When Wang Chengen entered the Palace of Nourishing the Heart, Emperor Chongzhen was sitting behind the bookcase sulking, and there were several books of ministers scattered in the hall.

Several Tsing Yi attendants saw Wang Chengen come in, as if they had been pardoned. Wang Chengen stepped forward carefully, leaned over to pick up the folds on the ground, and then put them on the desk to stack them.

Seeing this, Emperor Chongzhen feigned anger and said: "Bad thing, what are you doing picking it up!" ”

Wang Chengen smiled slightly, thought about it, and said to Emperor Chongzhen: "Your Majesty, for the ministers to dare to speak out, this is a great thing for political enlightenment, how can Your Majesty abandon it." ”

Emperor Chongzhen snorted angrily and scolded: "Chengen, you didn't watch what was played on it!" The Imperial History of the Metropolitan Procuratorate has only been vacant for a few days, and these people have to fill the vacancy one by one! Hmph, one by one, they all have their own little calculations! The northwest was in a miasma by the uprising of the people's army, and I didn't see that a few of these ministers really cared! ”

Wang Chengen persuaded: "Your Majesty, if you want to calm down the chaos in the northwest, it is not an overnight effort, and making up for the lack of the imperial history of the capital is also a matter that needs to be solved urgently. ”

Emperor Chongzhen snorted disapprelicly, then picked up another letter from the desk, looked at it twice, then threw it aside, stroked his forehead and sighed: "Liaodong Sun Ge wants to rebuild Dalinghe City and consolidate the Jinzhou defense line, and this is reaching out to me to ask for silver!" Alas, Cheng'en, now that the household department is so poor that it can't even be sent to the Beijing officials next month, where do I still have the money to send to Liaodong? ”

Wang Chengen sighed and exclaimed: "Your Majesty, what Sun Ge Lao played, but it is an important matter, and Your Majesty is careless." ”

Emperor Chongzhen said with a bitter face: "I know! Although this Sun Ge Lao is sometimes very tough, he is a capable minister. But there is no money in this treasury. Do you want to give money out of my inner treasury again? ”

Wang Chengen's face was also bitter, and he said curtly: "Your Majesty, as far as the old slave knows, there is not much silver in the inner treasury. ”

"yes!"

Emperor Chongzhen sighed constantly, with a sad face, and sighed for a long time.

Wang Chengen looked at Emperor Chongzhen's expression. Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and he stepped forward and said worriedly: "Speaking of the silver in the inner treasury, the old slave remembers one thing. ”

"Hmm, what's the matter?"

Wang Chengen chuckled and said, "Your Majesty, have you ever remembered that Xu Liang, the Qing of Guanglu Temple, has a little fellow named Yan Qi, who is the president of the Beijing branch of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce. Last time, he donated 20,000 taels of silver to the court, and His Majesty also gave a plaque of loyalty and righteousness as a token of appreciation. ”

Emperor Chongzhen nodded slowly and said, "I remembered." That's the thing. ”

Wang Chengen saw that Emperor Chongzhen did not have a displeased expression, so he thought carefully about Xu Liang's explanation, and said: "A few days ago, Lord Xu found the old slave again, saying that the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce wanted to ask for a holy decree from His Majesty. It's just that in the past few days, the old slave has not dared to mention this matter when he saw that His Majesty was in a bad mood. It's not. Just now that Lord Xu found the old slave again, the old slave dared to think of this matter. ”

Emperor Chongzhen listened. With a fox look on his face, he looked at Wang Chengen and said, "No profit is not early, businessmen are the most profit-seeking!" What does the Chinese Entrepreneur Association want? Also, why is Xu Liang, the Qing of Guanglu Temple, so enthusiastic about this kind of thing? ”

Wang Chengen was startled in his heart, and hurriedly lowered his head and replied: "This ...... But I had to ask Lord Xu to know. The old slave didn't know the details. Wang Chengen frowned when he saw Emperor Chongzhen. Hurriedly knelt down and said: "Your Majesty forgives me, originally the old slave should not have bothered Your Majesty with these small things, but I just saw that Your Majesty was worried about the matter of silver, and the old slave thought, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce has donated silver before." This time, maybe I can donate some more silver, so I boldly said it, since His Majesty is not allowed, then the old slave will send someone to refuse Lord Xu......"

As he spoke, Wang Chengen carefully looked at Emperor Chongzhen's face, and when he saw that the emperor was still calm, he sighed secretly in his heart, and lowered his head to withdraw from the Heart Cultivation Palace.

After taking a few steps outside, Emperor Chongzhen suddenly stopped and said, "Slow! ”

Wang Chengen hurriedly stood and looked back at Emperor Chongzhen inquiringly.

Chongzhen waved his hand and said: "Xuan Xu Aiqing enters the palace, I will listen to what Xu Aiqing has to say first." ”

While waiting for Xu Liang to enter the palace, Emperor Chongzhen began to review the folds again. Wang Chengen was waiting on the side, helping to sort out the folds, Emperor Chongzhen looked at one letter, Wang Chengen unfolded the next one, and naturally handed it to Emperor Chongzhen.

"Huh?" Emperor Chongzhen held the fold that Feng had just opened in his hand, looked at it intently, clapped his hands and laughed: "I didn't expect that Shaanxi also has such loyal and brave officials. Well, this official called Zodiac Zhou should be rewarded. ”

Wang Chengen's hand behind his back was shaking gently, and Emperor Chongzhen couldn't see it, so he didn't find it, in fact, the letter he was holding in his hand was just taken out of Wang Chengen's arms, and half an hour ago, it was still in the hands of Xu Liang, the Qing of Guanglu Temple.

Wang Chengen saw that Emperor Chongzhen was not suspicious, so he asked curiously: "Your Majesty, what is the happy event?" ”

Emperor Chongzhen smiled: "I can't say anything about happy events. On the day of 12 May, Gao Yingxiang, the leader of the Shaanxi People's Army, led the People's Army to besiege the city of Jingzhou, and there were less than 1,000 soldiers in Lianzhi County. This fold is the Pingliang prefect Lu Yifa for the Zodiac Zhou. ”

Wang Chengen listened, raised his head and thought for a while, and suddenly exclaimed: "Your Majesty said about this zodiac week, the old slave seems to have some impressions. ”

"Huh?" Emperor Chongzhen looked at Wang Chengen in surprise and asked, "Zodiac Zhou Yuan is in Pingliang, Shaanxi, how do you know?" ”

Wang Chengen said with a smile: "Your Majesty doesn't know, that Huang Dao Zhou is a jinshi in the second year of the Apocalypse, and once served as a cultivator of the Hanlin Academy, and the old slave's understanding of this person is also a coincidence. ”

Emperor Chongzhen said: "It seems that this Zodiac Zhou is also a somewhat famous figure. ”

Wang Chengen chuckled and said, "Huang Daozhou was thirty-eight years old when he was a jinshi in the second year of the Apocalypse. ”

When Emperor Chongzhen heard this, he couldn't hide the disappointment in his eyes, and said to himself: It seems that he is not an outstanding talent so late.

Unexpectedly, Wang Chengen seemed to see Emperor Chongzhen's disappointment, and then said: "Your Majesty may think that Huang Daozhou's qualifications are mediocre. Not really. It is rumored that Huang Daozhou was a smart and studious person since he was a child, and he studied at the age of five in Tongshan Chongwen Academy; Eleven-year-old is a good article; At the age of fourteen, he traveled to Boluo, Guangdong, and was honored as "Fujian Talent"; At the age of eighteen, he lived in Tayu in the middle of the sea in Tongshan and studied "Yi"; At the age of 20, he began to devote himself to lecturing and writing, and at the age of 37, he took the autumn examination for the first time, and was promoted in the middle of the first year. In the second year, I won the Jinshi! During his tenure as a writer in the Hanlin Academy, he was even appreciated by His Majesty the Emperor Tianqi, and was often ordered to enter the palace to play and read. ”

Emperor Chongzhen really showed a shocked look at this time, and after a long time, he suddenly asked suspiciously: "Since Huang Daozhou is such a good person, why is he still living in the place?" ”

Wang Chengen sighed lightly and explained: "The old slave can also think of it without mentioning His Majesty, during the reign of the first emperor, the Duke of Wei was in power, and Huang Daozhou was upright. Because Wei's father-in-law didn't like it, he found a first handful and sent it to Ren County, the former small county of Shaanxi Town. ”

When Chongzhen heard this, he scolded angrily: "Wei Zhongxian, this person, troubles the dynasty, he really deserves to be killed!" ”

After a while, Xu Liang was edicted to enter the Heart Cultivation Palace, and after kowtowing, Chongzhen asked Xu Liang about the intention of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

Xu Liang explained to Emperor Chongzhen. In fact, since the first honeycomb coal manufacturer counterfeiting Xishan Coal Mine appeared on the outskirts of Beijing. Xu Liang intended to let the Chinese Entrepreneur Chamber of Commerce take the path of Emperor Chongzhen and crack down on counterfeiting and shoddy products in a good name.

No way. Near the capital, there are too many relatives and nobles of the emperor, who would have thought that the one standing behind the fake factory would be the uncle of the dynasty or the founding of the country? If it is placed in the territory of Pingliang Mansion, Xu Liang will be extinguished, but the capital will be different. Without a valid reason, a powerful backer, in the name of a non-governmental Chinese Entrepreneur Association, to attack other businesses, is very likely to provoke the unprovoked master.

Xu Liang's thoughts. It is to use the name of Emperor Chongzhen to pull Emperor Chongzhen into the water, generously give Emperor Chongzhen some shares of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, and package the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce into the Royal Chamber of Commerce, so that the act is justified.

Xu Liang explained to Emperor Chongzhen like this, and Chongzhen couldn't help but be greatly moved when he heard that he could receive dividends from the Chinese Chamber of Commerce every year to twenty or thirty thousand taels of silver. Now is the time when money is urgently needed, and mosquito legs are also meat.

So, Emperor Chongzhen asked Xu Liang quite excitedly: "Xu Aiqing, what kind of right do you say?" ”

"Patents." Xu Liang said solemnly.

"Yes, patents." Emperor Chongzhen nodded and said, "Are you saying that as long as I give the Chinese Entrepreneur Chamber of Commerce a secret decree and grant the Chinese Entrepreneur Association the right to protect patents, then I will be able to own a hundred percent of the shares of the Chamber of Commerce?" Can you still get dividends every year? ”

Xu Liang said: "Exactly." His Majesty owns the shares of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, and the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce will be upgraded to the Royal Chamber of Commerce, which is also extremely beneficial to the future development of the Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber of Commerce has developed, and His Majesty's dividends have naturally risen. ”

Emperor Chongzhen nodded, pondered for a while, and stroked his palm: "This business is done." As he spoke, he gestured to Wang Chengen: "Chengen, the intention is to be made." ”

At the moment, it was dictated by Emperor Chongzhen, Wang Chengen wrote with a pen, and the holy decree was quickly prepared. After Emperor Chongzhen saw it, he used the seal and presented it to Xu Liang by Wang Chengen.

Xu Liang took the holy tent in his hand and shouted long live. When he got up, he looked happy.

Emperor Chongzhen looked at Xu Liang and asked in surprise: "Looking at Xu Aiqing's appearance, I'm afraid that it has a lot to do with the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, right?" ”

Xu Liang was secretly shocked in his heart, but he was extremely shocked on the surface, and he shook his head to the ground and complimented: "The emperor is sage." The minister's careful thinking still can't hide it from the emperor. Saying that, Xu Liang looked embarrassed, and said wryly: "Actually, Chen's wife also runs the business of Liang Kee and is a backbone member of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce. ”

Emperor Chongzhen was stunned, pointed at Xu Liang and scolded with a smile: "It turns out that Xu Aiqing is also a rich family. ”

Xu Liang laughed.

Seeing Xu Liang carefully withdraw with the holy decree in both hands, Emperor Chongzhen hooked his finger towards Wang Chengen.

Wang Chengen stepped forward and asked, "Your Majesty?" ”

Emperor Chongzhen looked at the door of the Heart Cultivation Hall with a faint gaze, and said in a cold tone: "Tell Luo Dudu of Jinyiwei and ask him to carefully check the bottom of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce." Oh, and Xu Aiqing's Liang Ji will also be carefully checked by me. ”

Wang Chengen's expression was awe-inspiring, and he bowed his hand.

Xu Liang went out of the palace, first went to the Ministry of Rites to visit Li Tengfang, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, and then turned into the Ministry of Rites, and paced into the study of Wang Yongguang, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites.

Wang Shangshu was worried about the selection of the imperial history of the capital, and Cao Yubian, the imperial historian of the left capital, had just left on the front foot, and Xu Liang arrived on the back foot.

Beckoning Xu Liang to sit casually, Wang Shangshu said angrily: "Cabinet Cao Ge has just left, Xu Liang, you are here." ”

Xu Liang was slightly surprised and asked, "Elder Cao Ge is not in charge of the affairs of the Ministry of Officials, what is he doing here with Master Shangshu?" ”

Wang Shangshu sneered: "What else can I do!" urged the official to raise the matter of filling the vacancy in the imperial history of the capital as soon as possible. Hey, this official is not in a hurry, he is in a hurry. ”

Xu Liang said: "The Imperial Court is the heart of Cao Ge Lao, and the selection of the imperial historian of the capital has not been decided for a day, and Cao Ge Lao has difficulty sleeping and eating. ”

Wang Shangshu took a sip, "If it weren't for Elder Cao Ge to put the face of Shoufu Zhou Yanru out, the official would not have paid attention to him." ”

"What? Even Zhou Shoufu is urging? Xu Liang exclaimed.

Wang Shangshu nodded slowly, then looked at Xu Liang and said, "Before today's court meeting, Xu Liang, you asked the official not to mention the matter of the imperial history of the capital for the time being, what happened?" ”

Xu Liang asked: "Xia Guan heard that about the candidate for the imperial history of the capital, several adults have made suggestions?" What are the different accounts? ”

Wang Shangshu said distressedly: "No, this official is also having a headache about this matter." The official wanted to transfer people from the Nanjing Metropolitan Procuratorate, but Xu Ge Lao recommended Guangdong Senator Zhao Daren, but Cao Ge Lao insisted on promoting a capital from within the Beijing Metropolitan Procuratorate. Several parties are deadlocked. ”

Xu Liang listened, was silent for a while, stared at Wang Shangshu, and asked: "With the current situation, if Lord Shangshu nominates someone from the Nanjing Metropolitan Procuratorate, how sure is it that he will succeed?" ”

Wang Shangshu's expression darkened when he heard this, and he said silently: "Cabinet Zhou Shoufu and Wen Tiren support Cao Yubian, and Xu Ge Lao has another candidate, I am not afraid of Xu Liang's jokes, in this case, the probability of the official's candidate being passed is less than one percent." ”

Xu Liang asked again: "Then according to Lord Shangshu's opinion, who will win in the end?" ”

"If nothing else, Cao Ge's old man will take the position."

Xu Liang stroked his palms and said, "This is the reason why the lower officials stopped Lord Shangshu. At today's court meeting, if Lord Shangshu mentions the matter of filling the vacancy in the imperial history of the capital, it must be cheaper for Cao Ge Lao. If you let Elder Cao Ge make the Metropolitan Procuratorate a monolith, it will not be of any benefit to you, to me, or to all of us. ”

Wang Shangshu finally understood Xu Liang's intention, so he asked with a straight face: "Could it be Xu Liang, what do you think?" ”

Xu Liang said confidently: "It's very simple, Cao Ge is always an alliance, and we have to hold together." However, this person has to be changed slightly. As he spoke, Xu Liang said that he wanted to help Ping Liang Tongzhi Zodiac Zhou ascend to the throne.

Wang Shangshu listened, looked at Xu Liang for a long time, and saw Xu Liang's calm face, so he said in a deep voice: "Even if this official supports you, just the two of us are still not enough to compete with Cao Ge Lao and them." ”

Xu Liang smiled proudly, and suddenly said: "What if I say that in addition to you and me, the people who support me are Li Tengfang, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, and Sun Chengzong, a scholar of Wuyingdian University?" ”

"This ...... How can it be? Sun Ge is far away in Liaodong! ”

Xu Liang said in a gloomy tone: "Lord Shangshu doesn't know, in fact, Elder Sun Ge is already on his way back to Beijing. (To be continued.) )

PS: Merry Christmas to everyone.