My Ming Dynasty, I have the final say

How many canals were floating on the canals of the Ming Dynasty?

No one knows about this issue.

Every moment, there are losses of ships.

Common losses include natural, accidental, and man-made losses.

Naturally, when transporting grain, if a rope breaks or something, the ship capsizes, or it naturally hits a rock.

Accidents are caused by strong winds and waves, and the ship will always capsize.

For example, in the fourth year of Longqing's reign, the Yellow River reached the mouth of Xiaohehe River, and more than 800 canoes were lost due to drifting.

And people.

Bandits robbed, Cao troops stole ships, and even stole ship planks to sell.

Anyway, the imperial court allocates money every year to allow the shipyards in the various state capitals below to build new ships.

In later generations, there was an economic trick called shock therapy.

In this process, as state-owned assets were sold off in large quantities at low prices, oligarchic capitalists began a round of carnival.

Now, this scene is happening in the capital of Ming Dynasty.

Many water vessels had been "lost" in previous years, and they took this opportunity to register them with the Ministry of Industry and make them private property.

Xiyuan, above the school grounds.

A football match had just ended, and Zhu Youxiao was covered in sweat.

The feeling of relief after exercise is unforgettable.

After arriving at the sidelines, he sat down on the pony and took a few sips from the teacup handed to him by Xu Waner. Only then did Zhu Youxiao look at the two people who had been waiting on the sidelines for a long time.

"Are you the one who runs the boat shop? I asked you to organize the boat shop. How did you do?"

"The common people respectfully send you holy greetings."

As soon as he heard the emperor ask himself, Kaiyang Yang quickly saluted first and then said.

"Back to Your Majesty, taking advantage of the trend of the Ministry of Industry in Central Beijing seizing and registering ships, Longtong Trading Company has taken advantage of the situation to acquire more than twenty straw boats. As long as the Ministry of Industry can match them, they can be shipped at any time."

"Moreover, Cao Min has been in contact with some merchant houses that own ships in recent days, and plans to reach some cooperation with them."

"More than twenty ships are not enough."

Hearing this, Zhu Youxiao's eyes rolled a few times before he spoke.

“Contact more people and don’t live alone.”

"While the Ministry of Industry is currently registering ships and has not officially issued an official document allowing private merchants to participate in water transportation, you have to take this opportunity to make the shipping company bigger. Making money is important, but getting bigger is even more important. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Cao Min understands!"

Looking at the two people in front of him, Zhu Youxiao clasped his fingers.

"Transport in sections and charge according to the quantity. I have given you the instructions. You should think about it carefully. Use what you can use, and don't force what you can't use."

"The common people will do their best to accomplish this for His Majesty."

After hearing the emperor's words, Kai Yang quickly assured.

"Well, you should go to the Ministry of Internal Affairs first to get a sixth-grade official belt."

Looking at the businessman in front of him, Zhu Youxiao nodded.

"Whenever you expand your boat business, I will give you a promotion."

"The common people thank His Majesty for His grace."

Hearing this, Kai Yang quickly knelt on the ground to thank him.

Looking at Kai Yang's leaving figure, Xu Waner looked at the emperor with some confusion.

"Why are you thinking about setting up a shipping company to do water transportation? If the imperial court wants to transport grain, can't we just let the Cao army do it?"

"hehe."

After hearing Xu Waner's words, Zhu Youxiao stood up from his horse and stretched.

"Whoever controls water transportation will control the prices in the north and south of Ming Dynasty."

"As far as I am concerned, the current Caoyun Yamen is no longer obedient."

"So, I plan to sell the Water Transport Yamen."

"Sell it to the Yamen?"

Hearing the emperor's words, everyone around him looked at the emperor in fear.

I have heard of people selling official positions and titles, but I have never heard of people selling yamen. The emperor sold his government offices, which was truly the first of its kind.

The ship jam lasted less than ten days, and there was a huge quarrel in the capital over water transportation.

All the petitions and memorials about water transportation were left unpublished by the emperor, which only exacerbated the confusion.

Every day, impeachment memorials are sent to the General Affairs Department and then forwarded to the cabinet.

Looking at the increasing number of memorials seeking to rectify the old accounts of the water transportation yamen, as well as those opposing Xu Guangqi's reform of water transportation, Han Xu could not sit still.

As a high-ranking official in the imperial court, Han Xu knew that Xu Guangqi planned to hire private merchants for water transportation in the future.

Because they have people in water transportation, Donglin supports this policy.

Now that he saw so many people opposing and impeaching him, Han Xu immediately went to the Ministry of Industry.

Sitting opposite Xu Guangqi, Han Xu said seriously.

"Xu Shangshu, now that the water transport issue in Beijing has been aroused, and the people are panicking, should we open up the water transport earlier so that those merchants can go south?"

"Han Fu."

Hearing this, Xu Guangqi said with a troubled expression.

"It's not that I don't want to let it go, it's just that I haven't finished calculating it yet."

"If I want to hire private merchants to participate in water transportation, I always need to know how much they can transport at one time, so that I can know how much money to give them."

"But now that the water transportation has stopped, the courtiers are talking a lot, and my threshold as a cabinet minister is almost being stepped down. Xu Shangshu still has to find a way to clear things up."

"Oh."

Hearing this, Xu Guangqi nodded.

He naturally understood what Han Xu meant, but he still pretended to be confused.

"I wonder what Han Fu means by clearing things up?"

"What I mean is that there should be trials and investigations, but water transportation cannot be stopped."

"Sir, are you saying that I should let a group of people go first?"

With a smile in his eyes, Xu Guangqi looked at Han Xudao.

"Correct."

Hearing this, Han Xu nodded.

"Civil ships can be registered slowly, and the ships of the imperial cavalry army can be put back first. After all, this year's water transport is coming soon. If it is delayed any longer, the Holy Emperor will definitely be angry."

"Ah."

Nodding silently, Xu Guangqi seemed to be thinking carefully, and then spoke after a while.

"I understand Han Fu's intention, so I ordered some of the Cao Army's ships to be released."

"Xu Shangshu is really loyal to the country."

Seeing that Xu Guangqi was so easy to talk to, Han Xu was immediately happy.

"In that case, I will go back to the cabinet first."

"hehe."

Standing at the entrance of the Ministry of Industry and Technology Yamen, looking at Han Xu leaving, Xu Guangqi's eyes flashed with a trace of ridicule.

Now if the boats on the Huitong River pier want to go south, they must have a ship with his seal.

Han Xu was so anxious to let the Cao army go south for two purposes.

One is to resume water transportation as soon as possible and suppress the rumors in the capital that water transportation is to be inspected.

The second one was busy asking these Cao troops to get the ship back, so that it would be gone.

"Xu Shangshu."

Just when Xu Guangqi was thinking about what these people were going to do next, Feng Zhu's voice came from the Yamen of the Ministry of Industry.

Holding a stack of Kanhe that needed to be stamped and handed it to Xu Guangqi, Feng Zhu arrived with a smile.

"Excuse me, Mr. Xu, please use the seal."

"It's my job."

After coming back to his senses, Xu Guangqi turned around and returned to the yamen, stamping his seal on the good news brought by Feng Zhu.

Now, the ships of Longtong Trading Company can float on the canal. (End of chapter)