Ming Dynasty: A mere unruly commoner is rebelling against the heaven?

Chapter 133: Incognito visit to the Beijing branch!
On the second day of the Lunar New Year, Zhu Youtang also had a rare rest.

Zhu Youtang first went to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to check on the progress of the construction, and then went for a stroll around the Western Garden.

Compared with the bustling construction of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the renovation of the Western Garden has not yet started, and the overall appearance still remains the same as during the reign of Emperor Yingzong.

After walking around Taiye Lake for a while, Zhu Youtang felt a little bored and thought about leaving the palace again.

"Call Wang Zhi and Mou Bin. I need to go out of the palace for a private visit."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The young eunuch who was in attendance immediately went to invite Wang Zhi and Mou Bin.

After the two received the news that Zhu Youtang was going to leave the palace for a private visit, they were not too shocked because of their first experience.

However, a large number of factory guards were arranged in the capital at the first moment to carry out security work before leaving the palace.

Then he changed into casual clothes and went to the palace to meet the emperor.

"I am here to see you, Your Majesty!"

The two met Zhu Youtang in the Chongzhi Hall in the Western Garden. At this time, Zhu Youtang had already changed into casual clothes.

"No need to be polite, let's go."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Zhu Youtang sat in an ordinary sedan chair, carried by Mou Bin and Wang Zhi, and left Xiyuan from Xi'an Gate.

Zhu Youtang sat in the sedan chair, looking at the snow scene in the capital, and suddenly felt touched.

"Remember the last time I went on a private visit, it was you two who carried the sedan chair, and Huai En was walking beside me."

Mou Bin and Wang Zhi did not dare to respond to Zhu Youtang's words, but just kept walking forward.

It was not until they arrived at Xizhimen that Wang Zhi asked in a low voice: "Master Huang, where are we going now?"

"Where is the busiest place now?"

"It should be on Qianmen Street."

"Then let's go to Qianmen Street."

"Yes, Master Huang."

Zhu Youtang did not have any particular purpose for this trip, he just wanted to relax.

Zhu Youtang has been in a bad mood recently due to the influence of the succession case. It's just right for him to take advantage of the New Year to relax.

Soon, the two men carried Zhu Youtang to Qianmen Street.

When Zhu Youtang heard the bustling hawking sounds coming from outside the sedan chair, he knew that they had arrived at a busy place, so he asked them to let him down.

The sedan chair carried by these two people was too narrow. Zhu Youtang was used to sitting in the dragon chariot carried by eighteen people. It was really uncomfortable for him to sit in such a small sedan chair.

Zhu Youtang walked out of the sedan, stretched his limbs, looked at the bustling crowd around him, and his mood improved a lot.

"The nine heavens close the palace, and all nations wear their crowns and pay their respects."

Zhu Youtang looked at the various kinds of people on the street and couldn't help but sigh.

Because on this street, there are not only the people of the Ming Dynasty, but also many Hu people dressed in various costumes.

There are not only blond and blue-eyed white missionaries, but also Arabs wearing turbans.

Zhu Youtang walked and stopped casually on the street, and before he knew it, he came to a silk shop.

I saw an Arab man wearing a turban using Hongzhi treasure notes to buy a carriage full of silk.

But when paying, Hu Shang looked at the banknotes in his hand, frowned and sighed.

Zhu Youtang was a little surprised. He didn't expect that the Hongzhi Baochao had been circulated to the point where even foreigners were using it?

Zhu Youtang took the initiative to walk into the silk shop and asked, "Are you Hu merchants also using the Ming treasure notes now?"

The Arab merchant turned his head and found a young man in luxurious clothes and with an imposing manner asking him questions.

His tone was very impolite, which was rare in the Ming Dynasty, where etiquette was very important.

But he spoke very naturally, and he exuded a kind of calmness and confidence, as if his superior attitude was justified.

And behind him, two men with extraordinary aura stood behind him respectfully, not daring to overstep the mark.

The status of Hu merchants in the Ming Dynasty was already low, so when they saw this scene, they naturally did not dare to neglect it.

"To answer your question, the Hongzhi Treasure Note is easy to use. Anyone who comes to the capital to do business likes to use it."

Zhu Youtang asked again: "Then why did you sigh when you were using the treasure note just now?"

Speaking of this, Hu Shang couldn't help but sigh again.

"Although this treasure note is good, there is one thing: it is really painful to use."

"If it weren't for the officials in the capital who could only trade in treasure notes, I would really be unwilling to exchange silver for treasure notes."

"Whether you exchange the treasure notes for silver or exchange silver for treasure notes, no matter how much silver you exchange, you have to pay a handling fee."

"When exchanging for banknotes, I get one out of twenty, and when exchanging for silver, I get one out of fifty. So, the total is seven out of a hundred, which is really frighteningly high."

"Besides, the eunuchs who are doing the work will ask for some money for tea and water. If you don't pay, they won't do it for you. Sigh..."

After hearing this, Zhu Youtang's face instantly turned gloomy and he turned and left the silk shop.

This handling fee was originally a profitable business that he wanted to promote after he had established branches in various locations.

Moreover, this service should only be available for inter-bank withdrawals.

And the rates shouldn't be so high.

But now, Beijing banks have begun to charge such fees, and the fees are so high.

Zhu Youtang looked at Wang Zhi behind him and lowered his voice: "Wang Zhi, did you set the handling fee?" In addition to being the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Stables and the supervisor of the Western Factory, Wang Zhi also served as the president of the Central Bank of the Ming Dynasty.

Wang Zhi was so frightened in the middle of winter that he broke out in a sweat and was extremely panicked.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I... I know nothing about this."

Zhu Youtang did not reply and walked quickly towards the capital.

There was still a long queue in front of the Beijing branch, but everyone who came out of the Beijing branch had a frown on their brows and a look of worry on their faces.

Zhu Youtang noticed something was wrong at just one glance.

The people who maintain order outside the Beijing branch have been replaced by people from the Five Cities Military Department from the Western Factory.

Zhu Youtang looked at Wang Zhi beside him and asked in a low voice: "Where are the people from the West Factory? How did they become the Wucheng Bingmasi?"

Wang Zhi was startled and his heartbeat began to speed up. He quickly lowered his head and replied softly.

"Your Majesty, when we were investigating the poisoning of the late emperor, the Western Depot was short of manpower, so I boldly recalled the officers stationed in the branch in the capital."

"After the Five Cities Military Department resumed its powers, according to regulations, the Five Cities Military Department was responsible for the security of the capital. They also took the initiative to send people to maintain public order, so I did not send any more people."

After hearing this, Zhu Youtang knew that what Wang Zhi said was true, so he didn't say anything more.

During this period of time, Zhu Youtang handed over almost all important matters to the Western Factory.

In the Northwest Expeditionary Army, the eunuch supervising the army was from the Western Factory, and the eunuch supervising the grain supply was also from the Western Factory.

At the same time, the Western Factory was used to investigate the military generals in the city, and the investigation of the succession case was also handed over to Wang Zhi.

The Western Factory was also tasked with clearing out the remnants of those who hid the case of the Holy Mother Empress Dowager.

It is understandable that Wang Zhi is short of manpower.

"Let's go and check out the Beijing branch to see what the situation is like now."

As Zhu Youtang said this, he walked straight towards the Beijing branch.

The people waiting outside suddenly widened their eyes and looked at Zhu Youtang's back in disbelief.

In particular, the wealthy businessman from Jiangnan who was ranked first had the most excited expression.

"Hey! Hey! How dare you cut in line..."

Before he could finish his words, the rich businessman's mouth was tightly covered by someone.

Wang Zhi placed a few Hongzhi treasure notes in the hands of the wealthy businessman: "My master's time is precious and can't wait. This is a little compensation."

After doing all this, Wang Zhi finally let go of the hand that was trying to stop the rich businessman from shouting.

The rich businessman first widened his eyes in surprise, then angrily threw the banknotes in his hand to the ground.

"Who wants your filthy money?"

The wealthy businessman was so angry that he sneered: "I don't know where this country bumpkin came from. He doesn't know the rules and dares to cut in line in front of the Daming Bank!"

"I spoke out of kindness to remind your master not to act recklessly in front of the Daming Bank."

"Otherwise, if we are caught by the Five Cities Army, we will not only be scolded, but we will be thrown into prison!"

As the wealthy businessman was speaking, he saw several soldiers from the Five Cities Army who were patrolling outside the Beijing branch. They saw Zhu Youtang cutting in line and immediately came over to stop him.

"Hey you……"

The captain of the Wucheng Bingmasi squadron, who was in the lead, had not yet finished his words when Mou Bin stood in front of him.

This captain happened to be a soldier under the command of Geng Wenxin, the commander of the Zhongcheng Bingmasi.

It was Mou Bin who brought the Jinyiwei people, suspended their duties and took over their work, so he was deeply impressed by Mou Bin.

"Mou..."

The captain felt his legs go weak, and before he could finish his words, Mou Bin pinched his mouth.

Mou Bin put a finger in front of his mouth and made a gesture of silence.

"Shut up whoever told you to, and don't make any noise."

The captain nodded repeatedly: "Yes... yes..."

Mou Bin let go of his hand, and the captain turned around and told his men to disperse and keep their mouths shut and not make any sound.

Zhu Youtang walked straight into the Ming Bank without looking around.

Mou Bin followed suit and joined Daming Bank.

Seeing this scene, everyone outside the Ming Bank widened their eyes in surprise, wondering who Zhu Youtang was that could make the Five Cities Army Station give way on their own initiative.

When Wang Zhi saw Zhu Youtang walk into the Beijing branch, he turned around and followed him in.

The wealthy businessman from Jiangnan was left behind, looking at Wang Zhi's back in shock.

His legs began to feel weak and he began to feel a little scared.

When Zhu Youtang walked into the Beijing branch, he saw more than a dozen young eunuchs from the Internal Affairs Bureau working.

At the same time, more than a dozen soldiers from the Five Cities Army armed with swords were patrolling to protect the safety of the Beijing branch.

There were a total of seven citizens doing business at the Ming Bank.

Some came to exchange silver for Hongzhi Baochao, while others came to exchange Baochao for the corresponding silver.

Originally, these were two very simple tasks, but the young eunuchs in the Internal Affairs Bureau were so slow in completing them that it took them half a day to complete one task.

Zhu Youtang looked unhappy and was very dissatisfied with the efficiency of the Beijing branch.

But the young eunuchs of the Beijing branch did not notice anything wrong and continued to handle the business at hand nonchalantly.

(End of this chapter)