The First Corrupt Official of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 344 Master Ye’s method is very unique. Zhu Yuanzhang turns into an angry bull, so don’t take it literally!

The caravan that set off from Yingtian Mansion was none other than Mr. Guo's caravan, that is, the caravan of Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang who was patrolling incognito.

Also as a businessman, he went to Zhengzhou incognito, but the size of the caravan was absolutely dwarfed by that of the big one.

Ye Qing's caravan pulled a full hundred carts of grain. Whether it was a hundred cart drivers or two hundred bodyguards, they were all disguised as three hundred elite soldiers from the Northern Army.

Zhu Yuanzhang's caravan only pulled a few carts of coarse cloth, and the cart drivers and bodyguards were only a dozen or so elite guards.

The reason why he is so shabby is simple.

He was really embarrassed to ask the Ministry of Household Affairs to borrow money again. All the expenses this time were funded by Queen Ma.

Moreover, the interest rate demanded by Queen Ma was actually higher than that of Mr. Xia from the Ministry of Revenue.

He had no choice but to be a low-key small businessman.

Of course, Zhu Yuanzhang was not prepared to meet Ye Qing this time, so there was no need to worry that Ye Qing would think that Mr. Guo was bankrupt after meeting him!

inside the carriage,

Empress Ma said seriously: "Your Majesty, are you too stingy?"

"You only have this kind of clothing when you go out, and you haul just these carts of coarse cloth. It's not enough to make clothes for the children in the disaster area."

Zhu Yuanzhang, who was sitting in the back, was surprised and shocked when he looked at Queen Ma who was scolding him.

How could this generation of empress Ma Xiuying be more shameless than Zhu Yuanzhang and Ye Qing put together?

Zhu Yuanzhang just grinned: "Empress, why are we so stingy? You don't have any idea?"

"I'm embarrassed to ask the Ministry of Accounts to borrow money again, so I asked you to take out the small treasury to spend it. But it's so good that you actually want 30% interest?"

"You are much darker than Xia Shimin!"

"Calculate for yourself, how much debt have we incurred since we met Ye Qing?"

"I just made a little profit from a project, but the capital has not been fully recovered. The next project comes again, and the investment is larger than the previous one!"

As he said that, Zhu Yuanzhang looked in the direction of the Japanese country, his eyes full of expectation.

At the same time, he was still looking forward to it: "I really hope to send troops soon and come back with real money and silver. If not, we will never be able to pay it back in this life!"

Queen Ma just smiled faintly: "You mean, what you owe me can be repaid in this lifetime?"

"This"

Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly ran out of words.

At the same time, all the experiences they had had since they met quickly flashed through their minds.

The pictures that are still fresh in my memory, as well as the pictures that impress me deeply, are also being ‘played’ emphatically in my mind.

He remembered that when Haozhou was besieged, his sister came to him with her child in her arms begging for food, so he quickly sent troops to relieve the siege of Haozhou.

When he was conquering the world, his sister was not only his Minister of Household Affairs, but also his Minister of Industry.

Whether it's money and food expenses, or weapon forging, his sister is in charge of everything related to logistics.

After he became the emperor, he said, "The harem is not allowed to interfere in politics." His sister stayed deep in the harem and managed the affairs of the harem. She only came to give advice when he needed it.

Zhu Yuanzhang did not dare to recall any more!

He just stretched out his strong hand, touched Queen Ma's cheek tenderly and said, "Sister, we think your interest rate is low."

"What does 30% interest mean? It should be 80% interest!"

"We know that you hid the small vault for us and for this family!"

As he spoke, he gently hugged Queen Ma and let her lean on his strong shoulders.

Empress Ma just smiled happily and said, "It would be great if you were so gentle to the other concubines."

Zhu Yuanzhang didn't even think about it, he shook his head and said: "Being with them is like reviewing a memorial. It is a task that must be completed. How can it be the same?"

"Being with you is the best. Anyway, I just need to leave my tenderness to you alone!"

"."

Outside the carriage door curtain, Mao Xiang, who was driving the car, immediately frowned.

He was full just after leaving Yingtian Mansion. How could this be so great?

In Mao Xiang's eyes, the young men in Jinyiwei who were riding horses and guarding the carriage outside the windows on both sides suddenly came to both sides of him.

Mao Xiang looked at the two young men with furrowed brows and said, "What's wrong with you, have you forgotten all the rules?"

"Go back quickly!"

The two young men in Jinyiwei had no choice but to retreat obediently, but they really wanted to say back to Mao Xiang, "I'm too close, my stomach is a bit bloated."

Ten days later, Zhu Yuanzhang and the others arrived at the border of Zhengzhou.

After Zhu Yuanzhang got off the carriage, he looked at Mao Xiang with a grimace and said, "What's the matter with you? You go out with the master and you feel so uncomfortable?"

Mao Xiang immediately smiled: "No, it's just that the weather is too hot and I'm a little tired."

"Especially the area of ​​Zhengzhou on the edge of the Yellow River is very humid and hot."

When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this reason, he no longer cared about the bitter look on Mao Xiang's face.

It's just that he ignored one important point. He, Zhu Yuanzhang, is not tired, so how can these young masters be tired!

Although the sun is harsh, it is far less harsh than what the couple said along the way!

Zhu Yuanzhang and the others stood in the city of Zhengzhou and could not see any sign of the disaster.

But he knew that once he left the city, what he saw would definitely be a different scene.

"Walk,"

"Find a place to stay first, and then find out if Ye Qing is here."

After a while, they stayed at a nice inn in the center of the city.

Zhu Yuanzhang had already seen various construction miracles in Yanmen County and Ningbo Prefecture, and had no intention of visiting Zhengzhou City.

He just wanted to have a good night's rest and then go inspect the disaster area tomorrow morning.

In the evening, Jin Yiwei, who went out to inquire about the news, returned to Zhu Yuanzhang one after another.

"Your Majesty, there is no news about Mr. Ye."

"Your Majesty, we have inquired about local grain merchants and surrounding grain merchants. Although they all transport grain for sale, they all use high transportation costs as an excuse to raise the price of grain three times."

When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, he slapped it on the table.

He just snorted coldly and said: "How dare these sons of bitches make such a fortune!"

"The flood overturned their grain transport ship, or something like that. Can it triple the price?"

"They are all beasts that eat human blood steamed buns!"

"Ye Qing was wrong to give preferential treatment to businessmen. Our attitude towards businessmen is correct."

Having said this, the look of disgust on Zhu Yuanzhang's face should not be too obvious.

But what was even more obvious was the murderous intent in his eyes.

Suddenly, he gritted his back teeth and said: "My sister is not in good health, so we walked slowly on purpose. We have already arrived, and Ye Qing hasn't arrived yet."

"If he delays disaster relief, let's see how I deal with him."

Seeing that Zhu Yuanzhang was so angry, Empress Ma just poured him a cup of herbal tea and said: "Don't be so angry. I believe that he will not slack off when it concerns the people."

"Maybe he arrived late on purpose for some reason, or maybe he came incognito just like us."

When Zhu Yuanzhang saw Empress Ma saying this, he just suppressed his anger and said, "It's best to do what you said."

Early the next morning,

After Zhu Yuanzhang and his party had breakfast, they were ready to leave the city and head to the disaster area.

But as soon as they walked onto the street, they saw countless people swarming in one direction.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Mao Xiang and said, "Go and find out. They all have bags in their hands. What are they going to do?"

"Yes."

After a while, Mao Xiang came back and said with a smile: "It is said that a grain store opened in the east of the city. The boss is a kind man. The price of grain is 20% less than the previous price."

When Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma heard the news, they also smiled lightly with relief.

It seems that these profit-seeking businessmen are not all profiteers.

But then, they frowned!

Although the behavior of this righteous businessman is commendable, he is after all cutting off the financial path of his peers. You must know that if you do something like killing your parents, you will definitely be retaliated against!

"Which businessman has such courage?"

"What businessman is not afraid of offending others?"

Zhu Yuanzhang just thought about it for a moment. He didn't even need to ask Queen Ma, and he thought of someone.

At the same time, Queen Ma also thought of that person!

The two just nodded and followed the crowd towards the grain store.

As expected, they saw a lot of familiar faces here, namely the elite soldiers of the Northern Army dressed as bodyguards.

At this moment, they heard a familiar voice.

Shen Wan'er stood on a high place and shouted: "Don't crowd, everyone has a share, and don't buy too much. Each item is limited, and we must ensure that everyone can buy it."

"Don't worry about running out of food. Our boss is very knowledgeable and has a steady supply of rice and noodles, and he doesn't dare to stop the waterway checkpoints."

"."

Of course, Shen Wan'er's voice could not reach the back of the crowd.

But with the spread of the elite soldiers of the Northern Army, everyone present could hear it.

Among the crowd, Queen Ma smiled and said, "How about it, am I right?"

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and nodded: "That's right. He is so disgusting. He likes to do things like killing his parents."

"Well done this time, though."

But at this moment, a group of thugs armed with sticks and swords suddenly rushed over.

"Where's your boss?"

"Call your boss out. He is deliberately disrupting the market. Does he understand?"

"Either raise the price of food, or stop doing business here!"

"."

While this group of people were shouting, they also aimed their fierce eyes at the people buying grain.

Zhu Yuanzhang just frowned and immediately started to teach others a lesson.

But before he could take action, these bodyguards, disguised as elite soldiers from the Northern Army, drew their swords directly.

Just a moment later, these people who were shouting and rushing over limped away.

Not long after they disappeared, a green-robed official riding a tall horse rushed over with a group of government officials.

"Someone reported that you maliciously lowered prices and disrupted the market."

"Also, who allowed you to do business here?"

"its not right!"

"The previous owner of this business was named Zhao, and he was a local. How come he doesn't understand the rules so well?"

With that said, this arrogant official was ready to lead his men to rush in and arrest people.

The common people looked at this scene, and although they gritted their teeth with hatred, no one dared to go forward. After all, they understood the principle that the people should not fight with the officials.

But in the next moment, their eyes all widened with horror on their faces.

These bodyguards were really cruel, and even the yamen guards pinned them to the ground and beat them violently.

Not only the yamen servant, but also the green-robed official was beaten in the street until his face was bruised and his face was swollen, and his official uniform was even torn to pieces.

Fortunately, he is a man. If it were a woman who was treated like this, it would be a big misunderstanding.

"How dare you?"

"Do you still have a royal law in your eyes?"

These so-called bodyguards, while beating the officials, said arrogantly: "Our boss is Wang Fa, you can talk to him about Wang Fa!"

As he said that, the tall escort dragged him inside like a dead dog.

After the official was dragged in, the government officials, who had been beaten with bruises and swollen faces, squatted in a row in the corner, and then they all obeyed and held their heads.

At the same time, Shen Wan'er continued to solicit business.

She also repeatedly promised that as long as the official comes out, she will definitely allow them to continue selling food here.

After a moment, the official came out in despair, looking very much like the girl who had just encountered a nightmare in the woods.

In everyone's eyes,

This official, who was already disheveled, put on a shapeless black gauze hat, faced the people, and said loudly with a cry: "Everyone will buy food here from now on. The owner of this store is operating legally."

"Those who raise food prices will be severely punished by this officer!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he called to the government servants who were squatting in the corner and holding their heads, and ran away with him.

After a long time, the people cheered and jumped.

"This boss is really knowledgeable!"

"If he doesn't have hands and eyes, how can such a beautiful girl help him?"

"That's right, even the emperor's concubines may not be so beautiful!"

"A good man deserves a beautiful woman!"

"A good man, can you do this?"

"If everyone can still eat cheap food at a time like this, then you are a very good person!"

"."

Among the crowd, Zhu Yuanzhang and others left quietly.

At the same time, he was also thinking about a problem.

That was Ye Qing's way of doing things, whether it was right or wrong.

Judging from the way things are done, it is really difficult to be elegant.

But judging from the results, it was indeed a great achievement for him to control the price of food in this place without causing public dissatisfaction and riots.

When Empress Ma saw Zhu Yuanzhang frowning, she immediately said, "He allowed everyone to eat affordable food at this time, and also quickly controlled the regional food price, didn't he?"

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said: "That's right!"

At this moment, a group of bodyguards disguised as elite soldiers from the Northern Army suddenly overtook Zhu Yuanzhang and the others.

"Brothers, your legs and feet should be faster."

"Master Ye is in the disaster area outside the city, rushing to buy Huanghua's eldest daughter. Everyone, please run faster."

"."

Zhu Yuanzhang and others were stunned when they heard this.

Ye Qing had the imperial envoys who represented the imperial power at his disposal, and it was true that he could deal with these officials without having to take charge himself.

But he never expected that Ye Qing himself would be in the disaster area outside the city, snapping up Huanghua's eldest daughter.

Thinking of this, Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes were filled with red bloodshot eyes.

In everyone's eyes, Zhu Yuanzhang at this moment was no different from an angry bull.

"How dare he do such a shameless thing?"

"We really made a mistake!"

Zhu Yuanzhang just gritted his back molars and spoke coldly every word.

As soon as he finished speaking, he quickly chased after her.

Queen Ma and Mao Xiang, who were following behind, looked at this scene and frowned at the same time.

They just hope that Ye Qing's words about snapping up Huanghua's eldest daughter must not be taken literally!

　Please support me with further subscriptions, recommendation tickets, and monthly tickets. Thank you!

　　

　

(End of this chapter)