The Ming Dynasty started with caution

Renshou Palace,

Wang Ji put two fingers on the Queen Mother's wrist and closed his eyes tightly. As time passed, his expression became increasingly ugly.

Emperor Hongzhi was a little worried. He had never seen Wang Ji check his pulse for so long.

When the phoenix collapsed, Queen Mother Zhou opened her eyes slightly and tightened her fists: "The Ai family heard that the price of charcoal in the market has increased to one hundred cents?"

She was born as a folk girl and knew more about daily necessities than the eunuchs in the palace.

Selling charcoal for thirty cents is a fortune. Who dares to be so bold as to sell it for a hundred cents!

Emperor Hongzhi was a little angry: "Who told the Queen Mother?"

Zhao Jie, the eunuch in charge, made a sound and knelt on the ground in panic.

Empress Dowager Zhou waved her hand and then said: "I have nothing to ask about, Ai family, I want to ask you something. I have been a palace maid, and I know that the people have nothing to wear and can only rely on firewood. Who dares to sell it for a hundred pence?" ?”

Emperor Hongzhi looked at Zhou Yu next to him, and saw Zhou Yu lowering his head to his chest, his bowed body trembling.

When the Queen Mother is angry, she is more terrifying than Queen Zhang. This is why Zhou Yu is more restrained than the Zhang brothers.

Zhou Yu did not dare to make a sound, but His Majesty already knew that it was him.

"Ignore it, Imperial Grandmother. I can bring down the price of charcoal in these two days."

Emperor Hongzhi didn't want to irritate the Queen Mother Zhou anymore and looked at Wang Ji: "Doctor Wang, how is the Queen Mother's health?"

"The pulse is like a drum, the blood is stable, and there is no serious problem. The student will prescribe a medicine to treat her for a few days. After the cold weather passes, the Queen Mother can leave the palace for a walk." Wang Ji said.

The Queen Mother smiled and nodded, her tense heart relaxing.

The Crown Princess is pregnant, and she wants to live a few more years, at least until October this year, to wait for the Prince's child to be born.

Emperor Hongzhi noticed something was wrong, and after asking the Queen Mother to resign, he and Wang Ji went outside Guangting.

"Tell me the truth, is the Queen Mother really fine?"

"The Queen Mother is already very old, and the days to come are beyond the control of medical skills. She will just do her best to do human affairs." Wang Ji bowed in shame.

Emperor Hongzhi exhaled a long breath, turned around and went to Dongnuan Pavilion to summon the cabinet and six ministries.

"Li Gong and Yan Chengjin?"

"Reporting to your Majesty, I went to Liangxiang an hour ago." Xiao Jing said cautiously.

Liu Jian and Xie Qian looked at each other. The weather was bitingly cold. His Majesty asked them to take a day off. What was Li Dongyang doing in Liangxiang?

Before he opened his mouth, the Sixth Department also knew what was going to be discussed.

The issues in Liaodong remain unresolved, and the people in the capital have no charcoal for heating and cooking.

The minister sighed a few times, what can they do in the cold weather?

Emperor Hongzhi glared at Zhou Yu and said loudly: "I asked you to sell the charcoal in your hand for twenty coins. Did you sell it?"

Zhou Yu knelt on the ground, supported the ground with his hands, and raised his head slightly: "I sold it! But those profiteers raised another hundred coins..."

He sold them for fifty cents, but those who bought them in large quantities were all businessmen.

I got another hundred cents from the speculation. Without this hundred cents, you can't even think about the winter!

Emperor Hongzhi looked stunned and a little ugly, and for a moment he didn't know what to say.

The corners of Liu Jian's mouth moved slightly, showing a thoughtful look.

As long as the charcoal is still worth a hundred coins, even if there is no Zhou Yu, there will still be Liu Yu and Yang Yu.

"Your Majesty, we can only ask Shuntian Prefecture to issue an announcement to lower the price of charcoal." The Ministry of Revenue said to Zhao Jiuzheng during the matter.

Han Wen shook his head: "No, if the merchants hoard and refuse to sell, you are going to make another decree to force the gentry to sell? Such a forced sale will definitely arouse public anger."

Liu Jian and Xie Qian nodded in agreement.

Emperor Hongzhi and all the officials looked at Zhou Yu angrily and said nothing.

Zhou Yu lowered his head and saw that His Majesty and the officials were blaming him. He couldn't help but scratch his neck and got angry: "I obey Your Majesty's will and sell fifty coins to the gentry. It depends on what Your Majesty and the officials want. Do you still blame me?!

There are more than 100,000 households in the capital, and they will burn 600,000 kilograms of coal a day, which will sooner or later be sold for 100 pence. "

The implication is that charcoal is scarce and there are many people in the capital, so sooner or later it will be sold at this price.

He sold fifty cents to profiteers and still lost money!

Liu Jian sighed and lamented: "Uncle Chang Ning is right. If all the trees in Xiangshan, Fangshan, and Wanping are cut down, it will not be enough to maintain 100,000 households in the capital."

Only wealthy families could afford to burn charcoal. The colder the weather got, the more people would freeze to death.

Zhou Yu's throat bones squirmed and he looked around: "I have an idea. The imperial court will buy the charcoal first and then sell it to the people.

I also amassed more than one million catties! "

This profiteer!

Qingliu's eyes almost burst into flames.

"Why are you collecting so much!"

"I'll burn it myself!"

In a moment, Emperor Hongzhi sighed three times. The capital was still unsafe and relief to Liaodong could not be provided.

At this moment, Li Dongyang was carrying a copper basin through the Meridian Gate Guangting, smiling all the time, showing his fairly white teeth.

Yan Chengjin, this brat, can do anything but not be a son-in-law.

He carried the copper basin and came to the door of Nuange Hall. The gatekeeper wanted to report, but Li Dongyang stepped into the hall first.

"Your Majesty! I have something to report."

Emperor Hongzhi raised his head in astonishment.

I saw Li Dongyang holding a golden copper basin. Although the lid was covered, white steam was coming out.

It's like holding a pot of hot food.

Liu Jian was the first to ask: "Binzhi, what is this?"

"It's coal!"

The faces of all the officials changed drastically, and they all raised their sleeves to cover their nostrils. This thing is poisonous!

When they burn charcoal in their homes, they will never burn coal. Even the common people will only choose to burn coal when there is no firewood.

Xiao Jing hurriedly covered Emperor Hongzhi's nose: "Master Li, there is an earth dragon in Nuan Pavilion. You should take it back to the value room."

To the shock of Emperor Hongzhi and all the officials, Li Dongyang actually opened the lid: "Look, Your Majesty and all the gentlemen, there is no smoke! Anthracite!"

How can it be smokeless? It's just not lit. Li Gong, please take it away quickly. If you come closer, I'm going to curse!

The officials didn't dare to take a breath and wished they could run outside the palace to get some fresh air.

"Li Gong, take it away quickly, I can't hold it anymore."

Zhou Yu discovered that this coal was different.

In the past, coal would emit white smoke after burning, which could make people faint and make strangers afraid to approach.

When the coal burns, it becomes as red as iron, making your whole body warm as if you were standing in the summer sunshine.

"This, this coal is really smokeless!" Zhou Yu's eyes widened.

The officials suddenly woke up and stared at the copper basin in Li Dongyang's hand, unable to believe it.

"Is this really coal?"

"How can it be smokeless? When the charcoal burns, there is still smoke."

Several people stared in disbelief.

Emperor Hongzhi stepped down from his throne anxiously. If this coal could be burned, it would solve the capital's crisis!

"Mr. Li, where did you get the coal? Why is it smokeless?"

All the officials looked at Li Dongyang anxiously.

Li Dongyang said: "I am ashamed and don't know how I got it. I only know that Yan Chengjin ordered Song Jing and Xie Pi to make it."

Emperor Hongzhi fell into deep thought.

At this moment, the factory guard ran in cautiously: "Your Majesty, the price of charcoal has dropped to eighty cents!"

Emperor Hongzhi raised his head in astonishment. Before he could ask any questions, another factory guard ran in: "Your Majesty, the price of charcoal has dropped to fifty cents!"

Baiguan took a deep breath, but was confused.

After a while, another factory guard hurried in: "Your Majesty, the charcoal price has dropped to thirty cents!"

Xiao Jing's face was like a spring breeze. These were spies he sent to report to His Majesty at any time.

As soon as he finished speaking, another factory guard rushed towards him from the courtyard, and in a moment, he arrived in the palace.

Emperor Hongzhi felt anxious and asked cautiously: "Has the price of charcoal dropped again?"

"Your Majesty, charcoal is down to ten cents!"

hiss!

The princes' heads buzzed and they almost fainted.

Emperor Hongzhi opened his mouth slightly, as if he was stuttering, and it took him a long time to utter two words: "Why?"

"The Liangxiang Guild declares to the world that anthracite coal does not require silver! Until this summer, no silver is required!"

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