Jingtai: Making the Ming Dynasty Great Again

"They have such audacity!"

These unscrupulous merchants once again shattered Zhu Qiyu's worldview.

Yu Qian painstakingly organized people to transport grain from Tongzhou to the capital.

These people are not only hoarding goods to drive up prices, but they are also trying to transport grain out of Beijing.

And they actually managed to get it out!

Yu Qian frowned: "With martial law in the capital, grain is only allowed to enter, not leave. How did they manage to get it out?"

Lu Zhong: "This...has not yet been determined."

Zhu Qiyu suppressed his anger and said coldly, "Nowadays, the entire official road in Beizhili is filled with military and civilian vehicles entering the capital for refuge and transporting grain into the capital."

They, on the contrary, went against the tide to transport grain out of the capital.

to whom?

"Give it to Esen?!"

The moment those last words were uttered, everyone present felt a chill run down their spines.

If this charge is proven true, the consequence will be the confiscation of their property and the extermination of their entire clan.

Zhu Qiyu looked at Lu Zhong: "You need a travel permit to leave the city. You can start by checking that."

Furthermore, find out where those 50,000 shi of grain are now and retrieve them immediately.

Remember, I need solid evidence—witness testimony, physical evidence, and confessions—nothing can be missing.

"You may go now. Also, take all the Imperial Guards here with you."

Lu Zhong hesitated and said, "This...after this matter is settled, the Embroidered Uniform Guard will be needed to escort the Emperor back to the palace..."

Zhu Qiyu waved his hand dismissively: "With so many soldiers of my Great Ming here, how could I possibly be in danger?"

"Your subject obeys the decree!" Lu Zhong clasped his hands in acceptance, then a ruthless glint flashed in his eyes.

This is the first truly significant case assigned by the new emperor after his ascension to the throne. If handled well, it will lead to a bright future.

If it's handled poorly, the consequences will be unimaginable.

He immediately turned and left, quickly disappearing outside the camp gate.

The twenty-odd guards who had come with Zhu Qiyu that morning also left together.

Zhu Qiyu had another personal reason for making this arrangement.

He was deliberately reducing the distance between imperial power and military power.

Now that the Embroidered Uniform Guard is gone, he'll need to select some people to escort him back to the palace barracks.

These people are the foundation of his future personal guard.

There are only two kinds of orders: zero times or countless times.

Once this precedent is set, it will be much easier to receive orders from me in the future.

Yu Qian, unaware of Zhu Qiyu's ulterior motives, frowned and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, this matter involves far-reaching implications."

Yongfeng, Guangyuan, and Shengtai are all long-established brands in Beijing with decades of history.

Not only does he have deep roots in the business world, but he also has connections with many government departments, nobles, and even members of the imperial family.

A swift and decisive action could cause upheaval in the government and among the people, which would be detrimental to the overall defense of the city.

Should the investigation be temporarily suspended?

Zhu Qiyu looked at Yu Qian.

Yu Shaobao's patriotism is genuine, but his pedantry is also sometimes true.

He couldn't possibly be unaware of the principle that to cure a disease, one must eliminate its root cause.

Zhu Qiyu said slowly, "Minister Yu, I understand your good intentions."

But have you ever considered that if I show leniency to these grain merchants today, more merchants will follow suit tomorrow?

If they dare to transport grain out of the capital right under my nose today, they will dare to trade with the Oirats in front of my army tomorrow!

This trend must not be allowed to continue!

This is not a matter of a few taels of silver or a few bushels of grain; it is shaking the foundation of the nation and undermining the Ming Dynasty!

Traditional Chinese medicine can strengthen the body's foundation and nourish its vital energy, but for treating cancer, Western medicine is more effective and faster.

Yu Qian opened his mouth, but seeing the unwavering resolve in Zhu Qiyu's eyes, he swallowed his words of advice.

He didn't know what Zhu Qiyu meant by "Western medicine".

But he sensed a chilling intent in Zhu Qiyu's tone.

Finally, Yu Qian bowed deeply and said, "Your Majesty's wisdom is profound; I was merely being pedantic."

Your Majesty, I only request that you ensure the evidence is solid and the procedures are followed, so as not to give anyone a handle to use against you.

Zhu Qiyu nodded: "Don't worry, I won't give them any excuse to accuse me of being a tyrant who kills indiscriminately."

There's one more thing Zhu Qiyu didn't say: If they dare call me a tyrant, I'll show them what a real tyrant is!

Now I want to be "Emperor Taizong", don't force me to be "Emperor Taizu"!

Subsequently, Zhu Qiyu ordered Yu Qian to dispatch 800 elite troops to escort him back to the capital.

Yu Qian then remembered that Zhu Qiyu had already dismissed the Imperial Guards who were protecting him.

Although military discipline was in place, it was certainly not acceptable to let the emperor return to the palace on his own.

Soon, Zhu Qiyu left the training ground under the protection of eight hundred soldiers.

Zhu Qiyu did not return directly to the palace, but instead ordered the carriage to turn towards the grain sales points developed by the Ministry of Revenue.

He wanted to see for himself how the grain supply in the capital was after the Ministry of Revenue reopened the official grain sales points.

Several long lines snaked out from the entrance of the government-run grain shops, all of them people queuing to buy grain.

Everyone wore expressions of anxiety, but the order was still relatively maintained.

Sweating profusely, Shen Yi was directing the officials to maintain order and register and distribute grain.

Upon seeing the emperor's arrival, Shen Yi hurriedly led a group of Ministry of Revenue officials to greet him.

During the Ming Dynasty, emperors typically had a strict set of "ceremonial guards" for their travels.

When the ceremonial procession appears, all soldiers and civilians must immediately kneel down and make way.

However, these are special times, and Zhu Qiyu did not engage in these activities.

So at first glance, the common people didn't know that the emperor had arrived.

When the officials from the Ministry of Revenue knelt down and called out "Your Majesty," the common people realized that the Emperor had arrived, and they followed suit and knelt down as well.

"Rise." Zhu Qiyu raised his hand, his gaze sweeping over the people queuing up. "Minister Shen, how is the grain sale going today?"

Shen Yi wiped the sweat from his brow: "Your Majesty, since the sale resumed this morning, the people have come upon hearing the news and are all queuing to buy grain. No one is causing trouble, however..."

He looked troubled: "But I have heard that the major grain merchants are extremely dissatisfied with Your Majesty's revocation of the sales rights and forced price suppression, and they have already conspired against each other."

Zhu Qiyu sneered: "Coordination? How do they plan to coordinate? A strike? Or inciting public opinion?"

Shen Yi cautiously replied, "This... Your subject has not yet investigated."

Your Majesty, should we summon the owners of several large trading companies, explain the advantages and disadvantages, and offer some reassurance?

After all, the capital's commerce and trade still rely on them...

Zhu Qiyu interrupted him: "Shen Yi, you are the Vice Minister of Revenue, in charge of the nation's finances."

You should know better than I do what time it is now!

Instead of serving their country, they hoarded grain and even attempted to transport it out of the capital!

Why should I appease them instead of arresting and punishing them?

Is there any logic to this?!

Shen Yi blushed with embarrassment after being reprimanded, and lowered his head, not daring to say another word.

The surrounding officials from the Ministry of Revenue also remained silent, trembling with fear.

Zhu Qiyu realized he had lost his composure and softened his tone: "Minister Shen, your task is to ensure the supply of grain in the official granaries, stabilize grain prices, and appease the people."

The rest is none of your concern, nor do you need to worry about it.

You only need to do your job well. If grain prices rise again, or if people starve to death, I will hold you responsible!

Zhu Qiyu then delivered a heartfelt speech to the people present.

Many people were moved to tears on the spot.

As Zhu Qiyu left the scene, the people collectively shouted, "Long live the Emperor!"

Back at the Qianqing Palace, Zhu Qiyu had just changed into his everyday clothes when a young eunuch rushed over and whispered a few words in Xing'an's ear.

Xing'an's expression changed slightly. He quickly walked to Zhu Qiyu's side and whispered, "Your Majesty, Liu Da Dang from Renshou Palace has arrived. He says he has received an imperial edict from the Empress Dowager, requesting Your Majesty to go to Renshou Palace immediately."

Zhu Qiyu's heart skipped a beat, knowing that what was bound to happen had finally arrived.

Empress Dowager Sun may not have been aware that Renshou Palace Estate was involved in grain reselling.

But once she makes up her mind to investigate thoroughly, she will definitely find out.

I just didn't expect it to happen so quickly.

Zhu Qiyu exclaimed that the government's orders were indeed "effective and efficient."

He issued the order outside the palace, and he had only just returned to the palace to change his clothes.

The Empress Dowager in the inner palace already knew!

Zhu Qiyu said to Xing'an, "Tell Eunuch Liu that I will go to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager after I finish dealing with urgent official business. Let him go back first."

Zhu Qiyu was trying to put the Empress Dowager out of the spotlight, and also to show his attitude: national affairs are of utmost importance, and even the Empress Dowager cannot interfere at will.