Daming: I, Yang Xian, really govern Yang!

Chapter 202 The conspiracy of Zhongshu Province
"Okay, that's it for today's class. This month, everyone should go back and think about the homework I assigned." Yang Xian smiled, threw away the chalk in his hand, and turned around to leave.

Only the confused students were left.

Isn't it just boiling water? Is there something else going on in this? !

Could it be that the problem was with the kettle? Some people began to study around the kettle and stove in front of the podium.

"Sister, let's go back." Shen Cheng took Shen Xia's hand and said.

Zhu Bai frowned. He couldn't understand the matter and decided to ask his brothers after returning to Beijing.

the other side.

After selling the iron, the Shen family's 3000 million taels of silver were finally delivered to the imperial household department within the time limit.

After this battle, the Shen family's huge business empire collapsed, leaving almost only one or two core industries in their hands.Fortunately, Yang Xian had previously signed a contract with Jiangnan General Agent for Glass. With this, the Shen family could not survive for a while.

Many restaurants and shops changed their Shenji marks overnight and replaced them with patterns of the rising sun and the setting moon.

With the injection of funds, Zhu Yuanzhang finally began to take action.

Lao Zhu waved his hand, and orders were issued one after another.

For a time, all the shipbuilding craftsmen in the country became popular.

The various offices of the Ministry of Industry frantically dispatched shipbuilding craftsmen from all over the country to Fujian, Zhejiang, Suzhou and Songjiang because this project was too huge.

A full five thousand warships across the sea!

The shipbuilding craftsmen in the coastal provinces alone are obviously not enough.

In addition, a large number of additional civilian workers must be recruited to clean up the silt previously deposited at major docks and ports along the coast.

Since the tax system reform and the abolition of corvee labor, the imperial court has to pay money to recruit workers, which is equivalent to another wave of economic growth.

Beijing, Zhongshu Province.

Just as Lao Zhu's shipbuilding movement was going on with great vigor, there was an explosion in Zhongshu Province.

"Prime Minister Li, the emperor rashly borrowed a total of 3000 million taels from the private sector. Such a large sum of money was issued in the name of the imperial court. If the loan is not paid in the future, where will the credibility of the imperial court go? When the time comes, you will I and all my colleagues in the Zhongshu Province will become sinners through the ages."

Hu Weiyong became more and more excited as he spoke, and said: "For such an important matter, Hubu Lu Chang didn't even say hello to us in advance. And what is the emperor's intention to build so many warships now? Yunnan is not over yet, Liaodong The war has begun again, does the Emperor want to send troops overseas at the same time?"

No wonder Hu Weiyong was so excited.

In recent years, Zhu Yuanzhang has stopped discussing with the Zhongshu Ministry of Education on many major matters, and now he has done this again.

Li Shanchang also had a serious face. In his opinion, Zhu Yuanzhang's behavior was close to militarism. He was not satisfied with fighting on two fronts, and now he had begun to target overseas.

Li Shanchang shook his head slightly and said: "What else can it be for? It's just to show off the troops in foreign lands. The living example of the Qianyuan Dynasty is right in front of me. The Qianyuan Dynasty was so powerful back then, but the Emperor Shizu of the Yuan Dynasty sent troops overseas twice. What was the result? Not all of them returned in defeat. Therefore, doing so is completely a waste of people and money and is in vain."

"I don't know who made this slanderous statement to Your Majesty. This person should be killed!"

"Who else in the world can make the emperor do such outrageous things? Apart from Yang Xian, the student can't think of anyone else." Hu Weiyong said angrily.

"Prime Minister Li, what should we do now?"

"Do nothing." Li Shanchang narrowed his eyes slightly and said. "It can be foreseen that for a long time to come, the emperor will start to pay attention to the navy. And this will just arouse more dissatisfaction in the hearts of the Huaixi brothers."

You know, the sudden construction of [-] cross-sea warships means that the navy will be greatly expanded in the future.

In this way, it will break the balance in the army where the infantry has always suppressed the navy.

The predecessor of the Ming Dynasty Navy was the Chaohu Navy, and it had nothing to do with the heroes of Huaixi.

"We just need to wait for an opportunity for the navy to be defeated. At that time, we can join forces with the old brothers in Huaixi to completely defeat Yang Xian." Li Shanchang said.

Imperial Palace, Main Hall.

"The Master said: "The Poetry" can be summed up in three hundred and one words, saying, "Thoughts are innocent."

"The Master said: At ten I was determined to learn; at thirty I was established; at forty I was free from confusion; at fifty I understood the destiny of heaven; at sixty my ears were attuned; at seventy I followed my heart's desires without exceeding the rules."

The sound of reading resounded loudly from the main hall, and those who came to class were all underage princes and their reading companions.

The teachers responsible for teaching are also great scholars of the time.

The person in charge of lecturing the princes today was an old man with a gray beard. He sat on it with his eyes closed, listening to the recitation of the prince below, and gently shaking his head.

Obviously, he was randomly checking the princes' homework.

"Next, the twelfth prince." The old gentleman said.

No one answered.

"Twelve princes?"

Still no answer.

The other princes below were whispering.

"Where are the twelfth brother?"

"I don't know where he went. Ever since he came back from Yangzhou last time, his whole state has been different."

"Don't worry about this. Someone call him back quickly, otherwise he will get slapped again."

After shouting twice, no one answered. The old man finally realized something was wrong. He opened his eyes and looked down, only to realize that the twelfth prince Zhu Bai had not come at all.

"Where have the twelfth prince gone?" the old gentleman said solemnly.

"Why are you so angry, sir?"

At this time, a voice came from outside the main hall.

Everyone followed the sound and stood up and knelt down to salute.

"Meet Your Royal Highness!"

Zhu Biao stepped forward, helped the old gentleman up, and said, "Mr. Wang, there is no need to be polite."

Zhu Biao looked back at the princes and asked, "Where is the twelfth brother?"

The princes below were hesitating and saying nothing.

"You should still be watching the kettle in the mansion." The eighth prince Zhu Zi said.

"Nonsense!" Zhu Biao said.

The accompanying Ouchi guards understood and immediately went to take the people.

At this moment.

The twelfth prince Zhu Bai was sitting in the courtyard of his palace. There were stoves for boiling water in front of him. The kettles on the stove were burning red, and the lids were pushed open by the steam. The sounds of "woo woo woo" came and went. It's like a symphony being performed.

"Mr. Yang, what is the meaning of this assigned question?" Zhu Bai sat on the chair, holding his cheek with his right hand, and couldn't figure it out.

At this moment, footsteps suddenly sounded from outside the house.

The Ouchi guards sent by Zhu Biao arrived.

"His Royal Highness the Twelfth Prince, His Royal Highness is waiting for you at the main hall." After the Ouchi guards entered the mansion, they were obviously shocked by the scene in front of them. They were stunned for a moment before they came to their senses.

When Zhu Bai heard that it was Zhu Biao calling him, he stood up quickly and didn't care to think anymore.

These younger brothers can be said to have been brought up by their eldest brother Zhu Biao. Zhu Biao's prestige in their eyes is even comparable to that of their father Zhu Yuanzhang.

The elder brother is like a father.

"I'll go right away." Zhu Bai shouted.Zhu Bai came to the main hall, saw Zhu Biao, bowed and said: "Brother, are you looking for me?"

"Why are you absent from class for no reason?" Zhu Biao asked.

Zhu Bai curled his lips and said, "The lectures in the main hall are boring."

"Say it again?"

"That's what it is." Zhu Bai whispered.

Mr. Wang, who was standing next to Zhu Biao, turned pale after hearing Zhu Biao's words. He immediately knelt down and said: "Your Highness, all the old ministers are incompetent. The old minister please resign from the position of lecturer of the main hall."

Zhu Biao's expression changed immediately. He pointed at Zhu Bai and scolded: "Kneel down."

Zhu Bai knelt down without any argument.

lunch time.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Biao and suddenly said: "I heard from the fourth child that you punished the [-]th child again?"

"Yes." Zhu Biao, who was having a meal, raised his head and said. "Old Twelve has no teacher. My son made him kneel in the base camp for three hours."

"Three hours? I said boss, the twelfth is still young."

Before Zhu Yuanzhang finished speaking, he was directly interrupted by Zhu Biao.

"Father, you made a mistake and should be punished!"

Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't say anything after Zhu Biao's words. He just stared at Zhu Biao with his eyes wide open.

What I am thinking about is whether you are his father or I am his father.

the other end.

Classes in the main hall have ended long ago.

Only Zhu Bai stayed here.

Zhu Bai, who was punished by kneeling in the main hall, asked his close brother to bring in the stove and kettle for boiling water, and he was observing while being punished by kneeling.

It's long past lunch time, I'm hungry, and I don't know.

My legs were numb and I didn’t even know it.

Because there was only one thing in his mind, and that was to crack the homework assigned by Yang Xian.

At this time, footsteps suddenly came from outside the house.

Zhu Bai looked back and saw Zhu Di walking in from outside the main hall.

"Fourth Brother!"

"Shh! Keep your voice down!" Zhu Di took out a handkerchief from his arms, opened it, and saw a few cakes inside.

Zhu Di brought the cake to Zhu Bai and said with a smile, "You haven't eaten yet."

"Fourth brother is the best to me." Zhu Bai nodded and smiled.

Zhu Di reached out and patted Zhu Bai on the head, and said with a smile: "My eldest brother asked me to come here. If you want to thank me, thank you eldest brother."

"It's okay, big brother." Zhu Bai chuckled, reached out to grab the pastry in front of him, and swallowed it in one gulp.

Zhu Di sat next to him, looking at the water-burning stove and kettle not far in front of Zhu Bai. He pursed his lips and asked, "I heard that you have been studying this thing since you came back from Yangzhou, and you didn't even attend classes in the main hall. Already?"

"The classes in the main hall are boring. If it were Yang Guogong's class, I would be the first to come every day." Zhu Bai said.

"You have vision! You are worthy of being my brother!" Zhu Di gave Zhu Bai a thumbs up.

"But don't blame me, brother. In recent days, the princes in the capital and the noble disciples are all running to Yangzhou to listen to the new courses there. These great Confucian scholars in the Confucian Academy have long had this idea in their hearts. If you have any grievances, it’s not like you don’t know the relationship between Master Song and the eldest brother, it’s also difficult for the eldest brother." Zhu Di said.

Zhu Bai shook his head and said, "I have never blamed Big Brother."

"By the way, fourth brother, this water-burning stove and kettle were assigned to us by Yang Guogong after the last public lecture. I have never been able to figure out what happened. Please help me find out the details."

Zhu Bai then told Zhu Di the content of Yang Xian's class that day.

"Yang Guogong is talking about productivity changes in class, but boiling water is a common behavior in daily life. What does this have to do with productivity."

"Since it was announced by Yang Guogong, there must be deep meaning in it." Zhu Di immediately put away his contempt and stared at the kettle in front of him.

"Productivity? Boil water?"

After watching for a while, Zhu Di's eyes felt sore and he was ready to get up.

Now that he has been named a prince, he is not like Zhu Bai who has nothing to do. There are still many things waiting for him to deal with.

"Fourth brother, are you leaving now?" Zhu Bai asked after seeing Zhu Di's movements.

"I don't have so much time to spend here. If I want to know the answer, I might as well take the train to Yangzhou and go directly to Yang Guogong." Zhu Di reached out and touched Zhu Bai's head and said with a smile. "Twelfth brother, please continue to kneel here as punishment."

"No loyalty." Zhu Bai shook his head, pushed Zhu Di's hand away, and said angrily.

Zhu Di laughed, turned and walked outside the house. At this moment, the lid of the kettle on the water boiler was suddenly pushed off. The lid drew a parabola in the air and landed right in front of Zhu Di.

Make a "bang" sound.

Zhu Di stared at the cover at his feet, turned his head and met Zhu Bai's eyes.

The two brothers' eyes slowly opened wide, as if they both saw something in each other's eyes.

"Let's go, Lao Twelve, we are going to Yangzhou now." Zhu Di said.

"Fourth brother, I'm still forced to kneel as punishment." Zhu Bai said helplessly.

"What are you afraid of? Take your eldest brother with you."

As he said this, Zhu Di was about to pull Zhu Bai, but was pushed away by Zhu Bai.

Zhu Bai shook his head and said: "Eldest brother made me kneel for three hours in front of so many people. If I follow you out of the imperial city with you now, fourth brother, and be seen by others, it won't matter."

"Fourth brother, the answer to this question is for you to go to Yangzhou and ask Duke Yang Guo for me."

Despite his young age, Zhu Bai has a clear grasp on key issues.

Seeing this, Zhu Di stopped insisting.

"I will bring you the answer."

With that said, Zhu Di turned around and walked outside the main hall.

Zhu Di did not go alone, but went to Zhu Biao first.

After listening to Zhu Di's words, Zhu Biao said, "Fourth, are you saying that this incident may lead to changes in productivity, like the emergence of iron farm tools and cattle during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period?"

In view of Zhu Biao's respect for Yang Xian, Zhu Biao had people record the entire class in writing for every class Yang Xian took in Yangzhou, and he would study it later.

Therefore, although Zhu Biao was not present at the previous class, he immediately understood the meaning of Zhu Di's words.

"Have you solved the kettle puzzle yet?" Zhu Biao asked.

"No." Zhu Di shook his head and then said. "But it's very close, so I plan to go to Yangzhou immediately to find Duke Yang to find out."

Zhu Biao looked down at the work in his hands, thought for a while, called the chamberlain, and said, "His Royal Highness Prince Meng and I are going to Yangzhou."

(End of this chapter)