Wang Qiong and Peng Ze will be very busy next.
The most important thing is to calculate the land of each family. Many people are no longer eligible for money and food exemptions. If things go wrong, they will have to serve in the army.
Mao Yuwen, on the other hand, had already prepared his scimitar and was preparing to go to Qiantang to arrest people.
What exempted people from honors is that these people gathered together to cause trouble.
But the matter of sea trade smuggling is not over yet.
Walking on the streets of Hangzhou again, the city seems to have lost its vitality, feeling groggy and extremely depressed.
Mao Yuwen strengthened his defense, but his own life was still more important.
However, someone did approach.
Because he had the plum blossom symbol on his body, Mao Yuwen listened to him say a few words, and then turned into a courtyard under the guidance.
The furnishings in the courtyard are extremely simple.
Mei Kejia came quickly, raised his hands and saluted, "I have met Deputy Envoy Mao."
"You don't have to be like this for your own people. I guess there must be something important?"
Mei Kejia personally made a cup of tea for Mao Yuwen, who was sitting there, and then sat across from him. "A few businessmen found the villain. What he said was really pitiful, and the villain couldn't refuse, so he had the courage to do so. , I want to talk to the deputy envoy."
"merchant?"
"Now, it's a businessman."
Mao Yuwen understood, "Smuggling businessman?"
"Hey. That was before. From now on it will be official trade."
"Don't get involved with people who are related to the Poyang Zhan family. For those, you can only ask His Majesty. After all, Prince Huai's marriage is still hanging over there, and Your Majesty is still waiting for the marriage of the Poyang Zhan family."
Mei Kejia smiled and said, "It doesn't matter, it definitely doesn't matter."
After he finished speaking, he clapped his hands, and then seven or eight middle-aged people lined up and walked out of the side room. As soon as they came over, they knelt down and said, "Please spare my life, deputy!"
This scene was unimaginable before today.
After all, the emperor is cruel enough.
Mei Kejia sighed, "In the entire Ming Dynasty, your majesty is the only one who can accomplish this. If it were any other minister, this sea would not be able to be opened."
"Is there any child in the family who has been deprived of his honor?"
Seven or eight people looked miserable, neither laughing nor crying.
"I was just blinded for a moment."
Others cried: "Our family is miserable. Originally, I gave a death order and was not allowed to go out. But it turned out that I couldn't stop it. In the end, it led to such a catastrophe. Decades of hard work were ruined! My Xu family will still have a future in the future." What hope?"
"Yeah, looking back now, I suddenly feel that everything was just a big dream! I really don't know what evil I have done!"
Mao Yuwen glanced at Mei Kejia and said, "You can't say that. No one in Shopkeeper Mei's family has ever obtained any honors. The key is to do the right thing."
"Yes, yes, we just want to do the right thing." It's time to express the meaning at this point, "Deputy envoy, this... the court strictly investigates private trade, does it mean that we all want to do official trade? What if We all follow this, this past thing..."
Mao Yuwen understood.
Regarding policy, there is actually a cognitive error between the top and bottom.
For example, if the people below understand that the imperial court wants to arrest and bring back all smugglers, they will naturally resist. However, it is difficult to explain clearly what the court says. It cannot be said clearly that those who agree are not guilty and those who disagree are guilty. That would be too shameless.
"What happened in the past?"
Mao Yuwen said this, and the person who spoke became anxious, "That's the one..."
Mei Kejia bumped his arm lightly, "Since the past is fine, let's talk about the future."
"Ah, yes, yes," everyone suddenly realized, with relieved and happy expressions finally showing on their faces, "it should be said that in the future, we will follow Shopkeeper Mei. Whatever Shopkeeper Mei does is what the court wants to do, and what the court wants to do, Whatever we do.”
Only with things in the future can things happen in the past.
Mao Yuwen put down his tea cup and said, "I haven't asked your names yet, so I can arrange things accordingly."
That is to say, you cannot make a mistake.
A group of people talked together for a long time, but in fact the real words were hidden behind. Fortunately, everyone understands it.
So they all wrote down their names impatiently.
Mao Yuwen held a copy of Mao Yuwen in his arms, "How to do business, a rough guy like me doesn't understand, just ask shopkeeper Mei for advice. From now on, as long as you follow the wishes of the court, you can make more money in your hands." Don't worry. It's just that it's a little difficult to get this fame back."
"Hey, it's our fault too. If we had known that the imperial court only wanted to regulate the channels for maritime trade business, we wouldn't be like this today."
Mei Kejia gave up Mao’s Chinese language.
He is the deputy envoy of Jin Yiwei, so he deserves to be bowed to by giving him such face today.
"Thank you very much, Deputy Envoy Mao, for today."
What Mao Yuwen valued was Mei Kejia's status as the money bag, "You're welcome. My father-in-law mentioned to me last time that it is almost the end of December. At the end of the year, the palace's money cannot be short. No matter how much trouble Jin Yiwei makes , We can’t make trouble and lose His Majesty’s money. Otherwise, I’m afraid I’ll be punished.”
Mei Kejia understood this and said, "Don't worry, Deputy Mao. My business is overseas and will not be affected much."
Mao Yuwen also said: "It would be better if there were more. In this way, the envoy can do his job effectively."
"More……"
Everyone said that he was a prison chief and didn't have much ink, but he didn't expect such a request to be made so directly.
Mei Kejia slapped his mouth, seeming a little embarrassed.
And if it continues like this, people around you will notice it even if they don't have the eyesight to see.
"Deputy Envoy Mao and Shopkeeper Mei, please rest assured. We will work together to make up for the shortage of silver. No matter what, we must let His Majesty see Deputy Envoy Mao's ability."
This is how it is to use each other in the officialdom.
If you want someone to help you, you must first think about the benefits of having someone help you.
Mao Yuwen would not be polite to these businessmen, and he would not say anything nice. The court spared them from offending them, and it was appropriate to hand over some atonement silver, but this silver had to be sent up through Mei Kejia.
"What do you think, Shopkeeper Mei?"
"Since some of you have such good intentions, it's hard for me to refuse. But... my father-in-law..."
Mao Yuwen understood it and said, "Shopkeeper Mei can just go and speak. I may not be the only one around my father-in-law who can speak."
What Mei Kejia means here is that at least Gu Dayong should know about this silver.
But the increase in money was for Mao Yuwen's sake. If Gu Dayong knew about it, he would have to share a piece of it. Otherwise, why don't you tell him? If you don't give him any benefits, you might offend others if you talk about it.
But here it depends on whether Mao Zedong agrees with it. If Mao Yuwen was concerned, it would be inappropriate for Mei Kejia to speak rashly.
Mao Yuwen expressed no opinion. For him, it is not bad to maintain a good relationship with the people in charge of rituals.
The emperor had some objections to his previous behavior.
So when Gu Dayong returned to the palace, he had no choice but to ask him about Jin Yiwei's various actions in Zhejiang.
If you give Gu Dayong a benefit, at least there won't be any harm if you don't say anything nice about him.
So this is good for everyone, but the person who paid for it has to feel a little sad.
"I understand, then I'd better wait until the matter is settled before reporting to my father-in-law. After all, it will still take a few months."
The purpose of opening the sea was to make a return. In the middle of this year, Yang Yiqing set out for the north and took away 300,000 taels of silver. The emperor took out 200,000 taels from his own pocket, and the Ministry of Revenue also collected 100,000 taels.
But this money can only buy a few thousand war horses. After all, these beasts themselves have to eat a lot of food.
】
Next year, Northwest will definitely ask for money from the court again.
By this time in the Ming Dynasty, the main expenditures of the national treasury were three major parts, suzerainty and vassal support, official salaries and military expenditures. There are still some disaster relief funds left, but not much.
The above is basically enough to spend the annual income of more than 20 million dan.
Therefore, the emperor's greatest concern must be money.
At this point, Mao Yuwen had nothing else to ask for. He only hoped that by completing his errand, he could regain the emperor's heart.
After all, in addition to him being the deputy envoy, there is also Han Ziren.
The emperor's action clearly expressed his disappointment. Otherwise, why didn’t we do it before and why should we do it this time?
After Mao Yuwen left,
The seven or eight businessmen began to thank Mei Kejia. As long as their names were removed from Jinyiwei's side, there would be no problem in getting through the storm this time.
After all, there still has to be a way out, and if you hook up with Mei Kejia, you can save your life. The rest... are probably looking for ways everywhere.
But actually there is another key point,
A few of them wanted to make up for the money, whether it was ten thousand taels or fifty thousand taels, but no figure was available at this time. How could they make a decision?
"Shop Manager Mei, by the end of this year, how much money will we still be short of? Please tell us the number, so that we can go back and make up the money."
Mei Kejia rubbed the exquisite porcelain cup, "I am originally from Shaanxi, as you all know. When I went to the capital from Shaanxi, I was pregnant with millions of taels. To put it bluntly, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince at that time was He is not as rich as I am. But His Highness, who is now the Holy One, has not touched a penny of my private wealth. Even today, this is the case."
"You often ask me how to get to the top. There are some things I can't say, but the meaning is actually very simple. Your Majesty... is not a stubborn king as some rotten scholars in Hangzhou say, but a man of good temper."
"Then..." one of the shopkeepers added up, "then it's better for us to have a family of 100,000 taels, and add up to 800,000 taels."
Mei Kejia shook his head, "If Vice Envoy Mao is here, you can bluff him. There shouldn't be any need between us, right? Do you think I don't know your strength?"
"Then 150,000 taels!"
"Two hundred thousand taels, probably." Mei Kejia decided, "I'm not telling you, what's the point of spending a hundred thousand taels? It won't surprise His Majesty if you spend it. If it's as plain as water, it's just a pure white flower. If you want The flowers must be spent in full. Besides, which of you can’t afford the two hundred thousand taels, or can’t you earn it in two or three years?”
Pattern, in the final analysis, is pattern.
"Two hundred thousand taels...I have to scrape together the money." A man with a very thin face and a long face said.
"Yeah, we all have to chip in."
Mei Kejia said with a smile in his eyes, "It's my turn to get along with you. Don't worry, everyone, when the time is right in the future, I will report your filial piety to the court to His Majesty."
What a piece of cake,
We are all businessmen. When we talk about making up the money, we mean that I can take out the money. This is a common tactic of businessmen.
