In Daming, at present, the one who can definitely call the wind and rain is the "True Dragon Son of Heaven".

Zhu Houxi used the topic to play, Yan Song had to tremble, and he was relieved that he was given a meal by the emperor alone.

What should happen to the people at the bottom of this storm?

But Zhu Houxi didn't care much about this.

All he wants is the process.

There must be this process, so that the powerful officials and businessmen of the Ming Dynasty can remember that the emperor has set rules and know that the emperor attaches importance to those rules.

Now Zhu Houxi attaches more importance to thought.

Both internally and externally.

Zhu Houxi can pay more attention to the development of science in the skin of physics, but even if he was originally from a liberal arts background, it is difficult to make achievements in the understanding of "human science".

Civilian, military, businessman...... Many of the registrations have been changed from the system. Set the national flag and emphasize the country, but the emperor of the world is still there, and it is a big problem that will never be bypassed for a small family.

The years of the Ming Dynasty were stitched together by the emperor with constant new interests.

the benefits of expanding and improving treatment after the implementation of the new law; the benefit of requiring the gentry to pay taxes and then relax the ban on commerce; After the opening of the territory, the new territorial and border trade interests.

Internal problems have always existed, but they have been delayed.

Ordinary people want to live and have future generations who can get ahead; The rich family thinks about how to seize the opportunity and prosper; The important minister is thinking about how to promote, grace, and bless the descendants.

The emperor was thinking about the entire Ming Dynasty a hundred years later.

His ideas have never been truly understood and understood.

Because Daming is good enough now. The emperor was diligent, disciplined and disciplined, and also attached importance to the people's livelihood.

Daming has no external worries, so what other motivation does it have besides the internal volume?

In the internal volume, there is no need to think more about the needs of the country, that is not to consider the small family?

Home must be placed in front of the country, and Zhu Houxi also understands this.

But Zhu still understands the fragility of the current "prosperous era".

Of course, the wisdom of posterity can be trusted, but it is more likely that posterity is stupid and short-sighted.

The ideas and lofty goals that truly unite the Ming officials and people have not yet appeared, and the lack of values and goals that are recognized from the heart, it is difficult for the Ming Dynasty, which is already in the leading position, to really break through, and will only continue to sink in the cyclical law of the dynasty.

At this moment, the world and the internal and external situation of the Ming Dynasty do not make other Ming people other than Zhu Houxi feel that there is any need to continue to toss and reform.

Outside the Fengtian Gate, the officials who worked in the Wenhua Palace, the Wuying Palace, the Wenlou and the Wulou noticed that the royal car had arrived at the noon gate.

The emperor ascended to the Yingjie Palace.

Dacha is in the past, and now that the emperor has arrived at the Yingjie Palace, what will he think about the portraits of those famous ministers?

Do you want to feel that this session is the worst?

In the Yingjie Palace, in front of Zhu Houxi, from the civil and military ministers who founded the Ming Dynasty to Zhang Fujing, who was recently enshrined here, all looked at him calmly on the portrait.

Their eyes did not fall on Zhu Houxi, but only gently or seriously, staring at a certain place without focus.

Back then, Xu Da often met spring, they were either to follow Zhu Yuanzhang to save the Han people from fire and water, Yu Qian or to save the building, Zhang Fujing or to Zhongxing Daming.

Generations of famous ministers have surrounded generations of emperors.

The ultimate goal is nothing more than what it is now: the country and the people are safe, and all countries will come to the court.

Going deeper, what standard of life should the people live? Is it true that the subjugated foreigners are not a little messy?

Family, that's going to be too hard.

Just like the thousands of courtiers, there are only a handful of people who can get here.

A hundred feet to go further, why did the emperor take the lead in opening the book?

Zhu Houxi, who led the team, has been thinking intermittently for more than 20 years, but he has never been able to make a breakthrough on these issues.

Otherwise, why is it said that it is easy to fight the country and difficult to defend the country?

Zhu Houxi stayed in the Yingjie Hall for nearly an hour, not only to walk around and relax, but also to continue to think about it from Yan Song's reaction.

The existence of the emperor greatly affected the upper and lower limits of the country.

In the second half of his life, Zhu Houxi must solve this problem: let the Ming Dynasty believe in some concepts, and let the Ming monarchs and ministers always have a clear goal.

It is not easy to raise these questions and convince them.

"Xuan Louis."

Zhu Houxi walked slowly to the afternoon door and opened his mouth to command.

Try to talk to Westerners who think completely differently, and there are exchanges and comparisons, and maybe it will be inspiring.

……

Louis has been in Beijing for nearly half a month, and the time is in the middle of summer, and he wears the kind of flowing Taoist robes that the Ming gentry also loved.

It's just a paragraph, it's just a feeling.

During these ten days, Louis often observed the decent people in the capital of the Eastern Empire.

Wearing this kind of flowing clothing, the momentum in their bodies naturally has a sense of confidence and composure, and at the same time, they also show a sense of detachment from some worldly desires.

Isn't the so-called feathered immortal the kind of existence where everything can be calmed down with the immortal power in the body, and the immortal body will last forever and there will be no major troubles?

The pressure of Dacha was not felt by Luis.

Thanks to the important task entrusted by his brother, Louis has been immersed in the East for a long time.

In Portugal, he is already Alfonso's best friend. For so many years, he collected European books to present to the emperors of the East, and also read the history books and classics bought from the East.

Luis believed that at this moment in Europa, there must be no one who understands the East better than him.

Neither could Alfonso. He was a little clever, but in the Ming Dynasty for so long, survival dominated him at first, and then the desire for power blinded him, so that he never really could understand the Oriental people with his heart.

Now, the Emperor of the East summoned him.

Louis changed into the python robe given by the emperor and entered the palace in the east again.

This time, a closer look is no different from back then, but if you look closely, you can find some renovated places.

The most eye-catching thing is, of course, the towering iron pillar in Fengtianmen, with the Ming Dynasty's Sanchen flag fluttering at the top.

Even if Louis only passes by from the side, he can see it through the majestic cornices of the palace.

And the three major halls of national council, state affairs, and national policy, Wenhua Palace, Wuying Palace, Wenlou Wulou, including the Qianqing Palace and Kunning Palace that you see after walking to the door of the Yangxin Palace, are also decorated with some flags on the cornices.

Louis didn't know why there were these changes, he didn't dare to ask, and naturally no one told him that they were all lightning pillars that His Majesty had told him to use to prevent lightning from starting fires. Hang the flag, just to be less obtrusive.

When he arrived at the Palace of Nourishing Hearts, to Louis's surprise, the emperor did not receive him in the imperial study today.

Huang Jin led him to the atrium between the imperial study and the backyard of the Yangxin Palace, where the emperor sat in a small pavilion.

"The Duke of Louis Beja, envoy of the King of Portugal and the Kingdom of the Algarve, João Manuel, to His Majesty the Great Emperor of the East. Long live Your Majesty! Banzai! Hooray! See His Royal Highness the Crown Prince! ”

Although he did not know who the young man sitting next to the emperor was, Louis was already able to identify himself from the pattern of his robe.

The crown prince's costume is different from that of the rest of the princes.

As soon as Louis came up, he smiled Zhu Houxi and raised his hand: "Get up." You are so active this time, the so-called courtesy to others, you must ask for something, sit down and speak slowly. ”

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

After Louis got up, he sat down in front of Zhu Houxi's side, only to see tea and pastries on the table in front of him.

Zhu Zaiqian sat and looked at Louis curiously, and Zhang Juzheng was standing.

This reminded Zhu Jaejaw of the time, when his father and emperor met with the second son of the Korean lord, he asked him to listen to it, and later he had the long-term task of paying attention to the dispute between the crown princes of Joseon.

What about this time?

As soon as the minister arrived in Guangzhou, he heard the news of the death of the queen's mother, and mourned for 27 days according to the dress. Please mourn Your Majesty, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. ”

"You've got a heart." Zhu Houxi was slightly stunned after listening to his opening remarks, and then said calmly.

This made him look forward to today's exchange, and Louis seemed to be a good person, and he should have some thoughts and experiences that belong to him.

"Joao's national letter I have already read, and today I will take the prince to talk to you together, just to listen to you first." Zhu Houxi went straight to the point, "The trade between Daming and Portugal has been very smooth, and Joao wants you to stay in Beijing, not just for trade cooperation, right?" ”

"Your Majesty." This kind of common expression, Louis has also opened his mouth, "After signing the peace treaty with Daming, the brother of the foreign minister also learned more and more about Daming." Once you have the beginning of a friendship, you should continue to be really good friends. He admires the greatness of your great achievements in governing a vast empire, and the Ming has much to learn from him, so he has appointed the foreign minister to obtain His Majesty's favor and make the foreign minister a trustworthy messenger. ”

Zhu Houxi listened to him, and then asked: "There are too many differences between Europe and the Ming Dynasty, in the eyes of your brothers, what is there for the Ming Dynasty to learn from?" And what do you think you can learn and apply in Portugal? ”

Louis said honestly: "Portugal is a small territory, and in the last nearly 100 years, it is precisely because of the emphasis on commerce and trade that it has become a great force in Europe. But since the Duke of Alfonso arrived in Portugal, he brought with him the standardized and advanced joint-stock company system that amazed European merchants. From the form of organization to the financial management, it is an eye-opener. The foreign minister heard that Alfonso's knowledge of the Ming bookkeeping method was created and taught by His Majesty. The foreign minister brought a book this time, Your Majesty, please read it. ”

He also learned from the Ming people and took out a book from the sleeve pocket inside his robe.

Zhu Zaiqian and Zhang Juzheng both looked at it curiously, but they didn't recognize the words on the cover.

But the emperor read it out slowly: "Arithmetic, Geometry, Proportion, and the Usefulness of Proportions to Merchants and Bankers?" ”

Louis was amazed: "Your Majesty has completely mastered Latin. Yes, this book was written by the Italian businessman and mathematician Luca Pacioli, and I am afraid that it appeared more than forty years ago. The bookkeeping methods are somewhat similar to those pioneered by His Majesty, but His Majesty's methods are clearly more advanced. ”

Zhu Houxi can read it in one bite, in addition to reading those books in Europe over the years, it is naturally because he is an accountant himself.

This is a book that is known as one of the milestones of accounting, and Zhu Houxi did not expect to see the version circulated in this era this time.

Double-entry accounting......

Zhu Houxi put the book aside and looked at him with a smile: "Alfonso naturally only knows the skin, and the people he brought back are not experts in this field. Could it be that you just want to stay in Daming and learn this? ”

"There are so many things that the foreign minister wants to learn." Louis bowed his head, "I hope that Your Majesty will give you great wisdom and benefit more people." ”

“…… You want to go to the library as soon as you arrive in Beijing, and it seems that this time João is very honest about Joao's purpose. After a pause, Zhu Houxi asked, "It seems that Joao is a person who adheres to the purpose of practical reason, in your mind, what is the most worthy of your learning from Daming?" ”

"The agrarian system and the bureaucracy, Your Majesty." Louis said sincerely.

Zhu Houxi was surprised: "The land system? ”

"As you know, in Portugal, and indeed in Europe as a whole, the land belongs to the big and small lords. The kings of the various kingdoms gave them land awards, which could not be traded except for marriage and inheritance. Before we learned about the Ming Dynasty, we never imagined that land could be traded freely, and that it would be possible to manage it all so that the monarch could gain more power from it. In Europe, without the military and financial support of the small and medium-sized lords, the monarch is useless. ”

Zhu Houxi was a little surprised, and when he sorted out his thoughts, he said meaningfully: "Joao's ambition is not small. ”

"There is no need to hide this from you, Your Majesty the Great Emperor." "If it weren't for this shared ambition," said Luis, "the minister's brother and the Duke of Alfonso would not have been able to work together closely. ”

"You can see through that." Zhu Houxi felt that this should not be Joao's idea, and the only one who could have such a deep understanding of the East was Luis who had been to Daming and even his words and deeds had become what he is now.

"The foreign minister is deeply admired." Louis said, "Because of the reforms promoted by His Majesty, the foreign ministers spent a long time studying the history of the Eastern Empire, especially the reforms. As you know, Europe is now also in a time of change. Henry VIII, Charles V...... They are all thinking and trying. Now that Henry VIII of England has enacted the Usufruct Act, they are already ahead of the curve. ”

“…… You tell me more about it. ”

Zhu Houxi became interested, and Louis entered a real state of communication.

For the two teenagers, Zhu Zaiqi and Zhang Juzheng, they can understand what this Westerner says now, but the content is beyond the outline.

Whether in the East or the West, land has always been the most valuable possession for a long time.

In Europe, through feudalism, the lords were given land, and while supporting the monarch financially and forcefully, they also gained the right to hold these lands for generations.

At present, in addition to Portugal and Spain, the most prosperous manor economy in Europe is still the feudal lords.

However, the power to reward and dispose of land has always been in the hands of the monarch, and the people's desire for land will not decrease. War is a means of distribution, but there will be more compromises among the people.

Just as in the Ming Dynasty, in order to avoid the assistance and inheritance money received by the monarch and some large lords, and what guardianship, marriage, restitution, confiscation, and so on, Europe has not only developed the rudimentary form of the trust system, but also "donated" land to the church with a transcendent status to exempt the secular feudal monarch from the subsidiary taxation and servitude.

To put it bluntly, now Britain is beginning to reform these situations, both the Reformation and the reform of the land system are underway.

"England has set up a special Privy Council, and the king has appointed the Lord Chancellor, the Chancellor, and so on to assist in governance. Did you know that in Europe today it is mainly a backward way of government officials assisting the monarch in governance. For the lords, as long as they did not breach their obligations, the king's authority was limited to the royal land. For such a huge bureaucratic system in the Ming Dynasty, the elder brother of the foreign minister was deeply shocked. The newspaper that the Duke of Alfonso handed over to the king that year was unimaginable for João, so it was thought that he was boasting. ”

After Louis said a lot, he sighed and sighed: "From the history books of the Ming Dynasty, the foreign minister saw that nearly two thousand years ago, the wise king of the Qin State appointed Shang Yang to carry out reforms, and since then he has abolished the system of dividing the well fields and allowed land to be traded. How to unite the strength of the people of the kingdom, the East has accumulated nearly two thousand years of experience in this matter. ”

Zhu Houxi was already a little numb when he heard this.

From Louis's point of view, is that so?

Although he also knew the view that "feudalism in Chinese history is not real feudalism and is not the right expression", he really didn't think about it before.

What is the biggest problem in Europe today? The kings of each kingdom themselves need the support of the big nobles such as the big and small lords in the country, and they can't deploy enough strength to do things?

Spain and Portugal were two small places, relying on maritime trade, and the royal family suddenly became the earliest powers?

Then the Netherlands, where the financial industry flourished, and the United Kingdom, which was the first to carry out religious and land reforms, then jumped up?

To put it bluntly, I am afraid that the feudal system is still practiced, and there is also a transcendent ecclesiastical power, so many countries in Europe have always sunk in the conquests supported by the big and small lords and the church, and for many years there has been no other legal way to obtain land except for the opportunity to fight and get rewards.

In comparison, being able to buy and sell freely seems to be more advanced, although it also brings the problem of mergers.

But Europe is even less dynamic now.

A serf is a serf, and there is no chance of turning over forever. A lord is a lord, as long as he doesn't die, he can be a wall grass when there is land, people and money.

This kind of real generational aristocracy is the root of the bloodline that the West has always paid attention to, right? Even if the new industrial and commercial bourgeoisie later plucked out the traditional feudal aristocracy.

No way, it's already engraved into the DNA.

On the other hand, in the East, many years ago, "the prince and the prince will have a kind of Xiangning".

Wait a minute......

Zhu Houxi fell silent and frowned.

If, from Louis's point of view, the East ceased to be feudal after the Shang Dynasty reform, then what has been the form of the past two thousand years?

According to Lao Ma's view, it is a primitive society, a slave society, a feudal society, a capitalist society and a communist society.

So if Louis thinks that "Your Majesty, your side is no longer feudal", then could it be that my Ming Dynasty has long been in the capitalist era?

Where is the bourgeoisie?

No, for nearly 2,000 years, wasn't land the main asset? And the so-called cyclical law of capitalism is the background color of the cyclical law of dynasties?

Land annexation, monopoly exploitation, and the rise of the proletariat......

Zhu Houxi suddenly felt a stir in his heart: Could it be that Huaxia has long been another form, such as the stage of agricultural capitalism?

Just because it has not yet entered the stage of industrial and commercial capitalism, it is not so anxious about raw materials and markets, so it has always been involuted in a field?

Since there is not enough theoretical guidance, one dynasty after another is exhausted in advance before it can really make changes.

For two thousand years, the monarch became more and more centralized, precisely because agricultural capital was too powerful and always suppressed industrial and commercial capital.

Isn't the new problem that has arisen in the new Ming Dynasty also because Zhu Houxi, the largest agricultural capitalist, is a little undecided about the barbaric growth of industrial and commercial capital?

Louis only felt that the eyes of the Eastern Emperor gradually brightened, and his brows furrowed.

He even smiled.

Zhu Houxi said sincerely: "You are right, from the perspective of the system and culture, Daming is really far ahead. Since you two brothers can see this, I acceded to Joao's request. From now on, you will be the ambassador of Portugal to Daming. Whatever you want to learn, I can do it. ”

Louis was overjoyed and left his seat to thank him.

Zhu Houxi was relaxed and couldn't help laughing.

It's like a spring breeze.

Although the queen's mourning period has just passed, it seems that the emperor who has been smiling less and less in the past few years, and the emperor who has always been in a bad mood for more than a year, has the happiness of this laughing sound at this moment, and the prince, Zhang Juzheng, and Huang Jin all feel very relaxed.

Is the emperor happy because the Ming is much more advanced than the remote barbarian land?

Zhang Juzheng instinctively felt that this was not the case, because just before that, His Majesty had a vague feeling of worrying about a major event in his heart, which was not fake.

Zhu Houxi happily asked Louis to drink tea and eat pastries, and then it was just a chat.

One is the European who knows the most about the Ming Dynasty, and the other is the Eastern emperor who knows the West the most, and the conversation between the two has opened the eyes of Zhu Zaiqi and Zhang Juzheng, two young people.

The emperor even left this Louis for lunch.

After Louis retired from the palace, Zhu Houxi was still in a good mood.

Zhang Juzheng felt that the emperor now had a stronger momentum of contempt for the world.

"Let's go and have a look at Banzai Mountain."

The emperor was in high spirits and took his son and Zhang Juzheng to the Banzai Mountain north of the Forbidden City.

The imperial palace and the capital city of the Ming Dynasty were spread out in front of him, and Zhu Houxi suddenly opened his mouth: "Uncle, do you know why it is difficult for Wang Hua to declare it to foreign domains throughout the ages?" ”

Zhang Juzheng was stunned for a moment, and hurriedly replied: "The kid is ignorant, please ask Your Majesty for advice." ”

"Too high, too empty, too advanced." Zhu Houxi's eyes flickered, "Be realistic." If you want to lead the shore of the land without being a prince, you must first regard the subjects of the foreign vassals as your own subjects. If you want the foreign vassals to be basking in the king, you must let them have a better standard. If you want the Ming Dynasty not to be dragged down by foreign domains, this must be a standard that has long-term fundamental interests for the Ming Dynasty. I can't eat hot tofu in a hurry, so I come step by step. ”

Looking back at the two boys, Zhu Houxi's tone was firm: "From me to you, Zai, uncle, do you know that maybe the future history books will say that the real foundation of the world's great harmony will start from me and be completed by you?" ”

Zhang Juzheng was numb: "The world is the same? ”

How could his sixteen-year-old serious Confucian scholar stand this?

(End of chapter)