Chongzhen six years, the first month.

The north is covered in silver, frozen for thousands of miles, and all are desolate and vast.

The temperature in the capital has also dropped to the lowest point, and every day I don't know how many poor families and homeless people who lack wages and carbon freeze to death.

Emperor Chongzhen had to allocate some money and food materials from the treasury for relief, but the monks had more porridge and less porridge, and it was better to talk than nothing, which could only play a role in psychological comfort, after all, he took action, although he didn't save many people, at least it was much better than ignoring it, which was the biggest difference between him and the faint king.

A stabbing sound came from nowhere.

Zhu Youzhen, who was arguing and reviewing the folds, was upset, and wanted to send Jinyi Wei to check out who was making noise to interfere with him, even if he didn't sentence him to the entrance of the vegetable market, he would have to hit at least fifty boards!

But Zhu Youzhen still restrained his irritable impulse and did not take any action.

Because he knew what this strange sound was coming from – the phonograph.

A mechanical device specially used to broadcast record recordings, and has the function of recording sound to empty records, as well as copying the recordings on one record to another, is the most fashionable product that Xu Jiazhuang has recently launched to become popular with the entire upper class.

As long as you have a gramophone, you can not only buy some professional music, opera and storytelling records to listen to at home, but also buy some blank records, and burn some well-sung songs and operas that you hear, so that you can enjoy and listen to them again and again in the future.

In short, the gameplay is very rich, and it has set off a wave of wind in the upper class of the Ming Dynasty, and if anyone has a gramophone at home, it will be a very face-saving thing.

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And Zhu Youzhen not only understands very clearly, at least half of the gramophones on the market in the capital come from the royal store, and the purchase price of 3,000 silver yuan/unit is at least 8,000 for customers, and the profit is higher than that of bicycles.

In addition, vinyl records are also a business that can bring long-term profits.

In just two or three months, it brought Zhu Youzhen's internal money a profit of more than 500,000 silver dollars.

This made Zhu Youzhen have to sigh, worthy of being the most business-savvy Xujiazhuang, even in the cold winter season of Layue and everyone's cat, he can launch some popular products, and he can always find a way to make money in people's pockets.

Because of this, even if he is disturbed by the noise of the gramophone outside the palace, Zhu Youzhen will not take punishment or warning measures, and he will not destroy the business of his imperial store when he is always short of money.

What is Chongzhen upset about, what is affecting his mood?

Roving bandits.

It's still a rogue.

The war mobilization of the imperial court has been going on for several months, and he has taken out more than 5 million yuan and grain from the internal treasury, more than 2 million yuan and grain from the household department, plus 3 million silver dollars borrowed from Xujiazhuang, a total of tens of millions of money and grain, and most of this time has been spent.

It's like someone placing a heavy bet and buying a lottery ticket, and they must want to see a good result as soon as possible, and the jackpot will be drawn immediately, at least to see a return commensurate with the amount of the bet.

But Chongzhen's playing skills have not been very good.

The luck is still very bad, and I lost one handful after another.

Therefore, the young Chongzhen not only hoped to get more money and food, but also desperately wanted to get one thing - victory.

He very much needs a major military victory to prove that Da Ming is still saved, to prove that his efforts can be rewarded, and to prove that the qi is still on Da Ming's side!

It's just that this weather is not suitable for combat, and no matter how anxious he is, he can't rush to fight at this time.

The shortcomings of the young man's eagerness, he has really overcome a lot.

He also firmly believes that if the tens of millions of money and grain are smashed, he will definitely be able to see some expected results, and it is impossible to be as powerless as before.

"Your Majesty, Taihang Mountain is a great victory, Taihang Mountain is a great victory!"

The eunuch Wang Chengen hurriedly walked into the Dongnuan Pavilion, and said excitedly: "The imperial army led by Yang, Wang, and Deng marched more than 1,000 miles, from the well into the Taihang Mountain, and smashed the old nest of the Liukou, and annihilated more than 500,000 Liukou in a few days. ”

"Your Majesty, victory, my imperial army has won! The thieves such as the Liukou Zijin Liang King for his own use, the Zuojin King, and the old Huihui were captured and were on their way to the capital, either Ling Chi or beheaded, all under the discretion of Your Majesty! Your Majesty, the rogues who ravaged the Central Plains, after this heavy blow, even if there are still a few remnants, they can't set off any big waves, relying on Your Majesty's blessing, there is such good news at the beginning of the year, doesn't it indicate that the Ming Dynasty will come to operate, and Zhongxing is in front of you! ”

Wang Chengen knelt down on him and congratulated with tears in his eyes.

"Won, really won?"

Zhu Youzhen was stunned, his face was incredulous, and he annihilated more than 500,000 rogues, and even Zijin Liang and other thieves were captured, is this possible? Is this true?

Wang Chengen hurriedly handed over the letter written by the chief soldier Yang Yufan, and the soldier who returned from the front line who was responsible for transmitting the military information was also called in by Wang Chengen and asked him to report the specific situation of the victory in Taihang Mountain in person.

The confirmation process took more than an hour.

Chongzhen asked people to bring a map, and asked dozens of questions in a row against the map, and some places were repeatedly asked and confirmed, such as the number of enemies destroyed, how did more than 500,000 come about, and is there a phenomenon such as killing good and risking merit?

The soldier answered all the questions fluently, and was able to give a reasonable explanation.

"Your Majesty, a great victory, a great victory in Taihang Mountain!"

At this time, Zhang Fengyi, the secretary of the Ministry of War, and other officials entered the palace, and also learned about the military situation of the victory of Taihang Mountain through the channels of the Ministry of War, which further confirmed the authenticity of this great victory.

Zhang Fengyi said excitedly: "The Liukou has been hit by an unprecedented blow, thirty-six battalions of thieves, thirty battalions or captured or killed, only Gao Yingxiang, Luo Rucai and a few other thieves broke through, the troops have lost everything, it is difficult to become a momentum, after the beginning of the spring, continue to increase the intensity of encirclement and suppression, draw shadow graphics, heavy money to arrest the remnants of the thief heads, exempt the land of Shanxi, Shaanxi and Henan from taxes for three years, Your Majesty, from now on, the Liukou will be eradicated, and it will no longer be a disaster!" ”

"Good! Good! Good! ”

The young emperor Zhu Youzhen applauded again and again, rubbing his hands and his face was full of excitement, victory, this time the imperial army was really victorious, the three general soldiers of Yang, Wang, and Deng did not disappoint him, and Lu Xiangsheng's Tianxiong army did not disappoint him, and in a relatively short period of time, it brought him a smooth victory!

Reward.

These heroes must be rewarded heavily!

and the first companion to send good news, Wang Chengen, wanted to be rewarded.

The soldier who fought bloodily on the front line and sent him to report the military situation should also be rewarded.

and the officials of the military department who confirmed that the victory was true should also be rewarded.

Even the eunuchs, palace maids, and guards who served in the Dongnuan Pavilion were all stained, and no one rewarded fifty silver dollars.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"Long live the Ming Dynasty, long live Your Majesty!"

Everyone bowed down to thank him, and everyone cheered.

Next, Chongzhen, who was still in a state of excitement and ecstasy, threw the imperial pen in his hand, and did not approve the folds, and immediately gave himself a holiday.

……

Now.

In Kunning Palace, there was a tense atmosphere with a strong smell of gunpowder.

Because Tian Guifei, who is usually the most favored by the emperor, actually quarreled with Queen Zhou, the master of the harem, on a matter of principle.

"Sister, I used my own money to buy a gramophone in the imperial store, and what happened to me to hear it? I can't buy it at the wholesale price of 3,000 silver dollars, so I'll pay 8,000 silver dollars, right? The other sisters in the palace like to play horses and cards, and I can't play with them, so I want to use the gramophone to listen to the opera, can't I? Tian Guifei said.

"Sister, now that the state affairs are difficult, how can you consume extravagantly and drive the hedonistic atmosphere in the palace? Your Majesty has been sleeping all night to deal with the thorny things in the world, and there are many gray hairs, but you insist on buying a gramophone for personal pleasure, how can this work? It is better to hand over the money to Your Majesty, wait for the world to be peaceful, usher in the rule of prosperity, and buy whatever you want. ”

Empress Zhou persuaded bitterly.

"I'm a woman, where can I influence the world's major events? Sister, you say that you don't allow me to buy a gramophone, and if not, I'll ask people to buy it at another store. Tian Guifei said firmly, the gramophone just came out, it attracted her attention, and the winter is long, there is no fun, the gramophone is the best pastime, and her father is a wealthy businessman in Yangzhou, never short of money, she can endure until now to buy very good.

"You-"

Empress Zhou's chest rose and fell violently, and she said sternly: "Come on, bring a whip to the palace!" I am the master of the harem, and I don't believe that I can't cure you, a noble concubine who doesn't know anything. ”

"You hit! It's okay if you kill me, I must buy a gramophone anyway! Tian Guifei stiffened her neck and retreated without compromise.

The atmosphere in Kunning Palace was extremely depressed, and the eunuchs and palace maids didn't dare to breathe with their heads down, and no one ran to get whips, because these two women who were the most important to the emperor quarreled no matter who won or lost, it was them who were most in danger.

"Zitong, Aifei, what are you doing?" Fortunately, at this time, Zhu Youzhen walked in and asked with a strange face.

"Your Majesty, the concubine just wants to use her own money to buy a gramophone, but my sister wants to do the harem law to me......" Tian Guifei threw herself into Chongzhen's arms, and the pear blossoms cried with rain.

"It's just a gramophone, buy it! I will pay you to buy it, and I will send someone to buy it immediately. ”

Zhu Youzhen comforted the woman in his arms.

"Your Majesty!"

Empress Zhou stomped her feet and said dissatisfiedly: "Tian Xiuying is so nonsense, how can you let it go?" ”

"It's okay, just a gramophone ear, what national event can be damaged? Zitong, if you have anything you want, tell me, and I will let people buy it together! The imperial army won a great victory in Taihang Mountain and annihilated more than 500,000 rogues! Such happy events should be celebrated, and there is no need to pick and choose as in the past. Zhu Youzhen waved his hand.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty! God bless you! ”

Queen Zhou couldn't help but show joy, and hurriedly picked up a blessing, and everyone also congratulated one after another.

Immediately, the whole palace was in an atmosphere of cheering and joy.

Zhu Youzhen also showed unprecedented generosity, in the harem, no matter who made the request, he readily agreed, such as Tian Guifei's gramophone, a fox fur that Queen Zhou fancied, Concubine Yuan's women's mechanical watch, the telescope that Prince Zhu Cihong wanted, etc., all of which were satisfied, plus the rewards for the eunuch palace maids, etc., he spent two or three hundred thousand taels in a short time, but he was happy, he was willing, such a big victory, he must celebrate by generously throwing money!