Chapter 822: The Absolute Circle of Interests of the Empire (Third update, please subscribe)
When Your Majesty was away, the government affairs of Yingtian continued to operate normally. Apart from the fact that the crown prince acted as regent according to tradition, the burden on Zuo Zongtang, the prime minister of the empire, did not increase much compared to the past. After all, the prime minister was responsible for the specific government affairs.
After dinner, Zuo Zongtang just entered the study when the housekeeper brought in a business card. When he took it and looked at it, it turned out to be from Cheng Dingkang, who had just resigned as the governor of Shanxi.
Seeing the familiar name, Zuo Zongtang ordered:
"Please come in."
After a while, the host and the guest met in the study and exchanged a few pleasantries.
Cheng Dingkang had been Zuo Zongtang's aide sixteen years ago. They were captured together and came to the Ming Dynasty together. Zuo Zongtang had always admired this man very much. However, Zuo Zongtang had a very different trait in employing people from ordinary people. He preferred to train the officials he admired for a long time and did not rush them to become talented people who could dominate a region.
Although Cheng Dingkang had worked hard for many years in the Land Committee and other departments, Zuo Zongtang never reported his achievements. He just kept sharpening his skills at the grassroots level. It was not until four years ago, when the post of governor of Shanxi became vacant, that he submitted a memorial praising Cheng Dingkang's talents and recommending him to serve in Shanxi.
Now that Cheng Dingkang's term of office has expired, after returning to Yingtian, he will of course visit Zuo Zongtang. Since it is a visit, gifts are naturally indispensable. After a few polite words, Cheng Dingkang asked his entourage to present a three-foot wooden gift box.
"Sir, there are no special products in Shanxi. Yu Daming is only slightly famous for its red wine. When I left office, I went to the local winery and picked up a few bottles. I brought them here for you to taste."
"Diquan is thoughtful."
Zuo Zongtang smiled and told someone to take it, then motioned Cheng Dingkang to sit down and asked casually:
"You just came back from Shanxi. What's the situation there now?"
"Sir, Shanxi has become increasingly peaceful in recent years. After all, Shanxi's population has long exceeded three million. Chinese account for 50%, Hispanics and mixed-race people account for only 20%, and the remaining 30% are indigenous people. With the population ratio rising, even if there are occasional Hispanics causing trouble, it won't cause any waves. In short, I think the key to Shanxi is first immigration and second assimilation. Assimilation relies not only on guns and cannons, but also on schools. As long as the schools are run well, within ten years, even if there are hundreds of thousands of Hispanics, they will all speak Chinese."
The former Chile region was the first to be conquered by the Ming Dynasty, and it was also the place where resistance was the most intense. Anyone who served in the local area was definitely a capable official. What was Cheng Dingkang's greatest achievement in Shanxi in recent years?
Of course, it is not about sending people to places like the Gulag, Auschwitz, and Guantanamo. That is what Wang Youling did. Cheng Dingkang is best at running schools. He has established 524 new schools in Shanxi, ensuring that every child can go to school. Now in Shanxi National Language School, the last living space for Spanish is being squeezed bit by bit - the family.
"That's right."
Zuo Zongtang nodded.
"Educating the four directions is the natural mission of our Ming Dynasty. Diquan, your achievements in Shanxi are obvious to all."
After thinking for a while, Zuo Zongtang said.
"I originally planned to have you go to the Ministry of Culture, but... my suggestion is that you wait a little longer. I want you to go abroad for research. What do you think?"
"Going abroad for inspection? The Prime Minister means... going to Europe?"
Cheng Dingkang asked curiously that most of the high-ranking officials of the Ming Dynasty had experience in visiting Europe, whether for a long or short period of time, mainly to cultivate an international perspective.
“It’s not Europe, it’s Brazil.”
"Brazil!"
Cheng Dingkang was a little confused.
"What is there to study in Brazil? Slavery?"
Zuo Zongtang took a sip of tea to moisten his throat and asked first:
"Has Diquan ever heard of the term 'absolute circle of interests'?"
After a brief thought, Cheng Dingkang nodded and said:
"I have heard of this. It is probably emphasizing that the entire South America, from Colombia to Venezuela in the north, is the absolute sphere of interest of the empire and should be controlled at all costs. This is not only related to whether the empire can be completely self-sufficient in resources, but also to the future survival space of the empire."
The so-called "absolute circle of interests" was proposed by some Ming Dynasty scholars three years ago. They analyzed from various aspects and concluded that this area is where the interests of the Ming Dynasty depend on life and death.
Zuo Zongtang nodded and said:
"Almost. However, above this absolute circle of interests, there is also the concept of a general circle of interests."
Cheng Dingkang nodded and said:
"I have also heard that the Pan-Interest Sphere covers the entire Pacific region from Ryukyu and Japan to the west coast of the Pacific Ocean of the Empire, and the east coast of the Empire to Africa. The so-called "Pan-Interest Sphere" is actually the Empire's grand plan to dominate the world!"
The territory of the Ming Dynasty is so vast, from the Arctic to the South Pole, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from America to Asia, plus the African colonies... The Ming Dynasty is really big!
Even if it is the current foundation of the Ming Dynasty, it is also a global foundation!
“That’s right!”
Nodding with satisfaction, Zuo Zongtang smiled and said:
"Very good. Then tell me, in order to achieve control over these two spheres of interest, which area should the empire conquer first?"
The Prime Minister's words made Cheng Dingkang frown slightly. When he thought about what the Prime Minister had said before, his eyes lit up and he said.
"If the Ming Dynasty wants to dominate the world, it must first conquer South America. If it wants to conquer South America, it must first conquer Brazil... In South America, only Brazil can be called a threat. It has a vast territory and a large population. It can be said to be the biggest land threat to the Ming Dynasty. In this way, conquering Brazil is inevitable."
"That's right. Ever since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, Britain has been connecting with various parts of South America, trying to use South American countries to contain the Ming Dynasty through alliances. It has also exaggerated the threat of the Ming Dynasty and called on South American countries to establish a Pan-American anti-Ming alliance. Although we have eased relations with Brazil by supporting Brazil's occupation of Uruguay, Brazil, with its national strength, is the leader of the anti-Ming alliance. Now it seems calm on the surface, but in fact, the war between us and Brazil is inevitable. This is inevitable for the Ming Dynasty to dominate the world and for national security..."
After listening to the Prime Minister's words, Cheng Dingkang thought for a while and then said.
"So, the Prime Minister asked me to go to Brazil to find out what's going on there?"
"We need to understand Brazil. After we occupy Brazil in the future, whether Brazil can be stable and peaceful, and eventually assimilated into the Ming Dynasty, all depends on the local officials in charge!"
Looking at Cheng Dingkang, Zuo Zongtang said earnestly.
"In the future, our Ming Dynasty will inevitably have a decisive battle of races with Britain, the United States and other countries. Whether we can truly conquer Brazil is related to the empire's global hegemony, so I want you to go and take a look first. After all, we always have to be prepared in advance!"
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
