Great Zhou Empire: Kill Zhao Kuangyin at the beginning

Chapter 559 King Qian Zhongxian (Special thanks to book friend 2022…3620 for the monthly ticket!)

Chai Zongxun nodded and said:
"Lord Ding is an outstanding financial expert. If he has a righteous character and a heart that values ​​the country, he will be a promising talent."

Ding Wei was overjoyed, knowing that his making things difficult for Kou Zhun did not make the emperor dislike him. He quickly bowed deeply to express his gratitude and then left the hall.

After more than half a year of revision, the new edition of "The Criminal Code of the Great Zhou" was promulgated throughout the country on September 9, the 50th year of Kaixi.

The second revision of "The Criminal Code of the Great Zhou" completed the commercial law, and finally divided it into 120 items and 115,000 laws. It can be said that all commercial activities in the current Great Zhou society have been regulated by law, so that there is a law to follow.

The newly added business-related approval matters also have clearly stipulated approval times. For example, applications for opening and closing of businesses and workshops must be approved within one month as long as all the required materials are complete.

Land sales, housing applications, customs declarations, etc. must be approved within three months from the time of application.

The promulgation of the second revised version of the "Great Zhou Criminal Code" greatly clarified the business operating rules of the Great Zhou society and greatly improved the efficiency of the entire society. From then on, it laid the foundation for the Great Zhou to become the world's first commercial power for hundreds of years.

On July 10, the 50th year of Kaixi, a memorial reporting the critical illness of "King Yi Zhong" Qian Hongchu was submitted to Chai Zongxun.

Qian Hongchu was born in the fourth year of Tiancheng in the Later Tang Dynasty (929). After the whole country surrendered to the Great Zhou Dynasty in the eleventh year of Kaixi, he was named "King Yi Zhong" by Chai Zongxun. He was one of the only two kings of other surnames who could inherit the title.

Qian Hongchu had been in the Zhou Dynasty for nearly forty years. He was prudent and dutiful, never making mistakes in his words or deeds, and used a large amount of money to support poor students to study and donated to private individuals to open colleges. He had a very high reputation among the officials and people of the Zhou Dynasty.

Upon hearing the news, Chai Zongxun was deeply sorry and immediately decided to go to Qian's house to visit him the next afternoon.

At 3 p.m. on July 11, Chai Zongxun arrived at the "Prince Yi Zhong's Palace" under the protection of He Yao, the chief eunuch in front of the palace, and the Wude Division and the imperial guards.

Qian Hongchu's eldest son Qian Weijun, his brothers and everyone in the mansion had been waiting for a long time.

Qian Hongchu had eight sons, three of whom were born after he entered the Zhou Dynasty. All of these eight sons were capable people, six of whom passed the imperial examinations and became officials, and two of them passed the imperial examinations in engineering but had no intention of becoming officials. Together, they founded the "Bianjing College" in Bianjing, dedicated to scientific research and training technical talents.

After the greeting, Chai Zongxun went to the main hall in the backyard of Qian's mansion, where Qian Hongchu, who was on his deathbed, was lying on the big bed in the side room.

The eight children surrounded the bed and called out to him in tears for a while, and Qian Hongchu woke up from his coma.

Seeing Chai Zongxun sitting in front of the bed, Qian Hongchu blushed and said:

"Your Majesty, I, Qian Hongchu, pay my respects to you! Long live the emperor!"

As he said this, he struggled to stand up and salute Chai Zongxun.

Chai Zongxun quickly reached out to stop him, let him lie down, and said:

"Your Highness Qian, there's no need to be so polite. It's important that you take care of yourself!
During the Chinese New Year this year, Qian Aiqing was still able to come to the palace to pay me New Year's greetings, and he was as brisk as a rocket. I never expected that when I see you today, you have aged so much."

After the two chatted for a while, Qian Hongchu said:

"Your Majesty is the eternal sage king of China. You have created an unprecedented prosperous era in which the Great Zhou Dynasty is rich and prosperous. I am honored to be here with you!"

Chai Zongxun sighed:
"Qian Aiqing has a broad mind and puts the nation first. You have contributed to the prosperity of our Great Zhou Dynasty."

Qian Hongchu said:

"Your Majesty, you are overpraising me. I am a mediocre person. Now that this year has come, I beg Your Majesty to take back the title you bestowed on me!"

Chai Zongxun was slightly surprised and said:
"Qin Aiqing's achievements and character make him worthy of the title of king. How can you refuse it from me?"

Qian Hongchu said:

"Your Majesty has created a fair talent selection system in our Great Zhou. Our Great Zhou is full of talented people, and all talented scholars will have a place to display their talents.

I only relied on the support of my ancestors and surrendered my land. I feel ashamed that I have no real merit.

Please, Your Majesty, take back the title you bestowed upon me!" Chai Zongxun firmly refused. Seeing Qian Hongchu being so humble, he was even more moved and said:

"Your achievements are remembered by millions of people in Wu and Yue. Your eight sons are all talented and virtuous.

I will make sure that the "Yi Zhong Palace" and our Great Zhou will last for thousands of generations! My dear minister, please stop being modest. "

Qian Hongchu had no choice but to stop refusing.

After the two of them reminisced about the past for a while, Chai Zongxun saw that Qian Hongchu was running out of energy, so he told him to rest and went back with a sigh.

Five days later, on July 16, 1009, the 50th year of Kaixi, Qian Hongchu died in the residence of "Prince Yi Zhong" in Bian Jing at the age of 80.

Chai Zongxun sighed for a long time, promoted Qian Hongchu to the title of Prince Taibao, and granted him a pair of jade horses for burial.

His eldest son Qian Weijun inherited the title of "King Yi Zhong".

After discussing with his ministers, he posthumously named Qian Hongchu "Zhongxian" and he was known as "King Qian Zhongxian".

The people of Wu and Yue and those who had received favors from King Qian Zhongxian, totaling more than 500,000 people, spontaneously held a memorial service.

On December 12, the 50th year of Kaixi, Chai Zongxun named the 52nd prince Chai Jiyan, born to his concubine Guo Ling'er, as "King of Yue" and established him in Guangzhou.

During the past year, four princes have come of age and were given fiefdoms after being selected from among all the princesses in the country. Six princesses have come of age and were given residences and fiefs in Bian Jing after being selected from among all the princesses in the country.

That night, Chai Jiyu stayed in the bedroom of Concubine Guo Ling'er.

The two of them were affectionate for a while, Guo Ling'er lying in Chai Zongxun's arms, saying:
"Your Majesty, I heard that Guangzhou is quite hot and full of miasma. I am afraid that Yan'er will not be able to adapt if he goes there to serve as a vassal."

Guo Ling'er entered the palace in the 27th year of Kaixi and gave birth to the 52nd son of the emperor, Chai Jiyan, in the 31st year of Kaixi.

Chai Zongxun knew that his concubines in the harem were "only looking forward to the emperor's favor and not paying attention to the affairs outside the palace", so he patiently explained:
"Don't worry, my dear!
Guangzhou has a warm climate and no winter all year round. You will get used to it after living there for one or two years.

Moreover, since I conquered Southern Han in the 11th year of Kaixi, after decades of vigorous development, the Guangzhou area has become densely populated and has many fertile fields. In some areas, three crops can be harvested a year.

Maritime trade was also prosperous, with the local customs having an annual trade volume of 50 million taels of silver, making it a treasure land.

If Yan'er goes there and becomes a vassal king, he will surely be rich and happy."

Chai Zongxun provided the princes with an annual salary of 60,000 taels, not counting rewards, and an additional 200,000 mu of fiefdom.

The income gap among the princes was mainly caused by their fiefdoms. The more economically developed the region, the higher the economic benefits generated from the fiefdom.

Guo Ling'er felt relieved and said:
"Your Majesty, I have heard that there are many Nanhai merchants, Arab merchants, and Kunlun slaves in the Guangzhou area, numbering hundreds of thousands.

These people all come from barbarian countries, and we are afraid that the local law and order will be in chaos."

Chai Zongxun smiled and said:
"A mother worries when her son travels a thousand miles away, but my beloved concubine is worrying too much.

All foreigners within the territory of our Great Zhou must abide by the laws of our Great Zhou. How dare these people act rashly?

I have shown them mercy by allowing them to freely come to my Great Zhou to do business and reside, and giving them the opportunity to earn wealth.

Of course, maritime trade has also greatly increased our country’s tax revenue.

I conferred the title of "King of Yue" on Yan'er precisely to have him guard Guangzhou and monitor the situation of the local foreigners.

With the local Longxiang Army garrison and the Royal Palace Guards here, any movement by these foreigners will be suppressed, so don't worry, my beloved concubine."

(End of this chapter)