Daming Town Haiwang

Chapter 1277, Zhu Hou is eighteen years old

"Who is the boss here?"

"I'm willing to pay [-]% higher than the market price to buy all your vegetables and fruits here!"

A potbellied businessman waved the bank notes in his hand and shouted loudly.

"I am also willing to buy these fruits at a price that is [-]% higher!"

Some merchants in the fruit business looked at the fruits in front of them with bright eyes, and could tell that the fruits that had just arrived were the best fruits, and they were also very fresh.

These fruits can be transported to the capital in a few hours through the Beijing-Tianjin Railway, and they can make a lot of money if they change hands casually.

"Old Liu, you are amazing~"

Hearing the yelling of these businessmen, Zhu Houzhao couldn't help giving Liu Jin a thumbs up.

Vegetables and fruits in winter are expensive, much more expensive than meat, and fresh vegetables and fruits are even more expensive. With this steam ship, the continuous round trip between Ryukyu and Beijing and Tianjin will make a lot of money this winter.

"That is, I will make a loss-making business?"

Liu Jin smiled as if it was a matter of course.

"Not for sale, not for sale~"

"These are vegetables and fruits from Tianjin Ocean Trading Co.~"

The staff of Tianjin Ocean Trading Co., Ltd. drove away these businessmen impatiently. What are you kidding, let you make money when you arrive in the Beijing-Tianjin area?
Soon, four-wheeled carriages arrived at the pier, and quickly transported away these vegetables and fruits, and some were transported to vegetable and fruit shops in Tianjin for direct sales.

Some are transported to the railway station, and take the nearest train to the capital. There is also a branch in the capital. Fresh vegetables and fruits are absolutely popular and can be sold at a good price, and the sales are still very strong.

As for the fruits and vegetables brought into the palace, Emperor Hongzhi and the empress ate them with open stomachs, but they actually didn't eat much, and they only took up a small, very small part.

"Let's go back to Beijing to see the construction of vegetable greenhouses."

"The vegetables transported from Ryukyu, even if there is a steam ship, will take a few days, and they are not too fresh. Only freshly picked vegetables are the freshest."

Looking at the busy scene on the pier, Liu Jin also left here, preparing to return to the capital.

"The steamship has been successfully launched, and it will usher in a period of rapid development. The ship will be built bigger and faster."

"It will become more convenient to travel between the Golden Continent and Australia."

Sitting on the carriage, Liu Jin was lost in thought.

"The nineteenth year of Hongzhi is about to pass, and soon it will be twenty years of Hongzhi. Time flies so fast. In a blink of an eye, I am in my early thirties."

"Next year, it's time to clean up the Khaks Khanate, destroy the Khaks Khanate, push the border of Ming Dynasty to the east of the Ural Mountains, pass through the Caucasus Mountains from north to south, and then wait for an opportunity to enter the Great Plains of Eastern Europe."

"It still depends on whether the Ottoman Empire can teach the Europeans a lesson. If the Ottoman Empire can win in the European battlefield, it will be much easier for our Ming Empire to go west and occupy the Eastern European Plains. At that time, we can directly attack the Baltic Sea. .”

"The vast Siberian Plain was obtained, but it could not be developed. This is also a problem. This area is too cold."

"Especially in the next few decades, with the arrival of the Little Ice Age, the weather will be even colder, and the Siberian Plain will be even more difficult to develop."

"Forget it, forget it, as long as it is occupied, it will not be too late to talk about whether it is opened or not."

Liu Jin thought a lot, a lot in his mind.

Arrive at Tianjin Railway Station in a four-wheeled carriage, and then change to a train. With the train, it will be much more convenient and comfortable to travel between Beijing and Tianjin.

……

Inside the Study Room of the Qianqing Palace in the Imperial Palace of the capital.

Emperor Hongzhi, Liu Jian, Li Dongyang, Xie Qian and other ministers were sitting by the fireplace talking and laughing very happily. The monarch and ministers were harmonious and got along well, which is also a fine tradition that the Hongzhi Dynasty has always maintained.

No matter how disappointed Emperor Hongzhi was with the civil servants, he did not really punish these important ministers in the court. Although Zhou Jing was sent to prison at the beginning, he was released when he found a chance, and he was allowed to live for the rest of his life.

It can be seen that Emperor Hongzhi is really kind-hearted, and the ministers under his opponents are also quite good. The elders of the three cabinets in the cabinet, Emperor Hongzhi has always attached great importance to it.

"Time flies so fast. In a blink of an eye, it will be Hongzhi's twenty years."

Looking at the cold wind howling outside the window, Liu Jian said with a sigh.

"Yeah, time flies, and another year has passed in silence."

"I feel that I am obviously much older, and my body is getting worse day by day."

Li Dongyang also nodded and sighed, and then coughed a few times.

He was in poor health, and at the beginning of the year, he asked Emperor Hongzhi to resign, begging to return to his hometown to spend his life, but was rejected by Emperor Hongzhi.

"Li Aiqing, you have to pay attention to your body. I'll ask the professors from Tai Hospital and Daming Medical College to show you later."

Emperor Hongzhi looked at it and said with concern.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness. This is an old problem. I have already gone to Daming Medical College to see it."

"This body is getting worse day by day, I'm afraid there is no way to continue to serve His Majesty."

Li Dongyang sighed.

To be honest, it is already possible to be an official at his level, and to be an extremely human minister, but he has not yet achieved the position of the chief assistant of the cabinet, so he can't help feeling a little regretful.

But I can't blame anyone. I am more than ten years younger than Liu Jian, and I am only [-] years old now. Liu Jian is already [-] years old, but Liu Jian is very strong and has no problems at all, but what about me? , the body is getting worse day by day, and often have to ask Emperor Hongzhi for leave to recuperate.

It seems that the position of the chief assistant of the cabinet is probably out of reach, and this is what Li Dongyang regrets.

In terms of ingenuity, Li Dongyang naturally thinks he can't lose to anyone, but his body is not as good as a human being, so there is nothing he can do.

"Li Aiqing is serious, it's just that she feels a little unwell."

"Xiao Jing, give Li Aiqing ten catties of Korean ginseng as a tribute to go home to take care of her body."

Emperor Hongzhi quickly comforted him, and by the way, generously rewarded ten catties of Korean ginseng.

In fact, Emperor Hongzhi also saw that Li Dongyang's health was getting worse and worse, and he was considering new candidates. However, Li Dongyang's resignation was due to his health, so the emperor naturally had to reject it again and again to show his respect for Li Dongyang. The attention of the courtiers is also to give the courtiers enough face.

If it is someone you want to replace, even if the other party doesn't want to resign, you have to find an excuse to resign. After repeated rejections, the other party will continue to resign and finally be approved.

This is the routine and process of the resignation of ministers in ancient times. In the final analysis, it is actually to show the kindness of the emperor, and at the same time to estimate the face of the courtiers.

Being an official can resign because of poor health, which is also a kind of success. Generally, if Li Dongyang resigns from office, the emperor will give generous rewards to support his life.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for the reward, but I really..."

Before Li Dongyang finished speaking, Emperor Hongzhi waved his hand quickly and said: "Li Aiqing, you are resourceful, talented, and even more loyal. You are my humerus and the pillar of the court. I can't leave you, and neither can the country and society of Ming Dynasty. .”

"Your Majesty, I am willing to do my best for His Majesty until the end of my life."

Hearing Emperor Hongzhi's words, Li Dongyang also burst into tears, leaving tears of emotion behind him. Living with a boss like Emperor Hongzhi is a good day. To be honest, it's not because of his poor health. Who would be willing to leave such a boss? Unleash the power in your hands.

Liu Jian and Xie Qian next to him also watched silently. In fact, Liu Jian should apply for retirement. He is already in his seventies, and he is an old man, even his beard has turned white.

But there is no way, Liu Jian is in good health and in a good state of mind. The key is that the position of the chief assistant of the cabinet is extremely powerful and powerful, and no one is willing to part with it.

Xie Qian was the youngest among the three, only fifty-seven now, so of course he was unwilling to retire now.

When the scene of tears between the monarch and his ministers was staged, Queen Zhang walked in with a smile on her face.

As soon as Emperor Hongzhi saw Empress Zhang, he immediately smiled all over his face, and hurriedly got up to support her, and said at the same time: "Be careful, be careful~"

Empress Zhang gave Emperor Hongzhi a blank look. It's only been a few months, and I still can't see my stomach. It seems to make you nervous.

As for Liu Jian, Xie Qian, and Li Dongyang, they stood up and saluted one after another.

"Your Majesty~"

"I came here specially today because I have something important to discuss with Your Majesty and the ministers."

Empress Zhang sat down with the support of Emperor Hongzhi, and then said with a smile.

"event?"

When Emperor Hongzhi, Liu Jian, Li Dongyang and others heard this, they immediately showed puzzled expressions.

"What's the big deal?"

"I also ask the empress to order."

Liu Jian also quickly expressed his opinion.

"Originally, this harem is not allowed to engage in politics, so I shouldn't be talking about this matter."

"However, this matter is also related to the country of our Ming Dynasty and the foundation of the country, and His Majesty seems to have forgotten about it all the time, so I have no choice but to stand up and talk about it."

Empress Zhang looked at Emperor Hongzhi, then looked at several ministers and said.

"What's the big deal?"

"Will I forget?"

Emperor Hongzhi was even more puzzled, what major event would he forget?
Even if he forgot, Xiao Jing, the secretary, shouldn't forget, he will definitely remember.

"Your Majesty really forgot~"

"This year is the [-]th year of Hongzhi, and it will be the [-]th year of Hongzhi after the new year. The prince is already seventeen years old this year, and he will be eighteen years old after the new year."

"It stands to reason that the crown princess should have been elected long ago, so that the royal family can be expanded and consolidated, but your majesty has been busy with state affairs, so you forgot about it."

(End of this chapter)