Zhu Di was imaginative. He used longan-sized pearls to make a pearl shirt. We don’t say how much this dress is worth. Just talking about the weight is absolutely terrifying.
Even though Empress Xu is a tough girl, she probably won't be able to handle it.
"Grandpa Huang is just fooling around. He's just like a child. He's not as mature and stable as me!" Zhu Zhanji complained mercilessly. Ever since he realized Zhu Di's prodigal nature, the little guy had nothing good to say.
Empress Xu didn't care at all, "You are not allowed to talk nonsense... I have made the pearl shirt, and it is not my business to wear it or not. And there are so many pearls, even if they are taken apart and sold, I will not lose money. I will leave them for you later.
How about giving it as a gift to your wife?"
The black boy's face suddenly became feverish, "Royal Grandma, when do you think I can get married?"
Queen Xu was startled, no way, this precious grandson has awakened so early?
"That good grandson, do you have someone you like?"
Zhu Zhanji paused, nodded and said, "There is... a little girl selling wontons next to our school."
When Queen Xu heard this, she was suddenly shocked. What happened to this boy? He actually fell in love with the daughter of a merchant family. There was something wrong!
However, Queen Xu was still calm. She did not rush to get angry, but asked: "My dear grandson, tell me what is going on?"
Zhu Zhanji still liked the imperial grandmother very much, so he said: "When I was in school, their family opened a shop that sold wontons. They had thin skin and big fillings. They were very delicious. Every time I went there, they gave me more.
A. That young lady is very beautiful, and she has dimples when she smiles."
Queen Xu frowned when she heard this. What do you mean, her grandson was kidnapped with just one wonton?
"My dear grandson, you are so young and have already thought about your marriage?"
Zhu Zhanji nodded and said, "Yes, I can't learn from my cousin. I want to be an obedient and good boy."
"Cousin? What's wrong with Xu Jingchang? Isn't he very good?"
Zhu Zhanji hummed: "Royal Grandma, you don't know that my cousin almost didn't find a wife. He offended the court, both civil and military officials, and couldn't find a suitable one. I'm different from him."
Empress Xu also thought of her nephew's marriage. She had spent so much effort but couldn't find a suitable one. If it hadn't been for the restoration of Jianwen's old minister, she might not have been able to meet him...
"Then what are your plans?"
Zhu Zhanji said with a smile: "Me, I plan to get married as soon as possible, so that I won't be afraid of offending everyone in the future!"
Queen Xu was startled, this bastard still wanted to offend someone!
"See if I don't spank you!"
Faced with Empress Xu's slap, Zhu Zhanji decisively broke away and ran away.
Empress Xu was reluctant to beat her grandson. She looked at his back and smiled with emotion.
Children grow up quickly. Although it is still early to get married, within a few years, the grandson will probably play games with the little palace maid.
Therefore, it is not too much to look for a few suitable candidates as soon as possible and leave it alone for now.
But is this granddaughter-in-law chosen from a wealthy family or from a commoner family?
Queen Xu fell into deep thought for a moment and had to find someone to discuss it with.
Although his nephew Xu Jingchang is confused about his own marriage, he is quite shrewd in other matters. Let's take a look at his thoughts... Empress Xu sent someone to inquire, but Xu Jingchang happened to be absent. He was tinkering with Liaodong affairs with Xia Yuanji.
"Lao Xia, let's calculate how many things can make a fortune in Liaodong?" Xu Jingchang smiled and counted.
Needless to say about gold, there were many gold mines in the Northeast in later generations, and the reserves were among the highest in the country. And after crossing Heilongjiang, there were more gold mines there. It is roughly estimated that there are thousands of tons, which is an astonishing amount.
"The medicinal materials are mainly ginseng, fur, various precious animal skins, and fine wood... Dongzhu, this has been mined as early as the Han Dynasty."
Xia Yuanji listened silently and sighed: "Let's put it this way, there are really a lot of good things... Why don't we people here go? Seeing so many good things, I'm drooling just looking at them
.”
Xu Jingchang hummed: "So Xia Shangshu can resign and go to Liaodong to explore, and I can help you with some money to protect you. When you get rich, just remember to share some with me."
Xia Yuanji rolled his eyes at Xu Jingchang, "If you want to kill someone, just say it, there's no need for this! I'm a weak scholar, and if you ask me to go treasure hunting, you might as well kill me!"
Xu Jingchang smiled faintly, "Lao Xia, don't worry, let's think about it, why are the people unwilling to go?"
Xia Yuan Jiping was calm, thought for a while, and suddenly said: "I don't think it's because he doesn't want to go, but because the court doesn't know!"
This sentence was so well said that Xu Jingchang had a smile on his face, clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Old Xia, I'm starting to admire you now."
Do you want to say that Chinese people lack the courage to pioneer?
That's obviously not the case.
According to Zheng He's reports, after the fleet sailed to the Western Ocean, it found many Han people along the way, and they had formed villages and towns of various sizes.
Either farming, or doing business, and enjoying yourself.
Looking at Liaodong, there is already such a large-scale smuggling of gold sands. It is impossible for no one to go through it and it just pops up out of thin air.
What's the real problem?
Even in the current imperial court, there is no corresponding yamen at all, and no one is in charge, so naturally there are no records... Later generations can't see written records, so they think they don't exist.
But as we all know, where the profit is, the businessman is there.
Many civilians were far ahead of the imperial court.
For example, during the Han Dynasty, Zhang Qian sent an envoy to the Western Regions and discovered Shubu... According to this, the Han envoy believed that there must be another road leading to the Western Regions.
Therefore, the Han Dynasty explored the southwest and discovered a trade route that passed through Southeast Asia and South Asia to the Western Regions. This was the Ancient Tea Horse Road...and this discovery also provided the possibility for the Han Dynasty to manage the southwest.
Merchants were far ahead of the imperial court, so it is also applicable to Liaodong.
"Lao Xia, this is definitely the court's dereliction of duty."
Xia Yuanji hummed: "Dingguo Gong, what do you think, do you still want to blame me?"
Xu Jingchang suddenly laughed, "Old Xia, I want to give you the credit!"
Xia Yuanji frowned and said, "Stop beating around the bush and tell me quickly!"
Xu Jingchang nodded, "Then let me put it bluntly... We need to add a yamen to be responsible for this matter."
"What yamen?"
"Is this... Let's call it the Ministry of Commerce. We need to understand the situation in various places, not only in the Ming Dynasty, but also overseas. We need to dispatch personnel, clear trade routes, and find business opportunities and wealth. For example, Zheng He's fleet went to the Western Ocean on a large scale.
A good move. We should not only explore the sea, but also walk on land, understand the people's customs and products in various places, write a book, and publish it all over the world, so that those who are willing to explore can get rich and honor their ancestors."
Xia Yuanji nodded, then chuckled and said, "What you said is good, but unfortunately it's difficult to do."
"Why?"
"No reason." Xia Yuanji snorted: "It's not like you don't know that this time the Taixue incident caused them to go to Peking, so many people were unhappy. You asked them to go overseas, to Liaodong, and go to the bitterest cold
Aren’t you dreaming about this place?”
Xu Jingchang hummed: "They won't go if they don't want to go. Why can't they find someone who can help the country?"
Xia Yuanji glanced at Xu Jingchang, "You are talking about setting up the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The government and the public have not been able to find a suitable civil servant. What do you want me to do?"
"If you can't find a civil servant, look for a military official! Can a living person be made to die of thirst?"
"You?"
Xu Jingchang smiled and said: "Are you willing to recommend me?"
"I don't want to!" Xia Yuanji said decisively: "Just because you put in so much trouble in the post of General Affairs Secretary, no one will be willing. You should just stay in Pingzhangyuan honestly. In any case, I won't let you be
From the Minister of Commerce and Industry."
Xu Jingchang said nonchalantly: "I am really not suitable. Xia Shangshu, Lao Xia, please help recommend one."
Xia Yuanji was startled, and he suddenly realized that this bastard really wasn't holding back his shit.
He wants to create a new department, and he wants a warrior to preside over it!
No wonder it’s inconvenient for him to speak out on his own!
If he said this, everyone would probably object.
"Xu Jingchang, I don't want to be the target of public criticism, you'd better hire someone else!"
Xu Jingchang was calm and said with a smile: "Xia Shangshu, are you willing to be the second child for ten thousand years?"
Xia Yuanji was confused, "What do you mean?"
"Do you need me to explain it clearly? Now Jian Yi controls the staff. As the head of hundreds of officials, his sons have made contributions and have been appreciated by His Majesty. If you don't do something, you will be subordinate to others for the rest of your life.
.”
Xia Yuanji was obviously short of breath. Everything else was fine except that being pressed down by Jian Yi all the time was his fatal weakness.
Xu Jingchang continued: "Lao Xia, the Ministry of Commerce has discovered new business opportunities, and the increase is the national treasury tax revenue. You are now in charge of the treasury finance and taxation. We can make the tax revenue skyrocket in just a short period of time. Why do you think about such a good thing?
What’s wrong?”
Xu Jingchang is heartbroken, I obviously do it for your own good, you should appreciate it!
Xia Yuanji squinted his eyes and thought, this matter is definitely not simple.
Xu Jingchang is not a serious military man, and his appearance is an accident. But if a Ministry of Commerce is really created and a military man is made a minister, it will be a big deal.
But...does it have anything to do with myself?
It’s Jian Yi who needs to worry about personnel matters!
"Ding Guogong, you can set up the Ministry of Commerce, but this ministry only has the third rank, and it must be subordinate to the North Parallel Ministry." Lao Xia left the last resort.
Xu Jingchang laughed loudly, "Deal!"
In Prince Yan's Mansion, Li Jinglong was dressed in military uniform and kowtowed repeatedly.
"Your Majesty, please allow me to lead the soldiers to Liaodong in search of gold."
Zhu Di frowned and said, "Dong Cao, as a hereditary Duke of the imperial court and a noble person, your trip to Liaodong is full of difficulties and dangers. Not to mention the bitter cold in the place, there are also Jurchens. If something goes wrong, then
It’s not going to be good.”
Li Jinglong shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, exploring foreign lands and opening up territories for the imperial court is a great achievement that you can only dream of. The matter of going to the West has already fallen to Eunuch Zheng. If on land, warriors are still afraid of swords and avoid swords
, How can you still live with dignity in the world if you are unwilling to move forward? In the prosperous times of the Han and Tang Dynasties, were there officials who were greedy for life and afraid of death?"
