The international system is similar in ancient and modern times. If peacekeeping is to be measured, we will find that when dealing with practical problems, the tribute system is more superior and much more effective. The reason why we strongly advocate equal status between countries is mainly because we are worried that as long as there is inequality, big countries will bully those small countries.

However, in the thousands of years of history, whether it is the strong Han, the prosperous Tang Dynasty, or the so-called weak Song Dynasty, there can be said to be few conflicts among the surrounding vassal states, that is, because of the boss of China and the existence of this inequality, this means that there are people who can make decisions for themselves and arbitration authority that everyone unanimously recognizes.

Therefore, as long as the foreign vassals recognize China as the leader and accept China's canonization and rewards, it is also responsible for protecting the security of this small country. All aspects give priority to the interests of this small country, and will not even interfere with the governance of the vassal states, let alone have an interest in occupying their country. Therefore, not only do not bully the vassal states, they will also provide a lot of security protection for the vassal states.

Of course, the tribute system has been destroyed in history, and it is impossible to restore this system in the future. However, Zhao Bing knew that in essence in modern international politics, there is still the shadow of the tribute system in many regions. It can be seen that any actual inequality between countries exists in a region where there is a country that is the master of the country, it is basically peaceful.

Since it is politically beneficial and economically profitable, why did the Song and Yuan dynasties, which were the most prosperous, try to impose a maritime ban? Zhao Bing felt that the maritime ban was extremely developed in the Song and Yuan dynasties, but because private maritime commerce often evade taxes and evade taxes, and while the trade volume is huge, the country makes little profits, and thinks that it is a loss-making transaction. Therefore, both Song and Yuan dynasties tried maritime ban, but they gave up because of the lack of government control.

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The Ming Dynasty once sent Zheng He to the West for six times. In addition to political reasons, the essence was to expand maritime trade, but the strict maritime ban policy should be implemented in the later stage? Zhao Bing thought about it and found that the main reason was that some people had ruined it.

Zhao Bing knew that there were many records in the Ming Dynasty about "there is a gift if there is a tribute". Generally, under normal circumstances, the Ming Dynasty's return gift value was one to four times higher than that of Japan's tribute value, and sometimes more than ten times higher. In addition to the tribute and the self-introduction of the envoys, there were also the tribute envoys and crew sailors who brought them to the Ming Dynasty for sale. The payment for the purchase of some goods in the Ming Dynasty was called the price, and the price was often one to four times higher than the price of similar goods in the market, or even higher.

In addition, the Ming Dynasty also spent huge expenses in welcoming and sending tribute personnel to prepare clothes and accommodation for them. From the time of returning to the country to the Ming Dynasty, the tribute mission not only provided food, delayed expenses, etc., but also provided all the tribute supplies to Beijing by the Ming government, and even the rations were all allocated to 30 days on the way back to the country. Therefore, from the return gifts, the tribute missions of the Ming Dynasty and the various generous treatments for the tribute missions, the tribute missions clearly obtained a lot of economic benefits in the Ming Dynasty.

In the world's perception, Zhu Yuanzhang's origin was the most absurd among the founding emperors of all dynasties, but Zhao Bing found that his tribute trade was not a slap in the face but a need for huge profits. His tribute trade was an unequal exchange monopolized by the central government, and there were many tricks in the middle. It could be said that he had earned enough face to the great power of the Celestial Empire and he also made a profit.

The tribute missions in the Zhu Yuanzhang era brought tributes. Everyone knows that the Ming Dynasty would definitely lose money by looking at these tributes and rewards. However, the tribute missions often brought "attached goods" worth more than ten times the value of the tribute. The Ming court took advantage of the advantage was the "attached goods" trade. Zhu Yuanzhang domineeringly stipulated that 60% of these "attached goods" would be the Ming court, and the foreign envoys and merchants would not have to find another way to sell them.

If the Gentile envoys think that the Ming Dynasty government is stupid and has too much money, then he is very stupid and naive, because Zhu Yuanzhang has the final say on how to pay the bill. Not only does he have the final say on the payment method, but he also defines how to settle it himself. He can be said to be a super domineering emperor buyer.

For example, the price of a pound of iron in the Ming Dynasty was fifty cents, while the price paid to the tribute mission in the Ming Dynasty was one pound of iron and a half coins; the price of an ordinary big sword in the Ming Dynasty was sixty-two cents and a half coins, while the price of Japanese sword imported by Japan was strictly stipulated by the Ming Dynasty to thirty-seven cents and a half coins; the price of a pound of pepper in the Ming Dynasty was a hundred cents in the Ming Dynasty, while the price of pepper in the purchase of the mission was only thirty-five cents.

Zhu Yuanzhang also specifically stipulated that when buying these goods, only 10% of the currency was deducted by silk or other physical objects. In the early years, the currency given by the central government of the Ming Dynasty was actually a paper money that was officially priced, and there was no precious metal reserve at all. The old Zhu family printed as much as they wanted. The silk deducted by the Ming Dynasty government was also very "scam". The domestic price of silk fluctuated between more than 200 to 6000 documents. The Ming Dynasty government suddenly made a price of 1,200 documents.

Therefore, the delegation purchased goods from the Ming Dynasty, and the Ming government raised the price by more than ten times. The Ming government could specifically stipulate that the delegation would either pay real money, silver and spices to pay, or accept the official "grabbing grandson prices" of the Ming Dynasty. Zhu Yuanzhang and his son slaughtered people like this, but the Gentile envoys still rushed to offer their offerings, because there were still huge profits in trade with China.

Zheng He's voyage to the West was actually a continuation of Zhu Di's trade for his father's tribute, and it was just to continue the "cracking" foreign trade policy of the Zhu family. It can be seen that Zhu Yuanzhang and his son have never been suckers. When they tricked people, many emperors in history could not catch up. However, such a good deal was often attacked by civil servants to waste money. It seemed that the Ming Dynasty insisted on the long-distance policy and would make the country different. When Zhu Di died, his son immediately banned the sea and closed the sails.

Old Zhu and his son were Zhao Bing's role models. After he thought about it, he copied it himself and tricked these grandchildren who could not get up early. This kind of thing seems to be a bit harmful to the face of the great power of the "Celestial Empire". In fact, there is always a gap between concepts and reality in this world. Some of the concepts mentioned in their mouths still have different rules from those in actual operation.

At this point, you need to operate the actual political methods below under the cover of superficial political correctness. Although the two seem contradictory, they can be used in parallel. To put it in a famous saying in the book "The Great Gatsby" is that "it is possible to maintain two completely opposite ideas at the same time and be able to act normally. This is a sign of first-class wisdom.

Of course, Zhao Bing also knew that in addition to huge economic benefits, these overseas vassal states came to the court and saw the might of the Song Dynasty's naval army. In the past six months, the Expeditionary Force not only completed the defense replacement task of the bases along the way, but also carried out ruthless attacks on the pirates on the sea. Everyone knew that there were many pirates with national backgrounds. Some of them intended to monopolize regional trade, some were thugs for others, and some were simply making money through robbery.

Therefore, this expeditionary army fought with real and fake pirates, and directly started a war against those city-states and tribes that dared to plunder, destroying their country, the city lords and chiefs, and sent them back to their country for disposal. And they also warned those who secretly supported pirates to harass the Great Song caravan, forcing them to make guarantees to open up the market for the Great Song caravan, provide supplies, and allow the establishment of a trading bank.

After such a struggle, the timids came to the Song Dynasty to pay tribute and took the initiative to call the throne; some were directly escorted to Beijing to apologize for crimes and signed unequal treaties; of course, some were also changed their minds, and they saw that the Song Dynasty was in full swing, so they came to contact and get rich together; countries with traditional vassals in the past also quickly demanded the restoration of relations and requested a new imperial seal.

In this case, if even the foreign envoys from Lin'an have included cats and dogs, there are 40 or 50, all of whom are serious foreigners. This caught the Ministry of Rites, which had not received foreign missions for a long time, and there was no corresponding policy on how to treat friendly countries. The Minister of State Xie Ao hurriedly wrote a letter to ask for instructions and asked His Majesty to give a clear explanation.

Zhao Bing already had a slander, and the policy proposed was to "warmly welcome, safeguard interests, be neither humble nor arrogant, and strengthen cooperation." Xie Ao asked His Majesty to explain further. He could only explain that the Song Dynasty welcomed foreign vassals to come to Song to carry out economic and trade activities, but in exchanges, we must ensure that our own interests are not lost. In the process of exchange, we cannot respect foreign countries and be humble for the sake of interests, nor can we play a big name because of our own strength. On the basis of establishing economic and trade relations, we can also carry out in-depth cooperation.

It would be fine if he didn't explain, but Xie Ao was even more inaccurate after explaining. Zhao Bing secretly called this guy too pedantic and poor understanding ability. His subtext was to "invite" people in first, treat them with delicious food and drinks, and show the demeanor and majesty of a great country. In other words, you should be coaxed and scared, so as to ensure that the Song Dynasty benefits all-round, such as completely opening the market, setting up bases, allowing the Song Dynasty to garrison, or even buying land to colonize, etc.

Of course, these things must be hidden on the basis of economic and trade cooperation. Some of the benefits can be given to them, and they are authorized to be trade representatives in a certain region, specializing in distributing products from the Song Dynasty, purchasing materials needed in China, etc. The next step is to carry out in-depth cooperation, send troops to protect them, and deter countries that attempt to endanger friendly relations between the two sides.

This time Xie Ao understood that the emperor meant that he would first trick people into the market, and then slaughter them. While granting him the agency power, he could also distribute goods from other countries, so that the goods of the Song Dynasty monopolized the local market and even the markets of neighboring countries. Then he could dump the excess materials of the Song Dynasty into other countries. After controlling its financial sources economically, he would interfere in his politics, support the pro-Song forces, and turn his country into a vassal of the Song Dynasty.
Chapter completed!