Daming: I can’t kill such a greedy prince-in-law?

The more Zhu Biao listened, the more excited he became. He clenched his hands, his eyes shining, and he praised loudly, "Great! Great! My brother-in-law's plan is really a good policy that benefits the country and the people! If it can be implemented throughout the country, why should our Ming Dynasty not prosper? In the future, whether it is building roads and bridges, constructing government offices, or purchasing food and weapons, all will be carried out according to this system. I want everyone in the world to know that our Ming Dynasty selects merchants based on talent and employs the virtuous, and will never favor any party!" Zhu Biao was so excited that his face flushed, and his voice trembled slightly with excitement, as if he had already seen that under the promotion of the bidding system, the national strength of the Ming Dynasty was booming and the people were living and working in peace and contentment.

Ouyang Lun bowed slightly with a respectful look and said, "Your Majesty is wise. However, although the system is good, its implementation is crucial. At the beginning of its implementation, it will inevitably affect the interests of some people, and they may find ways to obstruct it. I hope that Your Majesty will be determined and strongly support it. At the same time, select capable officials to be responsible for supervision to ensure that the system takes root and is not distorted and exploited by those with ulterior motives." Ouyang Lun looked worried, his eyes full of concerns about the implementation of the system. He knew that the road to reform was difficult and dangerous, and that any carelessness might lead to failure.

Zhu Biao nodded heavily, his eyes were as firm as iron, and he said in a deep voice: "Brother-in-law, rest assured, I have made up my mind and will never waver. If anyone dares to disobey the will of the emperor and hinder the implementation of the system, I will punish them severely and will not tolerate them!" Zhu Biao's voice was cold, revealing an unquestionable majesty that made people shudder. His eyes flashed with firm determination, as if announcing to the world that he would fully support the implementation of the bidding system and remove all obstacles for the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty.

Ouyang Lun couldn't help but feel waves in his heart when he heard Zhu Biao's passionate words.

He raised his eyes to look at Zhu Biao, and saw that the current emperor had an upright posture, bright eyes, and exuded an unprecedented confidence and courage.

The image of the prince who used to be kind and benevolent, and even a little indecisive at times, has quietly changed.

Standing before him now was a monarch who had compassion for the people and was well versed in the strategies of ruling the country.

Ouyang Lun secretly sighed that Zhu Biao had grown rapidly during the time he followed him and through the trials and tribulations of court and business affairs.

Take the current bidding system for example. In the past, Zhu Biao might have been hesitant on many aspects due to considerations for the feelings of all parties, and it would have been difficult to push forward so vigorously.

But now, he not only quickly grasped the essence of it, but also accurately perceived its far-reaching significance to the country, and has even begun to plan how to further promote it.

Especially in terms of "mind" and "calculation", Zhu Biao is no longer the simple benevolent prince. He knows how to weigh the pros and cons and how to make clever arrangements in complex situations to maximize the interests of the court. This is undoubtedly a huge improvement.

Ouyang Lun bowed slightly, with a respectful look, and said: "Your Majesty, if this system can be successfully implemented, the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty is just around the corner. However, at the moment, there is still one thing that Your Majesty needs to consider." Zhu Biao raised his eyebrows slightly, his eyes full of curiosity and expectation, and asked: "Brother-in-law, please feel free to speak, why are you so serious?" Ouyang Lun took a deep breath, raised his eyes and looked directly at Zhu Biao, and said word by word: "Your Majesty, this matter is of great importance. I think that our words do not count. We have to report to the emperor."

When Zhu Biao heard this, he was stunned at first, then his expression changed slightly and he fell into deep thought.

Seeing this, Ouyang Lun understood and continued, "Your Majesty, you also know that the emperor is getting old, but the older he is, the more he cares about some things. This bidding involves a huge amount of money and the interests of many merchants. The scale and impact are unprecedented. If we act rashly and fail to inform the emperor, if he knows about it, he will be dissatisfied and come to your majesty again..."

Before Ouyang Lun finished speaking, Zhu Biao slapped his forehead heavily and said with sudden realization: "Oh! My brother-in-law is right. I was negligent! Although my father has abdicated, he is still concerned about the affairs of the court and the people's livelihood. If I don't tell him about such a big thing, my father will definitely think that I deliberately concealed it and looked down on him." Zhu Biao paced back and forth while blaming himself, looking anxious.

Ouyang Lun looked at Zhu Biao and comforted him softly, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. Now that we know, we can remedy the situation in time. The Supreme Emperor is wise and intelligent. If he hears this good plan, he will understand your Majesty's painstaking efforts and will be pleased that the Ming Dynasty has made such a great move."

Zhu Biao stopped and looked at Ouyang Lun, smiling bitterly, "Brother-in-law, you are always so calm. I was so excited that I almost made a big mistake. Thanks to your reminder, I really don't know how to face my father." Ouyang Lun smiled modestly and bowed, "Your Majesty, I am just doing my duty as a minister and helping Your Majesty solve problems."

Zhu Biao took a deep breath, calmed down, and said, "There is no time to lose. I will go to Taile Palace to pay my respects to my father. Brother-in-law, you should also come with me. You need to explain the details of this matter to my father in detail."

Ouyang Lun nodded slightly and replied, "I obey your order. It is my honor to be trusted by your majesty and to meet the emperor together."

The two men came out of the Ministry of Revenue's warehouse, Zhu Biao in front and Ouyang Lun behind, surrounded by a group of guards, and walked towards the Taile Palace in a mighty manner.

It was afternoon, the sun shone through the clouds, shining on the glazed tiles of the Forbidden City, reflecting a dazzling light. The breeze blew, and the pines and cypresses beside the palace walls rustled, as if whispering about the great event that was about to happen.

When they reached the outside of the Taile Palace, Zhu Biao straightened his clothes and signaled the guards to pass the message. A moment later, the eunuch's shrill voice came from inside: "Your Majesty, Lord Ouyang, the emperor wants to see you." Zhu Biao and Ouyang Lun looked at each other and stepped steadily into the palace.

Zhu Yuanzhang sat upright on the couch, holding a book in his hands. Seeing the two men coming in, he put down the book and said with a smile, "Biao'er, Lun'er, how come you have time to come and see me today?" Zhu Biao stepped forward quickly, knelt on the ground and saluted, saying respectfully, "Your son greets the emperor. Your son and my brother-in-law have important matters to report to the emperor today."

Ouyang Lun also knelt down and bowed. Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and waved his hand, saying: "Stand up, we are all family, no need to be polite. Sit down and talk slowly." It seems that Zhu Yuanzhang is in a very good mood.

"Lun'er." Ouyang Lun's mouth twitched. This was the first time Zhu Yuanzhang called him like this. It felt weird!

However, if you object when your elders call you like that, it would be really ungrateful.

Forget it, Old Zhu, you can call me whatever you want, you are right!

Zhu Biao and Ouyang Lun stood up and sat down on the chairs nearby.

Zhu Biao cleared his throat and told Zhu Yuanzhang in detail the ins and outs of the bidding system, from planning to implementation, and to the results achieved so far. Zhu Yuanzhang listened very attentively, nodding slightly from time to time, frowning and thinking.

After Zhu Biao finished speaking, Zhu Yuanzhang turned his gaze to Ouyang Lun and asked, "Lun'er, in your opinion, will there be any difficulties in the subsequent implementation of this system?"

Ouyang Lun stood up and bowed to answer: "Your Majesty, the implementation of the system is bound to encounter difficulties. First, merchants from all over the country are mixed, and it is inevitable that some lawless people will try to exploit loopholes in the system and seek personal gain. It is necessary to select capable officials to strengthen supervision and ensure fairness and justice. Second, this system touches the interests of some old forces, and they may secretly obstruct, incite public opinion, and create chaos. I hope that Your Majesty and the Emperor can be determined to support the implementation. Third, the subsequent construction of projects, material allocation, etc. are complicated and trivial, and require the cooperation of various departments. Any mistake may affect the progress of the new city construction."

After listening to him, Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slightly and praised: "Lun'er, you are thoughtful and worthy of being the son-in-law I choose. Biao'er, you are lucky to use Lun'er." Zhu Biao stood up quickly and said respectfully: "Your son has followed the teachings of the emperor. My brother-in-law is talented and strategic. He planned this bidding system. I am just assisting him. My brother-in-law is the one who took care of many matters."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Zhu Biao with his eyes full of satisfaction, and said: "Biao'er, after I abdicated, I saw that you handled the government affairs more calmly and experiencedly, and my heart was very happy. You were able to make decisive decisions and strongly support this bidding matter, which shows that you are well versed in the way of being a monarch." Zhu Biao blushed when he heard it, and said humbly: "I can be where I am today, all thanks to my father's daily teachings and my brother-in-law's careful assistance. I will continue to work hard and live up to the expectations of my father and the people of the world."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded slightly, then turned to look at Ouyang Lun and said, "Lun'er, although your bidding system is a way of doing business, it has a lot in common with governing a country. When I was in power, I wanted to make the Ming Dynasty prosperous, but I mostly focused on the law and military. Although I also paid attention to business, I didn't explore it in depth. What you said today really broadened my horizons." Ouyang Lun knelt down hurriedly and said in fear, "Your Majesty is too kind. I only know a little bit. Compared with you, I am like a firefly to the bright moon. It is a great honor for me to be recognized by the Supreme Emperor."

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and waved his hand, saying, "Get up. I'm in a very good mood today. If your system can be successfully implemented, the business of Ming Dynasty will usher in a new prosperity. However, Lun'er, you must also be careful and not be carried away by victory. If you have any difficulties in the future, just tell Biao'er, or come to see me directly. Although I have abdicated, Ming Dynasty is still the world of our Zhu family. I will never sit idly by."

Ouyang Lun stood up and said gratefully, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I will do my best to live up to your trust." Zhu Biao also stood up and said, "I will work hand in hand with my brother-in-law to get this done so that the people of the Ming Dynasty can share prosperity." Zhu Yuanzhang leaned back on the couch, looked at the two of them, smiled with satisfaction, and said, "Good, good! With you two, I feel relieved. Go ahead, and report to me in time if there is any progress in the future."

Zhu Biao and Ouyang Lun bowed again and left. After leaving Taile Palace, Zhu Biao breathed a sigh of relief and said to Ouyang Lun: "Brother-in-law, today's matter is thanks to your reminder. If it weren't for you, I would have almost made a big mistake." Ouyang Lun said humbly: "Your Majesty, you are too kind. I am just doing my duty. Your Majesty is wise and will surely lead the Ming Dynasty to a more glorious path." Zhu Biao patted Ouyang Lun on the shoulder and said with a smile: "Let's go back to the imperial study and discuss how to promote this system in the future." Ouyang Lun replied: "I obey your order." The two smiled at each other and strode towards the imperial study surrounded by guards.

When the footsteps of Zhu Biao and Ouyang Lun completely disappeared in the corridor of Taile Palace, Zhu Yuanzhang's half-closed eyelids suddenly opened, and a sharp light burst out from his turbid eyes. He stretched out his hand to stroke the gold-inlaid armrests on the edge of the couch, and his fingertips unconsciously tapped out a rapid rhythm, as if tapping the beads on an abacus.

"The investment promotion system has been fully implemented," Zhu Yuanzhang murmured to himself with a low laugh. "Biaoer only sees the governance of the country, but does not know that there are mountains of gold and silver hidden behind it." He sat up straight abruptly, and the hem of his dragon robe swept the teacup on the table. The sound of porcelain fragments breaking startled Wang Zhong, who was serving nearby, and trembled all over.

"Your Majesty, calm down!" Wang Zhong knelt hurriedly. He caught a glimpse of the arc on Zhu Yuanzhang's mouth, and then he realized that the emperor was not really angry. Zhu Yuanzhang put his palms together and put them on his lips. His eyes looked over the palace wall to the sky. His old face flushed with excitement. "Ouyang Lun, this kid, has opened my eyes. It's better to do business by myself than to stare at the silver in the treasury!"

Wang Zhong's hand holding the broom trembled slightly. He was too familiar with His Majesty's expression - before the decisive battle of Poyang Lake, Zhu Yuanzhang also had such a sharp gaze and burned Chen Youliang's warships to the ground. "The emperor is wise!" Wang Zhong smiled flatteringly, "Although the prince consort is rich enough to rival a country, when it comes to business skills, how can he compare to you who started from scratch and built the Ming Dynasty?"

This hit the mark. Zhu Yuanzhang raised his head and laughed, shaking the dust on the beams and falling down. "Well said! With the little money he earned from the merchants in Jiangnan, he is worthy of being called the richest man? When I get to the end, I will make him know what it means that old ginger is still wise!" He stood up suddenly, and the golden dragon on his dragon robe was waving its claws and fangs as he moved. "Wang Zhong, prepare the horses! Let's go find Wang Hongru and his gang!"

"This" Wang Zhong looked up hesitantly, "It's getting dark now, and you haven't been feeling well recently" Before he could finish his words, Zhu Yuanzhang cut him off with a cold look. The old emperor grabbed the white jade ring on the table and put it on his hand, cracking his knuckles: "What? I abdicated, and I'm still being controlled even when I leave the palace? Back then, I led 18 riders to attack the Yuan army at night, which was a hundred times more dangerous than it is now!"

Wang Zhong kowtowed hurriedly, his forehead hitting the bricks loudly: "I dare not! I will prepare the car now!" He rolled out and scrambled, secretly complaining in his heart - since the emperor became obsessed with business, his actions have become more and more unrestrained. The last time he went to the silk shop incognito, he bargained with the shopkeeper for half an hour for the difference of five taels of silver, and finally the shopkeeper was so angry that he knelt down and begged for mercy.

Zhu Yuanzhang stood in front of the bronze mirror, adjusting his clothes, and was suddenly stunned by his gray beard in the mirror. After a moment, he stretched out his hand to pull out a few silver threads, and threw them on the ground and rolled them: "Old? I'm not old yet!" He grabbed the wolf hair on the table and wrote the four big characters "Zhu Ji Shang Hao" on the rice paper in a flamboyant manner. He blew on the ink before it dried, "Use this name to open a few silk and satin shops in the capital, and then get involved in the Yangzhou salt transport." (End of this chapter)