Chapter 304 I, Yan Shaoting, am the boss of Southeast Sea Merchants

I want to talk about sea power!
Next to the sweet potato field, in front of the emperor, the prince, the cabinet ministers, the six ministers, the officials present, and the students from the academy.

Yan Shaoting finally uttered a term that seemed strange yet familiar in this era.

When the word "sea power" came out of Yan Shaoting's mouth, Xu Jie in the crowd frowned suddenly.

He already had a sneaking feeling that something was wrong.

But at that moment, I couldn't imagine what Yan Shaoting would say about this matter.

Jiajing looked at Yan Shaoting with scrutiny.

But he didn't wait for Jiajing to ask.

His son, Prince Yu Zhu Zaigui.

He was already smiling.

"Your Majesty, Guest Yan has been working in the court for a long time and has always had profound insights. I think that this time when Guest Yan wants to talk about sea power, he must have many arguments that we have never heard of before."

After saying that.

Zhu Zaigui glanced around, and then continued with a smile: "Why don't you move your majesty to the academy, and I will set up a banquet for you, the guest, to play in front of the emperor."

Today, Zhu Zaigui is full of confidence in his tutor in Prince Yu's mansion.

Or so to speak.

Mysterious trust.

Since Yan Shidu has spoken, this matter must be worth discussing, and it may even bring great benefits to the court!
Xu Wei looked at Yan Shaoting with some surprise, feeling somewhat puzzled.

Bring this matter up at this time.

Isn’t it a bit early?
When Xu Wei looked puzzled, Yan Shaoting also looked at him.

Sea power theory.

This was something he had planned, and just like Xu Wei's doubts at the moment, it was not supposed to be brought up at this time.

But it just happened.

He thought of another possibility.

The fundamental purpose of this matter is to make the Ming Dynasty pay attention to its overseas interests, so that the Ming Dynasty can seize the advantages of the Age of Discovery in advance on the premise of having the ability and foundation.

The original plan.

It is time for him to gradually gain control of the voice in the court, and then implement the reforms in conjunction with the new dynasty.

It can also be regarded as coordinating with the historical opening of the sea during the Longqing reign.

But it's just today.

Yan Shaoting felt that this matter could be started earlier in another way.

and.

His innocent gaze swept towards Xu Laogou, who had a serious expression on his face.

The main thing is.

This matter may be promoted today, and more importantly, it can deal another heavy blow to Xu Laogou.

At this moment, Principal Zhu suggested going to the academy.

Yan Shaoting immediately bowed and said, "Your Majesty, Principal, what I want to say today is best and most appropriate to be said in this sweet potato field."

Sweet potato field?
Sea power theory?

These are two things that have nothing to do with each other no matter how you look at it.

Everyone was confused again.

Jiajing smiled and waved his hand: "I allow you to say whatever you want in this sweet potato field!"

Say it.

In full view of everyone, the emperor found a flat piece of land beside the ridge of a field and sat on it with his butt sticking up.

How can he look like an emperor at all?

However, a certain president of a college who followed the emperor was also very happy. He found a sweet potato field under the ridge of the field, picked up a few handfuls of sweet potato vines, used them as cushions for his buttocks, and sat down.

It’s great to see that both the father and son are like this.

All the ministers could only follow suit.

A piece of black water.

In the sweet potato field in Changping, the sweet potatoes in this field have been harvested.

But now, a group of more important ministers in the court were sitting on the ground.

The people who were hiding from the sun in the distance, preparing to wait until it was cooler to continue digging sweet potatoes, looked over curiously.

Changping is different now.

Today, either the emperor or the prince will come, or at least a cabinet minister.

As for these nobles sitting on the ground in Changping, the people of Changping have already been able to remain calm.

Without him.

It just looks familiar!

As everyone sat down one by one, all eyes finally slowly gathered on Yan Shaoting.

Yan Shaoting, however, seemed calm and composed.

In full view of everyone.

He bowed to the old Taoist priest in a graceful manner.

The old Taoist priest’s face was all smiles.

This is a good boy. He knows etiquette and never says no to me.

Jiajing smiled and waved his hand: "Alright, alright, stop doing these nonsense things, just say it quickly if you have something to say."

Yan Shaoting smiled.

"What I want to say about sea power can actually be summed up with just numbers."

With just one sentence, he attracted everyone's attention.

Yan Shaoting said in public: "Our Central Plains is vast and rich in resources, but it does not have everything."

Later, there was a certain Emperor Gou Ba in a certain dynasty.

All they do all day is shout: The Celestial Empire is rich in resources and has everything; it does not need to rely on foreign goods to meet its needs.

What does this sentence mean?

That is to say, our Central Plains is vast and rich in resources. We have everything you need and can be self-sufficient without having to do business with you.

And what Yan Shaoting said in public today.

The Central Plains is still vast and rich in resources, but it does not have everything.

quickly.

Yan Shaoting waved his hand and looked around, smiling and said, "As the emperor and the other superiors have seen today, this sweet potato, which has been given the name of Jiajing potato by the emperor, is not native to the Central Plains, but comes from overseas."

This is the evidence.

Jiajing nodded with a smile.

Yan Shaoting is not the only official in the court who is capable of doing things.

But there are very few people who can do things like him, always following the steps and being realistic.

Others may also pay attention to following suit.

But those people can only quote from piles of old books, which is very pretentious and empty.

Immediately.

Yan Shaoting changed the subject and said, "Sweet potatoes have an annual yield of 16 dan per mu, which is a rare high-yield food in the world, but it is not a staple food. However, I have learned from many foreign merchants that there are many high-yield foods overseas that can be used as staple food, such as rice that looks like jade and grows high on branches; there are also round beans as big as a baby's fist that grow in the soil. Both of these can be used as staple food, and they don't need to be eaten with other foods like sweet potatoes."

"Rice that looks like jade?"

“Beans that grow in the soil?”

Prince Yu Zhu Zai, who was closest to Yan Shaoting, muttered in confusion. Yan Shaoting nodded.

Corn, potatoes.

This is the real killer weapon to supplement staple food.

But when I think about it carefully, it seems that it will take a lot of effort to get these two things.

It would be better to reveal it all today. Maybe we can get it back through the court and local people.

Moreover, it is really difficult to accomplish these things by one's own efforts.

I want to make real changes in the Ming Dynasty.

It is also necessary to gather a group of people who, if not like-minded, at least have the same goal.

After shaking out the corn and potatoes.

Yan Shaoting's gaze once again vaguely swept towards Xu Jie.

Xu Jie, who had always been paying attention to Yan Shaoting, also had doubts in his heart.

Yan Shaoting has looked at me many times today.

what's going on?

Is there something on my face?
Yan Shaoting spoke again: "There are many overseas interests. Since the Emperor Chengzu of my dynasty, the eunuch Sanbao has made seven voyages to the West. The palace has made a huge profit, but the voyages were stopped later for various reasons.

Even last year, the Emperor was wise and intelligent, and his decisions were decisive. He promoted the production of silk in the southeast and increased the sales of silk overseas, earning tens of millions of dollars in profits from overseas in one year.

It can be seen that the benefits of the sea are endless!"

He wants to open the sea!
He is advocating the opening of the sea!
For an instant.

Xu Jie finally understood what Yan Shaoting was going to do.

From the very beginning, he tried to advocate the opening of the sea and restore the court to the state it was during the time of Emperor Chengzu.

This is absolutely not allowed!
Xu Jie immediately stood up and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, as guest Yan said, the court can gain a lot from overseas, but overseas is also full of dangers. For example, foreign merchant ships docked on the southeast coast are often damaged by storms and almost sink into the sea, and there are also countless pirates harassing on the sea route. Since ancient times, benefits and harms have coexisted, and there are always benefits and harms. When the court is governing, it must not only focus on benefits and forget the dangers."

Check it out.

It is our Ming Dynasty's Lord Xu who has considered more.

Know both the benefits and the risks.

Yan Shaoting understood it in his heart.

The reason why Xu Laogou did this was just to protect the amazing private interests of the Southeastern maritime merchants.

from last year.

When I proposed to increase silk production and raise the selling price, and then sell it to foreign businessmen in the form of a monopoly, this old dog Xu had already opposed it for the same reason.

that time.

It was he who used tens of millions of profits every year to push for the monopoly of Ming silk sales abroad in front of the old Taoist priest.

But this time.

Yan Shaoting decided to try a different approach.

then.

Under the gaze of everyone, Deputy Prime Minister Xu Ge Lao had already pointed out the risks overseas.

Yan Shaoting turned around in public and bowed respectfully to Xu Jie.

And when he stood up again, his face was full of admiration.

"Mr. Xu is loyal to his country! He understands the greater good!"

"He is a role model for me as an official!"

Xu Jie was stunned.

Didn’t Yan Shaoting want to advocate opening up the sea?

How come I am now considered to be a wise man?
Just one second.

Yan Shaoting turned to look at the old Taoist priest, and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, as Lord Xu said, there are countless risks at sea, so I think the court can issue an order to allow merchants on the southeast coast to raise money and grain to build merchant ships, transport the goods approved by the court, and sell them overseas!"

boom!
There was a loud bang.

Exploded in Xu Jie's head.

People like the Minister of Rites Yan Ne, who had been on high alert, were also greatly shocked.

Yan Shaoting actually said that he would allow coastal merchants to build their own merchant ships and go out to sea to do business!

Go against Tiangang!
Yan Shaoting, shouldn't you be saying that the imperial court opened the sea and prohibited merchant ships from launching, and that everything was organized by the imperial court and that the imperial court took all the profits?

Then follow this script.

We can shout out our opposition and no ship, whether it is from the imperial court or the local government, will be allowed to go into the water.

Then our ships in the southeast can secretly go into the water to do business.

But.

Yan Shaoting continued loudly, "Your Majesty, the merchants of our dynasty have already accumulated a lot of wealth and have no shortage of money and food. It is completely feasible to build merchant ships by ourselves. The shipyards under the Ministry of Industry of the imperial court can also undertake the merchant ships needed by merchants and gain the benefits of shipbuilding for the imperial court.

"Our country is vast and rich in resources. The imperial court is currently engaged in the silk business, but private cotton cloth, tea, porcelain, etc. can also be done by merchants from the southeast coast.

"Let our merchants build the latest merchant ships, load them with our products, sell them to the European countries and other places, and earn back all the money and grain from overseas.

Merchants are after profits, so they will not go out to sea with full ships and return empty. By then, they will surely return with countless overseas goods, and the court can then levy commercial taxes at the coastal customs offices to benefit the country’s finances.”

After saying that.

Yan Shaoting turned around again and glanced at Xu Laogou and others.

snort!
As long as I change my approach.

I, Yan Shaoting, am the real maritime business leader on the southeast coast of the Ming Dynasty!

As for you?

He is just a person who is conservative and doesn't change!

Perhaps it's time to put the newspaper issue on the agenda.

When the time comes, I will spread the news of this matter to the southeast through newspapers, and my title as the leader of the southeastern maritime merchants of the Ming Dynasty will be a foregone conclusion.

Jiajing was standing on the ridge of the field with a smile on his face.

He could naturally see the changes in everyone's facial expressions in the sweet potato field under the ridge.

Jiajing felt a little amused.

This Yan Runwu!

He slowly said, "Yan Shaoting."

Yan Shaoting immediately bowed and clasped his fists: "I am here."

Jiajing also glanced at Xu Jie.

Then he said, "As you said, what should the court do and how can it profit?"

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　There’s another chapter tonight!
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　　Thanks to the Earth Defense Force TDF for the reward

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　　Recommended book "Great Saint Grandson of Tang Dynasty!"

　　After traveling back in time and becoming Li Shimin's grandson, Li Xiang only felt tired.

　　This year, according to historical records, his father Li Chengqian attempted a rebellion but failed, and his entire family was exiled to Qianzhou.

　　In order not to be implicated by his father, Li Xiang decided to take the initiative to attack Master Donggong!
　　Don't you like to take the moral high ground? Then I stand higher than you!

　　The first step is to be a man and fight! The second step is to hate your father for not being able to make you strong!
　　Many years later, Li Xiang, who had already ascended the throne, always felt emotional when he recalled this period of time.

　　Without me, this family will break up sooner or later!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)