Emperor Zhengde of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 130 Forgiveness (please subscribe!)

Supervisor of rituals.

Cao Zhengchun would always spend his time at this time every day, burying his head in reading the drafts sent by some ministers.

The authority of the Ming Dynasty is like an old machine.

When something big happens in the world, officials from all over the country use fast horses to get to the cabinet in the capital.

These cabinet bachelors, equivalent to half of the prime ministers, first reviewed the memorials. After reading the memorials, they wrote their own suggestions under the memorials based on their own experience. This is the so-called vote. Simulate.

After the bill is formed, it will be sent to the palace through the Tongzheng envoy and sent to the emperor.

While reading the memorial, the emperor also paid attention to the opinions of the cabinet scholars, and then chose whether he wanted to participate.

If Zhu Houzhao finds their opinions useful, he will be sent to the Supervisor of Rites to be covered with red.

This Cao Zhengchun is the governor of the East Factory and the eunuch of the Supervisor of Ceremonies. He needs to review every cabinet vote.

Obviously, he cherishes this right very much, not only because Zhu Houzhao trusts in hearing, but more importantly, he can fully enjoy the pleasure that this right brings to him as an abnormal person.

Cao Zhengchun was so busy running around all day long that he was used to this kind of life. Once he sat down, he would review for two hours. When he raised his hand, he couldn't help moving his sore arm, but saw several eunuchs respectfully Stand in front of him and listen to his call.

Cao Zhengchun suddenly thought of something, and asked casually, "Why is that Shangguan Haitang silent?"

The little eunuchs looked at each other in blank dismay. Why did they feel that Eunuch Cao, who was so majestic in the past, cared about this man?

The little eunuch actually stammered and said: "Not yet, not yet, conquer."

Cao Zhengchun's face was calm, and he said indifferently: "If you can't even conquer such a yellow-haired girl, what use are you for?"

"It's not that the little ones didn't follow the governor's order. It's really difficult to enter the Hulong Villa. The few people the little ones sent over were all beheaded by them."

The more Cao Zhengchun heard it, the more ugly his face became, but this was something he couldn't help.

Inside the Qianqing Palace.

Shen Wanqian knelt on the ground, not even daring to raise his head.

"Thousands of ordinary people are here to pay homage to Your Majesty."

Zhu Houzhao looked at Shen Wanqian who was kneeling on the ground and said, "How many years have you been in business?"

"Return to Your Majesty, Cao Min started business with his father at the age of 12, and it has been 25 years since then!"

"What was your family situation like when you were born?"

"Returning to Your Majesty, Cao Min was born in Shanxi, his father was a tenant farmer, and his mother died early. Cao Min followed his father to do a small business when he was young."

Zhu Houzhao nodded after listening, and asked: "I heard that you are the richest man in Ming Dynasty. I ask you, how much money do you have?"

"Returning to Your Majesty, Caomin doesn't know how much there is. It's just that Caomin has ten million taels of silver in more than ten years. It seems that it has increased a lot in recent years, but Caomin doesn't know the exact amount."

When Zhu Houzhao heard Shen Wanqian say this, he was also amazed that this Shen Wanqian was actually richer than him.

"I ask you, where did you get your money?"

"Returning to Your Majesty, the Caomin are only selling silk, tea, and pottery to overseas markets, and transporting the overseas rare treasures back to the country, so that once they enter and exit, the Caomin can earn the difference.

Hearing this, Zhu Houzhao nodded with satisfaction, earning money from foreigners is his skill.

No wonder Shen Wanqian is so rich. It turns out that the price difference he earns is very generous. No wonder he can bribe officials in the DPRK and China. Some people take his money and have to do things for him, such as those customs officials. There are probably a lot of moths there. over there.

Zhu Houzhao recalled the previous reform of the tax rate. The customs tax rate of [-]% was equivalent to putting half of his income in his own pocket. No wonder people wanted to take risks.

Overseas businessmen, spreads?
Zhu Houzhao seemed to be deep in thought.

Now, the taxes collected from the people of Ming Dynasty cannot satisfy his appetite for being an emperor. He feels that he should be the richest emperor, earn money from overseas foreigners into his own country, put it in his own pocket, and never lose money. Earned overseas, that is the real money.

After Zhu Houzhao was reminded by Shen Wanqian, he had another thing to do next.

What he has to consider now is how to deal with Shen Wanqian, it is impossible to behead him, after all he is a business genius, if he is used by Da Ming, maybe he can earn more money for Da Ming.

Shen Wanqian kept kneeling on the ground, not daring to raise his head, he knew that he committed a capital crime, and in order to survive, he didn't dare to offend the person in front of him.

A story about Jewish business suddenly came to his mind.

Once upon a time, a Jewish businessman offended the ministers of the palace, and they all wanted to put him to death. Before the execution, he got a message that as long as he walked around the palace with a bowl of water, he could survive.

After the news spread, many common people came to watch the excitement. There were uneven steps around the palace, and most people didn't do much about it.

The man was holding a bowl of water, and amidst the noise around him, he walked back to the original place step by step, without spilling a single drop of water.

At this time, the crowd was boiling, and the king asked him how he did it, and he replied, "Where do I have a bowl of water here? This is clearly my life!"

Shen Wanqian felt that he was just like the executioner. His life was like a piece of grass. In the eyes of these rulers, he was worse than a piece of grass.

Now, no matter what the emperor in front of him asked him to do, he was willing to do it, because it was better to die than to live, and to live was better than to die.

While Shen Wanqian was still thinking wildly, Zhu Houzhao said loudly to him: "Shen Wanqian, it's useless if I take your life, so why not, I will send you to the General Administration of the Navy to find Qi Jingtong, in order to prove your Talent, you go to the customs to earn 3000 million taels of silver for me, it only takes one year, if you can't do it, next year I will kill you with my own hands."

"Grassmen lead the decree to thank you!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"However, don't be too happy too early. There are still three conditions here. As long as you meet them at that time, I won't kill you."

Shen Wanqian raised his ears and listened carefully to what Zhu Houzhao said, for fear of missing a single word.

"The first thing is that your original capital cannot provide you with it, that is, when you pay the money next year, all the money will be your net profit.

Article [-]: You cannot earn a penny from the people of Ming Dynasty.

Article [-]: You are not allowed to borrow the title of the Ming Empire. Did you hear it clearly? "

"The grass people heard everything clearly!"

Shen Wanqian wept with joy, he was glad that he had survived, the prosperity of the past had become nothingness at this moment.

I can finally see the light of day again, this feeling is like being reborn.

The emperor kept his word, if I can hand over 3000 million taels of silver next year, my life will be saved.

However, suddenly, a bad thought appeared in his mind again.

In a year, 3000 million taels, on average, is to earn 100 million taels a day, which is simply an astronomical figure.

Shen Wanqian bowed out of the Qianqing Palace, feeling a lot more relaxed, like escaping death, this feeling can only be understood by those who have experienced it.

Shen Wanqian went to the Sili Supervisor to meet Cao Zhengchun and explained His Majesty's intentions.

"Hahaha, Mr. Shen, I didn't expect you to have such good luck. I really convinced you. I really didn't expect His Majesty to forgive you so easily. This is really a blessing for you!"

Shen Wanqian clasped his fists and said: "Mr. Cao is going to make fun of me. If I don't earn enough money this year, won't I still be killed by His Majesty?"

"I don't think so. With your ingenuity, let alone 3000 million taels, even 5000 million taels is not a problem."

(End of this chapter)