The establishment of the Dongji Work Factory was faster than expected. It only took two days to appoint the key personnel.
Of course, the main reason is that there are not many backbones. There is one admiral, one for each thousand households, one for each hundred households, several bosses, housekeepers, etc., a total of less than fifty people.
However, their power is not small. Searching and arresting people are all within the scope of their responsibilities. Moreover, they have the right to observe the interrogation of the Jin Yiwei.
As a result, Jin Yiwei's power has been greatly reduced, and the exercise of power has also been restricted.
The admiral of the Dongji Office was also from Prince Yan's palace. He was Xiao Linzi, the station eunuch. His qualifications were not as good as those of Sanbao, but he was younger than him. He was only in his thirties. For eunuchs, he was at the right age.
——Eunuchs are generally very capable!
With San Bao and Zhu Jade in front of him, Xiao Linzi also hopes to be like San Bao and start a career.
Ever since Sanbao went to the West, he has become the idol of all the eunuchs. When the eunuchs mention Sanbao, they straighten up their backs a little. Such a number one figure has emerged. They are very protective of their spiritual leader.
The eunuch has low self-esteem, missing a crotch, and feels like a dwarf. Now that the opportunity has come, he naturally has to show off.
Zhu Di knew that the Jinyiwei tree had deep roots and it was impossible to rely on these dozens of people to fight against Jinyiwei. Therefore, he supported Dongji Shichang quite a lot.
They were given an office space on the north side of Dong'an Gate, and an additional fifty thousand taels of silver were allocated to recruit manpower.
Needless to say, although these eunuchs have little education, their work ability is not bad, and their work enthusiasm is very high.
On this day, Li Qing and Zhu Di came to Dongchang to check the progress and couldn't help but be surprised.
In less than half a month, more than 800 servants were recruited, and all of them were powerful and tall. The factory was running like this.
The only thing that made Li Qing unhappy was that the portrait of Yue Fei was enshrined in the lobby of Dongchang Yamen.
Just... outrageous!
Wu Mu has a spirit in heaven. If he saw this scene, I don't know what he would think... Li Qing couldn't help but ask: "Father-in-law, why are you hanging the portrait of Yue Wu Mu?"
"Uh-huh..." Xiao Linzi said with a smile, "Our family is not very capable, but we are always loyal to the emperor. Yue Wumu is the most loyal to the emperor, and we admire him."
After hearing the explanation, Zhu Di's expression changed from confusion to satisfaction.
Li Qing touched his nose and couldn't say anything.
…
After leaving Dongchang, Zhu Di breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile: "Did you see it?"
"What?"
"Eunuchs are not without merit." Zhu Di said, "It's okay if you don't have a chance. Once you have a chance, no one is much worse than anyone else;
We are all human beings. Just because you have read some books, you will necessarily be capable and superior to others."
Li Qing nodded, fully understanding this.
Even he, the most ordinary recent graduate in later generations, could be granted the title of Marquis and become a minister.
Many times, many people suffer from the lack of opportunities. Once they have the opportunity, they may not be able to make a career.
Lao Zhu could become an emperor even as a cowherd boy, and he did a very good job. Although his ability was outstanding, what was more important was his opportunity.
Zhu Di stretched his body and said with a smile: "There is a letter from Sanbao. The treasure ship has entered the Ming Dynasty. It will take at most half a month for the treasure ship to return."
"Sambo is coming back?" Li Qing said in surprise, "What do you mean, have you found the sweet potato?"
"I didn't say this, so I probably didn't." Zhu Di shook his head slightly, "However, he discovered a new country this time."
When Li Qing heard this, his expression darkened at first, then became happy, and then asked: "Where are the potatoes?"
"You're talking about Yongle Bean, right?"
"……yes."
"I brought back a lot," Zhu Di said, "The reason why Sanbao took so long this time is to bring back more seeds. Fo Langji regarded Yongle beans as ornamental flowers and did not plant them on a large scale;
Sanbao asked them to plant it extensively, and took advantage of this gap to cooperate with the adventurers of Franji to explore a new continent;
Just because of the monsoon and the inability to keep up with supplies, as a precaution, we had to return and did not land..."
Zhu Di explained why Sambo took so long.
"New World?" Li Qing scratched his head and thought to himself: "It shouldn't be America, right?"
Calculating the time, Sanbao's voyage to the West this time set off at the end of the 14th year of Yongle. It is now May of the 19th year of Yongle, which is almost twice as long as the previous voyages.
After such a long time, it is not unusual to discover new continents.
Li Qing suddenly thought of something and said hurriedly: "By the way, Your Majesty, have you sent someone to send a letter to the Three Treasures about moving the capital?"
If Sanbao returns to the court and finds that he has returned to the wrong home, he will definitely make a joke.
"I told you." Zhu Di said angrily, "In your eyes, am I that careless?"
"Ah haha... Your Majesty misunderstood." Li Qing curled his lips secretly and apologized.
Li Qing was happy in his heart. Although he could not bring back the sweet potatoes, if the New World was discovered, the sweet potatoes would not be far away, and he could do business further.
Next, just wait for Sanbao to come back.
~
The rapid establishment of Dongchang was staggering, but most officials didn't care.
They didn't think what this group of eunuchs could do.
But he soon received a slap in the face. Ten days later, Lu Zhen, the Minister of Rites, was found to be involved in the arson case of the three main halls, and the evidence was conclusive.
Zhu Di was not polite either, Ling Chi would kill the nine tribes!
The downfall of a minister made all the ministers silent. It was only then that they realized how powerful these unruly people were.
The officials complained endlessly, and finally eased the relationship with Jin Yiwei, and then came out of Dongchang. When will this day... come to an end!
Dongchang is different from Jinyiwei. This department is controlled by eunuchs. The civil service group can make friends with Jinyiwei, but they are unwilling to make friends with eunuchs.
Without him, I want to lose face!
At this time, civil servants still had a bottom line.
In any case, Jinyiwei can be regarded as an official of the Ming Dynasty, a minister of the emperor, and a colleague; but Dongchang is nothing but a powerful eunuch and a slave of the emperor.
They despise eunuchs from the bottom of their hearts. In their eyes, eunuchs are even lower than prostitutes.
Of course, the generals also disliked Dongchang.
For Dongchang, civil servants and military generals united the front.
But the eunuchs of Dongchang didn't care. They had made meritorious service and received rewards, which made them more motivated.
All eunuchs, follow the example of the Three Treasures!
I have to say that Dongchang is pretty good at this stage, both capable of doing things and very loyal.
After Dongchang entered the government, the court returned to calm again, and the storm of relocating the capital completely subsided, and many people no longer even thought about moving back.
At this time, Zhu Di changed Peking to the capital, made a new set of official seals with the words capital, and sent them back to Jinling.
At this point, the Ming Dynasty officially established its capital in Peiping, while Jinling became its companion capital.
Jinling was the birthplace of Taizu and served as the capital for decades. Zhu Di did not dare to abolish it directly, and retained its administrative structure.
As a result, the Ming Dynasty had two capitals, one in Nanjing and one in Beijing.
…
Five days later.
When the Three Treasures returned, Zhu Di stopped the noon court and hosted a banquet for officials to welcome the Three Treasures.
Admiral Dongchang, Qianhu, and the stall owners were very happy about the idol's return. Although they were not qualified to sit down, they came to the banquet with a shy face to pay their respects to the idol.
I was very busy pouring wine and other things for the emperor, prince, grandson and idols.
These people were born to serve people, and they all looked like they were covered in honey. They were very good at warming up the situation, which made Zhu Di laugh loudly.
Zhu Di is very happy. The money tree is back. How can he not be happy?
"Sambo, how much money did you make this time?" Zhu Di asked.
Sanbao put down his wine glass and replied: "Because it took too long to go to sea, some of it was consumed, but it is still much more than last time. It also carried a large amount of Yongle rice seeds, as well as soil... Yongle beans."
He smiled and said: "I brought a lot of seeds this time. I only need to plant them once. I will no longer have to worry about seeds in the future."
Zhu Di patted Sanbao on the shoulder and said with emotion: "Thank you for your hard work. Ming Dynasty is really lucky to have you!"
"Your Majesty has given you too much praise." Sanbao said cautiously, "Without the Emperor's sage, how could the Ming Dynasty be what it is today?"
"Oh? Haha..." Zhu Di felt happy in his heart. He had not been this happy for a long time. He wanted to recite a poem, but there was no ink in his stomach, so he had to say, "Here, drink!"
The Three Treasures are the treasures of Zhu Di's heart, and they are also the treasures of the Ming Dynasty.
Because every time he returns, he brings huge wealth.
Zhu Zhanji raised his glass and said, "Sambo, I'd like to toast you."
"Your Majesty, you are welcome."
Sanbao raised his glass and drank it all, feeling quite emotional in his heart: before he left, his great-grandson was still a teenager, and after he came back, his great-grandson became a father. Time flies so fast!
Li Qing was also filled with emotion. Thinking back to the time when he was a young man, it seemed like yesterday. In the blink of an eye, he was already fifty.
Time is not forgiving!
…
Li Qing raised a glass to the Three Treasures. After drinking the wine, he asked: "What is the yield per mu of Yongle beans?"
"The yield per mu is amazing." Sanbao said excitedly, "This thing can be grown twice a year, and the annual yield per mu is over a thousand kilograms. If planted properly, the yield will be higher. The key is that this thing is easy to handle and is much better than rice."
"A yield per mu is a thousand catties?" Zhu Di's pupils shrank, "Seriously?"
Sanbao nodded.
"Oops..." Zhu Di was so excited that he couldn't control himself, "It's going to happen now."
Only with sufficient food can the population grow, and only when the population grows can the national strength be strong... Zhu Di's eyes brightened, and he said with a strange smile: "My Yongle era is finally coming."
Smiling, Zhu Di suddenly noticed that several people were looking at him with strange expressions. Zhu Di's face heated up and he said angrily, "What, did I say something wrong?"
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty." Several people quickly followed suit.
Zhu Zhanji thought to himself: Why does Grandpa Huang smile so...obscenely?
~
After the banquet was over, Zhu Di ordered the household department, Jinyiwei, and Dongchang to make statistics on the specific harvest, and then took Sanbao to the imperial study for a detailed discussion.
Li Qing was called to the East Palace by Xiaopang.
"What's wrong?"
"Brother Qing, Ming Dynasty has accumulated savings in the past few years, and with the wealth brought back by the Three Treasures, the national treasury is already quite rich. I'm worried..." Xiaopang smiled bitterly, "You also know who my father is, so he can't
rich."
"You're overthinking." Li Qing sneered and shook his head, "Wala, the Tatars are very stable. Even if they want to fight, they can't do anything."
After a pause, he said, "Besides, armed preparation is a common thing, and war is not harmful or beneficial."
Xiaopang nodded slightly, and then smiled bitterly: "His wars not only cost money, but also cost me. Over the years, he has gradually stopped doing things. I am getting more and more tired, and my endurance is not as good as before."
"..." Li Qing asked, "How much money does the treasury have now?"
"How should I put it..." Xiaopang thought for a while, "An army of 500,000 troops went to the north three times, which is more than enough."
"So rich?" Li Qing was shocked, "It's only been a few years, how can you save so much money?"
Xiaopang smiled and said: "You don't know something about this. In recent years, with the completion of the canal and the completion of the construction of the capital, the imperial court's expenditure has been very small;
After the farmers were spread out, the annual taxes were 30% higher than in previous good years. Moreover, the pressure on the people was reduced, and there were fewer victims in need of disaster relief. While the handicraft industry developed, it also brought a large wave of taxes;
Ming Dynasty is rich now." Xiaopang warned, "I don't dare to tell my father. He only knows that the finances are no longer tight, and he doesn't know that he has so much money."
"..." Li Qing rolled his eyes, "Give me your hand."
"what?"
"Let me see your body."
Xiaopang handed over his arm, and Li Qing pressed it for a while before he felt the pulse and frowned.
"What's wrong?" Xiaopang asked nervously, "I don't think there's anything wrong with me. It's just that sometimes after dealing with official duties for a long time, I feel a little dizzy and weak. I just need a nap and it'll be fine."
"Are you serious about sleeping?"
"Of course it's not serious." Seeing that he was in the mood to joke, Xiaopang relaxed and said with a smile: "After a busy day, I usually reward myself."
Li Qing was speechless: "No big problem, just high blood pressure. Eat more vegetables, less meat, and don't reward yourself all the time."
"It's okay, why are you squinting?" Xiaopang complained, "You scared me."
Li Qing said seriously: "You really should lose weight. It's hard to take your pulse."
"Let's forget about losing weight. After so many years and losing weight so many times, I have never really succeeded and I still suffer." The little fat guy said, "I will just eat less meat."
You didn't mention sleeping at all... Li Qing said helplessly, "You're already in your forties, and you still act like a young guy at eighteen?"
"Be careful in the future, be careful~" Xiaopang smiled and said, "Brother Qing, please design a recipe for me. I will follow it in the future."
"Okay, I'll get one for you later."
Xiaopang said cheerfully, "Would you like some more drinks?"
"Have tea!"
…
The two of them drank tea and talked about the current situation. After chatting for more than an hour, Li Qing stood up and left, and Xiaopang went out to see them off.
As soon as he went out, he didn't go far when he met Yu Qian who was out of breath, "I have seen... His Highness the Crown Prince, I have seen..."
"Farewell." Li Qing asked, "Is there something big going on?"
Yu Qian nodded and said succinctly, "Bian came to report that Wala invaded Hami, and the Tatars are coming to invade Bian."
————
ps: It’s snowing, and my hands are so cold that I can’t control myself. It’s only two chapters, but this chapter is very long.