Taiyuan City.
The capital of Shanxi Province and one of the commercial cities of Ming Dynasty.
After several expansions and repairs, Taiyuan City is now extremely majestic.
The city is two to fourteen miles long, three feet and five feet high, covered with bricks, and has eight gates. It is strong and magnificent. There are ponds, swamps, terraces and pavilions all over the city, and water flows around the city.
In front of them is the Yichun Gate, the east gate of Taiyuan.
Chongzhen put away his thoughts: "Cao Bianjiao, you bring a thousand warriors into the city.
Marquis Zhongzhen and Zhou Yuji, you lead the rest of the people and are stationed in Liancheng between Nanguan Wacheng and Taiyuan City, waiting for my orders at any time! "
"I obey the decree!"
After making arrangements, Chongzhen rode his horse slowly toward the city gate.
There was no one in front of the city gate at this moment. Although I didn’t know who was coming, this kind of battle was really not something that ordinary people could afford.
After revealing his identity, Mr. Qian, who was guarding the city, knelt down in shock and let the team enter the city without even daring to ask.
As soon as the team entered the city, they were spotted by the people and stopped in front of a mansion under the curious eyes of the people.
Although the mansion is not too new, it is grand, clean and tidy.
Hou Yu pointed to the mansion in front of him and said softly: "Your Majesty, this mansion was built by Mou Zhikui, the former governor of Shanxi.
After being held accountable for being attached to Wei Zhongxian, this mansion became empty.
I took it upon myself to make the decision and cleaned up this place as your residence.
Firstly, it will not disturb the normal official business of various government offices in Taiyuan City. Secondly, there will be less people around and it will be quieter, which will also make it easier to protect your safety! "
Chongzhen nodded, and under the leadership of Hou Xiu, he entered the mansion and then arrived at Chongzhen's residence.
"Comfortable!"
After a while, Chongzhen lay in the bathtub filled with hot water and made a pleasant sound.
As for where to live, Chongzhen’s requirements are not too high, as long as it is clean and comfortable.
During the ten days from Xuanfu to Taiyuan, we basically lived in tents, which was fine, but bathing was hard to explain.
While he was taking a bath, in the Chengyun Hall of the Jin Palace, the tenth generation Jin King Zhu Qiugui was gathering with the palace's left and right officials and three middle-aged men.
"Your Majesty, the Emperor has done something so trickful in the Xuan Mansion. Now the situation in Tumut is very urgent.
I have received news from the broker over there that Tumut is uniting with surrounding tribes and needs a lot of food and salt tea.
We only need to send them out of Datong, and they will send people to communicate outside Datong, which saves time, effort and safety. "
"What about the price! How much does it cost?"
"Grain is three taels of silver and one stone! As much as you want, the minimum is one hundred thousand stones!"
"Thirty taels? One hundred thousand stones? How many troops are they planning to assemble?"
Zuo Chang Shiba Xingyu's face was full of doubts.
The price of the grain they purchase daily plus losses, etc., is no more than one tael. Now when it is resold, the profit is doubled.
Or net profit, how not to excite them.
It also shows the serious situation of Tumut and other ministries, but the more serious the better, the more they can make.
"There is news over there that ironware is also needed, and the price offered is even more..."
"Father, Your Majesty has entered Taiyuan City!"
The palace door suddenly opened, and a young man hurried in, interrupting everyone's communication.
Everyone stood up instantly when they heard the urgent voice of the Crown Prince of Jin, Zhu Shenxuan.
"Didn't his Luan Jia just leave Datong? How did he end up in Taiyuan?"
"Father, Your Majesty did not come in a chariot, but on horseback. When he entered the city just now, all his guards entered the city.
If His Majesty was not here, it would be impossible for the Taiyuan City Guards to let them enter the city. They are currently staying at the residence of Mou Zhikui, the former governor of Shanxi. "
After listening to Zhu Shenxuan's words, Jin King Zhu Qiugui frowned, thinking about what the emperor was doing in Taiyuan.
"Father, do we want to go see His Majesty?"
Zhu Qiugui did not respond, but looked at Shi Ba Xingyu, the left chief of the palace, and Song Zhongxiang, the right chief, with questions in his eyes.
Zuo Chang Shiba Xingyu pondered for a moment and said softly: "Your Majesty, your Majesty issued an edict after appearing in the Xuan Mansion. Officials from various places are not allowed to greet, pay homage, etc.
Since there is an edict, we don’t have to go. If we go, it will seem deliberate.
If the emperor was to blame, he would say that the Ming Dynasty vassal king's laws stipulated that the vassal king was not allowed to leave the palace privately without receiving the edict.
Let's pretend we don't know and let the governor and others find out first! "
Zhu Qiugui nodded and looked at Zhu Shenxuan: "Inform everyone in the house and the gentry and wealthy businessmen who have dealings with us to calm down.
The clan below are also more honest. If something goes wrong, don't blame me for exterminating relatives out of righteousness. "
After Zhu Shenxuan left, Zhu Qiugui looked at the middle-aged man again: "Heads of the household, please go back through the secret passage first. Let's rest for a while first and wait until the emperor leaves!
By the way, tell Tumut that the emperor is here and his actions can easily expose the target.
If necessary, add money! Add to... five taels of silver and one stone! "
Everyone was shocked, and one person said: "Your Majesty, is five taels of silver too high? Can they bear it?"
"Roughly the same!"
Zhu Qiugui said in a deep voice: "If they can't withstand Chahar Lindan Khan's attack, then this may be the last time we do business with them.
Therefore, the more you can earn, the better!
Tell them if they want to buy it, just buy it. If they don’t want to buy Lin Danhan and Jiannu, they will still have to wait! "
Everyone nodded, and one person hesitated for a moment and lowered his voice: "Your Majesty, will your Majesty come to Taiyuan from Wang Chengyin..."
"impossible!"
Zhu Qiugui responded decisively. Although everyone was curious about why Zhu Qiugui answered so firmly, they couldn't ask more questions.
He bowed and then left Chengyun Hall.
The left and right officials also bowed and left, leaving Zhu Qiugui alone in deep thought.
The occasional rolling of his eyes and slight changes in expression show his inner emotional ups and downs.
At this moment, in Taiyuan City, all the governors, administrative envoys, inspectors and envoys of Shanxi Province were in command.
The magistrate, wealthy merchants and gentry of Taiyuan all got the news that the emperor was in Taiyuan City.
For a time, the whole city of Taiyuan changed. The children of wealthy businessmen and gentry who were usually arrogant and domineering, flirting with cats and dogs, and swaggering around the city disappeared without a trace in an instant.
Occasionally, those who had no choice but to go out became young gentlemen.
"Your Majesty, Shanxi Governor Geng Ruqi, Chief Envoy Song Zhongxiang and other officials from Taiyuan City have come to pay their respects!"
As soon as Chongzhen came out of the bedroom after taking a hot bath, Hou Miu was waiting outside the door to report.
Chongzhen frowned slightly. He came to Taiyuan City to deal with the eight major locust merchants. He had no time to practice Tai Chi with these officials.
"Is Prince Jin here?"
"Not seen yet!"
After hearing this, Chongzhen raised his head and looked in the direction of Prince Jin's Mansion, with a complex look in his eyes.
"Let them do whatever they have to do. Just pretend that I'm not here. I'll call you if there's something going on!"
"I understand!"
After Hou Xian bowed, he said: "Your Majesty, meals have been prepared in the dining hall. Your Majesty, please move forward!"
Not mentioning food was fine, but as soon as he mentioned food, Chongzhen immediately felt hungry after taking a bath, and followed Hou Xi towards the dining hall.
Looking at the courtyard he entered, Chongzhen lamented the corruption of officials.
As the governor of Shanxi Province, Mou Zhikui's monthly salary was less than 48 dan, which was less than 600 dan a year.
It would take ten years without food or drink to afford such a five-bedroom house with a back garden.
This is not the proceeds of corruption. Where did the money come from?
After arriving at the dining hall, the standard four dishes and one soup are all considered local specialties.
"Let Cao transform into a dragon and wait in the middle hall. I have something to ask him after dinner!"
