I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 249 I haven’t done anything wrong, why should I be afraid of Hai Qingtian?

But Hai Rui's face was originally dark, and no matter how darker it became, outsiders could not see any changes.

He looked around, put his hands behind his back, followed the flow of people, and slowly walked into the office of the Southeast Office of the Coordination Bureau pointed out by the passers-by.

Hmm, that’s not right. This place doesn’t look like a government office!
There are four storefronts here, which are high and bright, deep and wide, and are divided into two shops.

The shop on the right sells glassware, glass mirrors, mechanical clocks and other rare items.

There are also some strange things mixed in the middle, with signs below with notes.

This is gold jewelry made by skilled craftsmen from India, and that is utensils used in the palace of Rumi. "It has its own wonderful uses, which can be explained in detail in the inner room."

There was a wooden sign on the pillar of the store that read: "Genuine Western goods, shipped by sea from thousands of miles away!"

Hai Rui stroked his beard and laughed.

Profiteer!

The more you write like this, the less I believe it.

I heard that there was a trading company in the southeast that specialized in glassware, glass mirrors, mechanical clocks, etc., which were marketed as "genuine Western goods" and sold very well all over the country.

It looks like this is the one.

The Western goods they sell are very expensive, but those who can afford them keep quiet and enjoy them in secret.

Those who cannot afford it denounce it as a gimmick and demand it be banned.

The Coordination Bureau spread their hands and said that this was something produced in the West. No one over there read "The Analects of Confucius" and "The Spring and Autumn Annals". It was normal for such a barbaric place to produce such strange and ingenious things.

But they are shipped here by Western ships to be sold, so we can’t let them not sell them, as this would damage the dignity of our great Ming Dynasty.

So no matter how much you curse them, they will still sell their products.

But Hai Rui was close to Xiyuan, and occasionally heard people talk about it, but it was just that the trading company got a secret method from somewhere and specialized in making these so-called Western goods.

Why do they dare to call it Western goods? It is said that the place where the workshop and factory are located is called Western Island.

The shop on the left specializes in northern medicinal herbs and specialties.

Ginseng, sable fur, and pearls from the Northeast, cordyceps, lapis lazuli, and agate from the Northwest are all displayed on the counter.

When the waiter saw Hai Rui approaching, he did not mind his plain clothes. He leaned forward and said in a friendly manner, "Boss, what do you want to buy? Let me introduce it to you.

The small treasure shop is called Beilianshe, which specializes in goods from the north."

After hearing what he said, Hai Rui smiled and asked, "For the goods from the north, does the Guibao ship have horses?"

"Have!"

People who want to buy a horse these days are just like those who buy Mercedes-Benz and BMW in later generations, they are all rich people.

It seems that this old man is very capable.

"Master, do you want a riding horse or a pack horse?"

"A horse for riding."

"Yes, we have three-year-old mares and geldings, Yinshan horses, Hexi horses, Hetao horses, and horses from the Northeast. It depends on what you like. But the place is too small to keep them here. We keep our horses in a pen in the west of the city.

Boss, if you are interested, please go over there and watch it in person."

Hai Rui's eyes flickered. "Is there really a horse?"

The clerk laughed and said, "Boss, now that our Ming Dynasty has opened a border trade with the Tatars, horses are not a rare commodity. But let me make it clear to you first, my horses are definitely not comparable to the war horses of the border troops. They are all the leftovers selected by the Imperial Household Department.

But it is enough for ordinary people to ride, it is very impressive! Riding it out to do business or visit guests is very impressive! "

"Okay! I just happen to be visiting Eunuch Yang from the Southeast Office. After that, I will go to your horse farm. Please take me to see your Eunuch Yang first."

The waiter was stunned, "Boss, are you here to pay a visit to the God of Wealth Yang?"

"Yang Caishen?"

"Oh, that's Eunuch Yang from the Southeast Office of the Coordination Bureau."

"Yes."

"Then you have come to the wrong place, sir. You won't be able to see Eunuch Yang here."

Hai Rui was puzzled. "Aren't you the Southeast Office of the Coordination Bureau?"

"Sir, this is the office of the Coordination Bureau. It's just that Eunuch Yang just moved here from Ningbo, so he left two-thirds of the yard.

The row of houses facing the street are rented to our two businesses as shops, and the yard over there is used as a warehouse. Master, if you want to visit Eunuch Yang, please go out and turn right, along the courtyard wall to the back door, where the Coordination Bureau is. "

Hai Rui was shocked. It was actually possible to rent out the government office to businesses to use as shops and warehouses?

Aren’t you afraid of being impeached by the censor?

On second thought, this Coordination Bureau is not a formal government office. It is affiliated with the Imperial Household Department and the inner court. The people inside are all royal slaves and no one has any control over them.

It can do whatever it wants! Hai Rui walked out of the door with his hands behind his back, walked around the courtyard wall for a long time, and turned into an alley. He finally saw a courtyard gate, which was similar to the courtyard gate of an ordinary family.

There were no majestic stone lions, only two lanterns hanging, and a wooden sign hung on the pillar outside the door, which read "Southeast Office of the Ming Dynasty Donation and Relief Coordination Bureau."

It is so plain and simple that it is hard to believe. Is this the Southeast Office of the Coordination Bureau that secretly controls the maritime trade of the Ming Dynasty, commands tens of thousands of businesses in the southeast, and is rich enough to rival a country?
Hai Rui stood at the door for a moment, then waved to Liu Da, "Knock on the door and announce that Hai Rui Hai Gangfeng is visiting Eunuch Yang."

"Yes."

In the inner courtyard.

Yang Jinshui was wearing casual clothes, a shirt and pants, lying in a recliner, his feet soaked in a bucket of warm water, and his face covered with a towel that had been soaked in warm water and was steaming.

Warm your head and feet, and live to be ninety-nine.

Yang Jinshui closed his eyes and rested.

His successor, Lu Yong, is on his way now. He will arrive in Shanghai in about 20 days, and after another month or so, he will be able to return to Beijing in response to the imperial edict.

My godfather Huang Jin wrote to me.

Following the advice, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince reorganized the inner court. The twenty-four government offices, plus those messy government offices, were reduced to four: the Silijian (Office of Ceremonies), the Ermajian (Office of Imperial Stables), the Neigongjian (Office of the Inner Palace), and the Shaofujian (Office of the Imperial Household).

The Imperial Household Department and the Imperial Stables continued to perform their old duties, with little change.

The Inner Palace oversees the Forbidden City and is responsible for the eating, drinking, defecating and daily management of everyone in the Forbidden City.

Those outside are under the supervision of the Shaofu.

Yang Jinshui thought about it and roughly understood His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's idea of ​​​​changing the inner court. The Si Li would supervise power, the Yu Ma would supervise the soldiers, the Shao Fu would supervise the money, and the Nei Gong would supervise life.

Now that the Shaofujian has been established, what should we do with the Coordination Bureau?
The godfather didn't say anything, probably because the matter was of great importance. The prince didn't say anything, so he didn't dare to make any guesses.

However, judging from the godfather's letter, the current situation in the inner court is that there are many giants coexisting.

Feng is in charge of the East Factory and holds the title of eunuch in charge of writing. In the future, he will succeed his godfather and become the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department.

The Imperial Stables were controlled by Liu Yi and Fang Liang.

The Inner Palace Supervisor was under the charge of Wanfu, while the Shaofu Supervisor was handed over to himself.

It won't be long before godfather Huang Jin and Li Fang will be able to leave the palace and retire.

The Silijian is still the core of the inner court. He, Liu Yi, Fang Liang and Wanfu will all hold the title of eunuch in the Silijian to show honor.

However, the power to approve red documents was in the hands of several eunuchs headed by Chen Ju and Li Chun.

Yang Jinshui felt the heat from the towel gradually dissipating, and the temperature of his feet soaked in the bucket also decreased from hot to warm.

It's time to go back!

Since the 41st year of Jiajing, when he left Chaotian Temple, he was sent to the southeast and stayed here ever since, only going back to report on his work once a year.

It’s been six years!
The important tasks entrusted to me by the Crown Prince have been completed. I, Yang Jinshui, can return to the capital with my head held high and my chest held high.

"Master!" a servant reported at the door.

"Hmm!" Yang Jinshui snorted.

The servant continued, "Someone is visiting the master outside."

"Who?"

"He said he was an old friend of the master, and his last name was Hai."

Last name Hai?

There are very few surnames like this.

Do I know such an old friend?

Yang Jinshui's mind was still empty, and he was recalling things slowly, when suddenly he shuddered.

sea?
Hai Rui!

It was reported that he came straight here from Nanjing.

Depend on!
Yang Jinshui jumped up, and with his right hand, he threw the towel off his face, propped himself up on the armrests of the recliner, and stood up. He stepped out of the basin, walked a few steps on the wet ground barefoot, and suddenly realized that something was wrong.

I haven't done anything wrong, so why should I be afraid of Hai Qingtian?
Let him come, I will open the middle door to welcome him.

Oh, my yamen doesn’t have a central gate, only a courtyard gate.

Yang Jinshui said in a deep voice: "Please invite Master Hai to the front hall of the backyard for tea. Um, is Master Hai in official uniform or incognito?"

"My Lord, Master Hai is incognito."

"Then wait until I change into casual clothes."

"Yes."

(End of this chapter)