The Ming Dynasty: Starting with taking Old Zhu on a journey to the future

They do have a deep brotherly bond.

If Zhu Gaochi were to accompany Zhu Gaoxu to the capital, and to prevent Zhu Gaoxu from causing trouble, it would be acceptable if he were not shackled.

In short, Zhu Gaochi should bear the responsibility, and I should not take any responsibility.

Jiang Huan turned slightly to the side.

"please."

Zhu Gaochi quickly snatched the spear from Zhu Gaoxu's hand and threw it on the ground.

He pulled Zhu Gaoxu forward.

Just then, Jiang Huan asked, "By the way, Your Highness, where are the guards His Highness the Prince of Yan assigned to you two?"

Guards? Are we going to arrest them along with the guards?

Zhu Gaochi didn't think much of it and immediately led Jiang Huan to a courtyard in Fengyang Prefecture.

The Imperial Academy was full of students, while the servants and guards lived outside the Imperial Academy.

Among them were the personal guards of Zhu Di, the Prince of Yan.

When they went out, these people would follow them to protect their safety.

If there's anything you need, you can let them handle it.

Just when Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Gaoxu thought that Jiang Huan was going to bring these people back to the capital for interrogation.

Jiang Huan gave the order.

There were eight people in the courtyard, and they were all pinned to the ground.

Jiang Huan slowly walked to one of them and grabbed his hair.

Then he looked at Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Gaoxu.

The two brothers stared blankly at Jiang Huan, wondering what he was going to do.

Available in the next second.

Jiang Huan drew a small knife from his waist and slit the throat of one of his attendants.

Fresh blood gushed out.

Three breaths later, he collapsed into a pool of blood.

The remaining seven people met the same fate.

Seeing that the Imperial Guards were about to kill, Zhu Gaochi quickly said, "Commander Jiang! Show mercy! This has nothing to do with them!"

Jiang Huan, however, calmly gazed at Zhu Gaochi.

"kill."

The words were spoken.

The necks of the remaining seven men were slashed simultaneously, and three breaths later, they all collapsed into pools of blood.

These eight people have protected them for many years.

It's impossible to say I feel no emotion at being killed now.

Zhu Gaochi was trembling all over.

Zhu Gaoxu clenched his fists, and for the first time, fear appeared in his eyes. He was usually fearless.

Jiang Huan calmly wiped the blood off the knife.

"You two imperial grandsons, let's go."

After executing the guards, Jiang Huan took the two men to the capital.

……

The next day.

Inside the study of the imperial palace.

Jiang Huan bowed and entered the study.

"Your Majesty, Zhu Gaoxu has been imprisoned at Jinhua Gate, and Zhu Gaochi has come with him."

"They are already waiting outside the hall."

Zhu Yuanzhang, without pausing his writing, calmly replied, "Let Gao Chi in."

Permission was granted.

Zhu Gaochi bowed as he entered the study.

With a thud, he knelt on the ground: "Grandson Zhu Gaochi greets Imperial Grandfather, long live Imperial Grandfather!"

Zhu Yuanzhang didn't even raise his head.

He simply said calmly, "Gao Chi, you're here to plead for your brother, aren't you?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Zhu Yuanzhang closed the memorial he had already approved and opened a new one.

He glanced at the contents above and then wrote his comments.

"Are you aware of the assassination attempt on Lan Chen?"

"I understand."

"Why didn't you stop them?"

"My second brother is stubborn and has been misled by some people, which has led him to commit a great disaster. I hope that Your Majesty can show leniency."

Even while they were talking, it did not hinder Zhu Yuanzhang's thoughts from reviewing the memorials.

Under prolonged periods of intense government work, handling official duties has become an instinct.

"He went to the capital to assassinate a key figure in a major case, and even killed a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

"We're already being lenient by not issuing an order to kill this bastard."

Seeing that Zhu Yuanzhang was already somewhat angry.

Zhu Gaochi dared not plead for mercy any further.

The killing of the Embroidered Uniform Guards was not Zhu Gaoxu's fault to begin with.

If he pleaded for mercy again, it would only annoy his grandfather, the Emperor, and make Zhu Gaoxu's situation even more unfavorable.

"Grandson has disturbed you, Your Majesty. I shall take my leave now."

Zhu Yuanzhang still did not raise his head.

"Um."

After Zhu Gaochi left.

Zhu Yuanzhang asked, "How is Lan Chen's recovery going?"

"Your Majesty, the medicine given by Imperial Physician Dai Sigong is indeed effective; Lan Chen's arm is now able to move slightly."

"However, it will probably take a few more days before operations are fully restored."

I can wait a few days.

There's no need to rush.

Let Lan Chen rest more, in case something unexpected happens along the way.

"Yes, if Lan Chen has any needs, we will try our best to meet them."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Huan thought of something.

"Your Majesty, before I entered the palace, Lan Chen did indeed ask me to convey that he needed some things."

"What is it?"

"Um...money."

Immediately afterwards, Jiang Huan told Zhu Yuanzhang about Lan Chen's visit to Song Heng's family.

Zhu Yuanzhang was somewhat surprised upon learning of this.

"This kid is quite thoughtful."

It's easy to get money from someone.

Zhu Yuanzhang searched his body and took out fifty banknotes from his pocket.

He handed it to Jiang Huan, saying, "Give this to him; consider it a reward."

Jiang Huan accepted the banknotes with both hands and placed them in his bosom.

After fulfilling Lan Chen's needs, Zhu Yuanzhang inquired.

"Has Xu Huizu set off yet?"

"We set off for Beiping yesterday," Jiang Huan replied.

……

evening.

At Jiang Huan's home.

After finishing her workday, Jiang Huan returned home.

He then handed the imperial banknotes bestowed by the emperor to Lan Chen, saying, "Here you go."

Lan Chen took the banknotes handed to him by Jiang Huan, and pondered for a moment: "What is this?"

"Didn't you want money? These are the precious notes His Majesty bestowed upon you."

Upon hearing this, Lan Chen frowned: "Can this even be spent?"

Zhu Yuanzhang lived at the end of the Yuan Dynasty and made some institutional improvements.

However, in terms of economic system, it basically copied the Yuan Dynasty.

It imitated the monetary system of the Yuan Dynasty, which was paper money.

It was a copy, but not a complete copy.

During the Yuan Dynasty, paper money and gold and silver were interchangeable.

However, during the Ming Dynasty, only gold and silver could be exchanged for paper money; paper money could not be exchanged for gold and silver.

Zhu Yuanzhang clearly wanted to make paper money the sole currency.

It must be said that Zhu Yuanzhang was very capable in terms of culture, politics, military strategy, and other aspects.

However, in the economic field, he is truly clueless and completely incompetent.

In the early days, the amount of paper money issued was entirely based on the amount of national revenue.

When the national treasury is in dire need, more paper money is printed.

Moreover, these precious notes only go out and never come in.

Zhu Yuanzhang himself didn't want these paper currencies.

This led to the value of the paper money decreasing.

By now, the value of the paper money has fallen to one-eighth of its original value.

In the eighth year of the Hongwu reign, he possessed 800 cash coins but did nothing.

If kept until the 26th year of the Hongwu reign, it would only be worth 100 coins.

If it weren't for the government's guarantee, these banknotes would be worthless.

Fortunately, when faced with the devaluation of the paper money, Zhu Rongji did not add zeros to the end of the numbers.

Otherwise, the Treasury Note would truly become Zimbabwean paper money.

"The capital should be fine."

In other places, we can't guarantee that.

The value of a single banknote in the capital is 220 cash.

However, in more remote areas, a single coin was worth only 160 cash.

"Alright, I'll owe you thirty taels, which is thirty banknotes."

"Consider this a way of paying you back."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Huan looked around.

"Huh? Where's my knife?"