Chen Yuan had already thought deeply about going to the West, and after a little hesitation, he said: "Your Majesty, I think you have also seen the views of the common people, which shows that Your Majesty has made wise decisions, and the great benefits brought by going to the West can be seen by the people." ”

Zhu Di nodded: "Yes, I learned from Jinyiwei, you kid, you can really come up with ideas and take advantage of the people's voices." However, as soon as I mentioned going to the West, these so-called loyal ministers, as well as the rebels, kept going up to dissuade them, and they almost scolded me for being a faint king. Zhu Di was angry when he said it.

"Your Majesty, the prince's worries are not unreasonable, but that they only see the present, and do not see the long-term, the times are progressive, the world is developing, only by constantly understanding the world, discovering the world, we will make progress, will not be complacent, if you close the country, and finally sit in the well and watch the sky, passive everywhere, lagging behind others, and falling behind will be beaten."

This kind of thinking is obviously very novel, Zhu Di listened very carefully, and nodded from time to time: "You're right, I didn't even think of this layer." ”

"Your Majesty, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and the ministers are worried about the loss of labor and money, but if we trade, it will be different."

"Trade?"

"Exactly, Your Majesty, as we have always practiced in the trade of tea and horses."

"Oh?" Zhu Di became interested, leaned forward slightly, and listened attentively.

"As we all know, Mongolians drink goat's milk and eat mutton, rarely vegetarian, easy to indigestion, and rely on our tea to help digestion. Our grandfather was wise, and let the Ming exchange tea for Mongolian horses, one is to weaken them, and the other is to strengthen ourselves, indirectly achieving the goal of controlling the Mongols. ”

"Yes, this is exactly the purpose of the imperial examination to implement the tea and horse policy."

"Your Majesty, Lord Zheng went to the West five times before, how many countries and tribes have he experienced, how many treasures these countries and tribes have, how many crops, how many advanced technologies, as long as we trade, bring in advanced ones, and buy them, in this way, won't our country become stronger and stronger? The people are rich, the army is strong, and science and technology are advanced. Moreover, His Majesty also knows that those countries and tribes especially need our Ming tea, silk, porcelain and other items, and we sell these, how much income is that? What a huge financial source? Chen Yuan put forward the idea of trade.

Zhu Di's eyes lit up, these don't need Chen Yuan to explain, Zheng He had already said it before. Trade is not about working the people and losing money, but about accumulating wealth for the country, and what else do the princes and ministers have to say.

"However, if our silk tea is sold everywhere, it will not achieve the goal of controlling the Mongols, and they can go to other countries to buy it."

"Your Majesty, do you think that when we have this money and advanced technology and become strong, will we still be afraid of Mongolia?"

Zhu Di slapped his thigh: "Yes, yes, that's the reason, I almost fell into a misunderstanding, okay, just trade, but-"

Chen Yuan was curious: "Your Majesty, what is the difficulty?" ”

Zhu Di's face was a little embarrassed: "Alas, in the past few years, the expedition to Annan, the relief of the victims, the construction of the new capital, the treasury is indeed out of silver, the last time I came back from the Western Ocean, the treasure ships and artillery were damaged to varying degrees, and if we don't repair it, we can't sail away." ”

Zhu Di's problem is here, there is no money to repair the ship, and there is no money to decorate the artillery for the ship.

Chen Yuan smiled: "Your Majesty, does the minister have an idea?" ”

"Oh? Could it be that they continue to solicit donations from merchants? ”

Chen Yuan smiled bitterly, fundraising, this is a matter of great profits, Zhu Di is still addicted, but this is fishing with all his might, last time he improved the status of a businessman, what discount can he give this time? If not, it's scraping.

Chen Yuan shook his head: "The minister thinks that he can be flexible and issue treasury bonds." ”

"National debt?" Zhu Di was confused, staring at Chen Yuan, what is this.

"To put it simply, the state borrows money."

"The state borrows money?"

"Yes, the state releases information to the local government, borrows money in the name of the state, and gives a certain amount of interest, so that many conservative investors will invest in the state, believing that the state will not rely on their money."

Zhu Di smiled bitterly: "In this way, I feel that my country has become a business." ”

"Your Majesty, why isn't it the Ming Jun who created the ancient and modern times?"

This sentence carries compliments and reminders that if you want to create the past and the present, you must do what the people in front of you dare not do. Borrowing money from the state was not available before, but it was indeed able to solve the urgent need, and there was no need to quarrel with the minister, and I was not collecting taxes, but just borrowing money. Private individuals can borrow money, but can't the emperor borrow money?

Zhu Di slapped his thigh: "Retreat, what you say is too tempting, okay, I'm right." "Zhu Di is worthy of his eloquence, no matter what reputation it has, as long as it can solve the problem, it is a good way.

"Your Majesty is wise."

Zhu Di glanced at Chen Yuan: "It's too early to say that I am wise." ”

Chen Yuan was taken aback: "Your Majesty, you won't have any problems, right?" ”

"Clever!"

"Your Majesty, this little head can't think of so many things."

"I don't care, I can't think of a charter, I want you to look good."

Chen Yuan's face turned bitter: "Your Majesty, please speak." ”

Zhu Di sighed: "My wish, to stabilize the border, move the capital, go to the West, and conquer Mongolia." You have solved the problem of Annam, the relocation of the capital has been decided, and the problem of going to the West has also been solved. However, the crown prince and the ministers were opposed to the conquest of Mongolia, and I also hesitated, whether this battle should be fought or not. ”

"It's time to fight."

"Oh?" Zhu Di raised his eyebrows.

Chen Yuan thought for a while, and organized the language: "Your Majesty still remembers the matter of the grandfather to the former prince, the grandfather wanted to punish the minister, the former prince couldn't bear it, and ran to plead, saying that the grandfather was cruel and ruthless, and the grandfather picked a thorn and gave it to the former prince to let him take it, but the former prince didn't dare, saying that it was too thorny, and the grandfather wiped off the thorn regardless of the pain in his hand, handed it to the former prince and said, 'I can take it now'." ”

Zhu Di was moved: "Yes, the grandfather used it harshly, just because he saw the kindness of the eldest brother, so he kept the crime to himself and paved the way for his children and grandchildren." Yes, keep the charges to yourself-" Zhu Di muttered to himself, smiling bitterly, "Those who know me, retreat." After Master Dao Yan left, it was Heaven that gave you to me. ”

"I'm ashamed."

Chen Yuan's tone was sonorous and powerful: "Tatar Varat has always provoked the border, and everyone knows it, therefore, for them, we must not back down, we must beat them to fear and subdue, in this way, there is a great tomorrow, at least after a hundred years of Your Majesty, Tatar Varat will not dare to commit the Ming Dynasty for at least twenty years." At the small price of the present, in exchange for twenty years of peace, no matter what the successor is, the people should have twenty years of peace. ”

Zhu Di suddenly yelled outside the hall: "Don't roll in yet." ”

Chen Yuan was surprised, and saw Zhu Gaochi being helped to come in tremblingly. It turned out that he had made his father angry, and he didn't dare to go far, so he had been waiting outside the palace.

The prince was far away, prostrate on the ground.

Zhu Di asked sharply: "Did you hear it?" ”

Zhu Gaochi's eyes were moist: "Back to my father, my sons and ministers have heard it, yes - it is my sons who are confused and can't understand the deep meaning of their father." ”

Zhu Di sighed: "You want to implement benevolent government, this is a good thing, but there are still tigers in the north of the Ming Dynasty, if you don't pull out the teeth of this tiger, how can you enjoy peace, Gao Chi, your health is poor, how long can you last?" Junji is still young, empty of blood, I don't know what will happen in the future, even so, what about after that. It is said that long live long live long live, but where can we live it? I've been dreaming about the imperial exam lately, and I know that time is running out, and the day is not over. ”

Zhu Gaochi cried bitterly: "Father-"

Zhu Di had a sour nose: "What are you crying about, life and death are fate, just like the changes of the four seasons." I'm old, ouch, you see, sitting for a while on this old cold leg hurts so much. Zhu Di said while hammering his legs, "I have helped you clear the way while I am not dead, and in the future, you can toss as much as you want." ”

"Father—"