East Palace.
"Sister, I didn't pass the national exam."
Zhang Kejian, the brother-in-law of Prince Zhu Gaochi, was pestering Mr. Zhang with a sad face at this time.
In this national examination, it stands to reason that Zhang Kejian is not qualified to take this examination.
So Zhang Kejian went to Li Xiao with licking his face and wanted to seek an official position.
Li Xiao is also in a dilemma. Although he is impartial and selfless, he pays attention to fairness and justice in doing things.
But this relationship
Zhang Kejian said that his brother-in-law was the prince anyway.
After some hesitation, Li Xiao still opened a backdoor for him and asked the high school principal to issue him a high school diploma, which qualified him as a special case for the national examination.
The result was a total score of thirty-five points.
"Ke Jian, please don't bother." Ms. Zhang was helpless towards her younger brother and advised, "Wouldn't it be better to do some small business in peace of mind?"
"Then, sister, please give me some money and I will do some business."
Zhang Kejian said with shame: "Last time I opened a restaurant, I lost three thousand taels of silver. Now, brother, I have no capital."
"The three thousand taels of silver are gone again?"
Mrs. Zhang frowned and said: "How can you lose money? Didn't the Imperial Master give you two formulas of eight big shovels?"
Zhang Kejian sighed: "Sister, you don't know how fierce the competition is in the catering industry in Beiping City now. This business is not easy to do now. It's a red ocean."
Mrs. Zhang said helplessly: "Sister is not having a good time now. Last time I gave you three thousand taels of silver without telling your brother-in-law. I haven't even told your brother-in-law yet. Forget it, just stay at home peacefully and stop doing business." I don’t think you have the brains.”
"Who said that? The National Master said that failure is the mother of success."
Zhang Kejian begged: "Sister, please help my brother one last time. I am your biological brother."
Mrs. Zhang originally didn't want to help her brother anymore, but she was soft-hearted. Thinking of what her parents told her before they died, she must treat her brother well, and she felt compassion again.
"Okay, let me help you one last time."
Mrs. Zhang sighed and said, "Tell me, how can I ask my sister to help you? I really can't come up with money."
"Sister, I need a little help from you this time. Brother, I will definitely make a lot of money."
Zhang Kejian vowed that he had put in enough effort this time.
He found that he always lost money in business because he was not an exclusive business, there were no barriers, and the competition was too great.
And now, he's found an exclusive business.
"What's the business?" Zhang asked.
Zhang Kejian said: "Sister, have you heard? Now the glass factory in Beiping City has developed glass. That glass factory is a state-owned enterprise, isn't it our company?"
Mrs. Zhang said angrily: "What about our business? It's a matter for the imperial court. I know it. Do you want to do the glass business?"
Zhang Kejian said excitedly: "No, it's a more profitable business than the glass business. Hey, you don't know, right? The National Division has built a new railway, which was opened to traffic not long ago. The railway leads to Tianjin, Tangshan, Qinhuangdao, and Shanhaiguan. My brother I found a big business opportunity!!"
Shanhaiguan is located at the east end of the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty. It is a small city. The entire city is connected to the Great Wall and uses the city as a gateway. It is the only place where the Ming Great Wall intersects with the sea. To the north is the western section of the Liaoxi Corridor, which is the northeastern starting point of the Ming Great Wall. Outside the pass is the Jianzhou Haixi Guards.
After discussing with Zhu Di, Li Xiao finally decided that the second railway of Ming Dynasty should be built here for his own reasons.
In the first year of Yongle, Aha, the chief of Huli's tribe, came to the Ming Dynasty. The Ming Dynasty set up a guard with his tribe. Jianzhou was named after it, so it was named Jianzhou Guard. In the fourth year of Yongle, because of Aha's recommendation, the Ming Dynasty appointed Meng Ge Timur was the commander of the Jianzhou Guard.
There are now three main groups: Jianzhou Jurchen, Haixi Jurchen, and East China Sea Jurchen.
In the late Ming Dynasty, Nurhaci rose up here, unified the Jurchen tribes, plundered the Ming Dynasty, established the Hou Jin Dynasty, and then Huang Taiji invaded Shanhaiguan, and the Ming Dynasty fell.
In fact, Zhu Di had the idea of Chineseizing the Jurchen, but it never came to fruition.
Li Xiaoer took precautions to prevent problems before they happened. The purpose of building this railway was to speed up the circulation on both sides, so that the Northeastern region could be slowly Chineseized.
Now it is the territory of the Ming Dynasty. Although Li Xiao, a Manchu, doesn't like it very much, as long as it is laid out in advance and gradually Chineseized in two years, that kind of thing will not happen.
In addition, if there is really a counterattack, the railway will be able to transport troops quickly.
As a result, this railway came into being and started trial operation not long ago.
Many businessmen went to do business and made money.
This Kejian smells it.
Zhang, however, was puzzled and asked: "What good way do you have to make money after the railway is opened?"
"Of course."
Zhang Kejian analyzed: "Now the people in Beiping City are better off and have good spending power. I see that the dairy products brought back by many merchants are quite popular. My brother, I have thought of an exclusive way to make money. It is absolutely unique. "
Mrs. Zhang also became interested and said, "Tell me about it?"
When Zhang Kejian saw that his sister was relieved, he hurriedly said: "Sister, ask the National Master to give me a note and let me contract two train skins. Brother, I will go to the glass factory to produce a batch of glass bottles, and send them over there through the railway. If I bring the fresh milk back and sell it, I will definitely make a lot of money!"
The production method in Jianzhou is still fishing and hunting. There is also the Dulbert Prairie with flocks of cattle and sheep. There is endless milk from the cows and sheep. The main way to make money is to sell furs to the Central Plains.
"Huh"
Hearing this, Mrs. Zhang's eyes lit up and she said, "It seems like a good idea. Can your brain come up with such an idea?"
"hey-hey."
Zhang Kejian said: "No. Do you really think of me as your younger brother?"
Zhang felt that this method could make money and asked, "How much capital is needed?"
Zhang Kejian raised three fingers and said, "Sister, I only need three thousand taels of silver. It will take less than half a year to repay the capital, and I can earn at least ten thousand taels of silver a year. By then, the three thousand taels of silver that my sister gave me will be enough." Brother, I will pay you back double the amount."
While they were talking, Zhu Zhanji came out of nowhere and said with a smile, "Uncle is here to cheat money again?"
"Go, go." Zhang Kejian waved his hand angrily, "What does it mean to cheat money? My uncle is making your family rich."
"Zhanji, how many points did you score in the national exam this time?"
Mrs. Zhang smiled and looked at Zhu Zhanji and asked.
"With more than 300 points, I am among the best. It's a pity that I am the grandson of the emperor, otherwise I would have to get an official position." Zhu Zhanji said proudly.
"." Zhang Kejian felt like he was being slapped in the face by his nephew.
When Mrs. Zhang was happy, she rewarded Zhu Zhanji with some money and let him go and play by himself.
Zhu Zhanji was so happy that he took the money and went to buy crickets.
"sister"
"Okay, got it, one last time."
Zhang decided to help her younger brother, mainly because the idea was not bad, so she gritted her teeth and took out three thousand taels of silver from her own money, and then took Zhang Kejian to the Duke's Mansion in person.
Not long after, the two arrived at the Yongle Palace in a carriage.
After Zhu Ningyun learned the news, he cordially welcomed Zhang and Zhang Kejian in.
Usually those who want to find connections cannot enter the Duke's palace, but it is different when the Crown Princess personally leads the way.
Zhang Kejian brought many gifts, but Zhu Ningyun accepted them all with a smile.
After exchanging pleasantries, Ms. Zhang got straight to the point and said, "Sister, you must help me with this. I am just a younger brother. He is honest and honest."
Zhang Kejian on the side was very nervous and behaved well, for fear that the princess would not agree.
"Do you want to buy glass bottles, and then go to Jianzhou to buy milk and transport it to sell?"
After hearing the other party's intention, Zhu Ningyun was slightly surprised.
She thinks this business idea is a good one.
"Yes, drinking this milk is good for your health."
Zhang Kejian rubbed his hands and smiled and said: "Princess, if you agree, from now on, I, Zhang Kejian, will take care of the milk in the Duke's Mansion."
"That's not necessary."
Zhu Ningyun thought for a while and said with a smile: "Normal business is welcome. Logically speaking, contracting train skins requires a qualification review, but since it is the Crown Princess who speaks, we are also considered relatives, so there is no need to go to such trouble. "
Zhu Ningyun didn't think much. She asked someone to bring a pen and paper, wrote the note with her own hand, and stamped it with the fire seal of the house.
With this piece of information, you can go to the railway company to contract two railroad cars for commercial transportation.
Although the railway company has now become a state-owned enterprise, and all the money earned is handed over to the court, the main manager is still Li Xiao, and no one else can play a role at all.
"Thank you so much!" Zhang Kejian was overjoyed.
He knows how difficult it is to contract a train.
Many businessmen are looking for connections everywhere, running programs, and even if they break their legs, they may not even get a car. They just get two at once. They sell milk in the winter and leather in the summer. Isn’t that a lot of money?
"Then thank you sister." Mrs. Zhang was grateful.
"It doesn't matter." Zhu Ningyun smiled.
After chatting for a while, Zhu Ningyun sent the two of them outside the house.
"That's right, sister."
Before leaving, Mrs. Zhang pulled Zhu Ningyun and whispered: "Sister, I live in the palace all year round. I can get some news about Princess Baoqing, right?"
Zhu Ningyun nodded: "I know, what's wrong?"
Zhang said mysteriously: "They are all women. I can tell. I'm afraid that Princess Baoqing is interested in Li Xiao. I can't say that. You have to be careful."
Originally it was not appropriate to say this, but after Zhu Ningyun was so helpful, Mrs. Zhang had to find a way to repay the favor, so she still said it.
"This" Zhu Ningyun was a little confused.
Madam Zhang regained her composure and said, "With that said, sister, sister will leave first."
"Sister, walk slowly."
After Zhu Ningyun said goodbye, she also returned to the mansion. As she walked, she murmured: "My husband is so charming. Even my aunt has fallen in love with her. However, I believe in my husband."
After receiving the approval, Zhang Kejian immediately showed off to his friends after returning.
Then he started customizing glass bottles and went to Jianzhou to buy cow and goat milk.
His way of doing business is also very simple. He gives the bottle to the herdsmen there, boils the milk and puts it into the bottle every day, and then sends someone to pick it up and take it back to Peking by train. He can make a round trip every day.
He also spent money to advertise in newspapers, and the milk was indeed very popular. Many rich people ordered it, and the milk suddenly became a luxury product for the rich.
After drinking from the glass bottles, the empty bottles are recycled the next day, and then continue to be sent to the hands of herdsmen, and the cycle continues.
A bottle of milk was priced at half a penny, but the purchase price was only a copper coin. After taking into account the traveling expenses and labor costs, it was really a fortune.
As for the herdsmen, they have also tasted the sweetness. They don't know that the cow's and goat's milk can be sold at a high price of half a penny of silver on the table of the rich. However, selling a bottle of milk for a copper coin, they feel that it is very profitable. After all, these lives People outside the customs live by herding and are very poor. They can't finish the dairy products and can't save them. They just pick up money for free.
It didn't take long.
Li Xiao was surprised to find that there was an extra bottle of milk in his breakfast.
I took a bite and it was very fresh!
It's full of milky aroma, and there's a milk cap hanging on top. This is serious fresh milk.
"Huh?"
On this day, Li Xiao got up to have a meal and asked in surprise: "Where did this fresh milk come from?"
Zhu Ningyun smiled slightly and said: "It's not the railway you built, but the fresh milk of the herdsmen outside Shanhaiguan has been transported here. The bottles need to be recycled later, and they will be delivered tomorrow."
"Who came up with this idea?"
Li Xiao was slightly happy. Sure enough, now that he encourages business, many people can come up with ideas to get rich based on the existing conditions. Isn't this the 'Prince's Milk' model?
It seems that in the future, you don’t need to worry too much about business, just let it develop freely.
"That's Zhang Kejian." Zhu Ningyun said.
"Zhang Kejian??" Li Xiao was slightly startled, "How can he come up with such a good idea?"
Zhu Ningyun said: "It seems like he came up with it."
Li Xiao nodded slightly: "This guy opened a restaurant before. I gave him two recipes for eight big shovels, and he was able to make money. It seems that people always have enlightenment one day. It's also good. This cow and goat milk is a long-term consumable. , which is good news for herdsmen, as they can earn more money."
Thinking of this, Li Xiao spoke again: "Well, Ningyun, you ask the newspaper to give him a free 10% discount on advertising, saying that a cup of milk every day will strengthen the Chinese people, and give him more space to make the milk more popular."
Li Xiao wants to promote more trade between the two sides, which can speed up the process of Chineseization.
How could Zhu Ningyun not know what Lord Dao means? He has always been committed to national unity and wants everyone in the world to live a good life. His broad mind and grand pattern are unmatched by anyone.
"Leave this matter to me." Zhu Ningyun nodded with a smile, put a dumpling on Li Xiao's mouth, and said with a smile: "My husband really cares about the world."
"Brother-in-law!"
At this time, Zhu Gaosui ran over again for some reason.
This is the fifth time Zhu Gaosui has come to visit recently.
I just happened to see the scene of two people loving each other, and I couldn't help coughing twice.
"Gao Sui"
Li Xiao frowned slightly and said, "You've been running here lately. Do you have something to say?"
"It's nothing." Zhu Gaosui chuckled, sat down, and picked up the steamed dumplings on the table to eat. Then he saw the milk and sighed.
"What are you sighing for?" Zhu Ningyun asked.
"Don't mention it." Zhu Gaosui looked unhappy: "Isn't it Zhang Kejian who got this milk business?"
"Yes." Zhu Ningyun looked at Zhu Gaosui doubtfully.
Zhu Gaojiao flicked his fingers and said, "This kid, relying on the fact that he is the eldest brother's brother-in-law, has now made a lot of money. He is very proud and does not take other people seriously."
Zhu Gaosui went to the Zixiang Pavilion to attend the auction house last night and fell in love with a calligraphy and painting. He was held back by Zhang Kejian no matter how much money he paid, and he felt angry in his heart.
But this person's identity was not ordinary, and he couldn't deal with it casually, so he was very angry.
"Gao Sui, do you want to start a profitable business?"
How could Li Xiao not hear that there was resentment in Zhu Gaosui's words?
Obviously he was complaining that the business was not given to his brother but to outsiders, but the third child didn't like to speak directly and always liked to make side remarks.
In April of the second year of Yongle, Zhu Gaosui was granted the title of King of Zhao and appointed three guards of the Zhao Mansion. The Pengcheng guards were the middle guards of Changshan, the Yongqing left guards were the left guards of Changshan, and the Yongqing right guards were the right guards of Changshan, but they did not enfeoff the land.
At the same time, Zhu Di ordered Zhao Wang Zhu Gaosui to live in the capital and take charge of the Jinyi Guards and the fifth military camp. Together with Zhu Gaoxu, he was the highest military and political leader in the actual sense.
Zhu Gaosui has Prince Zhao's Mansion in the capital, but Li Xiao has not helped him make a fortune these years, so he relies on the prince's salary from the court.
Zhu Gaosui did a lot of things for Zhu Di, and he did not have a fief, so Zhu Di gave him a grain salary of 10,000 shi a year.
It stands to reason that the prince is given a salary of five thousand shi of food a year, and he is given 10,000 shi, which can be converted into ten thousand taels of silver, which is quite a lot.
But he is a prince after all, he has a lot of pomp and expenses.
Which prince doesn't start his own business privately?
But Zhu Gaosui thought that the business was relatively busy and he had no real estate yet.
"Brother-in-law, look at what you said, you have misunderstood my brother."
Zhu Gaosui chuckled and said: "It's not about making money. Money is just dirt. It's just that I have a brother-in-law who really has nothing to do. I can't let him be idle. Look, what kind of business is this?"
Naturally, Zhu Gaosui would not go into business himself, but if a servant of the family, a relative, or the like, wanted to do a profitable business, he would get the dividends, and he would be proud to go out after making money.
"So that's what happened, Gao Sui, your brother-in-law understands you."
Zhu Ningyun chuckled: "No wonder you run here every day, but you should just tell me, can your brother-in-law treat you badly?"
Li Xiao said: "Gao Sui, I will give you a train leather."
Zhu Gaosui said: "One."
Li Xiaodao: "One is enough. You can also transport milk back, but don't compete with that Zhang Kejian for business. My brother-in-law will teach you a new product, pearl milk tea! Once this product is released, it will definitely make the ladies in Peking city People are flocking to you, and I guarantee you will make a fortune!"
Zhu Gaosui said: "Pearl milk tea. It sounds very good. Do you put pearls in it?"
Li Xiao said angrily: "Of course you don't put pearls in it. If you want to drink it to death, just boil milk and tea, then add taro balls, ice powder, turtle paste and the like."
After speaking, he touched his chest and took out the formula from the system warehouse.
This milk tea recipe will automatically synchronize into a product that conforms to modern technology. Naturally, there are no additives or anything that cannot be manufactured.
"Follow this recipe, you go and ask your brother-in-law to open a milk tea shop and make money for you." Li Xiao vowed.
Seeing Li Xiao take out the formula from his chest, he thought it was prepared in advance. Zhu Gaosui felt warm in his heart. It turned out that his brother-in-law had known about it for a long time and didn't say it because he was studying the formula of this milk tea. My brother-in-law was so kind to me.
Zhu Ningyun thought to herself. My husband never took anything from the future again. When I visited Happy Valley, I could see the milk tea shop everywhere. It turned out to be made of milk and tea leaves.
Li Xiao thought to himself that he would refuse the imperial examination and hard work and start from the Ming Dynasty.
"By the way, Gao Sui, do you have anything else to do with me today?" Li Xiao drank the milk in one gulp and ate a few more bites of the leek box.
"I almost forgot if I didn't mention it." Zhu Gaosui smiled and said, "Dad asked me to call you, saying that you haven't been to court for a few days and I miss you."
For Li Xiao, going to court in the morning is like the vegetable garden gate. He can go if he wants to, but he can't go if he doesn't want to. Recently, Li Xiao has been leisurely planting flowers and grass in the courtyard of the mansion, truly achieving the goal of "Being a farmer in the morning and ascending to the Emperor's Hall in the evening." ".
"Oh" Li Xiao smiled helplessly. It seemed that it would be difficult to stay clean for a few days.
"Then I'll go to the palace."
Li Xiao looked at Zhu Ningyun and stood up and said.
"Yes." Zhu Ningyun stood up, helped Li Xiao tidy up his clothes, and said with a smile: "Husband, I'm going to the palace, remember not to do anything out of the ordinary."
"????" Li Xiao felt like his head was full of question marks and he didn't know what to say.
What extraordinary things can you do?
Not long after, Li Xiao went out and headed towards the palace in a carriage.
Zhu Gaosui had breakfast at the Duke's Mansion. While eating, he said, "The food in the Duke's Mansion is really good. You must come here more often."
"Gao Sui." Zhu Ningyun looked at Zhu Gao Sui and said, "I have something for you to do. Keep an eye on your brother-in-law."
"Sister, what's wrong? Is there something wrong with my brother-in-law?" Zhu Gaosui asked strangely: "There should be no problem with my brother-in-law, so don't worry."
"That Princess Baoqing looks like" Zhu Ningyun.
"Oh, you're talking about this. I've heard about it a long time ago. Things in the palace can't escape my ears."
Zhu Gaosui smiled mysteriously and said: "Sister, since I know, I will secretly tell you that Princess Baoqing is obsessed with her brother-in-law. She has already asked the imperial grandfather for permission and said that she will not marry anyone other than Li Xiao."
Zhu Ningyun asked nervously: "Ah? What did the emperor's grandfather say?"
Zhu Gaosui said: "The emperor's grandfather said it's not impossible, as long as Li Xiao is willing."
Zhu Ningyun: "???"
With the end of the national examination, the two thousand people who passed the examination then underwent a three-month unified ideological education. The content of the training was the study of mind, taught by the great Confucian Kong Maoxue himself.
In addition to cultivating spiritual knowledge, Li Xiao also invited many district chiefs stationed at the grassroots level to share their experiences and analyze cases, including dispute mediation, land division planning, leading villagers to grow cash crops, start village enterprises, etc.
In the future, most of these people will be officials who want to take root in the countryside. They must learn some books so that they can serve the court in the future, organize the world, completely eliminate landlords, reduce the gap between the rich and the poor, and put an end to land annexation.
These are the foundations that allow the dynasty to stand firm for thousands of years!
To put it simply, it means vigorously cultivating grassroots talents instead of cultivating court officials.
However, there were too many scholars who took the national examination this time, a full 100,000, and only 2,000 of them passed the examination, so many of the remaining scholars did not pass.
Of the 100,000 people, half returned to their hometowns, and the remaining half, a full 50,000 people, stayed in the capital.
Those who stayed in the capital and refused to leave. Some were unwilling to give in. After all, they finally had the opportunity to eat the royal food, but they failed to live up to expectations and failed to pass the exam. They were not willing to give in. They met the Jiangdong elders without words.
Most of them don't even have the money to go back, and they are truly poor scholars.
Fengtian Hall, above the morning court.
Zhu Di sat on the dragon chair.
Recently, he has also been having a headache about this matter.
Because Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang directly ordered that the salaries of all scholars be cancelled.
"Your Majesty, there are now thirty thousand scholars in the capital. Now the monthly salary of the scholars has been cancelled. These people have not passed the exam. Now so many people are stranded in the capital. Please be considerate of the world's literati and keep the original policy unchanged so that these people can If a scholar has money, he can return to his hometown."
Zhang Shaoqi, the minister of household affairs, suggested in the main hall with his hands raised.
His proposal can be described as a test.
Canceling the salary of scholars is only the first step, and other preferential treatment may gradually be eliminated in the future.
This undoubtedly made landowners all over the country a little panicked, and they began to work one after another, hoping that the officials of the imperial court could persuade the Holy Emperor to withdraw his order.
However, cancellation is impossible to cancel. How can Jingkou Yuyan just change it?
Zhu Di remained silent and did not answer.
Another official stood up and said with cupped hands: "At the beginning, the Emperor wanted to let the literati in the world study with peace of mind. Now that they have studied, it is difficult for them to pass the official examination and they have no means of making a living. There must be a way to deal with these people." .We can’t chill the students’ hearts.”
Immediately afterwards, many officials spoke one after another.
But there has been no discussion on a proper disposal method.
At the time when the main hall was in full swing.
A familiar voice sounded outside the hall.
"Wouldn't it be solved by giving them a job?"
Everyone looked around. Halfway through the early morning session, Li Xiao walked in swaggeringly, walked to the front, and slightly cupped his hands: "I have met the Holy One."
Li Xiao is arrogant this time, but no one dares to impeach him. After all, he is still a saint. Who dares to impeach a saint without fear of eternal infamy?
When Zhu Di saw Li Xiao coming, his face immediately turned gloomy, and he said excitedly: "Master, please tell me how to arrange errands for more than 30,000 people?"
(End of chapter)
