The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 265

Qin Hong, Wang Shouren, and Tang Yin and their party left the capital immediately and headed for Piantouguan.

Each task is different.

Zhang Zhou couldn't help but think of the worries of the ministers of the court and the central government. Looking at the shadow of the carriage going away, he was thinking, "Gathering of heroes" will soon be ushered in at this juncture, right?Do you still need to worry about the safety of the head off?

"Sir, Your Majesty wishes to cast a few more heavy cannons. The frontiers of Ming Dynasty need these things."

Xiao Jing went out of the city together to give Qin Hong and others a farewell party, and by the way, told the emperor's expectations.

Zhang Zhou sighed: "Unfortunately, I only have coal mines now, but no iron mines. If the two mines are excavated together and smelted in one place..."

"This……"

Xiao Jing understood it as soon as he heard it.

Zhang Zhou here is "If you don't see rabbits, don't cast eagles". When you asked Zhang Zhou about casting more cannons, Zhang Zhou immediately expressed his difficulty and said that there was not enough ore and pig iron. That means the emperor gave him a few more mines?
However, Ming's minerals have always been strictly controlled by the imperial court.

"Eunuch Xiao, don't embarrass yourself, and don't embarrass me. Daming has always been cautious about mining and opening less. Whoever opens the mine is competing with the people...Of course there are privileges on the Xungui side, and I am not an Xunchen. How can I commit a crime knowingly?"

Zhang Zhou said with emotion.

Xiao Jing was taken aback, this is clearly implying that the emperor will not give you a title?Obviously you evaded it yourself, but now you still blame others?
Zhang Zhou asked: "Is there any result in the previous inventory of the redundancy of the inner government's treasury? How much can the salary be discounted?"

"Probably... [-] to [-] percent, this is only the capital officials, and the local generals can't take care of it. You also know that Daming's treasury is tight now, and Daming's expenses in the past two years are really too high..." Xiao Jing looked embarrassed.

In terms of distributing sex money to Beijing officials, it is considered polite for these internal officials not to fill their pockets, because Zhang Zhou is in charge of this matter.

For someone else, try whether we are greedy or not.

Zhang Zhoudao: "I have some spare money here recently, how about borrowing it and using it?"

"what?"

Xiao Jing was really taken aback.

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 still say that you want to use your own purse to pay the ministers of the DPRK and China?

Who believes it?
Zhang Zhoudao: "Speaking of which, I have been doing business with the prince in partnership. It has been a period of time now. No matter if it is mining or something, the profit is not bad. It is said that this business must be maintained for a long time. If the court needs it, I will also privately transfer the money. Hidden, then how to make money with money?"

Xiao Jing smiled wryly and said: "Our family understands the principle of putting the last last, but it's not the same way, right?"

Give money to those ministers, can those ministers make money for you?

What are you kidding?
Zhang Zhou laughed and said, "Eunuch Xiao, if I take out some more silver to give those ministers money for their salaries, will they agree to let me open more iron mines and make more cannons?" ?”

"..."

When Xiao Jing heard this, his face was shocked.

Zhang Zhoudao: "I heard that Daming has always had official land and Huangzhuang, and it has not been well managed. If it can be managed properly in the future, it may be able to solve the urgent need for the court. What do you think?"

Xiao Jing is still silent.

From the Huangzhuang in the Ming Dynasty to the Hongzhi period, it was mainly for the royal family to take care of the land and properties, and the revenue has always been owned by the Inner Palace, which is also the main source of income for the Inner Palace.

Of course, this is also the private land of the imperial palace system. They rely on this to fill their own pockets. How can they be willing to hand over the authority to manage the Huangzhuang to Zhang Zhou?
Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "The words of the family, Mr. Xiao, don't take it to heart. I can't save money for the court. The only way I can think of is to open up more money. Please tell your majesty, Mr. Xiao, I have 3000 taels of spare money here. It was earned after arriving in Beijing, and there are 4000 copies of which I should give dividends to the prince, if His Majesty needs it, feel free to 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 a book and drinking tea in Kunning Palace.

With Zhang Zhou here, it seems that many troubles in the court can be easily solved. He is also in a good mood recently, and his relationship with Queen Zhang is also pretty good. The main reason is that Queen Zhang has stopped making noise recently. She is as quiet as a cute little wife. The couple like to make a villain or something if they have nothing to do. Although there is no result, they still enjoy it.

"He... really said he wanted 3000 taels?" Zhu Youtang was surprised.

It doesn't sound like much money for the minister to give to the court, but his intentions are full.

Xiao Jing took a look at Zhu Houzhao who was looking over here not far away, and said, "Mr. Zhang also said that there are 4000 taels of which should be distributed to the crown prince."

"no!"

Zhu Houzhao seemed to be a normal person at first, thinking about how much money 3000 taels was, and how many fun things he could buy.

But when he heard that there was still his own money in it, he rushed over and protested loudly.

Zhu Youtang glared at his son and said, "Prince, do you understand the rules?"

"Father, it's all the hard work of my son, you can't keep it for yourself." Zhu Houzhao was afraid that the old father would directly confiscate the money that should belong to him, and even felt that the old father would almost certainly confiscate it.

While he was blaming Zhang Zhou and Xiao Jing for telling him about his dividend, he wanted to recover the loss for himself.

Zhu Youtang frowned and said, "You got what you worked so hard for? What did you work so hard for?"

"This... When Erchen opened the business, he went over to give him a strong reputation and yelled at him. Mr. Zhang said that it was because of the effect of Erchen's publicity at that time that the follow-up sales were very good... Royal father, you have so much money yourself, you can just give tens of thousands of taels to uncle and second uncle, and leave 4000 taels to son...isn't that too much?"

Zhu Houzhao's words made Zhu Youtang feel ashamed.

Fortunately, his wife went in with his daughter to take a nap. If Queen Zhang heard this, he would ask a few more questions... probably he would know that the old Zhang family brothers used the money from the inner mansion to fool the Zhang family's ancestors.

Immediately, Zhu Youtang thought again, it was a good thing done by the two brothers-in-law, so what does it have to do with me?

This brat still wants to use this to threaten me?It seems that you don't know how powerful my methods are, do you?
"Bingkuan has all his heart, if I don't accept it, it will be bad." Zhu Youtang really looked down on the more than 1 taels of silver.

But the inner government has counted the groceries in the warehouse, and there are only 5000 taels in total. To use this to distribute to the Beijing officials as salary, one Beijing official can exchange 3000 to [-] percent, but if Zhang Zhou’s [-] [-] taels are added, In the past few years, the salary can be reduced to about [-]%, and the life of Beijing officials is much better.

It can also reflect that the emperor is very wise.

"In this way, only a few thousand taels will be made up, and it will also come from the inner mansion, and it will be given to those officials, including those who have not exchanged this year's salary notes, and they will be discounted together!" Zhu Youtang ordered to Xiao Jing.

Xiao Jing listened.

Is the emperor showing mercy?

The Ming Dynasty never said that the full amount of the salary was converted into color. The last time it was able to exchange forty to fifty percent was during the Chenghua period, and it was only discounted for half a year to one year at a time. This time it will be exchanged for four to five years at a time. Salary money, full discount...

Even Xiao Jing felt sorry for the emperor.

Xiao Jingdao: "Your Majesty, in fact, 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 not only my wish, but also Bingkuan's wish, and the crown prince's wish in it..."

"Father, you can't use your son's money to sell favors." Zhu Houzhao didn't want to let the minister appreciate him.

Use my pocket money to pay ministers salaries?

If the pocket money was given by you, the emperor, forget it, but now it is the income from the business partnership between Erchen and Zhang Zhou, and it will be confiscated. Is it unreasonable?

Zhu Youtang said coldly: "I agree to let you do business with Bingkuan, it's considered a face to you, Prince, you have to know how to advance and retreat."

"Woooo..." Zhu Houzhao looked aggrieved, and he really cried out.

The bear child has never suffered such a big loss. Is there any reason for the father to take what the son has obtained as his own without saying a word?

That Zhang Bingkuan is also a jerk, it’s fine if he gave money to his father, why include mine?

They are all villains!

"However, I have to answer Bingkuan's request. Are there iron ore mines around the capital?" Zhu Youtang was very generous.

He took Zhang Zhou's silver to distribute salaries to the ministers. Of course, he would not let Zhang Zhou suffer. Giving the mine to Zhang Zhou not only met Zhang Zhou's needs, but also conformed to the reality of the court's casting of cannons. , it seems that there is no better proposal than this.

Xiao Jingdao: "There are iron mines around Yongping Mansion, but... most of them are opened by Xun Chen."

Zhu Youtang sighed and said: "When the coal mine was opened earlier, Bingkuan went there by himself, right? If he can open up a new mine by himself, I'm talking about an iron mine, then give him the mine he found. ... I just don't know if he has the ability."

Xiao Jing smiled and said: "Your Majesty, with Mr. Zhang's ability to understand Fengshui, he should be very clear about where there are underground mines, right? Otherwise, how could he make this request to His Majesty?"

"This...hehe, it's true."

Zhu Youtang's eyes were also full of anticipation, "Speaking of which, Bingkuan is really capable. No wonder he said that even if Di Yi learned how to cast cannons, they would not be able to cast such good cannons. The grassland is not satisfied with the mining alone, and now that I think about it, he is reminding Yu Zhen to listen to him more and let him open more mines."

"Father...my son also wants to open mines..."

Zhu Houzhao was wiping tears while thinking about how to make up for his loss.

Zhu Youtang said angrily: "I just took 4000 taels from you, and I will give it to you later. I haven't touched the silver you privately hid in the East Palace, don't you know?"

Zhu Houzhao wiped away his tears, and angrily went to the inner hall.

Zhu Youtang said to Xiao Jing again: "Go and tell Bingkuan, I have agreed to this matter, whether it is iron ore veins or others around, as long as he can open it, I will give it to him. He obtained it earlier. For such a great contribution, given a few mines that he discovered by himself, I think the ministers of the DPRK and China will not have any opinions."

……

……

Xiao Jing really experienced what it means to "pay for what you pay for".

When he exited Kunning Palace, he saw Dai Yi after he came out, and told Dai Yi about the matter.

Dai Yi was surprised and said: "Doesn't that mean that whoever discovers the ore 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... How big is the benefit behind it?"

"It seems...that's what happened."

Xiao Jing swallowed.

Hungry.

Although Xungui has always been involved in the mining of Daming, it is not supported in terms of policy.

But Zhang Zhou's move is tantamount to taking the power of mining. Even if the minister has objections, after all, the whole world is the emperor's territory, and the emperor's decision-making on the matter of mining is more important than everything else.

As for the mining tax, there seems to be no such thing. 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 go out of the way when he does something. I'm afraid that by then, I will have a hard time waiting."

Dai Yi was still wary of Zhang Zhou.

In this point, Xiao Jing is much better than him, because Xiao Jing has not obtained the status of a superior, so he doesn't need to think about how to compete with Zhang Zhou for fame and fortune.

Xiao Jing was also thinking in his heart, did this Eunuch Dai take himself too seriously?

"There is no one who is willing to take money out to give the ministers money, what is he? Take it from the court and use it for the ministers? Is His Majesty buying people's hearts in his name, or is he trying to use His Majesty's hand, To seek personal gain?" Dai Yi was still whining.

Xiao Jing smiled wryly and said: "Eunuch Dai, no matter what, our family has to inform Mr. Zhang of this news. Maybe today... the errands of the Supervisor of Rituals will be ignored."

"go Go."

Dai Yi just sent Xiao Jing away, before Xiao Jing took two steps, he muttered in words that clearly fell into Xiao Jing's ears, "If our family can find a few mines, let Mr. Zhang open them." , can I make some money for myself in the future?"

Xiao Jing was speechless when he heard it.

But think again.

This seems to work.

Even if there are not so many undeveloped mines around the capital, there are still fewer mines in the world?As long as they have a good relationship with Zhang Zhou, these eunuchs seem to have a chance to make a lot of money.

Let's make a fortune together.

……

……

In the city, outside the courtyard where Ning Tong lived, a carriage stopped.

Zhu Daqi, the lead horse next to Zhu Feng, drove the carriage over and knocked on the door of Ning Tong's courtyard.

When the maid came in and informed Ning Tong, when Ning Tong came to the door, he saw the people brought by Zhu Daqi carrying boxes down.

"What is this?" Ning Tong asked.

Zhu Daqi said: "Second Young Madam...it's Ning...Miss, this is your dowry."

"My dowry?" Ning Tong was taken aback.

Didn't all my dowry go to the head of the Chen family to exchange it for silver and go shopping?How come here?

Zhu Daqi said: "That's right. Marquis An Bian knew that your dowry was mortgaged, and he spent money to buy it back. He said it was brought to you, so don't send it away. If you encounter this kind of thing again in the future, it's already gone." I can't help you any more...and this yard will be up for lease in two months, so you have to move to another place to live."

"What do you mean?" Ning Tong frowned.

Zhu Daqi sighed and shook his head: "Marquis An Bian has gone to Pianguan now, and he will not be able to return to the capital for a while, so he is always worried about you. But the future road, you have to go by yourself."

Then Zhu Daqi ordered the people behind him: "Bring the things in!"

It means that we are ordered to do things, and we will leave when we finish our errands.

At this moment, Ning Tong seemed to have figured everything out. She said, "So, from the beginning, Zhang Zhou didn't plan to help the Chen family sister and me. Everything was designed for us. In the end, the Chen family sister went bankrupt, right?"

Zhu Daqi shook his head: "I don't understand Miss Ning's meaning."

Zhu Daqi is very unfamiliar with business, even he is not as business-minded as Ning Tong.

"If you still say no, what about the dowry?" Ning Tong continued to question.

Zhu Daqi said: "I only know that this is the order of Marquis An Bian. If you have any questions, you should ask Marquis An Bian after he returns to the capital."

Ning Tong said with a sad face: "I harmed the Chen family sister and made her think that this business can be done."

Zhu Daqi said disapprovingly: "If the business can't be done, it's just as long as the goods in hand are sold, Miss Ning doesn't have to worry about it. I'll leave now!"

……

……

Zhang Zhou took Wang Mingshan back to the Wang family's mansion in Beijing that day.

This place is not the property of the Wang family. Soon Wang Chun and Wang Shi will go back to their hometown to hold their father's funeral. They will have to guard for 27 months before they can return to court, and their errands will have to be unloaded first.

"Mr. Zhang." Wang Mingshan's father, Wang Shi, was in charge of receiving Zhang Zhou.

The mourning hall was not located in the capital.

The young and old of the Wang family will soon be on their way back to their hometown, and everyone is dressed in mourning.

Wang Yue's significance to the Wang family is too great.

Zhang Zhoudao: "I will mention it to His Majesty later, so that elder brother Ling can inherit the title earlier, but I'm afraid that the royal family will not have the opportunity to use troops in the Northwest in a short time."

Wang Shi sighed and said: "Mr. Zhang, you are overthinking, my Wang family has no unreasonable thoughts."

Except for Wang Yue, a capable person in the Wang family, no matter how capable the rest of the Wang family were, they would not be able to go to the northwest to lead the army.

"However, His Majesty has bestowed upon the three nephews of the Wang family to serve as supervisors for the sons and daughters of the state, and they can also be supplemented by a hundred households of Jinyiwei. Wang Qian's affairs can be arranged. They don't have to return to their hometowns, or they can be transferred from their hometowns."

There is Zhang Zhou.

The Wang family has won the emperor's trust now. Even if Wang Yue died, the emperor planned 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 position, most of them just take some vain positions.

Wang Chun, as the future Marquis of Weining, and Wang Shi, Zhang Zhou's father-in-law, have an extraordinary relationship.

Zhang Zhou's visit to the palace this time is actually tantamount to selling some favors for the emperor.

Wang Shidao: "I will discuss this matter with my brother."

"Hmm." Zhang Zhou also knew that the Wang family probably didn't have much confidence in producing another famous general.

It is already a profit for the Wang family if the old man can get back the title of Marquis of Weining before he dies.

But Zhang Zhou felt that, for the sake of Wang Mingshan's face, he could also help the Wang family cultivate some capable people, and even promote Wang Shi, which is not impossible.

But Wang Shi only thought about his father's funeral now, and didn't pay much attention to it.

……

……

Zhang Zhou came out from Wang's house.

Looking at Wang Mingshan who looked somewhat cute, she asked with a smile, "Mingshan, do you want to be a female general?"

Wang Mingshan looked at Zhang Zhou's eyes, and everything was ignorant and incomprehensible.

Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "Wang's son, there should be no distinction between men and women, and women should not give in to men. Even if your father, uncle, and men of the same generation don't have the desire to make contributions, you should have it, right?"

Wang Mingshan thought for a while, then continued to shake her head.

Zhang Zhou sighed with emotion and looked forward to: "If I have the opportunity to go to the battlefield in the future, I will definitely let you ride the horse and bend the bow, so that even Di Yi in the grassland can see your demeanor as a heroine. After the grandfather passed away, the reputation of Marquis Weining should be You come to flourish."

(End of this chapter)