Imperial Master of the Ming Dynasty

"At the same time, we can actually realize that comparative advantage does not only exist in commodities. Why not be bolder in thinking?" Jiang Xinghuo followed suit.

This is a path never imagined.

Therefore, the three of them were inevitably bound by historical limitations and couldn't let go.

Lifting and lifting are also other trade commodities.

"Why"

Jiang Xinghuo sighed and thought to himself, after all, Ming Dynasty was a country with a prevalent physiocratic trend, so the idea of ​​suddenly allowing them to move towards overseas trade was still a bit uncomfortable.

Therefore, Jiang Xinghuo had no choice but to speak in person.

"Think about it, what are the conditions required to manufacture a handicraft product?"

Zhu Gaoxu: "We must have a place first."

Zheng He: "Then there needs to be someone."

Zhuo Jing: "In the end, we have to have materials."

Jiang Xinghuo was silent for a moment and then said.

“To these, the theory of comparative advantage can be applied.”

"etc."

Zheng He suddenly felt that his future was not good.

"Mr. Jiang is saying that Ming Dynasty needs to import cheap raw materials and people from other countries?"

Jiang Xinghuo was silent for another moment.

"There is no need to think about the human problem for the time being, because the development of handicrafts/industry was originally intended to absorb the agricultural population of the Ming Dynasty. Therefore, the theory of comparative advantage should be that in the initial stage of the development of handicrafts/industry, the Ming Dynasty imported cheap goods from foreign countries through ocean trade. product raw materials and relatively cheap rice and other agricultural products, and export handicraft/industrial finished products with low manufacturing costs but high price policies to foreign countries.”

"Of course, in the initial stage, it is not impossible to use the theory of comparative advantage for land and population, such as paying to hire the population of country A and planting some raw materials for the textile industry in country B, which has better sunshine and hydrological conditions."

"Little friend Jiang, I still have something unclear."

Zhuo Jing asked, "What if a country like Annan does not agree to conduct this so-called 'comparative advantage' trade with the Ming Dynasty?"

"Why don't you agree?" Jiang Xinghuo asked strangely.

"To carry out this kind of 'comparative advantage' trade, Annan only needs to export the high-yielding rice that grows freely in the fields, and can obtain a large amount of high-quality silk cloth. This is equivalent to creating an important and stable source of income for Annan's landlord class. .”

Zhuo Jing thought for a while, then shook his head and said: "If this is the case, the handicraftsmen who make silk cloth in Annan will inevitably go bankrupt, and the farmers will be squeezed even more severely by the Annan landlords. If the rulers of Annan are far-sighted, , you will see this clearly. Moreover, if things go on like this, it will be easier to make more money. If the price of rice fluctuates, Annan will inevitably be controlled by the Ming Dynasty."

Jiang Xinghuo said frankly: "In the face of huge interests, there are not many rulers with a long-term vision."

"What if it does exist?"

Jiang Xinghuo thought for a while and gave an answer.

"If it does exist, then the Ming army can only be dispatched to punish the people and overthrow the tyrant. Presumably the local 'common people' who have benefited a lot from the rice-cloth trade will eat pots of pulp to welcome the king."

Zhuo Jing understood Jiang Xinghuo's words and couldn't help but feel speechless for a moment.

Although it doesn't sound good, it's true.

For the landlord class in Annan, when the Ming Dynasty came, it only helped them change a ruler, not the landlord class. This change would even bring them greater benefits, so there was no reason not to welcome it.

After all, the "tyrants" who prevent them from free trade and getting rich are their opponents.

As for whether there will be "rice swallowers".

This is the difference between cutting first and cutting second. Cutting first means you can cut other people's hair.

The first step in industrial reform is indeed to develop the textile industry, because the textile industry is not only a labor-intensive industry and accommodates the largest number of employed people, but also the cotton textile industry that can be sold to the entire high latitude north as well as North Korea and Japan. , the wool textile industry that also sells to mid-latitudes, or the yarn textile industry that sells to low latitudes, the upstream and downstream raw materials and markets are very broad, and they are necessities for human life, and there are no special restrictions on other commodities.

Of course, if you have to say that people in some places don’t wear clothes, there is nothing you can do about it. Consumption habits can always be cultivated, especially when they complement the seemingly higher-level cultural invasion.

All the adults in Ming Dynasty wore clothes, why don’t you? Of course it's because you are ignorant, backward and uncivilized!

Want to enter a civilized society? Come on, let’s buy a set of clothes first.

Wearing it gives you a sense of psychological superiority that is both a cultural symbol and a symbol of social status.

At this time, Zhu Gaoxu said with some enlightenment: "Mr. Jiang means that if countries like Annan do not engage in 'comparative advantage' trade with the Ming Dynasty, they can directly send troops into their capitals and overthrow their kings? Then the Ming Dynasty Based on this?"

"It depends on the situation, and it may not necessarily be based on evidence. Have you forgotten the lesson on "Three Ring Diplomacy"?" Jiang Xinghuo asked Zhu Gaoxu.

"Remember to remember!"

Zhu Gaoxu nodded repeatedly and said: "The first ring is Annan, Japan, Korea and Ryukyu, which the Ming Dynasty needs to occupy; the second ring is Zhenla, Siam, Bo Ni, Heng, Luzon, and the Ming Dynasty needs garrisons and embassy; the third ring is Su The country of Mentara Java and Sanviqi Ceylon needs a consulate and military deterrence.”

Jiang Xinghuo said: "That's it. If it can be annexed directly, of course it must be annexed directly. If it cannot be annexed directly, then control it through other means."

"For example?" Zheng He asked curiously.

"After overthrowing the tyrant and establishing a new king, the Ming Dynasty garrison was left in deep-water ports and key trade nodes to sign a customs contract with the new king."

——————

In the secret room.

"Your Majesty, this 'comparative advantage' free trade and three-ring diplomacy are complementary to each other!"

Li Zhigang said with a smile: "In this way, Ming Dynasty's diplomacy will be carried out at the same time as war and trade."

As the Minister of Rites in charge of foreign affairs, Li Zhigang certainly has enough reasons to be excited about this.

Because once the diplomatic work is carried out simultaneously with the foreign wars led by the Wuchen Hongui Group, and the overseas trade that is bound to be tied to the royal family and clan, the value of the Ministry of Rites will suddenly become the first among the six.

Wherever there are Ming armies and trade interests, officials from the Ministry of Rites will appear simultaneously.

If the "three-ring diplomacy" had previously made Li Zhigang feel that although he had some expectations, it still had not been implemented, then today Jiang Xinghuo's description of the extremely wonderful future for him has completely convinced Li Zhigang.

"Sure enough, if you do it again and again, and if you go to prison for the third time, it will be the end of the world." Li Zhigang thought silently in his heart.

For Li Zhigang, he neither cares about the road nor his reputation. The only thing he cares about is having greater power without going to prison. As for money, it is just an accessory.

At present, all the six ministers are in good condition. It is impossible to transfer to another place as minister, or to wait for someone to replace you. After all, although the Ministry of Rites is not an out-and-out Qingshui Yamen, its powers are indeed limited and tight. , For a temple creature like Li Zhigang, he can live without anything, and he really cannot live without power for a day.

Jiang Xinghuo's proposition was undoubtedly in line with Li Zhigang's interests and brought him huge benefits. Therefore, Li Zhigang started to seriously consider whether to fully support the reform based on his own immediate interests.

“The economy, military, and temples are all closely linked.”

Zhu Di's eyes also became solemn. He could fully imagine that if Ming Dynasty really carried out foreign wars, trade and temple operations in accordance with the principles established by Jiang Xinghuo, it would definitely bring great benefits to Ming Dynasty. disadvantages.

After all, Korea, Japan, Ryukyu Annan, and the Ming Dynasty are close to each other and have basically similar cultures. They can be annexed, so the interests of the temples are mainly pursued.

In distant places, Ming Dynasty only wanted to obtain raw materials from these countries and sell Ming Dynasty products to these countries, mainly seeking economic benefits.

Further away, the Ming Dynasty only needed to maintain key trade transfer stations and important military fortresses on the shipping routes, and mainly pursued military interests.

Similarly, as long as these countries are included in the "production-sales" link of Ming Dynasty's handicrafts/industries, they will become a single raw material export destination and commodity dumping center in the face of Ming Dynasty's strong manufacturing capabilities, and they will continue to be bloodletted.

This kind of bloodletting is more akin to cutting flesh with a dull knife. Ming Dynasty gained great benefits, but it did not need to directly rule.

There is no need to maintain high governance costs, which means that this kind of action is extremely cost-effective, and in order to consolidate themselves, the profit-making classes in various countries based on this trade model must seek help and rely on the Ming Dynasty in all aspects.

"High, really high! This is much better than directly sending troops to occupy and waste time and effort to suppress the rebellion!"

Zhu Di couldn't help but admired.

Originally, according to Zhu Di's thinking, if he did not send troops to occupy it, or if he sent troops and then returned, then the Ming Dynasty would gain nothing.

But now it seems that as long as there is a tariff contract, troops and embassy, ​​you can still indirectly control a country, and the cost will be lower and the benefits will be greater for Ming Dynasty.

"But Father, although through such free trade, the problem of food shortage can be greatly solved, and the agricultural class population of the Ming Dynasty can enter the manual class and no longer worry about the problem of eating, but Erchen always seems to feel that there is something that still has not been explained clearly? "Looking at Huang Fu who was silent, Zhu Gaochi poured a basin of cold water on Zhu Di.

Xia Yuanji shook his head and said: "It's not that it was not explained clearly, but it was only explained what the new manufacturing power is and how to solve the problem of eating, but how the new 'surplus' flows among all classes has not been explained yet."

Zhu Di thoughtfully said: "In other words, if we understand how the new 'surplus' flows among various classes, we will understand why changing from an agricultural country to an industrial country can fundamentally solve the contradiction between man and land?"

"That's right." Xia Yuanji agreed.

At this time, Jiang Xinghuo's voice came slowly from next door.