Ming Dynasty: Tanks blocked the door and you said to me, "Long live Ming Dynasty"

"But I'm short of money, so I can only sell some things that are not used in the mansion."

Zhu Youxiao was speechless!

Look at what those guys carried out from the crowd. You tell me they are poor?

Zhu Youjian seemed to see his confusion and continued quickly.

"Brother, please don't misunderstand me. These things were not bought with my own money."

"It's a gift sent to your house by the military heroes during festivals."

"I know I shouldn't have accepted it, but they just dropped their things and ran away, and I couldn't do anything..."

This explanation made some sense. Zhu Youxiao smiled and shook his head, then reached out and patted him on the shoulder twice.

"It's okay. I believe you."

After saying that, he pointed at the eunuch in the crowd.

"What's his name?"

Zhu Youjian breathed a sigh of relief and replied casually: "In reply to your Royal Highness, he is my close friend, Wang Chengen."

Wang Chengen?

Zhu Youxiao's eyes lit up. This ugly guy was actually Wang Chengen, the only eunuch who accompanied Zhu Youjian to be hanged?

Interesting!

Those people were so noisy that they didn't notice that the emperor was watching them just over ten meters away, and Zhu Youxiao didn't ask anyone to remind him.

Those who bought things and were leaving were stopped by the Jinyiwei from saluting and then left quietly.

Zhu Youxiao and others were watching from the side, and gradually he discovered that there was something unusual about Wang Chengen.

Even though these were things from Prince Xin's mansion, no one would bargain with him no matter how much he asked. However, the prices he called out were extremely fair!

Of course, Zhu Youxiao was not familiar with the prices, but there was Wen Tiren standing next to him!

This old guy knows the market very well.

Every time Wang Chengen sold a piece of merchandise, he would always whisper the approximate market price of the item at the first opportunity.

About an incense stick later, Wang Chengen finally sold everything. Just as he put away the account book, he saw Zhu Youxiao and others here.

His face suddenly became extremely nervous. The next moment he ran over, knelt in front of Zhu Youxiao, and slapped himself twice.

"Your Majesty, please spare my life. I shouldn't steal things from the mansion and sell them."

Chapter 222 Reopening the West Factory

Zhu Youxiao laughed and looked at Zhu Youjian with a playful expression.

Zhu Youjian was so embarrassed that he was about to be deducted from the three-bedroom and one-living-room apartment, and said to Wang Chengen helplessly.

"Alright, I've confessed, so stop covering for me!"

Wang Chengen was stunned........

Recruit...recruit?

Then wouldn’t the two slaps we gave them have been in vain?

Zhu Youxiao waved his hand and looked at Wang Chengen with a smile.

"Tell me, how much silver did you sell today?"

Wang Chengen secretly glanced at Zhu Youjian, but was met with a pair of white eyes in return.

"Look at what I am doing. If His Majesty asks you, just tell me straight away!"

Wang Chengen then took out the account book from his arms, looked through it for a while, and bowed to answer.

"In reply to your Majesty, today I have earned 5,472 taels of silver."

Zhu Youxiao nodded and said, "You know your limits. Otherwise, it wouldn't be difficult to sell these things for 50,000 taels."

Wang Chengen knelt down immediately after hearing this: "I dare not!"

"The prince only asked me to exchange some useless things for money. If I do as your majesty said, it would be like asking for a bribe."

"If my prince was just Prince Xin, it wouldn't matter."

"But my prince is still the Grand Secretary of Wenhua Palace. His reputation is not only related to Prince Xin's Mansion, but also to His Majesty and the court."

"How dare I do something so short-sighted just for a little profit!"

"Hahahaha, what a loyal servant!"

Zhu Youxiao laughed and patted Zhu Youjian on the shoulder a few times.

"Old Fifth, you are blessed to have a servant like me!"

"Let's go back to the palace and talk. I have an important matter to entrust to Wang Chengen!"

After saying that, he turned around, took Zhang Yan’s hand, and walked towards the palace along the same path they came.

Wang Chengen felt dizzy, as if he was dreaming.

Your Majesty, this is...

Reuse our family?

Wen Tiren pulled him up from the ground and whispered in Wang Chengen's ear with a smile.

"Get up, why are you still kneeling? How can you serve His Majesty if your knees are injured?"

Zhu Youjian:........

This is a disaster!

The emperor just said that he wanted Wang Chengen to do something, and he showed his goodwill in this way!

It's true that he has no shame at all!

I heard that he talked about the theory of shamelessness with Wang Yongguang and others outside the palace yesterday. Now it seems that he has really achieved the ultimate in the unity of knowledge and action!

Zhu Youxiao didn't care about what happened after his death.

It is a good thing for him to have a prime minister who is good at dealing with people.

As long as Wen Tiren knows where the bottom line is, nothing else matters.

After returning to the Qianqing Palace, Zhu Youxiao took a booklet from Sun Kangwang.

The booklet contained the data that the Jinyiwei had collected from the market when they were watching Wang Chengen selling goods.

He opened the booklet, flipped through a few pages, and then spoke to everyone.

"Do you know how much the price of rice has increased today?"

Zhu Youjian shook his head.

Wen Tiren stroked his beard and said nothing. Although he heard some things about grain prices from passers-by, he chose to remain silent.

He knew that he didn't have to tell it out just because he knew it.

For example, now, we have to give the emperor a chance...

Zhang Yan also shook her head and said with a puzzled look, "Your Majesty, please explain clearly."

Zhu Youxiao asked someone to pass the booklet to everyone: "Take a good look at it."

"In one day, the price of rice has more than doubled, and the people of the capital have long been complaining!"

"Similarly, it also puts one thing on the table."

"That's the Ming Dynasty's commodity pricing system. It's very fragile!"

“This time, officials had good intentions but did bad things, and they were able to make timely adjustments.”

"But what about next time?"

"If prices are manipulated by people with ulterior motives, what will the people do?"

"Even if I don't tell you about the scholars' boycott of the exam, you all know who are the instigators behind it."

"They have enough power to do this!"

"I am not afraid of them rebelling, and they don't have the courage to rebel!"

"But if they hide behind the scenes and start a business with the economy, what should the court do?"

Wen Tiren's body suddenly stiffened. He had understood the meaning of Zhu Youxiao's words, and his originally calm expression became a little gloomy.

"Your Majesty's concerns are not without reason!"

"I have often seen in books that some people take advantage of natural disasters and wars to drive up prices and hoard goods."

"If something like this happens, not only will it cause suffering to the people, it will also make them lose confidence in the court."

"I heard that when the Earl of Nanhai was in Zhangzhou, he encountered such a thing. Although it was finally resolved, the people had already been squeezed dry of their remaining wealth."

"It is said that it is never too late to mend the fence after the sheep have been lost, but I think it is best to prepare for such things in advance."

Zhu Youjian nodded after listening, but then asked with some confusion.

"What Elder Wen said is indeed reasonable, but how can we avoid such a thing?"

"In the two capitals and thirteen provinces of the Ming Dynasty, there are more than a million people engaged in business."

"Could it be possible that they have planted secret agents in the homes of these merchants?"

What he said was exactly the method created by Zhu Yuanzhang to monitor officials.

But how many officials are there?

Placing a hidden spy in a businessman's home is obviously an impossible task!

How many Jinyiwei would be enough?

Zhu Youxiao smiled and shook his head and said, "The secret stake method is too serious. I intend to reopen the Western Factory!"

"But the responsibilities of the West Factory have been changed. They will no longer be involved in supervision matters, but will only be responsible for balancing prices!"

“In good years, store grain in the granary.”

“When the harvest is poor, open a position at par.”

Zhu Youjian was stunned for a moment: "Your Majesty, these things can be handled by the Ministry of Revenue, why do we need to reopen the Western Factory?"

Zhu Youxiao did not answer, but looked at Wen Tihen.

Wen Tiren was also confused.

He always felt that something was wrong, but he couldn't put his finger on it.

Just as Zhu Youxiao said, why reopen the Western Factory when the Ministry of Revenue can do it?

After thinking for a long time, a flash of inspiration came to his mind, and he immediately bowed and stood up.

"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"

"I think we can reopen the West Factory!"

After saying that, he pointed at Wang Chengen.

"What Eunuch Wang did today shows that he is quite knowledgeable about business. I think that the position of the Supervisor of the West Factory should be Eunuch Wang!"

Wang Chengen was startled. He looked at Zhu Youjian and saw that he also looked surprised, so he knelt down and declined.

"Your Majesty, it's not that I don't want to serve the country, but I know I don't have the talent to take on this important task."

Zhu Youjian also stood up.

"Your Majesty, please think twice. There are countless capable people in the inner court. You can let them take charge."

But Zhu Youxiao was very satisfied with Wen Tihen's cleverness, and smiled at Wang Chengen.

"Let's do this according to Elder Wen's wishes!"

After saying this, his expression gradually became serious.

"Old Five, remember this!"

"No matter what, you and I are brothers!"