Ming: I am fake, walking on thin ice

Chapter 279: The False Emperor is Assassinated, the True Emperor: The Opportunity Has Come

Baoyuan Bureau.

The highest coinage institution in the Ming Dynasty was affiliated to the Ministry of Works.

Zhu Qizhen came here to inspect today and also learned about the coinage technology of this era. It can be said that the coinage technology of the Ming Dynasty was already very advanced.

Copper was the main material used in coin casting, and other metals such as zinc, lead, and tin were also used to improve the quality of coins. Gao Gu, the Minister of Works who accompanied Zhu Qizhen, introduced that the ratio of red copper to zinc in coin casting is about 7 to 3. The use of this alloy makes the coins harder and less prone to wear.

Zhu Qizhen personally watched the entire coin minting process.

First, the coin mold is made. The craftsman will carve the shape of the coin on a piece of blank and make the runner and gate. Then, the back mold of the coin is made and fixed with the front mold. In this process, the production accuracy and durability of the mold are greatly improved.

The next step is to fix the mold. After the front mold and the back mold are matched, a layer of mud is applied to fix them, and then they are placed in a kiln for baking to transform into a ceramic mold. This step allows the ceramic mold to have sufficient strength and air permeability to withstand the impact of high-temperature copper liquid.

The next step is to pour the molten copper. The craftsman melts the copper block and fills the crucible with the molten copper and pours it into the ceramic mold through the pouring port. After the molten copper cools in the ceramic mold, the coin is initially formed.

The final step is cleaning and polishing. After the coin mold is broken and the coin is taken out, further cleaning and polishing are performed to ensure that the surface of the coin is smooth and neat.

Baoyuan Bureau adopted the copper mold casting method to improve the durability and precision of the mold. At the same time, the shape and pattern of the mold were further improved and perfected. For example, when casting large coins, patterns or text were added to the back of the mold to increase its artistry and recognition.

Temperature control technology is also used in the coin minting process to control the coin minting temperature and cooling speed to make the coin minting more uniform and the quality more stable.

"There are human-operated punching machines and hydraulic casting machines here." Zhu Qizhen was secretly shocked.

After the tour, he had a new understanding of the Ming Dynasty's coin-making technology, which he had underestimated before. Gao Gu led him into a room and pointed at the copper coins on the table and said, "Your Majesty, look, this is the copper coin you said, one cent, one dime, one yuan, all in round shape."

Zhu Qizhen picked it up and nodded slowly: "Not bad."

He touched it, bit it, and then his eyes fell on the banknotes beside him, which were in denominations of one yuan, five yuan, ten yuan, and one hundred yuan.

"Is the material of this paper okay?" he asked with a frown.

"Your Majesty, the paper used for the silver notes is printed on Korean moss paper, which is tough and difficult to obtain, and ordinary people cannot get access to it at all. At the same time, white stationery and other materials are also used to further improve the anti-counterfeiting performance of the silver notes." Gao Gu began to introduce in detail.

In addition to paper, the anti-counterfeiting technology of silver bills is also reflected in many aspects such as patterns, printing, and seals.

Complex patterns and hand-carving: Silver notes are usually printed with complex patterns and designs, such as houses, flowers and birds, figures, the Eight Immortals, and the Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars. These patterns are mostly hand-carved, with extremely high precision and difficult to copy. At the same time, the patterns also contain secret codes or special marks of the court, which require special identification methods to be recognized.

Special printing technology: The printing technology of silver bills has also been continuously improved. From the initial woodblock printing to the later copperplate printing and even steelplate printing, it not only improved the printing quality but also increased the cost and difficulty of plate making. In addition, multi-color overprinting and other technologies were used to make silver bills more difficult to forge.

Seals and signatures: Silver bills are usually stamped with official or bank seals and the signatures or monograms of the person in charge. These seals have different patterns and colors to distinguish and verify. The signatures or monograms are highly unique and difficult to imitate.

Micro-carved text anti-counterfeiting: There are a lot of anti-counterfeiting micro-carved texts printed on the banknotes. These texts are usually selected from famous people's quotes or works for engraving, and some characters are deliberately engraved wrong to increase the difficulty of counterfeiting.

After seeing all this, Zhu Qizhen had a general idea of ​​the Ming Dynasty's currency and became more confident in the Ming Bank.

"Your Majesty, these are collectively known as Ming Tong Bao to the outside world." Gao Gu was also excited, "In the future, Ming Tong Bao will be circulated overseas."

Zhu Qizhen was also looking forward to it.

Relying on powerful ships and cannons to dominate is too costly and unstable. Relying on financial means is much cheaper and will not cause violent resistance.

……

Zhu Qizhen came out of Baoyuan Bureau and did not go back to the palace directly, but came to Shuntian University. He changed into casual clothes and came alone without asking the guards to follow him.

He came to the medical school and walked around, trying to find Yao Sanxiao. He looked in several places but couldn't find him. It seemed that Shuntian University had been expanded and was very big.

Finally, he ran into Li Yanwen on the first floor of a building. Li Yanwen was shocked to see him and was about to pay his respects, but he stopped him and said, "I am incognito, don't pay your respects, don't cause any confusion."

"As you wish." Li Yanwen was a little reserved.

Zhu Qizhen patted his shoulder and asked with a smile: "How do you feel about being in this university?"

Li Yanwen said quickly: "Very good, the university has gathered many talented people, I study and exchange ideas with them, and I gain something every day."

This is what university is.

Why didn't I have this kind of academic atmosphere when I was in college? All I could think about were beauties and games.

Zhu Qizhen complained about himself and continued, "Study hard, and you can either go to the research institute or come to the Imperial Hospital in the future."

"Your Majesty, I will not go to the Imperial Hospital. I will go to the people, visit villages and households, and treat the people." Li Yanwen said seriously, "Mr. Yao said that the people of the Ming Dynasty are in great need of doctors."

Zhu Qizhen smiled and encouraged: "Very good, I support you, and I will also pay attention to the medical care of the people and increase investment in the future."

"Your Majesty is wise." Li Yanwen bowed.

"Hahaha, Li Yanwen, work hard, and you will have a great son in the future." Zhu Qizhen laughed.

Li Yanwen was confused. When they first met, His Majesty told him that he would have a son in the future and named him Li Shizhen. He didn't understand why His Majesty cared about his son when he himself was not even married.

"By the way, the Mr. Yao you just mentioned is Yao Sanxiao, right? Where is he?" Zhu Qizhen asked.

"Oh, Your Majesty, you are here to see Mr. Yao? He has no classes today and is in the school building area." Li Yanwen said, "I will take you to find him, Your Majesty."

Zhu Qizhen waved his hand: "Lead the way."

Soon, they arrived at a courtyard in the school building area, where Yao Sanxiao was drying medicinal herbs. When he saw Zhu Qizhen, he hurriedly came up to pay his respects: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you."

"Stand up." Zhu Qizhen raised his hand. "Mr. Yao, where did you get these herbs?"

"It was the teacher who took us to collect them outside the city." Li Yanwen bowed, "I still have classes to attend, so I'll take my leave now."

He left the courtyard, and Yao Sanxiao took Zhu Qizhen to sit under the porch. He made some tea and asked Zhu Qizhen, "Your Majesty, you came to see me for something, right?"

Zhu Qizhen took a sip of tea slowly and nodded: "I want to know more about your master. Tell me about his legend."

Yao Sanxiao started talking, Zhu Qizhen listened quietly, and asked a few questions from time to time. Half an hour later, Yao Sanxiao finished speaking, and Zhu Qizhen frowned and asked: "Your master is proficient in Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism, has he practiced any evil magic?"

"Evil arts?" Yao Sanxiao was shocked. "Master certainly knows about the evil arts of Taoism, and he also has a good understanding of Yin-Yang prophecies. However, he said that those things go against the will of heaven and will bring disasters, so they must not be passed on."

Zhu Qizhen asked thoughtfully: "Yin Yang prophecy? Did he also predict the future of the Ming Dynasty?"

Yao Sanxiao frowned, recalled for a while and said: "Master once said that the late emperor was too scheming, too murderous, and too lucky. If these three things happened together, he would definitely not live long. If we want to continue the Ming Dynasty, we can only rely on the Empress Dowager." "Ah?" Zhu Qizhen was surprised, "Tell me in detail."

Yao Sanxiao smiled bitterly: "I only heard it once when Master was drunk. It was just a few words. I never heard Master mention it again after that."

Zhu Qizhen frowned.

Could it be that Yao Guangxiao taught Sun Ruowei the evil Taoist arts in order to help Sun Ruowei?

"Your Majesty, this is the detoxification pill I made recently." Yao Sanxiao took out a pill and handed it to Zhu Qizhen, saying, "Your Majesty, you can take it to the Imperial Hospital. If they can make a large number of them, they can use them on the battlefield to detoxify the soldiers."

"That's great. Yang Guifang said in her last memorial that people in the Western Regions like to use poison." Zhu Qizhen took it.

Yao Sanxiao nodded: "I made this because I heard about it. This pill can control most toxicity in a short period of time, making it easier to treat later."

Zhu Qizhen nodded and put it away.

……

Coming out of Shuntian University, Zhu Qizhen walked along the street, thinking. On the way, he bought a sesame seed cake, ate it, and thought about what Yao Guangxiao wanted to do back then.
Unconsciously, he walked to the door of Daming Trading Company, wiped his hands, and strode in. When he entered the yard, he saw Chao Xiaotian directing the moving of goods.

After not seeing each other for a while, he found that Chao Xiaotian had lost weight and looked tired. Zhu Qizhen called out and turned to look at Chao Xiaotian, surprised: "Master? You haven't been here for a long time."

Zhu Qizhen stepped forward, looked him up and down, frowned and asked: "Why are you so thin? Your face doesn't look good, are you tired? Don't work so hard, your health is the first priority."

"It will be fine after this busy period." He smiled at Xiaotian.

"No, I have to talk to Qi Shu and ask her to take care of you." Zhu Qizhen looked around, "Hey, where's Qi Shu?"

Chao Xiaotian looked embarrassed: "She...she went back to her parents' home."

Zhu Qizhen realized something was wrong and asked coldly, "Did you have a quarrel? Did you bully others?"

He was also secretly shocked because Ding Xiu had reported to him about the Qi family, but Ding Xiu did not say that Qi Shu had left Daming Trading Company.

"Master, aren't all women like that? It will be fine in a few days." Chao Xiaotian said.

"Did you really have a quarrel? What was it about?" Zhu Qizhen asked.

Chao Xiaotian hesitated to speak, and finally spread his hands: "Husband and wife, after being together for a long time, don't they quarrel over trivial matters? Master, don't you and your wife quarrel?"

"Of course... we have to quarrel." Zhu Qizhen held his forehead with his hand, "When your mistress gets angry, she bites me."

Chao Xiaotian was amused and led him into the living room. While pouring tea, he said, "Master, you're here at the right time. I'll report to you on the current situation of the company."

Zhu Qizhen listened while drinking tea.

At present, the Ming Dynasty Trading Company has developed steadily in several locations in Southeast Asia, has established its own territories there, and has begun to support local forces to further control the local economy.

This is the fighting style of the "East India Company" taught by Zhu Qizhen. The Ming Trade Company is now also very powerful. There are more than ten merchant fleets that travel to America, Southeast Asia, and the West.

"Master, the cigarette factory you mentioned is amazing." Chao Xiaotian said proudly, "It's becoming popular in Southeast Asia and the West. I plan to produce the cigars you mentioned directly in America."

Zhu Qizhen encouraged with a smile: "Not bad, not bad. In the future, you will be the richest man in the world."

Chao Xiaotian said seriously: "Mine is yours, Master."

Zhu Qizhen was very pleased that the boy was somewhat filial, but whether it was much or not remained to be seen.

The two chatted for a while, and Zhu Qizhen stood up to say goodbye. Chao Xiaotian invited him to have dinner, but he refused. He still had to go back to review the memorials, so Chao Xiaotian sent him to the door.

Suddenly, a big man who was moving goods grabbed a knife and slashed at Chao Xiaotian. Zhu Qizhen was shocked and pushed Chao Xiaotian away, but he didn't know that the big man was an expert and stabbed him directly with great speed.

scold!
The knife stabbed his shoulder and blood gushed out.

Snapped!
Zhu Qizhen hit the big man with one palm, and the big man was knocked flying. He hit the pillar heavily, fell to the ground with a thud, and spurted out a mouthful of blood.

"Hahaha, you are poisoned, I have taken revenge..." The big man's laughter stopped abruptly and he fainted.

Zhu Qizhen was numb, and saw that his wound had turned black. He immediately took out the pill given by Yao Sanxiao and swallowed it. Chao Xiaotian hurried to his side, surprised: "Master, I will go call the doctor now."

"No, go call the Royal Guards." Zhu Qizhen said in a deep voice, "Leave this assassin to the Royal Guards, I will go back and treat him myself."

Having said that, he strode away.

……

The next day, morning.

The ministers went to the Fengtian Hall, waiting for the emperor to come to court, but the morning court time passed and the emperor did not come. The ministers were surprised because the emperor had never been late.

At this time, the chief eunuch Cao Jixiang came and announced: "Your Majesty is ill and will not attend court for three days."

The cabinet chief Xu Youzhen asked: "Your Majesty is ill? What is wrong? Has the imperial physician examined him? When can we see His Majesty?"

"The three imperial doctors of the Imperial Hospital have been in the Qianqing Palace for a day and a night." Cao Jixiang said, "I don't know the situation of your Majesty."

After saying that, he left.

The ministers were shocked. What had happened to His Majesty? But without an imperial decree, they could not see the emperor, so they could only disperse in a hurry.

Not long after, in the underground secret room of Prince Ning's Mansion.

Prince Ning came in hurriedly, his face excited: "We succeeded, I think the fake emperor will die."

The Zhengtong Emperor sneered, "When I found out he was stabbed yesterday, I knew he was dead. Yuan Bin's knife was poisoned."

Xu Bin couldn't hide his excitement: "If he dies, everything will be settled."

Wu Xingdao waved his hand: "Notify Junshan Club immediately and make arrangements immediately."

(End of this chapter)