Zhu Houzhao is about to leave for Beijing.
But he always wanted to ask Zhang Zhou to go with him, with a sense of "I won't go back if you don't come with me." For several days, he was inseparable from Zhang Zhou, completely in a state of having fun. In Nanjing, he was I never picked up a book once.
"Xinxue is now highly praised by many people. I want to go out to give lectures, but I am afraid that the lectures will not be good, and my husband will not prepare a lecture for me. I also want to go out and write poems, but many people think that the poems are not written by me. I really want to prove it."
Zhu Houzhao was a little unsure. He was just pretending to be cool and he hadn't had enough of it yet.
He showed the three poems that Zhang Zhou had given him before in front of others. However, when others found out that he was the prince, they thought that he was using his power to gain wealth. There are different opinions about the real author behind the three poems. , which also made Zhu Houzhao very depressed.
Just because I am a prince and am still young, the poems I write cannot be written by me?
Of course, I didn’t write it per se, but it definitely came from my hand.
On this day, Zhu Houzhao went with Zhang Zhou to attend the opening ceremony of a store in Nanjing. This was Zhang Zhou's first store chain in Nanjing. What he sold were mainly some low-level industrial products, most of which were flashy. It is the only one of its kind in the world.
After the previous ceremony, Zhang Zhou did not let Zhu Houzhao go out to show his face, because Zhu Houzhao had already appeared in front of the scholars in Nanjing City, and some people knew him.
The person who presided over the opening was Zhang Zhou's father-in-law, Jiang Dezhong. After Jiang Dezhong completed the previous tasks, he hurried to the back to salute Zhu Houzhao.
"You're pretty good at business. You can make a lot of money a year, right?"
Zhu Houzhao looked at Jiang Dezhong with a look of interest.
Jiang Dezhong said hurriedly: "Your Majesty, the ordinary people will only earn a hard-earned amount of money in a year, barely able to support their families."
Zhu Houzhao said: "At first glance, you are fooling people. Don't you know this? You and Mr. Zhang started mining together, and you seem to have made a lot of money, right? Let me tell you, I also have shares in this company, and I still hold half of it. Don't I thought only Mr. Zhang was your boss, and so did I."
Zhang Zhou explained: "This head of the Jiang family is not the shopkeeper below me, he is just here to help. There will be a dedicated person in charge of business matters."
Zhu Houzhao curled his lips. He obviously didn't like a philistine and slick person like Jiang Dezhong.
And Jiang Dezhong still felt good about himself and pretended to be a grandson in front of the prince. The result was that the prince felt that he was insincere. It was equivalent to saying that Zhang Zhou gave him a good opportunity to become familiar with him in front of the prince, but it was because His own intentions were not sincere, but he made the prince feel disgusted.
…
…
Jiang Dezhong was not the only one who followed Zhang Zhou to Nanjing, but also Chen's daughter.
Chen came with him, mainly because Zhang Zhou wanted to expand his business in Nanjing City. In the future, Tang Yin might stay in Jiangsu and Zhejiang to build shipyards and train naval forces, which would require a huge amount of money for supply.
Relying on Jiang Dezhong alone, even Zhang Zhou felt unreliable, was to form an internal competition and make old Jiang feel a sense of crisis.
Chen's daughter is responsible for the conversion of industrial products, that is, bringing some non-ferrous metal products to the south of the Yangtze River for sale. Most of them are sold as mature industrial products. At the same time, as the material supplier behind the shipyard, they are transported from both sides of the river. A large amount of wood and stone were transported to Jiangsu and Zhejiang.
Jiang Dezhong was not entrusted with important tasks in this matter.
Just letting Jiang Dezhong come to see the prince, Zhang Zhou also just made old Jiang think that shipbuilding now means making money through the company. After all, the prince is involved in it, but in fact it is not the case, this is just a cover.
If outsiders want to pay attention to Zhang Zhou's secretly making money and use it to criticize him, they will inevitably make a fuss about the business. In this way, Zhang Zhou can stop the business at any time and it will not have a big impact on his hematopoietic ability. The influence can be said to have created favorable conditions for Tang Yin to build ships and go to sea with large ships.
On the day of the opening of the business, Yin Wuxiong of Yingtian Prefecture did not come, but Wei Guogong Xu Er came in person. Along with him, Cheng Guogong Zhu Fu, who had just arrived in Nanjing yesterday, came.
The two want to complete the handover.
Zhu Fu came to take over the post of Nanjing garrison minister. In fact, when Zhu Fu set off from the capital, the emperor had not yet asked him to serve as Nanjing garrison, because according to Zhu Youtang's plan, if something unexpected happened to Wang Shouren during the battle on the grassland, It was intended that Zhang Zhoulai should be appointed as Nanjing's garrison minister and Nanjing's Minister of War.
But when Zhu Fu was halfway there, Wang Shouren's good news was conveyed, and Zhu Youtang also sent a message to Zhu Fu with a fast horse, so that he could come to Nanjing to replace Xu Yan, and at the same time, he replaced Xu Yan as the chief military officer of Jinghai. Things are conveyed.
"Such an inconspicuous shop looks like a big business from the outside." Xu Yan was still sighing after walking into the backyard.
Zhang Zhou and Zhu Houzhao walked out of the back hall one after another. Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "It's just a small business. As a courtier, how can I do business openly? It's just a small business that I, Old Taishan, have in Nanjing. I came to take a look." "
"Yes." Xu Yan smiled.
It's a bit outrageous for an official to just go out and do business.
This has become a struggle with the people.
But it is not accurate to say that there is any benefit from competing with the people, because what Zhang Zhou sells is simply not available on the market, and Zhang Zhou does not seem to like making those tacky products, even though with his current status, he has to be in the market It is easy to play monopoly in Nanjing, a city where the sky is high and the emperor is far away.
Zhu Fu hurriedly saluted Zhu Houzhao and Zhang Zhou. As a duke, he behaved like an errand boy in front of Zhang Zhou.
Zhu Houzhao said with a smile: "Dong Cheng? Is he Zhu Feng's father? I know your son. He is very capable. He likes to tease me when he has nothing to do. I plan to question him when I see him next time. What he owed me before, when will he pay it back!?"
"ah?"
Zhu Fu was completely dissatisfied with the prince's tone of voice.
He was also wondering, did this boy Zhijie actually owe the prince something? And what has this kid done to make the prince "hold a grudge" against him so much? Hatred has a bit of an unforgettable meaning.
Zhang Zhou said: "Don't take Duke Cheng Guo's words seriously. They are just greetings."
"I should understand that when the dog comes back, I should teach him a lesson." Zhu Fu said.
Zhu Houzhao sneered: "It's time to teach him a lesson, and I will teach him a lesson together with you."
Zhang Zhou changed the topic and said: "You two must have finished handing over the errands, right? In the past two years, the north has been casting cannons, but everywhere in the south of the Yangtze River has not even a new cannon because it is far away from the border. Not yet, my purpose of going south this time is to use Yingtian Mansion as the basis to open an ordnance factory to cast cannons."
Zhu Fu said: "I will do my best to help you. It's just that the Nanjing garrison office can't get much money to build a new ordnance station in a year. I'm afraid I have to bother Duke Lai to communicate with the Nanjing Ministry of Household Affairs about this matter."
Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "There is no support from the Ministry of Revenue in the cannon casting in the north. You ask me, the outgoing minister of the Ministry of War in Nanjing, to talk to the Ministry of Household Affairs? How?"
Cannons need to be cast, but the money is just not there, so you have to raise them yourself.
"this……"
Zhu Fu had obviously never taken on such an arduous task.
Zhang Zhou said: "On the canal, a lot of pig iron will be allocated southward every year. The main expenses will be accounted for by the Nanjing Ministry of Household Affairs. The Nanjing garrison needs to apply to the court on its own. Your Majesty will consider it as appropriate and allocate funds. I am not solving it for you. Difficulties come and you need to work hard on your own.”
Zhu Houzhao smiled and said: "Can cannon casting be financed by oneself? Does this shop make money, so it also needs to fill this hole? Sir, we have agreed that for my half of the profit, you have to send it to the palace. I can use it." , I don’t like cannon casting.”
Zhang Zhou glanced at him and said: "The prince's share is indispensable. I hope we won't lose money. Otherwise, I'm afraid the prince will have to add a lot to it."
"Ahem." Zhu Houzhao coughed twice, "Pretend I didn't say anything."
…
…
Xu Er and Zhu Fu went to the back hall, sat down with Zhang Zhou, and explained the details of the handover of errands in detail.
Zhu Fu personally explained to Zhang Zhou the layout of the guard posts around Nanjing, as well as Zhu Fu's future plans for Nanjing's garrison duties, just like debriefing the emperor.
This also made Zhang Zhou realize that despite Zhu Fu's usual unreliable appearance, because his Chengguogong family was deeply involved in the military power of Nanjing, they were very good at selecting and dispatching generals. This is also the reason why Xu Er felt embarrassed and even took the initiative to resign.
Most of the local generals were the former subordinates of Zhu Fu's father, Zhu Yi.
Zhu Fu said: "When I first arrived at Yingtian Mansion, I heard that Dongchang was in Jiangxi to investigate Prince Zhongling's private manufacture of weapons. I also heard that Prince Ning had impeached Duke Lai and Eunuch Yang of Dongchang. I don't know what I want. Can anyone help?"
Zhu Fu is also very knowledgeable.
He knew that Prince Ning was not a positive figure in the eyes of the emperor. Even the chief minister and ministers could not compete with Zhang Zhou. Would it be useless for Prince Ning to impeach Zhang Zhou?
Of course, I still sided with Zhang Zhou and took advantage of Zongfan... Needless to say, this was the emperor's intention.
In short, standing on the same ground as the emperor was what he, a minister who had just inherited his father's job and became the garrison of Nanjing, should do.
Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "The investigation of the case is done by Dongchang, and I am not in the position to ask about it. However, if Eunuch Yang asks me about relevant details, I will give him some advice."
Zhu Fu said hurriedly: "Mr. Lai Guo, you don't have to be humble. We all know that you must make the decision on this matter."
Xu Yan glared at Zhu Fu.
Even if that's the case, you can't say it so directly.
Zhang Zhou smiled and said: "Your Majesty has always been aware of the fact that many vassals on both sides of the Yangtze River are doing business privately to compete for profits with the people, annexing people's fields, and occupying nests to transport smuggled salt, but he has not publicized it to the outside world. I went to Jiangnan , are actually hiding from trouble, don’t you know?”
Xu Er and Zhu Fu looked at each other.
Of course they knew why Zhang Zhou left the capital. It was because after Zhang Zhou returned to the capital from Liaodong, he was impeached by a bunch of ginseng, and then Zhang Zhou abandoned his pick and ran away.
Then there was an earthquake in the capital, and then everyone knew that Zhang Zhou represented God's will, and no one dared to attack Zhang Zhou with the disaster.
Zhu Fu said: "Mr. Lai Guo, from what I know, after you return to Beijing, you will probably take over as Minister of War. From now on, you will be responsible for most of the military and political affairs of the Ming Dynasty, and we will also be at your disposal."
"Really? I don't even know this myself." Zhang Zhou smiled.
Zhu Houzhao said from the side: "It's all based on rumors. Even I don't know about this kind of thing. Who are you listening to?"
Zhu Fu and Xu Er were both thinking, you, the crown prince of the Ming Dynasty, look awesome, but at your age, what can the emperor tell you if he has something to do? Don't you know what's so strange?
Zhu Fu said: "Everyone is concerned now. After you leave, who will be responsible for the military and political affairs in Nanjing? But it seems that there are many rumors, but none of them are accurate."
Zhang Zhou smiled and shook his head. This time he was silent, as if there was no need to explain this kind of problem to Zhu Fu.
Xu Yan on the side said: "I heard that Wang Qiong, who is guarding Pianguan, has been transferred back to the capital, or will be the right minister of the household department."
"I don't know about this either. You two are really well-informed." Zhang Zhou said with a smile, "But according to my expectation, Your Majesty has no plans to use troops on the grassland recently. Everything will have to wait for the Tatars to take the initiative, so that the Ming Dynasty can easily counterattack. If If the Tatars stay safe, then the Ming Dynasty will fully prepare for the Battle of Pingchun in a few years. As for who will guard the border town, who will be the minister and minister, this is a matter that your majesty and the court should be concerned about. I am here Nanjing can’t handle it.”
Zhang Zhou’s words can be said to be watertight.
Even after telling Zhu Fu and Xu Er, Ming Dynasty's future border policy will still be mainly defensive.
But he also indirectly told them that there would be a decisive battle with the Tatars in a few years.
As for what happened in the past two years, Zhang Zhou was like an outsider and could completely ignore it.
Xu Ru said: "There have been rebellions in Guangdong and Guangxi, the border areas of Huguang, and Yunnan and Guizhou. Could it be that..."
Zhang Zhou smiled and waved his hands and said: "Don't ask any more questions. If you ask me, I don't know anything. If this has something to do with the Minister of War in Nanjing, then you can ask my successor. I will return to the capital soon. These are not My concern.”
What should be said, what should not be said, there is no comment at all.
…
…
Zhu Fu and Xu Er met Zhang Zhou. They came out with doubts on their faces and were about to get into their carriages.
Zhu Fu walked over and asked, "Mr. Xu, do you understand?"
Xu Chu waved his hand and said: "You all say how powerful this Lai Guogong is, but during the time I spent with him, all I saw was a mediocre young man who only thought about leisurely clouds and wild cranes. Such a heartless young man like him I've never seen someone with great ambition. If someone hadn't told me what he had done before, who would have dared to believe it?"
"Uh..." Zhu Fu was confused by Xu Yan's direct and straightforward evaluation.
It's better for you, Mr. Xu, to be direct.
After a brief silence, Zhu Fu sorted out his words and said: "It is true that Duke Lai's temperament is like this, but he can indeed do great things. The main thing is that he knows the will of God and can even guess the hearts of Tatars. Such capable people are indispensable to Ming Dynasty."
Xu Ru said: "Then can he calculate the fortune of Nanjing City?"
Zhu Fu thought for a while, shook his head and said: "Not everything can be calculated. Could it be that Mr. Xu you don't believe it?"
Xu Ru thought for a while, shook his head and said, "I'm going to Zhenhai later. I have no control over the affairs of Nanjing City. You can take care of yourself."
Why there were no other expectations, but just asking him to "take care of himself" was something Zhu Fu didn't understand.
After Xu Yan got on his carriage and left, Zhu Fu murmured to himself: "It's so unpredictable that it's all difficult to figure out!"
…
…
Capital.
Among the recommended assessment lists of the Ministry of Personnel, the memorial written by Zuo Shilang Cheng Minzheng, which involved the employment of frontier personnel, was approved by the emperor.
Cheng Minzheng arrived in the capital from Nanjing without stopping. After arriving in the capital, he immediately gained the emperor's attention. As for the vacancy of the Minister of Civil Affairs, everyone thought that Ma Wensheng must take over. However, with the arrival of Cheng Minzheng and his influence in the court, The "excellent" performance made people realize that there was a strong competitor for the Minister of Civil Affairs.
Later, Zhu Youtang announced in the court that Wang Qiong would return to Beijing to replace Xu Jin as the left minister of the household department.
Wang Qiong was directly promoted from the governor of the border town to Zuo Shilang. This also meant that Zhang Zhou had another helper in the court who could provide a lot of help with financial power. All of this was based on the emperor's series of employment decisions. Based on the basic operation.
"Who will the Minister of Civil Affairs decide? Hasn't the decision been finalized yet?"
Xie Qian had just come out of the palace that day, and was going back to have a good rest in the evening, when he was blocked by Xu Guan at the entrance of the palace.
Xie Qian walked forward and said nonchalantly: "I heard that Eunuch Xiao, who is in charge of the ceremonial function, has seen you recently?"
Xu Guandao: "How did Mr. Xie Ge know this?"
Xie Qian smiled and said: "There is no airtight wall in the world. In fact, your candidate as Minister of the Ministry of Industry has been discussed by the Central Government for a long time. You also know that you will not be able to retire after the new year."
Xu Guan looked unhappy.
He also knew that he was about to leave the DPRK. Because of this, he was not as cautious as before.
They are all going to get out, and if they are still so low-key and forbearing, then the people of their own faction will have no hope of getting ahead in the court in the future.
Xie Qian said: "Guess what else I learned from the outside world?"
"What?" Xu Guan frowned.
Xie Qian leaned over and said, "Your Majesty seems to want Zhang Bingkuan to replace you."
"What?"
Xu Guan was shocked.
When Zhang Zhou returned to the dynasty, didn't he become Minister of War? Actually... came back to be the Minister of the Ministry of Industry?
For Xu Guan, this news was like a bolt from the blue.
Zhang Zhou is very powerful, but just let him go to Huo Huo's Ministry of War. Why should he go to our Ministry of Works? Our Ministry of Works has not had many direct conflicts of interest with Zhang Zhou before. Besides...if he becomes Minister of the Ministry of Works, doesn't it mean that many people in our Ministry of Works system will follow suit?
"Don't ask." Xie Qian took a few steps forward and his sedan was not far away.
Xu Guan asked again hurriedly: "What about the Ministry of War? So far, there is no news from the Ministry of War. If Ma Feng tries to get promoted, who will his position be given to?"
The implication.
Besides Zhang Zhou succeeding Ma Wensheng, who can convince people, who else is qualified to skip Zhang Zhou and become the Minister of War?
Xie Qianren had already boarded the sedan, and the voice came out from the sedan: "Without Zhang Bingkuan, there is no other candidate? Ma Futu has already recommended Liu Shiyong, the Minister of Household Affairs who he once valued, or in the near future, Liu Shi Yong is about to enter the court. As for whether he should serve as a minister, go to the northwest to supervise military affairs, or directly serve as minister... it depends on how your majesty arranges it!"
(End of chapter)
