Chapter 528 There’s a fuss
Boom!
A crisp sound came from the punching machine.

Yan Shaoting stared intently at the slowly rising stamping machine.

From the 18th day of the twelfth lunar month until the 20th day, for three consecutive days, civil and military officials, military and civilian elders gathered in the Forbidden City to persuade Crown Prince Zhu Zaigui to ascend the throne.

Zhu Zaigui finally agreed to accept the throne of the Ming Emperor on the 20th.

Afterwards, the Ministry of Rites calculated an auspicious date and set the 26th day of the twelfth lunar month as it.

Nowadays.

The twenty-fourth day of the twelfth lunar month.

According to regional divisions, today is the Little New Year in the north.

Yan Shaoting and Xu Wei, Zhou Yunyi, Xiao Junpeng and others around him held their breath and watched the stamping machine rise up little by little in front of them.

The four of them, along with the craftsmen around them, all stood on tiptoe involuntarily and looked at the objects on the lathe.

"Is it done?"

The person asking the questions was Xiao Junpeng.

The foreman craftsman from the Changping Forging Factory walked forward with narrowed eyes, then turned around and nodded.

"It's done!"

immediately.

There was a sound of footsteps all around.

Yan Shaoting widened his eyes as he looked at the intricately shaped gold coins that the craftsman had knocked off the lathe.

On the back, there are still four large seal characters "Da Ming Jin Bao", and below them there is a line of smaller characters "Made in the 45th year of Jiajing".

As for the front, it is no longer a plain panel this time.

Instead, there is a clear relief of the bust of Emperor Jiajing. The craftsmen used very sophisticated techniques to make the coin mold template, so even the bust looks lifelike.

"Let's make silver coins according to this standard."

"In addition, we need to make gold and silver coins with the bust of the prince.

Yan Shaoting immediately gave orders, and then took everyone to a nearby room to rest.

The craftsmen at the Changping Forging Factory had already prepared the corresponding coin mold templates.

At this time, you just need to put the material and then die-cast it.

From beginning to end, it only took half an hour.

Yan Shaoting had already returned to Changping during this brief break today to complete the production of gold and silver coins belonging to the Ming Dynasty.

Then he immediately rushed back to the capital with the made gold and silver coins.

The next day.

The twenty-fourth day of the twelfth lunar month in the forty-fifth year of the Jiajing reign.

The day before Crown Prince Zhu Zaigui ascended the throne.

Both inside and outside the palace seemed extremely busy.

Firstly, the funeral of the late emperor has not been completed yet, and secondly, the prince will ascend the throne tomorrow and become the new emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

Inside the Wenhua Hall.

After Zhu Zaigui got up from the East Palace early in the morning, he first went to the Fengxian Hall to pay homage to the late emperor, and then stayed in the Wenhua Hall.

now.

In front of Zhu Zaigui, there were only three cabinet ministers headed by Gao Gong: Yuan Wei, Li Chunfang, and Zhao Zhenji.

"Your Highness, all civil and military officials in the capital have submitted their resignations according to the rules. I have already ordered an inventory, and there are no omissions."

Gao Gong held a notebook in his hand and silently read the notes made on it.

All civil and military officials in the capital submitted their resignations. This was the second day after the death of the late emperor, and things started to get complicated because four generations of the Yan family submitted their resignations together.

Zhu Zaigui looked up at Gao Gong and nodded with satisfaction in his heart, but he said, "It's just an unwritten rule, just a formality. Master Gao, please send these people's resignation letters to the Qianqing Palace."

The prince spoke casually.

But everyone present was shocked.

Didn’t you say it was just a formality?

Why are these resignations being sent to the Qianqing Palace now?

I don’t know. After the crown prince ascends the throne tomorrow, he can move from the East Palace to the Qianqing Palace.

Zhu Zaigui seemed to not understand at all, and said with a smile: "Since you want to keep these letters in your palace, you should leave them in front of the emperor. I have no other opinion..."

After saying this, Zhu Zaigui glanced at everyone present.

Gao Gong and others did not continue discussing this issue.

Anyway, everyone knows the prince's little thoughts, and the most important thing now is to ensure that the prince can ascend the throne safely.

Gao Gong added, "The will has been re-drafted by Grand Tutor Yan and announced to the world. The late emperor also left a will before his death, asking us to nominate ministers to join the cabinet. The court was busy these days, and we did not have time to take care of this matter. Tomorrow, the crown prince will ascend the throne and become the emperor of our great Ming emperor. It is my duty to report the cabinet's candidates to Your Highness first."

Zhu Zaigui raised his eyebrows.

The cabinet has been selecting new people until today in order to win the hearts of the people as the new monarch in the new dynasty.

Now it is time to know who is on the list given by the cabinet.

Zhu Zaigui also smiled: "I wonder which candidates the cabinet has prepared?"

Gao Gong glanced at Yuan Wei and the other two, then nodded and said, "I have decided that the Minister of Personnel Guo Pu, the Minister of Rites Gao Yi, the Minister of War Hu Zongxian, and the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate Ouyang Bijin are all of top rank in terms of talent, experience, and character, and can be selected to join the cabinet."

Zhu Zaigui couldn't help but raise his eyebrows.

And in the list of candidates for the cabinet given by Gao Gong on behalf of the cabinet, Yang Bo, who was also the Minister of War, was indeed not on it.

Zhu Zaigui pondered for a moment, as if pondering the past experiences of these four people, and then he hummed a long sound: "According to the rules, should the list of these four people be submitted to the nine ministers for discussion?"

Gao Gong replied: "That's right. At that time, the cabinet will summon the nine ministers to discuss together, and then select one or two of the four to join the cabinet."

To say that it was one or two people is actually just an obvious matter.

The decision on Hu Zongxian's entry into the cabinet was made when the late emperor was still alive. Although the late emperor is dead now, the Japanese threat in the southeast has indeed been quelled.

The other one must be Gao Yi, who was recently promoted to the position of Minister of Rites by Gao Gong.

Guo Pu and Ouyang Bijin are just runners-up.

As for Yang Bo, because Gao Gong wanted to use the Jin people while suppressing their further development in the court, his name was not included in the list of candidates for cabinet.

Zhu Zaigui suddenly stared at Gao Gong: "When will the court meeting be held? Should we inform the court in advance?"

Gao Gong immediately said: "The court discussion should be held after Your Highness ascends the throne, but this matter is not important, we can just announce it in advance when the day comes."

Zhu Zaigui nodded and said, "But anyway, it's a matter of adding more people to the cabinet, which is a good thing. The court meeting can be held before the New Year. In this way, after the New Year, the new cabinet members can directly join the cabinet to work."

Gao Gong felt that it was fine to set this time, as long as Yang Bo didn't know about it in advance. Once everything was done, he could use the people of Jin to his advantage.

However, Yuan Wei said, "Your Highness, there have been some rumors in the capital recently, and it seems that something is going to happen."

Zhu Zaigui immediately became interested and turned to look at Yuan Wei: "What is going to happen in the capital? Elder Yuan, why don't you tell us about it?"

Yuan Wei glanced sideways at Gao Gong.

Gao Gong shook his head and snorted in a low, cold voice: "Your Highness, it's just that some foreign merchants have been saying in the capital that their business is getting harder and harder, and that our dynasty is bullying them and coveting their property."

Zhu Zaigui's eyes widened immediately, his face showing confusion: "Why is this? Our dynasty has now opened the sea and allowed them to freely travel and trade with our dynasty. How can our dynasty bully them? If I remember correctly, a lot of the court's fiscal revenue now depends on these foreign merchants."

Yuan Wei immediately echoed, "Your Highness is wise. Now the court specializes in selling silk overseas, and can earn tens of millions of dollars from these foreign merchants every year. In addition to this big chunk, the Maritime Customs and the Tax and Military Office can also earn millions of dollars in taxes from trading with foreign merchants every year."

More than 10 million in tax revenue.

This point cannot be ignored no matter where it is.

Zhu Zaigui immediately looked at Gao Gong and said, "Master Gao, what is going on? If these foreign merchants really make trouble, I am afraid it will affect our trade with foreign merchants, and eventually it may affect the existing tax revenue of the court."

Gao Gong was also confused by this incident which had only come up in recent days.

At this moment, the heir asked, and his attitude was extremely worried. Gao Gong could only answer truthfully: "Your Highness, don't worry. I have asked the Ministry of Revenue and Shuntian Prefecture to gather the foreign merchants in Beijing to appease the people."

Zhu Zaigui frowned and shook his head, "But what exactly are they dissatisfied about?"

"Your Highness... It's because they feel that using banknotes and silver to buy and sell things in our dynasty is too disadvantageous..."

While Gao Gong was still hesitating about how to explain, Zhao Zhenji had already whispered an explanation in his ear.

Zhu Zaigui became more and more confused and his face was full of doubts.

"This one……"

"What on earth is going on?"

Gao Gong coughed lightly. Like the crown prince, he did not understand the twists and turns of this matter.

Gao Gong said in a deep voice: "I think that these foreign merchants may feel that the exchange rate of our currency is unstable, so they cannot calculate the accounts clearly when doing business with our dynasty."

"Currency exchange rate?" Zhu Zaigui muttered in a low voice, and then immediately asked: "Master Gao, several ministers, that... that person who does silk business with our dynasty is called..."

Yuan Wei bowed his head and said, "Your Highness, it is Bo Fugui, a Spanish foreign businessman from the European countries."

Zhu Zaigui immediately looked at Yuan Wei: "Yes, yes, it's the Bai Fugui that Lord Yuan mentioned. I know that the court's silk business, which makes tens of millions of dollars in profit every year, is done with him and a group of foreign merchants behind him. Has the current situation in the capital affected them?"

Zhu Zaigui, who was unable to figure out and calculate the economic account for the time being, could only choose to ask the big boss of the court's foreign trade whether there was any problem.

Subsequently.

Zhu Zaigui stuck his head out and looked around the hall again.

"Where's Yan Shaoting?"

"Everyone in the court knows about his ability in the economic field since the last emperor was alive."

"Why haven't I seen him in the past two days?"

It seemed like something he just said casually.

When Gao Gong and others saw Zhu Zaigui talking about Yan Shaoting.

Zhu Zaigui said, "If he is not too young, it would be better to let him join the cabinet this time, so that we can find someone to help us when something happens..."

After these words were spoken, even Yuan Wei and Zhao Zhenji, who were closer to the Yan family, could not hold back their excitement.

And right now.

Lu Fang, who was in charge of the entire imperial city as the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department, quickly walked in with Huang Jin.

"Your Highness!"

"The foreign merchants in Beijing who were summoned by the Ministry of Revenue and Shuntian Prefecture are all making trouble."

As soon as these words came out, Zhu Zaigui's shoulders trembled.

"Why are they making trouble?"

Gao Gong also quickly turned to look at Lu Fang: "Eunuch Lu, didn't the cabinet already ask the Ministry of Revenue and Shuntian Prefecture to summon these foreign merchants to appease them? Why are they making trouble again?"

Lü Fang glanced at Gao Gong and said, "I don't know what happened to these foreign merchants, but they actually started a commotion in the court of Shuntian Prefecture. Because there were too many people, the people from the East Factory and the Embroidered Uniform Guard couldn't get in. I heard that even Hai Rui was splashed with tea water."

Everyone's eyes widened.

Zhu Zaigui asked in a deep voice: "Why was Hai Rui splashed with water?"

Lu Fang bowed his head and replied, "Your Highness, Hai Rui was thrown water by a big foreign merchant who was doing silk business with our dynasty."

Gao Gong immediately asked, "But what about the foreign businessman named Bai Fugui?"

Lu Fang shook his head: "I haven't heard of any water splashing. Now Shuntian Prefecture is in chaos. The business done by these foreign merchants is a big deal. Shuntian Prefecture and the Ministry of Revenue dare not offend these people for the time being. Please discuss with the elders and decide what to do about this matter?"

Zhu Zaigui immediately looked at Gao Gong and others.

Gao Gong and others frowned.

Just as Lu Fang said, these foreign merchants were not people who could be easily offended. After all, they held real money in their hands. They were the gods of wealth of the Ming Dynasty, who came to give money to the Ming Dynasty.

If we don't handle it properly, these people will never come again.

And now in the Shuntian Prefecture Yamen.

The black hat on Hai Rui's head had long disappeared, and there were a few tea leaves mixed in his hair. He was neither angry nor anxious, but just took out a handkerchief from his sleeve and gently wiped the tea off his face.

Looking at the foreign businessmen in front of him who were in chaos and shouting in languages ​​he could not understand, Hai Rui glanced at several officials from the Ministry of Revenue and snorted coldly.

In fact, this matter was not worthy of being handled by Shuntian Prefecture, but should have been handled by the Ministry of Revenue.

But the Ministry of Revenue said that the incident happened in Shuntian Prefecture, and the meeting of foreign merchants in Beijing was scheduled to be held in the Shuntian Prefecture government office.

There was a bang.

Hai Rui slammed his hands heavily on the table.

Hai Rui, who was originally just wiping his cheeks calmly, suddenly became full of anger.

"This is the Shuntian Prefecture Yamen of the Ming Dynasty!"

"If you dare to shout and make noise again, I will put you all in jail!"

The official from the Ministry of Revenue standing nearby hurriedly stood up and was about to start persuading him.

Hai Rui had already looked at the officials from the Ministry of Revenue and said in a cold voice, "In the Shuntian Prefecture, unless there is an order from above, the prefecture commander has the highest authority!"

Several officials from the Ministry of Revenue immediately shut up.

Hai Rui was the person who knew the laws of the Ming Dynasty best, so once he opened his mouth, things would basically turn out as he said.

However, as Hai Rui slammed the table and lost his temper, the foreign businessmen gathered in the court finally quieted down.

Bai Fugui, who was in the crowd, looked around several times.

Then he pushed the person in front of him out.

The man immediately knelt on the ground.

"Please, Mr. Haifu, make the decision for us!"

"We really can't continue this business. We have already finished this year. Next year, we will never do silk business with the Ming Dynasty again, and we won't be able to do anything else either!"

"Otherwise we will lose everything we have invested!"

The officials from the Ministry of Revenue, who had been frightened by Hai Rui and sat down obediently, immediately stood up again, all with panic-stricken looks on their faces.

"Captain of the Imperial Court!"

"The silk trade is a national policy!"

The man who was pushed out by Bai Fugui was kneeling on the ground and continued to shout and scream.

"We have no control over the national policy of your Ming Dynasty."

"We only know now that you Ming people are too cunning. If we do business with you, we will always suffer losses!"

"You Ming people are too cunning. If there are no rules anymore."

"We'll leave Daming by boat in the spring!"

In the crowd, Bai Fugui showed a satisfied smile on his face and nodded silently.

very good!

First, praise the people of the Ming Dynasty.

This matter can continue, and in the end we cannot blame ourselves.

Guaranteed profit without loss.

Now he just had to wait for guest Yan to appear, and then he would finally get the official position in the Ming Dynasty that had been promised to him.

Wait until then.

I am a real Ming Dynasty person!

…………

Monthly PassMonthly Pass
(End of this chapter)