Chapter 178 The money in the town treasury is really big
Gao Qiyu and Xu Fan are both extremely professional envoys, so they call Felipe II the king instead of the emperor. Felipe II is not the emperor. This It is a very certain fact that even Felipe II has to admit.
If Felipe II was not a believer, he could still try to proclaim himself emperor, but his persona is that of a devout believer and a vanguard of anti-Protestantism, so the title of emperor is destined to be the same as that of Felipe II. Pei II is out of luck.
Don Juan said that Felipe II wanted to create the illusion that the Empire on which the Sun Never Sets had the same status as the Ming Dynasty.
But Felipe II was really not an emperor.
The word emperor corresponds to Imperator in Latin, which means triumphal general and the highest military commander. It was an honorific title given to generals who returned from battle in ancient Rome.
Later it gradually evolved into a synonym for the supreme ruler of the known world.
In fact, both Gao Qiyu and Xu Fan have always believed that the word Caesar can describe the emperor more accurately. This word means Caesar.
The emperor was defined in this way in the Ming Dynasty. The supreme ruler and nominal co-owner of the known world has become so accustomed to this definition that it is difficult to give up.
The supreme ruler of the known world is very easy to understand. In the known world, he is the co-lord of the world. Similar titles include Khan of Heaven, Lord of Kings, King of Unification of the Four Seas, and Great Lord of Unification of the Four Seas. Jun is the honorific title given to the Emperor of Ming Dynasty when the vassal states pay tribute. During the Yongle period, Ming Dynasty conquered all the places it could go to.
The nominal co-owner, even if a powerful minister is in power, is the emperor as he is.
Cao Cao coerced the emperor to order the princes. When Cao Cao died, he was only the king of Wei, not the emperor. Similarly, the Ming Dynasty is now ruled by Zhang Juzheng, and the emperor is young; before it was Gao Gong, Li Chunfang, Xu Jie, When Yan Song, Xia Yan, etc. were in charge of the country, Emperor Jiajing and Emperor Longqing were not too busy. Although these chief ministers could decide most of the affairs of the Ming Dynasty, the supreme ruler was still the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty.
The third one is one who is so accustomed to it that it is difficult to let go. In fact, a long time ago, the Central Plains Dynasty had realized that the world might be really big. Under the sky, could it be the king's ministers, and on the shore of the land, could it be the king? Earth is just a beautiful but unattainable dream. When Zhang Qian, the Han envoy, left the fortress, he opened the door to a new world for the Han Dynasty. Zheng He of the Ming Dynasty made seven voyages to the West, exploring the vastness of the world.
But I have become accustomed to being called an emperor, and I no longer care about why the emperor, who has the virtues of the three emperors and the achievements of the five emperors, is not the highest ruler in the known world.
This kind of definition is somewhat conflicting and contradictory, but conflicting and stable states are everywhere.
Even though the Spanish Empire was an empire on which the sun never set, Felipe II was not the emperor. At this time, there were two emperors in Spain, one was the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, and the other was the one who conquered Constantine Fort of the Ottoman Sultan.
The Holy Roman Empire is indeed neither holy, nor Roman, nor an empire, and the Ottoman Sultan is even more of a pagan, but he is indeed an emperor, and the Ottoman Sultan’s title of emperor is very authentic, after all. The Ottoman Sultan really destroyed the Eastern Roman Empire and took the throne.
Gao Qiyu then said: "Why does the king have such a mentality? To cross the ocean and attack the Ming Dynasty thousands of miles away, has the conflict between us become so intense that we have to fight each other? I don’t even understand why the king is so confident.”
“I heard that your country’s commander-in-chief, Don Juan, seemed to have been defeated by the Ottomans during the battle for Tunisia the year before last. Ulrich Ali captured the Tunisian king and sent him back to the castle. Oh, it should be called Istanbul now. "
"The threat of the Ottomans is so close, and the king actually wants to attack the Ming Dynasty thousands of miles away. It’s really mind-boggling and puzzling. ”
Gao Qiyu's words directly poked Felipe II's lungs and talked about Felipe II's defeat.
In the second year of Wanli, Tang Juan was defeated in Tunisia.
General Ulrich Ali of the Ottomans was defeated in the previous naval battle of Lepanto. After returning, Ulrich tried his best to win back in the second year of Wanli. Don Juan's defeat in Tunisia was very unfortunate. It is beneficial to Spain's strategy, because the defeat of Don Juan proved two things. The first is that the Armada is not invincible; second, Spain is not invincible;
The Tunis Strait divides the entire Mediterranean into two, east and west. The Mediterranean, and Tunisia is the key. Whoever holds the Tunisian region will have the initiative in the Mediterranean. The victory of the Ottoman Kingdom in the Tunisian battlefield allowed the Ottoman Kingdom to gain this strategic initiative in the struggle for sea power in the Mediterranean.
The defeat of Don Juan, the commander-in-chief of the Holy Alliance, made the whole of Texi very uneasy.
When Felipe II heard Gao Qiyu talk about the defeat in the Tunisian naval battle, his face became even uglier. He looked at his younger brother. If Tang Juan had not been defeated in Tunisia, he would not have been ridiculed like this by the Ming Dynasty's envoys. .
The cause of the matter was Felipe II. He took the lead and said that his army was invincible and could conquer all the places he wanted to conquer, which caused Gao Qiyu to fight back.
And Gao Qiyu’s counterattack was so powerful that it made Felipe II a little unbearable, but he had to accept this humiliation. If you haven’t fought before, you really haven’t fought before. You can’t win against the Ming envoy. Arguing won't solve the problem.
"Yes, the situation in Tunisia is just as the envoy said, but we will definitely win it back." Felipe II said a little bit and no longer mentioned the conquest of the Ming Dynasty.
"Really? Then I wish the king will realize his long-cherished wish as soon as possible." Gao Qiyu gradually lowered his aggressiveness and began to talk to Felipe II about trade with the Ming Dynasty, and determined some of the trade issues between them. detail.
This kind of trade is partially reciprocal. For example, the Ming Dynasty agreed to allow the large sailing ships assigned by Felipe II to enter the Ming Dynasty. Then the Ming Dynasty's sailing ships should not be blocked when they came to Seville. The Ming Dynasty had a ban on raw silk, and Felipe II Lippe II found that he had no corresponding ban. Should he ban silver?
This kind of trade is also partially unequal. For example, the Ming Dynasty enjoyed absolute pricing power over goods. Felipe II was firmly opposed to this. The two parties did not reach an agreement on this matter, and Gao Qiyu did not I was anxious, there was no quarrel or shouting, I just skipped the topic.
When protected by strong troops, the advantages of goods are fully reflected.
It is you, Spain, who needs Ming's goods, not Ming, who comes to supply them. This is completely a seller's market. Felipe II openly disagrees with it. Spain can only accept the Ming's price increase.
The prerequisite for the commodity advantage to be able to do whatever it wants is that Ming must have enough force to guarantee Ming's commodity advantage.
After certain results were achieved on these key issues, the atmosphere became heated.
Felipe II dedicated a Chinese hall to display goods from the East, such as silk, porcelain, colored glaze, etc., and the painting of the Nanjing Glazed Tower brought back by Antonio was placed in Felipe liked this glazed tower very much.
“If possible, I hope to build such a tall tower with all glazed glass, but I can’t. The huge military expenditure has made me bankrupt twice, although I can pay off these debts. , but there will always be some unseen consequences that are blooming quietly, such as the general resistance in the Netherlands in the Low Countries. "When Felipe II took Gao Qiyu to visit the China Hall, he looked at the Glazed Tower with a kind of feeling. yearn for.
He also wanted to build one, but there were not enough craftsmen, or he couldn't do it.
"You are a wise monarch. Your diligence has been heard even as far away as the Ming Dynasty." Gao Qiyu did not hesitate to praise him and said with a smile. He said it sincerely. In comparison, it can be said that The lazy Ming emperor, Felipe II, was absolutely diligent.
"Oh? Really? Thank you for your compliment." Felipe II was happy when he heard that. If he praised him in other aspects, he might think that Gao Qiyu was exaggerating in business, but in terms of diligence, , even the Netherlands, which was most opposed to him, strongly agreed with this.
Felipe II can still tell the difference between sincerity and politeness.
Felipe II had to deal with 2,000 official documents at most in one day, and he spent seven hours every day on these official documents. He once talked to his secretary Maria José Rodri Gus Salgado once complained: He always has a hundred thousand documents in front of him, and after disposing of them, there will be even more the next day.
In order to reduce these cumbersome official documents, Felipe II specially formed a number of councils. Although these councils could share some common affairs for him, it was difficult for these councils to coordinate with each other. It needs to be handled by Felipe II himself. The most important thing is that many times, the resolutions reached by the council will conflict with the king's opinions, or even be completely contrary to them.
In order to make sure that he or the council's decision was more beneficial to the empire, Felipe II would also write letters to the governors of various places and personally ask for their opinions before making a decision.
"Is the Ming Emperor also as diligent?" Felipe II asked curiously. He really didn't know the life of the Ming Emperor. Legas's letters did not describe the emperor's life very well. It is clear that Legas really does not know. He does not understand the life of the Ming emperor. Even in the Ming Dynasty, he does not know much.
Felipe II’s words unintentionally poked Gao Qiyu’s lungs.
Was the Ming Emperor diligent? The answer is no.
Emperor Jiajing has not been in court for more than 20 years, and sometimes even his memorials can be backlogged for several months. Emperor Longqing directly turned on the hidden mode and left everything to the courtiers. During the Aoshan Lantern Festival , is the time when Emperor Longqing speaks the most to foreign ministers a year.
This should have been a question that Gao Qiyu couldn't talk about.
"Yes! Our Emperor of the Ming Dynasty also worked very hard."
"Our Majesty is only fourteen years old this year, but after getting up at five o'clock, he began to listen to politics, give banquets, practice martial arts, and cultivate crops. He studied agriculture, arithmetic, and calendar studies, and wrote letters to officials in various places to appease them, especially martial arts. At the age of fourteen, he could already shoot a sixty-three-pound stiff bow. "Gao Qiyu said about the Ming Emperor. It was hard work, and I couldn't help but puff up my chest.
Gao Qiyu didn't know the emperor's hard work. After being kicked out of the Chu Guild Hall by Zhang Juzheng, Gao Qiyu made a special effort to find out more about it, and then he figured it out. It turned out that the Ming Emperor changed his temper and became diligent!
This kind of diligence is so incredible, as magical as the sun rising in the west.
Gao Qiyu didn't believe it at first, but after he met with His Majesty at Xuanwu Gate and watched His Majesty's hard work in Baoqisi, he could no longer question this ironclad fact. Although this matter was very outrageous, It does happen.
A born noble man actually knows what a heavy burden he carries on his shoulders, and works hard to become a noble scholar.
Now, Gao Qiyu has successfully completed the mission assigned by the emperor. He came to the West to meet the King of Spain. While presenting his credentials, he also reached a number of specific treaties on business exchanges.
"So hard?" Felipe II said with envy: "An emperor who rules a population of 100 million, and whose territory is even more vast than the Ming Emperor in the entire West, is only fourteen years old. Such diligence is indeed the luck of the empire.”
Felipe II is really envious. Diligence is inevitable for the heir of an empire and the leader of an empire.
But his son Don Carlos, because of the relationship between the eldest son and the heir, did evil things, and finally turned into an unscrupulous and lawless madman. Although Felipe II kept emphasizing that his eldest son was Tangka Los was sick, but Felipe II himself knew that his son went crazy after being imprisoned by him because of his arrogance and willfulness.
Although his successor Don Carlos, together with his brother Don Juan, intended to overthrow the rule of Felipe II, and even publicly criticized Felipe II many times, the reason that made Felipe II determined to imprison his son was , it was Don Carlos who made the shoemaker eat the shoe.
Gao Qiyu and Xu Fan will next take part in a grand tour, starting from Madrid and traveling throughout the West. This grand tour is planned to go to Lisbon, France, the Netherlands and England, and then to Austria. , Germany, the Holy Roman Empire and Tsarist Russia would also go to the Ottomans if possible.
Gao Qiyu did not plan to go to Rome to see the Pope. Zi Bu Yu’s strange power confuses the gods. Just like Felipe II did not understand that the Ming Emperor did not need the canonization of the Holy See. The Ming people actually canonized human kings to human gods. I don’t understand this either.
Not to mention Taoism and Buddhism, it is Confucianism and the Yanshenggong family of the Master. As long as you have such thoughts, even breathing is a mistake.
Gao Qiyu and Xu Fan will stay in Western Europe for a long time, observe the customs and customs of various countries, record them in books, and send them back to the Ming Dynasty. This is their second mission as envoys. In early April of the fourth year of Wanli, Gao Qiyu and Xu Fan set sail again, heading for Lisbon, the capital of Portugal.
At this time, the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, who was far away in the world, was listening to the affairs of the imperial court as always. On the table of the Wenhua Palace where the nine ministers of the Ming Dynasty were reviewing the court, there should have been the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. The location is empty.
Four months passed by, and Zhang Juzheng still had not found a suitable official minister.
"No matter what, we must decide on a Minister of the Ministry of Personnel today." Zhang Juzheng's tone was a little helpless. The choice of the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel was not difficult, but very difficult. Zhang Juzheng looked at Wang Chonggu and said: "I still nominate The Minister of the Ministry of Justice moved to Wang Chonggu. "
"Yuanfu, although I am working in the Ministry of Justice and the official factory of the Ministry of Industry, I will never be the Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs." Wang Chonggu immediately said. Opposed, he himself opposed being appointed Minister of the Ministry of Personnel.
From the Ministry of Justice to the Ministry of Personnel, if Wang Chonggu agrees, he can be in charge of the selection of hundreds of officials. It seems to be a flat promotion, but it is a real promotion and greater power.
Wang Chonggu refused to agree because he knew very well that his identity should not be affected too much by things like power. Even if he was to join the cabinet, he should not be in charge of selection.
The power of the Minister of Punishment is neither too big nor too small, just right. Wang Chonggu is only focused on making money, and he is also busy with official affairs when he joins the cabinet.
"It is understandable that the chief minister does not want to go to the Ministry of Civil Affairs to be the minister. How about letting Ge Zongxian do it?" Wang Guangguang suggested Ge Shouli. Yang Bo is the leader of the Jin Party, Zhang Han is the leader of the Jin Party, and Wang Chonggu is a nationalist member of the Jin Party, so it is better to let Ge Shouli, the leader of the Jin Party, continue to work.
"I don't want to do it. I'm old and weak, and the officials are busy with official duties. I can't do it. If I were asked to do it, then I would have to become an official." Ge Shouli refused very clearly. The reason for Ge Shouli's refusal It's very simple. The yamen of the Ministry of Personnel is busy with general affairs, and he can't handle it. He is old and old. The last time he took office, His Majesty persuaded him to stay, but Ge Shouli has gradually faded away from the core of power and concentrated on party building.
The Minister of Civil Affairs is the inherent territory of the Jin Party. Whether it is Yang Bo, Gao Gong, Zhang Han, they are all members of the Jin Party, so candidates from the Jin Party must be nominated.
But this person cannot be an extremist. For example, people like Zhang Siwei are determined not to do it. What Zhang Han did in this position is really a bit mind-numbing.
Zhu Yijun coughed lightly and said: "I asked you to take both the posts, but he refused. Then the position of Minister of the Ministry of Personnel has been vacant for four months, and the Ministry of Personnel is also doing well, so why not make a brand? , it is engraved with the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and the brand is the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel? "
The level of humiliation of the little emperor is recognized by both inside and outside the Ming Dynasty.
The meaning of these words is that even if you become a minister of the Ministry of official affairs, you are better than Zhang Han.
Zhang Juzheng was silent for a moment and said: "Your Majesty, I still have some proposals for candidates. I propose that the Minister of Rites, Wan Shihe, be appointed as the Minister of Rites, Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Personnel, and Ma Ziqiang, the Vice President of the Ming Dynasty Huidian."
< br>Don't tell me, don't tell me, Wan Shihe is really suitable to be the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel.
Wan Shihe was born in the Jin Party. Wan Shihe was ordered to sit on the fence. Wan Shihe was not extreme, and even too tactful. He was indeed an excellent candidate. This is a key position in the power struggle. There is such a person. Being in power is not a bad thing.
At least Wan Shihe and Xini's temperament will not further intensify the contradiction between Zhang Dang and Chu Dang. He is ordered to sit on the wall and visit all Chu, Jin and Zhejiang guild halls.
Everyone looked at Wan Shihe. Wan Shihe pointed at himself and said, "Me? How can I be so virtuous and capable? I won't do it."
"I agree." Wang Chonggu was the first to agree. When everyone else sat on it, they all put on the fire grill, except Wan Shihe. Who made Wan Shihe smooth?
Wang Guoguang thought carefully, nodded and said, "I agree too."
Ge Shouli smiled and said, "I have no objection."
Tan, Minister of the Ministry of War Lun thought again and again and said with a smile: "Very good."
Seeing that more than half of the people agreed, Zhang Juzheng bowed his head and said, "What do you think, Your Majesty?"
"Excellent, it's decided, let Uncle Da Zong be the Minister of the Ministry of Official Affairs." Zhu Yijun thought about it for a while and felt that there was no problem. Ma Ziqiang is the vice president of the "Da Ming Huidian" and is the Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Official Affairs. He has the qualifications to be the Minister of the Ministry of Etiquette. is enough.
After Ma Ziqiang printed the Imperial Illustration for the young emperor, he returned to his hometown. Ding You returned to the court after his term to take charge of Zhan Shifu, and then served as Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Civil Affairs. He was one of the few people in the Ming Dynasty who was proficient in history. As a civil servant, in the context of Neo-Confucianism, psychology and history, Ma Ziqiang's knowledge is no problem.
It is very noteworthy that no one recommended Zhang Siwei.
"How can I be the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, who is so good?" Wan Shihe still did not give up his struggle, and said with great conviction: "The great Situ Wang Guoguang was also born in the Jin Party, and his qualifications and reputation are all I propose that Great Situ Wang Guoguang be one of the best officials of the country."
"Qingzhang, returning the land, six books and one account, and one whip, no matter what it is, I will do it. I can't find a replacement, what do you think, Uncle Da Zong?" Wang Guangze said with a smile: "If I can find someone who can be the Minister of the Ministry of Finance, it is not impossible for me to become the Minister of the Ministry of Affairs."
< br>"Zhang Xueyan?" Wan Shihe asked tentatively. Zhang Xueyan's arithmetic was recognized by the court. At least the landowners in Liaodong could be sorted out by Zhang Xueyan.
Zhang Juzheng thought about it and shook his head again and again and said: "He is in Liaodong and is not suitable for transfer."
Hou Yuzhao went to Liaodong. Zhang Xueyan could not return to Beijing in a short time, and he had to watch Li Chengliang. Li Chengliang's talk in the capital was very exciting, but he changed his mind when he returned. All Ming Dynasty's arrangements in Liaodong were in vain.
"Okay." Wan Shihe finally agreed. Isn't he the Minister of Personnel? If you haven’t done it before, why can’t you become a brand? !
Anyway, the method of passing the examination is very mature. What kind of trouble can be caused by just filling in the names on the draft list and the booklet?
Zhang Juzheng wrote the floating stamp and escorted the book to the imperial court for His Majesty to seal it.
Zhu Yijun said with a smile: "Uncle Zong, do a good job."
"I obey the order." Wan Shihe obeyed the order of his leader again. He had already made up his mind, not seeking merit but Seek no fault.
Zhang Juzheng took out the second memorial and said: "The second thing is that Ning Yuanbo Li Chengliang sent a congratulatory gift, saying that the Haixi Jurchen gave Li Chengliang a monetary gift. What was excavated near Huining Mansion was money cast by Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty, with the inscription Xuanhe Yuanbao on it. This item is extremely precious, and to this day, there is only one Xuanhe Yuanbao gold coin left."
, Song Huizong cast a total of sixty-six pieces. When the country was broken and captured, Song Huizong's gold-made money was forged by the Jinren. This one is the only one left, which is very precious.
Li Chengliang saw such a rare thing and sent it directly to the capital as a gift.
The reason why Zhang Juzheng wanted to say this was because he wanted to discuss the Ming Dynasty Money Law. The expansion of Yunnan Copper production was on the line, and the Ming Dynasty War Bureau finally came up with silver coins that satisfied the emperor.
Zhang Juzheng shook his sleeves, took out a row of silver coins, opened them one after another, and said: "These are one tael (37.25g), five coins, and one silver coin. These are white copper coins. The copper coins are mixed with tin. Lead and iron, one tael of Wanli Tongbao's silver coin is equal to one thousand copper coins, five silver coins is equal to five hundred copper coins, and one silver coin is equal to one hundred copper coins."
"Your Majesty, I have a large amount of money to present from the treasury." Guo Chaobin bowed his head and said.
"Send it over." Zhu Yijun thought that the big money was at most the size of a palm, but he misestimated the size of the money.
When it was presented, Zhu Yijun looked at the big money the size of a wheel and asked blankly: "Is this big money?"
Guo Chaobin bowed his head and said: "Yes, this is the big money made by the minister. , one foot eight inches and seven cents in diameter, copper coins weigh 83 jins, 9 taels and 8 qian, silver coins weigh 98 jins, 7 taels and 4 qian, and gold coins weigh 180 jins, 2 taels and 8 qian.”
Gold, silver and copper coins of the same size. Its weight increases with the increase in density. Zhu Yijun looked at the three big coins that were lifted up. It naturally has the meaning of holding a treasury.
First of all, its most important significance is that the currency design of the Ming Dynasty can be vividly displayed on a large coin of nearly two feet.
The copper coins are cast and still have the original shape. The sky is round and the place is square, which is convenient for the people of the Ming Dynasty to use and carry.
On the other hand, gold and silver coins have removed the hole in the middle and are rolled in a circle. This is naturally based on the Thai coinage method, and it is also a practical practice, because rolling can easily make the middle The hole was square and deformed, so when the engineering department rolled it, it chose a round shape.
There are complicated and exquisite patterns on it to prevent counterfeiting. The pattern chosen by the Ministry of Industry is wheat ears. In the view of the Ministry of Industry, it is of great significance for His Majesty to establish the Baoqi Division in person, so he directly took the Baoqi Division. The meaning of the money is filled with two arc-shaped wheat ears. On the front is written Wanli Tongbao, and on the back is written the weight of the money, one tael, five cents, four cents, and the specific time, Wanli four-year system.
It is better not to mint coins if they are not exquisite.
The significance of casting large treasury coins also represents the innovation of Ming Dynasty technology, from coin casting to rolling process improvement, and this improvement means that the unsightly pores on silver coins no longer exist, and The silver is shiny, durable, and most importantly, the size and weight are regulated.
"Okay, okay!" Zhu Yijun held the silver coin that was about to be issued in his hand and said with a smile: "Okay, okay, great, Guo Shangshu can do things well, very good."
Zhu Yijun listened in detail to the reports of the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Household on several aspects such as the rolling and issuance of silver coins, and spoke highly of the work of the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Household. The Ministry of Industry is responsible for minting money, while the Ministry of Household is responsible for issuance. The division of labor is very clear.
"Yesterday, it was reported that Daningwei Qinglong Fort fell, and Tuman Khan came to Xinglin Fort." Zhang Juzheng spoke of another matter with a solemn expression.
In the battle of Daning Guard, the Ming Dynasty took advantage of the winter to attack. But now that spring is blooming and everything is recovering, the enemy's mobility began to recover, and they began a counterattack against the Ming army entrenched in Daning Guard. .
And the momentum of the counterattack was extremely fast, taking the lead and capturing Qinglong Fort.
Everyone was worried, except for the little emperor who looked relaxed. The fall of Xinglin Fort and Qinglong Fort was expected. After all, winter cannot be built. As soon as the spring warmed and the flowers bloomed, the Tuman tribe began to attack.
Please give me a monthly ticket, wow! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
(End of this chapter)