The old port was originally called Zhenla. The law clearly stipulated: "Any native who kills a Tang person shall be executed; any Tang person who kills a foreign person to death shall also be heavily fined. If there is no money, they shall redeem themselves by selling their bodies." The Song History records: "Chinese merchants who arrived were treated as guests, with ample and delicious food and drink."
This kind of regulation was actually similar to the provisions during the Yuan Dynasty, where killing a Southern Song person of the fourth rank by a Yuan person of the first rank only required compensation of one donkey. The difference was that the Yuan Dynasty, after conquering the Song, established this rule as conquerors. Zhenla, however, established this rule as a vassal state due to the strength of the Central Plains dynasties.
Later, the term "Chinatown" mostly originated from this.
After the Qing entered the pass, this practice changed. The people of the Central Plains, who were once proud, became like sheep waiting to be slaughtered. Even the petty Dutch dared to brazenly commit the Red Creek Massacre in Batavia. The Qing court, led by the deaf and old emperor, considered the Chinese immigrants residing in Batavia to have "abandoned royal grace" and were "born in that land, truly no different from foreign people," and that their deaths were their own fault.
Zhu Jinsong was different from the deaf and old emperor.
If the people of the Great Ming beat or killed barbarians, they would be reprimanded or fined a small amount. If it was truly the fault of the Great Ming people, at most they would be "exiled to their home prefecture," or if that wasn't enough, they would receive a few blows as a "warning."
If barbarians beat or killed the people of the Great Ming... If local people couldn't apprehend them, the government would arrest them. If the government couldn't arrest them, they would be handed over to the local garrison. If that still didn't work, the Embroidered Uniform Guard or the Eastern Depot would be dispatched. Those barbarians who dared to provoke the Great Ming would die even if they hid at the ends of the earth, and their bodies would be found.
It was a fight to the death.
In Emperor Zhu's view, he could treat his people however he pleased, but barbarians bullying the people of the Great Ming was unacceptable because he was the Emperor of the Great Ming. The people of the Great Ming not only paid taxes and tributes but also eagerly sent their beautiful daughters to the palace to serve Emperor Zhu. If such people were not indulged and pampered, what justice would there be?
It was precisely because the offenders were the people of the Great Ming that the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot did not report the so-called "assault incidents," but merely allowed the local authorities to handle them before reporting them layer by layer.
Conversely, if a barbarian was the assailant and a Great Ming person was the victim, the local government, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and the Eastern Depot would likely have been reporting the incident and pursuing the perpetrators simultaneously.
Zeng Cheng smiled again and said, "What troubles me, Your Majesty, is not that the Great Ming people have beaten a few barbarians, but that the European nobles are too shameless, causing trouble every month. The local government has also been complaining quite a bit recently. Therefore, I was thinking if we should teach these barbarians some rules before they pass through the passes?"
Zhu Jinsong shook his head and said, "These barbarians are accustomed to their ways in Europe, and teaching them rules will be of no use. However..."
The Emperor's tone shifted: "We can directly warn them before they pass through the passes. If they are caught, they will be directly repatriated. I believe this can prevent some incidents."
Liu Huaiwen was somewhat unwilling.
In Liu Huaiwen's opinion, the barbarians relieving themselves publicly was not a major problem. After all, if they were caught by the people or yamen runners of the Great Ming, they would receive a beating. There was no need to repatriate them at every turn. These barbarian nobles were coming to the Great Ming with real gold and silver. If they were repatriated, wouldn't the Great Ming suffer losses?
After thinking for a moment, Liu Huaiwen bowed slightly and advised, "Your Majesty, perhaps this matter can be discussed further? After all, our Great Ming people also had such minor faults in the past, and now they are slowly correcting them."
"Since these barbarians have come to our Great Ming with real gold and silver, it shows that they still admire our royal culture and are good barbarians who can be taught. I believe, as Elder Zeng suggested, that we should have them taught their manners properly."
After Liu Huaiwen finished speaking, everyone, including Emperor Zhu, burst into laughter.
The words "real gold and silver" were emphasized. Everyone knew what Old Miser Liu meant.
Making money is not shameful. Now they are earning money while standing, and they cannot expect people to kneel and bring money to the Great Ming.
Emperor Zhu shook his head with a smile and said, "Uncle Huaiwen, you can rest assured. These barbarians are all cowardly. The more you warn them sternly, the less they will dare to disobey you. The more lenient you are with them, the bolder they will become."
After the laughter subsided, Zeng Cheng bowed again and said, "There is also another matter, which is probably similar to the accidents caused by steam locomotives – many of our Great Ming people have illegally connected wires, and quite a few have died from electric shock."
Hearing this news, Zhu Jinsong also shook his head with a look of helplessness.
In fact, Emperor Zhu received news of such incidents much faster than Zeng Cheng. After all, for accidents involving casualties of the Great Ming people, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Eastern Depot, the Censorate, and local governments all reported them truthfully, with the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Eastern Depot being the fastest in relaying information.
However, Emperor Zhu really had no good solution.
As the saying goes, the people of the Great Ming considered it a skill, not a disgrace, to find ways to take advantage of the court and the emperor.
More importantly, the application of electricity in the Great Ming was still in a very primitive stage. Apart from lighting and telegraphy, there were no other uses. Management was naturally very lax, and there were no electric meters, making it easy for people to illegally connect circuits.
Gently rubbing his forehead, Emperor Zhu directly ordered, "You all discuss this carefully and see if there are any good solutions. Then submit a memorial to me."
After Zeng Cheng and the other important officials bowed in assent, Emperor Zhu said with a "what the heck" attitude, "Are there any other annoying news? Speak it all out together."
However, to Zhu Jinsong's surprise, after exchanging glances, Zeng Cheng and the other important officials did not report any more disgusting news.
Emperor Zhu also breathed a sigh of relief. He thought to himself, "Indeed, the Great Ming, under the governance of a diligent and loving emperor like myself, should be prosperous and peaceful. Where are there so many troublesome matters to annoy me?"
Thinking of this, Emperor Zhu felt a bit happy, and when he was happy, he decided to do something.
Emperor Zhu slowly tapped on the table and said leisurely, "I plan to go on a tour."
Zeng Cheng and the other important officials observed carefully, their minds filled with apprehension.
It can be said that emperors' fondness for wandering and experiencing life had a deep historical tradition in the Central Plains dynasties. The emperors of the Central Plains either enjoyed tours or private visits, like Qin Shi Huang and the early emperors of the Liu family, or they enjoyed leading troops to cause trouble, like Li Er of the Li family, Zhu Si of the Zhu family, or the young scholar Zhu Houzhao.
The Emperor Zhu, sitting on the dragon throne, possessed both qualities. He enjoyed both tours and private visits and leading troops to cause trouble.
As the Emperor of the Great Ming, he did not wish to stay in the Forbidden City and instead thought of wandering around at every opportunity. If he were to lead troops to cause trouble, it would be understandable. But if he were to go on tours, along the way there would be various tax reductions and exemptions, or various rewards and bestowals. As a result, the people of the Great Ming jokingly called him the "Spending Emperor."
However, "沙雕" (shādiāo) was a direct insult, and simply saying "spending" was also a direct insult. The term "Spending Emperor" was more of a playful taunt, referring to Emperor Zhu's behavior of spending money madly during his tours, and did not carry any abusive meaning.
Zhu Jinsong was also aware of this nickname.
This was precisely what puzzled Zhu Jinsong. The people of the Great Ming, almost every household, had his longevity tablets and portraits. They never delayed paying their taxes. Every time there were rumors of imperial concubine selection, the people of the Great Ming would try their best to send their daughters. Emperor Zhu's decrees were always carried out without fail.
From these aspects, the people of the Great Ming treated him, Emperor Zhu, very well.
Yet, they always liked to give Emperor Zhu various nicknames like "Spending Emperor" or "Unscrupulous Emperor."
It was truly bizarre.
Shaking his head helplessly, Zhu Jinsong continued, "This time, I intend to go west of Hangu Pass and have a look at the Western Regions."
Zeng Cheng was immediately stunned and asked, "Western Regions?"
Zhu Jinsong nodded and said, "Indeed, the Western Regions."
Since the Great Qing was overthrown, Emperor Zhu had gone on tours several times, visiting places like Liaodong, Jiangnan, and Sichuan. Now, only Yanran and the Western Regions remained unvisited.
The reason he had not gone to Yanran was that Yanran was a vast region with a sparse population. It was possible to ride a horse for half a day without seeing many people. The reason for not going to the Western Regions earlier was the inconvenience of transportation.
An emperor's visit to the Western Regions for sightseeing was different from a merchant's business trip to the Western Regions. Merchants could take risks for business, but who would allow the emperor to take risks for a tour?
The reason Emperor Zhu proposed visiting the Western Regions was precisely because the railway from the capital to the Western Regions was nearing completion. From the groundbreaking to its current single-track status, it had taken more than ten years and cost an immeasurable amount of money!
If the time and financial investment over the past decade had been directed towards external expansion, Emperor Zhu was confident that he could have conquered several small countries, and even taken over all of Europe.
Not to mention the massive number of laborers buried beneath the single-track railway, whose bones were piled high and whose souls cried out nightly!
Now that this single-track railway was finally taking shape, how could Emperor Zhu resist seeing it?
Of course, Emperor Zhu also really liked the raisins from the Western Regions, and he wanted to see them.
However, Zeng Cheng and the other important officials did not want Emperor Zhu to go to the Western Regions. Zeng Cheng bowed directly and said, "Your Majesty, please reconsider! If Your Majesty wishes to go to Jiangnan, we will have no objections. But if Your Majesty wishes to go to the Western Regions, I must advise against it."
As the saying goes, you, Emperor Zhu, can go to Jiangnan, or to Liaodong. Even if you, Your Majesty, want to stay in Sichuan for a few more meals of couple's lung slices or boiled fish, it would be fine. Even if you, Your Majesty, want to go to the old port for a tour like last time, everyone can endure it with a pinched nose. Only the Western Regions cannot be visited.
Because the railway from the Great Ming to the Western Regions was a single-track railway! A single-track railway!
Of course, if it were merely due to the railway, Zeng Cheng and the other important officials could endure it. The problem was that the environment in the Western Regions was very different from that of the Central Plains dynasties. If Emperor Zhu could adapt, it would be fine. But what if Emperor Zhu could not adapt to the environment there?
If they had to continue the tour under duress, who could guarantee that something wouldn't happen later? If something happened, who would bear the responsibility?
If they had to retreat due to the inability to adapt to the environment, this tour would lose its original meaning. What would the people of the Western Regions think?
Therefore, Zeng Cheng and the other important officials wanted to stop Emperor Zhu, who had suddenly gone mad.
But how could Emperor Zhu be easily stopped?
Zhu Jinsong said with a smile, "It is precisely because I have considered it repeatedly that I have decided to go to the Western Regions."
Emperor Zhu's expression gradually became serious: "I know the environment of the Western Regions and the potential risks. But I cannot refrain from going to the Western Regions just because of its environment and potential risks."
The so-called potential risks naturally referred to India and some remaining small states that had not yet been incorporated into the Great Ming's territory. No one could guarantee that these countries would not take desperate measures upon learning of Emperor Zhu's visit to the Western Regions.
Emperor Zhu continued, "If I never go to the Western Regions, do you expect the people of the Great Ming to actively go and develop the border regions? If I don't go to the Western Regions, these risks will not exist?"
Zeng Cheng was speechless. Liu Heming, however, bowed and advised, "Reporting to Your Majesty, if Your Majesty insists on a western tour, please give me three months. I guarantee that I will pacify the Western Regions within three months!"
Zhu Jinsong waved his hand with a smile and said, "You can pacify the Western Regions in three months, but you cannot pacify the hearts of the people. Have you not discovered a pattern? The people of our Great Ming always like to visit and see the places where I have toured."
"The reason I chose the Western Regions this time is not only because I want to completely resolve the potential hidden dangers in the Western Regions and eliminate the remnants of India and Gorkha, but also because I hope to encourage the people of our Great Ming to actively develop the Western Regions."
"I refuse to believe that as long as our Great Ming people are willing to develop the Western Regions, we cannot solve the problem of the sandstorms there!"
Hearing the words "sandstorms in the Western Regions," Zeng Cheng and the other important officials had no way to dissuave him further. The sandstorms in the Western Regions were indeed severe, and desertification was serious, to the point where it could not be solved simply by Emperor Zhu deploying several armies. It required the migration of a large number of people to plant trees.
After all, the number of troops in the Great Ming was limited, and there were too many places to defend. Emperor Zhu could not possibly allocate too many troops to the Western Regions for desert control.
In comparison, there were a vast number of people.
However, before Emperor Zhu could persuade Zeng Cheng and the other important officials, a锦衣卫 (Jǐnyīwèi) hurried in from outside Wenhua Hall, delivering intelligence that brutally slapped Emperor Zhu in the face. Where were there so many troublesome matters to annoy me?
Now, the annoying matters had arrived!