My Pen Pal Zhu Yuanzhang

Chapter 431 Shocking Power

But, the Aztec Empire and the Inca Empire were more miserable. They were still fighting with stone and bronze.

Either this Indian people really had no talent for smelting, or the empire was seriously lacking in iron ore.

No one could understand better than an emperor the importance of steel to a country. Since ancient times, all kinds of ironware have been the most important need of the northern barbarians, whether they were trading with the Central Plains dynasties or looting in the south.

The reason is simple: I don’t know how to smelt it!

"While exterminating the Aztecs and the Inca Empire, the Spanish colonists also plundered a large amount of wealth, including gold, which eventually led to the rapid expansion of Spain's power and made it the first superpower in the Age of Exploration, known as the first empire on which the sun never sets!

Why is it called the Empire on which the Sun Never Sets? That’s because Spain’s colonies are spread all over the world, and its colonies are always illuminated by the sun.”

The Empire on which the Sun Never Sets? What a big tone!

Zhu Yuanzhang was immediately dissatisfied. How could a kingdom on a small peninsula become the so-called empire on which the sun never sets?

Spain only bullies weak countries that don't know how to forge iron. This is because they haven't met our Ming Dynasty, huh!

If we meet them, we will beat them so hard that even their parents won’t recognize them!
Well, coming to think of it, didn’t Zhu Laosi and his gang give them a beating in Temasek first?
“Of course, I have said so much just to illustrate a principle, that is, in the current situation, whoever seizes the waterway first, whoever occupies more territory and resources first, will be able to develop rapidly.

The fact that Spain, a third-rate country on the Iberian Peninsula, was able to become a leading empire and leave a glorious, though not glorious, side in history is inseparable from this.

If you seize the opportunities of the times, you will be able to soar to the sky. Fortune and wealth are sought in danger, and the bigger the storm, the more expensive the fish. This is the truth. "

Zhu Yuanzhang laughed and said, "We all understand the truth, but your witty remarks, Old Li, are really down-to-earth!"

"Of course, Spain's behavior after its rise to prominence was a typical nouveau riche mentality, with large amounts of gold and silver being used to support the extravagant lifestyles of wealthy merchants, nobles, and the church. This also led to it being replaced by another country in the subsequent struggle for maritime hegemony.

This country is England, known as the second empire on which the sun never sets. Of course, that is another story.”

England? Zhu Yuanzhang was immediately shocked. This England was the country that used opium to pry open the door to China at that time!
"So, Lao Zhu, when the Ming Dynasty obtains a large amount of gold and silver overseas, what will you do?"

Is there any need to ask? Of course, it is to vigorously develop industry. Zhu Yuanzhang answered without thinking.

"After Spain and Portugal became prosperous through America, European countries also began to seize and divide colonies around the world. Africa was divided up by England and France, America was divided up by England, France, Spain and Portugal, and Western countries including Temasek, Srivijaya, Annan, Champa, Chenla, etc. were all colonized by these countries.

They regarded these places as the source of their raw materials, plundering them at will, grabbing massive amounts of wealth from them, and instilling their own cultural habits into these places. Over time, they used the triple means of culture, military and economy to shape the world's cognition and order!

Fortunately, China has its own strong culture, so it has not been completely changed by them. However, it was only after a series of painful choices that it was able to extract the essence and discard the dross, go against the tide, and return to the top of the world. "

Shaping the world's order, and...cognition?
Old Zhu understands shaping order, but how should we understand the word cognition specifically? How should we shape cognition?
What Lao Li wants to say is, use Chinese culture to integrate other ethnic groups, right?

"The concept of shaping cognition mentioned here can be described in a more vivid way, called cognitive warfare.

What is cognitive warfare? It means that in the process of foreign exchanges, the superior civilization uses its industrial and cultural advantages to change the cognition and views of the weaker civilization. This includes cultural exports, public opinion creation and other means.

Just like Annan, Japan, Goryeo and other countries, they are proud to wear Hanfu and speak Chinese, which is a typical change of cognition. Of course, this is also the result of the strong integration of Chinese civilization, but this process of cognitive change is often passive.

The Ming Dynasty had already started sailing and exporting goods and culture. In this process, actively exporting cognition was also an extremely important part of the Ming Dynasty's shaping of the world order.

As for how to output cognition, we will talk about this later! "

"Lao Li, you!! We!!"

Zhu Yuanzhang was watching with great interest, when suddenly Li Han did this to him again. He almost cursed out loud.

Fortunately, he became much more well-mannered after becoming emperor, otherwise he would have started swearing in the palace.

We should have gotten used to what kind of person Lao Li is. Hold it in, please hold it in, Zhu Yuanzhang kept telling himself in his mind. He let out a long breath, then picked up the cup and drank the water in it in one breath. Only then did he suppress his anger.

"Let's return to Europe and talk about the political organization and situation in Europe.

The organizational forms of political power in this world can probably be divided into the following types, the most typical of which is the feudal system.

Just like the European countries, they are the model of feudal system. The king stands at the top of secular power, and below him are feudal lords composed of dukes, earls and other nobles. The feudal lords actually control the power of taxation, military, personnel, etc. in their own fiefdoms. Of course, some places also have the right of first night. "

What is the right of primogeniture? Zhu Yuanzhang was confused, and Lao Li specifically asked, is this right of primogeniture some powerful power?

"Speaking of this right of first night, it's amazing. It makes men tremble with fear and women cry when they hear about it!"

Wow, is it so magical? Zhu Yuanzhang's interest grew.

"So what exactly is this right of first night? It means that in certain areas of Europe, the night before a girl gets married, the lord of her territory has the right to spend the night with her and take her body."

"Cough, cough, cough!"

Seeing this, Zhu Yuanzhang started coughing violently. What the hell was this?

What’s the difference between this and a rich landlord robbing someone else’s new bride?
This Europe has absolutely no moral principles and is extremely barbaric. It must be educated!

"I'm getting off topic. Most European countries have this form of government organization, but most of them are not even kingdoms. They are just noble lords managing their own fiefdoms.

This is somewhat similar to the Great Zhou period in China. Although the princes nominally obeyed the Zhou emperor, they actually had great power in their own countries.

The feudal lords collected taxes themselves, and after handing over a portion of it to the king, they used the rest for expenses within their territory, such as military expenses. Their troops were mostly composed of aristocratic people called knights, who were supported by the lords. The common people were not qualified to fight in battles and could only become servants of the knights.

Of course, this situation is slowly changing in Europe, and the military is slowly becoming more civilian and more normalized.”

(End of this chapter)