Number of People

  Chapter 319

  Feng Ziying never underestimated the officials of this era. They may not have their own innate vision, but they can clearly analyze the pros and cons.

  The game of banning the sea and opening the sea began in the former Ming Dynasty. When the former Ming Dynasty and the Great Zhou Dynasty had to move their capital to Jingshi City in order to protect the northern border from being broken by the nomads, it was decided that this game would continue.

  Everyone knows that the empire’s economic center of gravity has long been shifted to the south. Jiangnan and Huguang are the center of gravity. Everything from money and silver to grain to silk and satin in Jingshi City needs to come from the south.

The north is becoming more and more dilapidated, especially the land of nine borders has always been bitten by nomads on the grassland like maggots, making the northern economy basically suffering repeatedly in a state of maintaining livelihood and resisting foreign invasion , coupled with the unfavorable nature of the past few decades, the entire north is in a situation of deteriorating.

It can be said that economically, the north has no capital to compete with the south, but the special geographical advantages of the north make any dynasty never dare to underestimate the north, whether it is the northern scholars or the northern frontier defense, the tragic story of the former Song Dynasty No one is willing to repeat it, even the most resolute southern scholars have to admit that once the north falls, the lips will be dead, and the south will also be in a desperate situation.

It is this kind of game between interests and power that puts the sea ban and sea opening in a strange stalemate. The sea ban continues on the surface, but the big merchants like Fujian and Zhejiang have already had countermeasures, and even In full swing.

But I have to say that this kind of prohibition in the court system still puts them in a state of danger at any time. No matter how secretive you are, no matter what level of the court you communicate with, once you are under the thunder, you will never be spared. So They also longed for liberation in the court system.

For the northern scholars and the classes they represent, the possible impact of opening the sea in the south is unpredictable, but there is no doubt that a considerable group of people in the south will benefit from it, and for them, why do things that have nothing to do? What about support?

   To get them to support, either it can directly benefit them, or it will endanger their own interests, or it needs to exchange benefits.

  Geng Ruqi was also shocked by Feng Ziying's question.

  This question is not shallow.

  Opening the sea, and directly involving Shandong and Liaodong, is not purely an economic interest, but more importantly, a strategic interest.

  Feng Ziying can know a general trend, but it is difficult for him to say clearly what the opening of the sea can bring to the north. Without this, it is difficult for you to persuade these northern scholars to support the opening of the sea, even if they do not obstruct it.

  But there is one thing Feng Ziying is clear about. Whether it is for the imperial court or the scholars in the north, especially for Shandong and Beizhi, which are closely related to Liaodong, the safety of Liaodong is directly related to the interests of the two provinces.

  Then if the interests of Liaodong, Beizhi, and Shandong can be bundled together, and they feel that Kaihai can benefit from it, whether it is economic benefits or security benefits, then perhaps this question will be much easier.

   "Ziying, what are you going to do? Want to push the court to lift the sea ban and open the sea?" Geng Ruqi put down his wine glass, and his cheeks on both sides of his cheekbones turned slightly blue.

  He didn't dare to drink anymore, he had to think about every word Feng Ziying said.

  Where did Feng Ziying get this ability? Unless it was the people behind him, thinking of this, Geng Ruqi felt a little scared. Qi Yongtai and Qiao Yingjia were both representatives of northern scholars. If their attitudes changed, how long could the policy of banning the sea last?

   "Brother Chucai, don't be nervous, I only represent myself, well, don't get me wrong." Feng Ziying knew that Geng Ruqi was thinking wrong, "Really."

  Of course, Geng Ruqi would not believe it easily. He is also a scholar in the north, but in the Ministry of War, he still considers military issues more. He knows about economics, but he is not proficient.

  However, Feng Ziying's firm attitude made him a little relieved. You must know that every policy adjustment by the imperial court will bring about violent shocks, from wealth to personnel, and opening the sea is even more difficult.

   "Then what do you want to do?" Geng Ruqi squeezed the wine glass again, her fingernails turned white.

   "Is Kaihai that scary?" Feng Ziying asked back.

"Hmph, it may not be important to a certain person or even a certain family, but to everyone, I'm afraid they may not accept it. You know how much effort we have spent fighting for the sub-volumes of Chunwei's northern and southern volumes. Do you think we don’t know that the style of study in the south is more prosperous, but we think so? We pay more in other aspects, of course we should get more!”

  Geng Ruqi snorted softly. The economic imbalance has given the South more and more advantages in the court. Even if the emperor and the scholars in the north are working hard, it is difficult to reverse this.

   "Brother Chucai, the problem is that if we want to get more, then we need to find a wider way to come, instead of relying on others' charity. Strengthening the foundation is the kingly way." Feng Ziying said in a deep voice.

   "Do you think opening the sea is beneficial to Shandong and Liaodong?" Geng Ruqi understood what Feng Ziying meant.

"If it's just these two places, it doesn't make much sense, but if North Korea and Japan are added, the benefits are not small, and it's not just for maritime trade and commerce. It's for us to control North Korea and prevent the Japanese from resuming their ambitions. It is of great significance, and I believe that Brother Chucai should understand it better than my younger brother."

  Feng Ziying's words made Geng Ruqi fall into deep thought.

Feng Ziying’s reference to strengthening the foundation and strengthening the foundation is of course not just the dispute between the North and the South, but also touches on the Liaodong issue that Geng Ruqi is most worried about. The Jurchen’s aggressiveness threatens the survival of Liaodong. If Liaodong fails, North Korea will definitely turn to the Jurchens Once North Korea's manpower is used by the Jurchens, it will really be out of control.

   "Ziying, what do you want Brother Yu to do?" Geng Ruqi collected other thoughts and asked the most realistic question.

"Simple, Brother Chucai, I just want to ask Brother Chucai to analyze the importance of the Trinity of Liaodong, Beizhi and Shandong, and then the feasibility and significance of opening the sea in these three places to consolidate the defense of Liaodong and the interests of Japan and North Korea. ..."

Feng Ziying's blunt words made Geng Ruqi think for a while, and after a long time, he smiled wryly: "Ziying, you can pass this question, Brother Yu, if it is about border affairs, it is fine, but it involves the integration of interests, um, it involves When it comes to assessing the benefits of opening the sea with Japan and North Korea, Brother Yu may be a little bit powerless."

"Brother Chucai, it doesn't have to be limited to your Ministry of War, the Ministry of Households, the Ministry of Industry, and the Secretary of General Administration. You can discuss and ask for help. I believe there will definitely be people in your department who are interested in this topic and have researched it. ,..."

  Feng Ziying is persuasive.

"Then what are you going to do? Even if it can be done, it can't be done in ten days and half a month. There are too many things involved, too complicated, and whether it is right or wrong, Brother Yu himself said I don't know." Geng Ruqi sighed.

  Feng Ziying knew that the other party was persuaded. After all, it was not only related to the imperial court's strategy in Liaodong, but also involved a considerable amount of interests of northern scholars in Liaodong, Beizhi and Shandong. No matter from which point of view, it was worth serious consideration.

   "I don't know the reason, brother Chucai can spend more time explaining the relevant situation. As for right and wrong, pros and cons, let's put it out for everyone to discuss." Feng Ziying laughed.

   "Everyone? Ziying, what are you doing?" Geng Ruqi said vigilantly: "Is it your Imperial Academy who wants to make trouble?"

"No, no, don't worry, everything will be done according to the rules." Feng Ziying spread his hands, his eyes were a little more teasing, "Is it difficult for you to rest assured that I am a good man? Didn't Brother Chucai worry about something earlier? ? Well, a lot of people are staring at me."

   "Hmph, Ziying, I know you are not afraid of tigers as a newborn calf, but you have to take it easy, don't become a thorn in the side of others." Geng Ruqi warned.

  In the next ten days or so, Feng Ziying has been busy with the drafting and liaison work in these areas, all of which are single-line contacts.

   I have to say that studying for this sage is really a happy life, and the real noble life is nothing compared to studying in an academy.

   It is precisely because of this that Feng Ziying was given sufficient time and opportunity to do this.

  Whether this "Internal Reference" can become a blockbuster depends not only on the readability and reliability of the article, but also on whether it can grasp the highlights, so he chooses some sensitive points and topics that can arouse widespread repercussions.

  No way, since he is not yet qualified to directly intervene in the government affairs of the court, all he can do is to master the tools of public opinion.

Apparently, no one in the Great Zhou Dynasty realized this. Apart from the fact that the Imperial Palace Newspaper can provide some well-informed people with information, everyone’s more understanding and judgment of the outside world still depends on mutual discussions. This kind of relatively closed and lagging information The communication mode will obviously become more and more outdated with the times.

It seems that it should be two years before newspapers appear in Europe. Feng Ziying thinks that maybe she can leave her mark on it first. Thinking about how her name can also leave a mark in cultural history in the future, it is really worth it people expect.

   As far as the current situation is concerned, the "Internal Reference" in this planning concept is not yet a real newspaper, but can only be regarded as a variant of the Mansion Newspaper, or the in-depth excavation version of the Mansion Newspaper, which serves more for the imperial court.

But when this idea is well established and it plays a huge role, many smart people will naturally think of more, and some interest groups will join in, actively attaching more commercial attributes to it for their own interests, and eventually The commercial attributes will continue to expand, and eventually evolve into a decisive force, bringing the development of this business to a new height.

  History is often the case.

  (end of this chapter)