"After the meeting was over, Zhang Aiqing immediately went to the Ministry of Personnel to go through the paperwork handover procedures, and was ready to go to Solvay Province. After arriving in Solvay Province, write a written report on your policy according to the actual situation and entrust the South China Sea Fleet to pass it on. Shu and Zhen.” Zhu Youjian sipped the mouth-flavored tea lightly. He said too much today, and his mouth was dry.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Solvay is an island province. It is relatively easy to survey and map. Aiqing needs to map the specific shape and size of Solvay, especially the Spice Islands. How many islands there are and the shape and location of each island must be marked in detail. clear."
"The minister would like to follow the instructions of your majesty."
"Zhang Aiqing went to Nanyang-Ao. This will not be called Nanyang in the future. It already belongs to Ming Dynasty, so it is called Nanhai. It happens to be the resident of the South China Sea Fleet. Finally, I will give Aiqing two gifts." Zhu Youzhen smiled, this Su Prefecture, it should be done like this.
"Gift?" Zhang Ding was both excited and uneasy. His Majesty the Emperor gave a gift at the time. It was a great honour, but he was also a little worried. Under the heavy gift, there must be all kinds of huge pressure.
"Haha, Aiqing, don't get me wrong," Zhu Youjian felt that his words might have caused Zhang Ding's misunderstanding. "I will draw two thousand soldiers from Huguang and accompany Aiqing to the province of Solvay. Only troops will be transferred, but generals will not be transferred. When the province of Solvay settles down, they will no longer be soldiers, but policemen who specialize in maintaining local law and order, which is equivalent to Da Ming’s arrest."
"Hurry up?" Zhang Ding understood that Zhu Youjian's gift was to assist him in managing the province of Solvay. "Your Majesty, is there a garrison of Daming in the province of Solvay?"
"No, the South China Sea Fleet is nearby. Aiqing does not have to worry about the security issues outside the island. These policemen are to maintain order on the island. If they are willing to transfer their families to Solvay, they will be the first batch of formal emigration to the province. Aiqing wants to allocate the right amount of land to them."
When Zhu Youjian established a province in Burma, he planned to use the police to maintain public order. The soldiers were completely liberated and used exclusively to maintain national security, so that the garrisons in various places in the future could be effectively abolished.
The main expenditure of Daming’s current taxation lies in the military. If it weren’t for the extra silver obtained from several foreign wars, the Ministry of Finance would not have enough money to set up education and naturalize the frontiers. Even if you don’t count the local government soldiers, Daming’s current army Still too much.
Now Solvay Province happens to be a pilot.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Zhang Ding nodded. He seemed to understand. Zhu Youjian has already considered it. The external security is handed over to the South China Sea Fleet and the internal security is handed over to the police. "What about the second gift your Majesty gave to the minister? Should it? Not silver?"
"Zhang Aiqing's guess is right or wrong," Zhu Youjian laughed. "Solvay's taxes will not be handed over to the Taxation Department within five years. All of them will remain in the province. Some of them will be used to pay officials' salaries and official expenses. One part is used to run schools on the island. Every child between the ages of seven and ten must go to school, learn Chinese, write Chinese characters, and use Chinese names."
Seeing that Zhang Ding didn't seem to understand, Zhu Youjian added, "It is not necessary to set up a school for the time being. It is like the population registration, starting from Manya, and gradually advancing to the central and southern regions."
This is another pilot by Zhu Youjian. The Ministry of Taxation exempts taxes for five years and can get a basic Chinese province. The court does not need to invest a penny, but only sends a few officials. If the time is longer, Zhu Youjian can also accept it. .
Of course, the current state of Solvay Province is still under military management, with very little official expenditure, except for the salary of a limited number of officials, and there is no need to bear heavy military expenditures at all.
The military expenditure was paid by the imperial court, but there was basically no loss to the imperial court. The two thousand soldiers were originally Daming’s powder kegs. Zhu Youjian only used diversion and emigration to gradually remove the fuse of these bombs, and several years later. , These two thousand soldiers will be transformed into police, and the court will no longer need to pay military expenses.
As for the South China Sea Fleet that protects Solvay Province, it is for Ming's future and maritime trade routes. Even if there is no Solvay Province, the fleet still exists, and the court did not increase additional expenditures.
"Your Majesty, five-year tax exemption is unheard of, and it is unfair to other provinces." I heard that Solvay Province has five-year tax exemption. The Minister of Taxation Huang Shijun quit. Daming opens up the territory and expands the territory. Tax revenue should be increased. Tax exemption, then what is the use of these land
"Since ancient times, Solvay has been a weak country and poor people. Coupled with the exploitation of Westerners, the people have long been in distress. Even if the people get tax-exempt concessions, they are still much poorer than the people in the mainland of Ming Dynasty. That's why I said The five-year rest period, the story of killing chickens and getting eggs, have all Aiqing heard of it?"
"This..." Huang Shijun was speechless for a while, he didn't even know the specific situation of the people in Solvay.
"Huang Aiqing doesn't have to worry about other provinces following suit," Zhu Youjian doesn't care what Huang Shijun wants to say. "The current Solvay province does not need to be invested by Ming Dynasty. For example, what if it is recovered five years at night?"
"Your Majesty, the minister agrees to the five-year tax exemption." Prime Minister Huang Liji stood up. He already understood what Zhu Youjian meant. The province of Solvay was originally not the land of Daming, and the tax exemption did not cause any loss to the court. Sinicization, the island should have a certain foundation. If the imperial court can free up its hands and then emigrate to the province of Solvay, the province can be Sinicized in one fell swoop. At that time, the province of Solvay would truly become a province of Ming Dynasty.
Huang Liji’s support caused the cabinet ministers to collectively misfire. Zhu Youjian saw that there was no opposition from the court, and then said to Zhang Ding: "Zhang Aiqing is still the fourth grade right now, right?"
"Return to your majesty, the minister is the fourth rank!" Zhang Ding chuckles in his heart. From the fourth rank to the second rank, the governor suddenly rises to the fourth rank. This is too rare in the history of Ming Dynasty. He originally only asked for it. Going to serve as a prefect of Solvay Province, I did not expect Zhu Youjian to directly appoint him as the governor.
"The current governor of Solvay, but the second grade, with so many promotions all at once, how does Zhang Aiqing plan to give back to the court?" Zhu Youjian really came to Zhang Ding's rank.
"Your Majesty, the ministers must do their best to change the land in Solvay Province within five years." Zhang Ding knelt down on the lobby with a "puff", not daring to let out the atmosphere, and his head fell on the ground.
Zhu Youjian felt that the atmosphere was a little dignified, and he soothed his tone, "I don't care too much about whether we can complete the reform in five years. Aiqing must determine specific countermeasures based on the actual situation of the local people. Don't use too much force in everything. ."
"Yes, your majesty, the minister understands." Zhang Ding still crawled on the ground.
"What I am most concerned about is the corruption of Mexico. Don't think that Solvay is far overseas, so my eyes are blackened. Solvay is still Daming Solvay. Daming's "Anti-Corruption Law" is still valid in Solvay."
"The minister must live up to his majesty's entrustment, be strict with himself, and be a good model for all the officials of Solvay Province." Zhang Ding repeatedly bowed his head to show his determination.
"Get up, Aiqing doesn't need to be too nervous. This is not my special request for Aiqing, but a unified request for all officials of Daming." Zhu Youjian quickly glanced at the ministers. Province, don’t be overwhelmed in the face of a large amount of taxes, I still trust you."
"The minister understands that the minister will follow your majesty's teachings." Zhang Ding got up from the ground, not even daring to wipe the dust off his forehead, and hid behind the ministers.
Zhu Youjian's gaze turned to the map again, "The Malacca Waterway is the only sea channel for exchanges between East and West. It can be called the land of the throat. At that time, Zheng He set up the largest trading warehouse in Malacca. In the future, Ming's porcelain and tea When selling silk, silk, etc. to the West, they must pass through Malacca. Now the South China Sea Fleet has completely controlled Malacca. Please talk about how the court will manage Malacca in the future?"
"Your Majesty, since Malacca is so important to Daming, should the South China Sea Fleet build a base here and be stationed all year round?" Li Chunye had known Zhu Youjian's plans for the surrounding situation, so he was the first to speak in support of Zhu Youjian.
"What Aiqing said is quite true. Since Malacca is the indispensable throat of the Ming Dynasty, the South China Sea Fleet will naturally be stationed here," Zhu Youjian set the tone for Malacca before the courtiers spoke. "It's just that Zheng Zhilong is Soldier, he only manages the South China Sea Fleet, but he does not manage the land and people on both sides of the Malacca. There has also been a mass murder of the local people by the remnants of Toungoo. Fortunately, the Marine Corps arrived in time and wiped out the remnants of Toungku and saved them. The local people, now the local people are grateful to the South China Sea Fleet."
Zhu Youjian’s words are already very clear. In the current Malacca, the military and civilians have been integrated and should be managed better than Suvay. Thinking of this, Huang Shijun came out and said: "Since the local people welcome the Ming army, why not take the opportunity to be here? Establish a province and naturalize the local people early?"
Huang Shijun’s words can be regarded as a kind of compensation for opposing Zhu Youjian just now. Zhu Youjian was secretly happy, but he did not show any surprise on his face. "Huang Aiqing’s words are in line with my wishes. Now the people in Malacca have returned to their hearts, according to Zheng Zhilong’s army. The newspaper said that near Malacca, people rushing to become a Chinese national is the best time for Daming to become a ruler of Malacca."
"Your Majesty, as soon as my South China Sea Fleet entered Malacca, the local people rushed to become Han nationality. Is Zheng Zhilong's remark too much?" Qiao Yunsheng raised his own question.
"Qiao Aiqing doesn't know something," Zhu Youjian said briefly about the disaster in the Gillen Sea, and the disaster of the Gillen Sea, and the local people mistakenly thought that Zheng Zhilong and Zheng Xing were Zheng He back then. Descendants of the People’s Republic of China, that’s why the people rushed to return.
"Oh," Qiao Yunsheng seemed to be a little unbelievable, "Your Majesty, how many people are vying to join the Chinese nationality?"
"According to Zheng Zhilong's report, close to the city of Malacca, the local people were terrified by Portuguese man-made disasters. No less than 80% of the people who joined the Chinese nationality, and the rest of the north, at least 50% of the people who joined the Han nationality.
"Your Majesty," Li Chunye cupped his hands and held the map, "If Malacca is included in the Ming Dynasty, wouldn't it be connected to the Burmese Province?"