Ping Haibo heard the meaning of the emperor's words and knew that Duke Cheng, Duke Ying and others had already approached the emperor.
They were really anxious. With so many things happening before and after the year, when the emperor himself was busy with ceremonial activities, they still found every opportunity to ask the emperor to speak out.
If he treats the emperor like this, he will be even less worthy of being an earl.
Some people are indeed of this nature. They were able to get 20,000 taels last year, but this year they will not be happy if they are less than 30,000 taels.
So after he returned home, he pretended to be sick and thanked guests behind closed doors.
Duke Chengguo was so worried that he waited for several days even though he was sick, he didn't care. He must see him.
Mei Kejia was forced to have no choice but to pretend that he had a cold, and he didn't even have a cough.
Duke Cheng Guo was also an old fox, but he didn't expose it, he just 'reasoned', "Uncle Ping Hai, it's not me who is bothering you. You should know that in the second year of Zhengde, many Dukes and Marquises were from me. I persuaded them to get the shares. It has only been two years since the good times, and it has become like this. I don’t know how to scold people behind their backs for the three words Cheng Guogong."
"What do you mean, Duke Guo?" Mei Kejia said with a faint breath, "Actually, the accounts of sea trading companies can be checked. How much they pay out in a year, how much they earn, and how much each company should share according to the original rules. This is what I I found 30 old abacus and checked again and again. I also knew that the money involved princes, counts, and the emperor. I didn't even have the guts to make a mistake. How could I still dare to pocket some for myself?
If anyone really doesn't believe it, he can check it one by one. I will never stop him. Not only will I not stop him, but if there is something he doesn't understand, I will explain it from the side. "
"Hey, that's not what I meant." Cheng Guogong was depressed, unhappy, but also a little helpless. He paused for a while and suddenly became anxious, "But this matter must be solved! Is it possible that your illness will never be cured?"
Mei Kejia didn't want to beat around the bush anymore. He reluctantly handed over his hand and said, "Please show me the way, Mr. Guo."
"That's what I said."
"Just make it clear."
When it comes to silver, if you say it's a big thing, it's nothing more than a bunch of stuff that you won't take with you until you die. But if you think of it as a small thing, some young masters don't have much to pursue in their lives. Objects make life more comfortable, this is what I think about all day long. If you make him unhappy in this regard, he will dare to have trouble with you.
On the one hand, Cheng Guogong did it for himself, but on the other hand, he was also under some pressure.
"Okay, let's not hide it anymore. The one who comes to me to make noise now is just one person. The money is less. Why is it less? What you told me makes sense. In business, if there are losses and profits, then there will be people I asked, who is running this business?"
Mei Kejia couldn't help but twitch her eyebrows when she heard this.
Cheng Guogong probably felt embarrassed, so he said bravely: "Actually, it was fine. But you said that your huge Mei Mansion, the tall house, the rockeries and gardens are full of everything, and you should be a good hand in business. Why does this suddenly stop working? Ping Haibo, I’m going to be blunt, don’t mind. You are the best at doing business in the Ming Dynasty, and you say you’re losing money? This... this is weird!"
The proportion of dry shares held by the Duke is 49%.
The emperor received more than 1.2 million taels of silver this year, which was more than 400,000 taels less than last year.
In other words, the princes from all the princes combined have lost so much. There were also some court officials involved in this matter, not to mention.
Anyway, there were more than 60 people in total, but the princes initially held more shares than the officials.
No matter what, the average family is almost ten thousand taels short of silver.
In an era when an official's salary was only one hundred and ten taels of silver a year, this was considered a considerable amount of money.
The most important thing is that it increased last year.
This increase will lead to expectations. Now not only have the expectations been completely disappointed, but they have also fallen back. How can we not be disappointed?
But the disappointment in Mei Kejia's heart was even greater, "Mr. Cheng, I, Mei Kejia, dare not say anything about meritorious service or not, not to mention the hard work of working for the emperor. The emperor named me, a businessman, an earl, because of the hard work. So what? However, people's abilities always have limits. If the princes and princes in the court feel that I am not qualified, I can report it to the emperor, resign from the management position, and ask your majesty to choose another capable person."
Duke Cheng Guo saw that this was wrong and said, "Uncle Ping Hai, what you said is too serious. Your Majesty is diligent in his work and has already worked hard to clean up the military settlements. Are we going to bring this matter to the imperial court?"
"Then what do you mean, Mr. Guo?"
Duke Cheng Guo let out a long sigh, "This is also the voice of everyone. Anyway, I am not afraid of your jokes. Many princes just feel that their life is poor, but the Mei Mansion is still prosperous. And in the end, you ran out of money, Then I’m asking you to make up the difference!”
Upon hearing this, Mei Kejia almost fainted.
He works so hard all year round, at least he doesn't lose money to these people, right? Did you still earn it? Why are you still thinking about him in the end? !
So he was so angry that he laughed, "My lord, there has never been such a business in this world."
"My Uncle Ping Hai, don't you understand? This is not business, this is favor!"
Of course Mei Kejia understands,
If he ignores this favor,
Mei Fu has offended someone in Beijing.
Even though you didn't do it on your own initiative. But the direct reason is you, you are living very well, and these people have no money to spend, who are you to blame?
This year should be fine, too.
If it continues like this next year, someone will definitely be looking for trouble, either to participate in the Mei Mansion's illegal activities, or to go directly to the memorial to say something bad about Ping Haibo.
When this momentum grows, will the emperor become an enemy of the princes of the Manchu Dynasty for his own sake?
have no idea.
Who can know what the emperor wants.
But Mei Kejia did not have such confidence and confidence. The emperor was very kind to him, but was it that good? How could it be said?
"Do you understand?" Cheng Guogong had been holding back his words for a long time and finally spoke out.
On the contrary, he looked like everyone else was drunk and I was alone.
"Spend money to eliminate disasters." Mei Kejia said these four words one by one.
Duke Cheng Guo disagreed, "This doesn't mean spending money to eliminate disasters. This means doing good to others. You have done this, and everyone will think of you well. Uncle Pinghai, I would like to remind you that you are not a businessman, but a count. It's your honor. It's a pity that although you have worked for the imperial court for many years, you are still a businessman and you don't seem to understand the ways of officialdom."
Mei Kejia chuckled helplessly, "What is the way of officialdom?"
"In the final analysis, there are two words, moderation. Don't stand out in the forest, don't be different, but be like the light, calm and blend in. You are all good, others are all bad, this is a taboo .”
Mei Kejia lifted the quilt and said angrily: "But what benefit have I gained?"
"Are you not good?! Your Mei family has a millionaire, you are a businessman, and your two daughters are imperial concubines. Your Majesty's only two princes are your grandsons. If you are not good, why don't you Who is good?"
"If the Duke of Guo wants to say this, I still say the same thing. Please ask the emperor to change someone. Let's see if he can get more money out of Mr. Fo Langji's pocket. Anyway, if you want me to pay, I will It goes without saying that this goes against business principles and violates the rules originally established. In the end, the interests of all princes and princes will be harmed! Besides, "
Mei Kejia stared at Duke Cheng with burning eyes, "If we really want to make up for four hundred thousand taels of silver, should we make up for the Dukes first, or should we make up for the emperor first?!"
"You!" Cheng Guogong pointed at him, "I have shown you the way. If you don't go, you will regret it in the future!"
It would be wrong to say that this does not affect Mei Kejia's heart at all. He knew that the water in the capital was still deep.
There was no agreement, and both parties were very upset.
Mei Kejia felt an unprecedented sense of threat.
He has been away from the capital all year round, and has always warned his family to keep a low profile in the capital. After all, he has money.
Even after adding a prince as his grandson, he didn't dare to be too arrogant.
Maybe because he has such a good temper, many people think he is weak and can be bullied!
For two days in a row, Mei Kejia locked himself in the house and did not go out.
On the morning of the third day, he called Mei Huaigu into the study.
Mei Huaigu was actually a clever person. He knew what was going on outside and was extremely careful when entering the house. He was afraid that his old father would pick out his "dandy kid"'s daily mistakes or torture him about his knowledge, which would lead to him being blinded.
"Dad...? You, you called me?"
"Come in and close the door!"
"Hey, okay!"
Snapped!
Mei Huaigu's movements were numb and tight.
After closing it, he pursed his lips and stood still.
"A few days ago, when my father was in the palace, His Majesty mentioned a matter that he wanted to entrust to you. You must do your best."
"Hey, yes. How can a child dare to be careless about what dad has told me?"
"It's not just my account, this matter also concerns your two nephews."
nephew,
Mei Huaigu's mind flashed, "What dad means is, Gong..."
"Yes." Mei Kejia nodded, "His Majesty asked me to find a Western gentleman to teach the two princes foreign languages and some Western things. The most important thing is to broaden their horizons and understand things overseas."
"Ah, then this shouldn't be difficult to handle. Can't we just ask those who go out to sea to pay careful attention?"
"The matter is not difficult to handle. But it happened strangely." Mei Kejia clasped his hands behind his back and looked at the plum blossoms in the courtyard. "Although our family is royal relatives, they are not direct descendants after all. The prince who is a concubine leads It’s enough to establish a vassal state, so why do we need to learn overseas languages and broaden our horizons?”
He thought a lot about this.
There has always been an undercurrent in a place like the capital, and I didn't know when someone would mess with me.
Therefore, he has to take all the resources, conditions, and possibilities available.
"My kid doesn't understand, what do you mean?"
Mei Kejia frowned, "Your Majesty is one of the most unique and courageous monarchs in history. In His Majesty's eyes, there are no rules. All the rules are made by him. And he also mentioned the Xuanwei Department of Jiugang during the reign of Emperor Taizong. , so my father guessed that His Majesty wants the two princes to learn the Buddhist language, and it must be put to use. In the future... maybe it will not be as simple as just being an idle prince. "
Mei Huaigu was shocked after hearing this. If this was true, then the Mei family would be different from what it is now!
(End of chapter)
