After that, the two parties exchanged a few words, and reminded Niels and his party not to forget to attend the banquet in the evening.
Yan Song and others hurried to the Qianqing Palace with the signed trade terms and the alliance between the two countries.
Outside the Qianqing Palace, when leading the eunuchs in to report, Yan Song turned around, looked at Xu Jie aside, and took the lead in provoking the topic.
"Phew, it's finally over. From now on, I, Ming, will have an additional income of thirteen million taels of silver every year!"
"Yes, the national treasury is abundant now. From now on, the court will receive an extra sum of money every year. In a short time, I, the Ming Dynasty, will no longer have to worry about money!"
Xu Jie nodded when he heard Yan Song's words, and a look of relief appeared on his face at the right time.
While everyone was still chatting on this topic, Lu Fang came to the crowd quietly and said softly.
"Pavilion elders, you can go in now!"
After hearing what Lu Fang said, everyone reacted and ended the topic.
Immediately, under the leadership of Lu Fang, everyone stepped onto the steps and marched towards the Qianqing Palace.
"Your Majesty, Mr. Yan Ge and the others are here!"
After entering the Qianqing Palace, Lu Fang looked at Jiajing, who was sitting on the dragon chair, playing with a flintlock gun, and reported respectfully.
"Well, I know!"
Jiajing heard Lu Fang's words and nodded. He immediately put the flintlock gun aside and gave instructions.
"I bow to your Majesty, long live my emperor!"
Later, under the leadership of Yan Song, the chief minister of the cabinet, everyone knelt on the ground and said in unison.
When Jiajing heard this, he nodded slightly and gave instructions.
"Well, everyone, get up!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
After receiving Jiajing's permission, everyone slowly got up from the ground one after another.
Immediately, Jiajing was seen looking away from several people, looking in the direction of Yan Song, and asking.
"Yan Song, how is the signing of the trade agreement between Ming Dynasty and Spain?"
After Yan Song heard what Jiajing said, he immediately took out the trade agreement that had been prepared, along with the paper recording the covenant, from his sleeve, raised it high above his head, and said in a deep voice.
"Your Majesty, the trade agreement between our Ming Dynasty and the Kingdom of Spain has been successfully signed. From now on, our Ming Dynasty will need to transport no less than sixteen ships of silk, tea, porcelain and other luxury goods to the Kingdom of Spain every year. .”
"In return, I, Daming, can receive an income of 13,620,000 taels of silver every year!"
"In addition, before the goods are officially shipped, the Spanish royal family must pay half of the payment to Daming in advance, and the other half will be paid after the goods arrive!"
After listening to Yan Song's report, Jiajing's face was full of smiles, and he immediately waved his hands and spoke words of encouragement.
"Well, you did a good job this time, Lu Fang, bring it to me and see!"
"As you command, Your Majesty!"
Lu Fang, who was on the side, heard the words and immediately stepped forward, took the trade agreement and the covenant signed by both parties from Yan Song's hands, and handed it to Jiajing respectfully.
Jiajing took it from Lu Fang's hand. Regarding the covenant, Jiajing only glanced at it briefly and then looked away.
Immediately afterwards, Jiajing focused on the trade agreement signed by the two parties.
After Jiajing read the contents of the trade agreement from beginning to end, he nodded and spoke to himself.
"Well, not bad, not bad!"
Seeing this, everyone couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. At this moment, Jiajing put the signed trade agreement aside, looked around, and then gave instructions.
"Well, you guys have worked hard today. Let's take advantage of the banquet tonight to relax!"
"Thank you for your grace!"
After everyone heard the words, they immediately leaned down and responded in a deep voice.
After that, Jiajing reached out his hand, picked up the flintlock gun that he had casually put aside, and turned to ask.
"Do you know what is in my hand?"
When everyone heard Jiajing's words, doubts appeared on their faces. Immediately, Gao Gong stood up and answered cautiously.
"Your Majesty, this is the flintlock gun given to you by the Spanish envoy named Niels Rosen in a private name earlier!"
Hearing this, Jiajing looked in the direction of Gao Gong, nodded, and said in a deep voice.
"Well, that's right, but the structure of the flintlock gun in my hand is very different from the firearms that my Ming Dynasty is currently equipped with!"
After hearing Jiajing's words, everyone's faces became even more curious.
Seeing this situation, Jiajing faced their extremely puzzled eyes and explained slowly.
"Come on, all of you, come in front of me and I will give you a good explanation!"
When Yan Song and Xu Jie heard what Jiajing said, a trace of hesitation flashed across their faces. After all, it was a gun. What if it misfired?
Jiajing seemed to see what everyone was thinking, chuckled, and then added.
"Don't worry, I have poured out all the gunpowder in it. There is no risk of fire!"
After Jiajing said these words, the hesitation on everyone's faces disappeared.
Afterwards, people were seen coming to Jiajing's side one after another, carefully looking at the flintlock gun in Jiajing's hand, holding their breath and not even daring to take a breath.
"Look, here is the hammer of a flintlock gun, and there is a piece of flint at the jaw of the hammer."
"After pulling the trigger, under the action of the spring, the flint will be hit hard against the fire door, sparks will then appear, ignite the gunpowder, and then the ammunition will be fired!"
"The flintlock gun I have in my hand has a simple structure and is easy to manufacture. Its shooting accuracy and power far exceed those old matchlock guns currently equipped by our Ming army!"
Zhang Juzheng on the side heard the meaning of Jiajing's words, and after thinking about it for a moment, he spoke cautiously.
"Your Majesty means that the Department of Arms will imitate the flintlock gun in your hand, mass-produce it, and gradually include it in the Ming Dynasty's army?"
Hearing this, Jiajing put down the flintlock gun in his hand, nodded slightly in the direction of Zhang Juzheng, and said in a deep voice.
"Well, that's right, that's what I mean!"
"You might as well think about it, if all the armies of Ming Dynasty were equipped with these flintlock guns, plus paper shell bullets, grenades and other weapons, wouldn't it be easy to deal with Anda Khan?"
After everyone listened to Jiajing's words, the scene of the Ming army fighting with the army led by Anda Khan could not help but emerge in their minds.
The Ming Dynasty is not only equipped with flintlock guns that have greatly improved range and power. In addition, there are also paper-shell bullets that can increase the reloading speed and shooting stability, as well as grenades and new artillery. Killer weapon.
It is foreseeable that if the Ming Dynasty and Ada Khan go to war, the battle loss ratio between the two sides will reach an extremely exaggerated level.
Even using the word "horizontal push" to describe it is not an exaggeration.
After all, this has nothing to do with bravery, but only the ruthless crushing of hot weapons against cold weapons!
"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"
Immediately, Yan Song was the first to react, kneeling on the ground tremblingly, and said in a deep voice.
"This damn Yan Song is always first in the list of flatterers!"
Seeing this, Xu Jie cursed secretly, then knelt on the ground and said respectfully.
"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"
When Jiajing heard this, he nodded slightly, then turned his eyes to Lu Fang who was aside, and gave instructions.
"Lu Fang, later you go to the Arms Department in person and tell Yi Bin that as long as their Arms Department can imitate the flintlock gun, I will allocate any amount of money to him!"
When Lu Fang on the side heard Jiajing's words, she immediately looked stern and responded respectfully.
"As you command, Your Majesty!"
Seeing that the matter had been settled, just when everyone was about to leave, they saw the leading eunuch walking in, leaning down, and reporting respectfully.
"Your Majesty, His Royal Highness King Yu is outside asking for an audience!"
After hearing the report from the guiding eunuch, Jiajing couldn't help but have a look of surprise on his face. After thinking for a moment, he immediately gave the order.
"Well, let him in!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
After hearing the words, the guiding eunuch did not stay at all in Qianqing Palace, but left directly.
At this moment, everyone looked at the back of the eunuch leading the eunuch away with surprise on their faces, while Yan Song looked at Xu Jie without any trace and said to himself.
"Hmph, why did His Highness Prince Yu come at this time? I think it's probably you, Xu Jie, who is behind this!"
At this time, although Xu Jie looked very calm on the outside, judging from the slightly trembling hands hidden in his sleeves, he was not calm inside.
Yan Song's guess was indeed correct. The reason why King Yu Zhu Zaijing came to meet Jiajing at this time was because of Xu Jie's plan.
In Xu Jie's view, the biggest obstacle to King Yu's succession was King Jing. Since King Jing became a vassal, King Yu has lost a powerful enemy.
Although His Majesty Prince Yu is currently disliked by His Majesty, from the fact that His Majesty personally rushed to Prince Yu's Mansion a few days ago after learning that His Majesty Prince Yu's son was sick, it can be seen that in fact, in His Majesty's heart, he still has such a son. of.
What Xu Jie wanted King Yu to do was to seize every opportunity to show his face in front of Jiajing and show off his talents.
After all, as long as the child in the belly of Imperial Concubine Shen is not born for one day, King Yu will still have a chance to turn defeat into victory!
"His Royal Highness Prince Yu, you must take this exam well!"
Xu Jie lowered his eyes, looked at the ground carelessly, and muttered to himself silently.
…
Later, under the guidance of the guiding eunuch, Zhu Zaijing walked into the Qianqing Palace.
When he saw everyone in the cabinet present, a look of surprise flashed across his face. Immediately, he turned his gaze to Jiajing, who was sitting on the dragon chair, leaned down and said respectfully.
"My son has met my father!"
After that, Zhu Zaijing turned his attention to the other people in the cabinet, cupped his hands, and said in a deep voice.
"I've met all the ministers!"
Seeing this, everyone quickly returned the courtesy to Zhu Zaijing.
Seeing this, Jiajing looked Zhu Zaijing up and down, then asked in a leisurely manner.
"Tell me, what do you want from me?"
When Zhu Zaijing heard this, he suppressed the panic in his heart, lowered his head, and spoke cautiously.
"Returning to my father, I came here specifically to tell you that Jun'er's illness has been completely cured!"
As soon as Zhu Zaijing finished speaking, Xu Jie stood up and congratulated him.
"Your Majesty, His Royal Highness has recovered from his illness. This is a great thing!"
When Jiajing heard Xu Jie's words, he nodded slightly, a smile appeared on his face, and then he spoke.
"Well, this is indeed a great thing. No matter what, it's good to be safe!"
After Jiajing finished speaking, there was a hint of relief on his face. Immediately, as if he suddenly remembered something, he turned his gaze to Zhu Zaijing and gave instructions.
"Well, now that you're here, I have something I need you to do later!"
When Zhu Zaijing heard what Jiajing said, a look of shock flashed across his face. Soon, he came back to his senses and responded respectfully.
"Father, please speak frankly. I will do my best!"
Jiajing took in the expression on Zhu Zaijing's face, and after pondering for a moment, he immediately asked.
"You must know that a Rakshasa mission recently visited our country, right?"
"Yes, Father, I know this!"
Zhu Zaijing heard this and responded without thinking.
After that, Jiajing nodded imperceptibly and immediately gave instructions.
"Not long ago, this Rakshasa mission signed a trade agreement with our Ming Dynasty."
"Next, I, Ming, will have an income of at least thirteen million taels of silver every year. What I want you to do is attend tonight's banquet for me and entertain them well for me!"
As soon as Jiajing's words came out, it was not only Zhu Zaijing who was shocked by this, but even the faces of the cabinet members on the side were full of shock.
After all, this matter is no different than anything else. This is to entertain foreign envoys on behalf of His Majesty!
Every move King Yu made next represented the face of Ming Dynasty. Moreover, generally speaking, the emperor would do this to test his son's ability.
"Is it possible that His Majesty has changed his mind and plans to make Prince Yu the crown prince?"
Such a doubt shrouded everyone's mind and could not be dissipated for a long time.
After Xu Jie passed through the initial sluggishness, he fell into ecstasy. In his opinion, His Majesty's move was undoubtedly announcing to everyone that Prince Yu was about to become the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty!
"Is it possible that the turning point of the matter was that His Highness Prince Yu's son fell ill a few days ago. In the process, His Majesty felt compassion and planned to make Prince Yu the heir apparent?"
The more Xu Jie thought about it, the more he felt it was possible, and his mood gradually became more exciting.
In addition to Xu Jie, there was another person at the scene who was particularly happy about this. He was Zhu Zaijing's teacher Gao Gong.
(End of chapter)
