Emperor Ming Dynasty

Chapter 666
After being captured by Satsuma in 1609, King Shang Ning was forced to sign the "Fifteen Articles" with Satsuma, acknowledging Satsuma's control of Ryukyu.At the same time, the five islands of Amami (namely Kikai Island, Tokuno Island, Amami Oshima, Okinagarabu Island, and Yoron Island) were placed under the direct jurisdiction of the Satsuma Domain, and they were released and survived.

In addition, Ryukyu was also forced to send envoys to meet the shogun, which was called "Shang Edo".

As a result, Ryukyu, like Tsushima Island, became one country and two territories for trade considerations, and trade was completely controlled by the Satsuma Domain.

"It's unreasonable, I immediately dispatched the Donghai Navy to drive out the Japanese."

Zhu Yixi clapped angrily, and immediately made up his mind.

Immediately, he summoned the envoys of the Tokugawa shogunate and explained the situation.

Unexpectedly, when he learned that the Shimadzu family had acted so recklessly, he said:
"As early as the 14th year of Kanyong (1637), my Japanese king granted the Kagoshima Fan Ryukyu 12 stone height..."

Hearing this, Zhu Yixi was startled.

This Tokugawa family must be stupid. The local princes expanded their strength and even acquiesced. No wonder they will be overthrown by the downfall faction in the future. This is retribution!
"Since this is the case, Ryukyu is my Ming Dynasty's vassal country. Since your country doesn't care about it, then my Ming Dynasty will not be polite."

After some announcements, this Zhengdan court meeting is truly over.

The envoys of the vassal state in Beijing talked a lot, and they all said that after Daming helped North Korea restore the country, it was planning to restore Ryukyu to the country again.

Praise, publicity, envy and other voices are endless.

The suzerain country is so domineering.

However, North Korea seemed very excited about teaching the Japanese a lesson and restoring Ryukyu, and couldn't wait to participate in this operation.

But even if he begged again and again, the emperor did not agree.

How could he not know the thoughts of the North Koreans? After the Imjin Japanese Invasion, they couldn't wait to take revenge, and they never had a chance.

Now it's very comfortable to follow Daming's buttocks to pick up loose things.

It would be fine if it was a normal restoration of the country, Zhu Yixi wished that all the vassal states from all over the world would come to have a look and show their national prestige.

But considering that the location of the Ryukyu Islands is too important, it is a transit point for trade between Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia, so people should not be allowed.

Therefore, after Zhu Yixi prepared to help the Ryukyu Kingdom, he approved the attached requirements, thus setting up the Ryukyu Mansion.

Since then, through the Amami Islands in Ryukyu, you can almost get in touch with Kyushu Island in Japan.

The huge East China Sea will truly become an inland sea.

"Let Zheng Zhilong, the chief soldier of the East China Sea Division, come to see me."

The emperor thought about it for a while. This matter had to be discussed face to face, and the letters were not careful.

"Forget it, it's quite troublesome to come from Zhoushan."

Zhu Jing had to be sent.

This kid has been trained for many years. Whether it is dealing with people or leading troops in battle, he has some abilities. If he goes to Ryukyu to increase his qualifications, his future will be limitless.

Besides, he is still a character who understands the heart of the emperor, and he will definitely be able to complete the task.

Thinking of this, Zhu Yixi decided to delay his entry into the Beijing camp and let him go to get his qualifications first.

After the officials knew about it, they were all silent.

Immediately, he was busy preparing to insert people in the mission. Everyone knew that this was a low-level mission. Who wouldn't want their children to take credit for it?

After the lively Zhengdan passed, the time came to the fifth year of Shaowu.

Namely, 1651 AD.

Not long after the Chinese New Year, the new Qin King Zhu Cun Mufu waited for several months, and finally obtained the imperial decree and was named Qin King.

At this moment, Zhu Yixi suddenly woke up.

Zhu Cun Mugao has no heirs. Although he is young, the future must be dangerous.

This Duke of Qin can also let one of his sons inherit, which can be regarded as a side line.

The Ministry of War prepared in an orderly manner for the supply of materials. Shoes and socks, quilt covers, summer clothes, weapons, gunpowder, mules and horses, etc. were hoarded in large quantities.

Since the military rations were allocated directly from Taicang, the price of the rations did not rise much and remained stable as before.

However, after Lu Daqi entered the cabinet, he made new suggestions regarding the grain prices in the capital:
"In the second year of Shaowu, when the capital was first restored, Jiang Shaobao (Jiang Yueguang) stayed in the capital, and the price of grain was approved as one stone per silver dollar, and the fluctuation could not exceed [-]%."

Lu Daqi cupped his hands, looked at the emperor in front of him, and the cabinet ministers, he did not panic at all, and said his first passion for joining the cabinet:

"Now the capital is stable, the sea transportation is smooth, and there is no canal blockage at all, so that the number of troops approved by the Governor's Yamen for Water Transport is now only more than [-], and it is even decreasing month by month."

"Now sea transportation accounts for [-]% and water transportation only accounts for [-]%. The capital has a lot of food, but the price of food has not changed as much as a mountain. It is still around one silver dollar."

"As far as I know, the price of grain in Yingtian Mansion in the south of the Yangtze River is only [-] cents, and the price of grain in the capital is out of date."

Hearing this, the atmosphere instantly quieted down.

Without him, the issue of food is an urgent matter at any time.

When in Huguang, the shogunate established a grain guild with the help of Shaanxi merchants, gathered a large number of medium and large grain merchants, and stabilized grain prices.

Later, ironware guilds, salt merchants guilds, wine and vinegar guilds, etc. were established to control the prices of consumer goods and solve the problem of tax collection by the way.

After the emperor entered Beijing, considering the huge influence and monopoly of the guilds, various guilds were disbanded, but he guided the price of grain to prevent the price from soaring.

In this era when food determines everything, controlling food prices is tantamount to controlling commodity prices.

When food prices are stable, everything is stable.

All provinces have guidelines for grain prices, and this is even more so in the capital.

In the past two years, due to the successive resumption of production in Hebei and Shandong, coupled with the stable output of grain in the south, grain has actually been in a state of decline, and grain merchants have made great profits.

If the price of food does not fall, the prices of other commodities will also remain firm, which makes people uncomfortable.

Therefore, Lu Daqi's opinion is that as the situation changes, the guide price of grain will also change.

One wants to change, but most of the courtiers don't want to change, they want to be stable.

The reason for the opposition is because of food stamps.

Food stamps are banknotes issued based on the imperial court's food in Taicang. If the price of food falls, the value of food stamps will also decrease, which will reduce fiscal revenue.

But Lu Daqi saw the danger of banknotes:
It will kidnap the entire court to maintain high food prices.

In other words, when the court runs out of money one day, it will push up the price of food, thereby increasing the value of food stamps, purchasing power, and solving financial problems.

Therefore, in the long run, the imperial court will only make the price of food higher and higher instead of lowering it, which has turned into a rebellion by the government and the people.

Of course, the Shaowu court would not be like this, but there is no guarantee that future generations will not think so!

"Xiang Zhuang's sword dance is aimed at Pei Gong."

Zhao Shu's eyes were fixed, and he said softly: "Mr. Lu's thoughts are on the food stamps!"

The emperor immediately came to his senses and looked at Lu Daqi thoughtfully.

Lu Daqi knew that he couldn't hide it, and he didn't want to turn around, and said bluntly: "Although food stamps are good, they will cause endless disasters."

(End of this chapter)