Ming Dynasty: Zhu Biao's younger brother, the most rebellious son in history

Chapter 33 Second Prince! Help!

Hu Weiyong said solemnly: "Please rest assured, Your Majesty. If I fail to do this, I will be ashamed of your trust. I am willing to guarantee it with my own head. If I fail to do this, you will chop off my head!"

"Okay, let's go."

After arranging the matter, Hu Weiyong was driven away. Zhu Yuanzhang said to Wang Guangyang: "As for the matter of commerce, you, Chaozong, will assist the crown prince to do it, and you must do it to perfection. What Hu Weiyong just said is right. The development of commerce has never been a precedent in the past dynasties. We must do it, and we must do it well. If the commercial tax increases, the burden on the people will be reduced, and they will be able to eat enough, wear new clothes, and send their children to school..."

He listed a number of benefits that the people could obtain. Wang Guangyang also saw that Zhu Yuanzhang was both in power and in office!
They want to fleece the merchants and make it look legitimate.

I, Wang Guangyang, have never seen such a shameless person!
Wang Guangyang, who couldn't bear to listen any longer, took advantage of the gap between Zhu Yuanzhang's words and bowed his head to receive the order:
"Your Majesty, I will follow your Majesty's orders and work out trade-related matters with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince as soon as possible."

After Wang Guangyang left, Zhu Yuanzhang sat at his desk and murmured softly:

"Sure enough, they all have selfish motives... It seems that Kai'er is right, we must do business!"

Zhu Yuanzhang also disliked merchants.

But just like he didn't like Hu Weiyong, there were some things he might not like, but as long as it was beneficial to the Ming Dynasty, he would do it.

……

Zhu Biao and Wang Guangyang left one after another, but they did not stay idle. Instead, they asked Yuan Qi to call Guo Xing.

Guo Xing lived in Yingtian Prefecture for a long time, and was in charge of the Imperial Guard Commandery and the Yiluansi.

Responsible for helping Zhu Yuanzhang collect intelligence, Zhu Kai told Zhu Yuanzhang the locations of two mineral deposits. Zhu Yuanzhang planned to let Guo Xing check them first, and then hand them over to the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue for mining after verification.

Guo Xing was one of the Twenty-Four Generals of Huaixi and a fellow villager of Zhu Yuanzhang. When he was in Hongjin Prefecture in Haozhou, he and his younger brother Guo Ying were Zhu Yuanzhang's guards and were deeply trusted by Zhu Yuanzhang.

So when Zhu Yuanzhang explained the matter to Guo Xing, he was not polite at all: "I heard that there are two mineral deposits in Jiangxi, one is 30 miles northeast of Wannian County, and the other is at the foot of Wushan in Jiujiang. Send people to these two places to carefully explore and find out the situation. If there are mineral deposits, send troops to garrison immediately."

Guo Xing replied, "Okay! Your Majesty, do you have any other instructions?"

Zhu Yuanzhang then mentioned another matter: "Also, do you still remember Zhang Shicheng back then? He once sent a counselor named Luo Guanzhong to ask us to join Zhang Shicheng?"

Zhu Kai chatted with him about business and Jiangxi's mineral resources in the morning and forgot about Luo Guanzhong's existence.

But last night Ma Xiuying told Zhu Yuanzhang about Shi Nai'an and Luo Guanzhong, saying that Zhu Kai wanted to recruit the two.

Zhu Yuanzhang kept it in mind and called Guo Xing over today, ready to help Zhu Kai find the two men.

Guo Xing immediately recalled Luo Guanzhong's memory: "I remember, he was a scholar."

"Help me find him and the man called Shi Naian, who is said to be Luo Guanzhong's master, and bring them both to Yingtian Prefecture."

Zhu Yuanzhang arranged,

"When the person arrives, go find Kai'er and hand him over to him."

Guo Xing accepted the order: "Yes, sir! I will arrange for my trusted people to find them as soon as possible."

……

Hu Weiyong jogged all the way to the Fengxian Hall.

Zhu Biao was asking Zhu Kai about collecting commercial taxes when he heard Hu Weiyong shouting outside:

"Second Prince, help me! His Majesty wants to kill me!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Hu Weiyong had already run to Zhu Kai, knelt down at his feet, hugged one of his feet and begged:

"Second Prince, His Majesty wants to kill me! You must save me, I am your most loyal..."

"Get lost!" Zhu Kai kicked Hu Weiyong, causing him to stagger, before he could finish his wailing. He then shouted at him with a sullen face:

"You bastard, can't you see I'm discussing something with my brother? Stop howling!"

After being kicked by Zhu Kai, Hu Weiyong not only did not show a painful expression, but even the fake panic just now disappeared. Instead, he showed a flattering smile, continued to walk to Zhu Kai's feet, lifted up the shoe that Zhu Kai had kicked him with, and began to wipe it with the cuffs of his official uniform:

"Second Prince, if you want to hit me, why do you have to do it yourself? Won't that dirty your shoes?"

"..."

When Zhu Biao saw Hu Weiyong's performance, he couldn't help but shudder and got goose bumps all over his body.

I have never seen such a shameless person!
When Zhu Biao saw Hu Weiyong, he was speechless.

Before Hu Weiyong was labeled as a "villain" by Zhu Kai.

He worked diligently and conscientiously under Zhu Yuanzhang, but who would have thought that after getting Zhu Kai's evaluation, he seemed to have completely changed into a different person and became a complete villain.

Hu Weiyong was known as a mad dog in the court.

He would attack anyone who impeached Zhu Kai, but Zhu Biao had never seen him be so flattering.

Zhu Kai also didn't like Hu Weiyong at this moment, and took back the shoes with disdain:
"Go sit down. My father asked you to help my eldest brother solve the problem, right? That's perfect. Come over and listen."

"Your Highness, you and His Majesty are truly like father and son. Your Highness, you already knew what His Majesty was going to do before you even went to the Jinshen Palace. There is no one in the world who has a better understanding than you and His Majesty..."

Before Hu Weiyong finished flattering, Zhu Kai and Zhu Biao said at the same time: "Shut up!"

You have to know when to flatter someone.

Hu Weiyong immediately shut up and blinked his eyes to indicate that he didn't want to speak.

Zhu Kai told Zhu Biao some of the business ideas he knew. Hu Weiyong only listened to half of it. After Zhu Kai finished speaking, Hu Weiyong sighed and looked at Zhu Kai with eyes full of admiration:

"Your Highness the Second Prince is so merciful. These merchants, relying on the support of the nobles, disregard the laws of the country. In my opinion, killing them is the most merciful thing to do."

"..."

Listening to Hu Weiyong's murderous words, Zhu Biao was very suspicious. Did Zhu Yuanzhang ask Hu Weiyong to assist him in developing commerce or taking advantage of the opportunity to fleece the nobles?

If Hu Weiyong were to manage the business, wouldn't it become more and more chaotic?

"Doing business is like fighting a war. You need to be familiar with the art of war and understand the ways of the world."

After Zhu Kai finished explaining his understanding of business, he said to Zhu Biao, "Brother, you are responsible for formulating rules and arranging taxes so that merchants can act according to the rules. Old Hu, you should deal with those merchants who have committed crimes, evaded taxes, and oppressed the people. Then other merchants will be obedient."

In other words, Zhu Biao and Hu Weiyong were both people in charge of business, but Zhu Biao did everything according to the rules, with a basis for doing so, and taught the businessmen to understand the rules.

If there are businessmen who rely on their powerful backing and refuse to follow Zhu Biao's rules, then let Hu Weiyong come.

Hu Weiyong is a mad dog who bites whoever he catches!

They are completely unreasonable and don't follow the rules. With Hu Weiyong's threat, it is guaranteed that the merchants in Yingtian Prefecture will do things according to the rules set by Zhu Biao.

This is the benefit of having villains around you!

It can be used casually, and there is no need to worry about offending anyone, because villains are more ruthless than Zhu Biao in offending others.

As Hu Weiyong listened to Zhu Kai's business arrangements, there were only two words left in his mind: admiration!
Why doesn't such a capable person enter the court?
Just don't want to steal the limelight from big brother?

(End of this chapter)