Dominate the Country

The weather in April is already a bit hot.

Chen Ming took a boat from Beijing to the south along the canal. Along the way, local governments, the military, and celebrities and wealthy businessmen came to pay their respects and give gifts. For example, the four families of Confucius, Meng, Zeng, and Yan in Shandong, these four families now have the hat of sacrificial officials on their heads. Because the status of Confucianism was shaken in the new dynasty, they also changed from the original Shandong and even the world's famous families to local celebrities.

The Kong family suffered the greatest loss in this matter. A lot of their land was taken away, and many privileges were abolished. The title of Yanshenggong and the position of Qufu County Magistrate were out of the question. However, the status of Meng, Zeng, and Yan did not change much. In the previous dynasties, they were all small doctors of the Five Classics and small officials of the eighth rank, which was useless. In the legacy of Confucianism, the Kong family has always been able to eat a lot of fat intestines, while other families can only pick up some leftovers. It is also because of this that these families have always been around the Kong family.

Now everyone is a sacrificial official, and the official hats of the last three families have been upgraded to the seventh rank. From the perspective of this false power, it is more noble. However, the Kong family was also demoted to the seventh grade, and the title that had been passed down for generations was gone. The three families of Meng, Zeng, and Yan, as well as other families, were only sad and did not gloat at all.

Because they all knew what this meant. The overall decline of Confucianism was also a loss for their families. Only when Confucianism flourished, these guys who lived on the tablets of their ancestors from more than 2,000 years ago could have a good life. On the contrary, the actual loss of interests would be so great. For example, now!

On the way back to Nanjing, Chen Ming collected several boats of local specialties and some treasures from all over the country. Although Chen Han had already issued a decree that things like ice and charcoal and Xia Jing were not allowed to exist anymore, could this rule still be applied to Chen Ming himself? The exchanges between officials at all levels and sending local gifts to Chen Ming are two different concepts, okay? Instead of Chen Ming being strict with others and lenient with himself. Moreover, some of the gifts presented by these local military and wealthy merchants are indeed national treasures.

For example, the Sanshi Plate, also known as the Lu Ren Plate, is a bronze ware from the Western Zhou Dynasty. It was named because of the word "Sanshi" in the inscription. It was unearthed in Fengxiang, Shaanxi in the early years of Qianlong, and later fell into the hands of Yangzhou salt merchants. It was presented to Chen Ming by Ruan Chengxin in Huai'an. The Ruan family was originally a wealthy merchant in Yangzhou. They moved to Huai'an during the war. They got on and off the Qing ship early and were not liquidated. Now that the war has subsided, they don't plan to move back to their hometown.

There is also a pair of bronze vases with dragon and tiger patterns, which were presented by Kong Zhaohuan. It is said that they have been treasured in the Kong family for seven hundred years! It is an old piece from the Shang Dynasty.

It is tall, with a wide rim, a bulging belly, a high ring foot, a height of one and a half feet, a diameter of one foot and three inches, and weighs thirty-five pounds. The overall pattern is formed into three layers, and the shoulders are combined with round carvings and relief carvings to create three vivid images of coiled dragons. The abdomen is divided by three door ridges, which separate three groups of the same decorations, all of which are in the shape of two tigers eating people, and the ring foot is flatly carved with gluttonous decorations, and the casting is extremely exquisite. Chen Ming couldn't take his eyes off it after seeing it, and was amazed. It was really hard to imagine that the ancients thousands of years ago could cast such exquisite utensils.

Although Chen Ming had no research on bronze ware, he believed that this thing would not be fake, and they dared not fool him. Therefore, these are well-deserved national treasures. And such utensils, from Beijing to Huai'an, Chen Ming collected a full eight.

In the office of the governor of the grain transport in the former Qing Dynasty, Chen Ming picked up a piece of cattail and put it in his mouth. The feeling of freshness and refreshing came spontaneously, the fragrance was tender and smooth, and it was refreshing. It really deserved the other alias of this dish: Red Jade Private. Absolutely color, fragrance and taste!

But it tasted completely different from another cattail that Chen Ming was familiar with.

In his previous life, Chen Ming's hometown was also famous for cattail. When he was young, he followed his parents to eat at banquets and liked to eat the dish of braised cattails very much. He liked pure braised cattails the most. But when he grew up, the cattails that were very common when he was a child had become rare. Because the cattails on the ten thousand mu of waters had been cleared away at the order of a certain boss, that is, it was only a few years before he traveled through time that they began to recover.

The boat reached Huai'an, not far from Nanjing.

Chen Ming received the battle report from Shaanxi. Yan'an and Yulin were both defeated, and Yongrong ran away. It is estimated that the Qing army was used to running away. It can be said that from a general point of view, the whole of Shaanxi has fallen into the hands of the Fu Han Army, but it will take a longer time to sort out the places in detail.

So it is unnecessary for Chen Ming to stay in Beijing. The war against the Qing Dynasty has entered the final stage. Is it necessary for him to take charge in person?

Chen Ming will return to Nanjing to participate in political affairs, and then wait until next year to officially ascend the throne and become emperor.

The military expenditure of the Fu Han Army is still sufficient. It is not a problem to take down the eastern part of Gansu, at least Lanzhou, and sweep Yunnan this year. When Chen Ming ascends the throne and becomes emperor next year, almost the entire Han area will be recovered, and there will be news about Tibet by then. Then it is time to completely clean up the chieftains in Gansu, Qinghai and the captain area. Finally, Xinjiang, Northeast China and Outer Mongolia.

Chen Ming has communicated with Chen Hui many times and has already decided when to pass on the throne, ascend the throne, and the task list for the next few years.

So he really doesn't need to stay in Beijing. On the contrary, Chen Hui really wants to go to Beijing. Even after Chen Ming ascends the throne, it is not impossible for him to stay in Beijing for many years, just after he becomes the emperor.

In terms of his status, to reach this point, if he didn't go to Beijing to have fun or sit in the Fengtian Palace, he would die in peace. Besides, the scenery of the Old Summer Palace is unparalleled in the world. Chen Ming also found a panoramic view of the Old Summer Palace in the garden and sent it to Chen Hui in Nanjing, which already captured his heart.

As the time approached June, news from North Korea continued to reach Chen Ming's ears. In particular, the Qing army in the northeast was getting ready to move. Yongxun found that the Fuhan army was really aiming at the northwest. Although the Fuhan army began to play chess on the sea to the east, it seemed that the Fuhan army did not want to attack immediately. It means attacking the Northeast.

Since the mass migration of millions of Eight Banners outside the Pass, the Manchu Qing's oppression of North Korea has become even greater. Not to mention the two most basic materials, food and cloth, a large number of Korean craftsmen were also robbed to the Northeast. They were from all walks of life. Like the Beijing craftsmen who were moved to the Qing Dynasty, they provided life and livelihood for the Qing Dynasty. Everything needed for war. According to the news reported by the Military Intelligence Bureau, the whole of North Korea is in misery. Even the most prosperous Gyeonggi Province is full of bandits, and many people cannot survive. Every place is like Cao Cao's poem: white bones are exposed in the wild, and there is no rooster crow for thousands of miles.

Chen Han unabashedly consecrated the new king of Korea, and Yongxun certainly knew about it. However, the Manchus who had just moved outside the Pass last year were very anxious. They tightened their grip and carefully watched the Fuhan Army move before it was too late. How could they send out troops to sweep away South Korea?

But now Yongxun has the courage.

The current situation also forced him to let go of his courage and increase the power of the Manchus as much as possible in the shortest possible time. So how can we increase the power of the Manchus in the shortest possible time? On the one hand, eliminate internal troubles and eliminate bandits or rebels outside the customs. How many people still think that those bandits are real bandits?

The second is to squeeze North Korea to the maximum extent and use North Korea's flesh and blood to replenish the Qing Dynasty's physical strength.

"Perhaps, this is the biggest reason why Chen Ni did not attack the northeast and took the northwest first." Yongxun was not a fool. Although he was not sure about his psychology, there were some clues. Although this news was released by him, even the Manchus themselves did not believe it. But he has dared to gather troops to gather in Seoul, and it is estimated that by May he will go south to sweep Jeolla Province and Gyeongsang Province.

The remnant forces of the Li family dared to release the news of his accession to the throne in June. If the Manchus and Qing Dynasties did not express it, the resistance forces in North Korea would probably rise again. And that time will also be the best time to send Li Yin back to the west. In the chaos of war, is anything possible? Then Li Yin's loyal ministers will find out the traces.

Going south from Huai'an, the scenery along the way was much better than that of Hebei and Shandong. Chen Ming saw that many people were better than those in Shandong, whether in appearance or dress.

The Yellow River still flows into the sea from Huai'an. In this time and space whose trajectory has been changed by Chen Ming, it is unlikely that Shandong will have the opportunity to touch the Yellow River again.

I am used to seeing wars and killings, and the peaceful and peaceful people's livelihood in this place has a different flavor.

When Chen Ming's ship arrived in Yangzhou, a large number of businessmen had gathered in Yangzhou. Especially the business representatives of European countries in Nanjing. Before the envoys from European countries came to China, they were the official representatives of European countries in China. Chen Ming is going to hold a conference in Yangzhou, which involves many foreign trade issues. Naturally, they must be present.

The night fell, and most of the city was shrouded in darkness. But in the past, Yangzhou Yandao Yamen, which would have sunk into the darkness long ago, shines with dazzling brilliance tonight. The government office, which had been closed for many days, was reopened today.

One after another, the wind lanterns illuminated the entire Yamen and the surrounding area for a hundred meters like daylight.

Because there will be a formal dinner here tonight. The banquet was mainly attended by business representatives from various European countries stationed in Nanjing, as well as wealthy businessmen and senior executives from foreign companies in the Jiangnan area. Although Pan Zhencheng, who hosted the banquet, was already a high-class heavyweight in the eyes of many people, following Chen Ming The ministers around him who were present, and even himself, were the truly important figures respected by thousands of people.

It is not common in Europe for a prince to attend a banquet on such an occasion. Put it in China, it is even more valuable.

For many Chinese businessmen, it is a great blessing and honor for them to be able to attend a banquet attended by the prince.

"Mr. Robert, long time no see! How are you always?"

Chen Ming and Robert are old friends, as are Perrier, Lustig, Pierre and others. Among them, Perrier came specially from Shanghai. The Fuhan Army wanted to further open ports, northern ports, and several inland cities along the Yangtze River, plus relax personal restrictions on Europeans. How could such a major event be without the presence of the French East India Company.

The two sides greeted each other and said a few polite words, which were considered necessary diplomatic etiquette. What makes Chen Ming's status special? His attendance at this banquet was very official, and the main reason was for the Europeans who came.

Chen Ming shook hands with everyone and exchanged greetings. The smile on his face was professional. In interesting contrast, the facial expressions of Robert, Pierre and others also always looked professional. Not flattering, not explicit, not arrogant, not arrogant. Unlike the Spaniards and the Dutch, whose facial expressions remain stiff, as if their facial muscles have been paralyzed.

The expressions of Perrier and Lustig were full of sincere enthusiasm. Perrier even took the initiative to ask if there would be any entertainment program after the dinner. If there was a dance, they would not mind being teachers. The maids behind Chen Ming danced a few times.

"Haha, that's a pity. There will be no dance party tonight, only a tea party." During the dinner, everyone was chatting, laughing, or exchanging something. When the dinner came to an end, Chen Ming said with a smile, "China is a big country with profound civilization traditions and self-regulation. The current social situation is still difficult to accept the form of communication like Western-style dance. And I also think that tonight's main theme is When the topic is revealed in front of everyone, you will no longer be in the mood to dance and have fun.”

"Robert, Perrier, Pierre, Lustig..." Chen Ming called out the names of the business representatives from Western countries present, with the only exception being Perrier. "And you guys, please look to the right." Chen Ming greeted all the Chinese and foreign dignitaries present.

Liu Wu, who was standing behind Chen Ming, winked at a secretary. The secretary nodded, walked to the wall on the right, stretched out his hand to open a curtain, and opened it little by little. , a huge map of China's territory hanging on the wall appeared in front of everyone.

Robert opened his eyes wide and studied the map carefully. He was not surprised by the newly opened ports in northern China. It's nothing more than Yantai, Qingdao and Tianjin. What he really wants to see is the inland opening up to the Chinese people.

"Wuhan, Wuhan..." More than one foreigner cheered loudly.

Robert and Perrier's bodies were trembling. The Chinese actually drove to Wuhan as soon as they opened up. Although they know the Central Plains in their minds, foreigners who have never had the concept of the Central Plains value Wuhan more as the center of China rather than Luoyang or Kaifeng in Henan. Everyone of them is very clear about the importance of Wuhan!

"Nanjing, Zhenjiang, Wuhu, Anqing, Jiujiang, Wuhan..., God, it's so perfect..."

Compared with the three newly opened trade ports in the north, the Yangtze River, a giant dragon that runs from east to west in China, has six newly opened trade ports.

On this huge map of China's territory, the red dots along the Yangtze River are like sharp arrows, while the ports along the curved east coast are like bows. Going out, for the whole of China, is to place all hopes for the future.

When the commercial port opened up to Wuhan, almost the whole of China had already opened up. Even if the north and southwest are gradually opened up, there will be no substantial growth.

As soon as this place opens, 80 to 90 percent of China's foreign trade power has already surged out.

"You can stand in front of the map and see it more clearly." Chen Ming took the first step and walked to the map.

"First of all, I will tell you an important news. Our government has decided to open nine new foreign trade ports in order to stimulate our country's economy and people's livelihood as soon as possible and to deepen cultural exchanges between the East and the West." This news is not only for foreigners. It is extremely important, and it is also extremely important to the wealthy Chinese businessmen attending the meeting.

"This is a decision with an important historical mission. The people involved are not only European countries, but also the power of our country. The purpose of convening everyone here today is to talk openly and honestly..."