Chapter 1431 The World’s Money and Grain Have Their Own Fixed Amount. Who Benefits From the Profits of Maritime Trade?

"Taizong's law, Taizong establishes the capital, our dynasty is based on the north...this...is!...Fantai's lesson is! The students are really...suddenly enlightened...suddenly enlightened!..."

In the study room, faced with the advice from the Chief Envoy Wang Zhe, Shi Wende looked stunned, nodded repeatedly, and could not say any unnecessary words.

The Great Way of the Saint, Taizu Taizong, and the national political policies of the Ming Dynasty were all pressed together. How could he dare to say "no"? But in his heart, he still couldn't fully agree.

After all, the chief envoy said that he was "agricultural and business-based" and "the north and the south are integrated", and he said that "the common people are pursuing profit" and "businessmen are cunning"...

But during his years of sea trading, the Shishi family had many interactions with farmers, merchants, pirates, gentry, soldiers, officials, and all kinds of people. The intuitive experience he gained, what he saw and heard, was completely different from the so-called "sage's righteousness" mentioned by the chief envoy!

The chief envoy said, "Encourage farmers to bring peace to the people." However, the population in Zhejiang increased, and the gentry annexed a large amount of land. As a result, there are more and more farmers with little or no land, and tens of thousands of people are in poverty. How can we "encourage farmers" and "pacify the people" when no one has any land to farm?

Just like the "sailors" recruited by the Tarshish family, aren't they all unable to survive farming, so they are forced to go to sea to find a way to survive? Zhejiang is better, and Fujian further south has eight mountains, one water, and one farmland! There are more sea masters in Fujian, and there are even more countless ordinary people who went to the scourge of Southeast Asia and died in barbaric foreign lands!

Let's talk about "converting rice to mulberry", which will reduce grain production. Aren't the villages in Zhejiang's prefectures where mulberry cultivation is truly large-scale the most aggressive mergers and acquisitions by large gentry households? In fact, most of the profits from maritime trade fall into the hands of those who supply and receive goods, including those gentry and prominent families!

According to the laws and unspoken rules of the Ming Dynasty, the gentry were protected by fame and had various connections, and they did not receive any money or food at all... huh? wrong! Now that I, Mr. Shi, have gained the fame of being a civil servant, I can barely squeeze into the bottom of the gentry list! …

Shi Wende was silent for a moment, Wang Zhe stroked his beard and said nothing, and the study instantly became quiet. This silence brought more pressure to him than when the chief envoy spoke. Therefore, Shi Wende tried his best to maintain a smile, continued to maintain the humble posture of a student, and asked for advice.

"Fantai, you just said that peace in Zhejiang lies not in sea trade, but in encouraging farmers... I wonder how to do this to encourage farmers?..."

"Hmm... The study of sages puts persuading farmers first. And Zhu Xi once wrote an article "Encouraging Farmers", which mentioned in detail the key points of "persuading farmers". Sicheng, you need to read this article "Persuading Farmers" "Nongwen", recite it carefully... When I look for Jinshi, the first thing I look at is 'loyalty, trust and righteousness', and the second point is to look at the knowledge of 'persuading farmers', whether you are familiar with it..."

The chief envoy, Wang Zhe, stroked his beard and became unusually kind when talking about knowledge. Being a teacher and giving guidance to those who want to make progress is the most "warm and affectionate" relationship in Confucian culture at this time.

"In addition to government supervision, there are three key points in persuading farmers. The first is that 'spring has arrived and the pulse of soil has risen', 'soak the seeds and plant the seedlings, and plow deeply and shallowly'. Every prefecture and every county must Arrange officials to persuade farmers to teach farmers and people that they must abide by the farming season and cultivate intensively to ensure the yield of the fields. "

"Secondly, 'Farming is our main occupation, but millet, beans, hemp, wheat, vegetables, tomato and taro are also edible.' Rice is mainly grown in the south of the Yangtze River, millet can be grown in dry lands, and hemp can be grown in mountainous areas. , beans, vegetables, and water yam can be grown in ponds... A variety of varieties are needed to prepare for spring famine..."

"The reason why converting rice to mulberry is harmful to the country and the people is not only the reduction of rice production, but also the large amount of weaving and brocade, which consumes too much people's power and easily delays the harvest of other cereals, fruits and vegetables... This reduction is repeated If the reduction continues, not only will Jiangnan be unable to supply itself with food, but it will have to be transported from Huguang! And we must know that money and food have their own destiny! Let’s not talk about money, food cannot be reduced anymore..."

Having said this, the chief envoy Wang Zhe raised his eyebrows, with a hint of murderous intent flashing in his eyes. After this spring inspection, he was very dissatisfied with the situation in the fields in Zhejiang and some of the people behind it.

For a traditional scholar like him who was born in the north, the developed commodity economy in the south of the Yangtze River, especially the benefits brought by maritime trade, made the world's food increasingly scarce. In pursuit of profit, Huguang's grain was shipped in large quantities to the south of the Yangtze River. The grain that could be transported to the north of the Yellow River was increasingly reduced, or the cost was greatly increased. Jiangnan does not grow food, and such good land does not grow food, which eventually leads to food shortages in the border areas. This is simply a cancer, a cancer that poisoned the entire Ming Dynasty! …

"Well... there is also the third and most important point in persuading farmers, water conservancy and plowing cattle! 'The benefits of pit ponds are the foundation of farming, especially when we work together to build them.' 'The power of plowing is all due to the power of cattle.' Zhejiang In a land, water conservancy must be cultivated frequently. Only with water can there be good fields, and only with canals can there be good fields! And these fields must be plowed deeply with cattle to further increase production. Anyone who slaughters cattle without permission is a serious crime against farmers. . Once caught, they will be punished and killed as a warning..."

"The learning of saints is based on agriculture. And in agriculture, water conservancy is the most critical. Therefore, 'water repair' is a top priority that will benefit the present and future generations!"

"Last year, the Yellow River overflowed and there were even several executions. Liu Gong resolutely took up the responsibility of repairing the river and supervised and managed the Yellow River... Compared with the achievements of such a saint, whether it is military achievements in border affairs, local education, or court affairs ’s martial arts are somewhat dwarfed by comparison!…”

When talking about Liu Daxia's management of the Yellow River, the chief envoy Wang Zhe had a rare and vivid expression on his face, showing his sincere admiration and yearning.

In the Confucian culture of emphasizing agriculture, military exploits and border expansion, as well as supporting the emperor, are not as good as "building water conservancy projects"! And among all the "building water conservancy projects", the most important one is "controlling the river", controlling the Yellow River!

"Controlling the Yellow River" is almost the most valued, the most difficult to obtain, and the highest honor and reputation for the Confucian scholar-official class! This is the real "great merit of the saint, benefiting the people". Once you have made merit in river repair, you will first rise to the top in your official career. Secondly, you will be respected by everyone in the scholar-official community. Later, this history book will definitely leave a heavy mark, glorifying your family and future generations! …

Compared with this, opening up the sea for sea trade and expanding the border for military exploits are not in line with the "saint's teachings" and the "agricultural values". These things, even if they are accomplished, may not be merits. And once they are done poorly, it must be a huge sin!

"Repairing rivers and encouraging farming is the righteous way of the saints! And this maritime trade..."

Governor Wang Zhe's eyes were deep and he shook his head gently. He looked at Shi Wende's face and spoke in a tone of guiding a student.

"Sicheng, the world's money and grain have their own fixed amount! Maritime trade is really harmful to our Ming Dynasty. The people along the coast pursued profits and changed rice to mulberry, which greatly reduced the grain... I have said this before, it is the word "grain" in money and grain."

"And the word "money" in money and grain, which I have not mentioned before, is also a big disadvantage brought by maritime trade! Foreign merchants and Japanese merchants came with a lot of luxury goods, and took away our copper coins and Tongbao... which reduced the copper coins, and even Shaanxi had a money shortage! Copper coins are used by villagers in rural trade. The fewer copper coins, the more desolate the countryside!..."

"Foreign merchants and Japanese merchants also brought a lot of silver, which greatly increased the amount of silver... and silver is used by citizens in trade. The more silver, the higher the price. In Hangzhou and Ningbo, the price of rice is twice that of the countryside, and several times that of Shaanxi..."

As the governor Wang Zhe spoke, he narrowed his eyes dangerously. Then, he narrowed his eyes, stared at Shi Wende, and spoke meaningfully.

"Maritime trade is booming secretly, copper coins are flowing out, and silver coins are increasing. Villagers and citizens are suffering greatly. Sicheng, you said that the court did not get a penny of the profits from maritime trade, and the common people did not get much either. Who got the big share? And if maritime trade is really booming, can the common people really benefit? Can the court really benefit?..."

"As for the current situation, how many of the people behind Ningbo's foreign trade are foreigners and Japanese, and how many are gentry and powerful people along the coast?..."