amaotonovel Chapter 720 If we can't solve the problem, we'll solve the person who raised it.
Chapter 720 If we can't solve the problem, we'll solve the person who raised it.
As it turns out, aside from math, physics, and chemistry problems, people can do anything when they're pushed to the limit.
With their land annexation scheme blocked and their plans to force beggars and commoners into forced labor in coal mines blocked, the gentry of Jiangnan found it increasingly difficult to smuggle ironware to Hu Yuan, and even their extended families were easily implicated. Many gentry, feeling hopeless about the future, simply sought alternative paths, leading some of their clansmen overseas.
Of course, it's not surprising that the gentry fled overseas; what is surprising is that after they went abroad, they began to replicate the same tactics they used in the Ming Dynasty.
The tactics used to acquire land should be replicated.
The tactics used to illegally mine mineral deposits should be replicated.
The old trick of trafficking overseas barbarians for forced labor is still being replicated.
They even exploited the smuggling route to Hu Yuan.
However, because the risks of smuggling directly to Hu Yuan were too great, these people simply took advantage of the fact that there were no labor costs in mining and setting up workshops overseas, and smuggled goods and minerals directly back to the Ming Dynasty and then sold them at low prices.
There were even a few gentrymen who, for reasons unknown, went to the tax office to file their taxes!
As for why those officials from those vassal states and barbarian tribes would allow the gentry of the Ming Dynasty to act recklessly.
Because the officials of the Ming Dynasty were greedy for money, the officials of those foreign vassal states and barbarian countries were just as greedy for money, and they were even bolder than the officials of the Ming Dynasty.
After all, the Ming Dynasty still had an office called the Censorate, so even if the officials were greedy, they wouldn't dare to go too far.
The officials of those overseas vassal states and barbarian tribes were a different story.
They not only dare to openly embezzle, but they also dare to actively come to your door asking for money.
What's even more impressive is that although the officials of the Ming Dynasty were greedy for money, none of them were willing to be greedy for small amounts of money.
A few taels of silver or a few hundred copper coins would be considered shameful, even insulting, by the officials of the Ming Dynasty.
After ten years of hard study, you test me with this little bit of nonsense?
Which official couldn't withstand such a test!
But the officials of those overseas vassal states and barbarian tribes are different.
They wouldn't mind spending even a few hundred coins, let alone a tael or two of silver.
Some clerks, who were similar to yamen runners, went so far as to ask people for money in the street.
"Money, alcohol, I want to drink."
With just a few coins, these clerks would happily use them to buy wine.
Therefore, these gentry and gentlemen lived a very comfortable life overseas.
Once the gentry and nobles start living comfortably, their desires begin to swell.
The logic of these gentry was also very simple.
If a barbarian like you can become an official, how can I, a dignified gentry of the Celestial Empire and a well-read gentleman, not become an official?
Let alone being an official, I could even be the ruler of your vassal state!
Tsk tsk.
This world is fucking insane.
The idea of a mouse acting as a bridesmaid for a cat was originally just a joke by Zhao Benhai, but Yang Shaofeng couldn't find any other suitable words to describe the madness of those gentry gentlemen.
Seeing the changing expressions on Yang's face, Emperor Zhu chuckled and said, "Have you finished reading?"
Yang Shaofeng nodded, and Emperor Zhu continued, "These scoundrels have been reported to the Ministry of Rites and to us!"
understood.
Old Deng is criticizing those gentry gentlemen not because of any abstract or abstract reason why they did such a disgraceful thing in overseas vassal states.
Instead, after they did these shady things, someone complained to Old Deng, and as a result, Old Deng felt a little embarrassed.
This is similar to your own child having a crush in junior high school and getting a lecture from the homeroom teacher.
Although no one dared to call Old Deng over for a lecture, the underlying principles and logic were the same.
Yang Shaofeng chuckled and said, "These good-for-nothings are useless. They'll be scolded later. Father-in-law, please don't get angry because of them."
Emperor Zhu glanced at Yang Shaofeng sideways.
Are we angry because of those bastards?
Screw them! Who do those bastards think they are, that they deserve to make us angry?
If they really anger us, we'll send people to chop them all up!
Like I said before, aside from you, you piece of trash, even if there are problems we can't solve, we can still deal with the person who raised the problem.
Emperor Zhu snorted coldly and said, "We are more worried now that they have gone too far in dealing with the barbarian vassal states, and they will inevitably cause trouble in the future."
"Moreover, the trouble they have caused may not only target them, but could potentially target all merchants and common people of the Ming Dynasty."
"Besides, these people will likely become bolder and might come back to our Great Ming Dynasty to cause trouble one day."
As Emperor Zhu finished speaking, Yang Shaofeng fell silent for a moment.
It was inevitable that these gentry would cause trouble in overseas vassal states.
After all, these people have long been accustomed to exploiting others to the point of exhaustion; their methods are too ugly and their tactics too dirty.
Unfortunately, those barbarians don't understand scheming and intrigue, so when they can't win, they easily overturn the table.
Some barbarians are even the kind of lazy trash who can't stand seeing others work hard.
They don't think about creating wealth with their own hands; they only want to find a suitable opportunity and excuse to turn the wealth of those Ming Dynasty gentry into their own.
Monkeys have already demonstrated this through their actions.
but……
Yang Shaofeng grinned again.
To reiterate, Jia Xu was virtuous because he had read the Four Books and Five Classics, while I, having read too many and too varied books, have long since forgotten what virtue is.
While the local gentry and virtuous men of the Ming Dynasty certainly deserve to die, they are still local gentry and virtuous men of the Ming Dynasty. They can be captured and beheaded by Lao Deng, or they can be exiled to Dengzhou to do hard labor. But in any case, the vassal states and barbarians have no right to touch them.
"I think it would be better to send a few people from the Ministry of Personnel to those vassal states first?"
"First, establish an embassy; second, station troops directly."
"Furthermore, the Court of State Ceremonial can also summon the envoys from those vassal states and barbarian tribes and give them a lecture."
"After all, these local gentry and gentry are all citizens of our Great Ming Dynasty. We can't just stand by and watch them be bullied overseas."
Emperor Zhu blinked blankly.
We didn't hear clearly just now, who did this bastard say was being bullied?
Did we mishear, or is this bastard still asleep?
motherfucker.
Isn't it you who usually shouts for violence against those gentry and nobles?
Isn't it you who wished to send all the gentry and nobles to Dengzhou to do hard labor?
Who the hell are you trying to fool with this disgusting act of loving the people like a father?
That bastard!
The more Emperor Zhu thought about it, the angrier he became. For a moment, he forgot about the small matter of admitting defeat first. Instead, he spread his hands and said, "It is easy to set up embassies in vassal states and to station troops there. But setting up embassies requires officials and stationing troops requires soldiers. Can we conjure up so many officials and soldiers out of thin air?"