There are a lot of wealthy merchants in the Ming Dynasty, but when it comes to power, the Jin merchants are definitely arrogant, and the foundation is terrifying. Shanxi people not only have money, they will also spend money, set up private schools everywhere, help poor scholars, and wait for these scholars to pass the imperial examination and enter the officialdom, naturally do their best to serve their masters.

One or two hundred years of accumulation, so that the Jin merchants have unparalleled strength, even the Ming court has to borrow money from them, and they dare not pay it back!

Zhang Ke has long known that he worked for the Manchu Qing Dynasty and helped the eight imperial merchants who changed the dynasty, and Zhang Ke also fought with them. In the past, these people were only regarded as traitors and thieves, but Deng Wentong's words seemed to open a new door, which gave Zhang Ke a completely different way of thinking.

In fact, since entering Beijing at the end of last year, the situation has become a little incredible.

First of all, so many middle and low-level officials came out together and openly rebelled against Wei Zhongxian, you must know that the eunuch party was still in full swing at that time, and many of the officials who made trouble were even members of the eunuch party.

Then there was the explosion of Wang Gongchang, the sudden death of the Apocalypse, Wei Zhongxian's outrageous actions, and then the blood-stained Jinluan Palace, and the White Lotus Sect descended from the sky......

Wait a while, add it up, and carefully scrutinize it, in fact, everything is a challenge to the imperial power of the Ming Dynasty, and it is an impact on the majesty of Zhu Ming.

There are not so many coincidences in the world, if there is a black hand quietly pushing behind the back, or using force to help the troubles, lest the world will not be chaotic, it is completely possible!

Zhang Ke fell into thought, Deng Wentong pondered for a while, and said: "When I heard that thousands of White Lotus Sects appeared in the inner gym and mixed into the Forbidden City, I couldn't believe it at all, just kidding, the Ninefold Deep Palace is heavily guarded. How could the White Lotus Sect sneak in lightly. Now that I think about it, if the Jin Merchants worked hard from behind, maybe they could really do it, after all, their connections were too strong. It's just that there is still a little doubt, what are they doing here, are they thinking of changing the dynasty and becoming the emperor? Deng Wentong smiled bitterly and said: "It's just that these actions are too sudden, they don't seem to be deliberate at all, and the rebellion is not like this, it's really incomprehensible." ”

Zhang Ke raised his head. Suddenly smiled.

"Brother-in-law, people don't want to rebel! What they want is to knock on the mountain and shake the tiger. ”

Deng Wentong suddenly became curious, and hurriedly asked, "What do you say?" ”

"If the guess is correct, they are warning the emperor and demonstrating to the imperial court."

"Why is that?"

"Because Jiannu has been destroyed!"

"I see!" Deng Wentong suddenly realized......

It is well known that the Jin merchants secretly smuggled into Mongolia and Jiannu. It's just that behind this kind of transaction, in addition to the drive of huge profits, it is also a means for Jin merchants to infiltrate the imperial court.

The war is constant and the attrition is endless. The imperial court had no money. If you want to borrow money from Jin merchants, you have to give benefits to the Jin party. And at the same time, the northern frontier maintained strong pressure. He can also warn the court at all times not to try to repay his debts. Otherwise, they fell out with the Jin merchants, and they broke the kettle and turned to support the barbarians. The Ming Dynasty is coming to an end!

This is actually a terrifying balance, and only Jin merchants with strong accumulation would dare to play such a dangerous game.

It's just that with the strong rise of Zhang Ke, with the strength of the Yizhou soldiers. Unexpectedly, the Daning Capital Division was restored, and Liaodong was restored. Abolished both of Jin Shang's chess pieces.

Not only can he not threaten the Ming Dynasty, on the contrary, if Zhang Ke is loyal to the Ming Dynasty, with the strength and independence of the Yizhou soldiers, even if the imperial court wants to repay the debt, there is no need to be afraid of the Jin merchants......

In fact, Tianqi did just that, he released Wei Zhongxian, and vigorously eradicated the Donglin party that was sympathetic to the Jin merchants, and then broadened the financial resources, and the taxes received went directly to the internal funds, which were allocated to the army for use. Without the interference of the household department, the Jin merchants did not even have the interest they deserved.

Annoyed and angry, they want to teach the emperor and the court a terrible lesson, and let them know the price of breaking the contract!

The next qiē was logical, and even Zhang Ke suspected that the death of the apocalypse would be counted as the Jin Party forces hidden in the shadows. Thinking of this, Zhang Ke shuddered.

Back then, he took down Wang Dengku with his handle, thinking that Jin Shang was nothing more than that, but now it seems that a mere Wang Dengku did not touch the core interests of Jin Shang, otherwise Zhang Ke would have already enjoyed the revenge of wanting to die.

Thinking of the huge and friendless Jin Party, Zhang Ke and Deng Wentong became silent, just pouring wine one by one, and after a while, the table was full of empty wine jugs.

Deng Wentong's tongue grew a lot, and he smiled stupidly: "It's really rare, I can actually see that King Anton is scared, it's worth a toast!" ”

"Hehe, joke, when have I been scared of Zhang Ke." Zhang Ke paused heavily and said with a smile: "The most terrifying thing on the battlefield is not how strong the enemy is, but I don't know what cards the enemy has!" I don't even know who the enemy is, but now that there are signs, there is nothing to fear. ”

Deng Wentong stroked his palms and laughed, and said: "I admire Yongzhen's self-confidence, how to deal with it next?" ”

"Without him, enhance your strength!"

……

Entering the Qianqing Palace again, the decoration is still the same, but things are not people, and the owner has become the new emperor of Chongzhen.

After Zhang Ke came, Chongzhen was particularly enthusiastic, and asked Wang Chengen to greet him personally, and after the ceremony, Chongzhen hurriedly said: "King Anton please hurry up, I can inherit the throne and sweep away the eunuchs, all relying on Zhang Aiqing." I have long wanted to invite Zhang Aiqing over, but because of the chaos in the government, I really can't spare time. ”

Wang Chengen also interjected: "No, after the master ascended the throne, he couldn't sleep for two hours a day, and the old slave was distressed when he saw it!" ”

Zhang Ke said with a smile: "The Son of Heaven is diligent in government, and the blessing of all the people." The saint does not sleep well, but the world is healthy and the people are happy. The minister really doesn't know whether to persuade the emperor or encourage the emperor! ”

"Hahaha!" Chongzhen laughed heartily, this horse was shot invisible, just poking Chongzhen's heart, the more the young emperor looked at Zhang Ke, the more pleasing it was.

Don't be happy with things, don't be sad with yourself. As the first hero to escort in the chaos, he didn't have a word of asking for merit, unlike those who were officials, who hadn't done anything yet, as if they were afraid that others wouldn't know.

Chongzhen said with a smile: "King Anton has a good reputation, I have only been on the throne for a few months, and the government has not been clear, how to talk about the people living and working in peace and contentment, I have to do more!" ”

Saying that, Chongzhen picked up a few books from the dragon book case and shook them.

"Yang Jingchen and others wrote a book, asking me to sweep away the maladministration of the eunuch party and be sympathetic to the people's power, after I read it, it makes a lot of sense. King Anton might as well help me weigh it up. ”

Zhang Ke hurriedly stood up from the embroidery pier and refused: "The minister is just a martial artist, where do you understand the major affairs of the imperial court, it is up to the Holy Cadre to make the decision." ”

Seeing that Zhang Ke knew how to be proportionate, Chongzhen became more and more satisfied, and said: "These things also have a lot to do with King Anton, you just have to watch it, don't worry." ”

Zhang Ke thanked him again and again, and finally took the notebook in his hand.

Opening the first page made him almost squirt a mouthful of old blood, which really had something to do with him. The first one turned out to be the restoration of the ancestral system and the implementation of the forbidden sea. Zhang Ke spent a lot of effort to open the sea and trade in Songjiang, and the wealth was rolling, and the silver traded every year was no less than tens of millions of taels, which was simply a chicken that laid golden eggs.

At this time, the sea is forbidden, isn't it a reversal?

Zhang Ke was stunned for a moment, hurriedly looked down, and gradually he finally saw a clue. Now after the sea is opened, gold and silver are rolling, and the sea cannot be forbidden. Letting the imperial court ban the sea is just trying to coax the imperial court to give up tariffs.

As long as the imperial court forbids the sea, there is naturally no way to ask for taxes, and this money will be left.

Zhang Ke saw through the ghost trick at a glance, but for Chongzhen, it was a little difficult, he put his hands behind his back, and said: "King Anton, as mentioned above, after the opening of the sea, the people in the southeast are keen on commerce and do not think about farming. In addition, the excessive taxation, exploitation of dealings, and competition with the people for profits can be called maladministration. I am determined to enforce the forbidden sea according to the ancestral system, what do you think? ”

The opening of the sea in Songjiang was single-handedly promoted by Zhang Ke, and at this time Chongzhen had to ask his opinion.

Poor baby, if Wei Zhongxian is here, at least this kind of nonsense will not be believed! Zhang Ke secretly sighed in his heart, he had already given up saving Private Chongzhen, not only did he give up, but he didn't mind pushing into the abyss again.

"The saint is longitudinal, the heart of heaven is merciful, when the minister went to Jiangnan to open the sea, it was also to raise military salaries, and now that Liaodong is pacified, the cost of military salaries is naturally less, and it is also necessary to reduce the burden of the people in Jiangnan. It's just that the minister thinks that everything should be carried out step by step, divided into three years, and the matter will be completed slowly. ”

"Hmm!" Chongzhen nodded with satisfaction, "What King Anton said is reasonable, I will turn around and let the cabinet weigh it up." ”

……

Then looking down, the second item is even more absurd, it turns out that Wei Zhongxian raised the salt tax of Lianghuai to 2.7 million taels in Japan, and the merchants were miserable, bankrupt and fled. The people were unable to eat salt, and they were also miserable. Therefore, the imperial court reduced the salt tax as appropriate, and the merchants and people were grateful.

It's farting again!

Who doesn't know that the salt merchants of Lianghuai are fat and flowing, and when the Ming Dynasty opened the country, the salt tax could still receive 10 million taels. supported Zhu Laosi to go to the West and Mongolia five times, and did many brilliant achievements.

By the end of the Ming Dynasty, the population had increased several times compared with the beginning of the Ming Dynasty. This is a rigid demand. Wei Zhongxian complained bitterly after receiving less than three million taels, he was simply talking nonsense, but some people believed it, he was really speechless!

The content of the next few scripts is basically the same, all under the banner of cleaning up maladministration and resting with the people, reducing taxes, and recalling the town guards and eunuchs in various places.

Chongzhen waited for Zhang Ke to finish reading, and said with some embarrassment: "King Anton, the people are in trouble as mentioned in the excerpt, and I can't sleep at night. It's just that these have been cut, and it is inevitable that the imperial court's income will decrease. Some people have proposed that they want to reduce the army and dismiss the post station soldiers in various places, but I don't know what King Anton wants? ”

After Chongzhen finished speaking, he stared at Zhang Ke tightly, wanting to see a hint from his face.

How do you know that Zhang Ke has long been cultivating thick and black, and secretly sneered in his heart: Li Zicheng, you are finally going to lose your job!

On the surface, he was sincerely frightened, and hurriedly said: "The saint is wise, and the minister also has a copy. (To be continued......)