Although Zheng He's trip to the West did bring a lot of income to the Ming Dynasty's finances, it is important to understand that the consumption of that thing is not a small amount. That's not to say you go out with a boatload of garbage and come back with a boatload of treasure.

What's more, there are only a few round-trips in total, how many can be transported back?

In addition, the old man likes to fight, and he also likes to do big things, such as canals and other big projects, these are things that need to be done with the country's finances.

In addition, the Ming Dynasty had very little control over the economy and finance from his grandfather's grandfather, even to the extent that dogs ignored it, emphasizing physical transactions and labor. Therefore, the amount of coinage is not much, and after two hundred years, there is basically no coinage from Longqing to Kaihai, and the coinage from Hongwu to Yongxuan will not even exceed six million.

It is only equivalent to the amount of coinage in one year during the Northern Song Dynasty.

Under these factors, the entire Ming Dynasty is really living with a belt of trousers. This is also why many scholars in later generations said that the Ming Dynasty, which was full of martial virtues, always pursued a grand strategic direction of passive defense, such as the Great Wall.

It's because there's no money.

The financial system is backward, even to the point of abandonment, how can the imperial court have money in such a situation.....

After all, the wealth of the country and the wealth of the people are two different concepts.

And now the old three of his own family is 200,000 taels of silver, and the Ming Dynasty did not have much silver stock before a large amount of silver flowed in, not to mention that he was only an eldest grandson, not even a grandson, no canonization, no building a mansion outside, and no good things rewarded by the old man, where did he go to get 200,000 taels of silver?

Even if he sold his father, the prince wouldn't be able to get enough of 200,000 taels of silver.

"No money! 200,000 taels of silver, three months, come on, come on, your eldest brother's head is here, you cut it off and sell it. ”

Looking at his eldest brother's broken jar, Zhu Zhanyong suddenly frowned and said: "Big brother, you are becoming more and more like the old man and your father now, aren't you pure just a hob of meat." ”

Zhu Zhanyong's words made Zhu Zhanji stunned.

But after thinking about it, he said angrily: "Don't, don't, I'm different from the old man, your grandfather's shrewd strength has killed your brother and me." If I had half his shrewdness, I wouldn't have fallen for him. ”

Although Zhu Zhanyong didn't understand why the eldest brother who had always been closest to the old man suddenly said this, these had nothing to do with him.

"Brother, don't talk about this, you honestly tell me how much money you have, anyway, I can't do this without money, I can't rely on this face to change houses with others, right?"

Zhu Zhanyong was very clear about the purpose of his trip and asked again.

Hearing Zhu Zhanyong's words, Zhu Zhanji gradually came out of the depressed mood of being pitted by the old man just now, and after thinking about it carefully, he said: "You also know that your eldest brother and my family don't even have a house, and all the silver before was handed over to you, and I now have more than 100 taels of my body." ”

Zhu Zhanji's words made Zhu Zhanyong's face sink suddenly: "More than a hundred taels? Big brother, you are still in charge of the country, you look at the second uncle, the old man asked him to go to the domain, but before the people went, the things were transported to the mansion in a car. I've heard people say that the second uncle grabbed a handful of golden beans and gave them to people when he saw someone, why do you say that you are now in prison like this? ”

Looking at Zhu Zhanyong's disdainful eyes, Zhu Zhanji stared left and right, and saw that he really couldn't find anything to take advantage of, so he simply took off his boots and wanted to chase after him.

Under Zhu Zhanji's violent teaching, Zhu Zhanyong, a kid, finally realized his mistake.

"Brother, brother, brother, don't fight, don't fight, it's wrong, it's wrong......."

Looking at the appearance of this guy who sells his mouth all day long with a smiling face, Zhu Zhanji is very puzzled, when did this kid become so virtuous?

After putting on his shoes again, Zhu Zhanji couldn't help but say: "Third child, I remember that you were not so virtuous in the past, although you were also greedy for money at that time, and you wanted to break a copper plate into two halves, but you are still a gentle and humble boy, who did you learn from now with this mouthful of fancy words?" ”

Zhu Zhanyong patted the ash on his buttocks, and said with that resentful look: "Who did you say you learned from, those who are close to Zhu are red and those who are close to ink are black, and they are mixed with my father, grandfather, and you all day long, if I don't learn to be shrewd, I won't be calculated to death by you?" And say me, aren't you the same? ”

Zhu Zhanyong's words made Zhu Zhanji stunned.

"Forget about the old man and the father, what does it have to do with me? Your eldest brother and I are just like you, selling my mouth every day? ”

Zhu Zhanyong looked at Zhu Zhanji with disdain, and that look seemed to say: Isn't it?

"Hey! You kid ... ”

Seeing Zhu Zhanji's posture of wanting to do it again, Zhu Zhanji hurriedly closed his mouth.

After the two of them were silent for a while, Zhu Zhanyong still couldn't hold back, thought about it and said: "Brother, if there is no 200,000, then 50,000, I will think of a way to see if I can use these 50,000 taels to last for another month." ”

After calming down, Zhu Zhanji stopped talking to him: "There is no 50,000, only 100 taels, and there is no more copper plate." ”

Zhu Zhanyong looked at Zhu Zhanji with questioning eyes and said, "Really? ”

"Not really. I still put the one hundred taels in the house, and there are ten taels of silver on my body. ”

Zhu Zhanyong said: "Let me take a look? ”

Zhu Zhanji frowned and said, "How can I still lie to you." ”

As he spoke, he threw the money bag on his body to him.

Zhu Zhanyong poured the money bag up and down, and after repeatedly making sure that there was no copper plate left in the money bag, he put the silver into his arms, and then returned the money bag and said, "It's really poor." ”

Looking at Zhu Zhanyong's actions, Zhu Zhanji glared and said, "What are you doing?" I'm going to use the ten taels more. If you really want it, go to the house and get it. ”

But Zhu Zhanyong said: "Is it the silver in the cabinet on the second floor of the door in your house?" ”

Zhu Zhanji nodded muleng.

"I've already taken it."

"I'm Nima......." Zhu Zhanji, who reacted when he heard this, almost couldn't help but make a move.

........

On the way back to the city.

Zhu Zhanji and Zhu Zhanyong walked side by side.

Zhu Zhanji, who hadn't seen his own brother for more than two months, couldn't help but say: "Third brother, you say, did the eldest brother owe you in his last life?" Let me meet you as a debt collector in this life? ”

Zhu Zhanyong smiled and said: "Big brother, we brothers have something to say clearly, if you want to talk about debt collection, it is also owed by yourself, if you don't let me help you do these things, why am I chasing you." ”

"Hey." Zhu Zhanji, who heard this, also sighed helplessly.

I knew that I would be targeted by the old man here, and the arrangement of this and that thing, the ghost would find this guilt for himself, as if he was being collected for debts all day long.