eldest son of Ming dynasty

Chapter 353 Gu Zuo Goes to Jail
Gu Zuo heard a very interesting thing on the boat.

The reason for this is that after the Great Court Assembly, the imperial court announced that the imperial examination will be held in the second half of this year. Because there is no specific date for the imperial examination, some candidates have already entered Beijing in advance to avoid missing it.

After all, the journey is far away. When the capital is settled here, the news will spread for a month. They are ready to leave for Beijing and it will take another month. too late.

As a result, more and more people went to the capital one after another.

If you have a good relationship, you will go together. After arriving in the capital, you can study with peace of mind and prepare for the exam with all your strength. It is better than rushing to the capital in a hurry.

Gu Zuo heard someone say on the boat,

"...After the imperial court established shipping departments in Ningbo, Fuzhou, and Quanzhou, Yingtian, Zhejiang, and even Jiangxi were enthusiastic about going out to sea for trade. Because of the multiple times the profits of sea trade, most people were lured by them. However, the common people used silk and porcelain. In exchange for silver taels, after years and months, I understand that silver is getting more and more? In this way, wouldn’t the price of silver be getting lower?"

Gu Zuo originally had nothing to do when he was on the boat, so he sat drinking tea, and suddenly became interested when he heard this sentence.

He saw that there were three young Juren wearing square scarves.

"...If you want me to say, instead of exchanging silver taels, you should exchange food. If you exchange food, you can help the victims of the disaster and replenish your military supplies. The Ming Dynasty has no empty stomachs, and it is a prosperous age!"

Another person said, "It's not right. Besides food, the common people also need silver taels, such as salt, sugar, cloth and clothes, etc. You can't carry food to trade."

After hearing this, Gu Zuo felt that it was very unusual. He couldn't help asking abruptly without knowing anyone else, "Why don't you exchange money for taels, but food instead?"

He didn't wear an official uniform, but he was also dressed in silk and satin.

People judge people by their appearance, and Gu Zuo knows that Gu Zuo is extraordinary, but no one thinks of flattery, but immediately thought of discussing the government in front of such a person... If it spread to the government, wouldn't that cause a catastrophe?

So the two young people who spoke immediately shrank back, "We just talk casually, and we can't do it."

Zou Cheng saw this scene from the side and shook his head mockingly.

Gu Zuo is still unreasonable, this kind of direct questioning, people don't know you before, and it involves court affairs, so it's strange to be able to talk!

"Oh..." Gu Zuo couldn't help but hit a snag.
At this time, he thought that maybe people had some concerns.

If you want to ask the name, there is probably no result.

I just took a few more glances at the two young men in the corner and remembered their looks.

The person facing him was thin and dark-skinned, especially his squinting eyes and some buck teeth, which was actually very ugly...

Turning his back to him and saying 'we can't trade all grains', he couldn't see his face clearly, but he had six fingers on one hand, and the moment he saw it, he still felt strange.

But Gu Zuo is not picking a wife, he doesn't care about these, the important thing is talent.

Although the first contact was not smooth, but fortunately it will take many days before the boat arrives in the capital, Gu Zuo spent a day paying for them, showing the sincerity of proactive contact,
He approached the three of them on the deck, and said: "Xia Zhan You, a person from the capital, a few days ago I accidentally heard the three brothers discussing politics, and I felt quite deep in my heart. I also want to ask the three of you for advice on some of the problems, and I feel very itchy. Sorry for the abruptness."

After all, Gu Zuo is upright and gives people a sense of decency, but now he is acting like this,
The three young men couldn't help but reach out and slap the smiling face. They looked at each other, and the six-fingered young man spoke first, "Xing Guan, these two are Jiang Yong and Song Wen, and we are both from Yangzhou Prefecture." People, I am going to the capital for scientific research. It is my first time to meet you, and it is a pleasure to meet you."

Gu Zuo took a look at that buck-toothed man, he was surprised yesterday because of what this man said, now he knows that his name is Jiang Yong.

"If you don't mind the three, can you sit on the dock?"

Now that we know each other, it's easy to say.

After sitting down, Gu Zuo also went straight to the topic and asked: "Brother Jiang, Brother Xing, from what you said earlier, it seems that the sea trade will also have hidden dangers in the future?"

Xing Guan was more careful, he still didn't know what this gentleman who called himself Zhan You was doing.

"The three of us chat a lot on weekdays, and some of them just talk casually. Why does Brother Zhan care so much? Could it be that the family runs the sea trade?"

Gu Zuo probably understood the meaning of his words, "I don't do business in my family. In fact, like you, I also want to go to Beijing to take the exam. Although I'm not in my position and I don't want to do anything about it, I always have the heart to serve the country. Call the three jokes."

"how come?"

People like Xing Guan would discuss these things on weekdays, which shows that they also have the ambition to go to the court to watch and serve the country, and they are happy to meet like-minded people.

"The three of us are all doing business at home," the buck-toothed Jiang Yong finally said, "so some of them are also in the family's ears and eyes. Brother Zhan, why do you have any doubts about what I said?"

Gu Zuo seriously asked for advice, "It's what Brother Jiang said, not silver, but food."

"Actually, what I said may not be correct. Brother Xing Guan has repeatedly disagreed with my point of view. But if Brother Zhan is interested, I will say it."

He took out a copper coin, a silver ingot, and a treasure banknote, "Brother Zhan, look, the Ming Dynasty has used so many pricing intermediates so far. Although the forms are different, the essence is the same. Copper coins can be forged, and treasure banknotes can be printed." , silver ingots... don't you know that there are silver mines? Among them, the people are not willing to use banknotes. From the early years of the ancestors to today, the price of silver has been continuously decreasing."

"After the sea trade, more silver will be imported, which will greatly speed up the process. Soon the price of silver will decrease, and the price of goods will rise. This is all foreseeable."

Gu Zuo frowned and pondered, "Is this what you thought of?"

"Not quite."

Xing Guan continued, "In the past few years, the imperial court has rectified the horse administration, launched the battle of Huamachi, and built the city that never sleeps. The actions are not trivial, but the treasury is empty. Where does your majesty's money come from?"

Gu Zuo is also an expert, so he understands.In fact, in the final analysis, this is also a kind of 'tax'.

Although the emperor did not search for wealth from the people, for the Ming Dynasty, this was extra silver out of thin air. The influx of silver into the market would inevitably lead to a reduction in the price of silver. What is this if it is not a tax?
"So, how many years later, the Maritime Trade Fair will be a bad government!"

"Brother Zhan speak carefully!" Xing Guan stretched out six fingers to stop him, don't hurt us if you don't want your life.

Jiang Yong said again: "It's not that far, but it's true that they can't be exchanged for silver taels. Of course, what Brother Xing said is also reasonable, more or less silver is still needed."

Gu Zuo asked: "Then how much silver is the right amount?"

This question is more in-depth. Whether it is Xing Guan or Jiang Yong, they may know some information during the process of doing business at home, but a specific number cannot be obtained only by imagination.

So both of them shook their heads.

Gu Zuo was slightly disappointed.Of course, he was still grateful for this encounter, which triggered him to start thinking more.

In the days to come, he hardly cared about Zou Cheng, but got together with these three candidates.

Xing Guan, Jiang Yong, and Song Wen told the truth, and Gu Zuo also shared what he saw and thought over the years, such as wealth flow, job creation... These contents also touched the three of them.

Meeting a confidant on the road speeds up time, and before you know it, the passenger ship has entered the capital.

People come and go by the pier, and the business of the capital has become increasingly prosperous in the past few years. Tens of thousands of ordinary people have obtained basic consumption power because of the "investment" of the imperial court, and 10,000+ people have been affected by this.

The demand generated by such a large group of people made the goods from all over the country flow into the capital continuously, such as rice, flour, oil, salt, medicine... After the imperial court stopped torturing them, and stopped artificially disrupting business operations, many ordinary people burst out Enthusiasm for creating wealth, they see such a demand in the capital, and even take the initiative to leave to sell goods in other places, and go back and forth to earn the difference.

In fact, the imperial court was protecting various commercial activities, including the rectification of law and order against the capital.

What makes many small traders look forward to is that the city that never sleeps is rumored to be officially opened this summer. After this, the capital will definitely be more lively, and excitement is money.

The pier side is also the top priority of law and order rectification. Jin Yiwei often hangs around here, and sometimes stays there all day.

The opening of the city that never sleeps is approaching, and the issue of urban order has been brought up to an unprecedented height. Although there may still be some sects in the dark, but on the bright side, these people have to keep their heads down.

But today, for some reason, the number of Jinyiwei by the pier suddenly increased. In the past, there were only 50 people in a general banner, but this year it has doubled.

Passenger ships unloading people, cargo ships unloading goods... Many people's eyes would look at the Jin Yiwei who was wandering back and forth, for fear that they would get into trouble.

"Sure, it's from Yangzhou."

On the arch bridge, Mao Yuwen rushed over in person, because it was the emperor who personally explained.

The arch bridge crosses the small river, which is equivalent to a tributary of the canal. On both sides of the river are houses with black tiles and white walls.

"Boss, we saw it and are disembarking."

Mao Yuwen didn't hesitate anymore when he heard this, and led the crowd down the arch bridge in a hurry to the pier.

Gu Zuo saw the Jinyiwei, but he only thought that the Jinyiwei was here to maintain order and deter Xiaoxiao. Even if there were hundreds of Jinyiwei acting collectively, he felt that they were catching some kind of thief and it must have nothing to do with him.

On the contrary, Zou Cheng felt guilty, and wanted to retreat after walking behind.

When Xing Guan, Jiang Yong and the others saw Jin Yiwei walking straight towards them, they still felt fear in their hearts. Could it be that brother Zhan is indeed a member of the government, and now they are going to be arrested for making false comments on government affairs? !

Mao Yuwen appeared in front of Gu Zuo, wearing a cloak and holding a scimitar.

"Deputy Envoy Mao... you are?"

"By the imperial decree, I will take you to prison!"

Gu Zuomeng said, "Take me to jail?! Deputy Mao, is there some misunderstanding in this?"

"Maybe there is, but the envoy obeys the order and does not care about others." Mao Yuwen considered him a favorite of the emperor, so he was a little more polite, "Let's not be rough, let's go by ourselves?"

Zou Cheng was proud, he immediately thought that the emperor must have suspected Gu Zuo!
To live up to the trust of the Holy Majesty, apart from being charged with crimes, the emperor must also feel resentment in his heart, this guy is finished now!

Gu Zuo's heart was pounding, he still felt a little unreal, but then he thought about what he had seen and heard on the boat, and asked: "Deputy Envoy Mao, I have something important to report to the emperor. Can I meet the emperor?"

Mao Yuwen shook his head.

Gu Zuo was even more anxious, "This matter is of great importance! Gu's life and death are nothing, but it's about the country and the country. Deputy Envoy Mao, Gu is also thinking about His Majesty!"

"If you really think about His Majesty sincerely, how can His Majesty's next generation of Mingjun wrong a loyal minister?"

Zou Cheng's annoying voice came from his ear.

There was also a sense of joy on his face, "Jinyiwei Imperial Prison is not a good place. When you are on a job, you have to take good care of it."

Talking too much, Mao Yuwen didn't have that much patience.

"take away!"

(End of this chapter)