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

Chapter 134: The Beijing branch was closed for one day, and all the officials were beheaded in public!
After waiting for a while, someone finally completed the bank deposit transaction and walked out with a gloomy face holding the banknotes in his hand.

"Next." The young eunuch who was freed called lazily towards the door.

Zhu Youtang walked over and sat down in front of the empty counter.

"Sir, what business do you want to do?"

Zhu Youtang waved his hand, and Mou Bin quickly took out a stack of Hongzhi treasure notes from his arms and put it on the counter.

"For silver?"

The young eunuch took the Hongzhi treasure notes, coughed twice, counted them, and glanced at Zhu Youtang and Mou Bin out of the corner of his eye.

Seeing that Zhu Youtang and Mou Bin did not take any further action, the young eunuch's face became gloomy.

"No more, no less, exactly one hundred strings of cash."

"But unfortunately, the bank doesn't have enough silver now, so I can't exchange it."

"You go back, please go early tomorrow."

After the young eunuch finished speaking, he put the treasure banknotes in his hand back in front of Zhu Youtang.

Zhu Youtang asked coldly: "Didn't the Bank of Ming stipulate that no matter what the reason, the Bank of Ming must unconditionally exchange the Hongzhi Baochao for the corresponding silver money?"

When the Ming Bank was first established, because the amount of banknotes printed by the Baochao Bureau was limited, Zhu Youtang restricted the amount of silver that could be exchanged for Baochao to only 50,000 taels per day.

But from beginning to end, Zhu Youtang never restricted the amount of silver that could be exchanged for treasure notes.

Because Zhu Youtang knew that the reason why Hongzhi Baochao gradually became popular in the capital was because it could be exchanged for silver at any time.

Now, the young eunuch's refusal to exchange silver for Zhu Youtang is undoubtedly undermining the foundation of the Hongzhi Baochao.

Zhu Youtang already had the intention to kill.

But the young eunuch, who knew nothing about this, looked impatient and said, "Didn't I tell you that there isn't that much cash left in the bank?"

"If you want to exchange silver, either make an appointment in advance or come early tomorrow."

Zhu Youtang sneered: "The Beijing branch is such a big bank, can't even afford to exchange these 100 strings of notes?"

The young eunuch frowned and said sternly: "I said I can't afford it, so I can't afford it. Please leave now and don't delay me..."

Before the young eunuch could finish his words, Mou Bin had already taken out another two cents of silver from his arms and placed it in front of the young eunuch.

"It's cold, please give me a cup of hot tea, father-in-law."

Seeing the silver, the young eunuch smiled brightly: "Oh! If you had been so sensible earlier, it would have been fine!"

The young eunuch quickly took the small change and banknotes and said, "One hundred strings of banknotes, one in fifty as a handling fee, in exchange for ninety-eight taels of silver."

Zhu Youtang slammed his palm on the counter: "Who told you to charge a handling fee?"

The young eunuch was startled, and after he came to his senses, he spoke angrily.

"This is the rule of the Ming Dynasty Bank. If you have the guts, go and argue with our Ming Dynasty Emperor. Why are you arguing in front of me?"

Zhu Youtang's movements attracted the attention of a dozen soldiers from the Five Cities Army inside the bank.

"What are you arguing about? Is someone causing trouble?!"

The dozen or so soldiers drew their swords and approached Zhu Youtang.

Wang Zhi, who was guarding in the distance, saw them draw their swords and suddenly went berserk, rushed forward quickly, snatched the sword and killed them.

Wang Zhi began to lead the guards to solve cases when he was young. He had wiped out entire families, was ordered to inspect the nine borders, and personally went to the battlefield to kill the enemy.

How could these soldiers in the capital be a match for Wang Zhi?

Wang Zhi's movements were swift and powerful. Before two soldiers could react, Wang Zhi snatched the knife from them and slashed their necks.

The smell of blood spread throughout the bank. When the people inside saw the blood, they immediately started howling and scrambled to run out of the Beijing branch.

When Mou Bin saw Wang Zhi taking action, he no longer hid and immediately joined the battle, joining forces with Wang Zhi to kill the soldiers in the room.

"Who dares to act so recklessly in the Beijing branch? Are you trying to save your life?"

The commotion in the Beijing branch immediately attracted the attention of He Yong, who was resting in the back room, and he hurried to the front hall.

He Yong was the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department and the president of the Beijing branch of the Ming Bank appointed by Zhu Youtang himself.

At the same time, a large number of people from the Five Cities Army surrounded the Beijing branch outside.

But then, more factory guards surrounded the people from the Five Cities Army.

In the Beijing branch, the young eunuch who received Zhu Youtang quickly knelt in front of He Yong and pointed at Zhu Youtang and shouted.

"Eunuch He, he is the one causing trouble!"

He Yong looked at Zhu Youtang with an angry face, but the next moment, his expression changed drastically, switching from anger to fear!
He Yong slid to his knees in front of Zhu Youtang at a faster speed than the little eunuch before, and kowtowed.

"I, He Yong, didn't know your Majesty was coming. I failed to greet you. Please forgive me, Your Majesty!"

He Yong's shout plunged everyone in the Beijing branch into unprecedented shock and fear.

The young eunuch who had previously received Zhu Youtang was completely dumbfounded.

He just told him to argue in front of the Emperor, but the person in front of him turned out to be the Emperor of Ming Dynasty? !

The next moment, except for Wang Zhi and Mou Bin, everyone else in the Beijing branch knelt down before Zhu Youtang!
"Greetings, Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor!"

All the people in the Beijing branch were terrified and extremely frightened!
The little eunuch who had received Zhu Youtang before was so frightened that his face turned pale and he felt a warm feeling in his lower body.

Zhu Youtang looked at He Yong lying on the ground with a blank expression: "Did you ask them to collect the handling fee?"

He Yong was extremely frightened and regretful at this moment.

He knocked his head to the ground and spoke haltingly: "Your Majesty, it's...it's me..."

Zhu Youtang: "How dare you! Who told you to collect the handling fee without your permission?"

He Yong trembled and said, "Your servant...Your servant also wants to earn more money for your majesty's treasury!"

"What about the silver?"

"It's...it's in the treasury..."

Zhu Youtang ordered coldly: "Wang Zhi, take people to investigate."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Wang Zhi walked out of the branch and quickly brought a team of plainclothes Western Factory guards to the treasury to check the accounts. At the same time, Zhu Youtang asked, "Also, what's the matter with the eunuchs in charge of reception here collecting tea fees?"

"I don't know. These are all done by the little servants below. It's none of my business!"

Zhu Youtang looked at the young eunuch who had received him before. When the young eunuch met Zhu Youtang's eyes, he was so scared that he almost fainted.

The young eunuch quickly crawled in front of Zhu Youtang and took out all the tea money he had received that day.

The tea money included small change, copper coins, and banknotes.

Added together, it's a good number.

"Your Majesty, I was wrong! I was blind and offended Your Majesty! I deserve to die!"

"I was wrong! Your Majesty, please spare my life!"

As the young eunuch spoke, he slapped himself madly, hoping that this self-torture tactic could save his life.

But Zhu Youtang ignored him completely.

Soon, Wang Zhi came out of the treasury and reported to Zhu Youtang.

"Your Majesty, there are indeed an extra three thousand taels of silver in the treasury, but the amount does not match the amount in the account book."

"According to the account books, the Beijing branch should have earned at least 10,000 taels of silver in handling fees."

Zhu Youtang sneered: "He Yong, you are so good. I will take 3,000 taels and you will take 7,000 taels. Your appetite is bigger than mine!"

He Yong was so scared that he almost cried, and he still wanted to argue: "Your Majesty, your servant ..."

"Shut up!"

Zhu Youtang ordered coldly: "The Beijing branch will be closed today."

"All those working in the Beijing branch, regardless of their positions, will be beheaded in public!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Wang Zhi and Mou Bin quickly bowed and accepted the order.

Afterwards, at the instruction of Wang Zhi and Mou Bin, a large group of factory guards came in and took away the eunuchs from the Internal Affairs Bureau and the people from the Five Cities Military Department who were kneeling on the ground.

These young eunuchs from the Beijing branch asked for tea money so blatantly.

Zhu Youtang didn't believe that these soldiers who were responsible for the security and order of the Beijing branch did not share the dividends privately.

Suddenly, there were cries for mercy in the Beijing branch.

"Your Majesty, I was wrong! Please spare my life!"

"Your Majesty, please give me another chance! I won't dare to do it again, Your Majesty!"

"Your Majesty, spare your life! Your Majesty, spare your life!"

"..."

After all the people in the Beijing branch were taken away, Wang Zhi gritted his teeth and knelt in front of Zhu Youtang.

"This humble minister has neglected his duties, please punish me!"

Wang Zhi also served as the president of the Central Bank of the Ming Dynasty and was the immediate superior of the Beijing branch.

It’s just that Wang Zhi was too busy and had no time to take care of the affairs of the Ming Bank.

The Beijing branch is guilty, and he, as the president, cannot escape the responsibility of negligence.

Zhu Youtang knew the situation clearly and did not make things difficult for Wang Zhi.

"Get up, it's my fault for neglecting to burden you too much."

"Please take off the burden of being the governor of the Central Bank of Ming Dynasty. I will make other arrangements later."

Wang Zhi was filled with gratitude: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your forgiveness!"

Zhu Youtang looked at Mou Bin and said, "Mou Bin, from now on, the security and supervision of the Ming Bank will be handed over to the Jinyiwei."

After hearing this, Mou Bin immediately accepted the order.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

The Ming Bank could only be managed by eunuchs, but Zhu Youtang was very hesitant about who to entrust it to.

Wang Zhi has too much burden, Huai En is dead, Liu Jin is not worthy of such trust, and Fu Dahai still has to serve in front of the emperor...

Zhu Youtang was a little upset and asked Wang Zhi, "Wang Zhi, do you have any suitable candidate for the position of Governor of the Central Bank of Ming Dynasty?"

After thinking about it for a while, Wang Zhi actually gave a candidate.

"Your Majesty, Gao Feng, the Right Junior Supervisor of the Imperial Household Department, can take on this important task."

"Gao Feng is an old man who entered the palace during the Jingtai period. He originally studied in the inner library, worked in the Silijian, and then served as the director of the Xixinsi."

"Although Gao Feng has now taken a position in the Internal Affairs Bureau, he is still in charge of the affairs of the Salary-Saving Department."

"The most common daily business of Xixin Company is purchasing, and Gao Feng has rich experience in managing accounts."

"Besides, he has been in charge of the Salary Protection Department for many years and has never made any mistakes. He should be qualified for the position of the governor of the Central Bank of Ming Dynasty."

Zhu Youtang didn't know much about Gao Feng, he only knew that he would later become one of the Eight Tigers.

After hearing this, Zhu Youtang nodded and said, "Okay, I will summon him when I return."

During the conversation, the position of another power center in the Ming Dynasty had been decided.

Zhu Youtang stood up and walked out of the Beijing branch.

Outside the Beijing branch, a large number of Beijing citizens crowded in.

The next moment, a large number of Western Factory guards and Embroidered Uniform Guards rushed out from the crowd and protected Zhu Youtang behind them.

They looked around vigilantly, always ready to deal with any danger that might arise.

When the people surrounding the Beijing branch saw Zhu Youtang come out, many of them burst into tears on the spot, knelt down and kowtowed, cheering like thunder.

"Long live my emperor! Long live!"

(End of this chapter)