Zhenwu glanced at everyone present one by one, still didn't say a word, he had long expected that changing the existing relationship between the clan and the vassal would be opposed by everyone, but he didn't expect the opposition to be so strong, the old thirteen supported it because he wanted to rely on the navy to go on the expedition, the old eight should be to make a stand, Chen Yuanlong's attitude was vague, and the rest were all opposed, and only one Zhang Pengxi was left silent, and it seemed that most of them did not approve.

Seeing that Zhenwu was silent, Zhang Pengxi knew that Zhenwu was waiting for him to make a statement, and after a slight sigh, he pondered and said: "Your Majesty, since the Qin and Han dynasties, the successive dynasties of the Central Plains have implemented the suzerain's tributary system, and the treatment of vassals is based on the purpose of the king not to govern Yidi, those who come do not refuse, and those who go do not chase. It is hoped that the four provinces will be smooth and the world will be peaceful, so as to form a prosperous situation in which all countries come to the dynasty and all directions come to the ceremony.

For a number of vassals, the successive suzerains are more defensive than offensive, even if they are attacking, they are also attacking and defending, not for the purpose of occupation and plunder, and they have always been for foreign wars, mostly to consume teachers and salaries, and to work the people and lose money, which not only destroys production but also leads to the emptiness of the treasury.

Han Wu, Tang Zong also repeatedly raised their prestige outside the territory, but after the victory is also the class division back to the dynasty, the loss of the army in exchange for the annexation and submission of the country outside the territory, in addition to the reputation, in the country has no real benefit, in view of this, the inner peace of China, the outer Fu Siyi, it was respected by the emperors of the past dynasties. ”

As soon as the words fell, Ma Qi followed the words, and then said: "Huaxia is inside, and it is unbreakable since the Han Dynasty. Siyi stuck to the frontier, Huaxia pacified Siyi, Siyi paid tribute to Huaxia, and Huaxia rewarded Siyi. It's a matter of course. ”

Hearing this, the old thirteen Yinxiang said disapprerovitically: "Huairou Yuanren, it doesn't matter if you are thick and thin, or if you reward and appease, it's just a nice thing to say, but in fact, it's just spending money to buy peace." ”

"Yinxiang's words can be described as hitting the nail on the head." Zhenwu, who had not been silent, took it at this time, and said eloquently: "Since the Qin and Han dynasties." There is no shortage of male lords, why do they not contradict the tributary system of the nominal suzerain? The founding of the previous dynasties was all strong and powerful, so why did they turn a blind eye to the surrounding vassals? The root cause is a limitation! The limits of ideas! The limits of vision!

Since ancient times, the territory of the world has been limited to the Central Plains and the southeast, and everything else is regarded as barbarian and disdainful. It is based on this that the founding kings of the previous dynasties defended the land and the people after conquering the world, and worked in politics and military. Economically, culturally, they are all on the defensive.

As Zhang Pengxi said, the war against the surrounding barbarians, the gains outweigh the losses, not because they can't include the four Yi in the territory, but unwillingly, even if the battle is won, it is also the class teacher to return to the dynasty, only to get a false name of submission, the reason is the extreme contempt for the four Yi. Because the barbarians are backward and included in the territory, it is not easy to educate, it is not easy to govern, and the gains outweigh the losses!

The limitation of vision has always been. They all thought that the Central Plains was the center of the world and the center of civilization, but with the arrival of European merchants, with the arrival of European missionaries, and with the discovery of the United States and Australia, we knew how big the world was. ”

After a slight pause, he slowed down his tone and said slowly: "I am now telling you very clearly that this world is divided into three major parts, one is the East, with my Qing Dynasty as the core, including many vassal states, and the other is the Western European countries, including Russia, which is the Christian world. Third, there was the Muslim world of Islam, sandwiched between the Qing Dynasty and Europe, including the Ottoman Empire, the Mughal Empire, the Safavid Empire, and the Arab Empire. As for the United States, Africa, or wild lands, it is not counted. …,

Nowadays, this pattern is divided into three parts of the world, our Qing Dynasty only lives in the East, not in the center of this world, the Chinese civilization we are proud of is not the center of civilization, the European civilization is not inferior to us, in astronomy, calendar, shipbuilding, navigation and other aspects are far beyond us.

In the eyes of Europeans, all vassal states are included in our Qing Empire, but what is the actual situation? The Qing Dynasty had no control over the vassal states along the coast, so how should the Qing respond to the invasion of European countries? Shut out these vassal states? Let them be invaded and plundered by the countries of Europe? Or send troops to help them resist the invasion of the Europeans? ”

The old thirteen Yinxiang lost no time in taking over the conversation and said: "Your Majesty, if the coastal vassals suffer from a European invasion, the Qing Dynasty must not stand idly by, otherwise there will be endless troubles in the future. ”

Zhenwu glanced at him and said in a deep voice: "The large-scale invasion of European countries is not alarmist, Spain, the Netherlands, Britain, France and other European powers have long coveted the wealth of our Qing Dynasty, but they are afraid of the strength of our Qing Dynasty, and they dare not act rashly, European missionaries continue to come to our Qing Dynasty, the Netherlands occupy Taiwan, and Spain occupies our Luzon, which is the best proof.

Once the European countries have figured out the actual relations between the Qing Dynasty and the coastal vassal states, they will inevitably invade the coastal vassal states on a large scale, and at that time, if they do not save them, they will have the worry of dying and their teeth will be cold, and if they are saved, they will mobilize the people and work hard for a vassal state that is only in vain, not to mention the opposition of the ministers of the DPRK and the central government, and the officers and men of the navy will also complain. ”

Hearing this, everyone present also understood what Zhenwu meant, he wanted to include the vassal states around the Qing Dynasty into the territory of the Qing Dynasty, integrate them into one, and compete with Europe and Muslims.

Lianjun Wang Yinxi, Chen Yuanlong, and Var Da were secretly complaining about the two Ministry of Rites, but in this way, the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Court of the Imperial Court were busy, not only the coastal vassal parliaments were in chaos, but even Tibet, Huijiang, Inner and Outer Mongolia, Gurkha, Kazakhstan, Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan, Kokand and other vassal states would also panic after hearing about it, but they were afraid that they would send envoys to Beijing to find out, and those who were not busy would turn over on their backs?

A group of ministers in the study room are worried, a sentence of three points of the world, Zhenwu's ambition is also revealed, the Qing Dynasty is afraid that there will be no peace in the future, the coastal vassal states are included in the territory of the Qing Dynasty, there will inevitably be wars, the Qing Dynasty has been peaceful for more than 20 years, is it going to be gunsmoke again? Besides, the annexation of vassal states is not a good reputation, why doesn't this master cherish feathers at all?

Although they are worried in their hearts, but several ministers in the study room dare not speak up, and several people know in their hearts that Zhenwu's worries are not groundless, the Qing Dynasty's Nanyang Fleet expedition to Europe, and now there is not the slightest news back, no one knows what the outcome will be, besides, in order to occupy Nanyang and Australia, it has long been fought with Spain and the Netherlands, and it is no longer good with European countries, and war is only a matter of time.

Seeing that everyone was silent, Zhenwu continued: "The Nanyang domains are vast and sparsely populated, the climate is suitable, the land is fertile, they are the natural granary, the output is twice that of the south of the Yangtze River, the Qing Dynasty wants to expand overseas, to develop the population, it is necessary to take the Nanyang, I might as well tell you clearly, I occupy the Nanyang, vigorously develop the Karopa, in order to plot the Nanyang domains." ”

Seeing that Zhenwu said that there was no room for maneuver, Lianjun Wang Yinxi hurriedly opened his mouth and said softly: "The reason why the previous dynasty disdained the coastal domains was that they failed to realize the value of the coastal domains, the Nanyang domains after hundreds of years of development, now it is comparable to the land of fish and rice in the south of the Yangtze River, although it is not as rich as the south of the Yangtze River, but the rice output is far greater than that of the south of the Yangtze River, and there are all kinds of timber needed for shipbuilding. If the Qing Dynasty doesn't take it, will it be cheap for all European countries? ”…,

Speaking of this, he bowed and said: "The minister implores the emperor to follow the rules of Tibet, Huijiang, Inner and Outer Mongolia, Gurkha, Kazakh and other vassal states along the coast, and send officials to assist in governance. ”

"Your Majesty." Zhang Pengxi hurriedly bowed and said: "This matter must not be rushed, it must be done slowly." ”

"There is no rush in this matter." Zhenwu nodded slightly, but he was secretly worried in his heart, he was in a hurry, he had to wait for the navy to free his hand, without the cooperation of the navy, everything was extravagant, seeing that everyone was no longer silent, he made a final decision, "The adjustment of the relationship between the clans and vassals of the coastal vassals starts from the beginning, the New Year's coin, the pledge, and the relatives are the same, the situation is special, the king and the general have to pledge, Yinxi, you are the prime minister of the Imperial Court, the Ministry of Rites, and you are responsible for this matter." ”

"Minister, honorable will." Yin Yu hurriedly bowed.

Zhenwu nodded, then looked at Chen Yuanlong, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, and said: "North Korea is the first coastal vassal to be attached, Chen Yuanlong, you first blow the wind to the envoys of North Korea, and let them ask for New Year's coins, pledges, and relatives, and set an example for all the vassals." ”

Is North Korea willing to do this example? Chen Yuanlong couldn't help but secretly complain, and hurriedly bowed: "Weichen respects." ”

Seeing that it was a foregone conclusion, everyone was not willing to make meaningless remarks, there were pros and cons to this matter, what was it, no one dared to make a conclusion easily, after all, the rice production in Nanyang was large, and the price was cheap, so there was no need to sweep Zhenwu's interest at this time.

Ma Qi bowed and said: "Your Majesty, this is a newly attached vassal, and it is the first case of accepting New Year's coins, pledges, and relatives. ”

Zhenwu glanced at Ma Qi, the title of Chen Nagong was completely his credit, Ma Qi meant that he wanted to publicize it with great fanfare, in order to enhance his prestige, this matter is not necessary, I don't know how much criticism to be provoked by changing the clan system, don't improve my prestige much, but become the target of the public, he groaned slightly, he said: "No need, but a small country, I don't have to promote him." (To be continued)