The Ming Dynasty started with caution

Emperor Hongzhi thought for a moment and did not agree. He only said that we would discuss it in the morning and asked Yan Chengjin to exit the hall.

Yan Chengjin returned to his house and started drawing a mind map again.

The bosses blocking the road tomorrow may be Liu Jian and Han Wen, and the other ministers will most likely wait and see.

"I have to go to Liu Mansion."

Yan Chengjin ordered someone to prepare a sedan chair and went to Liu's Mansion. When he arrived at Liu's Mansion, his disciples went to inform him and quickly welcomed him into the main hall.

The Liu Mansion is more low-key than the Li Mansion, with a large courtyard, but the main hall lacks antiques, calligraphy and paintings, and only has a few red sandalwood chairs, which is very simple.

"What are you doing here to see me?"

"I am afraid that your Excellency will not agree to open a shipyard in Liangxiang."

Liu Jian straightened his body, picked up the tea and took a sip, "I don't show mercy, I only care about justice. You can go back."

"My lord's justice will kill 30,000 refugees in Liangxiang."

puff!

His temper is much better now. If he had been young, he would have beaten this kid long ago. He was not a good-tempered person.

Liu Jian was furious and pointed at Yan Chengjin's nose, "What are you talking nonsense about?"

"Sir, please look at this!"

Yan Chengjin handed over two paintings, "The latter painting is "Portrait of a Liangxiang" without a shipyard, and the former painting is "A Picture of a Well-off Country in a Liangxiang" with a shipyard."

After Liu Jian saw it, he was stunned for a long time.

The first painting is a group sketch of naked and skinny people on the street, showing the highest body art of this era.

In the latter painting, everyone was singing and dancing, and every house was hung with red lanterns and chili peppers. Of course, there were no chili peppers at this time, so Liu Jian thought it was an explosion.

"This...how can I believe you?"

Yan Chengjin took out an account from his sleeve and handed it to him.

"This is the number of refugees who need to be hired for shipbuilding. With a livelihood, they can truly become common people in a good hometown."

Liu Jian's eyes were full of surprise, "Who are you going to sell these merchant ships to?"

"Of course he is a businessman who comes to Liangxiang to do business."

Liu Jian sighed, thought for a moment, and nodded.

In the morning, the morning light is gorgeous and the air is fresh.

In Dongnuan Pavilion, Emperor Hongzhi listened to the invitations from the ministers. After a while, he said, "What do you think of the establishment of a shipyard in Liangxiang?"

I haven't heard of anyone asking for help recently, so what's the point of running a shipyard?

"Your Majesty, I don't think it's possible." Han Wen took a step forward. He had just opened the waterway and had to build a ship. The next step was to go to Jixian Tower to discuss money with his officer.

Liu Jian pondered for a moment, then said: "I think that setting up a shipyard in Liangxiang can provide a livelihood for the refugees."

"Mr. Liu, why are you..." Han Wen looked at him in surprise.

Liu Jian took out an account book from his sleeve, "This is the painting and account book given to me by Yan Chengjin. I also hope that one day, Liangxiang will have such a grand scene."

After Xiao Jing presented it to Emperor Hongzhi, he ordered two young eunuchs to stand on the imperial steps and hold the picture open.

The first painting made the ministers unable to open their eyes. Everyone was naked, skinny, completely inhuman, and even...a bit like a monster.

But no one complained about Yan Chengjin’s painting skills.

Because that’s probably what real refugees are like!

The minister couldn't bear to look at it.

Looking at the second picture, it feels much more comfortable.

The streets are prosperous, red lanterns are hung high, every household sets off firecrackers, and everyone's face is filled with smiles.

"I have decided to open a shipyard in Liangxiang. I will hang this painting in the imperial study." Emperor Hongzhi pointed to the painting of "Everyone Running for Well-off" and said: "Yan Qing's family, there is no joke in front of you!"

"..." Yan Chengjin.

After the morning court, the ministers retreated, but Yan Chengjin remained in the palace.

"I have one more thing to report." Yan Chengjin continued without leaving: "I sincerely ask for your Majesty's permission. In the future, merchant ships manufactured by Liangxiang Shipyard will only be taxed twice when passing through the customs."

Emperor Hongzhi wondered: "What's the difference?"

Xiao Jing took a step forward and said, "Your Majesty, this is a huge difference. It saves a lot of money. In this way, businessmen all over the world will buy Liangxiang's ships. Lord Yan is really smart!"

Yan Chengjin was wondering whether to send Xiao Jing to the Bermuda Triangle?

"I dare not deceive Your Majesty. I have collected a lot less tax, but it does not necessarily mean that water transport will collect less tax money. Moreover, the tax revenue brought by Liangxiang Shipyard is far more than what can be saved by water transport."

Emperor Hongzhi squinted his eyes: "How can I trust you?"

"How about I swear an oath to Your Majesty?"

Xiao Jing said coldly: "Does Master Yan want to regulate water transport?"

When Emperor Hongzhi heard this, he looked at Yan Chengjin with a gloomy expression.

Xiao Jing can stay by his side not only because of his loyalty, but also because of his talent. He is a well-known talent in the inner academy.

Therefore, sometimes, Emperor Hongzhi would ask for his opinion.

It's just that internal officials cannot interfere in government affairs and it is inconvenient to expose them in front of ministers.

Yan Chengjin had information about him. Not only was Xiao Jing proficient in chess, calligraphy and painting, he was also extremely skilled in martial arts, and his marksmanship was not inferior to that of Wang Shouren.

"Your Majesty is overly worried. I really don't intend to promote the world."

Emperor Hongzhi nodded.

"But I also have a condition. Liangxiang Shipyard's commercial tax is 1 per 15 per cent!"

Raise taxes by half!

"Thank you for your grace!"

"Write an IOU."

"..." Yan Chengjin.

Emperor Hongzhi was indeed not a fool. He didn't ask how successful he was and just wrote an IOU.

"Your Majesty, what if I still don't want to come?"

Emperor Hongzhi was very interested: "That is bullying the emperor, what do you think?"

…

After leaving the palace,

Yan Chengjin came to Zeng's house. Song Jing had been studying hard in the house. He hadn't seen him for a long time.

The doorman led him into the house directly.

In the study room in the backyard of Zeng's house, there was a stove burning. Burning charcoal for heating was extremely luxurious, which showed Zeng Jian's love for Song Jing.

After the doorman left, Song Jing stood up and said, "Student greets Master Yan!"

"How is the "Song's Heavenly Craftsmanship" that I asked you to write?"

"So far, everything that Master Yan taught me has been written down."

"Think about this, don't let Zeng Jian see it, I want to open a shipyard in Liangxiang." Yan Chengjin took out Liu Daxia's shipbuilding drawings from his arms.

Song Jing took a closer look and was not too surprised. Even the Red Barbarian General built it, so there was really nothing to be surprised about.

"How many do you want to build?"

"The more the better."

Although I promised His Majesty not to change the canal transportation, when most of the merchants in the world bought the Liangxiang ships, it would be meaningless to change it or not.

Yan Chengjin also wrote a letter to Liangxiang, asking Zhang Xian to build a shipyard and purchase wood.

A few days passed, and a heavy snowstorm fell. Emperor Hongzhi showed sympathy to his ministers and took a day off.

Yan Chengjin did not go out of the mansion. The new mansion was equipped with a heating system.

However, there was a serious air leak in the wing room, and it was difficult for hot water to flow back, so the effect was not very good.

After Yang Tinghe disciplined Zhu Houzhao, this guy came to the mansion less frequently. Zhu Houzhao was a man who was not afraid of wind and rain. There must be some reason to prevent him from climbing over the wall and leaving the palace.

Three or two servants were sweeping snow in the yard, and only bare branches were left on the trees in the yard.

"Master, mutton soup will nourish your body." Qianjin came in with a small bowl of hot soup.

"It's snowing so hard. Have you drunk it?"

"Yes, all the servants in the mansion have drunk it." Qianjin said gratefully.

Being a servant in the Yan Mansion, you can still drink a mouthful of mutton soup to nourish your body in winter. This was something you dared not think of before.

Yan Chengjin brought it over and drank it all in one breath.

At this moment, outside the gate of Yan's mansion.

Yan Kesong looked at the mansion and felt a lot of emotion. I have been in Ningxia for only one year, how come there is no plaque...

"Master, let's go in. It's cold." The housekeeper was happy: "The Yan's mansion has changed a lot now."

The housekeeper carried a bag on his back, and Lin Song carried a green steel sword on his back. They stood on the left and right of Yan Kesong.

Dongdong!

"The mountain has trees and the trees have branches. If they match, I will open the door. If they don't match, come again tomorrow."

The next sentence was originally, I love you but you don't know it.

But this is a code word from Cheng Jin, how could it be so simple?

I love you but you don't know it... It must be wrong.

Yan Kesong knew that it didn't match, so he simply coughed, "This master is back, open the door quickly!"

The doorman looked through the crack of the door and saw that it was indeed the master and the housekeeper. He happily opened the door and ran to inform the young master.

Yan Kesong's eyes were filled with tears. He was finally back.