Chapter 76: Ming Conscience Enters the East Palace
Chapter 76: Ming Dynasty’s conscience enters the East Palace
We met happily over a glass of strong wine, and the brothers talked about everything with laughter... Fatty Zhu happily sent his second brother off, full of confidence, and then it was Zhu Gaosui's turn.
Compared with the caution in dealing with the second child, it is not easy to deal with the third child Zhu.
When the brothers met, Zhu Gaochi said directly: "Third brother, your newspaper is suspected of leaking court secrets. You are too careless in doing things."
Zhu Gaosui was startled, "What secret?"
"Since it's a secret, it's not convenient to tell you. If you want to know, you can go to the Sanfa Department and explain." Zhu Gaochi wrote lightly.
Zhu Gaosui's expression suddenly changed, "Brother, do you want to report me?"
"It's not a conversation, it's just a beating."
"Beat?" Zhu Gaosui said helplessly: "Brother, are you so straightforward?"
Zhu Gaochi said with a smile: "Brothers don't have to be so secretive. It's not good! You are indeed criticizing the current malpractice, but you leaked some things that the court has not announced yet, and you also criticized the important officials of the court, saying that you want to skin them.
Hemerocallis. You also collect money from businessmen, publicize it for them, and advertise it widely... How much money did you receive, but you paid the tax truthfully, and did you give or take it privately? The second brother has paid the tax, and when he comes to you, there is no exception.
Bar?"
At present, there needs to be a just-right event to highlight the pattern of His Highness the Crown Prince and gain the unanimous support of all ministers, so that he can successfully become the Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty.
"Recently, the General Affairs Department has received a local report, which states that a flood occurred in western Zhejiang, affecting more than a dozen states and counties, millions of people, and causing loss of life. The situation is very critical. The imperial court has sent officials to investigate, and the results will be submitted in the near future.
.I think the imperial court will have to find ways to provide relief to the victims and help the displaced people."
Zhu Gaochi deeply agreed and nodded vigorously.
"What good recipe?" Zhu Gaochi asked curiously.
Xu Jingchang said: "The Ministry of Household Affairs means to spend more money and food to provide relief to the victims and reduce taxes... But there is something difficult to solve here."
Today's topic is very clear. It didn't take long before the flood problem in western Zhejiang was discussed.
Zhu Gaochi's face changed in shock and he couldn't help but said: "Western Zhejiang is a rich land, but it has suffered a big disaster. What should we do?"
"Your Highness, there is actually hope for this matter, but we cannot let the court do it. Someone else should step forward."
Fatty Zhu had a smile on his face and said, "Brother, this is your idea, but you want me to take it and present it to my father, how embarrassed I am!"
Xu Jingchang was shocked, what a powerful Fatty Zhu!
"How can you be so agile?"
Xu Jingchang smiled faintly, "This is not easy. The people are suffering from disasters, which hurts His Highness. You only need to take out your family property, the longevity lock of the emperor's grandson, and the gold bracelets of the prince's concubine, and donate them to the people, and buy
Just send the food to the disaster areas. Don't worry, I will also donate money. Just do what you can."
"Your Highness, the King of Han is in charge of this matter. The imperial court is only coordinating and supervising, providing some money and food to relieve the victims. The raw silk produced must have a suitable price, and the price of food cannot be too high. You can mobilize the emperor to supervise the implementation, and correct mistakes at any time...
...To carry out reform and provide relief, and to send money to the countryside, these two things should be done together and complement each other. From the household department to the local government, everyone can benefit. When people are united, things will be easier to handle.
What do you think, Your Highness?"
"What?"
Give up, the affairs of the court are not something your little kid can play around with.
Xu Jingchang and Zhu Gaochi had a good discussion. In the early morning, the emperor arrived and the ministers discussed the matter.
As soon as he finished speaking, Jian Yi immediately stood up and said, "Your Highness is kind, and I am very moved by it. I am willing to donate three months' salary to help the victims."
Xu Jingchang smiled and said: "It doesn't matter, I will give you a good solution to the problem."
…
Is it a dream from Taizu, or is it auspiciousness coming from heaven?
Although Xu Jingchang is not very good at history, he still has some experience in divine dramas.
Zhu Gaochi couldn't help but laugh, "This is what your eldest nephew did at that age. Why are you acting like a child? If you are like this now, even if you sit in that position, you will have to deal with various demands from your father.
Down below, you have to appease the courtiers and govern the people. Look at the civil and military officials of the entire dynasty, the old and new nobles, who can listen to you?"
"Things are universally connected."
Xu Jingchang said: "In places where floods have occurred, after siltation, the land is fertile and suitable for farming... If the people are allowed to plant mulberry trees, raise more silkworms, reel silk, weave silk, and sell goods to the West. They will make money, and the court will
Once you get the silk, won't you solve the dilemma?"
"Don't care who said it, just remember that there are interests behind the silk business. Wherever there are interests, there will be big gentry involved. If you want to become a prince, the first iron rule is not to expose the sores easily. No one will
We know who will be found responsible in the end. Once it becomes difficult for His Highness, it will be difficult to handle."
It says that if you weigh more than this stone, you can be a prince!
In this way, Fatty Zhu will successfully ascend to the throne.
After settling the two stinky brothers, Zhu Gaochi let out a sigh of relief.
Zhu Gaochi said helplessly: "It's so far away, but I still have no clue."
Underestimating the big fat man, Xu Jingchang sighed helplessly. If he had known this, he would have supported Lao San. He looked stupider.
"How could it be! I don't want to be involved!" Xu Jingchang said with a smile: "His Royal Highness is still the King of Han. Let him buy raw silk and sign a contract with the people. He will lend money to the people to buy grain and survive the disaster years. He buys
Raw silk, woven into silk, sold to shipping companies for use on voyages to the West, wouldn't everyone be happy?"
“What is the purpose of both reform and relief?”
Half an hour later, Zhu Gaosui felt aggrieved, almost crying, and left his eldest brother's house dejectedly.
If the common people want to live and businessmen want to maintain production...someone must cut off their flesh to repair the sores. If no one wants to sacrifice, then the fish will die and the net will break.
"Who? It can't be the wise brother, right?" Zhu Gaochi asked suspiciously.
The so-called fundamental purpose of converting rice into mulberry is not to enrich the country and the people, but to fill the shortfall as explained clearly in the first episode. Every penny of silk woven must be used to replenish the national treasury.
For example, a meteorite weighing more than 200 kilograms fell in the yard.
"Your Highness, have you ever thought about it, if we can take the opportunity to implement a program of reform and relief, can we solve the current problem?"
It’s just that no matter how you think about it, it’s a bit inappropriate. The routine is too old and fake at first glance. What should I do?
At this time, Xu Jingchang came to the door again.
"What happened?"
Zhu Gaochi frowned, "My father is very concerned about going to the West... After all, the land tax is fixed, and the increase in commercial taxes will also affect all aspects, so it is difficult. The only way to go to the West is to trade with the barbarians overseas. The goods can go there and the gold and silver are shipped back. This is the most simple and convenient way.
, most favored by my father."
It turns out that Zhu Gaoxu quit, and Xia Yuanji is also a sensible person. He should quickly pave the way for the future prince, otherwise he will be in trouble.
It was wrong from the beginning, and the result was destined to be completely different...
Zhu Gaochi was startled again, "If we do this, I'm afraid it won't solve the real problem and will only be a drop in the bucket."
Sure enough, after saying this, Zhu Gaochi finally took a step forward and stood up. At this moment, all eyes fell on him.
Everything is going well, but it seems that there is still a long way to go before becoming the prince.
Fatty Zhu rolled his eyes at Xu Jingchang, "You think I'm stupid? You can't eat or drink raw silk. If the court does not collect grain and instead collects raw silk, the people will definitely be exploited. Then the price of grain will skyrocket, and another exploitation will happen. A cow will be stripped."
Two layers of skin, if you want to kill someone, just say it, no need to beat around the bush."
"What are you talking about? I'm more careful than you!" Xu Jingchang replied.
"Congratulations, Your Highness, you are only one step away from success."
Zhu Gaochi thought carefully and repeatedly and found that there were indeed no obvious loopholes. As long as the execution ability was sufficient, the chance of success was very high.
The profit from silk is not small, but according to this distribution ratio, how much can be left in the local area?
Xia Yuanji took the initiative and said: "Your Majesty, as far as I know, this flood is related to the flooding of Taihu Lake. Western Zhejiang is originally a rich area with a dense population. This disaster has caused the people to suffer and the court is also struggling. It is very difficult."
Zhu Gaochi nodded, but he said in confusion: "Brother Xian, you told me this and didn't let me give you advice, so how can I explain it to my father?"
"But His Highness can gain fame and become the crown prince smoothly enough... I have even thought about it. With the front page of Di Bao and a fiery conscience, he will be in charge of the East Palace and the Ming Dynasty will be happy to have a crown prince!"
"Reporting to my father, the people are suffering from disasters. My sons and ministers have been thinking hard but can't find a good way to save the people. Therefore, I can only do my best to collect gold and silver utensils at home. My father has rewarded me with money over the years, totaling three thousand taels of gold. All of them have been donated to solve the urgent need.
.”
"Okay, boss, if you threaten your brother, I will go to my mother to cry and ask my mother to make the decision."
"Who said this? Confucius or Mencius?" Zhu Gaochi seemed to have never heard anyone say it.
Xu Jingchang gave him a big eye roll, "What are you thinking? You can take the initiative to propose such a thing? The news of the voyage to the West has long been spread, and the people have suffered disasters. There are so many gentry and wealthy people watching, who doesn't want to get a piece of the pie?
?If you directly contribute the strategy, I don’t know how many people you will offend...I must remind His Highness a wise saying."
Zhu Gaochi said unceremoniously: "Cousin, my father fought for four years, and I stayed in Peiping for four years, responsible for money and food. You really think I don't know anything!"
"Zhejiang is a silk center, but it suffered a major disaster and its raw silk production dropped sharply... Your Majesty is planning to go to the West and has already begun to purchase goods, among which silk is the top priority. He will give it to the barbarian chiefs and trade with wealthy overseas merchants.
Without silk. If Zhejiang cannot recover quickly, let alone this year, even within two or three years, it may not be possible to sail to the West smoothly."
"I understand." He hesitated and said, "By the way, dear brother, this matter won't involve you, right?"
It can be seen from this that you are also a person whose butt determines your head, or that you are powerless even if you have the will.
Using reform and relief at the same time is a dilemma... This is a good idea, but why can't it be done?
In fact, it is clear from the account distribution that during the past twenty years, two million pieces of silk were woven and handed over to the palace, one million pieces were divided among officials at all levels, and the remaining one million pieces were used for
Purchase raw silk, maintain production, and operate with difficulty.
Zhu Gaosui stared at his elder brother and secretly gritted his teeth.
All eyes are on you, all ministers are attentive.
Xu Jingchang nodded secretly, the fat man's judgment about the Western voyages was right, but why the hell didn't you support the Western voyages after you became the emperor?
But where is this event?
Afterwards, the six ministries and nine officials, including Xu Jingchang, were no exception, and they donated generously one after another, and the atmosphere was warm.
Zhu Di watched silently, "My son is indeed a merciful Lord!"
Once these words are spoken, great things will happen!
After all, ordinary princes cannot use the word "lord". Only the prince, who is barely a semi-king, has this qualification.
King of Han Zhu Gaoxu gritted his teeth, Boss, you have won the first game, but don’t be too happy. Your father is still here and your health is not good. Let’s wait and see!
