Shanxi merchants entered Beijing with great momentum. Just a three-mile caravan dragged by war horses was enough to make everyone look at them.
Suddenly, the name of Shanxi merchants spread throughout the capital.
The northern goods brought by Chang Qianli, Hou Xiyu and others aroused even more enthusiasm, especially some officials' families, who especially liked northern leather, tiger skins, leopard skins, mink skins...
In later generations, the goods that could be caught and sentenced became the major commercial streets of Dongshuiguan, Jiangdongmen, and Zhongcheng in a grand manner.
Some people wanted to get their hands on the war horses, but they were chased for half a mile by Xu Huizu's followers. You also want to cut off the things of the imperial court, don't you want to live anymore?
Small teaching place.
Xu Huizu looked at the five hundred tall war horses in front of him, his eyebrows trembling constantly, a smile on his lips, and he said to Chang Qianli: "Not bad, very good, these horses are the best gift you can give to the court."
Chang Qianli moved his eyes away from the war horse, looked at the satisfied Xu Huizu, and said: "Master, the Shanxi merchants are dedicated to the country and are willing to serve the court. It is just before leaving the country. Can the court be lenient..."
Xu Huizu waved his hand, stopped Chang Qianli, walked towards a horse, and said: "I am just a minister of the Chinese Army Governor's Mansion. I am responsible for receiving and inspecting the horses. As for other matters, you need to talk to the Ministry of War and the Cabinet."
Chang Qianli's face turned stern. He had just collected his war horse and was he planning to shirk the blame?
Looking for the Ministry of War? If someone ignores me and goes to the cabinet, but they don't let me in, wouldn't this war horse be given away in vain?
Xu Huizu pulled out a tall horse, with flaming red hair on the temples like blazing flames. It was handsome, strong and powerful. He couldn't help but praise: "This is a batch of BMWs."
"Sir, please help us Shanxi merchants find a way out." Chang Qianli took out a small tips bag from his sleeve, blocked the sight of others with his horse, and whispered: "This is a rare Dongzhu. I specially made some jewelry for you adults.”
Xu Huizu put it into his sleeve and said, "In that case, you can follow me into the palace."
"ah?"
Chang Qianli was extremely surprised.
Enter the palace and see the emperor?
Isn't this a big help?
Xu Huizu ordered someone to lead his horse, then held the reins of the red-manded horse and said to the stunned Chang Qianli: "Why, you don't want to go?"
Chang Qianli shuddered and shouted quickly: "If you want to go, please ask me to wait a moment so that I can prepare some gifts."
"It's just a gift. Come and give him a horse."
Xu Huizu made a prompt decision, and after making arrangements, he took a few people and rode outside the palace. He dismounted and led them, and arranged for someone to inform the emperor.
Although Chang Qianli has experienced many winds and rains, this is the first time that the strange wind like today has blown.
He is just a businessman, a businessman without any status.
Not to mention meeting the emperor, even if you meet a fifth or sixth grade official, they may not meet you.
But now, he is going to see the emperor of Ming Dynasty, which is like a dream.
Xu Huizu glanced at Chang Qianli, felt the Dongzhu in his sleeve, and secretly rejoiced that this was not a bribe, and no one could wrong him.
What is taking a bribe?
Taking money to do something for someone is called bribery.
How can he be called accepting bribes when he didn't take any money and didn't do anything?
Oh, Dong-joo is not money.
It was the emperor's intention to let him enter the palace, not that he wanted to help...
Xu Huizu went to Wuying Hall and asked to see Zhu Yunzhen. Not long after, Chang Qianli was summoned.
Chang Qianli saw Zhu Yunwen and paid homage to him.
Zhu Yunwen looked at Chang Qianli, smiled slightly, and said: "I heard that you were quite wealthy before you came out of seclusion, but now that I see it, it is not so. It seems that Shanxi merchants have had a hard time going north, so get up."
Chang Qianli never expected that the Ming Emperor's first words to him would be a caring greeting instead of asking about Bei Yuan or a deal.
"Grass people, thank you."
Chang Qianli stood up, lowered his head, not daring to look directly.
Zhu Yunwen glanced at Shuangxi, who moved a stool over and said to Chang Qianli, "Your Majesty asked you to sit down and answer."
Chang Qianli glanced at Zhu Yunwen carefully, and after thanking him, he sat down next to the edge of the stool.
Zhu Yunwen folded the memorial in his hand and said: "Your information is very valuable. You did a good job this time and deserve a reward. It's just that the eight major Shanxi merchants have a lot of past mistakes. It's not easy to write them off."
Chang Qianli's heart trembled, and he quickly knelt down and begged for mercy: "The common people are willing to offer all their family properties in order to ask for the emperor's great favor."
Zhu Yunwen laughed, stood up, walked around the table, and said: "All the family property can indeed be used to offset the crime. But this is not what I want."
Chang Qianli trembled all over.
If money doesn't work, could it be said that the emperor wants the lives of his whole family?
This this……
Seeing Chang Qianli's fear, Zhu Yunwen shook his head slightly and said, "I want you to continue to go deep into the Northland to spy on intelligence."
"ah?"
Chang Qianli raised his head in astonishment and looked at Zhu Yunwen in surprise.
Zhu Yunwen was not joking and continued: "Chaos is imminent in the North. The more chaotic they are, the more demand for supplies will increase. The imperial court can give Shanxi merchants permission to leave the customs, but the main goods need to be decided by the imperial court."
Xiaoshuting app
War eats salt and iron.
On weekdays, we are economical and eat salt once every two days, but when it comes to war, salt is indispensable and must be eaten every meal.
Besides, weapons in war can be damaged, so you can't use a Mongolian knife as a saw. Limited by the scale of the craftsmen, whether it is Oala or Tatar, the number of swords is not sufficient. Once too many are damaged, it will be difficult to replenish them in large quantities.
And using the hands of businessmen to hoe the strong, support the weak, and fan the flames can be regarded as promoting justice...
"Your Majesty, did the common people hear you correctly?"
Chang Qianli almost doubted his ears.
Zhu Yunwen looked at Chang Qianli seriously and said: "I allow you to leave the customs with permission, but I don't allow you to leave the customs without permission. In addition, your family property and the court will not touch it, but the profits from this trip to the north and Rihuo's trip to the north will not be touched." , take out 20% of the total and give it to Datong Dusi for use in recruiting new soldiers."
"Strategy for new recruits?"
Chang Qianli's eyes lit up.
Listening to the emperor's wishes, the imperial court has decided to include Datong in the recruitment policy, and this is definitely good news for Shanxi merchants.
When soldiers have money, it means that their families have money, and when their families have money, it means that businessmen have money...
"Double happiness, give it to them."
Shuangxi took several documents and handed them to Chang Qianli, saying: "This is the pardon document written by the emperor to you. It will not go to the cabinet."
Chang Qianli stretched out his trembling hand, took the document, and thanked him again.
With this document, the imperial court will forget the blame, and the property of the eight major Shanxi merchants will be open and honest.
As for not leaving the cabinet, it is understandable that Shanxi merchants' departure was a secret order and not an open one.
Now Shanxi merchants brought a large number of war horses to the capital, and hundreds of officials
Someone will inevitably impeach him, but if they impeach him, it has nothing to do with Shanxi merchants. They can only target Guo Ying for impeachment.
"Go down, I will summon you again in a few days."
Zhu Yunwen waved his hand.
Chang Qianli carefully left Wuying Palace and was led out of the palace by the eunuchs.
Xu Huizu said with some worry: "Your Majesty, the Shanxi merchants are obedient and willing to be used by the court. I am only worried that as time goes by, they will have other ideas."
Zhu Yunwen was noncommittal and said: "The implementation of the new army policy must not be delayed for too long, otherwise it will damage the morale of the army. But the money that the court can come up with is very limited. Our only way is to take advantage of businessmen... "
Xu Huizu sighed.
Before the first month of the second year of Jianwen, the expenditure budget had been basically determined. The Ministry of Household Affairs only gave 20 taels of silver to Wei Xinjun's policy.
We must know that there are 329 guards in the entire Ming Dynasty. Excluding the Beijing Army and Peking Army, according to the payment method of the Ministry of Household Affairs, it will take at least twelve years for the New Army's strategy to be spread to the entire army.
Twelve years, your household department can afford to wait, but the soldiers cannot afford to wait.
However, Xu Huizu also knew that this year the Ministry of Revenue was really not stingy. In addition to the salaries of princes and officials, and reserved relief, almost all the money was invested in four places: Baoen Temple and the Monument of the Martyrs, concrete road infrastructure, shipyards, and river construction. .
Especially for shipyards, the budget for this year alone has exceeded 4 million taels. The scale of Longjiang Shipyard has expanded again, and shipyards such as Suzhou, Songjiang, Zhenjiang, and Dongyang are constantly adding manpower.
The large-scale construction of ships, especially sea-going ships, is related to the increasingly frequent Japanese invasion and Zhu Yunwen's strategic arrangements.
The Ministry of Revenue once wanted to reject this expenditure, but after careful calculation, it was found that if the number of ships was not increased and the Japanese pirates were allowed to harass the coast, the losses would probably exceed four million taels. After weighing the balance, they had to point out that Headed.
As for river repair, it also reached an astonishing three million taels.
The Ministry of Industry believes that Peiping is a strategic location and the base camp of the northern border. Once war breaks out in the north, Peiping will definitely become a top priority.
The Huitong River was blocked by siltation, and the Grand Canal could not reach Peiping directly. The imperial court was unable to ensure the food security of Peiping through water transportation. It only relied on land transportation. However, land transportation was time-consuming and labor-intensive, employed a huge number of migrant workers, and affected too many areas.
The Ministry of Industry wanted to do something in the second year of Jianwen to open the Huitong River and reopen the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal.
Zhu Yunwen was extremely satisfied with this plan. Not only did he immediately agree to the proposal of the Ministry of Works, he also promoted Song Li to the position of Minister of the Ministry of Works, taking full responsibility for the matter. He also asked Song Li to open the big river to use wide boats.
In Zhu Yunwen's strategic concept, the capital will be moved to Peiping sooner or later, but this strategy cannot be proposed yet.
Dredging waterways and opening water transportation in advance can ensure Peiping's food supply and remove the biggest obstacle to moving the capital.
The positive performance of the Ministry of Industry played into Zhu Yunwen's heart.
Xu Huizu knew that the Ministry of Household Affairs, which seemed to be in a tight situation, had reserved a large sum of money, but the Fifth Army Governor's Office would not touch that sum of money.
If you spread your hands and calculate, in addition to what has been clearly distinguished, plus what cannot be misappropriated, the current Ming court is really poor...
The poor court cannot rob the people, it can only rob the merchants...
Xu Huizu sighed, remembered something, and asked with confusion: "The emperor asked for a good horse, and I have already brought it over, but I don't know what the emperor plans to use it for?"
Zhu Yunwen looked out of the hall expectantly and said softly: "It's nothing, I just want to learn to ride a horse..."
