Ming Dynasty: A hundred-year-old immortal cultivator, Zhu Yuanzhang’s biological father

"I've thought about it, but I still have no idea."

"It's you again!"

Zhu Xiongying smiled and said, "Actually, it's the old man who's in charge, but he delegated the power to me and asked me to help manage it."

Xu Miaojin said: "So you asked me some business advice at that time, also for the purpose of building Jiaozhi?"

Zhu Xiongying nodded: "Yes."

Xu Miaojin frowned, thought for a moment, looked at Zhu Xiongying and said, "You want to build Jiaozhi into a commercial city?"

Zhu Xiongying nodded: "Jiaozhi is close to the sea, and the court is not optimistic about Jiaozhi, which is also a good opportunity to cause trouble for Jiaozhi."

Xu Miaojin hummed.

"The Jiaozhi Governorate is adjacent to Luzon and Srivijaya in the southeast, which is an important seaport. If we open up the import and export ports there, business will indeed develop."

"Champa, Burma and other places are short of cotton. Simply building an agricultural town in Jiaozhi would not be of much value and would be a waste of such a good location."

"What if the weaving factories in Suzhou and Hangzhou were moved to Jiaozhi?"

Zhu Xiongying shook his head: "Not yet. Jiaozhi's naval defenses have not been built up yet. If we take too big a step, something will go wrong."

"Once there is profit involved, the pirates in the South China Sea will definitely find ways to rob merchant ships along the way. Over time, who would dare to go to Jiaozhi for trade?"

"Besides, the weaving factories in Suzhou and Hangzhou are the economic lifeline of Jiangsu and Zhejiang. The local government will not allow people to go to Jiaozhi, and Jiaozhi does not have such great benefits to drive them over."

Xu Miaojin shook his head: "Since you can control Jiaozhi, why don't you open a tea-horse trade zone on land? You can trade jade with places like Burma in the southwest. The nobles in the Central Plains like jade, so they don't necessarily have to focus on the coast first."

"Since you want to develop business, then just set up the structure now."

Zhu Xiongying was stunned for a moment, then looked at Xu Miaojin and said, "What you said makes sense!"

Zhu Xiongying's eyes were indeed on the fat piece of meat on the sea, and he did not give much consideration to the economy on land.

The internal circulation of a country is nothing more than the change of hands of money. If we really want to become rich, we still have to bring wealth in from outside, so as to stimulate the economy!

Xu Miaojin continued, "As for cotton cloth and other weaving factories, although they cannot be transported to Jiaozhi now, why can't we grow cotton in Jiaozhi and transport the cotton to Jiangsu and Zhejiang? Then the local people will follow suit on a large scale. People are driven by profit. As long as there is profit, the people will flock to it. In this way, the trend of cotton planting in Jiaozhi will rise, and the agricultural model will naturally transform."

Zhu Xiongying smiled.

This girl is indeed knowledgeable and what she said is not wrong, but she still hasn't considered the whole matter.

Zhu Xiongying explained: "The climate conditions in Jiaozhi are not suitable for growing cotton. The priorities are reversed. Jiaozhi should have opened a weaving factory and then imported cotton from other places to process it into cotton cloth."

Xu Miaojin said shyly: "Ah? Is that so?"

Zhu Xiongying said: "Every crop has its own growing environment. It doesn't matter if Miss Xu doesn't know."

"But the economy of Jiaozhi has not yet taken off, so it's not realistic to expect merchants to open weaving factories there. We should take it step by step, and not rush to eat a fat man in one go."

"But the Tea-Horse Exchange Zone you just mentioned is possible to implement! If it is implemented well, it will be the first step to open the door to Jiaozhi!"

Lunch was simple.

It rained again at noon.

Zhu Xiongying and Xu Miaojin had a simple lunch. Xu Miaojin looked at Zhu Xiongying hesitantly, as if she wanted to say something but stopped herself from saying it.

After a moment of silence, Xu Miaojin said, "There is someone you can try to contact."

Zhu Xiongying was stunned for a moment, and asked suspiciously: "Who?"

Xu Miaojin said: "His name is Lian Zining. He was the director of the Ministry of Industry at the time. He was the runner-up in the previous few years. In the past few years, he has been in charge of the trade between the Central Plains and the Western Regions in the Xichui Tea-Horse Trade Zone. He has a lot of insights into the establishment and operation of this framework."

After a pause, Xu Miaojin said with some embarrassment: "But he was trained by our Zhongshan Palace. Your grandfather... well, the emperor may not use him."

"If we can transfer him to Jiaozhi, I think it will be more effective."

The Prince of Zhongshan's Palace, which was once full of vigor and ambition, is now so cautious about government affairs.

Zhu Xiongying was a little sad.

He thought for a moment and said, "Lian Zining? Okay, I understand."

By the afternoon, Xu Miaojin saw that Zhu Xiongying was worried, so she consciously stopped disturbing him.

"I have some things to do at home, so I'll go back first."

Zhu Xiongying nodded: "Okay, then I won't see you off."

After Xu Miaojin left, Zhu Xiongying said to the Liao brothers, "Go tell Tie Xuan to go to the Ministry of Industry to contact Lian Zining and test whether Lian Zining has any intention of going to Jiaozhi."

The tea-horse trade zone is of utmost importance. No matter how talented Lian Zining is, Zhu Xiongying will not use him if his mind is not on Jiaozhi.

"it is good!"

It's approaching evening.

Tie Xuan walked into the Ministry of Works and found Lian Zining, the head of the ministry.

Lian Zining looked to be in his early forties, short and thin.

Seeing Tie Xuan, he asked suspiciously, "Tie Jieshizhong? What do you want to talk to me about?"

Tie Xuan smiled and said, "I heard that Director Lian is currently repairing the Zhongshan Imperial Mausoleum. Is the work going well?"

Lian Zining frowned: "If you have something to say, just say it. Don't try to get close to me."

Don't hit someone who smiles at you, and Lian Zining didn't say anything too harsh.

Tie Xuan nodded: "Then I will say it directly. The Jiaozhi Provincial Government intends to open a tea-horse exchange zone in the southwest. Does Lord Lian have any ideas?"

Ever since the Zhongshan Palace gave up power, Lian Zining has had a hard time. He was originally in charge of the renovation of the imperial palace.

Now he has been transferred to build the mausoleum, and it is obvious that he has been marginalized.

This is how the officialdom is. Lian Zining now has no one to back him up and has no hope of promotion.

But he also knew Jiaozhi. It was clearly a barren and desolate place where no one lived, which was no different from being a demoted official.

He frowned subconsciously and wanted to refuse, but when he thought about continuing to suffer humiliation in the Yingtian Ministry of Works, he couldn't bear it.

He is proud and arrogant, and disdains to engage in official politics. Instead of doing that, it would be better for him to go to Jiaozhi!

But... is it that easy?
Lian Zining looked at Tie Xuan suspiciously: "From what Lord Tie said, it seems that I can go whenever I want?"

"Also, I have never heard that the Jiaozhi Chief Secretary is planning to open a tea-horse exchange zone!"

"The establishment of each trade zone is not something that can be easily approved by a suggestion from a certain official or imperial censor!"

Tie Xuan said, "That's true. I don't have the ability to do that. I'm just asking Master Lian on behalf of others. If you have this intention, you can transfer Master Lian to the Tea-Horse Exchange Zone when it opens."

Lian Zining said, "Mr. Tie is quite arrogant. Even if I want to go, can you transfer me there with just one word?"

Tie Xuan shook his head: "Of course I don't have this ability, but there are people who do! Lord Lian, you have not had a good time these days. This is your chance to prove yourself. It's a rare opportunity, Lord Lian, you must seize it."

Lian Zining was stunned for a moment. Seeing Tie Xuan's serious words, he couldn't help but feel suspicious. He sneered and said, "If there is such an opportunity, I will personally ask for permission from my superior!"

Tie Xuan nodded and said, "Okay, as long as Master Lian has this intention, it's fine.

"Master Lian really got a huge bargain, haha."

Having said that, Tie Xuan left mysteriously.

Lian Zining shook his head, always feeling that this man was a little weird.

Can tea-horse exchange be carried out in Jiaozhi?

Even if it is opened, it is unknown when it will be opened. Even if someone dares to file a petition to open the market in that wild place, won’t they be afraid of being impeached?

How could the imperial court possibly invest human and financial resources there?
No matter how he thought about it, Lian Zining felt it was impossible.

Also, just now Tie Xuan said that someone has the ability to open the market with just one word? Who? Who else could it be except the emperor?
This is even more impossible!

The emperor has just recovered from a serious illness, and there are many things in the Ming Dynasty waiting for him to deal with. Will he pay attention to Jiaozhi?
Lian Zining thought about it and felt that Tie Xuan was making fun of him, and he couldn't help feeling annoyed!
It's really like a tiger in dire straits is bullied by a dog. When the Zhongshan Palace still had power, everyone who saw him was respectful. Now he has fallen to this point!
Just when I was thinking about this.

Yang Mingsheng, the left doctor of the Ministry of Works, came over, glanced at Lian Zining, and said, "Master Lian, we need to transfer some craftsmen from your side to repair the palace."

Lian Zining was a little angry and embarrassed: "In half a month, more than 30 people were withdrawn. Now there are only 58 people responsible for the construction of the imperial mausoleum. The construction period will be completed in June! Lord Yang, you are going too far!"

Yang Mingsheng sighed and said, "The construction of the imperial palace cannot be delayed. Master Lian, if there are any difficulties, we must overcome them."

"The Imperial Palace is the face of our Ming Dynasty, so we must not slack off in the slightest."

Lian Zining said coldly, "Lord Yang, do you mean that the imperial mausoleum can use simpler materials and fewer people? If the imperial mausoleum collapses, who will be responsible if something happens? You?"

Yang Mingsheng said coldly, "Master Lian, what are you talking about? I never told you to use simple materials. As for the number of people... we can still complete the task by working day and night, right?"

"you!"

Yang Mingsheng waved his hand and said, "Okay, I'm here to inform you, not to ask for your consent."

After he finished speaking, he left with his hands behind his back.
Lian Zining's face turned red with anger!
Suddenly I felt powerless.

This is how the officialdom works. Once you lose power, everyone will look down on you.

……

It’s late at night at the Zhu Mansion.

The conversation continued.

Tie Xuan said to Zhu Xiongying, "Lian Zining has been notified. He has been bullied a lot in the Ministry of Industry. I'm afraid he can't stand this kind of bullying any longer. I think he will fly to Jiaozhi as soon as the order is given."

Zhu Xiongying smiled and said, "It's better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix. This is fine."

"But the Jiaozhi Exchange Zone is extremely important. You should communicate with Jie Jin in advance."

Tie Xuan nodded: "Okay!"

……

Forbidden City, the Imperial Palace.

Tang He and the old man were drinking together.

Zhu Yuanzhang was a little tipsy. He patted Tang He on the shoulder and said, "Old friend, let's get ready."

Tang He's heart skipped a beat and he quickly asked, "About that kid Xiongying?"

Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Yes! In the past two days, I have experienced life and death, and I have also seen life and death. I am afraid that something might happen to me..."

"Everything is almost done. What needs to be cleaned up has been cleaned up."

"The country has become peaceful, and that kid is capable of shouldering the responsibility. We can't wait any longer."

Tang He said excitedly, "That's right! But... isn't the old man waiting for Jiaozhi to produce some results?"

Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head: "Two months at most, when Jiaozhi's fiscal revenue for the first half of the year comes out, we will announce it."

"Let's think about it carefully over the next two months to see if there are any loopholes that we haven't considered. If not, we can start making arrangements."

Tang He sighed and said, "This time, the whole family is truly reunited..."

As he spoke, Tang He's eyes became red.

Zhu Yuanzhang asked anxiously: "Why are you crying again?"

Tang He sighed softly: "Last time you were seriously ill, I was worried sick, and I also thought about what I would be like in the future..."

"Ah, the emperor's grandson is a truly loyal and righteous man! At that time, he still stayed with you and cared for you very much... Sometimes I wonder if my own grandson can serve me like this."

Zhu Yuanzhang shouted, "Bullshit! Raising a son is a way to support you in your old age. How dare these bastards be unfilial? I'll beat them for you!"

As they were talking, Zheng He came over quietly.

Tang He looked up at Zheng He and said, "Old friend, it's late at night. I won't bother you anymore. Let's go back."

Zhu Yuanzhang hummed: "OK!"

Wait until he leaves.

Zheng He whispered, "Commander-in-Chief Jiang wants to see you."

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned and said in a deep voice: "Let him come."

After a while, Jiang Li came over.

"Your Majesty, the Prince of Zhongshan's Palace...has made contact with the Suzhou Palace tonight."

After hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang's face was filled with anger: "You're still unwilling to give up? You still want to revive? You said nice things to me at that time, huh!"

"Keep monitoring! We need to know what they are plotting with Suzhou Prefecture!"

A strong murderous look gradually rose on the old man's face!
……

Tang He returned to the mansion.

He originally planned to retire in Fengyang Prefecture after the New Year, but Zhu Yuanzhang did not allow it.

Since the whole family is in Yingtian, I might as well stay in Yingtian City.

Tang He didn't like Yingtian very much because he was involved in too many social interactions and many people in official circles would often invite him to drink and dine with them.

He still likes the harmonious neighborhood atmosphere in his hometown of Fengyang.

Tang He had just returned to the mansion and was about to drink tea when his youngest grandson Tang Yu came hurriedly over.

"Grandpa, it's not good."

Tang Yu is fourteen years old this year. He has a seventeen-year-old brother, Tang Sheng, but he is now in the southeast with his father in coastal defense.

Tang He hummed, "What's wrong? What's the matter? Why are you so anxious?"

Tang Yu wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "Dad sent a letter home."

"Oh."

Tang Hefeng said calmly, "Brat, I'm afraid something went wrong, otherwise you wouldn't have written to me. What did you write?"

Tang Yu said in a trembling voice: "Southeast... a great defeat."

Tang He said: "The emperor wants 300 heads of Japanese pirates. Since the Japanese pirates have been defeated, how many heads did they cut off?"

Tang Yu shook his head: "No, no...it was my Ming navy that was defeated."

"what?!"

Tang He suddenly jumped up, his eyes wide open and he said anxiously: "Bring the letter here!"

Without saying a word, he snatched the letter from his grandson's hand, glanced at it quickly, and after reading it, he slumped down on the armchair.

The old, wrinkled face began to tremble slightly, and his expression was terribly ugly.

(End of this chapter)