Chapter 440: The Yao, Towering Mountain

The main hall of Yuxi Palace.

Chen Hong's face was full of joy: "Congratulations to Your Majesty, congratulations to Your Majesty, Concubine Zhang has given birth to a prince and is a prince." ”

He took the tray from the hand of a small eunuch beside him and held it high above his head. In the tray was a white "colored" jade.

Chen Hong had rain on his body and kept falling, and his body was wet.

All the eunuchs also knelt down: "Long live the great joy of the lord." ”

Yang Tinghe and all the other cabinet members also knelt down: "Congratulations to Your Majesty." "The cabinet ministers are also happy in their hearts, Emperor Jiajing cultivates all day long, but he doesn't pay much attention to women's sex. Therefore, the royal heirs are not prosperous, but so far only Chen Housheng has a son.

In ancient times, medical conditions were poor and infant mortality rates were extremely high. In ordinary families, children who do not reach the age of six do not count as living. Although the royal conditions are good, who can say clearly about such a thing as providence?

Now, Zhang Guifei has given birth to another son, which is also a good thing for the country. The cabinet is sincerely happy for Jiajing.

In fact, the happiest person at the moment is Huang Jin. Two years ago, Concubine Zhang was supposed to give birth. Later, when Lu Fang's case happened, Concubine Zhang's body was damaged, and she was raised for a year before she got better. Now, she has finally given birth to a prince, which is very good for stabilizing her position.

Today's Huang Jin and Concubine Zhang can be said to be both prosperous and lossy. In the palace, there is no prince, and he has no confidence in speaking and doing things. Now it's okay, Concubine Zhang finally has a child. In the future, as long as you operate carefully, you may not be able to push this prince to the throne of the crown prince, and his glory and wealth of Huang Jin will be guaranteed.

Strange to say, unlike the joy on everyone's faces, Jiajing's expression was indifferent, that is, he couldn't see joy or worry, so he stood quietly in front of the door, as if the matter of giving birth to a child was just a thing that should be done for him: "Pen and ink." ”

"It's coming, it's coming." Huang Jin knew that Jiajing was going to name the newborn, so he hurriedly presented a pen with joy. Last time Chen Housheng Zhu Zhiyan was there, Jiajing didn't think of what name to give the child for a while, so he consulted Sun Dan's opinion and asked Sun Monkey to do it for him.

Now, Sun Dan is gone, but the emperor suddenly wants to name the child himself. It can be seen that Concubine Zhang and such a child have a higher status in the emperor's mind than Empress Chen.

Now, people inside and outside the palace can see that Zhu Zaisu, who was born to Empress Chen, is very stupid and not liked by the emperor. Jiajing was quite disappointed with Zhu Zaisu.

Now the child born to Concubine Zhang is smart and clever, and the possibility of being appointed as a prince in the future is very large.

Emperor Jiajing stretched out his right hand, and his wide sleeves "Whew!" He shrank down, revealing a long, white and slender arm. He picked up the pen and wrote a big word "Yao" on the jade: "Yao, the towering mountain, let's call this child Zhu Zaiyao." ”

Hearing this, Huang Jin's heart was even more happy. Yao means high mountain, tall and majestic. This word, ordinary people do not dare to use it, and it is used in the name of the emperor. Hearing the emperor take this word, Huang Jin's heart was shocked, does His Majesty intend to make this child the prince?

He glanced at the emperor secretly, but he couldn't see the slightest clue from Jiajing's numb face.

Jiajing put down the pen and flicked his sleeves: "Get up." ”

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Then the people stood up.

Jiajing: "Huang Jin, you immediately send twenty palace maids and eunuchs to serve the marquis, and there should be no less festive treasures for Concubine Zhang." When I'm done here, I'll go over and see her. ”

"Yes." Huang Jin hurriedly replied and retreated, and then instructed Chen Hong: "I'll go to Concubine Zhang, Your Majesty, you will wait here first." ”

Jiajing: "Let's go, Yuanfu, you can stay." ”

When everyone retreated, only Yang Tinghe and He Jiajing were left in the hall.

Jiajing returned to the futon and sat down cross-legged, while Chen Hong had already changed into dry palace clothes and stood behind him.

Jiajing looked indifferent and muttered, "Should you prepare for disaster relief, but where can I find the money?" Or God forbid, this rain will not cause a flood? He seemed to be asking Yang Tinghe, and he seemed to be asking himself.

Yang Tinghe has obviously aged in the past two years, and his voice is not as loud as before, with a slight phlegm in his throat: "Your Majesty, this governing the country is not a gamble. Even if you go to the casino, there is a trick to playing money: specialize in playing moldy villages. It means that a person is not going well, refuses to admit defeat and gives up, but wants to gamble again. It's a pity that the more he wants to fight, the more he will be a ghost, and God won't help him. To govern a country, you can't rely on struggle, and good luck will not always follow one person. After such a long time of drought, it is time for waterlogging, take precautions, and think about disaster relief. Even if there are no floods in the future, it is good to prepare in advance. ”

"But where does the money come from?" Jiajing said: "In the summer and autumn of last year, the tax and silver of the two capitals and thirteen provinces were more than 30 million taels, and the expenses were more than 40 million, with a deficit of 10 million. This is still the result of the trial implementation of a whip law in some provinces after the land was cleared. If there is no measure to convert the tax in kind into a cash tax, I am afraid that this hole will be even bigger. It is difficult for a clever woman to cook without rice, and I can't think of it now. Yang Yiqing was in a hurry with me just now, didn't I understand what he said? ”

Yang Tinghe still refused to give up: "Your Majesty, as long as there are one million taels, it is enough." ”

Jiajing closed his eyes, as if he was completely settled.

Yang Tinghe felt a little embarrassed, his lips moved, and he was about to speak, when Chen Hong waved his hand at him and motioned for him to leave.

At this time, a eunuch came in outside the door and knelt on the ground: "Long live the lord, Lu Bing asks to see you." ”

Jiajing still didn't move, Chen Hong: "Your Majesty is repairing, I don't see the foreign minister, what is the matter with Lord Lu?" ”

The eunuch replied: "Back to Your Majesty, back to Gonggong Chen's words, Lord Lu said that he came to prepare for the disaster relief silver. ”

Jiajing's eyes opened suddenly: "But you thought of a way?" ”

"Yes, yes." The eunuch nodded again and again: "Lord Lu said that the silver needed for this year's disaster relief is wrapped in him. ”

Jiajing mentioned that the jade Ruyi beside him knocked on the jade chime, and Chen Hong immediately said loudly: "Pass Lu Bing!" ”

Lu Bing still looked so handsome, so he walked into the hall with a solemn attitude: "Minister Lu Bing greets Your Majesty." ”

"I've met Shousuke-sama."

Yang Tinghe was even more anxious than the emperor, and grabbed Lu Bing: "You don't need to be so polite, tell me what is going on with the disaster relief money, have you thought of any way to make money?" ”

Lu Bing said with a smile: "Back to Your Majesty's words to look back at Lord Fu, in fact, this idea was not something I came up with. As he spoke, he pointed out of the palace.

Yang Tinghe suddenly understood: "It's Sun Dan's idea." ”

Lu Bing nodded, and took out a piece of Chen from his arms: "This is what Sun Dan and I came up with, Your Majesty and Shoufu are looking at it, if it works, I will go to class." According to Lu Bing, it should be no problem to make up one million taels in a short period of time. ”

Chen Hong hurriedly took it and handed it to Jiajing, and Yang Tinghe also leaned his head over.

In fact, both the emperor and the cabinet members understand that this year's waterlogging cannot be avoided. There is no doubt that a long drought will be followed by a great flood. It's just that the degree and scope are large and small. China has been a disaster-prone place in history, and the country is so big that there are always some disasters in some places every year.

The household department also set aside a sum of money every year as a disaster relief fund, but Emperor Wuzong used troops every year, and this money was also diverted for other purposes, and this system was almost abandoned. Since Jiajing ascended the throne, the wind and rain have been smooth in the past two years, and everyone did not expect to restore this system.

But this year's climate was a little unusual, and when they realized that something was wrong, the monarchs and ministers remembered to prepare in advance, but the money did not arrive.

Disaster relief cannot be done in a sloppy manner, and once the situation cannot be controlled and the people are "disturbed", it will be a major event that will shake the foundation of the country.

The cabinet members had a big conflict with the emperor just now, and they wanted the emperor to pay for it.

Emperor Jiajing is not a fool, he knows that once this money is taken out, he will definitely not come back.

Ignore the "sex" and ask for money, you go to the household department, don't bother me.

At this time, Lu Bing brought good news, saying that Sun Dan came up with a way to turn money, so that the emperor and Yang Shoufu came to the spirit at the same time.

The two of them looked down and immediately understood the meaning contained in Sun Dan's statement: Lujia Qianzhuang issued bonds, ordinary merchants subscribed to bonds and lent to Qianzhuang, and then Qianzhuang loaned to the household department. Ordinary merchants eat the interest of the bank, and the bank eats the interest of the account.

Yang Tinghe has always admired Sun Dan very much, but when he saw this process, he laughed angrily: "What kind of fame is this Sun Dan, doing business at the head of the imperial court, and national affairs are like child's play in his hands." If he had really thought of the country's society and His Majesty's grace, he would not have uttered such a ridiculous remark. After reading the sage books for so many years, this Sun Dan didn't read the anger of Haoran, but read a belly of copper. It's hateful! ”

Yang Shoufu was extremely disappointed in Sun Dan.

However, the emperor snorted: "I see, it is feasible!" ”

"What?" Yang Tinghe was greatly surprised.

In the emperor's heart, Sun Dan was greatly appreciated, so that he could collect a large amount of disaster relief silver without spending a penny of the imperial court. Not only that, but because he has shares in Lujia Qianzhuang, he can also take the opportunity to make a lot of money, so why not do it. This Yang Tinghe thinks beautifully, looking at what he means, it seems that he wants the Lu family to donate a large sum of money for free, isn't this snatching money from my hands?

Jiajing said coldly: "Could it be that Shoufu can still come up with a way from other places?" ”

Yang Tinghe was silent.

Jiajing stopped talking, and picked up the jade Ruyi again and knocked on the jade chime.

Chen Hong said loudly: "Lord Shoufu's decree!" ”

Yang Tinghe had no choice but to pick up the pen and began to draw up an edict, to the effect that the Lujia Qianzhuang would raise two million taels of disaster relief silver and lend it to the household department, which would be responsible for repaying the loan and interest, with Shandong's annual salt tax as a guarantee.

After reading this edict, Jiajing nodded with satisfaction. He roughly calculated that he could get more than 100,000 taels of interest every year. He was not afraid that the household department would not return the principal, and he did not think about letting them return it, anyway, he just ate the interest every year, but it was a huge source of wealth. The officials of the Ministry of Household Affairs did not dare not refuse to pay interest on the loan.

"Batch red!" Chen Hong announced loudly: "And the transfer department will follow the implementation!" ”