Chapter 590: The Biggest Landlord in the World (Second Update, Please Subscribe)

In fact, for the Japanese delegation, although some incidents occurred when they first met the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty due to old events, overall everything went smoothly.

Even when the Japanese delegation proposed to amend the Treaty of Friendship and Commerce originally signed with the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Zhu said with a smile.

"Since Japan is a vassal of the Ming Dynasty, this treaty of friendship and trade should be reconsidered. If Japan wants to revise the treaty with other countries, the Ming Dynasty should also provide corresponding assistance."

The words sound nice, but Iwakura and others don’t dare to ask the Ming Dynasty for help at all. Why?

They were helping Japan, which was a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty. As for the "Great Japanese Empire", well, it didn't exist. Originally, they thought they could seek help from the Ming Dynasty, but now that they have discovered the "ambitions" of the Ming Dynasty, they naturally dare not ask for help from the Ming Dynasty anymore.

Drive out the wolf and swallow the tiger?

Maybe I will become the meat in someone's mouth! Just like Paraguay. Didn't the Ming Dynasty also help them in various ways?

But what did they help with in the end?

This country was annexed. And it was done voluntarily. How could such voluntary behavior exist in this world?

Although this discovery made Iwakura and others extremely depressed, they had to admit that they also gained a lot from the Ming Dynasty. For example, the Ming Dynasty agreed to accept international students - giving them the same treatment as Ming Dynasty students - as long as they passed the high school ability test and the university entrance test, they could be exempted from tuition!

Ohbo Kurimitsu and Ito Hirobumi were all excited and shouted long live! After all, in the past, their biggest worry was that the cost of international students was too high and Japan could not afford it!

"The Ming Dynasty is truly worthy of being called the Great Dynasty!"

At this moment, they seemed to see the scene of thousands of Japanese young people entering Daming University to study. A rich and strong country is just around the corner!

Even though the Ming Dynasty only gave 300 places every year, it was still a lot for Japan!

After all, Japan is a small country! Just like the Bucket Death Group came with them this time, there were not only them, but also 50 international students. 50 people, this is the limit of what Japan can afford financially.

Now there are 300 more international students, and it's almost free. How can they not be happy?

"Although the Ming Dynasty was founded in a foreign land, its magnanimity is no less than that of the old times!"

While sighing, Iwakura also took a special look at the exquisite box.

"Well, the state gift sent by His Majesty Emperor Ito must be sent back to Japan as soon as possible and presented to His Majesty the Emperor."

Emperor Zhu was happy to reunite with his old vassal. Although the Japanese had forgotten their old master, the emperor had not forgotten his old ministers. So he directly gave Meiji some gifts, which were basically the specialties of the Ming Dynasty - industrial products such as cameras, and of course, an exquisite "Huacheng watch". It had been given as a state gift to the French emperor, queen and prince. Now one was also given to the emperor. This was simply... a symbol of identity and status!

"Also, we need to verify the Ming Emperor's statement carefully. If Toyotomi really accepts the Ming Emperor's enthronement, then it will be over..."

In fact, it was not just the Ming Dynasty that was destroyed.

There are also North Korea, Vietnam... Well, Ryukyu is finished!

"Yes, the Ming Dynasty also has ambitions for Japan!"

While Ito Hirobumi was sighing, another thought came to his mind - isn't this what a strong country is like!

Not to mention the powerful countries, even Japan today is clamoring to "conquer Korea".

"In that case, we must inspect this place carefully!"

With this in mind, the Iwakura delegation began their investigation of other areas of the Ming Dynasty. After visiting large industrial cities like Nanyuan and Nanhua, they naturally wanted to visit small towns. The delegation took a train along the railway and saw prosperous small towns along the way. Many of those towns were farm stations. The farms on the Nanhua prairie were all government-owned. Each farm covered an area of ​​no less than hundreds of thousands of acres. There were no farmers on the farms, only farm workers.

Four-wheeled carriages loaded with agricultural products can often be seen on the roads between farms. The workers' houses on the farms also look very beautiful. In the eyes of Iwakura and others, even ordinary landlords in Japan may not be able to live in such a beautiful mansion.

Standing in the farm, with golden wheat fields stretching all the way to the horizon, Ito Hirobumi asked, "Mr. Liang, according to your previous introduction, the workers here receive a salary every month, right?"

“Yes, farm workers receive wages, the farm’s income is accounted for, and the profits go to the state treasury.”

Liang Youdao introduced as he walked.

"Last year, the total output value of our farm was 425,700 yuan, and we paid 120,000 yuan to the state treasury. This level is a bit low. Some farms can pay more than 30% of their profits."

In an instant, Iwakura, Daibato, Ito and others all looked stunned. How could they not be shocked?

Especially Kido. Long before he came to power, he had been planning to reform the land rent, which means increasing the land tax. While he was still firmly opposed to the high tax rate of 3% set by some people, the Ming Dynasty actually handed over 30% of its output value to the government.

"Won't such a high tax rate drive the farmers into rebellion?"

But Kido and the others did not ask such questions - along the way, they did not see any dilapidated houses, and those brick and tile-built Chinese-style white-walled and black-tiled mansions with similar floor areas. Obviously, although the farms paid high "land taxes", the people still lived quite well.

“It’s really hard to imagine!”

Of course, in a hotel room in the station, Iwakura and his group couldn't help but exclaim while having dinner.

"Last year, the agricultural tax collected by the Ming Dynasty was as high as 10 million yuan. With such a high tax burden, farmers can still live and work in peace. It is simply unbelievable!"

"What's so strange about this!"

Kido Takayoshi said seriously.

"Don't you see? The peasants in the Ming Dynasty don't have any land. All the land belongs to the state. The peasants are not peasants, but farm workers. And you will understand if you change your perspective!"

Putting down his chopsticks, Kido Takayoshi said casually.

"In Japan, the landlords charge 60% of the rent! The Ming Dynasty only charges 30%, so the people can live and work in peace!"

Instantly, everyone understood. Why were the people of the Ming Dynasty able to live and work in peace and contentment? To put it bluntly, it was because the landlords exploited them less.

While expressing his amazement, Ito Hirobumi suddenly spoke with some excitement.

"So that's how it is, so that's how it is, this is the fundamental reason why the Ming Dynasty is so prosperous! The Ming Dynasty was a big landlord with hundreds of millions of acres of land, so it can naturally absorb the profits from the production of farmland all over the world and then invest them in industrial construction!"

(End of this chapter)