he also understands that the current situation can only go so far, and Matsudaira Tsunayoshi is a little vigilant in his heart after knowing what is going on - he is worried that the Shogun will not be able to agree to the promise, and it is likely that the Emperor will agree, and then the matter will be troublesome, so he must work hard to promote this matter.

In late October, the Japanese emperor and the envoys of the shogunate chose to return to China, and together with them were the envoys of the Great Chu headed by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce Shangshu Ning Zhonghai, which also included relevant officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Central Bank, and there were dozens of people in the line.

For the mission that was about to go away, Ning Yu chose to send it off for the first time, although many ministers expressed their opposition, after all, it was only an envoy to a small country, so why should it be polite? But Ning Yu still chose to send him off, not for Japan, but for the sake of these departing envoys.

In front of the slightly empty Nanjing wharf, Ning Yu looked at the energetic members of the mission, but there was a smile of emotion on his face.

"You are all my Great Chu's courtiers, even if you go to another country, you are also my Da Chu's courtiers, if anyone wants to be unfavorable to you, you must first ask about my Great Chu's fleet and army!"

"Your Majesty's kindness, the ministers will not give up, and there is no way to repay it."

Looking at everyone's touched looks, Ning Yu said softly: "Actually, I won't hide it from you, if I hadn't become the emperor, this envoy might not have been your turn...... That's it, this trip is far away from the homeland, and I hope that Zhuqing will have a smooth journey. ”

"Your Majesty, the ministers will never live up to the high expectations."

The military band on the side of the dock soon played military music, and hundreds of children chanted military songs loudly.

You don't see, the end of the Han army, the weak crown is the captive, please Changying,

You don't see, Ban Dingyuan, the peerless light cavalry urges the battle clouds!

The boy should be in serious danger, how can he let the Confucian crown miss this life?

.......

Hundreds of people reciting in unison soon became a picture of thousands of people reciting on the dock, and many people even sang with tears in their eyes, this military song really reminded them too much, and there are many things in it that they will remember for a lifetime.

From this day on, whenever there was an envoy to another country, the Ningchu mission would recite the military song on the dock, forming a rule that was not a rule.

Because this is what Ning Yu requested, in his opinion, the envoys of the diplomatic corps are no less than the soldiers going on the expedition, because they are fighting on another battlefield, but it is also a battlefield, and they are also soldiers.

After sending the Japanese envoys, Ning Yu was not very interested in the envoys of Annan, not that Annan's interests were too small, but that it was really not time, if he entered the Indochina Peninsula strongly at this time, it would arouse the vigilance of those large and small forces, so it was the right way to slow down.

For the envoys of the Li Dynasty and the Ruan Dynasty, in the past month or so, they have visited the entire Nanjing area, and they have a feeling of being a little happy, but as for any state affairs and the like, they have forgotten about it.

Soon, the director of the South Asia Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs met with the envoys of the Lê Dynasty and the Nguyen Thi respectively, and the information obtained was basically the same, and both sides hoped to unite China and North Korea, and then deal with each other to share the interests together.

This did not surprise Ning Yu, and he didn't want to see the envoys on both sides at the moment, but just asked the director of the South Asia Department to reach a trade agreement with the two sides, that is, Ning Chu would open up a field at the border, and both sides could come to trade, and there must be no armed struggle in the trade process, otherwise Ning Chu would directly cancel the trade qualification of the disputing party.

In fact, it is a good thing for them to be able to reach a secret strategic agreement, but if they can't reach it, it is enough to have a mutual trade field.