"What's so difficult about that?" Zhu You couldn't help but raise his voice and asked, in his opinion, the Manila galleon had to automatically control the scale of trade because of the limited amount of silver produced in Mexico, which was really a great waste of capacity.

For an agrarian society, the production of handicraft workshops determines that the material production of this society has its upper limit.

But for a predominantly industrialized society, as long as there are raw materials, capital, and sales markets, this ceiling is almost non-existent.

If you want to make the initial industrialization of a country with a population of more than 150 million in Daming, the most important thing is not capital, but massive resources and a sales market with a large population.

Spain's American colonies were not only with immeasurable gold and silver mines. The abundant natural conditions of these colonies can provide the Ming with a variety of rich industrial raw materials, which is the most valuable part.

If you want to rely on the Ming Dynasty's own strength to develop the maritime industry and colonize and develop the Americas, not to mention the colonial war with these European colonizers, it will be smooth step by step, and it will take at least 20 years to achieve a small success.

Zhu Youzhen felt that neither Daming nor himself had 20 years to wait. Therefore, with the help of external forces, it is a shortcut to the south.

He didn't expect that someone would puncture his idea so directly, which made him feel a little angry.

Zheng Cai didn't expect Chongzhen to be so nervous about his casual words, and he was speechless when asked.

Seeing that Zheng Cai was a little stunned, Zhu Youzhen felt that he seemed to be a little anxious, so he quickly eased his tone and asked again.

Zheng Cai settled down before continuing: "The other two of the three don't know anything about this issue, but that Don Garcia told me that although this idea is very creative, Mexico does not have so many goods that can be exchanged for Chinese goods. ”

"Why?"

"It seems to have something to do with the fact that Mexico is underpopulated to produce so many supplies for exchange."

"Is he serious? The Spaniards have been running Mexico for so long that they can feel underpopulated? ”

"This, the minister didn't ask in detail, I want to give the minister no more time..."

Zhu Youzhen shook his head and interrupted him and said, "No, I want to meet him in person, you can arrange for me to bring this Tang Garcia to your mansion, and contact Lu Qi after the arrangement." By the way, by the way, I asked him about his background, and before meeting him, I wanted to know what kind of person he was. ”

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Zhu Youzhen thought for a while and said, "There is another thing, I want to discuss it with you." Chiayi Nan wrote a few days ago, hoping that the Xiamen garrison could be replaced by Zheng Zhibiao to take over. He thinks that you are more suitable to manage the affairs of the Foreign Trade Association, such as the position of the president of the Fuzhou branch of the Foreign Trade Association, which is more suitable for you. What do you think of this proposal? ”

Zheng Cai was not annoyed by this, he carefully observed Xia Chongzhen's face, and then said cautiously: "As long as Your Majesty has an order, the minister will not mind giving up the position of Xiamen garrison." However, in this way, Zheng's guerrilla side will lose its restrictions. ”

"That's okay, even if Chiayi Nan is really a dragon on the sea, a Xiamen Island can't decide the future. Besides, trust between this person and man is cultivated mutually.

He now has no sense of trust in the imperial court, so he feels that everything has to be grasped in his own hands. In the future, after getting along with the imperial court for a long time, this erroneous understanding will naturally be dispelled. Now, it's better to put him at ease.

Although it sounds like the association only assists businessmen in carrying out trade activities, the association is also responsible for regulating foreign trade taxes and guiding businessmen's foreign trade.

Now that Zheng Zhilong has asked you to give up the Xiamen garrison, it looks like you will suffer a little loss, but in the long run, you will still make money, so I hope you will give way. Zhu Youzhen said arrogantly.

Seeing that the emperor did not defend himself, Zheng Cai was slightly disappointed in his heart, but his face still had a calm and breezy look, "Since Your Majesty thinks that this is very good, then the minister is willing to give up the position of Xiamen garrison." ”

Zhu Youzhen smiled, and said to him: "You can understand me, naturally it is excellent."

Of course, you don't have to be so sad, I just asked the Ministry of Rites to set up a new department, called the Rifan Academy. How do you feel about the preparation of you to be in charge of Nanyang affairs? ”

Zheng Cai, who was still a little depressed, suddenly became overjoyed. Exchanging a garrison military position for a civilian position was a world of difference for him and his family.

He immediately knelt down and saluted Chongzhen to thank him, and his attitude towards the emperor became more and more deferential. Zhu Youzhen was very satisfied with his demeanor, and said casually: "That's right, although Qing has been reduced to the rivers and lakes for a while, after all, he is still my Ming talent."

Your status as a showman, I have restored the Ministry of Rites. I think it's better for you to always take the right path, this Ming atmosphere is noble and lowly, although I don't agree, but this atmosphere can't be changed in a short time.

With the identity of this showman, you have made several more contributions to Nanyang affairs, and with me behind you, it is not impossible for this feudal minister. The future of Qing's family should depend on Qing's body, do you understand? ”

"The minister is terrified, and it is difficult for the minister to repay His Majesty's grace with broken bones. From now on, the lowly body of the minister should be driven by His Majesty. Zheng Cai, who was grateful, did not hesitate to swear allegiance to Chongzhen again. At this moment, in his mind, even Zheng Zhilong's Zheng character never appeared.

Although Zheng Cai has always claimed to be a Xiucai, it is a very rare situation that a Xiucai who is less than 20 years old is actually sent by his family to the sea to beg for a living.

Admitted to Xiucai, in the Ming Dynasty is equivalent to half a foot into the official career, this kind of future bureaucratic reserve talent in the Ming Dynasty, it is impossible to go to the sea so easily to engage in cheap business, because the gains outweigh the losses.

Chongzhen ordered the Ministry of Rites to check Zheng Cai's books, and found that there was no record of him being admitted to the Xiucai, so he naturally knew his talent as a Xiucai.

But now that he has personally fulfilled this lie for Zheng Cai, it shows that Zheng Cai will return to the bureaucracy in the future, and will no longer be a good pirate guarded by the imperial court.

This is undoubtedly equivalent to a chance for Zheng Cai and Zheng Cai's family to be reborn. Of course, with such a bright hope, Zheng Cai's family will naturally take the initiative to draw a line with Zheng Zhilong's family to ensure their innocence.

When Zheng Cai walked out of the imperial city with a spring breeze on his face, Chongzhen's heart was also slightly relaxed, Zheng Cai has always been Zheng Zhilong's think tank, and he knows the distribution of forces within Eighteen Zhizhi well. If you can get closer to the imperial court, Zheng Zhilong, the dragon on the sea, will finally have traces to follow in the eyes of the imperial court.

In this way, the overall situation of the southeast coast of the Ming Dynasty can finally be stabilized, and the imperial court only needs to move the attention of these coastal thieves from the coastal waters of the Ming Dynasty to the foreign oceans where wealth and risks are unknown, then the order of the southeast coast of the Ming Dynasty can be truly restored.

Chongzhen took a few sips of tea at this time, and Zhao Chengdong, Mao Youde, Mao Yongxi, and Ye Yuxuan were brought in.

After seeing the four of them salute, Zhu Youzhen simply ordered: "No courtesy, give a seat." After the four of them sat down stiffly, he continued: "I came to you today because I wanted you to do something.

The four of you, except for Ye Yuxuan, are all from Dongjiang Town, so you should know each other? ”

Mao Youde and Mao Yongxi trembled and didn't dare to reply, but Mao Chenglu, who has changed his name now, may have seen Chongzhen once, but replied in a relaxed mood: "That's true, when the minister was on the island in the past, they were all righteous sons and grandsons under the knee of their father-in-law, and we had a lot of contacts. ”

Zhu Youzhen nodded and said, "That's good, in the future, the four of you will have to do things together, be closer to each other, and don't make any fuss with each other." DID YOU KNOW? ”

The four of them hurriedly bowed their heads and agreed, and Zhu Youzhen continued with satisfaction: "What I want you to do is indeed quite difficult, but if you can work together to complete this matter, I will not hesitate to reward the marquis." ”

Zhao Chengdong, Mao Youde, and Mao Yongxi glanced at each other, making sure that they had heard correctly, and the three of them suddenly became a little excited. Ye Yuxuan, who was sitting on the side, was much calmer, still quietly waiting for the emperor to continue.

Zhu Youzhen gave an order to Wang Chengen beside him, and then said to the four of them: "All four of you come in, I want to tell you what you are going to do next." ”

As soon as Chongzhen's words fell, a little eunuch who was waiting outside suddenly stepped forward, opened the bead curtain separating the inner and outer rooms, and motioned for the three of them to walk in.

When the four of them entered the inner room, they saw Wang Chengen remove the screen behind the emperor, and then two little eunuchs came in and lit the candlesticks around them.

The four of them realized that there was still a large space behind the emperor, and a huge sand table was placed in it.

After Zhu Youzhen walked to the edge of the sand table and stood still, he beckoned the four of them to come to his side and explained to them: "This sand table is still not detailed, but it only includes the rough shape of the Bohai Sea, the East China Sea, the Northeast region, the Korean Peninsula, and the Japanese archipelago.

Some places may still be a little distorted, after all, these areas have not been precisely mapped. Therefore, you should not be too rigid about the specific details on the sand table, of course, as a rough map of the area, it should still be usable. ”

When Chongzhen explained in a rambling manner, the eyes of Zhao Chengdong, Mao Youde, and Mao Yongxi were already wide. Although the three of them were born in the Dongjiang River and are quite familiar with the Liaodong Peninsula, it is the first time they have seen such a sand table made according to the scale.

In just a moment, the fragmented geographical impression in their minds coincided with this sand table. Not to mention the others, this feeling of being off the ground and looking down on the earth has a great impact on them.

There is not no sand table in the army, the sand table has appeared in the spring and autumn period, but these handed down sand tables lack the concept of proportion, whether the sand table can conform to the terrain, it all depends on the craftsmanship of the craftsman, so the sand table produced is at most a slight shape.

But the sand table that Chongzhen showed them, although there are still some differences in the details, but the entire sand table is made according to the scale, which makes the sand table very realistic.

For the three military attachés, Zhao Chengdong, Mao Youde, and Mao Yongxi, this experience is simply a rare opportunity. From this moment on, they finally had an intuitive experience of the shape of the Liaodong Peninsula and the Korean Peninsula. If they fight in this area, they will be able to judge the location of our friends and foes more accurately than before.