Zhu Cixiang's energy these days has been focused on handling internal affairs.
The Ming Dynasty is so big that there may only be one or two problems in each place.
But when piled together, it looks like a myriad of things.
The good news is that the Firearms Department has imitated the twelve-pound Fo Lang machine gun.
Zhu Cixi went to inspect it personally and found that the imitation artillery was not much different from the genuine Fo Lang machine gun.
This is absolutely gratifying.
You must know that at this time, the Ming Dynasty could imitate three-pound cannons and six-pound cannons at most, but it has never been able to make twelve-pound cannons.
Although the three-pounder cannon and the six-pounder cannon are light, they can be used in field battles at any time.
But the power is far inferior to the twelve-pounder gun.
Zhu Cixiang was very happy to see that Ming Dynasty had the manufacturing technology for such sharp weapons.
For this reason, Zhu Cixi greatly rewarded the craftsmen of the Ministry of Industry who successfully imitated this kind of artillery.
It also sent a signal to the outside world that I have clear rewards and punishments.
As long as you can make something, I won't hesitate to reward you.
Zhu Cixiang has always spared no effort in motivating the craftsmen of the Ministry of Industry.
From the original Longjiang Shipyard to the current Huangming Firearms Department.
The Huangming Firearms Department has been specializing in the production of various types of firearms since the beginning, and now it has also begun to imitate Folan cannons.
It can be said that the business has been fully upgraded.
This is of course related to Zhu Cixiang's needs.
Most of Huangming's current artillery pieces are Hongyi cannons.
Although they are powerful, they are too bulky and do not meet Zhu Cixiang's tactical needs.
The addition of various Folan cannons can effectively enrich the Ming army's tactical play.
After seeing the twelve-pound Folang machine gun, Zhu Cixiang, accompanied by Gao Hongtu, the minister of the Ministry of Industry, visited the branch specializing in the production of flintlock guns.
According to the drawings given by Zhu Cixiang, the craftsmen worked day and night on trial production and finally made a prototype gun.
This kind of gun does not use a match rope to ignite but relies on flint to hit the fire door to ignite the gunpowder.
It's a pity that the accuracy and range of the prototype gun are not as good as expected, and it will take time to mass-produce replacement firearms.
However, Zhu Cixi was still very happy.
After all, this can be regarded as a qualitative leap.
As for the details, they can be polished slowly.
Zhu Cixiang asked about the status of the newly manufactured sea-going ships at the Longjiang Shipyard.
Zhu Cixiang was very satisfied when he learned that these new ships, together with the ships in the Xinjiangkou Marine Corps Camp, had sailed along the river into the sea, heading towards Dengzhou.
The reconstruction of the Dengzhou Navy is urgent.
After returning to the palace, Jiang Yueguang, the Minister of Household Affairs, asked for an audience.
Although Zhu Cihong was not very satisfied with Jiang Yueguang recently, he still summoned him.
"Jiang Yueguang, Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, pays homage to Your Majesty" Jiang Yueguang saluted Zhu Cixiang and was granted a flat body.
"Why is Jiang Aiqing asking to see me?"
"Your Majesty, I have figured out a way to raise the navy's salary."
Not long ago, Jiang Yueguang was severely scolded by Zhu Cixiang because he only asked for money.
He did not expect to think of a solution so quickly, which surprised Zhu Cixiang.
"Oh, come and listen."
Zhu Cixi said calmly.
"Your Majesty, along the coast of Denglai, there are many merchants engaged in maritime trade.
Why can't the navy do this business?"
Zhu Cixiang was really surprised.
From what Jiang Yueguang said, he wanted the navy to do maritime trade.
"I'm afraid this is inappropriate.
Free novels bring you joy and joy ---> storyskyline.net
The Navy is part of our Ming Dynasty's official army.
How can we turn to sea trade?"
Zhu Cixiang frowned.
It's one thing to collect sea tax, it's one thing to open a Huangming trading company, but it's another thing to do sea trade personally.
After all, the court is a court, and some things cannot be done directly.
Even if you really want to do it, you have to cover it with a layer of skin.
Just like Huangming Trading Company, on the surface it is still businessmen doing it.
This Jiang Yueguang doesn't think he looks ugly when he eats, but I also think he looks ugly when he eats.
"If your Majesty is worried that this action will harm Huang Ming's dignity, then there is no need to do so.
The Denglai Navy will fly military flags during drills and trade flags when doing maritime trade.
That's fine."
In Jiang Yueguang's opinion, no matter how much he collects taxes, it's not as cost-effective as doing it himself.
Everyone knows the huge profits from sea trade.
Rather than giving up the bulk of the profits to those merchants, it is better to pocket all the profits.
"It's not just a matter of court decency."
Zhu Cixiang felt a little dumbfounded.
"A trip to the sea can take at least a few months, or at most half a year.
What if the navy goes to sea for trade, but I have to use them to defend the enemy?"
No matter what, the primary role of the navy is to fight, it is wrong to put the cart before the horse.
"This is something I have not considered."
Jiang Yueguang complained secretly in his heart.
He originally thought that he could win the emperor's admiration by this method, but he didn't know that what he thought was completely wrong with what the emperor thought.
"But I think what Jiang Aiqing said is very reasonable."
Zhu Cixiang paused and said: "The imperial court can go to sea, but it must be in the name of Huangming Trading Company.
It must build a separate fleet."
Previously, Huangming Trading Company only acted as a nominal party to provide guarantee, and the main body was still some large merchants.
In this way, the profits gained by the court are limited.
If they can use themselves as the main body to trade overseas, the profits may be increased several times.
The main reason why Zhu Cixiang did not choose to do this before was because of his limited shipbuilding capacity.
At that time, the entire Longjiang Shipyard was in a state of semi-paralysis, with everything waiting to be renovated.
Zhu Cihong could only rely on major shipping merchants, including Zheng Zhilong, to put up the air first.
But it's different now.
In just a few months, Longjiang Shipyard built dozens of large Fuzhou and Guangzhou ships, not to mention those small boats.
In this case, it is indeed possible to consider building a dozen ships specifically for maritime trade.
With his own sea trade fleet, Zhu Cixiang does not need to look too closely at the faces of Zheng Zhilong and other sea merchants, and Huangming Trading Company can truly stand up.
"ah" Jiang Yueguang quickly climbed up the pole: "Your Majesty is wise, Your Majesty is wise.
Merchant ships and warships should naturally be separated."
Zhu Cixiang smiled and said: "Let's leave it as it is.
Now that Jiang Aiqing is here, I have one more thing to discuss with you."
Zhu Cihong stood up and walked around for a few steps: "I plan to issue national bonds.
I wonder if the Ministry of Revenue has any ideas."
"National Debt" Jiang Yueguang felt that it was a bit cloudy and foggy.
"I am stupid, I dare to ask your majesty what the national debt means."
Zhu Cixiang explained: "Treasury bonds, as the name suggests, are debts owed by the imperial court.
I plan to issue treasury bonds to the world in the name of the imperial court.
Free novels bring you joy and joy ---> storyskyline.net
Anyone who purchases treasury bonds will receive principal and interest after a certain period of time.
I plan to issue them in three, five, or ten years term.”
Jiang Yueguang was worthy of being the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, and he immediately understood what Zhu Cihong meant.
Your Majesty, you want to release money?
Lending money and collecting interest is a normal thing among the people.
But I always feel awkward if it is handled by the imperial court.
Especially the word debt sounds so harsh.
Doesn’t it mean that all the ordinary people who bought national debt became the creditors of the Ming Dynasty?
Wouldn't this relationship of superiority and inferiority be messed up?
That would be great
.
: