Chapter 345 Stable and Better

Chapter 345 Stable and Better

After the East India Company contracted for tomorrow's trade for some time, another country came forward, hoping to contract the trade between them and Japan. This country was North Korea.

In the last years of Hongwu, Japan's Ashikaga Yoshimitsu accepted Lee's request from North Korea to ban Japanese pirates and established diplomatic relations with them. Trade between Japan and Korea was thus established. Not only the shogunate, but also the guardian daimyo, local wealthy families, and merchants actively participated, so trade flourished. Items Japan exported to North Korea included sappan wood (the raw material for red dye) and incense wood (aromatic wood such as sandalwood) obtained from trade with the south, which was similar to tomorrow's trade. Items exported from North Korea to Japan include cotton, Korean ginseng, and classic versions of the Tripitaka. Cotton was not only used to make clothes for the general public, but was also used by the Daimyos of the Warring States Period to make military uniforms.

The trade between Japan and North Korea led to an increase in the number of Japanese living on the Korean Peninsula. Therefore, North Korea set up a Japanese museum in "Miura" to accommodate and administer them to distinguish them from Japanese pirates. However, due to the active trade and the gradual increase in smuggling, North Korean officials began to strengthen control over Japanese residents.

Hearing that the suzerain country had contracted the trade with Japan to a third party, the King of Korea sent people to Nanjing, hoping that he could also contract the trade between Korea and Japan.

Mason readily agreed to this request. Who would have trouble with money? North Korea allowed him to open a business office in Busan, and he also handed over one-tenth of the trade volume as tax every year.

There were ships heading north from the Nanyang one after another. They carried foreign spices, sulfur and other goods for sale in Ningbo, and purchased large quantities of porcelain, tea, etc. for transportation overseas. In the first ten days after the port was opened, the shipping company earned 110,000 taels of silver. It can be seen that trade is flourishing.

However, East Asia is still far away from Rome, and they have not reaped the trade dividends for the time being, but they can live well just by relying on the sea route from Temasek to Constantinople. A total of 880,000 lei in revenue was sent to the headquarters.

The company finally saw money, they handed over 90,000 lei to the government, and Peter received 250,000 lei as a dividend. Such a large amount is only the trade tax with India and other places. If the East is added, I really don't know how much it is.

Major construction began in Constantinople, including the restoration of damaged buildings. The estimated cost of 2.5 million lei made Baptiste feel a lot of pressure, but in order to reduce the pressure, he handed over 400,000 lei first.

Peter decided to revive the sport of horse racing and build a racecourse on the site of the arena. In addition, the entire city's infrastructure needs to be renovated, and Galata has to be doubled in size, otherwise it will no longer be able to accommodate people.

In addition to construction, the military is also a major source of money. Infantry, cavalry, artillery, and navy all cost money, especially artillery. The manufacturing of artillery has caused the factory to be expanded twice. Peter specifically separated artillery from infantry and turned it into an independent branch. According to the latest decision of the Senate, each city and castle needs to be equipped with artillery, ranging from 10 to 60. Medium and large cities such as Constantinople and Bukur Yesti will be equipped with about 150 artillery.

The navy also needed to be equipped with artillery and Greek fire self-defense, and these needs drove the development of the military industry. The demand for saltpeter, sulfur and other raw materials soared, and the unified command system increased the country's ability to coordinate resources. This was also the difference between Rome and other countries.

War cannot be separated from money and food, so Peter hoarded supplies in various places to prepare for a protracted war. Soldiers and militiamen on the front line are also training. As long as there are no accidents elsewhere, Rome can fight the Ottomans to the death.

The Council of Boyars also played its part in the governance of Mircea and the regency of Peter. Previous coups and treason cases in the capital had dealt with a group of old nobles. The lower house was loyal to the emperor, and the upper house was also tightly controlled by the emperor. Although they do not have the power to approve laws or anything like that, as a consultative body that understands public opinion in various places, some nobles can use their status to influence government decisions.

Victor, leader of the House of Commons, handed Peter a letter signed by 98 people, hoping that the government could promote economic growth and expand trade to the Western Mediterranean. Peter agreed, and commerce in the western Mediterranean began to develop.

At the same time, all decisions made by the Senate will be approved by the meeting. For example, the treaty signed with Aragon was unanimously approved. There is also the preparation for war against the Ottomans and Mamluks. Representatives living in Anatolia called on the emperor at the meeting to destroy the Ottomans so that the empire can last long.

The Council of Boyars actually succeeded the Senate of Eastern Rome and was an institution of the empire, but it had no real power. And with a place where they could debate, the bourgeoisie who clamored for rights also stopped and argued in the House every day.

The result of the debate is that it is divided into factions, which can be divided into blue faction and green faction based on economic factors. The blue faction is mainly composed of wealthy merchants and citizens of the sea trade, and hopes that the empire will expand its navy and implement mercantilism; the green faction is mainly composed of emerging landowners, and hopes to pay attention to territorial expansion and land distribution. In addition, there are small factions such as the Black Faction (mining industry) and the Bu Faction (handicraft industry), but they are all foils.

The factions in the meeting actually reflected the economic situation within the empire. Agriculture, industry and commerce were booming, the re-establishment of the tax system and the simplification of taxes gave the empire a stable income, and the development of overseas trade promoted domestic industry and commerce. Rome was expanding at an unprecedented rate of revival, which was why the Mamluks were afraid, it was too fast.

Such a developed economy and healthy finances are beyond the reach of many countries. Nomadic countries such as the Mamluks adopt a fast tax farming system. The Emperor of the Holy Ra can only live on his own territory and the money of other princes. France's finances are in the war with England. The only ones that could rival it were the commercial city-states of Northern Italy, but they were still in debt because Peter had emptied their treasury.

As allies of Rome, the Republic of Emilia and the Principality of Romagna kept putting pressure on the Italian countries, especially the Principality of Milan. The emperor hated his renege, so he wanted to capture this place and then send his youngest son to Rome. Make arrangements to become a duke. But I'm afraid France won't agree to this request. How could he let you be on his border? Don't worry.

However, Mircea still somewhat admired Justinian. Despite Peter's persuasion, it is necessary to recognize the reality, but with the current army, it is not impossible for Justinian's territory to be realized in his lifetime. And he was confident that he could govern even better than Justinian.