Chapter 26: The Discussion of War and Peace II

"With the current financial and material resources of the imperial court, it is impossible to start a war with the Dongyu at all, and there is even an advantage to making peace with the Dongyu." Zhang Zhen said: "It's the salt field." The battle of Wuxing, the country lost two Huai, the two Huai salt fields are all enemies, Hunan, the price of salt soared, so that it is a pound of 100 wen, even so, as long as it climbs, there is no decline. Salt is not only a source of national wealth, but also an indispensable thing for the people in their daily lives. And the salt affairs of the provinces could not be supported for a while, so they had to buy it from Dongyu. ”

"All that?" Zhang Xuan was taken aback.

Zhang Xuan didn't pay much attention to salt affairs before, and it was only after Liangguang took charge that he knew the importance of salt affairs.

In the Ming Dynasty, the salt tax was always the second largest fiscal revenue after the land tax. And the two Huai salt taxes are the best in the world. Generally speaking, although the coastal provinces have salt affairs, from Shandong to Guangdong, the majority of salt production is still in Lianghuai. At that time, there were strict regulations on the distribution of salt in various parts of the country. Two Huai salt distribution in Nanzhili, Henan, Huguang, Jiangxi.

Of course, distribution areas and provinces do not exactly coincide. But it's not bad.

With the loss of the Lianghuai salt area, Lianghu, Jiangxi, and part of Nanzhili are short of salt, while the salt output of Guangdong, Fujian, and Zhejiang provinces is not too large. This is related to environmental factors, under normal circumstances, it is only to supply the province, and there are more to support some other places, but the original output is not much, even if the order is to expand production, with the efficiency of this era, it will take a while from Zhang Xuan's order to expand production below.

What makes Zhang Xuan even more uncertain, can the salt farms in Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong provinces supply so much sea salt?

I don't want to, I don't know, I feel that Zhang Xuan has a big head when I think about it.

Salt is something that is never considered very important in the eyes of later generations, but if you don't eat salt. I can't do the hard work at all.

"Your Majesty, the minister also just knew." Zhang Zhen said: "However, in Xijing and Nanjing, there is still some salt, but it is possible to support military supplies. However, it may not be possible to support the people. Therefore, in the opinion of the ministers, they negotiated peace with the East and switched the mutual market, so that the people got salt, and the government could also set up cards to collect taxes, which should be a big end. ”

Zhang Xuan understood that if it was really according to Zhang Qian's words, this tariff would definitely be a large amount of silver.

At the beginning, Zhang Xuan thought that as long as the customs was opened, the wealth would roll in, but after a period of time, Zhang Xuan had to admit one thing, that is, the maritime trade in the seventeenth century and the maritime trade in the nineteenth century were two different states.

At the end of the Qing Dynasty, when the customs were controlled by the British, they could still earn tens of millions of taels of silver, which became the bulk of state funds. But it is not possible in this era, because no matter how much Western civilization is admired, and in this era, the share of East Asian maritime trade is far less than the internal trading volume of the Ming Dynasty.

In other words, China itself is the largest consumer market.

It's not that maritime trade has no future, but that maritime trade has a future, but in reality, it is not as large as China's economy.

If this is done, it will be expected to collect several million taels a year. But it is not without harm, even if the Xia Dynasty gets benefits in such a transaction, but the benefits that Donglu gets will only be greater, Zhang Xuan thought with his toes, and knew that Donglu would definitely exchange salt for grain.

Zhang Xuan didn't want to negotiate peace with Dongyu, but he couldn't help but waver in his heart.

"Your Majesty." Cao Zongyu said: "When the East captives go south to the south of the Yangtze River, the world is silent about it, but His Majesty holds high the banner of righteousness, and it is decided by a war, which is today." However, the soldiers of the world swear allegiance to Your Majesty, so what? It is the hatred of the Han and the distinction of Huayi. ”

"The Han people in the world would rather follow His Majesty to die on the battlefield than capture cattle and horses for the East."

"Today, Your Majesty is negotiating peace with the Eastern Prisoners, and I am afraid that I will lose the hope of the world."

When Zhang Xuan heard this, he was a little ashamed in his heart and didn't dare to speak out. He knew very well that this set was what he said to Cao Zongyu at the beginning.

Righteousness is a very strange thing, it is useful to say that it is useful, and it is quite useless to say that it is useless. But as the imperial court, even if it is a torii, it must be erected. Therefore, there is the slogan of the Qing court, "Avenge the Ming." ”

Of course, putting forward slogans is also a kind of political wisdom.

The slogan that Zhang Xuan pressed on himself is Huayi's distinction.

Use Huayi's distinction to win people's hearts. It was also the slogan of Zhang Xuan that when Dongyu went south, so many literati came to Zhang Xuan. To negotiate peace with the East Prisoner, I am afraid that it is a self-defeating mouth. However, practical factors made Zhang Xuan have to consider whether to ease relations with Dongyu.

"King Tang's words are wrong." Zhang said: "Now it's just an expedient measure." ”

Cao Zongyu sneered and said: "Justice is in the hearts of the people, and heaven and man can learn from it. Zhang Xiang thought it was an expedient measure, but he didn't know if it was a peaceful policy for some people. ”

The two only said a few words, and then stopped talking. After all, the two of them are big guys, and the generals and civil officials below have spoken, arguing over this issue.

According to Zhang Xuan's analysis, in general, the military generals are the main battle, and the civil officials are in charge of peace. Military generals exalt the name of righteousness, while civilian officials exalt practical problems.

Zhang Xuan also knew that what the two sides said may not be so high-sounding. For many people, righteousness is very important and illusory. The righteousness supported by strength is the righteousness, and the righteousness without the support of strength is empty talk.

This is the reason why Zhang Xuan is secretly inclined to negotiate with him.

Because the economic volume of the south is above that of the north, and the recovery speed is also above that of the north, and now both sides cannot move, but Zhang Xuan is sure that

The person who will take the initiative to attack in the future will inevitably be the Xia Dynasty, so this righteous name should not be lost now.

Of course, the real problem still has to be solved.

There are many problems to be solved between Qingxia and Xia, not only the salt side, but in comparison, the salt is the biggest thing.

The civilian officials themselves are not averse to war, but they do not want to fight uncertain wars. But where is the certainty of victory in a war? Naturally, he had to do his best to stop the unreliable decision of the generals.

For a while, there was a lot of discussion.

Seeing that the quarrel did not come to a result, Zhang Xuan said, "Okay, what does the envoy of the East Captivate mean?" ”

Wen Anzhi immediately said: "The minister has already asked, but Li Wen didn't speak, saying that he would only say it when he saw His Majesty." ”

Zhang Xuan said: "Since he wants to see me, let him come." ”

"Yes." Li Guofu bowed his head and agreed. Then he shouted in a loud voice: "Xuan Manchu Qing envoy to meet you." ”

"Xuan Manchu envoys to meet you."

"Xuan Manchu envoys to meet you."

The sound was passed on layer by layer.

In any case, the Eastern Capture is a great power that can match Great Xia, even if you don't want to negotiate peace, you have to give the envoy of the Eastern Capture the respect that it deserves. Zhang Xuan may not think so, but the people below are unwilling to show Li Wen a joke in such diplomatic etiquette.

Therefore, from the gate of the palace to the main hall of the meeting, there are more than 1,000 armor soldiers standing along the way, all of them are brightly armored, sharp swords and guns, these people are not fancy shows, but are all elite soldiers selected from various departments, and they must be tall and physique.

Although the number of people is small, they gather and rush the formation of the Eight Banners of the Qing Army, and the Eight Banners may not be able to stop it.

Under such circumstances, Li Wen felt an awe-inspiring murderous aura.

However, Li Wen can be regarded as having seen a big scene, and secretly said in her heart: "Xia is really a strong country, and it should not be underestimated." But there was no expression on his face, there was no change at all, he didn't seem to see everything in front of him, wearing a Qing Dynasty official uniform, walking with a steady pace, little by little on the right path of the Nanjing Palace.

Many places of the Nanjing Imperial Palace are dilapidated, although they are well renovated, but compared with the Beijing Imperial Palace, it is more than one grade worse, but under this solemn occasion, these dilapidated traces are more likely to have a sense of history.

"Foreign Minister Li Wen, a member of the Pedestrian Division of the Great Qing Rite Department, greets His Majesty the Emperor of Great Xia." Li Wen said without any arrogance and rules.

Zhang Xuan's gaze swept over Li Wen, but there was a trace of pity in his heart.

Li Wen is dignified and can be described as a young talent, but when she thinks of the money rat tail on her head, Zhang Xuan feels a little unbearable, and she has a feeling that she is a beautiful woman and a thief.