Qin Hong, Wang Shouren and Tang Yin immediately left the capital and headed for Piantou Pass.
Each has different tasks.
Zhang Zhou couldn't help but think of the worries of the ministers before. Looking at the shadow of the carriage in the distance, he was thinking, there will soon be a "gathering of heroes" at this turning point, so there is no need to worry about it. The stability of Piantou Pass
"Sir, your Majesty hopes to cast a few more heavy cannons. The Ming Dynasty's border areas need these."
Xiao Jing went out of the city to bid farewell to Qin Hong and others. By the way, He also gave instructions on the emperor's expectations.
Zhang Zhou sighed, "It's a pity. I only have coal mines now and no iron ores. If the two mines are dug together and smelted in one place"
"This"
Xiao Jing understood it as soon as he heard it.
Zhang Zhou’s policy here is “If you don’t see a rabbit, don’t scatter an eagle.” When asked about casting more cannons to Zhang Zhou, Zhang Zhou immediately expressed his difficulty and said that there was not enough ore and pig iron, which meant that the emperor would give him more mines. That would be great
But the mineral resources of the Ming Dynasty have always been strictly controlled by the imperial court.
"Eunuch Xiao, don't embarrass yourself, and don't embarrass me. Ming Dynasty has always emphasized caution and sparing in mining matters. Whoever mines is competing for profits with the people. Of course, the nobles have privileges. I I am not an honorable minister, how could I knowingly commit the crime?"
Zhang Zhouyi sighed with emotion.
Xiao Jing was startled. This was clearly implying that the emperor didn’t give you the title. It was clearly your own fault, but now you blame others.
Zhang Zhou asked, “Previously, the inner palace Is there any result from the inventory of redundant treasury? How much can the salary banknotes be discounted?"
"Probably 20% to 30%. This is just for the officials in the capital, and the local generals cannot care about it. You also know that the Ming Dynasty is now The treasury must be tight, Ming Dynasty's expenses in the past two years have been too great." Xiao Jing looked embarrassed.
In terms of giving out salary to Beijing officials, these officials were polite even if they did not line their own pockets, because Zhang Zhou was in charge of this matter.
If it were someone else, let’s try whether we are greedy or not.
Zhang Zhou said, "I have some extra money here recently, so why not borrow it first and use it?"
"Ah"
Xiao Jing was really surprised.
That look clearly said, don’t be joking. With your stinginess, it’s not bad if you don’t make any profit from it, but you actually said that you want to use your own pocket to pay salaries to the ministers of the DPRK
Who believes it?
Zhang Zhoudao: "Speaking of which, the prince and I have been doing business together for a while. We have been engaged in mining and other things, and the profits are pretty good. They all say that this business must last for a long time. , if the court needs it, I will keep the money secretly, so how can I make money with money?"
Xiao Jing smiled bitterly and said, "Our family understands the principle of putting the last thing before the last, but it is not like this. Let's set the law."
Give the money to those ministers, those ministers can make you rich
Are you kidding
Zhang Zhou said with a smile, "Eunuch Xiao Tell me, if I take some more money and give it to the ministers, will they agree to let me open a few more irons?Mine, let me cast a few more cannons."
""
When Xiao Jing heard this, his face was horrified.
Zhang Zhou said, "I heard that the Ming Dynasty has always had The official land and the imperial village have never been well managed. If they can be managed well in the future, they may be able to solve the urgent needs of the court. What do you say?"
Xiao Jing remained silent.
From the Ming Dynasty to the Hongzhi period, the Imperial Village mainly managed land and properties for the royal family, and all the revenue was always attributed to the family. It is owned by the government and is also the main source of income for the inner government.
Of course, this is also the private land of the palace system. They rely on this to line their own pockets. How can they be willing to give Zhang Zhou the authority to manage the palace?
Zhang Zhou smiled and said, "Don't take it personally, Eunuch Xiao. I can't save money for the court. The only way I can think of is to increase revenue. Please also ask Eunuch Xiao to tell your Majesty that I have thirteen thousand taels of spare money here, which I earned after arriving in Beijing. Among them, four thousand taels are the dividends that I should give to the prince. If your majesty needs it, feel free to take it. Go use it. ”
Zhang Zhou is very generous.
When Xiao Jing returned to the palace and brought Zhang Zhou’s words to Zhu Youtang, Zhu Youtang was reading and drinking tea in Kunning Palace.
With Zhang Zhou here, it seems that many troubles in the court can be solved. He is in a good mood recently, and his relationship with Queen Zhang is also quite good. The main reason is that Queen Zhang has stopped making noises recently and is quiet and quiet. Like a cute little wife, the couple likes to make a little man or something when they have nothing to do. Although there is no result, they still enjoy it.
"He really said he wanted to get 13,000 taels" Zhu You. Zang was surprised.
The money the minister gave to the court didn't sound like much, but it was full of sincerity.
Xiao Jing looked at Zhu Houzhao, who was looking here not far away. He glanced at it and said, "Mr. Zhang also said that four thousand taels of them should be distributed to the prince as dividends." ”
“No”
Zhu Houzhao seemed to be a normal person, wondering how much silver thirteen thousand taels was and how many fun things he could buy.
< p>But when he heard that there was money of his own in it, he rushed over and protested loudly.Zhu Youtang glared at his son and said, "Prince, do you understand the rules?"
"Father, those are all the hard work of my sons and ministers, you can't take them as your own. "Zhu Houzhao was afraid that his old father would directly confiscate the money that should belong to him, and even thought that his old father would almost definitely confiscate it.
He was blaming Zhang Zhou and Xiao Jing for wanting to tell him about the dividends. When he came out, he wanted to recover the loss for himself.
Zhu Youtang frowned and said, "What have you done for your hard work?"
"Here, when I opened my business, I went over to give him a good reputation." , after shouting to him, Mr. Zhang said that it was precisely because of the publicity effect that Erchen had at that time that the subsequent sales were very good. Father, you have so much money, just give it to your uncle and second uncle. Ten thousand taels, leaving four thousand taels for your son is not too much."
Zhu Houzhao's words made Zhu Youtang blush.
Fortunately, his wife was with his daughter.He went in to take a nap. If Queen Zhang heard this and asked a few more questions, she would probably know that the old Zhang brothers used the money from the inner palace to fool the ancestors of the Zhang family.
Then Zhu Youtang thought again, that was a good thing done by two brothers-in-law, what does it have to do with me?
This brat still wants to use this to threaten me. It seems that you are You don't know how powerful my methods are, right?
"Bingkuan is very considerate. If I don't accept it, it will be bad." Zhu Youtang really didn't look down on the more than ten thousand taels of silver. of.
But the inner government counted the groceries in the warehouse, and found that there were only four to five thousand taels in total. This should be given to the officials in the capital as salary, and each official in the capital could exchange it for two or three percent, but if it is added With Zhang Zhou's thirteen thousand taels, his salary in the past few years can be reduced to about 80%, and the life of the officials in the capital will be much better.
It also shows that he is a very wise emperor.
"In this way, I will make up for a few thousand taels, and it will come from the inner government and be given to those officials, including those whose salary bills have not been exchanged this year, and they will be discounted together," Zhu Youtang told Xiao Respectfully order.
Xiao Jing listened.
The emperor is showing great mercy
The Ming Dynasty never said that the full amount of salary banknotes could be exchanged for cash. The last time it could be exchanged for 40 to 50% was during the Chenghua period. Moreover, the salary can only be redeemed for half a year to a year at a time. This time, four or five years of salary banknotes must be redeemed at a time, and the full amount is redeemed
Even Xiao Jing felt sorry for the emperor.
Xiao Jing said, "Your Majesty, actually you don't need all of them."
Zhu Youtang put down the book in his hand and sighed, "I also told the minister that this is both my intention and Bingkuan's." The prince's heart is also in it."
"Father, you can't use your son's money to sell favors." Zhu Houzhao didn't want the minister to appreciate it.
Take my pocket money to pay the ministers
If this pocket money is given by your father, forget it. Now it is the income from the business partnership between my son and Zhang Zhou. It will be confiscated, and it is unreasonable
Zhu Youtang said coldly, "I agree to let you do business with Bingkuan, which is already a favor to you. Prince, you must not know how to advance or retreat."
"Uuuuuuuuuuu" Zhu Houzhao looked aggrieved, and he really cried.
The naughty kid has never suffered such a big loss. His father didn’t say anything and just took what his son got as his own. Is there any justice?
That Zhang Bingkuan is also a bastard. Forget it if he gave money to his father, why should he include mine?
They are all evil people
"But I must also comply with Bingkuan's request. There are people around the capital." Is it an iron ore mine?" Zhu Youtang was very generous.
He took Zhang Zhou’s money to pay salaries to ministers. Of course, he would not let Zhang Zhou suffer. He gave the mine to Zhang Zhou, which not only met Zhang Zhou’s needs, but also conformed to the imperial cannon casting. In reality, for the emperor, there seemed to be no better proposal than this.
Xiao Jing said, "There are iron mines around Yongping Mansion, but most of them were opened by Xunchen."
Zhu Youtang sighed, "When the coal kilns were opened before,Bingkuan went there by himself. If he can open up a new mine by himself, I'm talking about the iron mine, then give him the mine he discovered. I don't know if he has this ability. ”
Xiao Jing smiled and said, “Your Majesty, with Mr. Zhang’s ability to understand Feng Shui, he should know very well where there are mineral deposits underground. Otherwise, how could he make this request to Your Majesty?”
"Hehe, that's true. "
Zhu Youtang's eyes were also full of expectation, "Speaking of which, Bingkuan is really capable. No wonder he said that even if Di Yi learned how to forge cannons, they would not be able to forge such good cannons. The grassland would not be satisfied with mineral resources alone. Now that I think about it, he was reminding me, Listen to him more and let him open more mines. "
"The emperor and his sons also want to open a mine"
Zhu Houzhao was wiping his tears while thinking about how to make up for his losses.
Zhu Youtang He said angrily, "I just want to give you four thousand taels, and I will give it to you later." I haven’t touched the money you secretly hid in the East Palace yet, don’t you think about it?”
Zhu Houzhao wiped his tears and walked angrily to the inner hall.
Zhu Youtang said to Xiao again Jingdao said, "Go and tell Bingkuan that I have agreed to this matter. Whether there are iron ore veins or other things around, as long as he can extract them, I will give them to him." He had made such great achievements in the past and was given several mines to be explored by himself. I think the ministers in the DPRK would not have any objections. ”
Xiao Jing has truly seen what “if you pay, you will get something in return”.
When he exited Kunning Palace, he saw Dai Yi when he came out, and he dealt with Dai Yi the same way.
Dai Yi said in surprise, "Doesn't that mean that whoever discovers the mineral vein in the future, as long as he tells Mr. Zhang, he can say that he discovered the mine himself, and His Majesty will give the mine to the person behind it." What a benefit"
"That seems to be the case. ”
Xiao Jing swallowed.
I’m so greedy.
Although there have always been nobles involved in mining in the Ming Dynasty, in terms of policy, It is not supported.
But Zhang Zhou's move is tantamount to taking the power of mining. Even if the ministers have objections, after all, the whole world is the emperor's territory, and the emperor has no control over mining. The decision is bigger than anything else.
As for the mining tax, there seems to be no mining tax. Zhang Zhou can open as many mines as he wants, and the emperor has no strict restrictions.
Dai Yi sighed. "I'm afraid that Mr. Zhang will do something that goes beyond the established rules. I'm afraid that by then, my life will not be easy. ”
Dai Yi is still wary of Zhang Zhou.
In this regard, Xiao Jing is much better than him, because Xiao Jing has not yet obtained the status of a superior. , there is no need to think about how to compete with Zhang Zhou for fame and fortune.
Xiao Jing is also wondering if this Eunuch Dai takes himself too seriously.
"Is he willing to take it?" When the money comes out to give the ministers salary, there is no one left. What does he take from the court and use it for the ministers? Is His Majesty using his name to win people's hearts, or is he trying to borrow money?I want to help His Majesty to seek personal gain." Dai Yi was still complaining.
Xiao Jing smiled bitterly and said, "Eunuch Dai, no matter what, our family must inform Mr. Zhang of this news. Today, Mr. Zhang may I can't take care of the errands of the ceremonial supervisor. ”
“Go, go.” "
Dai Yi had just sent Xiao Jing away. Before Xiao Jing could take two steps, he muttered in words that clearly fell into Xiao Jing's ears, "If our family can find a few Let Mr. Zhang open the mine, can you make some money for yourself in the future?"
Xiao Jing was speechless when he heard this.
But think about it again.
This seems to be implemented.
Even if there are not so many undeveloped mines around the capital, there are still few mines in the world. As long as we have a good relationship with Zhang Zhou, they seem to have some eunuchs. Lots of opportunities to make money.
Let’s make a fortune together.
In the city, a carriage stopped outside the courtyard where Ning Tong lived. >Zhu Daqi, the leader next to Zhu Feng, drove over in a carriage and knocked on the door of Ningtong's courtyard.
When the maid came in and notified Ning Tong, when Ning Tong came to the door, she saw what Zhu Daqi had brought. People were moving boxes down.
“What is this?” Ning Tong asked.
Zhu Daqi said, “The second young lady is Miss Ning, and this is your dowry. ”
“My dowry” Ning Tong was shocked.
My dowry was not all given to the head of the Chen family and converted into silver to purchase goods. Why is it here?
Zhu Daqi said, "That's it. Marquis Anbian knew that all your dowry had been mortgaged. He spent money to redeem it and said it was sent to you. Please don't send it away again." If you encounter this kind of thing again in the future, there is nothing you can do to help. Also, the lease of this yard will expire in two months, so you have to find another place to live. "
"What do you mean?" Ning Tong frowned.
Zhu Daqi sighed and shook his head, "Marquis Anbian has now gone to Pianguan and will not be able to return to the capital for a while. I'm always worried about you. But the road ahead is up to you to walk on your own. ”
Then Zhu Daqi ordered the people behind him to “carry the things in”
This means that we are on orders to do things, and we will leave after completing the errands.
Ning Tong seemed to have understood everything at this time. She said, "So, Zhang Zhou had no intention of helping the Chen family's sister and me from the beginning. Everything was designed to set us up. In the end, the Chen family's sister would go bankrupt, right?"
Zhu Daqi shook his head, "I don't understand what Miss Ning means. "
Zhu Daqi is very unfamiliar with business, and he is not even as business-savvy as Ning Tong.
"If you say no, what about these dowry items?" Ning Tong Continue to question.
Zhu Daqi said, "I only know that this is the order of Marquis Anbian. If you have any questions, you should wait until Marquis Anbian returns to the capital before asking." ”
Ning Tong said with a sad look on her face, “I harmed the Chen family’s sister and made her think that she could do this business.”. "
Zhu Daqi said disapprovingly, "If the business can't be done, just sell the goods in hand. Miss Ning doesn't have to worry about it. I'll take my leave now."
Zhang Zhou took Wang Mingshan back to the Wang family's mansion in Beijing that day.
This is not the property of the Wang family. Soon Wang Chun and Wang Shi They have to go back to their hometown to hold the funeral for their father. They have to observe the rule for twenty-seven months before they can return to the court, and they have to get rid of their errands first.
"Mr. Zhang. "Wang Mingshan's father, Wang Shi, was responsible for receiving Zhang Zhou.
The mourning hall was not located in the capital.
The Wang family will soon be on their way back to their hometown, and everyone is Wearing sackcloth and wearing filial piety.
Wang Yue is of great significance to the Wang family.
Zhang Zhou said, "I will tell your majesty later that I will let my brother inherit the title as soon as possible, but the military will not be used in the northwest." I'm afraid there won't be a chance for the Wang family in a short time. "
Wang Shi sighed and said, "Mr. Zhang, you are overthinking. There is no wrongdoing in my Wang family. "
Except for Wang Yue, the rest of the Wang family, no matter how capable they are, are not capable of leading troops in the northwest.
"But His Majesty has given the Wang family a favor. The three nephews are the Imperial Prince's supervisors and can serve as guards for a hundred households. Wang Qian can make arrangements so that they do not have to return to their hometown, or they can be transferred from their hometown. ”
There is Zhang Zhou.
The Wang family now has the emperor’s trust. Even if Wang Yue dies, the emperor plans to reuse the two brothers Wang Chun and Wang Shi, as well as Their descendants.
As for Wang Yue's other sons, because they have no right to inherit the title and no official positions, most of them only hold some false positions.
Wang Chun is the future. Marquis Weining, and Wang Shi was Zhang Zhou’s father-in-law, so their relationship was extraordinary.
Zhang Zhou’s visit to the palace this time was actually to sell some favors for the emperor.
< p>Wang Shi said, "I will discuss this matter with my brother. ”“Yeah. "Zhang Zhou also knew that the Wang family probably didn't have much confidence in producing another famous general.
The fact that my father could get back the title of Marquis Weining before he died was already a big deal for the Wang family. It's a profit.
But Zhang Zhou felt that for Wang Mingshan's sake, he could help the Wang family cultivate a few talented people, and even promote Wang Shi.
But Wang Shi only thought about his father's funeral and didn't pay much attention to it.
Zhang Zhou came out of Wang's house
Looking at him with a cute expression. Wang Mingshan asked with a smile, "Mingshan, do you want to be a female general?"
Wang Mingshan looked at Zhang Zhou with eyes full of confusion.
Zhang. Zhou smiled and said, "The sons of the Wang family should not distinguish between men and women. Women should not give way to men. Even if your father, uncle, and male peers do not have the intention to make contributions, you should still have it."
Wang Mingshan thought for a while and continued to shake her head. .
Zhang Zhou sighed and looked forward to "If I have the opportunity to go to the battlefield in the future, I will definitely let you ride your horse and bend your bow, so that even the people in the grassland can see your elegance as a heroine. After your grandfather passes away, it is up to you to carry forward the reputation of Marquis Weining. "Please remember to bookmark, the latest and fastest website without anti-theft and free reading