Chapter 185 Another Pearl
"My dear, I don't want 10 million taels. You can just give me 8 million taels. I will reward you with the remaining two million taels..." Zhu Youxiao continued to pat his shoulders.
Wei Zhongxian was jealous. He had been with Zhu Youxiao for so many years, and he had never been so happily patted on the shoulder by Zhu Youxiao.
Chen Cao quickly knelt down towards Zhu Youxiao: "I thank your Majesty for your kindness. I also need money, but I know that your Majesty needs money even more, so I dare not ask for these two million taels of silver;"
As he spoke, Chen Cao raised his head: "I'm sorry, I'm guilty. In fact, I've already withheld three million taels in private. I really don't dare to take any more..."
"I don't blame you..." Zhu Youxiao said proudly, not at all angry at Chen Cao for swallowing the goods privately. There are too many soldiers doing this kind of thing, but they just can't supervise it. If they don't pay, who will? Fighting: "You need money to lead the troops. Is three million enough?"
"Enough, enough..." Chen Cao nodded repeatedly: "With this money, His Majesty will not be constrained by civil servants, and he can do whatever he wants."
"It makes sense..." Zhu Youxiao nodded: "You don't want the money, but I have to reward you. Tell me, what do you want? I might as well promote you to the Duke..."
Chen Cao immediately knelt down and cried: "I thank your Majesty for your kindness..."
This guy actually cried?
Wei Zhongxian looked at the hypocritical Marquis Dingwu curiously.
"Ai Qing, wake up quickly..."
Zhu Youxiao personally helped Chen Cao up. Unexpectedly, Chen Cao returned to normal after wiping away his tears, which made Wei Zhongxian on the side lament that his acting skills were not as good as this guy's.
"Your Majesty, I don't dare to take credit. I know that Your Majesty has worked hard for the Ming Dynasty. This does not violate my position as a prince. I only need to do my best to make money for Your Majesty. Besides..."
As he said this, Chen Cao smiled sheepishly: "The minister's family has a large population and they also need money."
"Ah ha ha ha..." Zhu Youxiao admired Chen Cao very much. He was not stupid. In history, a carpenter emperor made the Ming Dynasty docile with just one eunuch, which is enough to show that he was a role that pretended to be a pig and eat the tiger.
If Chen Cao agreed to the title of Duke, with Zhu Youxiao's intelligence, although he would not show anything, Chen Cao would have no room for promotion and benefits in the future.
"Then whatever you want, just ask."
"Now that Ming Dynasty's maritime trade is gradually improving, I want to earn more money for Your Majesty, so I have an idea, and please accept your Majesty's approval."
"you say..."
When Zhu Youxiao heard about making money for him, he naturally wouldn't refuse. Chen Cao's ability was much more secure than those in Huangzhuang, and he also brought in more money, and it was faster...
"Shanghai County in Songjiang Prefecture under the jurisdiction of Zhejiang Province has an advantageous geographical location and is a natural port to the sea. I want to establish a municipal shipping department in Shanghai County, but it requires a lot of authority, so I need your Majesty's consent..."
"Shanghai County?" Zhu Youxiao frowned and looked at Chen Cao: "I have never heard of this place. Can you make money? Is the location as good as Guangzhou Shipping Company? Big companion?"
Wei Zhongxian didn't know about this small place like Shanghai, so he lowered his head and said, "Your Majesty, even this servant doesn't know."
"Well, Aiqing's ability to make money is obvious to all, and I believe it. Do you want Shanghai County?"
Chen Cao nodded: "Your Majesty, please set up a special zone in Shanghai to allow me to trade with overseas countries."
"Special Zone?" Zhu Youxiao shook his head: "Don't tell me what Taixi said, I will be confused."
"I am guilty. The so-called special zone is just like a military town."
Wei Zhongxian frowned and whispered: "Your Majesty, Marquis Dingwu means the vassal town in the Tang Dynasty..."
Zhu Youxiao frowned. Fan towns were a taboo. There had been no fan towns since the founding of the Ming Dynasty.
Wei Zhongxian waited to see the joke, and Chen Cao shook his head: "Eunuch Wei is making alarmist remarks. It is not a vassal town, but a place where free trade can be carried out. It is called a special zone. It is indeed the term used by the Westerners."
"Big companion, if nothing happens in the future, you'd better go to the Tongwen Museum to talk to the envoys from the Thai and Western countries and gain insights..."
Wei Zhongxian blushed and lowered his head, greeting Chen Cao countless times.
"I understand what you mean," Zhu Youxiao walked up to the throne, thought for a while, and then wrote the decree himself: "From now on, the post of governor will be established in Songjiang, and Chen Cao, Marquis of Dingwu, will be the governor of Songjiang. , specializing in Shanghai County affairs, I don’t care what happens to everything in Shanghai. I only care when you get me money..."
It was said so clearly, but Chen Cao understood it, and bowed to Zhu Youxiao: "Your Majesty, please rest assured, your Majesty will take care of the money matter with all your heart."
"Um..."
...
"Governor, now that Chen Cao is gone, will he become a high official in the border area? You should speak of your greatness in front of His Majesty. He has an army and a navy in his hands. If he rebels, it will be a big disaster."
Xu Xianchun looked at Wei Zhongxian with a worried look on his face, but Old Wei didn't care: "Your Majesty has decided on this matter. Our family will just do business. Besides, the small Songjiang Mansion not only doesn't have Lao Lao, there is also Governor Su Song above Chen Cao." Take care of him, isn't his authority clearly stated in the edict given by His Majesty?
Specially in charge of Shanghai County affairs...
Moreover, our family later learned that Shanghai County is composed of a small fishing village. He is very poor and has no benefits. He still has a lot of savings in his hand. When the time comes, our family would like to say a few words in front of His Majesty. Let's see how much he can give out..."
Tian Ergen handed over his hand: "Father, did that guy really surrender to Madam Fengsheng?"
Speaking of this, Wei Zhongxian snorted coldly: "This guy has his own ideas. It seems that our family can't make it easy for him. We have to give him some obstacles. Don't be too proud of the stinky woman. She is afraid she has forgotten someone. He helped her up."
...
"You are really messing around..."
Keshi sat up and covered herself with a layer of gauze, looking at Chen Cao who was dressing herself up. With a proud look on his face: "How's it going? Are you feeling at ease now?"
Chen Cao didn't hear the second half of the sentence, and only thought about the first half: "How is it? Did your Majesty ask you?"
Keshi rolled her eyes at him, not knowing how to answer such questions: "Was Wei Zhongxian able to get to this position because I was the one who got the wind in front of His Majesty back then? If not, could the Wei Dynasty accept him as his adopted son?"
After all, Chen Cao had heard that the Hakka family had a rivalry with the Wei Dynasty, but it didn't last long before he was tortured to death by the Hakka family and Old Wei: "Madam, as long as the madam protects Chen Cao at home for one day, Chen Cao will be killed." Being outside can bring the most benefits to my wife."
Mrs. Ke stepped forward and ran her seductive fingers up and down Chen Cao's chest: "I'm not as ungrateful as Wei Zhongxian. He's too greedy. Although I am a woman, I also know how to advance and retreat."
Chen Cao recognized her and grabbed her hand: "Madam, have you ever thought about becoming the Queen Mother Xiao of the Liao Kingdom?"
How could an uneducated woman like the Ke family know about Empress Dowager Xiao, but Wu Zetian knew it: "I don't know about Empress Dowager Xiao you are talking about, but it will definitely be bad for you to say it from your mouth. It's a pity that I am a prostitute, so It’s not Wei Zhongxian’s kind of thing.”
Chen Cao chuckled in his heart, and then put his arm around Hakka's waist: "As long as I'm here, whatever Madam wants to do will be a trivial matter."
"Hmm..." Keshi exclaimed, "How long have you been here?"
Chen Cao thought for a while: "If Shanghai County does well, it can be completed within at least two years, and then make a lot of money for His Majesty and a small amount of money for you, Madam..."
Keshi chuckled: "You are really interesting. Before you took refuge with me, you didn't even give the emperor a fraction of what he paid."
Chen Cao looked at Hakka from close range with a serious look on his face: "Having said that, Madam, I must also know that I have to find a way to save the money and food for the tens of thousands of new troops. As long as Madam is with Your Majesty, I can ensure that the New Army is under my command. Madam’s future stability will be secured..."
This is why the Ke family tried every means to get their son and younger brother to work under Chen Cao, and it is also the reason why the Ke family sold her body to Chen Cao with peace of mind.
Even a man as powerful as Wei Zhongxian, who has been in power for several years, cannot gather connections in the army. The people in the Yumajian are not his people yet. The eunuchs in charge of the Yumajian were appointed by the previous Emperor Wanli. Although Emperor Tianqi behaved stupidly , and did not replace the people from this yamen with people from Wei Zhongxian.
"The only people he has are Jin Yiwei and Dongchang. The only people who can fight against Jin Yiwei who have retired from the frontier army are Qian Husi, the pro-army army. This man... is the talent Luo Sigong was looking for for His Majesty when he was there..."
The Hakka family has worked hard in this regard, and now she can use her body to win over a Marquis like Chen Cao who can fight and has real military power. This was something she could not even imagine before.
The nobles in Beijing looked down on her and Wei Zhongxian at all. None of them were nobles on their side, and the free system of nobles was not afraid of them.
"I heard his name is Dong Kun?" Chen Cao asked.
Keshi chuckled: "The Qinjun Division is actually just a showman. Your Nanzhen Fu Division people are really capable of fighting. I can leave my safety to you in the future."
"That's no problem. Your Majesty is young now. He will just support the young master when the time comes..."
When Chen Cao said this, the Hakka family immediately became gloomy: "Three years ago, the queen gave birth to a stillborn child. So far, all the babies your Majesty has died in infancy, and your Majesty loves his younger brother the most..."
Chen Cao was shocked: "But King Xin?"
Hakka nodded in Chen Cao's arms: "King Xin never gave Wei Zhongxian and I a good look every time he entered the palace. He even once said to Wei Zhongxian's face that he would definitely kill him if he were the emperor."
Chen Cao raised his eyebrows, thinking that history is not nonsense, but even if Zhu Youjian said so, Wei Zhongxian could not avoid death. That was because he could not control the capital camp. Just like Wei Guogong guarding Nanjing for a long time, the British duke also guarded Nanjing for a long time. Defending Beijing, the official position of the admiral of the Beijing camp has always been in the hands of the British. It is really not a wise move to rebel based on the support of Dongchang and Jinyiwei in Wei Zhongxian's hands.
At most, those people would arrest some old and weak officials and go out on the streets to catch thieves.
Moreover, the Beijing Camp at this time is not as good as it was five years after the Apocalypse, and its combat effectiveness and equipment are still very strong...
"Don't worry, Madam, just serve Your Majesty with peace of mind..."
