Ming Dynasty, capital.
Zhu Yunwen was sitting in Mrs. Huang's teahouse, and Huang Ying was sitting aside, practicing calligraphy quietly.
Huang Eryue refilled his tea and reported in a low voice: "The business of Zhonghua Bookstore is a bit difficult. There are many private bookstores, which squeezes the profit margin of the bookstore."
Zhu Yunwen nodded slightly and took a sip of tea: "Zhonghua Book Company cannot just focus on business, but needs to focus on education and education. At present, the imperial court is promoting a literacy campaign, and Zhonghua Book Company should take up the responsibility."
Huang Eryue frowned a little, thought for a moment, and nodded repeatedly: "I know what to do."
Zhu Yunwen smiled. Huang Eryue was a smart man and he could accomplish many things.
The flower girl came over and brought some dishes: "This is a skill I just learned. Do you think it's to your liking after trying it?"
Zhu Yunwen saw a delicious seabass, a plate of eggs and leeks, a plate of braised pork head meat, and a bowl of tofu with green onions. He couldn't help but smile and said, "This is not asking me to practice cooking. It's obvious that I am allowed to eat."
Huang Ying pulled Zhu Yunwen's sleeve: "Brother, mother has been preparing for a long time, so just stay for a meal."
Zhu Yunwen raised his hand and patted Huang Ying's hair gently: "Okay, then stay. Hua Niang, bring some food, sit down and eat together."
"I'm going to get some food."
Huang Eryue pulled Hua Niang to sit down, turned around and went to get food.
The flower girl took off her apron, wiped her hands on the apron, and said gratefully to Zhu Yunwen: "The Huang family is now a gift from the emperor. Today we express our gratitude with a bowl of tea."
Zhu Yunwen raised his hand and pressed Hua Niang's arm: "Your good life only comes from your diligence. It's hard for Huang Jiuer to be a craftsman, and it's hard for you to make a living. It's not easy for Huang Yueer to manage the bookstore, and Huang Erjin is working hard to study. , I heard that he has good grades and is likely to be admitted to the Imperial College next year. Think about it carefully, you have worked hard for your good life and it has nothing to do with me. "
Hua Niang looked at the humble Zhu Yunwen with gratitude in her eyes. His visit changed the Huang family, and the originally poor family gradually became better.
He did not directly give the Huang family wealth, but he gave the Huang family the opportunity to change. By seizing these opportunities and working hard for a few years, the life finally became prosperous.
As long as people are not lazy, work diligently and work hard, their life will never be too bad.
Zhu Yunwen looked at Hua Niang and said with a smile, "You have met Chen Mu and Cui Niang. I heard that you and Chen Yu have decided to get married in February?"
The flower lady nodded with a smile: "Chen Yu is a good girl, and the Chen family are all very nice. We took advantage of this marriage."
Zhu Yunwen threatened Huang Eryue who was sitting down: "Although you are doing things for me, Chen Yu is the queen's employee. If you bully her in the future and sue the queen, I will not be able to protect you."
Huang Eryue shivered and quickly promised: "I will never let her down."
Zhu Yunwen nodded with satisfaction, took a bite of the food, and praised: "The craftsmanship is good, but Hua Niang, why don't you recruit more people, there is no way to work alone."
The flower girl sighed: "If you hire a person to work, don't you have to pay for the work? The profit of the small shop is low, how can you hire people?"
Zhu Yunwen put down his chopsticks and said to Hua Niang: "Although I haven't calculated it carefully, I think the net profit of your store should be no less than twenty taels per month. It would be a good idea to spend three taels to recruit someone. "
Hua Niang shook her head: "It would be better to spend that money than to work hard."
Zhu Yunwen smiled and didn't say much.
Nowadays, more and more people are entering Nanjing to work, and many people cannot find good jobs at all. Men are okay, and there are more labor-intensive jobs. There are always places where people can be used, such as carrying goods, doing odd jobs, and working on construction sites.
But what kind of work can a woman find when she enters the city?
If you have some ability or capital, you can start a small business, but if you have nothing, how can you survive in the capital?
The textile workshops in the capital could not absorb too many people, and many women had nothing to do but stay at home. Chen Yu discovered this and suggested that Zhu Yunwen open some businesses for women to make a living.
Business allows these people to bring some income to their families and improve their lives.
Zhu Yunwen was walking in the capital, trying to solve this problem. As he walked around, he realized that it was not that the capital could not accommodate these people, nor that there was no place for them to work. It was just that many people were like flower girls, preferring to save money and work hard. Recruitment.
The market in the capital is not small, but the number of workers it recruits is very limited, and it is not a good friend to some families with families. Most of these people with families and families came from mountainous areas, where there was little arable land and few livelihoods, making it difficult to improve their lives. Many families moved to the capital to seek a new life.
Zhu Yunwen is happy to see this "urbanization" process, but if these people cannot be settled well, they will never be able to become the consumption power of the capital, and will instead drag down the development of the capital.
This is not the future, but there is still an employment problem that is not optimistic.
Zhu Yunwen did not persuade Hua Niang to recruit people. The addition of a single self-employed household cannot solve the overall situation. If we want to fundamentally solve the problem of women's work and expand employment in the capital, we still need to find other methods.
Before the meal was finished, Liu Changge came over and reported in a low voice: "There is a secret report from the south."
Zhu Yunwen looked at Hua Niang and Huang Eryue and sighed: "It seems that this meal will never be finished. You should work hard."
Hua Niang stood up and wanted to persuade her to stay but she knew she couldn't, so she had to send Zhu Yunwen out. She looked back at the meal that she had only eaten a few mouthfuls of, and couldn't help but feel sad: "There are still people who say that the emperor does nothing, but how could they know that the emperor is busy?" I can’t even get a steady meal.”
Huang Eryue comforted Hua Niang: "Mother, just laugh at these gossips. They don't know the emperor's hard work. They are just some unscrupulous businessmen talking."
Hua Niang knew that the floating tax rate had made many businessmen bleed. Some people opposed the floating tax rate and incidentally complained about Zhu Yunwen's policies.
This kind of arrogant discussion of government affairs and slander of the imperial court would have been dragged out and beheaded long ago if it had been left to the Hongwu Dynasty. After the establishment of the Wen Dynasty, everyone became more and more bold in speaking.
Zhu Yunwen climbed up the city wall of Jinchuan Gate, took the secret report from Liu Changge, opened it, read it, and said to Liu Changge: "Pang Huan came with the news. King Wuning of Zhongshan was cruel and unkind, which made the people in the country dissatisfied. Shannan Kingdom wanted to conquer Zhongshan Kingdom, but was defeated. Chen Zuyi's navy was defeated. The King of Zhongshan was determined to invade Shannan and Shanbei."
Liu Changge quickly said: "If Chen Zuyi is allowed to continue to grow, the Three Ryukyu Kingdoms may be in trouble. Do we need the navy to take action to attack Chen Zuyi's forces as soon as possible?"
Zhu Yunwen looked to the southeast, where a warm wind was blowing.
The Three Kingdoms of Ryukyu have always been outside the control of the Ming Dynasty. This time they used a trick to lure Chen Zuyi into a trap, which indeed gave Ming an opportunity to enter the Three Kingdoms of Ryukyu.
However, now is not the best time.
Chen Zuyi must become stronger. He needs to help the Ming Dynasty to clean up Shannan and Shanbei. Wang Wuning of Zhongshan is an incompetent king. He will be liquidated sooner or later, but the best time is for him to complete the Ming Dynasty. After the expected mission.
"Just wait a little longer."
Zhu Yunwen maintains sufficient strategic determination.
The Ryukyu Islands are located between Japan and Taiwan Island. Occupying these islands can cut off Japan's southward route and directly threaten and control Taiwan Island. Their position is extremely important.
Regardless of whether Chen Zuyi cooperates or not, whether the Ryukyu Three are in civil strife or not, Zhu Yunwen does not need to solve it and completely leave it in the Ming Dynasty's territory.
Liu Changge didn't know how long Zhu Yunwen would have to wait. Now that Pang Huan has become the big boss, if he gives Pang Huan some time, he might be able to replace Chen Zuyi. When the time comes, will he deal with Chen Zuyi or Pang Huan...
"Your Majesty, Pang Huan has been on mission for many years, and he has never seen his son..."
Liu Changge hoped that Zhu Yunwen could end the Ryukyu incident as soon as possible and allow Pang Huan to return as soon as possible.
Zhu Yunwen was naturally aware of Pang Huan's suffering, and why was he not suffering as well? Cong Pei'er gave birth to a baby boy to Pang Huan, and the child was not even named. She took the child into the palace from time to time, and she knew that she was wandering around Kunning Palace, not just to tell Zhu Yunwen, The child's father hasn't come back yet.
Do you want to worry about this...
But you can't.
Pang Huan had a special status and was directly nailed to Chen Zuyi. Moreover, he was still a high-level person. He could not come back. He could not even send a message and did not dare to mention Cong Pei'er, let alone ask about the child.
This kind of person who is forbearing and hiding in the darkness can only carry the burden and hide until the final moment.
Zhu Yunwen insisted: "The most important task is to send a message to King Ning and ask him to find a way to enter Xiaoliuqiu."
Liu Changge was shocked. The emperor was planning to get rid of Xiao Liuqiu and Da Liuqiu together.
but……
Liu Changge hesitated for a moment and then said: "Your Majesty, Prince Ning has been away from home for a long time. He lacks control and may have ambitions. Do you need to arrange personnel to keep an eye on him?"
Zhu Yunwen smiled and waved his hand: "Don't worry, Prince Ning doesn't dare to be an enemy of the imperial court. He is a smart man. The biggest advantage of a smart man is that he can see the situation clearly."
Seeing Zhu Yunwen's insistence, Liu Changge didn't know what to say. If he said too much, it would be sowing kinship between the royal family.
Zhu Yunwen returned to Wuying Hall and was about to look up the Southeast Sea map when he saw some memorials on the desk. He took out a memorial and looked at it. His pupils condensed slightly and he said slowly: "Wuzang?"
The content of the memorial was not complicated. It only suggested that Zhu Yunwen strengthen the control of Uzang, proposed that the imperial court send envoys to Uzang, and invite the Buddhist leaders of Uzang to the capital.
Uzang refers to Tibet.
With the imperial court controlling the Western Regions, how to control Uzang became an urgent practical issue. But the problems in Uzang are not different from those in the Western Regions. They are far more complicated than those in the Western Regions!
Uzang is located on the territory of the Ming Dynasty, but the Ming Dynasty's control here is quite weak. And this kind of weak restraint policy is what Zhu Yunwen least wants to see...
PS:
First, 2023 is here. Jingxue wishes everyone here that in the new year, everyone and their families will be healthy and everything goes well. Whether it is work or study, I hope everyone will have new gains and growth, and I hope everyone is well.
Secondly, because January is approaching the Spring Festival, it is inevitable that I need to visit relatives, shop, and spend time with my family. Jingxue is not sure how much more can be done, but again, I will try my best to update what I owe, and I will try to keep it as low as possible in January. Two updates, I will update if I have time. Please forgive me if I really don’t have time.
Finally, January 2023 has started. If you have a guaranteed monthly pass, please support Xia Jingxue and ask for a monthly pass.
I'm somewhat sorry for the reward from brother Shameless Waiting. The update in December is a bit lacking, and Jingxue will work hard to make up for it in the following months.
Please continue to support "Da Ming" and Jingxue, so that we can go further in 2023. Thank you.
