Zhu Yuanzhang still overestimated the patience of the warriors. Not even half an hour later, the warriors headed by Xu Da and Fu Youde came licking their faces and pushing and shoving them. When they came up, they said, "You must not be partial to your superiors. This court Finally we have enough food, and it’s time for the brothers below to replace their swords, guns and armor with new ones.
What else is there to say? The civil servants have given it to them, so why not give it to their own direct team members? In this way, both the civil and military officials in the DPRK and China will be happy, but only the emperor's family will be unable to stir up trouble.
Zhu Yuanzhang went to the Huagai Hall to bring back his two grandchildren, but he was not interested in playing this time. He held one in one hand and sighed: "We originally thought that we would have some wealth this year, so we will expand your east palace first. This child It’s getting bigger now, so you have to prepare first.”
"It's good now. Let alone the expansion of the palace within the palace, even the construction of the palace walls in the capital will probably come to a halt."
Zhu Biao said: "This year's government expenditure budget is based on the frugality of previous years. So at first glance, it seems that the national treasury has surplus food funds, but how is it possible? From the yamen in the capital to the local prefectures and counties, everyone is hungry." long time."
Zhu Yuanzhang naturally knew this, so he transferred all the money and food without hesitation. Moreover, the money and food came from the accounts of the treasury and his family. I believe no one would dare to embezzle, otherwise it would be Hu Weiyong Xu Da, the two leaders who asked for food, couldn't explain it to him.
Zhu Yuanzhang sighed pointedly, "Now that we have become emperor, our family wealth is even less than when we were commander-in-chief. It is difficult to be an emperor without money."
Zhu Biao responded clearly: "Father, don't worry, my sons and ministers will take care of it. Not only will the food debts owed this year be paid back, but it will also expand my father's internal resources, so that he won't be so tied up."
In the second half of the year, Wu Liang, Marquis of Jiangyin, will go to sea. In fact, many people with long-term vision have long been eyeing this opportunity. The big merchants in the Song and Yuan Dynasties made huge profits from sea trade, and they have long been determined to go to sea. But they were blocked by national policies and Japanese pirates, and each family was unable to fight against them.
Now His Highness the Prince is determined to send the navy to sea, which is many times safer than going by themselves. Naturally, he is eager to get an opportunity, and the money will open the way to Zhu Biao.
This is true for the micro-business Shanxi merchants and the aristocratic families in various places who have experienced sea trade in the Song and Yuan Dynasties. Especially the Jiangnan aristocratic family headed by the Chen and Zhang families tried their best to raise supplies for the Jiangyin Marquis Navy. In fact, this is what they wanted.
They all know that the court is not optimistic about this and is not eager to do so. Only His Highness the Crown Prince is interested, so they must do their best to support it for their own interests.
Zhu Biao did not refuse anyone who came. The establishment of maritime trade routes required private participation, otherwise it would have become a tribute trade system. During the Yongle period, Zheng He made huge profits from his voyages to the West. Why was he criticized by the government and the public?
Isn't it because of the uneven distribution of economic interests among all classes? Zheng He gained huge wealth from official trade on his voyages to the West. However, Zheng He's voyages to the West were monopolized by the court. In fact, the court's monopoly was nothing. After all, what did the wishes of merchants count in the Ming Dynasty?
However, the royal family should not monopolize the profits from overseas trade. The court spent huge sums of money to build an ocean-going fleet, but all the profits went into the emperor's internal funds. Instead of benefiting from overseas trade, the court and officials suffered losses as a result.
The overseas trade policy adopted at that time was really ugly. Not only was it incomparable to the encouragement of private overseas trade during the Song Dynasty, but it was also inferior to the government-private partnership system that was criticized in the Yuan Dynasty.
From the court officials down to the private merchants and powerful nobles, no one benefited at all. Due to the dissatisfaction of all parties, Zheng He's voyages to the West were vilified as a waste of people and money, and they naturally ceased in the end.
Zhu Biao is not a person who likes to eat alone. He never looks at temporary gains and losses. The right way is to balance the wishes of all classes so that they can all benefit.
The imperial court's official business does not need to have a monopoly. With the size of the imperial court, it can eat the largest portion, and the rest is enough for scholars, farmers, industry and merchants to take a bite.
After appeasing his father, Zhu Biao stood up and resigned from Jinshen Hall. Chahan should have entered the capital at this time, but there was no need to go to see him so urgently.
The more you want something, the less eager you are to show it. The Ming Dynasty is also anxious about Liaodong. Being sandwiched between Mongolia and Goryeo is not a comfortable thing, otherwise Chahan would not have traveled so day and night to come to the capital.
Zhu Biao arrived at the Wuying Palace and sat down to summon Chen Youzong, the Minister of General Affairs, and Su Zhi, the Tea Horse Minister. They arrived soon. After bowing and paying homage in a formal manner, Zhu Biao gave Chen Youzong a seat.
After some refusals, Chen Youzong smiled and nodded to Su Zhi beside him, and then sat down calmly. Su Zhi smiled apologetically but was naturally envious in his heart. Being qualified to be given a seat by His Highness to talk to him is not a big deal. He didn't know that he When can you guess that you will have such honor?
Zhu Biao saw clearly that this was to encourage Su Zhi to do a good job. Su Zhi was also the person he promoted. He should have shown his value last year, but because of the White Disaster and the war in the north, the business of the Tea Horse Company was naturally no longer possible.
Although he was not at fault, he still had no merit and hard work. Naturally, it was impossible for Zhu Biao to let him sit down with Chen Youzong. In that case, he would not be beating Su Zhi but Chen Youzong. After all, the status and grade of the two were different.
"Su Zhi, have you ordered this year's spring tea and last year's old tea?"
"Reporting to Your Highness, please order everything, and there will be no omissions."
Chen Youzong turned his head and looked Su Zhi up and down. It was taboo in officialdom to make such absolute statements. If something went wrong, he would be held responsible. However, this person did not look like a reckless person.
Zhu Biao nodded with satisfaction after hearing this: "Okay, I have lived up to my expectations by handing over the Tea Horse Division to you. What I want is this simple and neat."
Su Zhi bowed and said: "I am lucky enough to be favored by His Highness, but I have not been able to repay His Highness any merit. I can't sleep day and night thinking about it. I am so ashamed that I wish I could die in return. I dare not neglect my official duties."
Before Zhu Biao could react, Chen Youzong stood up and said: "Su Sicheng is loyal to his duties and it is even more rare to repay his kindness. It can be seen that His Highness has a bright eye and knows how to use people well. This is the ability of a holy master and a wise king."
Su Zhi hurriedly turned around and saluted Chen Youzong. The two of them looked at each other with a sense of sympathy. Zhu Biao's mouth twitched slightly as he looked at it. I have called you two here to discuss business, not to make friends with each other.
"My dear friends, please don't be polite. Su Zhi, since you are sincere, I won't give you any more instructions. We should follow last year's plan and focus on profit. It's up to you what you should do and how far you should go. , don’t let me down.”
Su Zhi's face straightened and he solemnly promised. He knew what kind of character His Highness the Crown Prince was. No matter how many flattery words he said, he could not sway this prince's heart. At most, it was just icing on the cake. If he really wanted to be cultivated, he would have to look at the good work. Real ability.
Zhu Biao waved his hand and asked Fugui to hand over the order he had just written in his own hand to Su Zhi. The Tea Horse Sicheng was a low-ranking official. He took so many tea leaves, cloth, iron pots and other materials north to trade with each other at once, and it was easy for him to be set up by the officials and guards along the way. Card stripping.
Don't think that they don't dare. The left and right people are not personally fighting. If they really want to be held accountable by the court, just push a few petty officials and behead them. Anyway, the knife will not fall on their heads without evidence.
Su Zhi bowed and retreated with the order in hand. Chen Youzong was the only one left in the palace. Looking at Su Zhi who was leaving, he said: "The newly defeated Mongolian soldiers have lost their troops. I'm afraid Su Sicheng will not gain much benefit from this trip." , Your Highness must be prepared."
Zhu Biao waved his hand to let people see the tea. Without Liu Jin, these slaves really had no autonomy at all. They could only endure it for the time being. When the tea was served, Zhu Biao said: "Mongolia has been blocked by the Ming Dynasty for five years. Even ordinary herders We are unable to afford tea supplies due to natural and man-made disasters this time, but those old and young people who are accustomed to enjoying tea are still waiting eagerly."
"What's more, this time was just to test whether the large amount of silver that Emperor Yuan Shun took with him when he was defeated and fled to Dadu fell into the hands of Yesudier or is still in the hands of the Tatar kings."
Naturally, Chen Youzong had also heard about this matter. He stroked his long beard and said: "Your Highness also knows that although there is a ban in the north, there are still people smuggling smuggled materials to the grassland and selling them for profit. I know that most of them are trading with Tatar businessmen, and Most settlements are made in gold and silver.”
In fact, Zhu Biao had received the news a long time ago and nodded: "This mutual trade is mainly focused on the Tatar ministries. Yesudier and Oara are not prepared to trade with each other, so they must continue to block the trade and divide and disintegrate."
"This is a very good strategy. Even though Wala can still be purchased from Tatar, the contradiction between the two has long been evident. Tatar will definitely raise the price and sell it. Wala is now poor and warlike, which will inevitably increase their opposition."
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