Zhao Jingzhou sighed and said, "Let's not talk about him anymore. Let's talk about other things that happened during the time I was away from the capital..."
…
Zhao Lin entered the Strange Stone Garden and met Emperor Chengping.
Emperor Chengping was taking medicine under the care of Eunuch Xu.
Seeing Zhao Lin coming over, Emperor Chengping said as he was carrying the medicine, "You said you had something important to report. Tell me, what is it?"
Zhao Lin said, "I want to take charge of maritime transport as well."
Emperor Chengping's hand trembled and he almost dropped the medicine bowl. Eunuch Xu quickly held it up. Emperor Chengping simply gave up drinking it and threw the medicine bowl to Eunuch Xu. Pointing at Zhao Lin, he said, "You are so greedy that you want to swallow an elephant. Aren't you afraid of dying of bloating?"
Zhao Lin smiled and said, "My appetite is all given by Your Majesty. I will be as big as Your Majesty gives me."
Eunuch Xu held the medicine bowl carefully, glanced at Zhao Lin, and thought to himself that this guy was really bold.
Emperor Chengping sneered, "You're more talkative than anyone else. Do you really think I'm incompetent? If I give you all the river and sea transportation, doesn't that mean you're in charge of everything related to water?"
Zhao Lin said, "If Your Majesty feels it is inappropriate, you can give the Maritime Customs Office to me."
The main functions of the Sibo Si are to be in charge of trade review, customs duty collection, etc. It is the main management department of maritime trade.
Zhao Lin wanted this in order to open up sea transportation and do business with overseas people.
This is how to make money.
Emperor Chengping asked curiously, "What do you want this for?"
Zhao Lin chuckled and said, "Of course it's business."
Emperor Chengping was surprised and asked, "You know how to do business? Aren't you just robbing people?"
Zhao Lin laughed awkwardly twice and said, "I just robbed people when I had the chance. I'm not a bandit, so how could I rob people everywhere?"
Emperor Chengping said, "If you have forgotten, the Maritime Customs Office cannot give it to you."
Zhao Lin said: "I can earn more money for Your Majesty."
Emperor Chengping was immediately tempted: "How much more?"
Zhao Lin had already made a budget and held up a finger: "At least double."
Emperor Chengping was shocked: "Really?"
Zhao Lin said, "I dare not deceive Your Majesty. I dare not say how much, but it is one million taels per year."
Emperor Chengping was immediately excited and said, "If you can really come up with so much, I will give you the management of the Maritime Customs Office right now."
Zhao Lin bowed and said, "If the annual customs duty is less than one million taels, I will be beheaded."
"Okay! Zhao Lin, please obey my orders!" Emperor Chengping was about to issue an order immediately.
Eunuch Xu was so panicked that he quickly advised, "Your Majesty, shouldn't you call the elders to discuss this matter? Otherwise, if they start making a fuss, Your Majesty will get sick again."
Emperor Chengping angrily said, "I am the Son of Heaven, and I have the final say. Anyone who dares to make trouble will be beaten to death."
Eunuch Xu was so frightened that he dared not speak.
Emperor Chengping said, "From now on, order the Governor of the River, Zhao Lin, to also take charge of the Maritime Customs Office."
The Hanlin scholar who was responsible for writing imperial edicts immediately wrote it down and handed it to Emperor Chengping for review.
Emperor Chengping glanced at it casually, asked Eunuch Xu to bring his private seal to stamp it, and then threw it directly to Zhao Lin: "Take it."
Zhao Lin took it with both hands and was overjoyed. He bowed and said, "I obey your order!"
Emperor Chengping said, "Zhao Lin, don't forget what you said."
Zhao Lin said solemnly, "If you are short of a copper coin, you can use my head as a substitute."
Emperor Chengping said: "I don't want your head, I want silver."
Zhao Lin smiled and said, "We have money, and we also have people overseas. Their customs are very different from Daqi. There are many beautiful women from other races and rare flowers, plants and stones."
"I want them all!" Emperor Chengping said bluntly.
"I obey the decree!"
Zhao Lin returned to the Fu Mansion with the imperial edict, which scared Fu Chengwang and his son Fu Wenqi.
Fu Chengwang asked angrily, "What do you want this for?"
Zhao Lin smiled and said, "Of course it's to control maritime trade and make money for Your Majesty."
"you?"
Fu Chengwang didn't know what to say. He said, "Even if you want to regulate maritime trade, you should have spoken out at court and had the ministers debate, or directly submitted a petition to the cabinet and let the elders brainstorm before making a decision. Why are you asking the emperor for an imperial decree?"
Zhao Lin asked, "Will the ministers hand over the Maritime Customs Office to me?"
Fu Chengwang shook his head.
"Isn't that right? They won't, and aren't willing to, hand over the Maritime Customs to me. If I want to get the Maritime Customs, I can only go directly to His Majesty." Zhao Lin said.
"But what do you want the Maritime Customs Office for?" Fu Wenqi couldn't help asking.
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