This official... couldn't understand what the emperor said.
If you can't understand the emperor's intention, and you can't get a result from asking, you can't get to the bottom of it, and instead force the emperor, right? Let yourself figure it out...what can you figure out?
Since you don’t understand, you can only ask others for advice. But who should you ask for advice?
You can't ask Tang Yin and Zhu Hao, right?
I just entered the cabinet today. Did I go to Yang Tinghe for advice?
So who am I?
Yuan Zonggao left the Qianqing Palace and thought about it for a while. He could only ask one person for advice at the moment. Just as he was guessing, this person happened to come around from the back door of the Qianqing Palace and looked at him with a smile.
It was Zhang Zuo.
"Mr. Yuan, our family would like to say congratulations. For a scholar, joining the cabinet is a lifelong wish. Now that Mr. Yuan's wish has been fulfilled, I am happy to congratulate you."
Zhang Zuo cupped his hands and congratulated him.
Yuan Zonggao was not happy at all. When he thought about Zhang Zuo, there seemed to be something wrong with his words.
Zhang Zuo accompanied Yuan Zonggao towards Donghua Gate.
Yuan Zonggao spoke frankly and asked the emperor to what extent he wanted to investigate the accounts of the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Accounts.
Zhang Zuo asked curiously: "Didn't Your Majesty make it clear to Mr. Yuan? Isn't it just to talk about this matter when Your Majesty summoned Mr. Yuan?"
As he said this, Zhang Zuo was gloating in his heart, thinking to himself, look at you like this, where did the majesty you had when you were in Prince Xing's Mansion gone? When our family didn't know that His Majesty called you here to play tricks on those in the cabinet. Think you are the one behind the invisibility?
Yuan Zonggao sighed: "Your Majesty only said that he would investigate, but did not mention how far the investigation would go. It is expected that there are many accounts of river engineering, and I am afraid that it will only take a few months or even years..."
"well!"
Zhang Zuo sighed and interrupted Yuan Zonggao's words.
Yuan Zonggao said: "Eunuch Zhang, please tell me something."
Zhang Zuo smiled and said: "This matter was ordered by Mr. Yuan to investigate. Originally, our family should not have intervened, but if the investigation cannot be completed in a while, we might as well... make a copy and find someone to investigate, no. That’s it?”
"who?"
Yuan Zonggao was eager to know whose advice the emperor's recent abnormal behavior came from.
Of course, Zhang Zuo would not tell Yuan Zonggaoming. Although the candidate was actually ready to be announced, Zhang Zuo would continue to pretend to be confused: "Don't worry about who it is. When the time comes, we will find someone for the transcript."
After hearing this, Yuan Zonggao felt as if he was being used as a cover and being targeted for being a standout.
This made him very depressed.
"Eunuch Zhang, we are all old friends, so let's make it clear. Is your Majesty's original intention to let Bohu check the accounts of the Ministry of Industry? As far as I know, Bohu has been in the palace for many years and rarely interferes with the accounts of the palace. Can he find out in a hurry?"
Yuan Zonggao looked solemn.
Zhang Zuo thought to himself, are you really someone who still despises Mr. Zhu?
Who said Tang Yin must be the one to investigate?
Zhang Zuo sighed: "Mr. Yuan, now we are all following orders, why do we need to ask so clearly about things other than our own responsibilities? Mr. Tang is incompetent, is there no one else? The most important thing is to investigate by yourself, so There will be no situation of bullying superiors and concealing subordinates. Can we trust those veterans of the previous dynasty who are good at covering up?"
Yuan Zonggao thought about it for a moment and couldn't help but nodded.
What Zhang Zuo said makes sense.
Whether the investigation is clear or not is secondary. The most important thing is to conduct the investigation as "one's own people" to ensure that no one is deceived.
"Besides, there are experts in accounting in Dongchang and Jinyiwei. Mr. Yuan only needs to do his part. The Donghua Gate is approaching, so we will go back first and say goodbye."
If Zhang Zuo didn't explain it clearly, he would let Yuan Zonggao figure it out on his own.
When he turned around and walked back, Zhang Zuo felt extremely comfortable. Although the person whom the emperor trusted the most was not him, at least he was not on the wrong team and was on the same page as Zhu Hao and Tang Yin.
Zhang Zuoxin said, you, Lao Yuan, can't even take sides if you want. Who made you run against the two of them so hard before? You deserve what happened today.
…
…
The matter of auditing the accounts cannot be started at the moment.
At this time, there were only four days left before the palace examination. Zhu Hao followed Zhu Si's request and formulated the test questions for this palace examination in Zhu Si's tone.
Tang Yin was amazed after seeing it.
"Zhu Hao, it seems that you can indeed take charge of your own business. Even if you go back to your hometown to plant flowers and grass as a teacher, you can feel at ease." Tang Yin sighed with emotion.
Zhu Hao glared at the old boy.
I thought, if I drive you away now, will you leave?
What a shameless moan.
The date for the palace examination has been set, and Zhu Hao doesn't even need to prepare for the examination in the past two days, because most of the questions in the palace examination will be his own. Even the questions are known in advance, so what else is there to prepare for? In terms of understanding of this question, there is no comparison
Is he, the question maker, more advanced?
Zhu Hao said: "Sir, I am going to see Dongzhu Su today, will you go?"
Tang Yin shook his head: "What's so good about a merchant? You've already finished your official duties? I'm going to send you another bunch of memorials this afternoon. If you don't take a good rest, I'm afraid you'll be depressed when you go to the palace examination!"
Zhu Hao smiled and said: "Don't underestimate the merchants, okay? Your Majesty has just ascended the throne, and the Ministry of Revenue is not under control. All the money in the inner treasury has been taken away by the ministers. Now, if you want to do something,
Where can we get the money? At that time, civil servants will not be able to take advantage of the situation and tell His Majesty about the need to be diligent and thrifty, so that Your Majesty will retreat when faced with difficulties."
"So you want to get money from Dongzhu Su? He will give it to you? Don't you have it yourself?" Tang Yin asked questions like a barrage of questions.
Zhu Hao said: "I only have 18,000 taels on hand, so what can I do? Dongzhu Su is a very wealthy man. He has the support of businessmen from all over the country and has a very close relationship with the Huizhou Merchants Chamber of Commerce. In the short term, the lack of money is still
It's better to take it from his hand."
Tang Yin thought for a moment and then nodded to express his understanding.
Zhu Hao didn't explain too much to him, so he calmed down and went to see Su Xigui.
…
…
Su Xigui's theater.
The private room had been prepared long ago. When Zhu Hao arrived, tea and snacks were quickly served. Su Xigui was originally meeting guests, but when he heard that Zhu Hao had arrived, he ran over to meet him.
"My young master, I would like to extend my regards to you." Su Xigui bowed half as low as he gave a big gift, which made Zhu Hao very uncomfortable.
Zhu Hao hurriedly asked: "What is Dongzhu Su doing? Being so outspoken?"
Su Xigui said with a smile: "I met Master Tang before and heard him mention you. I know that you are now a popular person around His Majesty."
Zhu Hao became angry when he heard this.
You, Tang Yin, pretend to be like Su Xigui in front of me. You don't want to know that we have already met in private, and you reveal my secret to Su Xigui. It's really... hateful!
But think about it, what Tang Yin told Su Xigui was not a secret. After all, Su Xigui knew very well how close the relationship between Zhu Hao and Prince Xing's palace was. If Su Xigui really wanted to reveal it, then at most Zhu Hao would not join Yang Tinghe's party as an undercover agent and directly point it out.
Just do it with the emperor.
At worst, I will be called the second Jiang Bin. At least I am a Jinshi, and I am much better than Jiang Bin in governing the country. If you don't agree, let's compete head-on.
If Su Xigui could keep the secret strictly, Zhu Hao would still stick to his original plan and continue to live in the orthodox civil service system.
Just be the emperor's shadow aide.
"Mr. Tang is so direct. Mr. Su, please sit down... Oh, by the way, what else did he tell you?" Zhu Hao asked tentatively.
Su Xigui suddenly realized that he might have made a mistake, and quickly explained: "When I met Master Tang, we didn't talk much and didn't mention anything else, but I learned that your Majesty seems to be worried about money now. I can't do anything else, if I can do something for you
Your Majesty will do your best to contribute money and food... Hey."
He also said that we didn’t talk much, but it seems that you are very familiar with each other.
Zhu Hao thought again, Su Xigui knew Tang Yin earlier than he knew himself. Tang Yin went to Anlu under Su Xigui's guidance. Su Xigui was the introducer to the acquaintance of master and disciple.
Maybe Tang Yin is short of money recently and wants to use some information to exchange some money from Su Xigui?
Zhu Hao was just thinking about what he was thinking, when Su Xigui really made a move to stuff money: "Young master, I don't know how to contribute, so why not do this? I have one hundred thousand taels of silver in the capital, but I don't know how to help His Majesty, so I'll hand it over first.
I will give you an additional ten thousand taels with the young master... If the young master needs it, feel free to dispatch it. What do you think?"
Come up and give a gift of 110,000 taels, and make it clear first that you look at the flowers yourself, and it is up to you how much you give to the emperor and how much you spend.
I really can’t afford to spend all the hundred thousand taels, but the last ten thousand taels are also given to you as a filial piety.
Zhu Haodao: "It's like this, Mr. Su, I've been thinking about a business recently, which is to improve the money shop in the capital. In addition to exchanging silver taels and copper coins for loose silver, I also add lending and deposit business. This matter
If we do it well, we may be able to secretly raise money for His Majesty, but with my ability, it is really difficult for me to support such a big situation."
Upon hearing this, Su Xigui stepped forward and asked: "How big...will this round be?"
"Of course it will open to all parts of the country. There must be semicolons in the capitals of each province. In places such as Jiangnan and the capital, there will only be more semicolons. It will be comprehensively laid out and the money handled will be at least several million taels..."
Zhu Hao gave introductory explanations.
Su Xigui shook his head: "I don't have the strength to support myself."
Zhu Hao smiled and said: "Even if we can sustain it, with no one borrowing money and no deposits, we are still waiting for bankruptcy? I heard that Dongzhu Su has a good relationship with Huizhou merchants, and in addition, Dongzhu Su has Huang Gong behind him. In terms of credibility,
It is guaranteed. If His Majesty helps you secretly again, you see..."
Su Xigui heard that he had the emperor as his backer, and then used Huang Zan as a guise to open banks across the country to accept deposits and lend money?
With his business savvy, he can naturally tell how much money is behind it.
Zhu Haodao: "Nowadays, money shops in the Ming Dynasty do not need to be reviewed by the government. They are all small businesses. Merchants do business with copper coins or cash, which is inconvenient to carry. If we can open up business, we can issue banknotes similar to those in the Ming Dynasty."
The bank notes can be exchanged for cash or copper coins at any time when you go to various places... What you need is credibility. I wonder if Boss Su is interested in joining the gang?"
Su Xigui smiled and said: "Listen to the wishes of the little master, even if I don't participate, you will promote it, right? I am the little master and for your majesty, so naturally I will work hard... Hey."