When Zhu Yuanzhang returned to his mansion, it was already the end of the Youshi period.
Although the sun has set, there is still a lingering glow in the sky, which seems to express nostalgia for the world, or to emit the last trace of light and heat.
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at the sunset that was cut off by the mountain peaks, and couldn't help but think of the sigh of twilight in his previous life, and he was filled with emotions for a while.
At this time, a Jinyi guard came to report that Shi Kefa and Huang Zhicheng were outside seeking an audience.
Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned for a moment, remembering Huang Zhicheng's performance at the city gate before, and a surge of anger suddenly surged in his heart.
However, when he thought of Huang Zhicheng's purpose, he suppressed his anger and asked Jin Yiwei to take Shi Kefa and the two to the study room, and then thought about the mysterious army.
After about a cup of tea, Zhu Yuanzhang slowly walked towards the study.
He walked to the last window and saw that the window was slightly open, so he stopped and looked inside from the corner of the window.
I saw Shi Kefa sitting upright and not squinting.
Huang Zhicheng was a little restless and looked towards the door from time to time.
Seeing their expressions, Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but change his view of Shi Kefa.
At this time, Huang Zhicheng looked at Shi Kefa worriedly and said, "Teacher, Your Majesty has not seen us. Are you angry with me?"
Hearing this, Shi Kefa glanced at Huang Zhicheng first, and then said in a deep voice: "Zhicheng, you don't need to worry too much. If His Majesty wants to deal with you, he will punish you in Wanghuaimen. How can he wait until now?"
"Furthermore, you need to be calm and respectful when meeting the Holy Spirit. You are so impetuous..."
Seeing that Shi Kefa was dissatisfied, Huang Zhicheng said respectfully without waiting for the other person to finish his words: "Teacher, what you are teaching me is that the disciples are shallow and confused when encountering problems. Teacher, you are very powerful and are not surprised by favors or humiliations..."
After Huang Zhicheng finished speaking, Shi Kefa's expression softened a lot.
He stroked his beard and said comfortingly: "You don't have to be too nervous. After all, His Majesty asked you to open the city gate."
"Although your attitude towards Liu Zeqing was wrong, in the end you still upheld your righteousness and did not fall into the trap of a scholar."
"And now that the imperial treasury is empty, you can find Zhejiang merchants to donate money, which just solves a problem for His Majesty. Therefore, even if His Majesty is dissatisfied with you, after learning about this, he will probably not blame you anymore!"
After hearing Shi Kefa's words, Huang Zhicheng's original worry was relieved a lot, but Zhu Yuanzhang outside the window showed surprise.
Because it had only been five or six hours since Liu Zeqing entered the city, how could Huang Zhicheng find Zhejiang merchants so soon?
Moreover, even if a wealthy businessman wanted to donate silver, it should be donated to the Nanbing soldiers in Huai'an. How could they go to Linyi, which was in the war?
Just when he was confused, Huang Zhicheng's voice sounded: "Teacher, you see clearly, the students are really..."
After Huang Zhicheng praised Shi Kefa, he said with a hint of complaint: "Teacher, His Majesty has been late in arriving. The students are worried that Wan Jin and Ye Fangheng are waiting in a hurry. How about the students go out first to appease them..."
"Nonsense, my teacher just said that you need to respect the saints before you, how come you forgot again?"
"Even though His Majesty is not here now, you should be as if His Majesty is here. How can you be so arrogant?"
"Moreover, Tong Wanjin and Ye Fangheng are just businessmen and are not worthy of meeting the Holy Spirit. It is inappropriate for you to let them come here without my consent. How can you comfort them while waiting for His Majesty... ..”
Shi Kefa scolded Huang Zhicheng before he could finish his words.
However, although his words were harsh, his voice was not high-pitched.
Upon hearing this, Huang Zhicheng hurriedly flattered and greeted Shi Kefa, and Shi Kefa gradually returned to normal.
Because Zhu Yuanzhang was suspicious and saw that what they were discussing next had nothing to do with the overall situation, he walked slowly towards the study with a steady pace.
As soon as he entered the study, he saw Shi Kefa and Huang Zhicheng hurriedly stepped forward to salute.
Because Zhu Yuanzhang admired Shi Kefa, he asked them to sit down. Unexpectedly, Huang Zhicheng knelt down and apologized: "Your Majesty, I was ordered to open the city before, but because of my confusion, I lost the dignity of the court..."
Zhu Yuanzhang saw that Huang Zhi's idioms were so quibbling
, lack of sincerity, and feel quite dissatisfied.
However, he didn't show it, he just scolded him a few times, and then encouraged him, which made Huang Zhicheng, who was originally worried, overjoyed.
On the other hand, Shi Kefa looked thoughtful after hearing Zhu Yuanzhang's words.
"Your Majesty, I know that Your Majesty is worried about military pay, so I have specially called for Tong Wanjin from the Longyou Merchant Gang and Ye Fangheng, a wealthy businessman from Kunshan. They are willing to donate three million silver to help Your Majesty put down the rebellion. Will you meet them?"
Huang Zhicheng saw Zhu Yuanzhang smiling and stepped forward to ask for credit.
As soon as he said this, Shi Kefa's expression suddenly changed. He hurriedly stepped forward and saluted: "Your Majesty, Huang Zhi became an official not long ago and he still doesn't know the etiquette. Please forgive me!"
Although Zhu Yuanzhang was dissatisfied, he was also curious about why the Zhejiang merchants came here. At the same time, he also wanted to embolden Huang Zhicheng to divide the Jiangnan literary world, so he smiled and said: "Shi Qing, this is a good thing, what's the crime?"
After he finished speaking, he looked at Huang Zhicheng and said, "Where are the two of them now? Let's have someone call them in!"
Huang Zhicheng heard this and said excitedly: "Your Majesty, there is no need to trouble your personal guards. They are waiting outside the mansion. I will let them in now."
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said: "Okay, then I'll give you a hard time!"
Huang Zhicheng shook his head repeatedly and said: "It's not hard work, I can serve your Majesty, I am very happy!"
He said and walked outside.
But halfway through, he came back and saluted Zhu Yuanzhang before leaving in a hurry.
Shi Kefa frowned when he saw that Huang Zhicheng's behavior was very different from before.
He originally wanted to explain a few words, but because Zhu Yuanzhang had already asked him about Jiangnan trade, he suppressed his concerns and responded respectfully.
After about half a cup of tea, a complimenting voice came from outside the study: "Sir Huang really has face. He asked us to see His Majesty, and we really did..."
"That is, if you don't look at our Lord Huang..."
"As long as you can do a good job, you will benefit from it in the future..."
"Shh..."
"Silence, please be respectful when meeting His Majesty. Have you remembered the etiquette I taught you earlier?"
At this time, Huang Zhicheng's majestic voice whispered again.
"Don't worry, Mr. Huang, everyone..."
"Shh..."
After the boos, Huang Zhicheng walked in with two middle-aged men in silk clothes.
Zhu Yuanzhang was already dissatisfied when he saw that the two merchants were dressed beyond the standard. Later, when he saw that the two of them knelt down to salute, their postures were not standardized, which made him even more dissatisfied.
It's just that he was about to divide Jiangnan at this moment. Instead of showing it, he praised them and asked them cordially about southern trade.
Although Tong Wanjin and Ye Fangheng had met many officials, they were all middle-level officials from the south. Even Shi Kefa and others had never met them.
Seeing Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly, he didn't know how to place his hands.
Later, seeing that Zhu Yuanzhang was approachable, he gradually returned to normal and became more courageous.
But as the two of them became bolder, the anger in Zhu Yuanzhang's heart also grew.
Because through the insinuation just now, Zhu Yuanzhang knew that the two of them came here to donate money was a fake, and the real purpose was to obtain qualifications for overseas trade.
You must know that the sea ban was only Zhu Yuanzhang's expedient measure to deal with the Zheng family, and the matter was only discussed within the ministry and not made public. These merchants actually knew it.
Of course, what made Zhu Yuanzhang most angry was that Tong Wanjin and Fang Yeheng dared to do business with him.
Although the two of them expressed great respect and confidentiality, they also violated Zhu Yuanzhang's behavior.
