5.1The Importance of Freedom System to Social Development

 The premise that the free trade system is effectively rooted in the country: the country gradually cultivates the soil suitable for the growth of wealth, freedom and enterprising spirit.

This free trade system is not unprofitable for big monarchies that have trade relations with small countries at first.

These big countries are rich in natural resources. Without fully developed social conditions, freely importing foreign products and exporting domestic products is undoubtedly the safest and most effective way to play the following roles: developing domestic productive forces, instilling diligent thoughts in lazy subjects, guiding landlords and nobles to become interested in industry, and stimulating the enterprising spirit accumulated by domestic businessmen for a long time, especially enhancing their own civilization, industry and strength.

The British learned these effects mainly from the trade and manufacturing industries of Italy, Hanseatic, Belgium and Holland.

However, when their country developed to a certain level through free trade, these great supreme rulers realized that the highest level of civilization, strength and wealth could only be achieved by combining manufacturing, commerce and agriculture.

They realized that they should never expect their newly established domestic manufacturing industry to win in the free competition with those established foreign manufacturing industries. If there are no special preferential conditions, the commercial fleet, the basis of their fishery and naval forces, will never develop smoothly. The enterprising spirit of domestic businessmen will always be suppressed by the abundant capital, rich experience and savvy of foreign businessmen.

Therefore, they have taken measures such as restrictive system, preferential treatment and encouragement to root the wealth, talents and enterprising spirit of those foreigners in the soil of their country.

In the process of implementing this policy, they have achieved success, big or small, fast or slow. Some of them are more in line with the original goals, some are worse, some are particularly serious and strong in implementation, and some are inevitably discounted.

Whether the policy is successful or not, whether it is fast or slow, is directly proportional to whether the policy meets the goal and whether it is wise, and to the energy invested and the degree of perseverance in its implementation.

Britain adopted this policy before other countries. This measure was feasible during the reign of Edward VI of England and Elizabeth and during the revolutionary period. However, due to the lack of intelligence and self-control of the rulers, or due to domestic political turmoil or war with foreign countries, this policy was often interrupted in the early implementation.

Britain didn't allow grain to circulate freely between counties in China or be shipped abroad until Henry VI's time. In henry vii and Henry VIII's time, people generally thought that interest and even bill discount were usury, that the business could be revitalized by lowering the price and wage standard of woolen goods, and that the production of grain could be increased by banning large-scale herding. Under such circumstances, how could Edward III's measures achieve satisfactory results?