Ming Dynasty 1566

Chapter 61

Yang Jinshui received the urgent delivery in the morning, and knew that Zhao Zhenji would arrive in Hangzhou today, and that Zheng Michang and He Maocai would be tied up in chains tonight, but the imperial edict had not arrived, and he had to hang around with them at this time, so he was right Zheng Bichang: "You are the governor, how can I sit in the middle?"

Zheng Bichang smiled apologetically: "Today we are talking about the weaving bureau, so I should preside over it as my father-in-law."

Yang Jinshui: "No price. These workshops are all owned by Shen Yishi. Selling to silk merchants is also a matter for your governor's office and chief minister's office. I can't preside over them."

Although Zheng Michang was still smiling, his tone was a little hard: "But this year's 50 pieces of silk is the business of my father-in-law. If my father-in-law doesn't take this seat, who will take this seat?"

Yang Jinshui couldn't help looking at Zheng Michang, and saw that his face was thin and his eye circles were dark, but there was a faint expression in his smile that everyone would die together. There was a wave of disgust and pity in his heart, but his face was expressionless. He didn't give in anymore: "Okay. I'll sit here, so you can talk about it."

Zheng Michang: "It's good that the father-in-law is considerate. After the negotiation, we can do business, and the weaving bureau can also do business." He stretched out his hand and waited for Yang Jinshui to sit down, and then he sat down on his left.

Why can't Yang Jinshui hear the overtones? Someone brought tea at this moment, but it was the book office of the governor's yamen.

Yang Jinshui picked up the tea bowl, took a sip, and looked at Zheng Bichang: "Is this year's Mingqian?"

Zheng Bichang took a sip with him: "Of course it's Mingqian this year."

Yang Jinshui: "It looks like it's just been picked. How can it be kept so fresh?"

Zheng Bichang: "My father-in-law made fun of me, sealed the altar and put it in the cellar. My father-in-law taught me this method."

Yang Jinshui: "Oh. I forgot. I hope I can drink the newly picked Mingqian next year."

Zheng Michang's face immediately darkened: "With Eunuch Yang here, don't say next year, you can also drink the newly picked Mingqian in the year after next."

Yang Jinshui: "That's a good point. Next year and the next year we will drink the newly picked Mingqian together."

When the two said this, the voices of those people came from outside the courtyard of the hall.The loudest one was He Maocai's loud greeting: "It's getting dark, we'll have dinner here today, and we'll talk about things here. Even if the sky falls, we have to sign the contract. Light up the lights! Light up all the lights!"

He Maocai led the silk merchants in with a tense face.

The book office immediately went to light the lamps, and all the lanterns in the living room were lit up immediately.

A few lanterns in the distance ran towards the Yamen of the Weaving Bureau accompanied by the sound of horseshoes and wheels.

The eunuch Yang Jinshui, who was guarding the door, blurted out to the eunuchs and soldiers guarding the door: "Here we are! Prepare to meet you." Then he ran down the steps and greeted him.Several soldiers followed suit.

At the front are four cavalry soldiers, holding the rein in one hand and holding a lantern in the other.Immediately after were Siqi Jinyiwei, and behind that was Zhao Zhenji's car.The carriage ran over, and it was the four personal soldiers of the Queen's Palace.A line of chariots and horses drove straight to the gate of the Yamen before stopping.

Immediately everyone came down, and the four Jin Yiwei threw the reins to the approaching soldiers, and strode up to Yang Jinshui's accompanying eunuch.

Jin Yiwei: "Where's Eunuch Yang?"

The accompanying eunuch: "Zheng, Zheng Michang, and He Maocai are in Shen Yishi's workshop."

On the other side of Jin Yiwei: "Master Zhao has come to take over. I am ordered to arrest Zheng Michang and He Maocai tonight! Please come back with Eunuch Yang."

While speaking, the soldiers had already helped Zhao Zhenji off the carriage.

The accompanying eunuch ordered loudly to the other eunuchs: "Hurry up and welcome the adults to rest inside, and I will invite Eunuch Yang back!"

A few eunuchs hurriedly accompanied Zhao Zhenji and the four guards into the gate.

The accompanying eunuch took a horse from a soldier and rode on it.A soldier handed him another lantern.He followed the eunuch and rode away with a lantern.

"In the past 20 years, everyone knows how much money Shen Yishi has made and how famous he is." He Maocai stood there, looking at the Huizhou merchants sitting on both sides and said loudly, "Now, he is so big. Why do we distribute the share to you? Two, one is that you are all fellow villagers of Hu Butang, and the fat and water have to flow in your own fields. Take over the weaving house carefully, and take this job for the weaving bureau. After taking over the workshop, in the future, you can also get what Shen Yishi can get in the palace and in the government. Now, just listen to everyone Let’s talk about how many workshops each person is willing to accept. It’s decided, we’ll sign and pledge today.”

Several Anhui merchants did not express their views immediately, but looked at each other.Then a middle-aged Huizhou merchant asked: "We have something that is not clear, and I would like to ask some adults."

He Maocai: "Tell me."

The Hui merchant: "Does Shen Yishi's 25 workshops and [-] looms belong to the Weaving Bureau or his own? If it belongs to the Weaving Bureau, how dare we ask for the property in the palace for nothing? If it belongs to his own family, it is now It has been copied, it is criminal property, can the court agree to distribute it to us? If we don’t explain clearly, our hearts will not be realized.”

He Maocai became anxious all of a sudden: "What's unclear about this? Eunuch Yang is the supervisor of the Weaving Bureau, and his old man is a member of the palace. He is sitting here now, and the court refuses to agree. We dare to distribute these workshops to you ?"

An old Anhui businessman sitting first on the left: "Eunuch Yang and the two adults, don't be angry, we have no sincerity, and we won't come here. The worry that Boss Wang said just now, to be honest, we all have. Of course , if Eunuch Yang can tell us the truth, we will naturally not have this worry."

Those businessmen all looked at Yang Jinshui.

Zheng Michang looked closely at Yang Jinshui, and smiled apologetically, "Eunuch Yang, why don't you just say a few words to reassure them."

Yang Jinshui: "Then let me just say a few words. Shen Yishi's workshops are not owned by the Weaving Bureau, but he has been working for the palace for so many years. Now he committed another lawsuit, and his family property was confiscated by the government. How to deal with it will be approved by the Weaving Bureau."

"Have you heard everything?" He Maocai asked those Huizhou merchants loudly.

The boss Wang continued to ask: "My lords, Shen Yishi doesn't pay tax for the silk he weaves and sells. Can we also not pay tax if we take over his workshop?"

Zheng Michang answered: "After you take over the workshop, you will work for the Weaving Bureau, so naturally you don't need to pay taxes."

The elderly Huizhou merchant then asked: "If it doesn't work, we don't need to pay taxes, and the Weaving Bureau also buys our silk with money. Isn't that all the benefits for us?"

He Maocai was about to interject again, but Zheng Michang stopped him, first glanced at the elderly Huizhou merchant, and then slowly looked at the other Huizhou merchants: "This question is on point. What line of business do you do for the imperial grain and national tax?" You have to pay. Since you are not required to pay taxes, of course you have to pay silk for the palace tribute. This is a small account. Be patient, everyone, and we will settle it with you later. After the calculation, You will know that there are only advantages and no disadvantages in accepting Shen Yishi's matter."

Several Huizhou merchants immediately whispered among themselves.

"Just make it clear!" He Maocai was worried that the matter would fail, and didn't like Zheng Michang's detours like this, so he answered the words loudly, "We are not only looking for you to take care of Shen Yishi's family wealth. Nanjing, Suzhou, Hangzhou, and more than a dozen merchants want to pick it up. As I said just now, why give it to you, because you are fellow villagers of Hu Butang, and several of you are still close friends with Hu Butang. If you hesitate, don’t do it tomorrow. If more merchants come, we have to give them. If you want to take this job, report the number as soon as possible. 25 workshops, how much each person wants, sign now and pledge."

Several Anhui merchants looked at each other in blank dismay when he said this.

The old Huizhou merchant: "Excuse me, Mr. He, if we each want five workshops, how much silk will each pay to the imperial court this year?"

He Maocai: "One hundred thousand bolts of silk."

The Hui merchant was stunned immediately after hearing this, and the other merchants were also stunned.

After a long time, the old Huizhou merchant looked at Zheng Michang: "Zheng Zhongcheng and Mr. He just said that every five workshops will give the imperial court [-] bolts of silk this year? Did we hear correctly?"

Zheng Michang had no choice but to answer: "It's [-] horses."

The middle-aged Huizhou merchant surnamed Wang: "But the five workshops are full of weaving for half a year this year, and at most they can only weave [-] bolts of silk. Wouldn't it be necessary to pay [-] bolts?"

The eyes of all Huizhou merchants were fixed on Zheng Bichang.

He Maocai became a little anxious again: "If I really want to pay [-] horses, the ghosts won't come to the door. I told you, this is a small account, so I have to calculate it slowly."

Just as he was talking, Yang Jinshui's eunuch came in, interrupted his words, and walked straight to Yang Jinshui.

Zheng Michang and He Maocai looked at him immediately.

The eunuch went around behind the chair and whispered in Yang Jinshui's ear: "Eunuch, there is an errand from the palace."

Yang Jinshui stood up abruptly.

Zheng Michang and He Maocai immediately became nervous, they first looked at the accompanying eunuch, and then at Yang Jinshui together.

Of course Yang Jinshui knew that this "palace errand" had arrived. Seeing that Zheng and He were so nervous, he immediately said relaxedly, "I know, it's the sewing bureau that urged the emperor to make clothes for his longevity this year." Xiang Zheng Michang and He Maocai: "I have lost my company. The two adults will talk to them slowly, and let me know when the talk is over."

He Maocai seemed to believe his words, and immediately stood up and said, "Of course. Father-in-law still needs to sign."

Zheng Michang also stood up, but his expression was not as good as that of He Mao: "Eunuch, after so many years, the weaving bureau's accounts may not be settled for a moment. It would be better if the father-in-law cut off his errand."

There was another overtone, Yang Jinshui still did not show his expression: "Okay, I will come if I can."

Those Huizhou merchants also stood up, and Yang Jinshui nodded to them before walking outside.The eunuch followed him and walked out.

Zhao Zhenji is also the governor of a province, but he seems to have more weight than Zheng Michang.One is because this person is considered a figure in the Neo-Confucianism at that time, and there are many Qingliu in the court who have Austrian aid, such as Xu Jie and Gao Gong, who have very good personal relationships with him.The second is that this person is considered a clean official and has many achievements in governing the local area, so he was sent by Jiajing to Nanzhili, the most important province in the country, as the governor.The transfer to Zhejiang this time is undoubtedly Jiajing's appointment in the face of danger, and the emperor's expectations can be seen.

Sitting here now, both Yang Jinshui and the four Jinyiwei respected him very much, let him sit in the central seat, and Yang Jinshui only sat beside him and looked at the Shangyu seriously.

"Master Zhao is in charge of Zhejiang affairs, so it's all right now." Yang Jinshui sighed immediately after reading the Shangyu.

Of course, Zhao Zhenji couldn't accept it, and replied: "Everything goes wrong, and it depends on Eunuch Yang and his colleagues to work together to help each other. The most important thing now is to arrest Zheng Michang and He Maocai immediately, and track down Shen Yishi's family wealth."

Yang Jinshui pondered for a moment, then raised his head and looked at Zhao Zhenji: "The edict has already been said. Our family's meaning, wait a moment, I will send someone to call the two of them here, and then arrest them."

Zhao Zhenji: "The sacred edict is brilliant, if you want to arrest someone, you should go to the governor's office to announce the decree, and arrest them."

Yang Jinshui looked at him and then at the four Jinyiwei: "They are all my own people, let me just say it here. People are destined to get it. But Zheng Michang and He Maocai are now negotiating with several Huizhou merchants to take over About Shen Yishi's workshop. Our family said that the two of them were called here so as not to scare off those Huizhou merchants."

"Shen Yishi's family property is going to be sold to Huizhou merchants now?" Zhao Zhenji immediately changed his face, and stood up, "The Shangyu asked me to track down Shen Yishi's family property, how can I sell it to someone else now!"

(End of this chapter)