No matter what, the new year in the palace still has to pass.
According to the calculation of this era, the two children Zai Tuo and Zai Yan who made a sound in the second year of Zhengde are four years old.
Even at the age of four, they can already understand their father's face. Because their mothers are biological sisters, the two children are raised together.
In the first month of the lunar month, the emperor took one of his hands and led them to greet the Queen Mother Zhang.
These two treasures were Empress Dowager Zhang's favorites, and after they arrived, they pinched her face and rubbed her head.
"Call grandma."
"The grandson kowtows to greet his grandma and wishes her long life and a long life."
The two children said it together, obviously they had been taught before.
However, it is considered very good for such a young child to speak smoothly.
"Okay, okay," Queen Mother Zhang said with a loving look on her face, "Get up, get up. Come to grandma."
The emperor is surrounded by Queen Xia and a group of concubines, who are here for a family reunion today.
Concubine Shu also held one in her arms.
That was Zhu Houzhao's princess. She was named Xiuyu because she was really too young now, so she slept all the time.
Zhu Houzhao sat down next to Queen Mother Zhang and said: "Mother, Ping Haibo has also returned to Beijing. Since the twelfth year of Hongzhi, he has only returned home almost once a year. It is not easy every year. It is rare to come back, my son." I want Concubine Ning and Concubine Zhao to go back and stay with their children for a few days. I want to make the Mei family happy and let the two little guys meet their grandpa."
"Oh, how many days do you have to go?"
"Seven or eight days, my son thinks this shouldn't be a problem."
Queen Mother Zhang was a little worried, "Then, will you take Zaihe and Zaiyi out of the house?"
"Don't worry, mother. If your son lets the Shenwuwei and Dongchang people follow him, nothing will happen. Besides, Ping Haibo also knows the severity."
When Concubine Ning saw that the Queen Mother was not satisfied, she said, "Your Majesty, how about..."
"Grandpa still needs to meet." Zhu Houzhao raised his hand to indicate that she didn't need to say anything. "These two little guys will start studying in a few years and learn from his grandfather's skills. There are many countries overseas, and the court's current annual income is Most of it is supported by sea trade, so we need to have more contact with overseas countries. I am still waiting for them to grow up, send envoys on my behalf, and accept a few overseas vassal countries. "
The words themselves seemed like a joke. After all, these two children were only so young. When they grew up, it would be fifteen or twenty years later.
But the emperor's words seemed to mean sending them some errands.
This is different from the tradition of the previous dynasty.
"Then the emperor will have more children, and the more vassal countries he will have, the more vassal countries he will have. You all have to live up to your expectations."
"Yes, Queen Mother."
Except for Queen Xia, who was pregnant, the other concubines Jing and Shun remained silent. They glanced at the emperor secretly, with a look of shame on their beautiful faces.
"Your Majesty."
"Eh."
"I heard that King Su and King Han entered the capital this year according to your order?"
"Ah, yes, that is the case."
"Everyone in my family, please let them come and see me when you have time."
"Okay, that's no problem. Uncle Su Wang and Uncle Han took the lead in setting an example and cooperated with the court to clean up the farmland. However, my son has indeed heard that the palace's expenses are quite high. The mother can give some appropriate rewards when she meets the two emperor uncles."
Those who cooperate should be given sweets, and those who do not cooperate should be hit with sticks. This is the best. It's impossible to pick them all out and kill them, that would be too brainless.
~~
"Ping Haibo has made a lot of money this year, right?"
Mei Kejia no longer remembers what spring, summer and autumn are like in the capital. He returns every year during the Chinese New Year and leaves immediately after the court meeting. Has been for many years in a row.
From the top of the restaurant, you can see row upon row of carved buildings and painted buildings of the city that never sleeps. In the distance, there is a six-story pagoda. In fact, it is a bit more dilapidated in winter, but in the new year, it is still very lively. The streets below The alleys were crowded with people coming and going.
"Ping Haibo?"
Mei Kejia was called out one more time and quickly apologized, "I was distracted. Please forgive me, Duke Cheng."
"It doesn't matter, what is Ping Haibo thinking about?"
"Alas, the sea trade business is getting harder and harder to do."
"What's wrong?"
"We have already heard about the Folangji people who appeared in the Mankara Kingdom. They have the intention of gradually occupying Luzon Island. In recent years, the Ming Dynasty has expanded its maritime trade, and the Luzon Islands have slowly become the Ming Dynasty's A trade transit station, but..."
“What is a transfer station?”
Mei Kejia didn't know how to explain it, so he thought for a while and said: "It's like a post station on the official road. When a boat travels on the sea, there is no way to replenish fresh water except by docking. But once these people from the far west country really occupy Luzon , which is equivalent to controlling our business channels. If we want to make so much money, we must first take care of them."
Duke Cheng Guo suddenly understood why he felt that Mei Kejia was in a daze, not as high-spirited as in previous years. Logically speaking, being granted the title of uncle was the joy of life.
"Uncle Ping Hai, the sea trade silver is not only related to the annual income of the imperial court, but also related to the dividends of many honorable ministers. This...this cannot be a problem!" This was a private meeting, but Cheng Guogong said it in the court. A general sense of seriousness.
In fact, he doesn't need to remind him of this.
"Of course I understand what Duke Cheng Guo said. However, doing business involves losses and profits. In the past three years, tens of millions of taels of silver have been transported back every year. How can people not notice this scale? Overseas to the far west These people value profit over righteousness, like bandits. They see that Ming Dynasty earns huge profits every year, and they are already jealous. Their intention to invade Luzon is the measure they want to take, in order to control Ming Dynasty's throat and bargain with us. Their purpose is to divide Take advantage of our maritime trade."
Duke Cheng Guo felt something was wrong, "This matter must be reported to the emperor. Now the imperial court has trained hundreds of thousands of elite soldiers in Gansu, Hetao and the capital, especially the cavalry, and its military supplies and food sources depend partly on sea trade. If there is a problem here, it will be like this It’s like the southeastern fiscal land is unstable.”
"After the Spring Festival, I will report to the Emperor specifically."
"Is there any way?"
"Yes. The overseas barbarians value profit over righteousness, but they only recognize guns and cannons and don't know Confucius and Mencius. If you want to calm their minds, you have to... find a way to teach them a lesson."
"Wu Wending," Duke Cheng still remembered, "didn't His Majesty appoint Wu Wending to be the naval commander? Has he also come to the capital?"
"coming."
After a while, there was a knock on the door outside the room, and it was for Mei Kejia.
"What's the matter?"
The servant said respectfully: "Master, a message has been sent from the palace to come back. Someone is coming from the palace."
Mei Kejia knew what was going on as soon as he heard it, so he handed over to Duke Cheng, "Goodbye, Duke."
"Okay, okay."
Duke Cheng Guo patted his big belly, feeling a little worried in his heart. Now the emperor is very concerned about the money-making of his ministers. Everyone originally pointed to the dividend they got from Haimao Bank at the end of the year.
As a result, there is now a problem here. How can this be fixed?
"Someone is coming."
"The villain is here."
Duke Cheng Guo ordered, "Go and invite Duke Ding and Duke Ying to your house tomorrow. Remember, be sure to ask them all to come over."
"yes."
