Prodigal Son of the Ming Dynasty

  Chapter 1355 Birthday Ceremony

  Wang Xizuo immediately stood up.

   Then he received a group of nobles and knights.

  These Dutch nobles were the main force of the original rebellion.

   Their dissatisfaction with the Spanish prince has been planned for a long time.

  And now... In addition to their admiration for Wang Xizuo and the Fang Dashan behind him, they are also worried about the coming revenge of the Spaniards.

  Wang Xizuo selected some of them.

  They will take a boat to Daming.

  For communication and visiting purposes.

  An exchange mission was established soon, and then these people carried letters, accompanied by dozens of Han Chinese and hundreds of sailors, and boarded the ship.

  Everyone in the exchange mission group was filled with inexplicable excitement.

  They are going to meet that kind person Fang Dashan soon. Of course, this exchange and investigation is also related to the safety of the entire northern province. They have to find out the reality of Daming and determine whether they are their reliable backers.

   Not only that, but also the attitude of that Fang Dashan towards the Northern Province.

  Therefore, there were many highly respected Dutch people in the mission. They watched the big ship slowly leave the coast, and they didn't know what they would experience along the way, but deep down, they were full of longing.

  …

   Early in the morning.

  Fang Jifan and Zhu Houzhao entered the palace obediently.

  Today is the birthday of the Empress Dowager.

  Pleasing the empress dowager's favor is not only filial piety, but also related to whether the two will have an umbrella in the future.

   Umbrella is very important. Recently, the emperor has been moody because of the stock issue. Who knows what will happen in the future?

  Women, they entered the palace early. Concubine Fang invited Zhu Xiurong to go with her. Zhu Houzhao and Fang Jifan deliberately went late and went to see Emperor Hongzhi first.

  Emperor Hongzhi first went to greet Zhu Houzhao and Fang Jifan after reviewing the memorials.

  Emperor Hongzhi seemed to be in a good mood.

  So he said with a smile: "I heard that you are going to replace the Daming banknotes with the banknotes from Xishan Bank?"

Fang Jifan hurriedly said: "Yes, Your Majesty, if it's just called Xishan Yinpiao, it's fine in Daming, but in the future Daming will promote Yinpiao, and it should have a famous name. After thinking about it, I still call it Baochao. It can demonstrate the prestige of my Ming Dynasty."

  Emperor Hongzhi nodded.

When the Ming Dynasty was founded, Emperor Taizu Gao had printed precious banknotes, but unfortunately, gold and silver were not used as reserves for these treasured banknotes. As a result, the value of the banknotes plummeted quickly as the system was abused. After that, No one wants to use it anymore.

  Nowadays, this precious banknote can be regarded as being reborn from the ashes of the Xishan Bank, and there is nothing wrong with it.

  Emperor Hongzhi said: "The new banknotes will be delivered tomorrow, I want to see them first."

   "What." Zhu Houzhao was taken aback for a moment, and then said, "What is Father looking at this for?"

  Emperor Hongzhi knocked on the imperial case, and said bluntly: "This is a major event, why, can't I take a look first?"

   "Yes...but it is possible..." Zhu Houzhao said, "It's just that it can't be changed?"

   "Can't change it?"

   "Father, think about it." Zhu Houzhao said convincingly: "This precious banknote has spent countless manpower and material resources, and it has been revised. If the father ordered it to be revised, wouldn't it be a waste of money?"

  Emperor Hongzhi took a deep look at Zhu Houzhao: "I am not afraid of wasting money."

  Zhu Houzhao: "..."

  Emperor Hongzhi got up: "Remember, I will ask Xiao to accompany you tomorrow, and I will remind you again. It's getting late, it's time to go to celebrate your birthday, why, you came empty-handed?"

  Emperor Hongzhi frowned.

  Zhu Houzhao just remembered that he was going to bring a birthday gift, so he hurriedly looked at Fang Jifan.

  Fang Jifan calmly said: "Bring it, bring it, the birthday of the Empress Dowager, how dare my sons neglect it, even if I go through fire and water, throw my head and sprinkle blood, I still have to..."

  Emperor Hongzhi raised his eyes and said: "It's not that serious, it's just for you to make the old birthday happy. If she is happy, I will be happy too. If not..."

  He didn't continue to speak, and then ordered to show off.

  …

  In Renshou Palace, it was already beaming.

  Wives have come to see us early.

  All kinds of big gifts have already been sent.

  The empress dowager had silver hair all over her head, but she was still in good spirits. She was accompanied by Empress Zhang, Concubine Fang, Zhu Xiurong, etc., and surrounded by wives like stars holding the moon, so she was overjoyed.

In the past few years, many relatives of the royal family have made a fortune. After all, they are close to the water. Some bought land early, and the land value increased. Some also invested in silver to build workshops and become shareholders behind the scenes. Some people also went to buy stocks, and the market conditions of this stock are not bad.

   Once you have silver, you will be able to sell generously.

  In addition, all the clan members have entered the capital, such as Xing Wang Zhu Youzhao, he is also the grandson of the empress dowager, and the empress dowager's own flesh and blood.

  In Beijing, wanting to make the emperor happy, this ready-made grandmother is here, what else is there to do?

He wore a decent court dress and the latest sunglasses, and he was golden all over. This is the fashion now, which is the style brought by Wang Jinyuan. As for his son, Zhu Houcong, the eldest son, he is now much taller, and he is very happy He saluted the Empress Dowager.

   "Ah, thick, come, come..."

  Zhu Youzhu said happily: "Not yet."

  Zhu Houcong shook his head: "No, Sun Chen has to recite the book to the Empress Dowager before he is willing to go forward."

   "Endorsement?" All the wives laughed.

  The empress dowager became serious: "Oh, it seems that I have read a lot of books. It can be seen that I have developed skills. Come and listen to the family."

  Zhu Houcong shook his head and recited a section of Four Books and Five Classics.

  After hearing this, the Empress Dowager said again and again: "What a smart child."

  Zhu Houcong puffed up his chest and was extremely excited: "Sun Chen is even better at arithmetic. Great-grandmother, Sun Chen asks you, what is thirty-seven times one hundred and fifty-six?"

  Empress Dowager: "..."

  Other wives also look at me and I look at you, looking at each other.

  This is a multiplier, which is more difficult than ordinary addition and subtraction. People without a certain foundation can't calculate, let alone calculate silently.

  Zhu Houcong said: "It's five thousand seven hundred and seventy-two."

   "Ah, is it?" Although the Empress Dowager didn't know the truth, but Zhu Houcong did the math in her head, but she was still pleasantly surprised: "That's even more remarkable."

   "Of course." Zhu Houcong said proudly: "Father said that the old Zhu family will be pitiful. If you are a person, you want to take advantage of us. If you don't learn to count, you will suffer from others."

"Ha ha…"

  Everyone laughed.

   Zhu Youzhu's old face flushed slightly, and he smiled awkwardly.

  The current Zhu Houcong is still naive.

   and the treacherous and cunning Emperor Jiajing in history, still maintained the childishness of a teenager.

  History, after all, has changed.

The young man in history, his father died early, and after losing his father, he became the head of the family at a young age. After that, he was taken to Beijing. A group of courtiers with ulterior motives wanted this young man to be the emperor. He is an outsider who has not been trained by Zhan Shifu. He has lived in the capital thousands of miles away, living in the deep palace, and even by his side. There is not even a single person he can trust. Everyone seems to want to learn from him. , to get benefits, those assistant ministers who have a very high reputation in the court seem to think of ways to manipulate this child, and even ask not to recognize their own father as a father. Let's put pressure on that young man in history together.

  Under such a dangerous environment, Emperor Jiajing was naturally created. At a young age, he became more mature, more decisive, and more gloomy...

But now Zhu Houcong is protected by his father, and has not been in contact with the darkness prematurely. He follows his father and closes the door every night. The father and son count the accounts in the palace, thinking about the stock value, The land price is exhilarating, this is the happiest time of his youth.

The Empress Dowager took the great-grandson into her arms, kissed each other on the left, and kissed on the right, she was very happy: "Accounting is the accountant's business, but you have such talent, but you are worthy of the ancestors, Didn't you go to the nursery?"

   "Didn't go, it was too expensive." Zhu Houcong said: "It will cost a lot of money. I studied with my father."

  The empress dowager was happy: "But you are getting old, it would be inappropriate to go again, good grandson."

  Zhu Houcong said again: "Father and grandson brought birthday gifts to great-grandmother."

   "Oh? Come on, come in."

  Xing Wang Mansion paid for it.

  A huge coral tree was moved here, and many people who watched it clicked their tongues.

   Coral trees like this are priceless.

  Zhu Houcong broke away from the Empress Dowager, bowed down at the feet of the Empress Dowager, and said solemnly: "Sun Chen respectfully wishes my great-grandmother a longevity in Nanshan, and good luck like the East China Sea."

  The Empress Dowager was very happy.

  This coral tree looks expensive at first glance. Thinking about it again, King Xing was reluctant to send his children to the nursery, which was too expensive, but he was willing to spend so much money to celebrate his birthday, which was enough to show the intentions of King Xing and his son, so they nodded: "Okay, okay, that's great."

   Just as he was talking, an **** came outside: "Your Majesty, your majesty is here, and so are the crown prince and the Duke of Qi."

  The Empress Dowager cheers up.

  Emperor Hongzhi brought your own son and son-in-law in, and made a big gift.

Immediately afterwards, Emperor Hongzhi stepped forward to accompany the empress dowager, and Zhu Houzhao stood aside happily. When Zhu Houcong saw the prince, he was caught by his father's eyes, and hurriedly bowed down: "I have seen the emperor, I have seen you Your Highness the Crown Prince." As he stood up, Zhu Houzhao glanced at the little cousin and nodded.

   Zhu Houcong was very happy when he saw his cousin: "His Royal Highness, let me ask you."

"What?"

  Zhu Houcong puffed out his small chest: "What is thirty-seven times one hundred and fifty-six?"

   Zhu Houzhao was silent.

  The back face is getting longer and longer.

   "His Royal Highness, my younger brother knows the answer, do you want younger brother Shen to remind me?"

   Zhu Houcong's small eyeballs were full of excitement, and he wanted to blurt out the answer immediately.

   And after that...

  Zhu Hou looked at this beautiful cousin, raised his eyebrows: "Go away, don't bother me!"

  Zhu Houcong: "..."

  (end of this chapter)