The subtle changes in Cixi's expression fell on the eyes of Guan Zhuofan, who was sitting opposite, and he struck while the iron was hot and said: "Chen Gong has read the "Records of the Holy Ancestor", and remembers that the Emperor of the Holy Ancestor had such an edict about the opening of the sea trade——"

Speaking of this, he paused slightly and looked at Cixi.

"You say."

"Yes."

Guan Zhuofan responded, muttering in his heart: When listening to people reciting the "Records of the Holy Ancestors", you should "stand up" - who made this rumor? The royal sister doesn't mean anything at all!

He cleared his throat a little and said: "'Xiang Ling opened the sea trade, which is said to be beneficial to the people's livelihood in the border sea of Fujian and Guangdong. If these two provinces are full of civil use, goods and goods are circulated, and people's livelihood is beneficial, the provinces will be beneficial. And going to sea for trade, it is not possible for the poor, rich businessmen, whether there is a relocation, and their taxes are levied lightly, so as not to burden the people, and they can be paid for the soldiers of Fujian and Guangdong, so as not to transfer the labor of the provinces in the hinterland. The provinces in the hinterland had a surplus of money and grain, and the small people were fed, so they ordered the sea to trade. ’”

Cixi listened attentively, and after Guan Zhuofan closed her mouth, she sighed softly and said: "Today, not to mention the two provinces of Fujian and Guangdong, half of the country will have to rely on customs taxes to support - if this income is suddenly lost, I really don't know how to live this day!" The Holy Grandfather is truly a wise man! ”

"Yes." Guan Zhuofan said, "However, in the fifty-sixth year of Kangxi, the Nanyang sea ban was reinstated, and before long, the coastal boundaries were tired and depressed, and thieves swarmed. ”

Cixi was stunned and said, "Why is that? ”

"After the ban was lifted," Guan Zhuofan said, "there were as many as 1,000 people who went to sea to trade every year, and many of these people stayed in Nanyang. Came back. But five or six out of ten. Some people think. Nanyang has always been the 'abyss of pirates', these people who stayed overseas, abandoned the country of their ancestors, will have ill intentions, can not be unguarded, the holy ancestors believed their words, so issued an edict, heavy sea ban. ”

Cixi frowned slightly. Showing a contemplative look.

After a moment, she shook her head and said in a categorical tone, "That's not right! ”

After a pause, he continued: "You can't say that people are 'ill-intentioned' just because they have left their hometown to make a living! For example, there are many people in the Xuan Army, who were born in the United States as 'Chinese workers' -- the United States, which is much farther than Nanyang! These people are forced to make ends meet. Uprooted from home, drifting across the ocean. However, once there is something in the country, it will generally respond to every call! It shows that the heart of loyalty is still there, and it is not necessarily much less than the people who stay in the country! ”

Guan Zhuofan secretly cheered in his heart!

The example of Xuan Jun's recruitment of Chinese workers in the United States was originally intended to be used by him to "enlighten" the royal sister, but he didn't expect the royal sister to be "self-taught" - this sister's talent is really amazing!

"It's really Shengming, but it's the Queen Mother!"

Guan Zhuofan's eulogy was sincere, Cixi could naturally hear it, she was proud in her heart, and said: "You just said that reiterating the sea ban was a matter of Kangxi's fifty-six years? ”

"Yes."

"Alas, the Holy Grandfather is old, and it is inevitable that he will ......"

Speaking of this, Cixi felt that something was wrong, pursed her lips and smiled, and stopped.

Guan Zhuofan made up for her: "Yes, Emperor Shengzuren is high in the Spring and Autumn Period, and it is inevitable that his thoughts are not quite the same as those in his prime." ”

Cixi glanced at him and chuckled in a low voice: "Okay, you dare to say that the Holy Ancestor is confused, so bold!" ”

As he spoke, he stretched out a snow-white slender foot and touched Guan Zhuofan's knee lightly.

Guan Zhuofan's blood rushed up, leaned down, and copied the snowy and soft jade foot in his hand, with a slight force, Cixi exclaimed, and for a while, his bones were soft and weak.

"Let go!"

Reacting to this, Cixi let out a low cry and instinctively pulled back. Guan Zhuofan was unprepared, and was actually pulled back by her.

Guan Zhuofan was about to pounce, Cixi had already put both slender feet into the nightgown, and at the same time raised a tender finger to Guan Zhuofan to make an immortal direction: "Don't talk about business, just come up!" ”

This sentence choked Guan Zhuofan, he hesitated for a while, and finally sat back.

The blush on the face of the Queen Mother has not faded, but the corners of her eyes and mouth are already full of smiles, only to hear her whisper: "Look I can't cure you!" ”

Seeing that his words made the man restless again, he hurriedly said: "Kangxi's fifty-six years of sea ban, has it been continued?" ”

Guan Zhuofan was stunned for a moment, and finally returned his attention to "business", and said: "It's not -- about ten years later, that is, in the fifth year of Yongzheng, the sea ban will be reopened. However, such a provision was added: Those who go abroad to trade must return to their home country within three years, otherwise they will not be allowed to return to their hometowns. ”

"Well, I still can't rest assured."

"Yes." Guan Zhuofan said, "In the 22nd year of Qianlong, the imperial court once again imposed a ban on the sea, and this time, the door was closed very tightly, leaving only a crack - only one port of trade in Guangzhou was allowed to-"

After a pause, he said in a deep voice: "Until the twentieth year of Daoguang, the British opened our door with cannons. ”

The monarch and the ministers were silent for a moment.

After a long while, Cixi broke the silence and said, "You have come full circle, and you have said such a big thing, -- I know what you mean. ”

Guan Zhuofan stared at the woman's clear eyes: "Please admonish the Queen Mother." ”

"This sea ban," said Cixi, "cut off people's livelihoods, force good people to become thieves, and let go of a great deal of wealth in vain -- either to the small ones in vain, or to throw it into the ocean!" Besides-"

After a pause, Cixi said calmly: "I remember you said a sentence called 'open your eyes and see the world' - well, this sea ban is like closing a door, closing a window, and you can't see the 'world' outside!" ”

"The real saint is no more than the Queen Mother!"

Guan Zhuofan's eyes lit up, he was really excited: this sister's understanding, I didn't say anything!

"We China," Guan Zhuofan said, "since the Three Emperors and the Five Emperors, we have always opened our eyes to the outside world!" Don't talk about it far away, let's just talk about Han Wu and Zhang Qian, that's really indomitable, and you have to go out and see it clearly! Otherwise, how can today's Shenzhou be mixed, and the mountains and rivers are splendid? ”

"However, since Ming Taizu forbade the sea, the Chinese's eyelids drooped, and they turned around, turned their backs to the outside world, and only stared at their own acres and three points of land!"

"If the world outside is really only our vassals, that's fine—it's a pity it's not! The world is wide and there are many countries that we have never heard of or seen! If people are like us, they also droop their eyelids, turn around, and only care about their own one-third of an acre of land - that's it, but unfortunately, it's not! ”

"The Taixi Kingdoms, it was when Ming Taizu forbade the sea that his eyes were fixed on ...... The world in the east, thinking that the east of the ocean, is full of gold and wealth - hehe, the actual situation, it is not much different. Therefore, there is the ambitious and fierce who is not afraid of death, but he drove a flat boat, fought thousands of miles in the angry waves, one after another, and went east. ”

"The royal family of Taixi not only did not think that this group of people was 'ill-intentioned,' but also paid for the ship and gave great help -- otherwise, the cost of sailing on the ocean would be very high, and it would not be possible to sustain it by private individuals alone."

Cixi's eyes jumped.

"During this period, I don't know how many boats capsized and how many people died? Year after year, they finally opened up the routes between the East and the West! ”

Guan Zhuofan said this in one breath and stopped, intending to ask Cixi to "digest and digest".

Cixi's eyes were already blazing when she heard it, she groaned slightly, and said: "Taixi's situation is very similar to our Han Wu and Zhang Qian!" ”

This "looks" well!

"Queen Mother Shengming!" Guan Zhuofan said, "Just like Han Wu and Zhang Qian, the west leads to the south, which started from this, and finally achieves the foundation of China's eternal eternity; The Taixi countries also started from opening up the routes of the East and the West, and then attacked from all sides, with strong ships and sharp guns, and finally dominated the world from tens of thousands of miles away! ”

"All...... Ball? ”

Guan Zhuofan spoke eloquently and blurted out that the word "global" first entered the ears of the royal sister, and it sounded quite discordant.

Guan Zhuofan was slightly stunned, and hurriedly said: "Yes, this, Westerners think that the earth is a round ball, called 'earth' - uh, this, the Queen Mother knows." 'Global', which means 'world' or 'nations'. ”

Cixi muttered in her heart: Is the earth really round?

Whether the earth is square or round, it is not appropriate to discuss it now, otherwise it will divert attention and blur the focus.

Guan Zhuofan hurriedly said: "The Taixi countries, over the past few hundred years, have become more and more prosperous, conquering the east and west, expanding their territory, and their territory is getting bigger and bigger. ”

"It's all caused by closing the doors and windows, covering my eyes, and not being able to see or hear anything!"

*(To be continued......) R1292