My Portable Ming Dynasty

Chapter 116 Mission Completed, Purple Item

After listening to Zhang Hong read the latest "Yuefu Xinbao", Zhu Yijun said with an unsatisfied look:

"Master Su's newspaper is good, but it's a little too short."

Zhang Hong finished reading two pages and was already exhausted and thirsty, but after hearing what the Crown Prince said, he could only agree:
"Your Highness is right. This newspaper is really not good enough."

Zhu Yijun said:
"Master Su, it would be great if this newspaper could be published once a day. Five days is still too long to wait."

Then Xiao Pangjun bit his finger and said:
"No, if the newspaper is published every day, Master Su will have no time to give me a lecture."

Zhang Hong quickly echoed the words and admired his godfather Li Fang's prediction. The Crown Prince mentioned Master Su more times a day than all the other lecturers combined. His future prosperity and wealth would really depend on Su Ze.

Not to mention that in the future, Zhang Hong had become Zhu Yijun's closest eunuch by presenting newspapers to the crown prince. Zhang Hong also catered to Zhu Yijun's tastes by collecting new and interesting things on the market and presenting them to Zhu Yijun, and the relationship between the two became increasingly close.

Zhang Hong also knew that many of the new gadgets on the market were due to Su Ze's contribution.

Then, Zhu Yijun asked again:
“Is this shadow puppetry really as interesting as the article says?”

This issue of Yuefu New Newspaper was the first after the supplement. Su Ze had already asked the guild halls in Beijing for manuscripts, asking them to invite fellow villagers in Beijing with outstanding literary talent to submit articles.

But it was too late for the first issue, so Su Ze could only write an article himself to fill in the gap.

Su Ze did not write about his hometown Suzhou, but instead wrote an essay introducing shadow puppetry based on the shadow puppetry in Beijing.

Shadow puppetry originated very early. In the Ming Dynasty, shadow puppetry was very developed in the capital area, integrating the strengths of major schools in the world, and eventually formed the East City and West City schools.

Dongcheng is good at leather making, and the shadow puppets they make are lifelike.

Xicheng is good at singing lyrics, and the arrangement of lyrics is novel and interesting, making the story more vivid.

Su Ze used the two schools of shadow puppetry as an introduction and extended it to the two birthplaces of shadow puppetry, Lanzhou and Luoyang, which served as an introduction to the next issue.

Faced with the crown prince's question, Zhang Hong was also a little troubled.

Zhu Yijun is at an age when he is lively and active, and also when he loves to play.

If I instigate Zhu Yijun to do something else, I will be labeled a traitor, which is something a small eunuch like me cannot bear.

If he delays the Crown Prince's studies, even his godfather Li Fang cannot save him.

Zhu Yijun added:

"No, if I want to watch shadow puppets, I will definitely be scolded by my father, the emperor, and my mother."

Zhu Yijun was still very self-aware. His father was criticized by the civil officials for holding the Lantern Festival. If he were to perform shadow puppetry in the East Palace, Zhu Yijun would instinctively shudder when he thought of Yin Shidan's old-fashioned and serious face.

Xiao Pangjun stood up, paced back and forth twice and said:
"Master Su said that during the Zhengde reign, Grandpa Wuzong held a variety show where shadow puppetry was performed. I can also ask my father to follow Grandpa Wuzong's example and hold a variety show!"

Hearing this, Zhang Hong was frightened and said quickly:
"Your Highness, His Majesty wanted to hold a lantern festival, but all the ministers opposed it. What about this Hundred Plays Festival?"

Zhu Yijun sat down gloomily. He looked at Zhang Hong and said:

"I still remember Master Zhao once saying that when the Emperor was still alive, the Prime Minister, Xu Ge Lao, held a Lingji Palace convention. The entire Lingji Palace was packed with people, and the capital was bustling with activity. How come when I asked my father to hold a variety show, the ministers wouldn't allow it?"

Zhang Hong secretly complained that the Lingji Palace Conference was a grand lecture event and a grand event for the literati. How could it be compared with the Hundred Plays Festival held by Emperor Wuzong?

But after thinking about it carefully, Zhang Hong felt that what the crown prince said was correct. Why can you, the Prime Minister Xu Jie, use the convenience of your position to give lectures in Lingji Palace, but the emperor can't hold a variety show?

Of course, Zhang Hong would never dare to say it out loud.

Zhu Yijun's face wrinkled, and then he looked at Zhang Hong and said:

"Xiao Hongzi, go ask Master Su if there's any way to get Father to hold a Hundred Plays Convention?"

what?
Zhang Hong looked at Zhu Yijun helplessly. Su Ze was a second-class Jinshi and a Hanlin official. How could he possibly support you in holding a variety show?

And give you advice?
But Zhang Hong did not dare to disobey the crown prince's order, so he could only come to the historian reluctantly.

After listening to Zhang Hong's words, Su Ze frowned and said:
"The prince is going to hold a variety show?"

When Zhang Hong saw Su Ze's expression, he thought Su Ze was going to say some sage's words to reprimand him and ask him to warn the crown prince to concentrate on his studies.

But unexpectedly Su Ze said:

"Since the current emperor ascended the throne, he has indeed not held any grand events. Now that the country is at peace, it is reasonable for the Crown Prince to celebrate the prosperity and hold a variety show."

ha?
Zhang Hong looked at Su Ze in surprise. Could it be that Su Hanlin was really a traitor as the outer court said?

It would have been fine if you hadn't dissuaded the prince, but why did you instigate him to hold a variety show?

Even Luo Wanhua on the side looked at Su Ze in surprise. He didn't expect that he would support the prince's ridiculous behavior.

Su Ze continued:

"But if the Crown Prince invites you to hold a variety show, I'm afraid it will affect your reputation."

Zhang Hong nodded repeatedly when he heard this. Fortunately, Su Hanlin was not crazy and finally spoke normal words.

Su Ze continued:

"During the reign of the previous emperor, the Lingji Palace Assembly was a grand event for Confucian scholars. Even today, many veteran Hanlin scholars still remain in the Hanlin Academy. When they talk about this grand event, they puff out their chests with pride, lamenting the flourishing Confucian spirit of the previous emperor's reign."

Su Ze said:

"Since Your Majesty ascended the throne, you have lived in harmony with the people and brought peace to the world. It is time to hold a grand gathering of Confucian scholars."

Zhang Hong's brain was completely stunned at this moment. He really didn't understand Su Ze's jumping thoughts. They were just talking about the Hundred Plays Festival, so why did they suddenly talk about the Lingji Palace Conference?

Su Ze's next words made Zhang Hong's eyes light up.

"Your Highness can petition His Majesty to hold another Lingji Palace convention, and perform a variety show before the convention to liven up the atmosphere."

"The Lingji Palace Party is a joy for all officials and scholars, and the Hundred Plays Party is a joy for Your Majesty and the people."

"This is a grand ceremony where the emperor, all officials, scholars, and the people can enjoy themselves together. It will surely go down in history!"

Is that so?
Zhang Hong looked at Su Ze who was arbitrarily elevating the topic. It was obvious that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince just wanted to watch a shadow play, so did he have such a noble purpose?
Even Luo Wanhua who was standing by was dumbfounded.

Su Ze continued:

"I think your Highness's idea is excellent. You can propose to Your Majesty that we hold another Lingji Palace meeting, with a variety of performances as the backdrop, so that all the people can enjoy it together!"

Zhang Hong left the History Museum with Su Ze's advice, and Luo Wanhua quickly said:

"Brother Zilin, if people knew that you were instigating the Crown Prince, I'm afraid you'd be impeached by the censors again!"

The fact that the censors have temporarily stopped their attacks does not mean that Su Ze's reputation has improved.

According to several of their peers who observed politics at the Six Departments Censorate, the censors and secretaries would grit their teeth whenever Su Ze was mentioned.

The name Su Ze has become a taboo in the Six Departments and the Censorate!

This put a lot of pressure on the several peers who had contact with Su Ze. When observing the government, they were cautious and did not dare to say much, for fear that they would be discovered to be Su Ze's peers. Su Ze actually encouraged the Crown Prince to spend money, which made Luo Wanhua a little difficult to accept.

Su Ze said:
"Brother Yifu, if you had a million in assets, would you place your wealth in a jar and bury it underground to pass it down to future generations, which would benefit the court, or would you use your wealth to benefit the court?"

Luo Wanhua was stunned for a moment and said:
"Of course, it's best to pass on the good deeds from generation to generation."

Su Ze shook his head and said:

"If everyone in the world thinks like Brother Yifu, and if you don't spend it and I don't spend it either, then all the gold and silver in the world will be buried in the ground again. I'm afraid that the gold and silver will be resentful even if they exist. Why dig them out of the ground?"

Luo Wanhua also laughed.

Su Ze said:

"Everyone in the world is burying their gold and silver in the ground, so there is even less gold and silver circulating in the world. The monetary system is becoming increasingly unsound, silver is expensive and grain is cheap. Is this what benefits the country and the people?"

Luo Wanhua also started thinking about it.

What Su Ze was talking about was a serious problem in the middle and late Ming Dynasty: deflation.

Because the value of gold and silver is rising, many rich people will save gold and silver.

This will result in a situation where even though there is a good harvest, the price of grain falls, which means that low grain prices hurt the people.

But those who have silver in their hands gain more wealth because silver becomes increasingly scarce.

The cost of borrowing for ordinary people became increasingly high, and eventually they went bankrupt due to usury, destroying the entire agricultural economy.

The root cause of deflation is naturally the mismatch between the total amount of goods and the total amount of currency. The Ming Dynasty produced enough goods, but did not have a stable currency for transactions, which led to the rising value of the currency.

But another important factor is that society as a whole is keen on saving, and all the money in the market is withdrawn and saved.

Rich people save and don't spend, while poor people have no money to spend. It would be strange if the economy didn't have problems.

Su Ze single-handedly minted coins at the port of Denglai and issued more silver dollars to meet the needs of the Ming Dynasty's increasingly large commodity market.

The other hand is to promote consumption, let the gold and silver in the hands of the rich circulate, and increase the amount of circulating currency.

The richest people in the world are naturally the Ming Dynasty royal family.

In Su Ze's opinion, the royal family's money is either spent here or still there, and it will always be spent.

Either the emperor used it to reward his relatives, or to build courtyards and palaces, or to make elixirs and cultivate immortality.

Since we have to spend money, we might as well organize some activities that can bring fun to the people, which can at least stimulate consumption.

Of course, the emperor had to pay this money from his treasury.

Su Ze has already thought about how to write a petition to the emperor to ask him to pay for the expenses of this conference from the internal treasury. Then the opposition from the ministers should be much smaller.

Throughout history, both in China and abroad, such cultural activities advocated by the royal family are not all about extravagance and luxury.

What the superiors like, the subordinates will follow. The royal family, the supreme ruler, will lead the trend, and the ministers and nobles will inevitably follow.

If the emperor spent one tael of silver, these nobles would spend ten taels of silver to follow him.

The flow of these silver into the market can actually boost the vitality of the entire economy and allow wealth to circulate in more people's hands.

This is better than the emperor using silver to buy elixirs, right?

Combining lectures and conferences will reduce opposition among officials.

Of course, Luo Wanhua could not fully understand these economic theories for the time being, but after listening to Su Ze, it seemed that holding another Lingji Palace conference was not a bad thing.

After half-convincing Luo Wanhua, Su Ze began to think again: should he petition to install lightning rods on the palaces of the Forbidden City? And add some fire-fighting facilities?
The imperial palace of the Ming Dynasty also suffered many disasters. During the Jiajing period, the three main halls burned down once. During the Wanli period, Emperor Longqing's reign was short, and the palace burned down again. Even the cabinet and the Hanlin Academy were almost burned down, and the History Museum was burned down by a fire.

Every time the three main halls were rebuilt, it placed a huge burden on the finances, and the people had to pay additional taxes and labor to rebuild the palace.

This is of course related to the fact that wooden buildings are prone to fire, but it is also related to the thunderstorm weather in the capital.

Su Ze originally wanted to conduct a kite experiment, but the experiment was too dangerous, so Su Ze did not publish it in the "Yuefu Xinbao".

It would be better to just use the [Portable Ming Dynasty Court] to petition and install lightning rods on the main palaces.

Originally, Su Ze thought that by increasing the number of letters submitted each month, he would have more money to earn from the Golden Finger each month.

But now it seems that it is not enough, absolutely not enough!
There are only two chances to submit a petition in a month, which is like sending away beggars!
This month I have to write a petition to the royal family asking them to spend money, and I also have to write a petition to impeach the King of Liao, and install a lightning rod in the palace. I can't even manage all the tasks for this month.

At this moment, the system suddenly sounded a prompt.

[Mission Completed: Achieve a "Close" relationship with Crown Prince Zhu Yijun.]

[Task Reward: Item Lottery Chance*1]

【Do you want to draw the item? 】

Is this done?
Judging from the time, Zhang Hong should have returned to the Eastern Palace and told Zhu Yijun his suggestions.

Isn’t it too easy to increase Xiaopangjun’s reputation?

Su Ze sighed for a moment and naturally chose to draw the props.

[Congratulations to the host, you have obtained the item "Carrier Pigeon Letter (Purple)".]

[Carrier Pigeon] (Purple): This looks like an ordinary pigeon. As long as you tell the recipient of the letter to the pigeon, it will deliver the letter to the recipient within a day. The recipient can tie the reply letter to the host in the mailbox on the pigeon's leg.

What kind of super-dimensional pigeon is this!

It’s worthy of being a purple item. Isn’t it too powerful?

Although the communication time per day is not as long as the instant messaging tools Su Ze used before he traveled through time, it is worthy of being called a purple item in this era of underdeveloped communications!

It’s a pity that this pigeon can only communicate one-to-one, which means that the communication will take at least two days?
This is much more efficient than the post station.

"Cuckoo"

A pigeon appeared in Su Ze's hand. Luo Wanhua looked at the pigeon in Su Ze's hand with doubt. Su Ze said:

"This is the homing pigeon I raised."

Luo Wanhua nodded. Raising homing pigeons was not a new hobby. He was just curious about when this pigeon flew into the history museum.

Su Ze put the pigeon back into the system warehouse.

At this moment, Shen Yikuan rushed into the History Museum.

"Brother Zilin! The Ministry of Justice is reconsidering the Liao King case and wants to overturn his verdict!"

(End of this chapter)