I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 14 The Fall of Yan
"Chen Mingyan, a captain of the Imperial Guard, greets His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Zhu Yijun stepped forward and helped the man in brocade robe, who was in his twenties, up.

"Uncle, we are like a family, there is no need to be so polite."

Chen Mingyan was the fourth brother of Princess Chen, Prince Yu, and the uncle of Zhu Yijun.

Chen Mingyan married the second daughter of Deping Earl Li Ming.

Li Ming was Zhu Yijun's maternal grandfather, and his eldest daughter, Li, was the former Princess Consort of Yu and Zhu Yijun's biological mother.

So Chen Mingyan is also Zhu Yijun's uncle.

This relationship must be that of the most trusted among the trusted!

The two men sat down and Zhu Yijun went straight to the point.

"Uncle, have you heard about the Southeastern Anti-Japanese Food and Pay Coordination Office?"

"Prince, I heard about it." Chen Mingyan replied.

"After many twists and turns, the Southeast Anti-Japanese Food and Pay Coordination Office has been established under the hard work of the two co-directors, Mr. Xu Wenchang and Mr. Yang Jinshui. Now we need to fill it with flesh and blood."

In Zhu Yijun's vision, the Coordination Office is similar to the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission and the Audit Bureau, responsible for supervisory matters, while the real work still needs to be done by major businesses.

These businesses are the state-owned enterprises of the Ming Dynasty.

"Grandpa Emperor granted the names of Xingruixiang, Lianshengxiang, and Deshengmao to the three businesses. Xingruixiang specializes in silk and cotton cloth, Lianshengxiang specializes in porcelain, pottery, and colored glaze, and Deshengmao specializes in tea, sugar, and alcohol. He also granted the maritime trade monopoly."

Chen Mingyan's eyes lit up, "Maritime trade monopoly?"

"Yes, it is the trade monopoly with the East and West Southeast Asian merchants. We sell silk, porcelain, and tea to the merchants, and take back silver, sugar, glass, copper, grain, etc. We exchange what we have and what we don't have, and it is mutually beneficial. We operate legally and pay taxes according to the law."

Chen Mingyan understood that the key points are "legality" and "paying taxes".

The emperor has the final say on whether it is legal or not.

It's legal as long as you pay taxes according to the law.

If you don’t pay, haha, then it’s illegal.

"I know that most of my grandfather's family business was left to my uncle to manage." Zhu Yijun's words made Chen Mingyan smile awkwardly.

The grandfathers that Zhu Yijun mentioned included two grandfathers, the father of the legitimate princess Chen, Chen Jingxing, the captain of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and his biological grandfather, Li Ming, the Earl of Deping.

Li Ming has only one youngest son, Li Xuan, who is less than nine years old, so the family business has to rely on the support of his second son-in-law, Chen Mingyan.

The Ming Dynasty's relatives by marriage would certainly try to make a living in business. They would find a few white gloves and open a few shops. No one would dare to bully them, and their business would be half done.

"My uncle has two businesses that have made great achievements in tea and sugar. I would like my uncle to transfer some staff to help set up the Deshengmao business that specializes in tea, sugar and wine."

Chen Mingyan only thought about it for a moment before making up his mind.

The Crown Prince was deeply favored by Emperor Jiajing, and because of his son's status, the position of Prince Yu as the crown prince was also secure. This was something known to the world.

If nothing unexpected happens, the Ming Dynasty will definitely be passed to the crown prince. Anyone who is not a fool will know how to choose.

Besides, Chen Mingyan’s identity is there. He is both his uncle and his aunt. If he doesn’t help, people all over the world will laugh at him for being heartless and ungrateful.

You will no longer be able to survive in the feudal society of the Ming Dynasty.

"Your Highness trusts me, and I will do my best."

Zhu Yijun secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

After nearly a year of planning, we finally see the results.

When he saw that his grandfather, the Emperor Jiajing, had the intention to overthrow Emperor Yan, he thought about how to gain the greatest benefit for himself in this turmoil.

After careful consideration, Zhu Yijun set his target on the pragmatic group led by Hu Zongxian under the name of Yan Party.

These people are tragic figures in history.

Although he has various flaws, most of what he does is beneficial to the country and the people.

Compared with the clean stream headed by Prince Yu's party and the bureaucratic groups such as Xu Jie who represented the local big families, they were the real backbone of the Ming Dynasty.

The Ming Dynasty will definitely be passed down to me in the future, and I am determined to build a new Ming Dynasty that is completely different from history.

The pragmatists headed by Hu Xianzong can help him more and must be kept to become his minions and wings.

So he thought hard and grasped the key point that the emperor was crazy about money, and set up a Southeast Anti-Japanese Food and Pay Coordination Office, which was an institution that raised funds for the southeast on the surface and made money for the emperor secretly, thus linking the Southeast Anti-Japanese War with the emperor's purse.

The more effective Hu Zongxian was in suppressing the Japanese in the southeast, the more justified the emperor would be in allocating money from the overall plan.

Everything in this world has a price to pay.

If he wants his grandfather, Emperor Jiajing, to protect himself and the pragmatists, he must give him something in return.

The love between grandparents and grandchildren can protect each other temporarily, but not forever.

Only when interests are tied together can long-term cooperation continue. Now the Southeast Anti-Japanese Food and Pay Coordination Office has been established.

General Manager Zhao Zhenji is a signature figure.

If he is a person who is willing to do things and works sincerely, let him become the general manager in name only.

If he was indecisive, with himself in the upper position, Xu Wei and Yang Jinshui working together below would be enough to sideline him.

Now, he entrusted his uncle Chen Mingyan to set up Deshengmao, which specializes in tea, sugar and wine, Xu Wenchang to find someone to set up Lianshengxiang, which specializes in porcelain, pottery and glass, and Yang Jinshui to find someone to set up Xingruixiang, which specializes in silk and cotton cloth.

The construction of the three major businesses was completed, and this major event came to an end.

Not only did he secretly build up a team, he also quietly grasped a source of income, so he could wait for an opportunity to take the next step.

At the same time, for me, it has come to an end.

What to do next will depend on how the situation develops.

Zhu Yijun asked, "I always trust my uncle to do things. Are the cousins ​​ten years old now?"

Chen Mingyan replied, "In reply to the Crown Prince, my third brother's son Chengde is twelve years old, and my son Chengzong is ten years old."

"That's perfect. I practice martial arts at the South Training Ground of Xiyuan every afternoon, which is very boring. Grandpa Emperor sympathizes with me and has allowed me to find a few companions to practice with every day.

Well, let my uncle and my two cousins ​​Chengde and Chengzong go to the South Parade Ground to accompany me."

Chen Mingyan was overjoyed: "Thank you, Your Highness!"

Inside Chaoyangmen in Beijing, the teahouses and restaurants on both sides of the street were packed with people, especially the seats by the windows on the second floor. The prices had doubled or tripled, but people were still scrambling to get them.

"What's going on today?"

"I don't know. Today is the day that Young Lord Yan is being deported from the capital and exiled to Leizhou. We must leave through Chaoyang Gate. We are all here to watch the excitement."

"What is Yan Xiaoge Lao? Bullshit! The corrupt official is Yan Shifan."

"Don't talk nonsense. He was dismissed from his post and his property was confiscated by the emperor, but his father, Lord Yan, was only ordered to reflect on his mistakes behind closed doors in his hometown. He didn't say he was dismissed from his post. I heard that the emperor remembered him again and was going to summon him back to the capital."

"real or fake?"

"Won't Lord Xu be in a dilemma when Lord Yan comes back?"

"Alas, what does the fight between officials have to do with us ordinary people?"

"It doesn't matter, I'll just watch the fun."

"Haha, yes, there are many people coming to watch the fun today."

In a private room on the second floor of a restaurant facing the street, six scholars of letters gathered together and made impassioned speeches.

"Yan Shifan was exiled to the malaria-ridden Lingnan area, and the righteous people were greatly encouraged!"

"For twenty years, we, the righteous people, have been upholding the great principles of heaven, and have fought bravely and braved fire and water. Today, we have finally overthrown Yan Shifan, and we should make him famous!"

"Let's drink some wine!" Everyone excitedly raised their glasses and drank them all.

"Yan Shifan is just the beginning. We must rise up and make persistent efforts to drive out the evil people in the court one by one and restore the glorious situation of the court filled with righteous people."

"Yes, this is our responsibility, let's work together!"

"mutual encouragement!"

There were cries of surprise from the street: "Yan Shifan is here!"

The windows on both sides of the street were all thrown open, and countless heads popped out. The street was full of people, forming two thick black lines.

Yan Shifan was wearing a blue robe and a small hat. He sat upright on a flatbed carriage with a deathly pale face.

"Why are you sitting like this?"

"I don't know. It seems that the palace asked him to leave the capital like this."

"How cruel. They are trying to tear off his entire skin."

Amid the discussion, someone suddenly shouted, "Damn Yan Shifan, I'll give you a ride!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a basket of rotten vegetable leaves fell from the sky and landed on Yan Shifan's head and body.

As if issuing an order, the streets were filled with fallen vegetable leaves, smelly shoe soles, and sewage.

In less than a moment, Yan Shifan was soaked in dirty water and covered with all kinds of vegetable leaves. The carriage beside him was also piled with vegetable leaves and rotten soles of shoes.

"Great!" The scholars cheered along with the common people, "That's how we should kill people and destroy their hearts!"

"Yes, based on this refreshing scene, we won't go home until we are drunk today!"

(End of this chapter)