After leaving the Royal Academy, Zhu Jinsong once again summoned Zeng Cheng and the other magnates.
There were two issues facing the Great Ming.
The first was the issue of oil. This was relatively easy to solve; as long as the Ottoman Empire was dealt with, the Great Ming would no longer lack oil.
As for the oil within the Great Ming’s territory, Zhu Jinsong had never considered mining it.
The second issue was the myriad of problems at the Royal Academy.
Electric lights were somewhat manageable; as long as the great minds at the Royal Academy tinkered with them slowly, they would eventually be developed. Generators, batteries, and similar devices were likely not far behind.
The telegraph was also nothing to speak of. The Great Ming Royal Academy had invented it first, so the Morse code would likely become Mo Chou code or Mo Sha code.
The only thing that caused a headache was the electrical wire.
While the Great Ming’s treasury was not without copper, compared to the immense demand for electrical wire, the copper in the treasury was likely not even enough to pick one's teeth.
Then, after careful study, the magnates in the court reached a conclusion: the Great Ming might lack copper, but with so many countries in the entire world, it was impossible for all of them to lack copper, right?
Therefore, if other wealthy families had copper, they would buy it. If some small country had copper, they would have the foolish eagle arrange it for them; at worst, they would give the foolish eagle a few more tubes of washing powder.
However, no one expected that before Zhu Jinsong and the magnates of the Great Ming could figure out who to deal with, India would make a move first.
Zhu Jinsong casually tossed the intelligence onto the table and sneered, "Look, they don't cherish the opportunity to be human. I've never seen such foolishness, more idiotic than the Jian Yi."
Zeng Cheng picked up the intelligence with a bewildered look and said as he read, "Our Great Ming army in India should at least be stronger than the English army, right?"
As Zeng Cheng finished speaking, the other magnates nodded in agreement.
This was the good thing about the Great Ming army: no matter where they went, military discipline was always the top priority. The rule of starving without looting and freezing without tearing down houses was almost an iron law for all Great Ming soldiers.
Although they might occasionally build a Jingguan, that Jingguan also had standards; not anyone's head could be used to build a Jingguan.
Therefore, if someone said that the Great Ming army had provoked the savages in India to revolt, Zeng Cheng and the other magnates’ first reaction was disbelief.
Zhu Jinsong chuckled and said, "This matter has nothing to do with the officials from the Ministry of Personnel who have not yet arrived in India, but it has a little to do with the Great Ming army."
Lin Shao, the Minister of Personnel, breathed a sigh of relief.
As long as it wasn’t the officials sent to India by the Ministry of Personnel who had caused trouble, it didn’t matter how much turmoil there was in India. They were afraid that this matter would be related to the officials sent by the Ministry of Personnel.
Given the current Emperor’s temperament, if it were indeed the officials’ recklessness that had provoked the savages in India to revolt, while the Indian savages would not benefit, those officials who caused the trouble would likely also suffer.
However, after thinking about it again, Lin Shao was somewhat puzzled.
What about military discipline?
Could it be that the Great Ming army was one way in the Great Ming and another way after leaving the Great Ming?
That did not seem right either.
It was possible for the Great Ming army to do something out of line when campaigning abroad, but India already belonged to the Great Ming, and it would be Great Ming territory in the future. Even if the butchers of the Five Military Commanderies were bold, they would not act recklessly on Great Ming territory, would they?
Just as Lin Shao was scratching his head, Zeng Cheng, who had also finished reading the intelligence, said with a gloomy face, "These savages are truly audacious. I believe that the matter of conquering the Ottoman Empire can perhaps be postponed, but we truly cannot delay dealing with these Indian savages."
Liu Huaiwen, bewildered, took the intelligence from Zeng Cheng. After a few glances, he slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "Your Majesty, this is a good thing!"
Zhu Jinsong and Zeng Cheng both looked at Liu Huaiwen in bewilderment. Liu Huaiwen then directly handed the intelligence to Lin Shao, the head of the Ministry of Personnel, and said with a chuckle, "Does our Great Ming not happen to be in need of copper mines?"
"Since those savages want to cause trouble, why not let the butchers of the Left Military Commanderies 'manage' them properly and directly send those savages to the copper mines as laborers, saving further trouble?"
Lin Shao also took the intelligence from Liu Huaiwen with a bewildered look. After a careful reading, he finally understood what was going on.
Previously, the Great Ming army had a conflict with the British East India Company's army, but the Great Ming army had always disliked coddling others, so they casually beat the English army.
Then, George III decided to sell British East India to the Great Ming. This time, George III came to the Great Ming specifically to discuss this matter with Zhu Jinsong.
However, when George III passed through British East India, he had already issued an order to the English army to assemble and prepare to withdraw from East India. He had also sent someone to notify the Great Ming army, asking them to prepare to take over.
These actions were all normal and without any problems. The Great Ming army and the British East India army had met under unusual circumstances and had not caused any further trouble afterward.
However, no one expected that the Great Ming army’s treatment of cows would anger the Indian savages—the Great Ming army not only disrespected the sacred cows but also slaughtered them and ate their meat!
According to the understanding of the Indian savages, cows were divine creatures. Not only could they not be eaten, but even cow dung was a gift from God. If a sacred cow blocked the road, one had to let it pass respectfully.
But why would the Great Ming army care about that?
If these were the draft animals of the Indian savages, it would be one thing; at most, they would be led back to the savages, and if they really wanted to eat beef, they could buy it with money. But these inexplicably sacred cows directly blocked the road, lying down and walking as they pleased, and all of them were well-fed and strong—
In any case, the quartermasters of the Great Ming army were overjoyed.
How much did a bullet cost, and how much did a cow cost? Now, with just one bullet, they could get a cow. Where else could there be such a profitable deal in the world?
Then a conflict arose.
To be honest, Lin Shao also couldn't figure out why those Indian savages revered sacred cows so much—no matter how divine a cow was, it was still a cow, wasn't it?
Lin Shao handed the intelligence back to Song Yucheng, the head of the Ministry of Works, and said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, I believe it is not appropriate to send officials to India at this time."
Zhu Jinsong said "Oh?" and asked, "Why?"
Lin Shao replied, "Reporting to Your Majesty, I believe that if officials were sent now to establish the government and farmers' associations, these savages would become troublesome problems."
"After all, India has not been enlightened by the Central Plains for a long time, and these savages may not necessarily lean towards the Great Ming. Therefore, I believe it would be better to send another army to India and recruit these savages as laborers."
At this point, Lin Shao turned his gaze to Liu Huaiwen and Song Yucheng: "Your Majesty previously mentioned that our Great Ming needed a large amount of copper. Doesn't India happen to have a copper mine?"
"If we were to migrate people from the Great Ming, it is unknown how many years it would take to have enough manpower to mine India's copper, but directly recruiting the Indian savages as laborers..."
Song Yucheng's eyes immediately lit up: "Reporting to Your Majesty, I believe that Minister Lin's words are very true!"
Liu Huaiwen also seconded: "Your Majesty, these savages started this matter themselves—according to the 'Great Ming Law,' provoking the army is a grave offense. Since those savages are unwilling to walk on the human path, it is better to let them continue to be livestock."
"Also, look at what they said? They demand that our Great Ming citizens be treated the same as Kshatriyas once they arrive in India?"
"This is simply outrageous!"
"If their words were followed, would our Great Ming citizens not become second-class citizens in India?"
Lin Shao also exclaimed, "I request Your Majesty to issue a decree to punish the barbarians of India—if our Great Ming citizens are equivalent to Kshatriyas, then what should their Brahmins be equivalent to?"
These were truly words that struck at the heart of the matter.
The customs of the Central Plains courts had always been that officials and commoners were of the same rank. Although officials had higher status than commoners, before the Emperor, officials and commoners were of the same rank.
Or, in other words, only the Emperor and Empress were of higher rank than others in the entire world; they were the lords of the world and the masters of all people. Aside from the Emperor, everyone else was of equal standing, with only their positions differing.
Therefore, if you Indian savages treat Great Ming citizens as second-class Kshatriyas, then how should your first-class Brahmins be calculated?
Are they on the same level as the Great Ming Emperor?
This is simply ridiculous.
Let alone India, which was originally colonized by England, even the King of England, George III, had to be humble and submissive before Zhu Jinsong, the Emperor of the Great Ming.
If nothing else, just consider the seating arrangement in the small pot. The main seat was always for the Great Ming Emperor, while George III, Louis XVI, Paul I, and Huasheng Dun were all seated in the secondary seats.
The magnates in the Great Ming court also nodded in agreement with Lin Shao's statement.
Zeng Cheng directly cupped his hands and bowed, saying, "Reporting to Your Majesty, I believe that Minister Lin's words are very true. Confucius said that without rules, there can be no order. If we allow the barbarians of India to run wild, will it not disrupt the order?"
Before Zhu Jinsong could figure out which Confucius said "without rules, there can be no order," Liu Huaiwen also seconded: "Reporting to Your Majesty, I believe that Minister Lin's words are very true."
"Your Majesty is the father and mother of all people. If our Great Ming citizens are all second-class Kshatriyas, then their Brahmins would be on par with Your Majesty? I request Your Majesty to issue a decree to send troops to severely punish such rebellious and unfilial beings, and to confiscate their mines for our Great Ming!"
"..."
Zhu Jinsong did not know what to say about Liu Huaiwen's statement.
If it weren't for the last sentence about confiscating their mines for the Great Ming, Zhu Jinsong would have been quite moved. But with that sentence added, Zhu Jinsong felt a little awkward.
You are eyeing their copper mines, aren't you?
And confiscating their mines for the Great Ming, would they not belong to the Great Ming if they weren't confiscated?
After inwardly grumbling, Zhu Jinsong cast his gaze towards Geng Rui, the head of the Right Military Commanderies: "Do you know what to do?"
Geng Rui nodded and replied, "Reporting to Your Majesty, I plan to personally go to India."
Zhu Jinsong nodded and said, "Just right, I also plan to go to India for a visit."
With Zhu Jinsong saying this, Zeng Cheng and the other magnates were displeased—how long has it been since you went south to enjoy yourself? Now you are thinking of going to India for another trip?
What a joke. Geng Rui is the head of the Right Military Commanderies, and he is going to India to lead troops in battle. He is going to the front lines. Why would you, the Emperor of the Great Ming, tag along for the fun?
Besides, the Empress and several concubines are pregnant. If you, Your Majesty, go to India for a trip, it's one thing, but what if you cannot return in time, and the Empress and the concubines give birth to princes and princesses, what will be said then?
As for the questions from Zeng Cheng and the others, Zhu Jinsong chuckled and said, "I plan to go from Tianjin to Guangzhou, then from Guangzhou to Da Nang, and then to India."
"Let's put it this way, calculating all the time required along the way, it will only be three to five months for the round trip. Even after I return from India, the due dates for the Empress and the ladies will not have arrived."
"Furthermore, many matters concerning the Right Military Commanderies going to India cannot be decided by the front-line soldiers. Wouldn't the time for this round trip delay military intelligence?"
"If I go to India, even if something happens, I can make a timely decision."
"Moreover, the Great Ming army was trained by me. I know their strength very well. I also believe that it will not take more than a few months to completely pacify India."
"Don't forget that Wang Xuance pacified India with a group of miscellaneous soldiers borrowed from the son-in-law of the Tang Dynasty back then. With the elite soldiers of the Right Military Commanderies at my disposal, can I not even pacify a mere India?"
Regarding Zhu Jinsong's words, Zeng Cheng and the other magnates were mostly dismissive.
If the Great Ming army was good at fighting, Zeng Cheng and the other magnates would not doubt it at all.
If Zhu Jinsong understood the Great Ming army well, could lead the Great Ming army to victory, and could eliminate India in a few months, these magnates also had no doubts.
However, Zeng Cheng and the other magnates had serious doubts about whether Zhu Jinsong would honestly return to the Great Ming.
Don't forget that India originally had a name called Mughal, and bordering Mughal was the Ottoman Empire—who could guarantee that His Majesty, in the heat of battle, would not directly lead his troops to confront the Ottoman Empire?