Chapter 179 Old Zhu's Imperial Edict

Zhu Chong's words made Old Zhu look deeply disappointed, but he knew that there was nothing wrong with Zhu Chong's approach.

Because no matter how many new treasure notes Zhu Chong printed, the counterfeiters could print more old treasure notes.

After all, once the imperial court issues new treasure notes, it will have to use the new treasure notes to exchange for the old treasure notes. If that happens, the new treasure notes will become a money laundering tool for the other party, turning the old treasure notes into new ones and the fake ones into real ones.

Not only will the new treasure notes lose their credibility, but it will also further lead to large amounts of treasure notes flowing into the private sector, causing the treasure notes to depreciate, and in the end, ordinary people will be the ones who suffer.

Therefore, Old Zhu could understand Zhu Chong's intention. If he started exchanging the new and old treasure notes now and pushed the new treasure notes into the market, it would be equivalent to handing over his wealth to others.

Zhu Yuanzhang would never let such a thing happen no matter what, and he didn't want the new treasure notes to be pushed into the market and suffer a devastating blow to their creditworthiness.

"I understand." Zhu Yuanzhang finally calmed down. He finally understood why Zhu Chong came with Qin Kui and specifically gave the printing plate to Qin Kui. He was also generous and handed over all the secrets of the production of the new treasure banknotes to him.

Now that we know that someone is counterfeiting treasure notes, then the suspicion is greater within the Baochao Tizhusi. Zhu Chong must also be suspicious now, but in a state of suspicion, he cannot do the work of the Baochao Tizhusi well.

Therefore, Zhu Chong wanted to withdraw, and he chose to withdraw before the new treasure notes were about to enter the market, in order to avoid the great possibility of getting into trouble later.

After figuring out the key, Old Zhu looked at Zhu Chong seriously and said, "Second Brother, don't worry about the counterfeiting of the treasure notes. I will investigate this matter myself, but you have to continue to work hard for me on the treasure note promotion department."

"At the same time, I hope you can also think carefully for us, how to get the new treasure notes on the market, and how to make the treasure notes promotion department a solid block!"

"Your son obeys your order." With Old Zhu's promise, Zhu Chong felt that the purpose of his visit today had been achieved, so he took his leave.

After he left, Lao Zhu said a few words to Qin Kui. After Qin Kui left the treasure banknote printing plate, he also took his leave.

After Zhu Chong and Qin Kui left the imperial study, Old Zhu was silent for a long time until a man appeared in front of Old Zhu from the darkness, fell to his knees on the ground and kowtowed heavily.

Looking at Mao Xiang kneeling on the ground, Lao Zhu said expressionlessly, "You finally decided to come out. Do you know where you went wrong?"

"I deserve to die, Your Majesty! I beg you to punish me!" Mao Xiang did not hesitate and directly begged Zhu Yuanzhang to punish me.

But Lao Zhu did not punish him, nor did he get angry. Instead, he remained silent for a long time.

During this period of time, Mao Xiang was almost completely soaked in cold sweat. Under such powerful pressure, Mao Xiang felt like every second was a year!

"Mao Xiang, you have been with us for almost twenty years, right?" Old Zhu suddenly said this.

After hearing this, Mao Xiang felt relieved, knowing that Zhu Yuanzhang would not kill him. However, he was still nervous and quickly replied, "Your Majesty is right. I have been with you since the 21st year of the Zhizheng reign, and it has been 21 years now."

"Twenty-one years!" Old Zhu said with emotion, "Isn't it true that no one in the whole court trusts you more than me?"

"Even the Crown Prince is inferior to you, but how do you repay me? Is this how you work for me? How can I continue to trust you? How can I trust you?"

Old Zhu's words made Mao Xiang's heart skip a beat. He kowtowed quickly and said, "This humble servant deserves death a thousand times. I only ask for death. Please calm your anger, Your Majesty!"

"Would killing you be enough?" Zhu Yuanzhang finally couldn't help but roar. "You always talk nicely, and you have spies all over the country, but you didn't even know someone was secretly printing banknotes. Thirty million strings of cash, thirty million strings of cash! How dare you say you didn't know anything about it?"

"We don't care what method you use, and we won't push you too far. One month, one month, we want to see the results. No matter who it is, dig him out for us, and we will personally burn him to death!"

"I obey your order!" Mao Xiang kowtowed deeply without any hesitation and left in a hurry.

Zhu Chong had no idea what happened in the palace. When he arrived at the Baochao Tizhusi the next day, he saw a group of people standing in front of the door of the Baochao Tizhusi, and the leader was actually Li Wenzhong, Duke of Cao.

"Your Highness the Prince of Qin." When Li Wenzhong saw Zhu Chong coming, he immediately stepped forward to pay his respects, and then stuffed the imperial edict directly into Zhu Chong's arms and let Zhu Chong read it himself.

They were all family members, and everyone around him was his own people, so of course Li Wenzhong didn't do anything pretentious. However, after Zhu Chong read the imperial edict, his eyes dilated and he even screamed in shock.

"What? So many people, you let me lead them? All of them are mine?"

It turned out that Zhu Yuanzhang allocated a battalion of the imperial guards to Zhu Chong, with a total of more than 5,000 people. From then on, these people were all Zhu Chong's soldiers!

To be honest, Zhu Chong did not believe that Zhu Yuanzhang was so generous, but after he saw the relevant military transfer order and military token that Li Wenzhong handed to him, Zhu Chong suddenly felt a little nervous.

In fact, he was not the only one who was confused. Li Wenzhong was also very confused. He didn't understand why Zhu Yuanzhang issued such an imperial decree.

But the imperial edict cannot be fake, and the official documents of the Ministry of War cannot be fake. Li Wenzhong has seen a lot over the years following Zhu Yuanzhang. Besides, he is handing the person over to Zhu Chong, Zhu Yuanzhang's own son. What bad intentions could he have?

"Yes, Your Highness, Prince Qin, when the Emperor sent me here, he specifically instructed that from now on, these five thousand men will be treated as runners of the Imperial Banknote Administration Bureau, and all expenses will be covered by the Bureau itself."

"What?" Zhu Chong was shocked again. "Five thousand people are employed by the Baochao Tizhusi, and the expenses are also paid by the Baochao Tizhusi?"

"Yes." Li Wenzhong looked puzzled. Looking at Zhu Chong's expression, it was obvious that he was unaware of the situation. He originally thought that Zhu Chong knew about it, but now it seemed that it was Zhu Chong's idea alone!

"Duke Cao, please analyze for me what the emperor wants to do?" Seeing that there were no outsiders around, Zhu Chong asked Li Wenzhong directly.

"So many people are assigned to the Baochao Tizhusi. What are they trying to do? I can't even manage it alone. How can you give me 5,000 people and ask me to take care of their food, drink, and toilet? Isn't this asking for death?"

"If you don't understand, then I understand even less." Li Wenzhong was immediately amused when he heard Zhu Chong say this.

Suddenly, Li Wenzhong thought of something and quickly said to Zhu Chong, "But the emperor said that if you really don't understand, you can go to the palace and ask the emperor. That's what he said."

"Ah?" Zhu Chong became even more confused after hearing what Li Wenzhong said.

Didn't I meet Old Zhu yesterday? Why is he trying to get me into the palace again today? What's his plan? I haven't caused him any trouble.

Zhu Chong looked carefully at the soldier in front of him. Suddenly, his eyebrows raised, as if he understood something...