Ming Dynasty: The ghost betrays the Confucian sage, my son Zhu Yuanzhang

Chapter 164 Queen Ma: It’s always fun to cheat her!

By the Xuanwu Lake, the Beggar Clan's main altar stands majestically.

Fourth Master Zhu looked at the boats coming and going on the lake, his eyes shining, they were all money. The Beggar Gang's fleet continued to grow, almost controlling the civilian shipping of the Ming Dynasty.

The Ming Trading Company has been officially put into operation, and the silk produced is transported to various parts of the Ming Dynasty through fleets, earning a lot of money every month.

However, the current dilemma is the lack of silk. Although the beggar fleet went around buying silk, there were only so many mulberry households. As Zhu Yuanzhang said, we couldn't change rice into mulberry.

"Gang leader, regarding the establishment of Daming Trading Company branches in various places, my subordinates have made preliminary plans." Zhang Dingbian stepped forward to report, "There are currently several locations in Jiangnan that are very suitable."

Fourth Master Zhu nodded in approval, but still did not forget to warn: "Expansion must be cautious, and every step must be taken steadily."

"With the help of Mr. Er, everything went smoothly." Zhang Ding spread his hands and said, "I am a big old man who doesn't understand. Thanks to him."

Master Zhu is naturally assured of Mr. Shen Wansan's business acumen and strategies.

Nowadays, the disciples of the Beggar Clan all call Fourth Master Zhu’s apprentice Sir. There are four gentlemen in the academy, but Mr. Da is the most mysterious and has never been seen before.

"Lv'e, you need to be more discerning, don't be fooled by our empress." Fourth Master Zhu glanced sideways at Huang Lv'e beside him, with a hint of joking at the corner of his mouth.

"Fourth Master, with cotton, overseas trade can begin." Queen Ma looked expectant.

The Beggar Clan is well-informed, and it is estimated that it will not take long to find this Zhu Yong.

Fourth Master Zhu was obviously surprised. He did not expect Zhu Yuanzhang to promote cotton so strongly. According to this decree, those with five to ten acres of land must plant half an acre of cotton, and one acre if they have more than ten acres of land, and cotton cloth can be taxed as food.

Before cotton was vigorously promoted, only the rich and powerful could afford it. Zhu Yuanzhang's ability to vigorously promote cotton cultivation so decisively is probably related to his background. He was probably frozen when he was a child.

Fourth Master Zhu explained several more matters in detail, and then suddenly mentioned a name: "Help me check on a person named Zhu Yong. He is a scholar from Fengyang who came to Beijing to take the exam."

"Hey, you two know how to do business." Fourth Master Zhu held his forehead, "You are a shareholder. If you share the profits, the court will also take a share."

It was a coincidence that the moment Mr. Zhu stepped into the hall, both Queen Ma and Huang Lv'e were there, discussing something eagerly. Seeing his arrival, the two women immediately stood up gracefully and greeted him with smiles on their faces.

Empress Ma had never heard of the word 'husband', but she knew what it meant. She had been in contact with Fourth Master Zhu for a long time, and she knew that he would use some weird terms. She spread her hands and smiled: "As a shareholder, I will handle this matter! Daming Trading Company represents the imperial court and conducts overseas trade. Of course, you have to share profits with the imperial court."

Fourth Master Zhu spent the whole morning bragging with his brothers at Beggar Clan, and then came to Daming Trading Company.

When it was built in the early Ming Dynasty, money was spent everywhere. She also wanted the Ming Trading Company to make a lot of money quickly, and then she could keep cheating her father-in-law, at least to ensure the expenses of her harem.

"Okay!" Queen Ma was happy.

……

"Fourth Master, I have good news for you." Queen Ma couldn't hide her excitement on her face, "Your Majesty has issued an order to vigorously promote cotton cultivation: if people have five to ten acres of land, they should plant half an acres of mulberry, linen, and cotton, and if they have more than ten acres, If the amount is doubled, the taxable grain is also allowed to be folded into cotton cloth."

The unofficial history of his past life showed that the Ming Dynasty was almost in the Little Ice Age and would be extremely cold. It is always better for people to have cotton-padded clothes to resist the cold in winter.

"This is good news!" Fourth Master Zhu praised. "In the future, cotton will become cheap and everyone will be able to afford it, and people will no longer freeze to death in winter."

With this system, cotton cultivation will definitely be promoted rapidly in a short period of time, and then a large amount of cotton cloth will be woven.

"That's for the imperial court, not for my royal treasury." Queen Ma explained.

Zhang Dingbian asked carefully about the person's appearance and characteristics, then took the order and left.

"No, your husband is banned from the sea." Fourth Master Zhu spread his hands.

"Okay!" Fourth Master Zhu nodded, "I will start building the ship while you go and complete the court procedures."

The yellow-green calyx now is not as tan and tan as when I first came here. At this moment, she was wearing a light cyan dress, showing gentleness and elegance. She had a perfect oval face, slender eyebrows, and fair complexion.

When Queen Ma saw this, she couldn't help but joked: "Fourth Master, don't underestimate our Lu'e. She is now the boss of Daming Trading Company. She is very shrewd."

Hearing this, Huang Lv'e's pretty face turned red, and she said coquettishly: "My dear, you are making fun of me again. I am not a big shopkeeper. If you say that again, I won't tell you the principles of equipment in the future."

"Who said you are not the boss? From now on, you will be the boss of Daming Trading Company." Fourth Master Zhu spread his hands.

Queen Ma was overjoyed after hearing this. She smiled at Huang Lv'e and said, "Look, the fourth master has approved it."

She really likes the yellow-green calyx, which is simple and smart.

After hearing Fourth Master Zhu's words, Huang Lv'e felt panicked, and a trace of hesitation flashed in her beautiful eyes: "Fourth Master, I... I can't do it. How can I take care of this?"

Fourth Master Zhu put his hands on her shoulders, his expression serious and serious: "You can definitely do it! You don't have to do everything yourself, train more talents, and let the people below do the specific things."

The yellow-green calyx stopped talking, and his heart was pounding.

Queen Ma echoed from the side: "Lv'e, just do your part. Besides, I can also help you."

After Huang Lv'e heard this, although he was still a little uneasy, he also felt a little more confident. She pursed her red lips, nodded slightly and said, "Then... I'll give it a try first." Fourth Master Zhu suddenly burst out laughing: "Hahaha, that's right! Lu'e, you have become the shopkeeper. We need to treat you to a meal to celebrate. Come on, let’s go to Taibai Tower and have a meal!”

Yellow Green Calyx: "???"

She always felt that she was being tricked by Fourth Master, but seeing the smiles and expectations on the faces of Fourth Master Zhu and Queen Ma, she was also happy from the bottom of her heart, and secretly decided to run Daming Trading Company well.

……

At dusk.

Fourth Master Zhu returned to the Qinhuai River courtyard. After going to Fengyang for a while, there was no one in the small courtyard. He thought it must be overgrown with weeds, but when he opened the door, he saw that it was still clean and tidy.

The sweet-scented osmanthus tree in the yard is already in full bloom, and the whole courtyard is filled with the fragrance of flowers.

He came to the tea seat on the verandah and started making tea. I won't go back to the back of the academy tonight. During this time, I will always be entangled with Zhao Xuanzhen, and both parties must take a rest.

crunch~
The door was pushed open, and Zhu Yuanzhang appeared at the door carrying a food box and wine. He pretended to be surprised: "Ah, Fourth Master, are you back from Fengyang?"

Fourth Master Zhu nodded: "Yes, Balang, you clean my yard, right?"

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and opened the food box and wine: "It's just a matter of convenience. We can't let the grass grow in the yard, right? Then Fourth Master, when you come back, why don't you whip me?"

The two sat across from each other, chatting while eating and drinking.

Zhu Yuanzhang took a sip of wine and asked: "Fourth Master, did you find your family when you returned to Fengyang this time?"

Fourth Master Zhu drank a glass of wine and sighed: "We may have found it. My son's name is Zhu Chongjiu. His life or death is uncertain! However, there is also a grandson named Zhu Yong who went to Beijing to take the exam and is looking for him."

"Uh, are you so sure?" Zhu Yuanzhang said, "You still have to be careful about finding relatives. What if you admit a mistake?"

"That's true!" Fourth Master Zhu smiled, "It's also a guess, and it definitely needs to be confirmed."

As he spoke, he recounted Fengyang's experience.

Although Zhu Yuanzhang had heard Zhu Biao say it before, but now he heard it from Fourth Master Zhu himself and learned more details. He spread his hands and said: "Fourth Master, it was common in those days for corpses to be stolen and used as rebels by the Yuan army. Receive the reward."

Fourth Master Zhu frowned: "But my surname is also Zhu."

Zhu Yuanzhang blurted out: "Isn't that more normal? There are many people named Zhu in Fengyang, so we still have the surname Zhu."

Fourth Master Zhu nodded, feeling that what Zhu Yuanzhang said made sense.

……

Autumn is getting stronger.

After Fourth Master Zhu inspected his property, he returned to the mountain behind the academy.

The various dangers and life-and-death battles of Fengyang's trip were still vivid in his mind, and he deeply realized that it was urgent to improve his own strength. Therefore, he made up his mind to take this opportunity to practice with concentration and prepare for further breakthroughs.

And in the process of fighting Wu Yu, a century-old woman, he had some enlightenment and just understood it.

In the early morning of this day, after finishing his physical training, he sat cross-legged on a rock in the back mountain, flipping through a secret book: "Nine Yang Magic". It was the book that Shen Wansan spent a lot of money to buy from a Taoist priest of the Quanzhen Sect.

"This is really a martial arts secret book!" Master Zhu's eyes flashed with excitement.

Following the instructions in the secret book, he began to adjust his breathing, condensing all the energy in his body into his right palm. Suddenly, he moved and shot up like an arrow from a string, slashing out a palm towards the hill opposite.

boom!
There was a deafening loud noise, and half of the hill collapsed under the impact of Fourth Master Zhu's palm. Amid the smoke and dust, Fourth Master Zhu's figure landed steadily on the ground, with a look of unconcealable ecstasy on his face.

"Nine Suns Big Thunderbolt, the power of this palm technique is really terrifying!" Fourth Master Zhu was overjoyed.

Zhao Xuanzhen heard the movement and flew down in front of him. When she saw half of the mountain collapsed on the opposite side, she was stunned: "Is this...did you do this?"

Fourth Master Zhu spread his hands proudly: "Yes, I have been practicing recently and have occasionally gained enlightenment."

Zhao Xuanzhen looked at him like a monster with her beautiful eyes, and was secretly frightened. According to Fourth Master's understanding, it would not take a few years for him to surpass his master, Grand Master Dayuan.

Fourth Master Zhu's fiery eyes fell on Zhao Xuanzhen. Although she was dressed modestly today, her long skirt could not hide her proud appearance.

"There is no one around here, and your eyesight is wide open." He came behind Zhao Xuanzhen, hugged her waist, and bit her earlobe, "Madam, be obedient~"

Zhao Xuanzhen bit her delicate and plump lips, leaned closely against Fourth Master Zhu, and closed her beautiful eyes slightly.

Half an hour later.

She collapsed in his arms and said in a gentle and charming tone: "Fourth Master, go to Feiyan Tower, I need help from my sisters."

(End of this chapter)