This incident, coupled with the research conducted by foreigners, further solidified Kangxi's resolve to lift the maritime ban, especially given the substantial profits generated by the goods brought back by Yinreng's fleet on this voyage.
Crown Prince Yinreng has a fleet of ships, although it is said to be under the name of Kangxi or someone else, but everyone knows the truth. Moreover, it is no secret that he brought back something from this voyage, and there are many people in the court who are observing him.
So although it's unclear exactly how much money was made, the sheer popularity and the exorbitant prices of each item made it clear to everyone that it was definitely not a small sum.
Many people may not say it out loud, but they are actually very envious.
So when Emperor Kangxi announced the lifting of the sea ban in court, although there were voices of opposition, they were not significant; only a few old-fashioned stubborn people persisted in their stance.
Yinreng had already started listening to Kangxi from the sidelines, so when Kangxi heard someone objecting, he ignored Yinreng's resentful look and threw him out to face the affairs of the court.
It's his fault for always causing so many problems, and he was the one who proposed lifting the sea ban. He should bear the consequences of the problems he created.
The debate in the court lasted for several days. Some agreed, some disagreed, and of course, there were neutral parties who felt it didn't matter whether the meeting was held or not. Chen Tingjing, the Minister of Revenue, was a representative of the neutral parties.
He stood in the middle, watching the two sides pulling at each other, while the two sides kept giving him meaningful glances, trying to get him to join their side.
This put Chen Tingjing in a dilemma. If he joined the Crown Prince's side, the Crown Prince's faction was also known as the Suo'etu faction, which was not what he wanted. However, he also couldn't bear not joining and supporting those who disagreed with lifting the sea ban.
On the one hand, Chen Tingjing himself felt that lifting the sea ban was actually quite good, so he only accepted the benefits of it. On the other hand, after His Highness the Crown Prince sold all the goods he brought back from this voyage, he gave all the profits to the Ministry of Revenue.
That's right, Yinreng really gave all the profits he made from the goods he brought back from the sea to the Ministry of Revenue, which was one million taels of silver, without saying a word or hesitating at all.
Chen Tingjing originally didn't want it. Who knew what the Crown Prince, who often tricked people in the court, was planning to do? But when the Crown Prince put all the silver in the Ministry of Revenue, Chen Tingjing's eyes widened when he saw it. In the end, he didn't have the courage to say no and asked Yinreng to take it back.
So they could only accept it with tears in their eyes. The imperial court hadn't had much silver in recent years, even though the introduction of sweet potatoes, corn, and potatoes had greatly increased grain production.
The national treasury has a few profitable projects, but the government's spending is like water flowing out of the bank. Every single one of them requires money, especially after this flood. Fortunately, we don't need to buy food, but the follow-up matters require money everywhere.
This further strained the already meager national treasury, and the emperor also intended to wage war against the Dzungars, which is extremely expensive.
Therefore, the national treasury has never been very wealthy. Now, with real gold and silver laid out in front of him, and not a small amount at that, how could he not be tempted?
Therefore, Chen Tingjing could only accept it with tears in his eyes. What if His Highness the Crown Prince regretted it later, or what if the Emperor found out? Then it would be useless, as the Emperor would definitely not agree to His Highness the Crown Prince doing this.
Thinking of this, Chen Tingjing glanced at Yinreng again, feeling very fortunate that this spendthrift son was not from his own family, otherwise he would not have been able to afford to worry about him.
Yinreng looked at Chen Tingjing with a smile, completely unaware that in the eyes of the person opposite him, he was already a spendthrift.
But even if he knew, he didn't care. Let him be a spendthrift, it's all his money anyway. He had to get rid of this matter as soon as possible, otherwise what would happen if he was handed over to someone else later?
As long as he can get rid of this mess, it's just money, he doesn't care. Money can be earned back, but if he works himself to death, then it's really gone.
Yinreng thought to himself quite nonchalantly that he really didn't care about the money, because he already had a lot of money in his Yuqing Palace.
He simply gave away the money this time, but he also gave away the trouble. However, he didn't give away any of the money he had earned before. Moreover, the lamps he had others develop have already sold a lot. Even if he gave the Emperor a share, he would have earned more than that.
Yinreng thought to himself with a smug satisfaction.
By the time Kangxi found out, the matter was already settled, and the two sides had already completed the handover of personnel.
At that time, Emperor Kangxi was still enjoying the company of the beautiful Mingxiu in her palace, so he learned of the news relatively late.
When he found out, he was furious. He left Yonghe Palace and ordered someone to summon Yinreng to the Imperial Study.
Mingxiu was shocked when she heard the news. So much money! She had never seen so much money before, and it was just being given away like that.
No wonder Emperor Kangxi was so irritable; if it were her, she would be just as irritable.
Mingxiu gasped in shock, speechless with astonishment. Yesterday, when Yinreng came, he told her to find a way to stall the Emperor, as he had business to attend to the next day. Mingxiu didn't ask any further questions, but she never expected it to be something like this.
Mingxiu's eyelids twitched; she felt that this child had really grown up, and his ability to bully others had also increased.
Mingxiu felt a little sorry for Kangxi. She wondered what kind of knowledge the system was instilling in Yinreng. She felt that the child seemed to have been raised astray and was running wildly in an unknown direction.
"Your Highness, His Highness the Crown Prince is too audacious. Will His Majesty take his anger out on you because of this?" Yu Qing was a little worried, after all, His Highness the Crown Prince was still being restrained by the Empress.
Mingxiu shook her head. She wasn't worried about Kangxi taking his anger out on her. Mingxiu closed her eyes and chanted "Amitabha Buddha." She was very worried about Yinreng's little bottom. She had a feeling that Kangxi would probably beat the child tonight.
Mingxiu's worries were not unfounded. Inside the Imperial Study, Kangxi was chasing after Yinreng, beating him with a whisk he had somehow stolen.
While beating him, he cursed, "You little brat, you've grown up, haven't you? You've made money and you don't even know how to spend it? You can't even give it to me? I'm still your father, and it costs a lot of money to support your younger brothers and sisters. And you just send the money directly to the Ministry of Revenue. You think you're so capable?"
Emperor Kangxi chased after Yinreng and berated him, clearly furious.
Yinreng naturally couldn't just stand there and wait to be beaten, so he kept running ahead. Being small and short-legged, he couldn't even speak when Kangxi was chasing him.
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