marquis of jingan

Chapter 1440: Imperial Teacher

Chapter 1440: Imperial Teacher

The next day, in Ganlu Palace.

The emperor and his minister sat across the table from each other. Master Shen reached out to pour wine for the emperor, then lowered his head slightly and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, after the crown prince is enthroned, I will return to Yanjing. It will be difficult to fight the Tatars, but before the arrival of winter this year, the war with the outside of the pass will definitely be fought."

The emperor took the wine glass and clinked it with Shen Yi. After the two drank a glass of wine together, the emperor put down the wine glass and said, "I am relieved that Shen Qing is doing things, including going to sea in the past few years, and the results are not small."

"The silver mines in Japan are already on their way back. Every year, we earn at least several million taels of silver. Just based on this fact, you were right when you insisted on attacking Japan."

Shen Yi smiled and said, "Your Majesty, gold mines and silver mines are only temporary. They will be mined out one day, and no matter whether it is gold or silver, it can not be regarded as wealth in essence."

This was the first time the emperor had heard of this statement. He asked curiously, "What does Shen Qing mean by this?"

Mr. Shen sorted out his words and said, "Your Majesty, the reason is very simple."

"Gold and silver, especially silver, are used as money in Dachen, but the things in Dachen are limited."

"I have a special term for this, called productivity."

"A large amount of silver is pouring in. Once the total amount of productivity cannot keep up with the amount of money, it will inevitably lead to currency depreciation."

The emperor frowned and said, "In the past five or six years, the price of silver has not fallen."

Shen Yi said softly: "That's because not only the Da Chen family uses silver as currency, but also nearby countries use silver. The total amount of extra silver can be transferred to nearby countries, thereby plundering part of the wealth of these countries."

"Moreover, the imperial court took back the north ten years ago, and now the country is on the rise, so many problems cannot be seen."

Mr. Shen said solemnly: "Your Majesty, the real wealth is not gold and silver, but the real things."

"Whether it's food or wood, the things that can be used for food and drink are the real wealth."

"Once the matter in Japan is settled, the entire island of Japan can be used as one of Da Chen's overseas bases. At that time, Da Chen can use a series of methods to plunder overseas wealth, so that a steady stream of resources can flow into Da Chen."

"In this way, Dachen will naturally become a prosperous country with a strong people and a long-lasting national prosperity."

Although Emperor Hongde was a shrewd emperor, some of his ideas were still too old-fashioned. It’s not that Shen Yi didn’t teach him, but when one’s influence was not strong enough or the conditions were not ripe, no matter how much he said, it would be of no use.

And now, the time is ripe.

With Dachen's current commodity export capacity, even without engaging in bloody colonial activities, it can rely on dumping to plunder overseas wealth through normal commercial exchanges.

Moreover, after Su Ding's subsequent battles were over, Da Chen could actually carry out economic colonization of the East Japan Island, and in the future even use the East Japan Island as a springboard to usher in the Age of Discovery.

Emperor Hongde was stunned by Shen Yi's words. He stroked his chin and thought for a long time, then said thoughtfully: "Shen Qing, the so-called heaven is constant, shouldn't we follow nature?"

"Your Majesty, if there really is a high and mighty Heavenly Dao in the sky, Emperor Shizong would not have fled south that year. Could it be that the Zhuli Zhenren who wreaked havoc in the north eighty years ago was from a clan with Dao?"

"Besides..."

Master Shen said in a deep voice: "Da Chen practices humanity, which means taking from the poor and serving the rich. Jiuzhou is only so big. If we want the people to live a better life and the Da Chen court to be stronger, we can only look further and develop further."

"The silver that is being shipped over from the island of Toyo is a good example."

Emperor Hongde thought about it seriously. Before he could digest what Shen Yi said, Lord Shen continued, "Your Majesty, I am not saying that we must rush to explore and seek outside in the next few years, but we must open our horizons for future generations. We must not limit ourselves to the land of Kyushu and be complacent."

"The simplest thing is that if there was no Maritime Customs, the imperial court's northern expedition would not have been so smooth. If there had not been Su Ding going out to sea a few years ago, there would not be so much cash being sent to the imperial court now."

As a "special" person of this era, Shen Yi has achieved personal success and fame, and has become one of the most noble people in the world. Putting aside his family, as far as he is concerned, Shen Yi's own personal value has been realized to the greatest extent.

When Mr. Shen first came into this world more than 20 years ago, this was all he wanted.

But people's ideas always change as they move around. For example, in the past ten years, Shen Yi, in addition to finding a way out for his family, the rest of his thought was that since he had come to this world, he should try to change something.

At the very least, we need to get rid of some of the "decline" that is becoming increasingly apparent in this era.

Or, the great changes that may come in a few hundred years will not be so tragic.

Therefore, he now needs to communicate some things with the emperor and also teach the emperor some things.

If it was another emperor, Mr. Shen probably wouldn't say it explicitly, but Emperor Hongde...

You can say that.

Let’s not talk about whether he is a friend or not for now. For Shen Yi, at least Emperor Hongde is a good leader.

His Majesty the Emperor touched his chin and thought seriously for a while, then he looked up at Shen Yi and said with a smile: "The affairs in the north are now in the hands of Shen Qing. If Shen Qing wants to try many things, I will support you. Just go ahead and do it."

"Anyway, the national treasury has saved a lot of money here, enough for our king and ministers to squander for a while."

Starting from the 20th year of Hongde, Shandong's taxation returned to normal, and then the taxation in the northern provinces gradually returned to normal. In addition, Shen Yi paid more attention to commerce, the economy in the north prospered relatively, and the amount of money paid to the national treasury also increased a lot.

Emperor Hongde was a somewhat stingy emperor. He had saved a lot of money over the years. Not only the national treasury, but also the inner treasury was full.

It is precisely because of this that Emperor Hongde had the confidence to start a war.

Shen Yi looked serious and bowed his head, saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

"We have seen the results of going out to sea from Su Ding. In recent years, I will let Your Majesty and the court see more results, and let future generations..."

Shen Yi's eyes were firm: "I see the benefits of going overseas."

"Shen Qing is the one who makes the decision on this matter. I will not interfere."

The emperor lowered his head and took a sip of wine, then looked up at Shen Yi and said slowly: "I sent someone to check yesterday. My brother-in-law went to your house to look for you, right?"

"So, you came to me today to avoid him?"

"It's not like I'm hiding from Lord Sun."

Shen Yi smiled and said, "It is normal for the Sun family to be happy about the new crown prince. I am reluctant to go to their house, but it is difficult to refuse, so I can only come to Your Majesty."

"But I came to His Majesty's place mainly to report to him, and hiding in their house was just a side thing..."

His Majesty the Emperor lowered his head to drink again, his voice a little cold: "Indeed, with his status as the crown prince, even you, Shen Qing, can't refuse the Sun family's invitation, and no other official in the court dares to refuse."

"It's really..."

Emperor Hong De sneered, "Jumping up and down."

Master Shen reached out to add more wine to the emperor, then smiled and advised: "Children are ignorant, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince may not know about it. Perhaps the Sun family wants to get closer to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Unlike Emperor Hongde, the third prince Li Rong has no blood relationship with the Sun family.

The relationship between them is only legal, so both of them need to deliberately maintain this somewhat fragile relationship.

His Majesty the Emperor groaned, "My mother's body is still warm. I don't want to have any quarrels with their family. But if they want to make trouble, that's wishful thinking."

Shen Yi nodded silently and said, "Your Majesty should be more patient and teach His Royal Highness the Crown Prince a lesson."

"Where do I have the time to teach him?"

Emperor Hongde raised his glass, clinked it with Shen Yi, and said slowly: "After the enthronement ceremony is over, I will issue an order for him to go to the north with Shen Qing. Shen Qing will keep a good eye on him for me."

"If he is a promising talent along the way, Shen Qing will take the trouble to teach him."

"If he wasn't..."

Emperor Hong De knocked on the table and narrowed his eyes.

"Shen Qing, you don't have to worry about him. After taking him for a walk, just release him back to Jiankang."

(End of this chapter)