Prince of Chaos

Chapter 459 Friendship has sublimated

"Xu, I saw the crown prince!"

After Matteo Ricci returned, he saw Xu Guangqi who was reading in his study, excitedly talking about what he saw today.

Xu Guangqi gave a perfunctory hum, and never took his eyes off the book in his hand for a moment. He was completely fascinated by the Thai-Western mathematics and astronomy brought by Matteo Ricci, as if eagerly absorbing knowledge that he had never seen before.

Matteo Ricci looked at Xu Guangqi's appearance, and said, "Don't you want to know what the crown prince looks like?"

"Do not want to."

Xu Guangqi refused very simply. He just wanted to read at this time, and he wanted to quickly tell Matteo Ricci not to disturb his reading by chattering like this.

Matteo Ricci listened to Xu Guangqi's words, and he said: "Then don't regret it!"

Xu Guangqi was fascinated by watching, and he responded casually: "I don't regret it."

Then, Matteo Ricci ignored Xu Guangqi.

At the same time, he was still looking forward to seeing Zhu Changluo again.

Because Zhu Changluo also told him to go to Xishan Huangzhuang to find him in two days, and Matteo Ricci was very happy about this.

He just wants to see how surprised Xu Guangqi was when he took Xu Guangqi to Xishan Huangzhuang two days later when he saw Zhu Changluo.

Thinking of this, Matteo Ricci felt even more joyful.

In Ciqing Palace.

"Go and call the Shangshu of the Ministry of Industry and the Shangshu of the Ministry of War."

Zhu Changluo ordered Wei Zhongxian.

The issue of the national debt is already on the line and has to be dealt with, and all actions must be accelerated at this time.

Therefore, it is time for the two major power yamen related to this national debt to appear.

Shen Sixiao and Li Chengliang soon arrived at Ciqing Palace.

Now Shen Sixiao is like a spring breeze, and his Ministry of Industry is the richest government office among the six ministries. Now many people who want to buy cement have to ask the Ministry of Industry for approval in order to get the corresponding cement quota.

With this power, the status of the Ministry of Industry has risen in a straight line, and even the cabinet elders can't help but be polite when they talk to him.

And this is the charm of silver.

"Mr. Shen."

Li Chengliang greeted Shen Sixiao first.

Shen Sixiao looked at Li Chengliang, and said, "So it's Ru Qi."

Li Chengliang is almost 20 years older than Shen Sixiao, but Li Chengliang's attitude towards Shen Sixiao is still very low.

This is because Li Chengliang is not a six-part minister who was born in the imperial examination.

Therefore, in the feudal era when family background was highly valued, Li Chengliang still unconsciously lowered his profile when he saw these officials who were born in the official imperial examination.

"Are you still used to the errands of the Ministry of War? The affairs in Beijing are different from those in the army. You need to be careful at all times to do everything well."

Shen Sixiao educated Li Chengliang with the attitude of someone who has experienced it.

Li Chengliang listened to Shen Sixiao's words, and he said: "Mr. Shen is absolutely right. Ever since I became Minister of the Ministry of War, I have always been trembling like walking on thin ice, for fear of delaying the overall situation of the court."

Shen Si filial piety: "It's good to have such a heart."

Speaking of this, Li Chengliang complimented Shen Sixiao again: "I am very envious of Mr. Shen. The Ministry of Industry is in the hands of Mr. Shen, and it is really booming now, and it has faintly become the leader of the six departments. Mr. Shen has such credit, I believe It's not too far from the time of entering the cabinet to pay homage to the prime minister."

There was a smile on the corner of Shen Sixiao's mouth, and he said: "Ru Qi praised me. For hundreds of years in the country, it has been a rule that 'non-Hanlin can't join the cabinet'. Entering Hanlin. There is no hope."

Li Chengliang said: "Duke Shen's words are wrong! It's a fallacy that 'non-Hanlin will not join the cabinet'! The crown prince has a poem saying: 'Let's send down talents without sticking to one pattern'. His Highness will definitely use great talents like Mr. Shen! Besides! , for a martial artist like me, His Highness is willing to appoint me as Minister of the Ministry of War, and Lord Shen will definitely go one step further!"

Hearing this, Shen Sixiao couldn't help grinning. He just saw Li Chengliang's current achievements. Therefore, after he took charge of the Ministry of Industry, the cooperation between the Ministry of Industry and Xishan Huangzhuang also gave him hope.He believes that if this trend continues, it is not impossible to join the cabinet as a prime minister.

The two chatted while walking, and the exchange of a few words further sublimated the friendship between the two.

After entering the Ciqing Palace, the two bowed to Zhu Changluo.

"I see Your Highness."

"Give a seat."

After Shen Sixiao and Li Chengliang sat down, Zhu Changluo said, "Do the two ministers know about the national debt?"

When Shen Sixiao and Li Chengliang heard Zhu Changluo's question, they were slightly puzzled.

Then he replied: "I don't know."

Zhu Changluo looked at the reactions of Shen Sixiao and Li Chengliang, and he was very satisfied this time.

This shows that the secrecy work done by the cabinet and the household department is good.

Zhu Changluo said: "I heard that the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Industry are urging the Ministry of Households to send out silver, waiting to make ordnance and uniforms and send them to the front. I don't know how big the shortage is now?"

Shen Sixiao replied: "Return to Your Highness, the Ministry of Industry is short of 50 taels of silver."

Li Chengliang said: "The Ministry of War is short of 100 million taels of silver."

Zhu Changluo said: "Where is the lack?"

Shen Si filial piety: "The Ministry of Industry is short of the production of Bingjia. Historically, this special fund has been reported by the Ministry of War and allocated by the Ministry of Accounts. However, the money from the Ministry of Accounts has not been in place until now."

Zhu Changluo nodded, then looked at Li Chengliang.

Li Chengliang said: "The Ministry of War is because of ordnance. Since I took over the Ministry of War, Your Highness has instructed me to make and control the ordnance well. Now that the war continues, the ordnance consumption is huge. I intend to replenish the supply of front-line ordnance, but the army However, the weapon bureau has no silver to start work. If you want to stabilize the frontline supply and update the firearms of the imperial guards, I need at least 150 taels of silver to complete it."

After Zhu Changluo listened, "These orphans will think about it. The orphans called you this time to solve this problem."

When Shen Sixiao and Li Chengliang heard that Zhu Changluo said that he wanted to solve this problem, they were refreshed.

Hastily got up and worshiped:

"His Highness Shengming!"

Zhu Changluo waved his hand, and then said: "In order to solve this problem, I discussed a method with the cabinet. This method is the national debt that I just mentioned. As the name implies, the government issues bonds to the people to raise corresponding silver taels. Then, use these silver taels to pay Solve your current problems."

After hearing Zhu Changluo's words, Shen Sixiao hesitated for a moment, and said, "Your Highness, is it inappropriate for the court to borrow money from the people?"

Zhu Changluo said: "It's okay, the finances of the Ministry of Households are corrupt, and I have to shoulder the heavy responsibility of supervising the country. If I don't do something to solve the immediate problems, I will face more problems in the future. Therefore, this time the matter of the national debt, I have to worry about it .”

Speaking of this, Shen Sixiao naturally did not insist on his own opinion.

After all, since he cooperated with Xishan Huangzhuang, the status of the Ministry of Industry has risen at a speed visible to the naked eye, so Shen Sixiao has seen a lot of things, and no longer has that pedantic way of thinking about problems.

What he wants most now is how to break the routine, so that he can further gain the favor of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, so as to further become a minister of the Ming cabinet!
This is his ultimate dream now!
Shen Sixiao and Li Chengliang paid homage again: "Your Highness bears a heavy burden for the country, and I will do the work of a dog and horse to share His Highness' worries."

Zhu Changluo said: "The two ministers have a heart. Gu called the two ministers this time, just to let Erqing share his worries. Now that the two ministers have such a loyal guarantee, Gu is very moved. The two ministers are all lonely A good minister with the shoulders and shoulders, there are two ministers in the Ming Dynasty, so why worry about not being able to rejuvenate?"

After Shen Sixiao and Li Chengliang were praised by Zhu Changluo, they immediately replied: "This is my duty."

(End of this chapter)