When all the ministers heard this, they stood up quickly and saluted:

"Your Majesty, please rest assured. I will promulgate the anti-smoking laws throughout the world within three days, and we will definitely live up to your Majesty's expectations."

Zhu Cixiang's expression softened slightly and he waved to them:

"Excuse me, I still have something to discuss with you, please sit down!"

Several high-ranking officials in the DPRK hurriedly expressed their gratitude:

"Thank you, Your Majesty. I am all ears."

After the ministers sat down, Zhu Cixiang looked at them and said:

"I heard that there are Western missionaries preaching in our Ming Dynasty, and there are quite a few believers. What do you think about this? The cabinet will also share its views."

The Minister of Honglu Temple hurriedly handed over his hands and replied:

"Your Majesty, there are indeed some Western missionaries preaching in the Ming Dynasty. The Ming Dynasty has never interfered in this regard. If they are not allowed to preach, relevant regulations should be introduced, otherwise it will cause diplomatic disputes."

Zhu Cixiang nodded slightly:

"Approximately how many countries have diplomatic relations with the Ming Dynasty now? What are the specific situations? I have been busy with internal affairs and have neglected this aspect."

Liu Lishun surrendered again:

"Reporting to your Majesty, there are about twenty countries that have diplomatic relations with the Ming Dynasty. Except for a few vassal states and some small northern countries, the others are all countries that trade with each other, including Japan, Portugal, Spain, England, the Netherlands, etc."

Zhu Cixiang did not expect that so many countries now have diplomatic relations with the Ming Dynasty.

If they are allowed to preach in the Ming Dynasty, over time, they will definitely cultivate a group of weaklings who worship foreign things, just like the so-called public intellectuals in our society today.

Zhu Cixiang looked at Sun Chuanting, the chief minister of the cabinet, and asked:

"These Western countries have missionaries in the Ming Dynasty. Preaching in the Ming Dynasty is actually an invasion of Western culture. What does the cabinet think?"

Sun Chuanting stood up, bowed deeply, and said with dignity:

"Your Majesty, our Chinese civilization has been passed down for five thousand years. For thousands of years, loyalty, filial piety, etiquette, justice, integrity and shame have been the mainstream ideas in all dynasties.

People obey the Three Cardinal Guidelines and the Five Constant Rules: the king is the guideline for ministers, the father is the guideline for the son, the husband is the guideline for the wife, and the wife is the guideline for the husband. The five constant principles are benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness.

Families obey the three obediences and the four virtues to fulfill filial piety, and people and the country abide by loyalty and serve the country. How can our vast China be comparable to them in the West? To put it bluntly, when our China entered civilization, they were still monkeys.

Do they know what loyalty and filial piety are? They don’t even care about their ancestors, are they still human beings? The cabinet will never allow them to preach in our Ming Dynasty. It is simply an insult to our Chinese civilization."

“Pa bang bang…

Before Sun Chuanting finished speaking, applause erupted in the imperial study room. The person taking the lead was none other than the Ming Emperor Zhu Cixiang, who strongly agreed with what Sun Chuanting, the first assistant, said.

Several other important officials of the Ming Dynasty also nodded frequently, and they all agreed with Sun Chuanting.

Before Zhu Cihong traveled through time, there were religious believers around him, but those people never worshiped their ancestors after becoming religious.

A few years after his grandfather died, his grandson didn't even know his grandfather's name because he couldn't see his parents paying homage to their ancestors for a long time.

China has thousands of years of inheritance, and Zhu Zhu Cihong cannot let his people forget their ancestors.

He stood up slowly and said:

"Very good. I am very satisfied with the suggestions of Mr. Sun, the Chief Minister of the Cabinet. Almost all the people have not read much and do not understand the outside world. They are easily deceived by people with ulterior motives. We need to guide them correctly."

Liu Lishun, the minister of Honglu Temple, hurriedly bowed and said:

"Your Majesty, I need an imperial edict from you, otherwise it will be difficult to convince those Western missionaries. If diplomatic disputes arise, it will affect our image of the Ming Dynasty."

Zhu Cixi snorted coldly:

"Humph, diplomatic disputes? I don't care. Remember my words, a weak country has no diplomacy. As long as you are strong enough, you will be respected by other countries.

If Zheng He's voyages to the West were to promote the country's prestige, if Ming Dynasty made another voyage to the West, Ming Dynasty would want benefits and would never let Ming Dynasty suffer any loss.

I give you an imperial decree. With the permission of Ming Dynasty, foreign countries can have friendly trade and exchanges with Ming Dynasty, but they must evacuate all missionaries within three days.

From the date of the announcement, the Ming Dynasty does not allow any country or individual to preach in the Ming Dynasty. Anyone who violates the law will be punished on the spot and the relevant diplomatic relations with Guijia will be severed.

Also, if foreigners are found buying and selling tobacco in the Ming Dynasty, they will be beheaded in public and their property will be confiscated. Their country will also be prohibited from trading with the Ming Dynasty, and their country's ships will be prohibited from approaching the Ming Dynasty waters."

"Follow the decree"

…

After solving the problem of smoking ban and missionary work, Zhu Cixiang remembered that he had asked the Ministry of Household Affairs to reform the currency some time ago, so he asked Zuo Maogeng again:

"Ministry of Revenue, I asked you to issue silver coins. How is the progress now? When will the official issuance start?"

Silver has always been the main currency in circulation in the Ming Dynasty, but many wealthy people like to collect silver, and huge amounts of silver are buried underground by them.

Some people also use silver to make Buddha statues, etc. In this way, it is easier to cause insufficient silver circulating in the market.

In order to solve the problem of the loss of silver in the Ming Dynasty, and to make it easier for merchants to carry it, Zhu Cixiang asked the Ministry of Household Affairs to study the issuance of silver coins. After the silver coins became popular, silver would no longer circulate.

If they want to give money to buy things, they must take out the silver and exchange it for silver dollars, otherwise they will have no use for the gold and silver, and they will not be able to buy a single grain.

At first, Zhu Cixi wanted to issue banknotes, but the Ming Dynasty treasure banknotes caused a huge psychological shadow to the people of the Ming Dynasty.

After careful consideration, Zhu Cihong knew that it was not appropriate to issue banknotes for the time being. He could only discover silver coins first and then slowly transition to banknotes.

When Zuo Maogeng heard the emperor asked about the silver coins, he immediately stood up and reported back:

"Your Majesty, the plan is about to be completed, but there are currently huge differences regarding the name and pattern of the silver dollar. Please make it clear, Your Majesty."

As Zuo Maogeng said, he handed Zhu Youjian a silver dollar. This was a sample made by the Ministry of Revenue and was ready for the emperor to see and confirm.

The emperor summoned him today. Zuo Maogeng thought that the emperor wanted to ask about the silver coin, so he took the silver coin into the Qianqing Palace.

Zhu Cixiang took the silver dollar and looked at it. At that time, he said, "Holy shit," the portrait on the silver dollar was actually Emperor Shenwu. Looking at the back of the silver dollar, it was a dragon.

Zhu Cixiang shook his head and smiled:

"My dear, this is definitely not possible. My face cannot be on the silver dollar."

Zuo Maogeng cupped his hands and said with a smile:

"Your Majesty, your face should be on it. This is the silver coin issued since your time. Your Majesty is the king of the prosperous times, so it is natural for the silver coin to have your face on it."

Zhu Cixiang waved his hands repeatedly:

"No, if Taizu and Chengzu are not here, how can my face be printed on it? Let's discuss it before confirming it. What does the cabinet think?"

In fact, Zhu Cihong was very happy in his heart, but he was embarrassed to say it out loud, so he kicked the ball to the cabinet.

Sun Chuanting smiled slightly:

"Your Majesty, I think it is most appropriate for the silver dollar to have your face on it. The cabinet supports the Ministry of Revenue's approach. Doesn't the silver dollar have several denominations? The portraits of Taizu and Chengzu can be printed on it."

"Yes, I agree."

Others expressed their approval.

When Zhu Cihong saw that all the ministers were saying this, he no longer persisted and smiled lightly:

"Okay, then I'll do as you say, but change the flying dragon on the back, and add the Great Wall or Yellow River pattern under the flying dragon. What's the name of the silver coin?"

This was the first silver dollar currency to be issued by the Ming Dynasty. It must have a nice name, and the ministers began to discuss it.

Sun Chuanting thought for a moment:

"It can be called Shenwu Tongbao."

Zuo Maogeng patted his head:

"Weichen thinks it should be called Da Ming Baoyuan."

Everyone was talking about everything, and they couldn't make up their minds for a while. Chen Zilong said:

"I think it should be called Ming Coin, which means the coin of Ming Dynasty. What do you think?"

This guy's words made Zhu Cixiang shake his head, but other ministers thought it was good, and they all felt that the name Mingbi was a good one.

Zhu Cixiang would never agree to using Ming coins as the name of the new currency of the Ming Dynasty.

This has the same pronunciation as the Ming coins of later generations. Ming coins are money used for the dead, and they are banknotes often used by people to worship their ancestors.

He shook his head and smiled:

"I think what you said makes sense, but I still feel that these names are a bit too common. Huaxia is the descendant of the dragon. I have decided to call the Ming Dynasty Silver Yuan Long Yuan. What do you think, dear friends?"

"The descendant of the dragon, Long Yuan..."

Several ministers silently recited Long Yuan's name, their faces showed ecstasy, and they all expressed their agreement:

"Your Majesty, Long Yuan is good. Let's call him Long Yuan. Not only does it sound good, but he is also very powerful and has a lot of foundation."

Several ministers were very satisfied with the name Long Yuan, and even felt like they suddenly realized it.

It's not that Zhu Cixiang's level is higher than that of several ministers, but that they have fallen into a misunderstanding and always want to link it to some ancient Tongbao banknote.

Now that I think about it, Long Yuan is indeed very noble and can best represent the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Cixiang smiled slightly:

"Since you have no objection, let's decide this. From now on, the currency in circulation in the Ming Dynasty will be called Long Yuan. The face value and composition of Dragon Yuan will be studied and formulated together, and we will strive to launch Dragon Yuan within half a year."

After research by Zhu Cixiang and several ministers, it was finally decided that the face value of dragon yuan would be temporarily divided into four levels, namely one dragon yuan, two dragon yuan, five dragon yuan, and ten dragon yuan.
To be continued...