The Ming Dynasty started with caution

Li Zhaofan went to the island country to look for silver mines.

The court mobilized the navy of Songjiang Prefecture and Guangdong and Guangxi, dispatched more than 30 large ships and hundreds of small boats, and the cost was huge.

Are the income and expenditure mutually collateralized?

Yan Chengjin has been boasting that the island country has gold and silver mountains, and no one knows whether it is true or not.

Li Dongyang turned around and asked hurriedly: "When will you arrive in the capital? Please report to me."

Although Liu Jian and Xie Qian did not like Yan Chengjin, they leaned over at this moment.

This is a brief report with only a few words: Minister Li Zhaofan led the army back to Beijing and arrived in Beijing within three days.

"You didn't report the silver. Did you return empty-handed?" Xie Qian looked at Liu Jian.

Liu Jian said: "Report to Your Majesty first!"

A moment later, Fengtian Hall.

Emperor Hongzhi opened Li Zhaofan's memorial and was a little disappointed that he did not mention the silver of the island country.

"Ministry of Revenue, how much did Li Zhaofan spend when he led his army to sea?"

It has been more than a year, and Han Wen still remembers it clearly: "The military equipment plus large ships, and military rations, if converted into silver, should be more than 9.5 million taels."

9.5 million taels, is not a one-time payment.

For example, large ships and weapons are hoarded over the years, but they also need to be converted into silver.

Li Dongyang frowned slightly, Zhaofan had to get back 10 million taels of silver to balance the income and expenditure.

Liu Jian stroked his beard and said worriedly: "I'm afraid it will be a loss!"

Li Zhaoxian transported silver mines back from Mangala three times, but none of them exceeded 5 million taels.

Can the amount of silver in the island country exceed that of Mangala?

Han Wen and others nodded in agreement.

Yan Chengjin said, "I don't know why Li Zhaofan didn't mention it, but according to Shouning Hou, the silver mines in the island country far exceed those in Mangala.

I think we should first consider the devaluation of silver."

If Li Zhaofan brings back a large amount of silver, the value of silver will plummet quickly.

Han Wen raised his eyebrows, "Lord Yan, it's too early to discuss the devaluation of silver when we don't know how much silver there is yet?"

The court circulates silver by paying salaries to officials and purchasing.

If officials use silver to trade for commercial goods, the more silver there is in the market, the more commercial goods will depreciate.

Yan Chengjin said, "Not too early. If a large amount of silver is really transported back, what will Lord Han do?"

Han Wen didn't dare to confront Yan Chengjin. This kid's mouth seemed to be blessed, and he was right when he said it.

What if Li Zhaofan really brought back the silver?

This time, all officials stood on Yan Chengjin's side.

The treasury is full, maybe we can raise their salaries. Compared with the wealth of the gentry, their salaries are too low.

Emperor Hongzhi's eyes showed a thoughtful light: "How do you think the Yan family can control the value of silver?"

"At this time, the interest rate of Hongzhi Company should be increased."

Once the interest rate is increased, depositing silver can make money, and the gentry and the people will deposit silver in the company.

The court can control the amount of silver circulating in the market.

Hongzhi Company is equivalent to the Ming version of the central bank.

"If there is no silver inflow, won't it be a loss? It's not too late to wait for Li Zhaofan to be transported back first." Han Wen said.

Emperor Hongzhi thought it made sense, "According to what Han Qing said, I will go to Tongzhou to welcome Li Zhaofan in person in three days."

Li Dongyang's heart skipped a beat. It was originally a good thing, but now it is like a mountain pressing on his heart, and the pressure is huge.

………

Beijing, Tongzhou

The large ships going to and from the capital would pass through the Chaobai River in Tongzhou.

Zhang Heling stood at the bow and sighed, "Brother, I'm finally back to the capital."

Emperor Hongzhi promised them that he would give them 100 taels for every 10,000 taels he dug out.

Li Zhaofan was also full of emotion. It took him a year to go to the island country.

Three days ago, someone had been sent to inform the court that so many large ships could only stop in Tongzhou.

The river channel in Liangxiang is narrow, and there are many merchant ships, which cannot accommodate more than 30 large ships.

"Your Majesty, it's coming!"

Xiao Jing reminded.

On the bank of Chaobai River, Emperor Hongzhi looked behind his back and saw a twelve-masted ship slowly sailing towards him.

The little eunuch distributed Song's monocular telescopes, one for each person.

Yan Chengjin saw that the Zhang brothers were standing at the bow, as well as Li Zhaofan, "Your Majesty, there are really silver mines."

The piles of silver mines were covered with weeds, like small hills.

The water of Chaobai River kept rolling, and it could be seen that the large ship had a very deep draft.

Emperor Hongzhi was a little nervous. Ten million taels was not a small amount. It was still unknown whether the income and expenditure could be offset this time.

A moment later, the big ship arrived in front of him.

Seeing Emperor Hongzhi and all the officials coming to greet him in person, Li Zhaofan was flattered: "I am lucky to have fulfilled my mission and found a place of silver in the island country."

"Is it ten million taels?"

"I don't know."

Li Zhaofan knew that this was the waste of money the court had spent on sending him out to sea.

Zhang Heling said with a sad face: "Your Majesty, overseas is dangerous. There are huge waves more than ten feet high. The sea is like a bottomless abyss. It is not easy for my brother to come back."

Zhang Yanling also cried and wailed: "There are a total of thirty-three silver mountains. Your Majesty can't spend them all. Why not give one to our brothers?"

Emperor Hongzhi's face was livid, and he forgot about the two brothers.

"Get out!"

Yan Chengjin raised his head slightly. The two brothers really said it.

Han Wen said: "Why not let the Ministry of Works cast it first, and then I will count how much silver there is?"

Emperor Hongzhi nodded.

Forging will take at least half a month. The Baoyuan Bureau in the capital does not have many laborers, so the Ministry of Works needs to transfer laborers from outside the capital.

A dozen days may seem short, but it is extremely tormenting for all officials.

One day, outside the Meridian Gate.

A fast horse galloped towards the palace gate, in a hurry, and the people on both sides of the street avoided it in fear.

After the spy got off the horse, he handed the urgent report directly to the guard: "Urgent report from Ningxia!"

The guard turned and ran to the cabinet, and presented the urgent report to the cabinet Hanlin's duty room.

Zhang Qi opened the urgent report and took a look, his eyes widened, and he rushed to the duty room where the three officials were.

These days, Yan Chengjin has been very hard-working.

The cabinet's memorials are more than twice as many as those of the Censorate. If he leaves work on time, he will be looked down upon by Liu Gong and the other two.

If Wang Shouren can be transferred to the cabinet, he can help him read the memorials.

Li Dongyang glanced at it without leaving a trace. He has taken on most of the memorials and only reviewed a little bit every day, but he is still so slow.

"Read quickly. If you don't understand something, ask me."

"Yes."

At this moment, a Hanlin rushed in and said in a panic: "Gentlemen, an urgent report from Ningxia! Something bad has happened!"

Yan Chengjin raised his eyebrows: "What's the matter?"

"Anding Hou was defeated, and the Tatars invaded Hetao!"

Liu Jian was suddenly startled and took the report and read it carefully.

Ningxia collapsed, and the Tatars took the opportunity to enter the palace and occupy the geographical advantage. The defense line along the way was too long, and the three border military departments could not defend it.

As soon as the voice fell, Chai Sheng ran in hurriedly: "Have the three lords read the report? Ningxia City was lost!"

"I said long ago that the three borders should recruit soldiers, but Lord Chai still wants to reduce them. This matter has a lot to do with Lord Chai." Yan Chengjin said.

Chai Sheng said angrily: "You... stop slandering me, it's clearly the fault of Marquis Anding!"

Li Dongyang said: "Report to His Majesty first!"

The author who went back to the past and became a cat has published a new book, I recommend it~ "Everyday is one step closer to revealing yourself"