Chapter 695: The Deterrent Power of the Ming Empire

Are the civil and military courtiers of the Ming Dynasty all cowardly? Don't you dare to resist when the knife holder is on your neck? This is really not necessarily, especially those big families, the background is still very deep. ∈If ♀ you look at history, after defeating Sun Chuanting, Li Zicheng easily conquered the city all the way, and there were very few Wenchen Wuxun who really resisted, and it seems that these people are really very cowardly.

Actually? These people have one characteristic, that is, a large family, they are all propertied people. People who have families and businesses have always dared to rise up in history, and there have always been very few people. The reason is that they have property, and if they are proletarians, they don't care so much about you, and they don't rebel and starve to death.

In general, it is these people who lack the courage to break the pots and jars and not let them out. Another is the characteristics of the late Ming Dynasty, on the one hand, Wenchen has the actual power, let alone hope for Xiucai to rebel, they have never had much courage to be willing to die. On the other hand, after Yingzong, Wuxun was raised as a pig, and his blood had long been worn out.

This is also a reason why in the process of this clean government storm, once Chen Xie put on a tough attitude to support Zhu Cihong, the Minister of Civil and Military Affairs immediately coaxed it. Another reason is that this time the storm of clean government is not very large. is still within the scope of Wencheng Wuxun's bearing, to put it bluntly, it is a matter of losing the pawn and protecting the car.

When the emperor's will is unshakable, the cooperation between the civil and military forces immediately divides, and even the civil and military officials have carried out rapid differentiation, from the initial joint resistance, quickly moved towards putting into it, and getting a piece of the pie. On the surface, this was an anti-corruption storm and the re-establishment of the system, but in fact, in the later period, with the acquiescence of Zhu Cihong. It has evolved into a political feast and a self-improvement of the system.

Objectively, this anti-corruption storm, which lasted for nearly a year, did promote the regularization of the Ming Dynasty government's tax system. This is also in line with the traditional concept of the Chinese, the problem is corrupt officials, and the emperor is good. This concept has been continued.

As the initiator of this storm. Chen Xie did not actually participate in the past, except for an attitude, everything else was operated by Zhu Cihong, the little emperor. This can be regarded as a test after the little emperor ascended the throne, although the result was a great opportunity for the imperial power to stabilize and grow, but Chen Xie did not regret doing so. As far as the current situation of the Ming Dynasty is concerned, excessive restrictions on imperial power and vassal power are not too good phenomena.

When the eyes of the whole world were focused on this storm, Jiangnan was unexpectedly calm. The city of Nanjing was divided into several districts, and compulsory education schools were built one after another. After the injection of teachers. In the early autumn, the primary schools in Nanjing opened first, and Songjiang Prefecture acted more efficiently, and a new type of compulsory primary school was opened in every township.

At present, compulsory education is a three-year system, and after graduation, a small number of people can enter the intermediate school in the county seat, and more people go out into society after graduation and take on the responsibility of earning money to support their families as early as possible. Chen Xie did not attend the opening ceremonies of this series of schools. Instead, they come quietly and go quietly. Silently watching the changes of this era. As a strong promoter of compulsory education, Chen Xie hopes to see the consciousness of this era. Of course, the first person in human society to dare to eat crabs is limited to one. Consciousness is often a process from quantitative change to qualitative change, and the difference is the speed and slowness of this process. So, motivation becomes very important. Chen Xie plays the role of this motivation, and he is not reasonable.

In the spring of the fifth year of Jianxin, the fleet on the vast sea looked very large, but in fact, compared to the sea, it was pitiful.

Chen Xie standing on the foredeck. Blowing the early spring sea breeze, silently looking ahead, no one knew what he was thinking. On this voyage, the destination was Lushun Bay in Liaodong. There were only a few people on the dock to see him off, except for Nadeem, a new arms dealer and banker, and Knight, a representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

After watching the fleet go away, Knight turned to look at Nadeem, bowed slightly, and said, "It seems that we are going to have a good talk again." ”

Nadim returned the salute and said with a smile: "Your Excellency's luck is good, there happens to be a batch of decommissioned naval guns from the navy, eighty percent new, I think it is worth talking about." Knight shrugged helplessly: "I can believe that these naval guns are all retired equipment." ”

There's no doubt that Knight doesn't believe this guy's nonsense, but what about actually? This time Nadim was telling the truth, because this batch of naval guns, which was transported from Liaodong, was really a retired 12-pounder rifled gun. So, what's the problem? Nadim simply did not know why eighty percent of the new naval guns would be decommissioned, which was really unclear.

Knight, who had already purchased naval guns once, followed Nadeem's carriage to the gate of a huge courtyard near the barracks. The huge iron door rumbled open, and the two men were led into the warehouse by an officer, and when they opened the door of a warehouse, they saw the cannons covered with canvas inside.

"I can only say that my motherland is lucky, because these naval guns are used by the navy, the price can be discounted a little." Nadim lifted the canvas and made a gesture of please. After a closer look, Nat's mind could no longer be described as shocked. Because these cannons, it is true that they are not new, although they are very well maintained.

"Why?" Nate felt that something had come to mind, and asked. Nadim shrugged and said, "I don't know, do you think I'm qualified to intervene in the secrets of the highest level of the Ming Dynasty's military realm?" ”

"I understand, for Da Ming, we are all outsiders." Nadim doesn't think that way, he thinks that you are an outsider. I'm just too low to reach it.

"It's a total of five hundred cannons, which is the number allowed by the master. That's it, don't say so much more. The only guarantee I can be that I will keep you informed as soon as there is a replacement cannon in the future. ”

Three hours later, in a private house in Huating New District. Nadim stood on the steps of the main entrance of the courtyard, looking condescendingly at James, the British secret envoy wearing a European high-barrel hat.

After a brief greeting, Nadim's expression was arrogant, and he made a gesture of please: "Friend, I have to remind you that it is very unrealistic to ask to meet a cabinet minister of the Ming Dynasty, unless you can represent the British royal family." The Ming Dynasty is a monarchy, and they will not accept representatives from a government that is revolutionary. ”

James did not speak immediately, but as he entered, he sat down in his chair before he spoke: "Your Excellency, may I understand that this is a provocation to the British?" Nadim shrugged his shoulders and spread his hands: "It doesn't matter if you have to understand it this way, but I want to remind you that this is Da Ming." I would also like to remind you that my home country is the Netherlands. ”

"So, I shouldn't be in front of you?" James said with anger in his tone, this time he came to Daming, he first looked for the military of Xinghai City, hoping to purchase arms. The last time a part of the arms purchased from the Ming Dynasty played a huge role against Ireland. The high-quality arms of the Ming Empire fully reflect the power of transcending the times.

It's a pity that James's trip to Asia was very bumpy, and Xinghai City didn't talk to him at all, and sent him directly to Huating. Unexpectedly, when I arrived at Huating, I was brought to meet a Dutchman. James felt that he had been tricked by the Ming people.

"I think you misunderstood, business is business, and the motherland is the motherland." Nadim threw out a sentence lightly, and James, who had already stood up and was about to leave in anger, immediately stopped his figure, sat down and took a deep look at Nadim and said, "Conditions? ”

"Smart, there are not many conditions, first, the price will rise slightly, second, I only accept gold and silver, and third, I am not responsible for transportation." After Nadim finished speaking, James fell into deep thought, was speechless for a long time, and stood up silently: "I need to think about it, if I can, I would like to meet His Excellency the Cabinet Minister." ”

"It's okay to think about it, you have plenty of time. However, don't think about it when you meet Chen Gebu, in his mind, you are all chaotic ministers and thieves. Actually, I took a risk on this transaction, and I hope you understand. Nadim, who was doing business at both ends, really quickly entered the role. The Dutch have not yet sent out the goods, and the British have already begun to be contacted here.

As for the excuses of the British Revolution and the like, they are all the products of random attempts to embarrass the British in order to take advantage of the opportunity to raise prices.

"I heard that an envoy from the Netherlands is in contact with Daming in Huating. Is it convenient to reveal some inside information? James didn't ask in vain, and as he spoke, he had an extra bag in his hand and gently placed it on the table. Nadim was not polite at all, showed a greedy expression without care, reached out and picked up the bag, opened it and took a look at the golden coins inside, and then smiled after putting away the bag: "Even if I tell you the truth, I advise you not to fight the idea of this batch of arms." ”

"Why?" James showed a surprised expression, this guy can sell his soul for gold, how could he naively think that the British Navy, which was born as a pirate, would let go of such a large amount of munitions. Nadim smiled: "It's very simple, because of the huge amount of arms transactions this time, the Kingdom of the Netherlands officially asked the Ming Empire Navy to rent warships to escort the ship. To this end, the Ming Navy will form an escort fleet to go to Europe to protect this batch of munitions and send them to the Dutch. ”

"A fleet? A long expedition to Europe? Hehe, I see. James stood up, picked up his hat to take his leave, and Nadim said lightly behind him: "The cabinet minister of the Ming Dynasty said that if this fleet is attacked by pirates of any kind at sea, it will be counted on the head of the British. At that time, Britain will be ready to bear the wrath of the Ming Empire. (To be continued......) R527