Daming: Mixed in Dangzhi County, Beiping

"Great!"

Zhu Di was overjoyed. Although he didn't understand much, he could tell that the gold, silver and copper reserves in those mines were definitely not small!
  "You have achieved great success this time!"

Ma He hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, I don't dare to take credit. These are the places where Marquis Dinghai informed Wei Chen and others!
  Wei Chen and others did not contribute much! "

Zhu Di smiled softly and said quietly: "I think it was the Marquis of Dinghai who asked you to hide this from those ministers!"

"Your Majesty's lesson!"

On the side, Guo An, who knew he could not escape, stood up quickly and raised his hand towards Zhu Di.

Ma He, on the other hand, did not dare to continue talking.

Guo Andao said: "Your Majesty, I have some selfish motives for teaching you this way, and His Highness the Crown Prince also agrees with this matter. Please punish me!"

Zhu Gaochi: "..."

Zhu Di's eyelids twitched slightly, Guo Thief actually used the prince to take the blame.

Zhu Gaochi gave a helpless smile, stood up, saluted Zhu Di, and apologized.

"Father, forgive me. This is also because the child thinks what the teacher said is reasonable!"

"Oh?"

Zhu Di couldn't help but be curious.

"Guo...what did Guo Qing say?"

Guo Andao: "Reporting to Your Majesty, I feel that Ma He, Hou Xian, Xu Xiang and other old people in Beiping Prefecture risked their lives, abandoned their families and children, narrowly escaped death, and went to the West to find a path to wealth. Outsiders need to go.

Even if they have no choice but to give some to outsiders, the best places should be chosen first by people like Ma He, Xu Xiang, and Qiu Song! "

"Choose first?"

Hearing this, Zhu Di frowned slightly and said with some confusion: "Guo Qing, what should Ma and them choose first?"

Guo An smiled sheepishly and said sheepishly: "This time, it's a humble minister who is bold and hasn't given advice to His Majesty yet!"

"Oh?"

Zhu Di's face lit up with joy, and he immediately put aside his unhappiness and asked, "Guo Qing has any good plans?"

Guo Andao: "Reporting to your Majesty, now that the fleet has gained so much from its voyage to the Western Ocean, does your Majesty have any plans to open the sea?"

"We are going to open the sea!"

Zhu Di nodded without thinking. Ever since Guo An entered his Prince Yan's palace, he had fallen in love with the luxurious life.

No, it must be that he is deeply infatuated with the luxurious life.

And now he is the emperor of the entire Ming Dynasty. Even if he has a lot of money, he must make more money in order to maintain such a luxurious life, at least not to be constrained by those officials.

"Then if your Majesty opens the sea, he should send troops to guard the key barbarian lands and ports in the South and West, especially the barbarian lands with gold, silver, copper, spices and precious stones!"

"It's natural!"

"In this way, generals such as Ma He, Hou Xian and Xu Xiang, Zhu Neng, Tan Yuan, and Qiu Song who are familiar with the situation in Southeast Asia and the West will have the opportunity to go and serve as the garrison governor!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Di, Zhu Gaochi and others immediately understood what Guo An meant.

Ma He, Xu Xiang, Zhu Neng and others all had a hint of joy in their eyes.

Zhu Di couldn't help but said coldly: "Guo Qing is not afraid that I will say that you form a clique for personal gain?"

The atmosphere in the hall suddenly became dead silent.

Guo An's face changed slightly, and he was full of grievance: "Your Majesty clearly knows that although I am a little biased, it is human nature.

Wei Chen is most familiar with Ma He, Xu Xiang and others and has the best relationship.

They risked their lives and took the fleet to the Western Ocean, which was also suggested by Wei Chen.

Moreover, Wei Chen felt that, no matter what other officials in the court were like, Ma He, Xu Xiang and others must be loyal to His Majesty, and they all have the talents of generals!
  Therefore, no matter from which aspect, the ministers should favor them! "

"Ha ha……"

Zhu Di sneered again.

Ma He, Xu Xiang and others had frightened expressions on their faces. How could Mr. Hou be so reckless?

Guo An lowered his head slightly and waited quietly.

He didn't believe that Zhu Di would really be angry, and he didn't believe that Zhu Di would think that he was forming a clique for personal gain and would be afraid of him!

There are too many dignitaries and officials who are more powerful than him in their officialdom. Even if he, Guo An, unites with all the generals in Beiping Prefecture, he probably won't be able to rank among the top ten!
  Moreover, he, Guo An, is partial!

Anyway, he is magnanimous!

"You are quite magnanimous!"

Zhu Di suddenly smiled softly, and the dead atmosphere in the hall suddenly lightened up.

The tight bodies of Zhu Gaochi, Ma He, Xu Xiang and others also relaxed subconsciously, and their backs felt slightly cold.

"Your Majesty, please punish me for being reckless!"

Guo An also apologized very wisely.

"Tsk, will you, Marquis Dinghai, still be reckless?"

Zhu Di glared at Guo An with a strange expression, then looked at Ma He, Xu Xiang and others.

"Ma He, Hou Xian, Xu Xiang, Zhu Neng, Tan Yuan, Qiu Song... If there is an opportunity to guard, would you be willing to lead troops there?"

"We will obey your Majesty's orders!"

Ma He, Xu Xiang and others responded respectfully.

"Ok!"

Zhu Di nodded slightly and didn't say anything more.

…    In the capital city.

As fleets loaded with various goods docked at various docks in the capital, they were transported to various warehouses.

All the dignitaries, officials, and gentry in the capital also began to inquire around.

The fleet brought back too many good things.

Your Majesty will definitely not be able to use up these things and will definitely sell them.

Simultaneously.

Many people are also inquiring about news about Southeast Asia and the West, intentionally or unintentionally.

However, the soldiers, craftsmen, doctors, etc. of the voyage fleet have not returned yet.

then.

News from Southeast Asia, the West, and other overseas countries could only come from the mouths of important ministers such as Xu Huizu, Li Jinglong, Bao Zhao, Yu Xin, and Zheng Yi.

Then, it was passed from the mouths of noble officials to the ears of the gentry and merchants.

in this way.

The dangerous situation in Southeast Asia and the West spread vividly in the capital.

moment.

Many people backed down, and several gentry also hurriedly sold the ships they had just bought at high prices.

They actually made some silver, and the gentry were happy for a long time.

hear these.

Guo An was just lying comfortably on the soft chair in Dinghaihou Mansion, with a leisurely look on his face and a slight smile on his lips.

The Maritime Trade Chamber of Commerce can earn some more silver.

Inside Fengtian Temple.

Zhu Di's forehead turned black. Those cowards who listen to the wind are like rain.

but.

When Zhu Di saw the thick account books on the table in front of him, he couldn't help but grin slightly.

[-] jins of gold nuggets and utensils, [-] jins of silver...

Two thousand boxes of spices, ten thousand boxes of pepper, one thousand boxes of gems, one hundred boxes of ivory...

What Guo Qing said is indeed true. Although those barbarians are ignorant, they have a lot of treasures!
  pity.

Having too many treasures is not a good thing. If Ma He, Xu Xiang and others can take the fleet to the West and Southeast Asia several times again, he will definitely be able to add some more money to his bank account.

He can also save enough money for Zhu Gaochi like his father.

pity.

Those barbarians are stupid and have many treasures.

Those in the court would definitely not want all this property to enter his internal funds.

Especially that old guy Yu Xin...

All the officials in the Ministry of Revenue are not good at anything!
  but.

Making money with one fleet is far less good than making money with thousands of fleets.

Just give some commercial taxes to the households and silence the courtiers!

He only needs to send some soldiers who are loyal to him to quietly dig up all the gold, silver, and copper mines in the South and West and put them into his internal funds!

The more he thought about it, the more beautiful Zhu Di felt.

The various overseas treasures and objects brought back by the fleet this time are far beyond Zhu Di's imagination.

It took half a month to transport all the goods from the more than two hundred ships to the capital.

During this time.

A special auction yard in the capital was also quickly repaired.

Zhu Di said to Guo An: "We heard that Guo Qing wants the Maritime Trade Chamber of Commerce to auction those rare jewels brought back by the fleet?"

"Go back to Your Majesty, that's exactly what it is!"

Guo An nodded slightly.

Zhu Di couldn't help but frown slightly, worried, "With so many rare pearls put together, how can they be auctioned at a high price?"

Guo An smiled lightly, very confident.

"Reporting to your Majesty, with so many rare pearls and treasures put together, it is natural that they will not fetch a high price at auction.

However, it will take at least a year before the sea is opened, before the next fleet goes to Nanyang, and then returns to the Ming Dynasty.

Wei Chen is going to auction some first. If those gentry and merchants want to lower the prices, Wei Chen will hold an auction every half a month or a month...

Wei Chen didn't believe that those gentry and merchants dared to join forces to lower the price!

If that's the case, I'm not afraid. It just so happens that our Maritime Trade Chamber of Commerce has opened some shops in various state capitals of the Ming Dynasty to sell these rare things..."

Zhu Di's eyes lit up.

"This is a great plan!"

The most important thing is that the money from the intermittent auctions will not be too conspicuous, and it will not cause pink eye to Yu Xin's old guys!

... (end of this chapter)