Chapter 288: The real purpose of the person behind the scenes



"That person just now, in his words and deeds, racked his brains, all of which were directed at the Heroes Chamber of Commerce."

"In fact, if you just think about whose interests the Heroes Chamber of Commerce has touched, you will know who is behind this."

"The Heroes Chamber of Commerce was founded by me personally. There should not be many ministers in the court who know about this. How can a fifth-rank official get the news?"

"This person in today's incident is just an ant that was pushed out. There must be higher-level officials who are his cronies."

Zhu Ying said coldly.

As soon as these words were spoken, most of the officials breathed a sigh of relief, but officials above the fifth rank suddenly tensed up.

If you are not from the same family, you will not enter the same door.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is really the same as Your Majesty.

Zhu Ying looked at the reactions of his ministers and felt quite satisfied. He thought that only by making some adjustments could he establish his position.

Seeing that the effect was almost there, he spoke again.

"Those who have been hit the hardest by the Heroes Chamber of Commerce are naturally the merchants. They are so anxious to jump out, it's nothing more than touching the pockets of too many chambers of commerce."

Hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang said at the right time: "Many of our Ming officials have been captured by merchants for their money. It seems that this strict investigation must be carried out."

Today's morning court was really exciting.

After so many twists and turns, some elderly ministers felt it was difficult to breathe.

Wave after wave, who can bear it?

However, Zhu Ying still stood up and said, "Grandpa, I think we don't need to investigate for the time being, so as not to fall into the trap of those businessmen and take this opportunity to slander us, which will make it easier for them to fish in troubled waters."

"My grandson believes that there must be only a few ministers in the court who are affected. Most of the ministers are very trustworthy and have devoted their lives to our Ming Dynasty. If innocent people are implicated, it will be a pain for our Ming Dynasty."

After hearing these words, all officials above the fifth rank looked at His Royal Highness Chang Sun with eyes filled with emotion.

It’s not easy, it’s really not easy!

After so many years, there are finally people who understand them.

Serving as officials in front of His Majesty, even the ministers, were always nervous and trembling with fear, fearing that something might happen and implicate them.

All the officials who are still able to exist in the court are trying to protect themselves. Even gatherings of scholars are avoided as much as possible.

On weekdays, I didn’t even dare to go to a restaurant, and the occasional banquet I attended had to be done in secret.

It’s so bitter! It’s so bitter!

The biggest dream of Beijing officials nowadays is to be transferred to other places. Only by staying away from the capital can their lives and property be guaranteed to a certain extent.

Even if I die, at least I can die with understanding.

At this time, many eyes were focused on Zhu Yuanzhang. They didn't know whether His Majesty agreed or disagreed with what His Royal Highness the Crown Prince said.

Those who can rise to the position of fifth-rank official are generally not young anymore, and they don’t want to lose their integrity in their later years and end up with death and annihilation of their clan.

The strict investigations by the Imperial Guards always resulted in all kinds of slanders. Even a minister with clean hands could not escape unscathed.

Few people were able to get out after being sent to the imperial prison. Those who had really committed crimes would confess their crimes, but it was not uncommon for them to drag in a few of their mortal enemies as well. The Jinyiwei were happy to arrest people.

Even if you survive by chance, you will be skinned alive.

When Zhu Yuanzhang heard what his eldest grandson said, he pondered for a moment and did nothing for a long time.

When the ministers saw this situation, their hearts almost jumped out of their throats.

After a long while, Zhu Yuanzhang slowly spoke: "The ministers in the court are indeed quite hard-working. Compared with previous dynasties, it is also very good. What Grandson said is somewhat reasonable."

"The Jinyiwei will conduct a detailed investigation in the capital and make sure to catch the person behind this."

"This matter ends here today, Zhan Hui."

Zhan Hui trembled when he heard this, and hurried forward and said, "I am here."

Zhu Yuanzhang said coldly: "It seems that there is a big problem in your Ministry of Personnel. Go back and investigate carefully to see if anyone else has been bribed."

"If you can't do it, then we'll let the Royal Guards help you."

Zhan Hui kowtowed quickly and said, "I obey your order."

After the morning court ended, Zhu Ying followed Zhu Yuanzhang to the Huagai Hall to rest.

"Grandson, do you have any good plan for the person behind this? He is so bold that he even dares to bribe the ministers in the court and is willing to die for them."

"It seems that among our ministers, we don't know how many of them are his cronies."

Zhu Yuanzhang said somewhat unhappily.

If the situation had continued as it was, the Embroidered Uniform Guard would have certainly conducted a strict investigation, but since the eldest grandson had spoken, there was no need for Zhu Yuanzhang to kill anyone by force.

Tomorrow is the day when my eldest grandson will be enthroned. If I really want to deal with these court officials, it won’t be too late later.

"I don't know where this person is from."

Zhu Ying thought for a moment and asked.

Zhu Yuanzhang naturally didn't remember so much, mainly because he was too low-ranking official, so his attention turned to Jiang Lin.

Jiang Li was of course familiar with him, and he quickly said, "Your Majesty, this man is from Hangzhou Prefecture, Zhejiang."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Ying immediately understood and said with certainty: "It seems that the Zhejiang businessman is the one behind this."

The status of merchants was very low, but this was not the case in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions.

Businessmen who have made money will often seek to transform themselves by sending their family children to study and obtain official positions.

The commerce in Jiangsu and Zhejiang has been prosperous for a long time, and it cannot be controlled by simply lowering the status of merchants in the capital.

Behind it is a huge network of relationships.

To be honest, Zhu Ying was not surprised at all that some officials came out to accuse the Qunying Chamber of Commerce.

Zhu Yuanzhang half-closed his eyes. He would rather kill the wrong merchant than let him go. Nine out of ten merchants are treacherous, this is no joke.

"Isn't the second brother in Zhejiang? It's a good opportunity to let him give them a good beating. I don't believe there is any way to deal with these businessmen."

"Then we will test it in the court and see who are the ones who speak for these Zhejiang businessmen. They must be the accomplices."

When Zhu Ying heard that the old man was going to let Zhu Gang regulate Zhejiang businessmen, he knew the intensity of the matter.

Zhu Gang's character can be described as tyrannical. When he was in the capital, people were somewhat afraid of him. But when he was outside, it was completely different.

Obviously the old man was very clear about it, but Zhu Ying had different ideas.

"Grandpa, I think the disappearance of a fifth-rank official is definitely a big blow to Zhejiang, but they did such a thing."

"If the official is higher, the gains will not outweigh the losses. If the official is lower, people's words will not matter. The reason why I targeted the Heroes Chamber of Commerce is to make the relationship between the Heroes Chamber of Commerce and my grandson public."

"And my grandson estimates that there must be other chambers of commerce behind this. I'm afraid a single Zhejiang businessman would not be willing to pay such a high price."

After hearing Da Sun's analysis, Zhu Yuanzhang frowned and said, "Do these merchants dare to unite and rebel?"

Zhu Ying shook his head and said, "That's not the case. What they are trying to do is just to open a factory like the Qunying Chamber of Commerce."

"It's just that they don't want to pay such a high salary, so they do this, hoping to use the power of public opinion to defeat the Heroes Chamber of Commerce."

"Merchants are profit-driven. They can easily calculate the profits of opening large factories, especially in coastal areas. In the past, whether it was tea, porcelain, or silk, most of their sources came from small workshops."

"The quantity produced by these small workshops is difficult to meet the demand. Now that large factories have opened, the production quantity will definitely increase significantly, and the price can also be reduced."

"The lower prices in Daming does not mean that the prices of maritime trade will also decrease. Daming's products are exported overseas and are always in short supply."

"But if the government doesn't allow them to open large factories, they won't be able to get this source of income, so they will naturally try every possible way to get a piece of the pie."

After listening to his eldest grandson's detailed explanation, Zhu Yuanzhang finally understood the twists and turns of this business.

However, Zhu Yuanzhang quickly reacted and said with a smile: "It seems that the eldest grandson has already made up his mind."

Zhu Ying replied, "Yes, I have already guessed their purpose. We didn't expect to be the only one to dominate the factory this time. If we want to make the people of Ming Dynasty rich and the overall commercial economy improve, we still need the efforts of many parties."

"There is a big difference between businessmen who set up factories and those who run business on their own. Because the location is fixed, it is difficult for them to engage in speculation. In addition, the investment in setting up a factory is not a small amount, which will inevitably attract many people to invest together."

"The so-called waste of land is a complete joke. There is not enough good land for cultivation, and the money is not in the hands of the people."

"On the contrary, the opening of factories can also create jobs on a large scale. Many refugees and beggars will have a way out, and at least they can have enough food and clothing."

"If there is another famine caused by natural disasters, the pressure will not be on the people, but on the factory owners."

"In order to protect their own benefits, they can only do their best to protect those who work for them."

"It will be very easy for the government to take action against them. When the time comes, they can issue a protection regulation stipulating that when opening a large factory certificate, they must abide by the minimum wage protection agreement, and then they can protect the interests of the people."

Zhu Ying had been thinking about this plan for a long time.

Zhu Ying's goal of governing business with business was to guide the commercial activities of the Ming Dynasty towards the direction of industry.

Many businessmen now make their fortunes by hoarding goods and engaging in speculation, which is entirely based on damaging the interests of others.

In this regard, it is meaningless to rely solely on the government to control it. It is also very easy to be corrupted and become a member of the money group, protecting it.

No matter whether they are Zhejiang merchants, Huizhou merchants, or Shanxi merchants, behind these big businessmen, there are more or less people from the government.

At present, this is something that cannot be avoided.

The people's livelihood economy has not been developed. These businessmen secretly sponsor scholars to take the exams, and then they form an alliance, which makes it very difficult to investigate.

Only by promoting it in a positive direction can the business of Ming Dynasty be put on the right track.

"With so many merchants, I don't know if Da Sun can defeat them all. If there are any problems, we don't need to be shy and don't need to be trapped by the merchants' framework. If anyone gets in the way, just kill them all."

"It's just that we don't know much about this aspect, so it's up to the eldest grandson to take control of it."

Zhu Yuanzhang said with a hint of danger in his words.

In fact, according to Zhu Yuanzhang's idea, killing is the fastest way, but now the treasury has become very considerable after absorbing the Qunying Chamber of Commerce.

Now Zhu Yuanzhang no longer needs to compete with the Ministry of Revenue for money, and all members of the imperial palace have benefited from it.

Just like the concubines in the palace, the princes and grandchildren, even the palace maids and eunuchs, their lives have improved.

"Don't worry, Grandpa. I will save these for sure. After the military parade is over, I will start selling my shares."

"After this incident, I think the number of people who need to invest to buy shares will be much higher."

"My grandson has to thank them for exposing the relationship with the Qunying Chamber of Commerce. This makes it easier to sell."

Zhu Ying said with a smile.

Although the sudden appearance of the minister was not in Zhu Ying's plan, the overall direction did not change. Instead, it was an accident that made things go more smoothly.

With the title of the crown prince, it would be much easier to sell one share of 500,000 strings of paper money.

In Zhu Ying's opinion, the buyers of these shares are not just the Huaixi military generals and nobles.

In fact, although these noble groups seem to have strong financial resources, they are still not as good as the local chambers of commerce.

Zhu Ying's goal was to get those big chambers of commerce to invest together.

The real trick only begins after you invest.

There were too many financial tricks in the previous life. Even though Zhu Ying was not from the financial circle, there were too many financial stories.

Once you invest, you will be trapped, not to mention that Zhu Ying also controls the Baochao Tizhusi.

The shares of these chambers of commerce can be diluted in minutes.

For example, during the second round of financing, tens of millions of banknotes were directly poured in. It didn't matter how much was printed, as long as the shares in these factories did not need to be circulated.

It's so easy to kill them.

At this time, the Jinyiwei came outside the door, and Jiang Li hurried out to receive intelligence information.

Afterwards, Jiang Li reported, "Your Majesty, Your Highness, there is news from the Jinyiwei Yamen that Gao Yong, who was previously arrested for disturbing the peace of the capital, was poisoned to death in the imperial prison."

Zhu Yuanzhang scolded: "How daring! I never thought these businessmen could even interfere with the Jinyiwei Yamen. What else can they not dare to do?"

Zhu Ying also frowned and asked, "Have you found out who poisoned him?"

Jiang Li replied: "Your Majesty, Your Highness, the Jinyiwei who poisoned the person has also taken poison and died."

Zhu Yuanzhang was really angry.

It would be fine if the ministers in the court were bribed, but the Jinyiwei Yamen was his personal guards, and anyone selected must have a clean background.

Now even the Jinyiwei Yamen had made mistakes. Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Jiang Lin with strong dissatisfaction in his eyes.

Jiang Li's back was soaked with cold sweat.

Zhu Ying pondered for a moment and said, "It seems that Gao Yong knows a lot. The people behind him are getting anxious."

"Immediately seal off the Imperial Prison, including all the jailers, and then arrange for the imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital to go to the Imperial Prison to treat Gao Yong."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Li could only say, "Your Highness, Gao Yong has been completely poisoned to the bone marrow and is completely dead. The poison he used is extremely heavy, and I'm afraid he can't be saved."

Zhu Ying said: "The Jinyiwei is hereditary, and it must have cost a huge price to bribe the Jinyiwei. Now the news that Gao Yong was poisoned has not spread out yet, so let's block the news first."

"As the personal guards of the imperial palace, the Jinyiwei are extremely important and cannot make any mistakes. Now we can use Gao Yong to spread the news that he has been treated and survived, and see if we can catch a few more fish."

"As for the Jinyiwei who committed suicide by taking poison, we can tell the public that he took poison and died after being caught while poisoning. I want to see if the people outside can keep quiet after hearing this news."

Jiang Li's eyes lit up when he heard this. He was still worried about losing the trust of the emperor. If the Jinyiwei conducted an internal investigation, it would also cause a big disturbance.

Now with His Royal Highness Changsun's solution, even if we can't atone for our sins, at least we can restore some good impressions.


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