Jinyi Town Mountains and Rivers

Chapter 315
Emperor Jiajing's body became weaker and weaker day by day in the past year.In fact, the cabinet and the palace had already prepared his funeral.Therefore, the national funeral of the first emperor was carried out in an orderly manner.

After the funeral, it is the enthronement ceremony of the new emperor.

The night before the enthronement ceremony, Emperor Longqing (King Yu) summoned Xu, Gao, Zhang, and He Liufour.

He Liu thought to himself, now that the emperor is looking for Xu, Gao, and Zhang to discuss matters, he also wants to call me.It seems that he regards me as the best candidate for the commander of Jinyiwei!After the emperor ascends the throne tomorrow, Liu Da must be executed.At that time, it may even be possible for me to take charge of the East Factory.

He Liu thought too much.

The four of them knelt down and said: "The minister waits to kowtow to the emperor."

Emperor Longqing raised his hand: "Free from courtesy."

Gao Gong was the first to speak: "Your Majesty, the Baoquan Bureau of the Ministry of Households has issued samples of the Longqing Tongbao copper coins of the new dynasty. Please take a look, Your Majesty."

Emperor Longqing took the sample money from Gao Gong and frowned after seeing it.

Xu Jie said from the side: "This new dynasty money looks good. Is the emperor satisfied?"

Emperor Longqing threw the sample money on the ground, and he asked He Liu: "He Liu, you are acting as the commander of Jin Yiwei temporarily. It is said that Jin Yiwei knows half of the things in the sky, and Jin Yiwei knows everything about the things on the ground. I will test it You, what is the ratio of silver to copper coins, what is the official price? What is the real price among the people?"

He Liu talked eloquently: "To the emperor, the official price is one tael of silver for one thousand copper coins. The real price is one tael of silver for 950 copper coins."

Emperor Longqing asked again: "Since ancient times, silver is expensive and money is cheap. Tell me, why has silver become cheap and money expensive these years?"

He Liu replied: "This is because in the Jiajing Dynasty, the proportion of lead and copper in the copper coins made was wrong. In the past, the proportion of copper and lead was always half and half. Yan Song said that the proportion of copper and lead was half and half, and the copper coins were dark. The atmosphere of Jiajing’s prosperous age did not show up. So Yan Song raised the ratio of copper to lead to six copper and four lead. Ever since, profiteers used silver to buy copper coins widely, and after smelting, they made copper wares and sold them for profit. In this way, it naturally became Silver is cheap and money is expensive.”

Emperor Longqing said: "Gao Gong, the new dynasty coins made by the Baoquan Bureau of the Ministry of Household Affairs look even brighter than the copper coins of Yan Song when he was in office! What is the ratio of copper to lead?"

Gao Gong said: "To report to the emperor, it is copper, seven and lead three. I think that when the emperor ascends the throne, everything will naturally reflect the atmosphere of the new dynasty. Copper coins are the face of a dynasty, if it is dim..."

Emperor Longqing waved his hand: "Gao Gong, remember, I can't just want face, but not face! Copper coins are darker. Although they are not good-looking, they can prevent many disadvantages. Change it, change it to half copper and half lead!"

He Liu secretly thought: Maybe the new emperor in front of him can really be a wise king!
Xu Jie said again: "Report to the emperor. When a new king ascends the throne, he will generally be exempted from the world's money and food, and show the people the new king's benevolence and love for the people. Look at this..."

Emperor Longqing said: "The national treasury is so empty, I can't ignore the government's finances just to show some benevolence! How about this, for the provinces that were hit by the disaster last year, the tax was halved, and for the provinces that were not affected by the disaster, the tax was reduced by [-]%. That's all!"

Xu Jie suddenly fell to his knees in tears, and shouted: "My emperor is holy!"

After Xu Jie kowtowed, he raised his head boldly and looked at his former student on the dragon chair with approving eyes.He thought in his heart: I have taught a wise king!This is the glory of his life as a teacher!The people of the Ming Dynasty are saved!This empire on the verge of collapse can be saved!
Xu Jie overlooked one point: people tend to change.

Emperor Longqing said: "Master Xu, get up quickly. You are almost 70 years old, and you are still worrying about me, eating and drinking three meals a day! From now on, I will give you the freedom to kneel in front of the palace!"

Xu Jie wiped away his tears, stood up and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, Long En!"

Zhang Juzheng said: "My Majesty, there is a system in the Ming Dynasty. During the three-year mourning period of the late emperor, no swords should be lightly used. The Tatars did not know where to find out the news of the late emperor's funeral. Qi Jiguang, the commander of Jizhou Town, sent it to join us." The urgent document said that the Tatars had repeatedly provoked the Great Wall. Qi Jiguang was afraid of the ancestral system and did not dare to take the initiative to attack, so he had to stick to the city."

Emperor Longqing said something deafening: "Didn't you say that the new dynasty has a new atmosphere? Some old rules need to be changed! Tell Qi Jiguang to attack when it is time to attack! Let the Tatars know that jumping beams, no matter how strong they are, will be killed!" Whoever offends our country will be punished no matter how far away! Also, when he defeats the Tatars and returns to the court after a great victory, I will go to Desheng Gate to meet him in person!"

He Liu praised in his heart: what is a good emperor, and what is a foolish emperor?Compete with each other!
Xu, Gao, and Zhang reported seven or eight things in a row, and Emperor Longqing handled everything properly.

Emperor Longqing asked: "Is there anything else?"

Xu Jie said: "Report to the emperor, it's all right for the time being."

Emperor Longqing said: "Well, master Xu will host the enthronement ceremony tomorrow. You guys go down first. He Liu, you stay here for a while."

He Liu stayed in the main hall of Yongshou Palace.

Emperor Longqing said: "I will recommend two people to you."

Emperor Longqing slapped his hands, and two people, one tall and one short, walked out from behind the screen of the main hall.The short He Liu knew Zhu Xixiao, the leader of Youchunfang, the "Little Jinyiwei" in Prince Yu's mansion.The other tall one looked to be in his forties, He Liu had never seen him before.

Emperor Longqing pointed to the taller man, and said: "He is Liu Shouyou, the son of Liu Tianhe, a famous minister of the Zhengde court. Now he is serving as the governor of the military governor's office. This man is your old acquaintance, Zhu Xixiao. "

He Liu cupped his hands and said, "I've seen Liu Qianshi and Zhu Zhangfang."

The two said in unison: "I've seen He Liuye."

Emperor Longqing said: "I have decided to appoint Liu Shouyou as the commander of the Jinyiwei. In addition, the commander will be appointed as the left governor. Zhu Xixiao will be the left governor of the Jinyiwei. He Liu, you, the Beizhen governor, must help them well in the future!"

He Liu was stunned!I have been looking forward to it for many years, looking forward to sitting on the high position of commander, opening the secret file room of Tianzihao, and finding out the real cause of death of my father and Xiangxiang's biological mother.That's good!Everything has come to nothing!

Emperor Longqing ordered: "Liu Shouyou, Zhu Xixiao, you two go down first."

After the two left, Emperor Longqing said to He Liu, "He Liu, I know you must be feeling uncomfortable. In terms of seniority, Jin Yiwei should take the top spot. I suddenly placed Zhu Xixiao on your head, and Liu Shouyou, you will definitely not be happy."

He Liu hurriedly said: "It's a minister's blessing to be loyal to Ming Jun. As for the position, I never cared."

(End of this chapter)