My Ming Dynasty, I have the final say

He took out a piece of rice paper and spread it on the table, indicating to Liu Shimin to start studying ink. Zhu Youxiao began to think about how to completely draw the business network of Shanxi merchants into his bowl.

First of all, Jin Yiwei's spies must infiltrate.

Only by slowly getting to know the other party's core figures, especially the "Fan Jin Dudou" who has a name in history, can we master the other party's business secrets.

Secondly, Shanxi merchants' trade routes must also be utilized in every possible way.

If Ming Dynasty's economic policy is as fragile as the ice in spring, if you step on it, you may miss it.

So the economic policy of the Mongols can only be said to be no agreement.

Since the opening of the mutual trade with the Ming Dynasty, the barbarians from Chahar and other tribes have been almost tamed.

Unfortunately, historically it was the mites that picked the fruit.

Ultimately, the impact on the court must also be considered.

Shanxi merchants are not just a group of businessmen, there is also a huge political group behind this group of people.

The representative figure is Zhang Siwei, who took over as the chief minister of the cabinet after Zhang Juzheng's death. This person has both ends.

However, this matter has to be pushed forward to the Longqing period.

After Xu Jie returned to his hometown, Gao Gong came to power, and he and Wang Chonggu, the Minister of War at that time, did a big thing: Zou Zhunfeng had been running rampant outside the Great Wall for more than fifty years, and he had dominated the grassland tribes. I was the king of Shunyi, and the two sides started fighting. mutual market.

Then, Datong at the border became stable.

Who is this Wang Chonggu? He is Zhang Siwei's uncle.

"History of the Ming Dynasty" records that Zhang Siwei's family was a member of the Shanxi merchants and was very wealthy. When his family was studying, they would buy books by cart.

In addition, because of Wang Chonggu's relationship with Gao Gong, Zhang Siwei also had a romantic relationship with Gao Gong.

Hey, just tell me whether Shanxi merchants are showing off or not.

"I remember, Han Fu is also from Shanxi, right?"

After holding the pen and thinking about it for a while, Zhu Youxiao suddenly asked Liu Shimin.

"Where is he from Shanxi?"

"Back to the emperor, from Puzhou."

Upon hearing this, Liu Shimin immediately replied.

When the emperor asks questions, he can answer them at any time. This is the professional quality that he, the chief ceremonial supervisor, should have.

"When Emperor Wanli was the emperor, Zhang Siwei, the chief minister of the cabinet, was from where?"

Feeling that his memory was a little confused, Zhu Youxiao asked another name.

"this."

Regarding this question, Liu Shimin blinked.

These people from decades ago were a bit out of line.

"Slave, please send someone to check."

However, before Liu Shimin could go far, he heard Luo Sigong saying in the hall.

He is sixty-four years old. When Zhang Siwei was the chief assistant, it was the time when his father Luo An was in office, so he still remembered it.

"Weichen remembers that Zhang Siwei is also from Puzhou, Shanxi."

"Um?!"

Hearing Luo Sigong's words, Zhu Youxiao's pupils shrank instantly.

Good guy, after working on it for a long time, Shanxi merchants are by my side? !
"You just said that the Fan family bought grain in Tianjin and then transported it to the north and sold it to the Jian slaves?"

Tapping his fingers on the table, Zhu Youxiao looked at Luo Sigong and asked.

"Back to the emperor, this matter has not been verified, but according to Fan Jincai's confession, they did buy the canal grain in Tianjin Wei."

"I remember that the governor of water transportation a few years ago was Li Sancai, right? Was he dismissed from office that year?"

"It's the forty-second year of Wanli when I return to the emperor."

I don't know what the emperor was thinking about, but Liu Shimin still answered honestly.

"When did Li Chengliang die?"

"Forty-three years of Wanli."

"When did the slaves rebel?"

"Forty-six years of Wanli."

"boom!"

The hand holding the pen slammed on the table, splattering himself with ink stains, but Zhu Youxiao didn't care.

At this moment, Zhu Youxiao felt that his brain was running rapidly.

"That's it, that's it."

Muttering in his mouth, Zhu Youxiao felt that he had connected the thread of the matter.

At this moment, he finally understood that the Jin party group, which still had a strong presence in the court in the early Wanli period, suddenly disappeared during the Tianqi and Chongzhen periods.

The feelings are merged with Dong Lin's.

At this moment, a clear chain of interests appeared in his mind.

Before the 42nd year of Wanli, the businessmen behind Donglin in the south transported grain to Tianjin through Li Sancai, the governor of water transportation.

This batch of grain was then transported to Liaodong through Shanxi merchants and sold to Jiannu.

In the forty-second year of Wanli, disputes between the DPRK and the Chinese Communist Party broke out. Li Sancai could not withstand the pressure in office and was dismissed from office and returned to his hometown.

Without the convenience provided by Li Sancai, it would be difficult for Shanxi merchants to share the profits from the grain transported north by water and sell it to the Jiannu.

At least the amount is much less than before.

At the same time, Li Chengliang's death ushered in a new wave of power reshuffles in Liaodong.

In the following three years, the party struggle between the DPRK and China intensified, and this trade route was gradually blocked.

In the forty-sixth year of Wanli, due to the shortage of canal transport governors, millions of stones of grain transported northward were stranded in the Huaihe River and unable to be transported northward. Even the capital had a tendency to be unable to supply.

It was for this reason that Zhao Yukui was appointed governor of water transportation.

Otherwise, with Wanli's temperament, he would definitely not send anyone.

At this time, it was no longer enough for Nurhaci to feed his people by just plundering surrounding tribes.

This is the real reason for Nurhachi's rebellion. Otherwise, it cannot be explained why Nurhaci, who has been Li Chengliang's grandson for his whole life, dared to rebel less than three years after Li Chengliang's death.

Emotions are so hungry that they can no longer survive.

Feeling that he had grasped an important line, Zhu Youxiao slowly sat down in his position.

"Okay, okay, loyal ministers, we are all loyal ministers."

Laughing angrily at the speculation in his mind, Zhu Youxiao sat on the chair and said a few words.

"Your Majesty?"

Seeing that the emperor's mood was a bit wrong, Liu Shimin spoke up at the right time.

"Nothing, I just figured out something."

After waving to Liu Shimin, Zhu Youxiao began to think about how to seek benefits in this complicated network of relationships.

"Luo Sigong, I have ordered the Jinyi Guards to be split up. From today on, you will be solely responsible for spying on external intelligence."

Raising his head, Zhu Youxiao looked at Luo Sigong.

"When you go back later, you will explain to Xu Xianchun. From now on, you don't have to worry about things in Beijing. Just focus on things outside Beijing."

Luo Sigong had already expected that the emperor would split up the Jin Yiwei.

The Luo family has been deeply involved in Jinyiwei since the day Luo Sheng followed Jiajing to Beijing. The internal forces were not something that Xu Xianchun could eliminate in a short time.

Although he was in Liaodong, from the emperor's many arrangements for Jin Yiwei, it was discovered that the emperor had the intention to split Jin Yiwei.

However, Luo Sigong is certainly satisfied that he can still hold part of the power of Jin Yiwei.

In his original idea, his trip to Liaodong was probably the beginning of the Luo family's departure from Jinyiwei.

"I accept the order and thank you for your kindness."

Now that he heard the emperor's final decision, Luo Sigong immediately bowed his head.

"Don't think this means I don't trust you."

Looking at Luo Sigong, Zhu Youxiao pointed at him.

"Your burden is heavier than before."

"I am willing to go through fire and water for your majesty. Please give me your orders."

After hearing the emperor's words, Luo Sigong didn't hesitate and immediately handed over his hands.

"In the near future, you will lead people to infiltrate Mongolia, Jiannu, and even Japan to obtain their information."

"Although it sounds very difficult to accomplish this, it is very easy as long as you use the right method."

"Come forward, I will teach you two methods today."

"I respectfully listen to His Majesty's holy instructions."

Hearing this, Luo Sigong quickly stepped forward and stood in front of the emperor's dragon writing case.

"Black knives, white knives, whatever can kill someone is a good knife. Don't be cynical about businessmen. You have to make good use of this group."

"Just like the group you discovered now that colludes with slave-building and sells supplies, find a few businessmen and try every means to break into their midst."

"According to the confession you got, this group has existed for decades, so they must have a detailed road map beyond the Great Wall. They must have a very good understanding of the mountains and rivers, and they must also know the locations of the main tents of the various Mongolian ministries."

"This thing will play a very important role in my future strategy of conquering the grassland in the Ming Dynasty. You must find a way to get it for me."

"The minister obeys the order."

Hearing this, Luo Sigong nodded thoughtfully.

The emperor's words awakened him.

Previously, he had been thinking about how to send spies to Jiannu's territory to gather intelligence, and ignored this group of businessmen.

Now when the emperor said it, he realized that if these merchants could do business with Mongolia and Jiannu, especially the smuggling business, they must have a road map to reach the other side's territory!
Xiong Tingbi arrived in Liaodong in the forty-seventh year of Wanli's reign and cracked down hard on smuggling merchants. However, these merchants still transported materials there, which shows that the road that Fan Jincai confessed was not the only one!
"I will kill all three of the eight merchants you reported this time."

"But for those little shopkeepers under them, I allow you to keep some of them for your own use, but you must also submit a roster to the palace."

"In addition, you also need to learn and imitate the business style of these businessmen, and learn how to do business with the Mongols and the slaves."

"At the same time, we must also recruit and win over some foreigners who aspire to be kings, and train some talents who may appear to be foreigners, but who aspire to the Ming Dynasty."

"Wei Chen understands."

Luo Sigong nodded as he listened to the emperor's design and planning for the fine craftsmanship.

These contents were things he had never thought about before.

"Currently, I don't have enough internal funds, so I will give you 100,000 silver coins first. As an upfront capital, I will also allow Jin Yiwei to run his own industry and make money."

"I thank your Majesty for your kindness."

Hearing this, Luo Sigong quickly handed over his hands and thanked him.

He knows a strict rule in the military law of the Four Guards of the pro-army army: the army is not allowed to do business!

Now the emperor allows Jin Yiwei to do business, which is also a special case.

"You can also send a few people in to the Xingwang Bank account that I created. Later, you can try to see if you can dig a hole in the Jintong Chamber of Commerce through Liu Zhengyang and send people to sneak in."

"Yes!"

Hearing this, Luo Sigong nodded hurriedly again.

After talking to Luo Sigong about the details of the detailed work, Zhu Youxiao let the other party take the note with money from internal funds and leave.

"Your Majesty, please change your clothes."

Luo Sigong had just left, Liu Shimin came to Zhu Youxiao with a basin of water from outside and said.

There were still ink stains on the emperor's face and clothes.

"Ah."

Nodding, Zhu Youxiao stood up from the chair, took the towel handed by Liu Shimin and wiped his face.

Looking at the black stains on the towel, Zhu Youxiao suddenly said.

"Send someone to ask Wei Zhongxian if Dongchang has arranged nails for Luo Sigong. If so, forget it."

"If not, send a few people there."

ps: This chapter should be read before the previous chapter (end of this chapter)