Fugui and Zhang Yu couldn't help but secretly shout in their hearts: Where is the harsh treatment? ! Even if it's two taels of silver a month, it's more than the salary your father gave us.
You know, even Zhu Bai himself only had two taels of silver per month before.
Zhu Biao and Mu Ying just finished talking at this moment.
Seeing Zhu Bai's mouth full of oil, Zhu Biao teased Zhu Bai: "Where did my twelfth brother go to eat delicious food?"
Fugui hurriedly took the handkerchief and handed it to Zhu Bai.
Zhu Bai wiped his mouth, his face turned red, and he answered the question unintentionally: "It's okay."
Oh, this is so embarrassing.
Zhu Bai has always been as thick-skinned as the corner of a city wall.
It’s so rare…
Fugui and Zhang Yu exchanged thoughtful glances.
-----
Both Lan Yu and Deng Yu lost a lot of horses in this battle.
Lao Zhu urged Zhu Ping to lead the Ningxia Guard to get this year's horses back from Xifan as soon as possible.
Since the exchange of tea leaves, Xifan's envoys asked to see Zhu Ping many times, but were turned away.
At this time, after receiving Lao Zhu's imperial edict, the Chief Envoy of Shaanxi and Zhu Ping jointly issued an official document to the tribes in Xifan, requiring them to hand over their horses before October 30. A horse is exchanged for three tubes of tea.
The various tribes in Xifan complained endlessly and hurriedly sent envoys to seek accommodation from Zhu Cang.
This time, Zhu Xi asked the concierge to bring the messenger in.
Zhu Xi is practicing archery.
The envoy stepped forward and saluted Zhu Ping.
Zhu Xi lowered his arrow and asked, "What do you want from me?"
The messenger said with a sad face: "Your Highness, I am here to ask for your help this time. There was a drought last year and the grass did not grow well, so there were few new-born foals, and there will be fewer mature horses this year. We really can't make it." There are so many horses together."
Zhu Ming said coldly: "Do you know what an imperial edict is? The imperial edict is what the emperor has said. You can just follow it and there is no need to discuss it. If everyone talks about the conditions like this and vomits bitterness, it will be impossible for any decree to be promulgated and implemented. This tribe doesn't have enough horses, so go to any tribe to find horses. If you don't have enough horses this year, you can always get enough the year before. And I also know a little bit about it. The number set by the emperor this time is already less than last year. So don't come here to cry about poverty. ”
The tea-horse trade sounds like business, but it is actually a way for Lao Zhu to collect taxes from Xifan, and it is mandatory.
The Han people often say, "Take advantage of others' weak hands and eat their weak mouths."
The envoy did not expect that Zhu Xi would be completely merciless after accepting so much gold and jewelry from them. He didn't know whether it was because of anger or shame, but his face turned red: "Your Highness, is there no room for change?"
Zhu Xi said: "No."
The messenger said, "What if we don't hand it over?"
Zhu Feng said coldly: "Then the imperial court will naturally find ways to ask you to hand it over."
The messenger sneered: "The tea leaves sold to us by His Highness had the words 'for exclusive use of King Qin' printed on them. King Qin probably forgot about it."
Zhu Xi looked at him with interest.
At that time, Deng Zhiqiutai wanted those gold jewelry. He forgot that the batch of tea leaves was given to him by Zhu Bai and printed words on the paper wrapping the tea leaves.
This tea is really only available here and cannot be found anywhere else.
Now think about it, Zhu Bai sent him tea the day before, and the messenger from Xifan came to his door the next day to exchange gold for tea.
He also said why Zifan was stupid enough to engage in such a loss-making business. It turned out that they were setting a trap to capture his shortcomings and make him do their bidding in the future.
When the envoy saw that Zhu Cang was silent, he thought he had restrained him and smiled: "It will not be good for Your Highness if this matter breaks out."
Zhu Fang narrowed his eyes and asked, "What do you want?"
The envoy said: "Our demands are not excessive. The number of horses is 20% less than the court's requirement, and the number of tea leaves is increased to ten tubes per horse. In fact, this is the market price."
Zhu Chong did not answer, but turned to the guard and said calmly: "This man is so courageous that he entered the palace at night and stole several tubes of tea. Today he pretended to be an envoy from Xifan and sneaked in with the intention of stealing again, but he was caught on the spot by the king."
The guards were stunned and immediately responded in unison: "Yes!"
The messenger took a step back: "What does King Qin mean? How can you, as the majestic prince of Ming Dynasty, be so untrustworthy? !!"
Zhu Chen said with a half-smile but not a smile: "You are the first to blame me, but you still have the nerve to say that I don't keep my word."
The personal guards rushed forward and held down the envoy and his entourage.
The messenger shouted: "When I see the emperor, I must discuss it."
Zhu Xi waved his hand to his guards: "You guys, step aside."
Not knowing why, the guards let go of the two men and retreated in a circle.
Zhu Ping raised his bow, pointed the arrow at the messenger, and said coolly: "Then I will prevent you from having the chance to tell my father."
The envoy turned pale with fright. Before he could beg for mercy, the arrow flew out of Zhu Ping's hand with a whoosh and penetrated his left chest.
Zhu Ping immediately took out another arrow and fired it. One arrow shot through the entourage who was close to the door.
The envoy struggled to crawl towards the door, vomiting blood and shouting: "Run quickly, King Qin will kill me, it is absolutely unbelievable..."
Zhu Ming suddenly realized that there were people from Xifan outside, his expression changed, and he said to his guards: "Quick, go out and stop the people outside."
The guard opened the door and ran out. A man on a horse had disappeared into the distance.
Even if you drive faster, you can't catch up.
The guard asked Zhu Xi: "Your Highness, what should I do?"
Zhu Ming said: "If you run away, run away. Just kill the chicken to scare the monkeys. Let them know how powerful I am, and see if they dare to resist me in the future."
Zhu Ping turned around and went in, closed the door, and asked people to search out all the suspicious items, gold and silver jewelry on the two people, and then notified the Anchasi to come and take away the bodies.
Hongyuan came after hearing the news and sighed repeatedly: "Your Highness, the two armies are fighting and the envoy will not be killed. Besides, Xifan is still a minister of the Ming Dynasty, how can the prince kill the envoy."
This old monk is really verbose. If this person hadn't been sent by Lao Zhu, he would have killed him with one knife.
Zhu Xi had a headache and waved to the people around him: "Bring the master in, don't let him come out and talk nonsense for the time being."
When Hongyuan was being carried away by two guards, he did not forget to turn around and shout loudly: "Your Highness, you must not make the same mistake again and again. Turning back will lead to safety."
-----
One of the messenger's followers fled back and told the story.
The leaders of the various tribes of Xifan were frightened and angry.
"This King of Qin is so vicious and shameless, and does not keep his word. Will we still have a way to survive in the future?"
"The gold I gave him before was wasted. I'm really not willing to accept it."
Wang Baobao, who had not been seen for a long time, rushed over after hearing the news: "You must not be fooled by the Ming Dynasty again. Why do they need horses? Isn't it just for fighting? If you give them good horses, won't they be stronger?"
The leaders all said, "Yes."
"I have to pay it every year, it's endless, and the price is still so low. Isn't this a sign of bullying?"
"We won't pay it this year. Look at that beggar Zhu Chongba, what can the old monk do to us?"
They beat out thousands of households from the Shaanxi Guards Station sent by the Ming Dynasty to collect horses.
