Chapter 46: The Imperial Merchant
Sure enough, as Qi Yu said, the emperor issued a decree in the early dynasty to marry Princess Chaoyang to Lao Keqin, the eldest son of Uncle Lao. After www.biquge.info Uncle Lao received the decree, his face was full of smiles like a spring breeze, the emperor really still remembered the Lao family, and what happened before must have been that he misunderstood the emperor.
After retiring from the dynasty, Wang Shaoyan slipped a corner and handed over the sign and entered the palace.
Wang Shaoyan stood in front of the emperor in the upper study, "Although the emperor has been praised by all the people in the world after he ascended the throne, it is no different from what the ancestors did, and it is difficult to show His Majesty's wisdom." The minister has a plan to make His Majesty's kindness manifest between heaven and earth, far beyond the Ming Jun in the previous life. ”
When the emperor heard this, his mind moved, and he chimed in, "What is Shaoyan's plan?" ”
"Your Majesty, the timing of your first time on the throne is the best opportunity." Wang Shaoyan smiled mysteriously, "Has the emperor forgotten that there is still a war on our border?" This amnesty is not as good as that of the soldiers on the battlefield, which is a pity in the wisdom of His Majesty. The war on the southwestern frontier has taken several months without success, and the soldiers went to the frontier to coincide with the New Year's Eve and the new emperor ascended the throne, but these two things that should have been celebrated with joy have nothing to do with them, and the morale of the army is inevitably weakened. If Your Majesty can send people to send military rations and materials at this time, on the one hand, let them understand Your Majesty's memory of them in your heart and boost their morale, and on the other hand, show your imperial grace in the army and win the hearts of the army, wouldn't it be the work of the Holy Monarch who overtook the Ming Emperor in the previous life? ”
The emperor laughed a few times after hearing this, he has paid attention to his own wisdom since he was the crown prince, and Wang Shaoyan's plan is exactly what he wants. So he hurriedly asked him how much military resources the household could send to the southwest.
But seeing Wang Shaoyan shaking his head, thinking that the household department couldn't come up with the money, the emperor immediately felt that he had been fooled, and his face instantly turned cold.
But I heard Wang Shaoyan say, "Our household department doesn't need to make much effort at all." Some people are willing to donate cloth to make military uniforms to the border soldiers to congratulate the emperor on his accession to the throne. The household only needs to provide military rations. ”
When the emperor heard Long Yan Dayue, he asked, "Who is Shaoyan talking about?" I will reward him. ”
Wang Shaoyan said with a smile, "This person is Zhang Xun, the shopkeeper of Tianyi Silk Village. It was he who took the initiative to find the minister and the minister to talk about it, and at first the minister didn't believe it, since ancient times, it was said that there was no business and no traitor, and the minister didn't believe that he was a businessman who was so loyal to the king and the country. But he said that his ancestor was originally from the southwest, and the enemy invaded the fish and meat villagers on our border, killing all his fellow villagers, not to mention burning down his ancestral ancestral hall, which made him very indignant, and hated to slash the head of the thief. Helplessly, he had more than enough strength to hope for the frontier soldiers, hoping that they could expel the enemy army as soon as possible and restore the peace of his hometown. Therefore, he found the minister's mansion and told the minister that he was willing to serve the country as much as he could. The minister saw that he was sincere, thinking that this matter would be beneficial to the court and harmless, so he considered it again and again before daring to show His Majesty. ”
Regardless of whether what Wang Shaoyan said was true or not, it was true in the eyes of the emperor at this moment. After all, he has earned a good reputation for nothing, so why not do it. As for this Zhang Xun in Wang Shaoyan's mouth, if there is really such a person, he will be allowed some benefits after the matter is completed.
However, for the sake of prudence, he still proposed to meet this Zhang Xun.
Wang Shaoyan got the will, and when he returned home, he came to Xi Cui to discuss arranging for Zhang Xun to face the saint.
Wang Shaoyan is enough to explain his attitude, he acquiesced to Xi Cui's continued management of his wife's property. Xi Cuijing listened to his commands, and there was no joy or sadness on her calm face.
Zhang Xun had already made preparations, and after receiving Xi Cui's instructions, he began to order someone to tidy up the cloth. According to Wang Shaoyan, when he came out of the palace, he should send this batch of cloth to the Ministry of Industry to make ready-to-wear.
The emperor told Uncle Lao Guo, who took Lao Keqin into the palace to thank him, the corners of Uncle Lao's mouth twitched, and although he said congratulations to the emperor with a smile on his face, his heart fluctuated. Haven't all the properties of Mrs. Huai'an Hou been included in the treasury by the emperor? How can Wang Shaoyan still have such a big hand? Could it be that the woman still has a hand?
When Zhang Xun entered the palace, Uncle Lao Guo did not leave.
Wang Shaoyan led Zhang Xun to kneel under the hall, the emperor saw that Zhang Xun was dressed in plain clothes, and his face was not very good, and he suddenly doubted, shouldn't the characters who can donate tens of thousands of pieces of cloth have thousands of dollars in their waists? If it is really a rich man with a lot of money, why is he dressed so shabby?
After flattening, the emperor asked Zhang Xun to look up and up and down. The man looked to be forty years old, slightly thin, and a somewhat morbidly pale complexion, and the wisp of goat's whiskers on his chin became more and more noticeable.
Zhang Xun only raised his head for the emperor to take a look, and immediately lowered his head and waited for the emperor to ask. He is a commoner, it is already a great grace to be able to stand below and reply, and he will never be able to speak out if the emperor does not speak.
Wang Shaoyan didn't speak, it's not that he can't speak, but at this moment he is more interested in Zhang Xun's characterization. Generally, petty officials with insufficient grades will panic when they see the emperor, and their words and deeds will be indifferent, but this Zhang Xun showed rare calmness and confidence from the moment he came in. He wants to see if this person is really not afraid or has the intention to hide it, if it is the former, he wants to see what ability this person can make him have such a bearing, if it is the latter, then he wants to see how far he can act.
When Xi Cui found Zhang Xun, he told him that Wang Shaoyan already knew everything. When he first saw this gentle and elegant handsome young man, he had a hunch that this person was not as easy to deal with as he looked outside, and he also thought that Wang Shaoyan would take the opportunity to find out his bottom, but he didn't expect Wang Shaoyan to borrow this opportunity. The one who sits on the top is the current emperor, let him see the world through the wind and waves, he is just a businessman with no rank and no rank, no matter how he tries to calm down, he will lose his sense of proportion because he has no bottom in his heart. Since Xi Cui had already given him the answer, he should know that he was his person, but instead of helping at this time, he stood aside and watched coldly, which was really chilling.
Wang Shaoyan is well versed in the way of being an official but knows nothing about business, he naturally cannot understand the mind of a businessman, and he has been familiar with the so-called sage books since he was a child, and the grade concept of Shinong Industry and Commerce has long been deeply rooted in his bones, and he instinctively looks down on businessmen. Zhang Xun is a businessman, he naturally doesn't look down on it, he doesn't even want Zhang Xun to make a fool of himself, as long as he doesn't destroy the whole plan, he expects the person he hates to be rejected by others.
After too long silence, the emperor coughed and wanted to speak, but saw Zhang Xun trembling and threw himself on the ground. Zhang Xun did it on purpose, and the majesty of the emperor did make him fearful, but it was not enough to make him lose his temper. Like Wang Shaoyan, he was also tempting, wondering what kind of attitude Wang Shaoyan would have when he saw that he was making a fool of himself.
The emperor looked at Zhang Xun inexplicably, "Zhang Xun, what made you so panicked?" I, is it that scary? ”
Zhang Xun's face was close to the ground, and his two arms hung weakly on both sides as if he couldn't support his body at all, only to hear Zhang Xun reply, "Long live forgiveness, the grass people are clothed, their lives are shallow, and they can't bear the power of Your Majesty when they stand up, so it's better to kneel and listen to the hadith." Saying this, his body was still trembling, but his eyes secretly glanced at Wang Shaoyan while he was raising his hand to wipe his sweat. Unexpectedly, this glance made him see the contempt in Wang Shaoyan's eyes thoroughly.
The first time the emperor heard someone talk like this, he was curious, but he also found it interesting, so he did not pursue it.
Uncle Lao did not relax his observation of Wang Shaoyan for a moment, and from the moment he came in, he deliberately alienated Zhang Xun, as if he was very displeased with this person. Now seeing Zhang Xun make a fool of himself, Wang Shaoyan's face showed a little disdain, and even a little bit of what I expected. If this Zhang Xun is really Mrs. Huai'anhou's person, Wang Shaoyan married Xi Yunting, they will become their own people, why did Wang Shaoyan treat Zhang Xun like this?
Look at Zhang Xun again, after getting the emperor's golden mouth to stand up and speak, he glanced at Wang Shaoyan coldly, that look was clearly not the eyes of a slave looking at his master, but more of a look at each other with two men who didn't like each other.
The emperor asked Zhang Xun why he had the idea of donating cloth.
Zhang Xun lowered his head for a long time before he raised it, but his eyes were already full of tears, and his voice was much hoarse, "Emperor Mingjian, the ancestral home of the grass people is in the southwest, although I am far away in the capital after the war, I am deeply concerned about my hometown fathers, and after sending people to investigate many times, I learned that those foreign enemies burned and plundered all kinds of evil, and I pity my innocent villagers who were slaughtered." Even the ancestral hall of our ancestral family was burned down by them, and I was depressed for a long time, and the doctor said that I was too worried. If it is a heart disease, it should be treated with heart medicine, so I thought of our soldiers who are fighting on the border, although I cannot go to the battlefield to kill the enemy with them, but I can use my meager wealth to provide them with military clothing. At the same time, I, Zhang Xun, swore that the frontier would report the future, and Zhang Xun's hometown would not be restored, so I Zhang Xun would not retreat in coarse linen! For the mercy of heaven! ”
"Good! What a heart for his hometown! I was deeply moved after listening to your words, if the people of the world are like Zhang Xun and you, why can't I worry about the stability of the Great Xia River like an iron bucket? Why can't the people of Daxia live and work in peace and contentment? The emperor stood up and personally applauded Zhang Xun.
When Zhang Xun saw this scene, he immediately panicked and quickly knelt down again.
The emperor laughed three times, got down from above, personally helped him up, and patted Zhang Xun on the shoulder, "Zhang Xun! You're a good one! I want to reward you, and I want to reward you greatly! You can't reward quietly, you have to make a big show, you have to make a public announcement, and you want everyone in the world to know that you Zhang Xun has been rewarded by me, why is it rewarded! You have to be an example among businessmen and raise the backbone of businessmen! ”
Zhang Xun bent over, the beads of sweat on his forehead slipped down his sideburns, and he didn't dare to scratch it when it was a little itchy.
Uncle Lao Guo stood up with a smile on his face, "Your Majesty, the state-owned businessmen of Great Xia are still like this, how can they be people with lofty ideals?" This is the blessing of the Great Xia Kingdom, the harbinger of Your Majesty's prosperity and Mingjun! ”
No one doesn't like to listen to good words, the emperor was originally on the rise, and he was naturally very happy to hear Uncle Lao Guo say this. But what should be considered for this reward, it can't be too heavy, the Great Xia Kingdom is the most important gift, the merchant is the cheapest reward among the people, it is too heavy and easy to provoke criticism, and it can't be too light, now the treasury is tight, if you can take this opportunity to entrap these businessmen and let them take the money out willingly, he can also be confident in the actual administrative order.
The Emperor sat back on his throne and looked at the people in the hall. Wang Shaoyan seemed to be just a guide from beginning to end, and he never said a word after bringing Zhang Xun in. Although Uncle Lao Guo said something, it was just a welcome speech, and it had no practical meaning except for being good. Lao Keqin has been standing behind Uncle Lao Guo, silent like a transparent person.
The emperor dealt with Lao Keqin when he was the crown prince, as Qi Yu said, Lao Keqin is very smart, but he is too suspicious, even the emperor himself feels that Lao Keqin's city is too deep, and his whole body exudes a ruthless aura, which makes people shudder. Since then, he has been very displeased with this Lao Keqin, the emperor is the most qualified and suspicious person in the world, why is he Lao Keqin, a person who has no merit and fame, suspicious by nature? But he is the eldest son of Uncle Lao, even if he looks at the face of the Lao family, he must first hold this person up.
If you want to use it, why not try how smart he is at this time? So the emperor's gaze crossed Uncle Lao Guo and stayed on Lao Keqin, "Keqin, you are about to become a colt, it's time to stand up and share my worries." Why don't you tell me, how should I reward this Xunzhen? ”
Lao Keqin's narrow eyes narrowed into a slit, and after thinking for a long time, he stood up, "Your Majesty, the minister thinks that Your Majesty can ask this Zhang Xun what reward he wants, and if he doesn't lose his proportions, His Majesty can obey his wishes." "If Zhang Xun dares to open his mouth, then he has to say something else......
The emperor looked at the chill that flashed in his eyes, and his heart was very uncomfortable. What he wants to be is a famous monarch who rules the world with benevolence and filial piety, but if there is a ruthless person like Lao Keqin by his side, I am afraid that it will be difficult for him to succeed.
Zhang Xun naturally knew what the second half of the sentence he didn't finish when he heard Lao Keqin say this, in order to prevent the emperor from really lifting the ball to himself, his mind was spinning quickly, what kind of reward was most appropriate, not to make the emperor feel that he was insatiable, and not to scratch the itch through his boots to make the emperor feel that he was hypocritical and a villain in vain.
Wang Shaoyan looked at Zhang Xun frowning and thinking, his face was silent, but his heart was mixed. He should not look down on Zhang Xun, but Zhang Xun's performance today is quite perfect, he advances and retreats in a certain degree, responds freely, and can even accurately observe words and feelings, and think quickly, how can such a smart person become a businessman? Now that she has to obey the orders of a little girl like Xi Cui, she really has this mind and destroys the heavens. Thinking of this, he was so angry with Zhang Xun that he didn't want to tell him even though he had already thought of what was the most appropriate reward to ask the emperor for.
Zhang Xun remembered that when he first discussed in the VIP building, he said that if this matter is successful, he may be able to take the line of the Internal Affairs Office and become an imperial businessman from now on. If you ask the emperor for such a reward, it shouldn't be too much, right? But this rhetoric is better sorted out beautifully.
At this moment, the emperor's eyes fell on Zhang Xun, "Zhang Xun, what kind of reward do you want?" ”
Zhang Xun's face changed suddenly, and he didn't have Fang Cai's nervousness at all, but stood up with a righteous and awe-inspiring face. I saw him lift his robe vigorously, kneel on his knees, clench his hands into fists, and say loudly, "Although Zhang Xun is a businessman, he has also come all the way with his conscience!" Every piece of cloth in my silk village is a good product of fair price and high quality. It is with such a reputation that I have been able to open 23 branches in the country, and I am not short of money, and I am also known as Tianyi Silk Village. This time I am willing to donate the cloth completely out of a loyal and patriotic heart, if the emperor suspects that I Zhang Xun is here for fame and fortune, then I will leave, no more! ”
Of course, he knew that the emperor couldn't let him leave like this, and he was counting on using Zhang Xun to make a fuss. The businessman knows the best about asking for a price on the spot, and at this moment Zhang Xun knows his value in the eyes of the emperor, and he can only facilitate his own price by showing neither humility nor arrogance. The fore-dust laying must be done sufficiently.
Seeing that Zhang Xun's pale face was flushed, he guessed that he was probably really afraid that he had misunderstood him, and he was in a hurry. hurriedly said, "Zhang Xun, what are you doing here?" I know your heart, hurry up. I'm just asking, don't think so much. ”
The emperor had already said soft words, and he should accept it when he saw it, so Zhang Xun solemnly kowtowed and said, "Your Majesty just said that you want everyone in the world to know the emperor's reward for the grass people, and the grass people dare to guess that the emperor's intention is not just to reward the grass people. Instead, he wanted to use the credit of the grass people to excite the rich businessmen and nobles in the world, so that they could understand the emperor's intentions regardless of rank. Tell them that even if we are lowly merchants, as long as we have a loyal and patriotic heart and are willing to contribute to the country, the emperor will reward us with a big reward and will not be stingy. Of course, Your Majesty's majesty of the Son of Heaven must have other profound meanings, but what the grass people foolishly guessed was only some results related to themselves, and they naturally did not have the bearing to have the world in mind. I also hope that Your Majesty will be merciful and forgive the stupidity of the grass people. ”
Seeing that the emperor did not interrupt him, he continued, "The grass people are merchants, and they know what merchants need most. If His Majesty really thinks that this credit of the grass people can encourage the hearts of the world's merchants for His Majesty, the grass people dare to implore His Majesty to give the Heavenly Clothes and Silk Village as the imperial merchants, and the matter of satin cloth for internal affairs. In this way, the grass people can continue to serve the emperor in order to repay their gratitude, and secondly, it will also let the world's businessmen see the emperor's trust and promotion of businessmen, and it will be easier for the world's businessmen to be tempted. The most taboo thing for us businessmen is that others look down on themselves, if Your Majesty looks at the grass people differently, how can you not let others follow suit and rush to it? ”
Don't say that this is the emperor, even Lao Keqin and Wang Shaoyan couldn't help but admire when they heard it, but it's a pity that such a person actually became a businessman......
Although the emperor did not speak, the expression on his face was already obvious, and he was very satisfied with Zhang Xun.
Sure enough, after a short silence, the emperor burst out laughing again, "Okay, I'll do as you say!" Approve your heavenly clothes and satin village to be my imperial merchant! From now on, I and the ladies of my harem will all point to the cloth you gave me to make clothes......"
Zhang Xun hurriedly kowtowed to thank him, and the sweat stains in his palms had already soaked his cuffs. Fortunately, this matter is over...... (To be continued.) )