I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 178 Great news, there’s money to share!

Soon, Duke Yingguo Zhang Rong and his son Zhang Yuangong; Marquis Zhenyuan Gu Huan and his son Gu Chengguang; Duke Chengguo Zhu Xizhong's brother, Jinyiwei Commander Zhu Xixiao, and his nephew Zhu Shitai; Marquis Xining Song Shien and his fifth uncle Song Gongliang; Earl Xiangcheng Li Yingchen; Marquis Yangwu Xue Han; Marquis Gongshun Wu Jijie; as well as Earl Deping Li Ming, Earl Gu'an Chen Jingxing, and their eldest son Chen Jiayan and third son Chen Mingyan, and other nobles arrived one after another.

"I have met His Highness the Crown Prince."

"Everyone, please stand up. Feng Bao, please take your seats."

Zhu Yijun extended his hand and asked everyone to stand up.

Deping Earl Li Ming is his biological grandfather, Gu'an Earl Chen Jingxing is his legitimate grandfather. The in-laws of these nobles have long formed a dense network.

"We have invited you all here today because we have something great to tell you. Keyan, please tell everyone about it," Zhu Yijun said in a friendly tone.

"I will obey the order of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince." Chen Keyan replied respectfully, "Last time when the Crown Prince organized a fleet to survey and map the East Japanese Sea, you all generously donated money, ranging from 1,000 to 5,000 taels of silver per family, totaling 31,000 taels of silver, accounting for 1.5 shares of the capital of this survey. The specific shareholding of each family is also clear, and the Coordination Bureau has issued tickets to each family."

No one said anything, just smiled and nodded.

The last time Zhu Yijun organized a fleet to survey and map the East Wo Sea area, he specifically called everyone over to collect money.

At that time, fifteen noble families were invited, and in the end, only the nine present today paid.

In fact, they were willing to spend money out of consideration for the late emperor. To please Zhu Yijun was an emotional investment. They thought that the money was just wasted on the East China Sea.

The other six noble families who were unwilling to pay were secretly laughing at these nine families. They thought they were so desperate to please the Crown Prince that they dared to spend money on such a foolish thing.

Even if the Crown Prince is the heir to the throne of the next generation, there is no need to curry favor with him so much. With that kind of money, he might as well go to a brothel and find a prostitute and have some fun for a few days.

I didn't expect that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince would call everyone here today for this matter.

Chen Keyan continued, "The East Japanese Sea Survey and Mapping Fleet left the port of Weihaiwei and stopped at Fanghu Island for two days. Yes, Fanghu Island is Tamra Island, which has now been occupied by the Ming Dynasty.

Then we crossed the strait between Korea and Japan and headed north. It took us two months and seven days to find an island with mountains of gold and silver.

There was silence in the room.

There were mountains of gold and silver, and everyone was unable to react for a moment.

Xue Han, Marquis of Yangwu, asked, "Are they really mountains of gold and silver? How big are they?"

Xue Han is the fifth generation Marquis of Yangwu. He is in his early fifties and has seven daughters. He only had a son last year.

Others followed suit and asked, "Yes, how big is the mountain of gold and silver?"

Chen Keyan answered: "The fleet landed and settled there, and sent experienced mining surveyors to survey the mountains.

After almost two months of investigation, it is estimated that there are tens of millions of taels of silver and millions of taels of gold.”

Everyone looked at each other, wondering if this guy was wrong. Tens of millions of taels of silver and millions of taels of gold.

Is there such a place in the world?
Chen Keyan continued, "We have been on the island for more than three months. We randomly collected some ores and refined them a little. We got 1,600 taels of gold and 12,000 taels of silver."

Duke of England Zhang Rong stood up and asked loudly, "Have we occupied this island?"

"Yes, there are fifteen large and small boats and a thousand soldiers on the island now."

"Too few! Too few!" Zhenyuan Marquis Gu Huan stamped his feet and said anxiously, "This number of troops is too small. At least send fifty ships and station 5,000 soldiers."

Xining Marquis Song Shien asked, "Is that island far from the Japanese mainland?"

"It's not far. We can get there in one day."

"That won't work. Fifty ships and five thousand soldiers are too few. We need to transfer the North Sea Navy and station another ten thousand soldiers there."

Xue Yi said at the side: "My Lord, that island is not big, it can't accommodate so many naval and land soldiers."

"What should we do? If the monkeys from East Japan knew there were mountains of gold and silver there, they would rush there like crazy. I heard that those guys are so poor that they are left with only their lives."

Xue Han said anxiously. "No matter how jealous or crazy they are, they have to rush across that sea." Xue Yi replied, "We have strictly sealed off the gold and silver mountain on that island. We rushed back to report the news and ask His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to decide how to deal with it."

Everyone looked at Zhu Yijun with complicated expressions.

Who would have thought that the prince's seemingly outrageous move actually led to the discovery of a mountain of gold and silver? It was truly incredible. Could it be that the prince was indeed the true dragon emperor who followed the will of heaven?
Zhang Rong and Zhu Xixiao hurriedly said respectfully: "Your Highness, we will do whatever you say!"

"Now that we have found this Treasure Island, the next step is of course to dig it up and dig out the gold and silver. But before we start digging, let's first discuss how to divide the money."

Share the money?

Everyone looked at each other and answered in unison: "We respectfully follow your Highness's words."

“No need to obey. Your money didn’t fall from the sky. You believed what I said and were willing to throw it into the vast ocean for fun.

If you invest, you must get a return. Otherwise, who would be willing to invest money in it and go to the vast ocean to look for treasures? Mr. Nangong, tell me how to divide the money on this Treasure Island. "

"Yes." Nangong Ye took out a piece of paper and began to read.

"My Lords, according to the charter drawn up by His Royal Highness, we will establish the North Sea Mining Society, which will be responsible for mining and smelting on Treasure Island, as well as transporting gold and silver back and forth.

The shares of this company are as follows. Out of ten shares, the lords hold 1.5 shares, the Coordinating Bureau holds 4 shares, and the other three trading companies hold 2 shares. The remaining 2.5 shares will be distributed in turn among the sailors going to sea this time. You can take a closer look at the detailed distribution draft later.

These seafarers can cash out in a lump sum, or they can use these shares to earn interest every year, it’s up to you.”

Wu Jijue, the Duke of Gongshun, asked hesitantly, "We also need to give money to these sailors. Is there such a rule?"

Zhu Yijun glanced at him and said, "This is the rule here in this palace. We pay the money and get the lion's share, and they pay their lives and get the smaller share, but there must be a score, otherwise no one will be willing to pay their lives next time, so what's the point of us paying the money?"

Wu Jijue quickly replied: "It is reasonable and fair. Your Highness has set this rule, which is very reasonable. I fully support it."

Everyone knows the Crown Prince's temper. No matter how stubborn he is, he won't even let you smell the smell of silver.

Zhu Yijun glanced at everyone, "Does anyone else have any objections?"

Everyone hurriedly shook their heads: "We are happy to submit and fully support you."

"Okay, Mr. Nangong, please continue."

"Yes, Your Highness. According to preliminary estimates, the Beihai Mining Society needs to invest another 1.25 million taels of silver. Everyone can pay according to their respective shares. If you don't want to pay, you can sell your shares to others at a discount.

Because the Beihai Mining Company's excavation of Treasure Island is still confidential, it can only be sold to other shareholders, not to outsiders."

"We have no objection to investing so much money, but there must be a rule on how to use it."

Zhu Yijun's maternal grandfather, Gu'an Earl Chen Jingxing, spoke up, and everyone echoed him.

Nangong Ye continued, "This 1.25 million taels of silver includes 430,000 taels for the purchase of tools, steel, and equipment for transporting people; 520,000 taels of silver is for the food and wages of the navy and the marine battalion. The initial plan is for 26 warships and 3,000 marine battalions, a total of one year's food and wages; if the war starts, we have to add to the budget, and the rest is..."

Nangong Ye reported the accounts in a rambling manner. Everyone was silent for a while. Li Yingchen, the Earl of Xiangcheng, asked, "Are there any expenses for the food and wages of the officers and soldiers?"

In his eyes, the officers and soldiers belonged to the imperial court and the royal family, and they ate the emperor's food and could be deployed at will. Why should he pay for them out of his own pocket?
Zhang Rong quickly glared at him, what a fool!

"Confused! Li Xiangcheng, you are really confused! Beihai Mining Society is privately owned, not by the imperial court. The naval and land officers and soldiers receive royal rations, so do they have to do private things for you?"

The others also understood. To put it bluntly, these naval and land officers and soldiers were the prince's fleet and troops. Although they had a considerable stake in the Beihai Mining Society through the Coordination Bureau, there were so many other owners who also had shares. Why should their troops and fleets bring their own food to protect you?
Don't you have to pay some protection fee?

This is the rule for Southeastern maritime merchants!

Li Yingchen also knew that he had said something wrong, so he stood up and bowed his hands to apologize, saying, "I was confused and said something wrong. The food and salary money must be paid, not a penny less, and it should be paid every year."

Zhu Yijun smiled, "Everyone, we are villains first and gentlemen later. We will first discuss the rules and regulations carefully, and once everyone agrees, we will follow them, and then happily divide the money. How great is that."

"Yes, yes!" everyone echoed.

(End of this chapter)