First Prince of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 321
Zhu Biao slowly suppressed the killing intent in his heart. There is not so much conscience and justice to speak of in this world. Those who deliberately go to sell food at high prices are considered good people. Those local officials are ruthless. It has almost become a routine to send them to the grain store under their own name to sell them at a high price.

And this kind of thing is not unique. Didn't his father's father and brother starve to death like this? Zhu Biao has heard him say it several times. There was a drought in Haozhou, and a serious one in the spring of the following year. In the locust plague and plague, the relief food brought by Yuanting was swallowed up by the officials. They didn't even do the superficial effort to replace the food with stones and sand, and almost all the good family members died.

Zhu Biao looked at Chen Youzong with a cold snort and said, "I don't even ask you if the Chen family is going to sell grain in Shaanxi and Gansu. If so, stop immediately!"

Chen Youzong bowed and replied: "Of course the Chen family doesn't dare to make such unjust gains, let alone shame His Highness."

Zhu Biao shook his head: "It's okay for Bengong's face to be said, it's true not to risk the lives of the whole family."

Chen Youzong's expression was startled. It seems that the imperial court not only wanted to eliminate officials, but also attacked some aristocratic families. Could it be that they wanted to collect food by ransacking their families?

Zhu Biao also ordered what should be ordered. The Chen family should take care of themselves. He didn't believe that the Chen family didn't intend to make a fortune. Why else would they hold so much grain in their hands? How could there not be enough land for mergers and acquisitions throughout the ages? food.

Even if the direct descendants of the Chen family wouldn't do such unworthy things, the branches living around his main line were raised to do these things, but the way of the world is such that he doesn't bother to delve into it, otherwise there will be a few left in the court. a courtier.

Zhu Biao brought the topic back and said: "Everything is difficult at the beginning, but the reputation of the imperial court still needs to be cultivated. This palace is not here to deceive you about the food, so the court will definitely return the food in three years. You don't have to worry about it, Jiangnan Wealthy and prosperous, so I hope that the Jiangnan family can take the lead in cooperating with the imperial court."

Chen Youzong bowed and saluted: "I still say the same thing. I only want to go through fire and water for your highness. Your highness ordered my Chen family to die. The Chen family is quite famous among the families in the south of the Yangtze River. I guarantee that I can collect 80 shi, and I can get it again after the autumn harvest." For 20 shi, those merchants can probably get 20 shi, and the ministers outside the south of the Yangtze River can only try their best to persuade them."

Zhu Biao nodded in satisfaction. 120 million shi is not a lot. You must know that the grain tax collected by Daming last year was only more than 900 million shi. After all, too many places were exempted from tax. They were split up without entering the national treasury, which is really stretched.

However, there is no way around it. The country’s revival is full of difficulties, but the future is bright. After two years, the taxes exempted from various places will have to be paid, and the effects of farming and relocation will also appear, just like farming. Now The stage is when the seeds are planted, watered and fertilized, and the hard work can always wait until the spring blossoms and autumn fruits.

The Jiangnan family made a statement. Although it seemed that they still wanted to be forced by his power, there was nothing they could do about it. Besides, if he hadn't spoken up, no one would have lent food.

Zhu Biao originally planned to give some benefits, but he did not expect Chen Youzong to be so upright. You must know that if the court refuses to admit it after three years, the Chen family will be blamed. Let alone the leader of the Jiangnan family in the future, I am afraid that he will be expelled from the family The circle is no surprise, interests are fundamental, they will not hold people who cut their flesh.

However, Zhu Biao will not be stingy with what should be given. Whether it is the Imperial College or local officials, there are many gaps. In today's officialdom, whoever wants to come in can come. As for whether he can live quietly and honestly until the end, it depends on the individual. Good luck.

But Zhu Biao can't say this kind of thing clearly, and it will be a natural arrangement in the future. The Jiangnan family will naturally understand when they receive the pie. Everyone is a smart person. How can the sky drop the pie for nothing?
After talking about the business, it stands to reason that Zhu Biao is going to serve tea to see off the guests, but Chen Youzong's things today are handled beautifully and make Zhu Biao feel at ease. The people in Hangzhou also take good care of me.

It has to be said that the existence of this kind of person is to please people. His ability is definitely not as good as that of Li Shanchang, Wang Guangyang, Hu Weiyong and others. The first adjutant is coming to an end, but Zhu Biao still appoints him as the third-rank envoy.

After chatting for a while, Zhu Biao asked casually, "Has Mrs. Chen moved to the capital too?"

Chen Youzong is already sitting on a chair beside him. The Wenhua Palace is the crown prince's study, which is considered a private place. Needless to say, he can sit and drink tea. In the future, his status in the East Palace will also be It won't be too low, so what if it is brought up in the Jiangnan family circle, anyway, they will settle in the capital in the future, and the capital family is not better than Jiangnan?
How old is the crown prince this year, not to mention taking care of him in the future, just taking care of the three or four generations of the Chen family. This honor is enough for the Chen family to gain a firm foothold in the center of Daming. What's the use of being wealthy in the south of the Yangtze River? Sooner or later, they will be slaughtered severely for the New Year.

Chen Youzong said humbly: "His Majesty is worried about you. My mother is old and has lived in the south of the Yangtze River for a long time. She stayed in the old house because of the inconvenience. I only brought my wife and children to Beijing to take up the post. If the old lady knew about Your Highness Definitely very happy."

Zhu Biao smiled: "The old lady is a sensible person. Chen Aiqing is so outstanding, maybe it is because of the old lady's good teaching. Next year, if you have free time, please invite the old lady to come to Beijing. I will visit in person."

Chen Youzong's eyes lit up and he immediately knelt down on the ground: "His Royal Highness, a loyal minister, is deeply moved, and wished he could show his sincerity."

Zhu Biao quickly waved his hand and said, "Okay, I hope Chen Aiqing can help me a lot. In the future, the government affairs will be complicated, and the ministers will not be idle, just be loyal to their duties."

Zhu Biao thought for a while and asked: "What happened to the Li family, but they are still selling private salt?"

Chen Youzong said directly: "Of course the Li family won't dare to receive His Highness's admonition, but those salt dealers below make a living from it. If the Li family doesn't take the lead, there will be other people coming out. Now I heard that there is a Wang Baihu."

Zhu Biao was not surprised, no matter how huge the profits were, there would always be people involved in it, but the imperial court would never indulge them, and they would kill them if they could.

Selling private salt is, after all, a business of licking blood on the edge of a knife. Many private salt dealers have money, so they recruit soldiers and build their own armed forces to form a salt selling group.

Those who can become private salt dealers are mostly active-minded, bold and cautious people. They are both rich and armed. When the world changes, some ambitious and sensitive salt owls will take advantage of the momentum.

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(End of this chapter)