"Three million taels?"

"It's three million taels ......"

In the Mentougou field on the second day of the first day of September, when Zhu Youzhen, who personally operated the tractor, learned that his wedding was scheduled for late October, he did not feel much surprised.

It's just that he frowned slightly when he heard the content of his three million taels wedding.

Dressed in coarse linen clothes and simply tied his hair, he walked to Wang Chengen, who came to report on horseback, and took over the wedding recital in his hand.

"Concubine Yuan Xi, concubine...... Concubine Ping......"

Zhu Youzhen glanced at the ten lines, although he had already known the general idea in his heart, but when he saw Yuan Xi's concubine becoming the main concubine, he couldn't help but feel a little regretful in his heart.

When he saw that Zhou Sujie and Tian Xiuying were Concubine Ping, he couldn't help but sigh......

He didn't have much thought about Tian Xiuying, but for Zhou Sujie, he felt a little guilty.

I don't know if it's Chongzhen's memory that is at work, or his admiration for Zhou Sujie in history, in general, he has some guilt.

It's just that the current arrangement is already good, Tian Xiuying and Zhou Sujie are concubines, and their fathers will not be as rampant as in history.

As for Yuan Xi's concubine, in history, she was first ordered to hang herself, but she did not die by hanging, and she was slashed by Chongzhen with a sword, and she did not die.

In Zhu Youzhen's opinion, although it is not as good as Zhou Sujie, it is not bad.

In history, she often mediated the conflict between Zhou Sujie and Tian Xiuying, and now as a concubine, I am afraid the effect will be better.

As for her father Yuan You, he hasn't done anything in history, and I'm afraid it's going to be difficult now.

If he really does something that violates the law and discipline, Zhu Youzhen will not feel guilty when he deals with it.

However, Zhou Sujie and Tian Xiuying's fathers, since they are concubines of Ping, generally the two of them will not get any official positions, unless Zhu Youzhen intends to install them.

Concubine Ping's identity is not as good as that of the concubine and the concubine, and it is impossible for the two of them to swagger and deceive under this identity.

However, just in case, Zhu Youzhen was still ready to send these two people far away.

Originally, he still thought that if Zhou and Tian became concubines, then he would have to let Lu Jianxing get some traps to exile Zhou Kui and Tian Hongyu.

Now it is enough to avoid this situation, give them two idle official positions, and send them farther away.

Thinking of this, Zhu Youzhen's mind appeared in Dongshan Mansion (Papua New Guinea), the most barren of the six prefectures in the old port.

"Are the parents of these six still there?"

Zhu Youzhen closed the wedding recital and sat on the stool next to him.

"It's all here, according to the rules, you have to send thousands of gold and silver, and a hundred pearls and gems to the concubine's family."

"The rest of the five concubines only need to send a thousand taels of gold."

Wang Chengen replied while talking about the rules, and Zhu Youzhen nodded slightly, and then shook the gift list in his hand:

"Three million taels of silver is too much, you go back and tell your brother that the people of the country are in distress, if my brother intends to accumulate blessings for me, I will divide this silver into ten years and put it into Huimin Pharmacy in batches."

"As for the big wedding, there is still silver in the palace of King Qi, we can just pay it ourselves."

"This ......" Wang Chengen couldn't bear to blow, so he could only say euphemistically:

"Your Highness, the treasury in the palace is only more than 326,000 taels ......"

"Then you can do 300,000 taels!" Zhu Youzhen doesn't care about his wedding, to put it bluntly, many men don't care about their wedding.

What's more, 300,000 taels of silver is no longer cheap.

If this silver is exchanged for gold, it will be worth hundreds of millions in the Hereafter.

Spending hundreds of millions on a wedding is luxurious enough.

"Hooray, I'm afraid I'm going to be upset over there." Wang Chengen had some toothache.

"I'll go and appease me in a few days." Zhu Youzhen smiled, and then asked Wang Chengen:

"What are you doing these days?"

"In the inventory of the oil mill in the Tuntian of the North Zhili Army." Wang Chengen replied without thinking.

"What is the yield of this year?" Zhu Youzhen is very concerned about this, because after more oil and water, the people will eat a lot less staple food.

"Peanuts have been promoted for four years, and the current planting area has been more than 5.6 million mu, and the oil output is 260 million catties."

Wang Chengen replied first, and then said:

"Huachun asked His Royal Highness, there are nearly 400 million catties of oil in the emperor's store this year, so does the oil price need to be reduced? Is there a moratorium on the expansion of peanut fields? ”

"Lower, but keep going!" Zhu Youzhen shook his head:

"Oil prices in various places have dropped by one percent, and oil mills and fields should not stop expanding, and then stop when the annual output is 2 billion catties."

The production of peanut oil is a surprise, after all, last year's peanut oil production was less than half of this year's.

Now it seems that the total production of peanut oil has more than doubled, and the people will be able to eat cheaper oil.

Although it is only a price reduction of one percent, this achievement is two or three articles.

The oil money saved can buy an extra pound of rice, which is also one of the few concessions for the imperial court this year.

Next year, if you cut more miscellaneous items, the people will be able to endure it for a year.

As long as he endures next year, the situation in Daming will be much clearer, and the burden on Zhu Youzhen's shoulders will be much lighter.

Next, as long as you work steadily and practice your internal skills, it is only a matter of time before the sun never sets.

After surviving the drought, Zhu Youzhen can leave Daming with confidence and go to Qi State.

Thinking of this, Zhu Youzhen glanced at the steam tractor placed on the side of the road not far away.

"Although it is cumbersome and crude, if the imperial court can issue two or three units in each village, then the people will not be so tired."

"What His Royal Highness said is very ......" Wang Chengen sincerely agreed, and Zhu Youzhen turned his head to Wang Chengen and asked:

"How is Yang Wenyue's development in Yingzhou? Why haven't you seen him play lately? ”

Zhu Youzhen was very concerned about the situation in Yingzhou, after all, whether he could settle in North Asia depended on whether Yang Wenyue's supply station could be properly arranged.

If his supply depot can be properly arranged, then at the speed of the fourth version of the steam engine ship at the moment, at most, thirty days, the Ming Dynasty will be able to send thousands of people from Nanzhili to the west coast of North Asia Melica.

In a month's time, even if it is not troublesome to transport grain from Daming, the only trouble is water and coal.

Therefore, the so-called supply point is the place where the coal and water are stored.

If Yang Wenyue can get this matter done well within five years, then Zhu Youzhen only needs to use 100 merchant ships with steam engines of 9,000 materials, and he will be able to transport nearly a million people to the west coast in one year.

Of course, if they are to survive, a third of the cargo ships must be taken out to transport grain.

As a result, that number could drop to more than 600,000 people per year,

But even so, Zhu Youzhen still has eight years to prepare for Qi and transport the population.

When the 23rd year of the Apocalypse comes, the drought will completely subside, and the Qi country will have a population of nearly 5 million, and the local area will also form its own independent economic circle.

At that time, Zhu Youzhen will go to Qi again, and he will be blessed.

Twenty-three years of the Apocalypse sounds like a long time, but it is only thirteen years from now.

Thirteen years later, Zhu Youzhen was only thirty-three years old and in the prime of life.

"It's not bad to start retirement at the age of thirty-three......"

The wind blew through the doorhead ditch, it was cool and cool, and the corners of Zhu Youzhen's mouth rarely brought a smile.

Wang Chengen wondered why His Royal Highness smiled so happily after hearing about the peanut oil production, but anyway, his Royal Highness was happy, so he was happy.

"Alright, you go, I'll try this tractor again."

Zhu Youzhen got up and gave the order to evict the guests with a smile, Wang Chengen also responded, and then rode away with the people of the imperial horse supervisor.

It was Zhu Youzhen, who was holding the iron plow in the field, and was very happy......

"Brother doesn't want it?"

In just one day, Wang Chengen brought Zhu Youzhen's words before Zhu Youxiao was about to enter Fangshan County.

In the face of Zhu Youzhen's refusal, Zhu Youxiao's first reaction was naturally angry, but the grievances were greater than anger.

As Zhu Youzhen grew up, Zhu Youxiao always felt that his younger brother had become his elder brother, and his elder brother had become his younger brother.

In the past, he could use the carpenter work in his hand to make Zhu Youzhen worship him, but now he can't do it in all aspects.

Compared with national politics, Zhu Youzhen can see far and clearly,

Compared with current affairs, Zhu Youzhen analyzes the interests and disadvantages, and avoids the light.

Compared with government affairs, the speed at which he handled the sparseness was more than twice that of Zhu Youxiao.

Zhu Youxiao is only twenty-six years old, and sometimes he still wants to regain a trace of his dignity as a brother in his younger brother.

This time, he threw three million taels, originally to show a trace of his majesty as a brother, but the wedding had already ended before the purchase began.

Zhu Youxiao was a little unhappy, which could not be more conspicuous for Wei Zhongxian, who was accustomed to observing words and expressions in the palace.

"Long live, I'm afraid Your Highness is also worried about you, for your name."

"Worried about me? Bo name? Zhu Youxiao looked sideways at Wei Zhongxian, and he continued:

"Your Highness's meaning may be to let Banzai share this joy with the people in a way that adds joy."

"Long live think about it, Huimin Pharmacy is the yamen of Huimin, and when people go to see a doctor, they will generally pay some money for medicines, and there will be no consultation fees and drug fees."

"The slave maid has seen the Huimin Pharmacy's performance last year, and the annual expenditure on medicinal materials is only 190,000 taels of silver."

"If you allocate 300,000 taels from the internal fund to Huimin Pharmacy every year, I am afraid that Huimin Pharmacy can better treat the people."

"The people are treated for free, and when they learn of your kindness, they will naturally be grateful for your kindness."

"As for worrying about ......" Wei Zhongxian thought for a while, and while guessing too much, he also complacently and forcibly explained:

"Taking three million taels in one breath is more difficult for the treasury, and His Royal Highness doesn't know the situation of the inner court, so he is naturally worried about the use of the inner court after the inner treasury takes out three million taels."

"Huh?" Zhu Youxiao touched the beard on his upper lip, and seemed to think that Wei Zhongxian's words were a bit far-fetched.

"Does Your Highness mean that......

Wang Chengen next to him couldn't help but think crankily in his heart, but no matter what he thought, he couldn't think of the expression of His Royal Highness when he said this, which could match the meaning of Wei Zhongxian's words.

"Cheng'en, do you mean that brother?" Zhu Youxiao turned around and asked Wang Chengen.

"Uh...... This...... It's hard to guess His Highness's thoughts, but the arrangements made are all for a reason, and there is a reason for wanting to come to this arrangement......"

Stretch out his hand and don't hit the smiling person, Wang Chengen is not the kind of person who likes to compete for favor, and he doesn't like to slap other people's faces, so he can only cover up this topic.

"Alas......" Seeing Wang Chengen's words like this, Zhu Youxiao sighed, which made Wei Zhongxian's heart "chuckle".

It's a pity that in the next second, Zhu Youxiao shook his head with a smile with a hint of emotion:

"My brother loves me......"

"......" Wang Chengen was silent, he was now sure that His Royal Highness definitely didn't mean that.

Perhaps, His Royal Highness just doesn't like that kind of extravagance.

"Cheng'en, what was my brother doing when you went?"

When Zhu Youxiao thought of his younger brother thinking about himself everywhere, he was moved in his heart, and he couldn't help but care about the other party.

"Your Highness is plowing the fields with a tractor......"

Wang Chengen answered truthfully, because he remembered clearly that His Royal Highness had said that unless he confessed, there was no need to hide other things from the emperor.

】

"Is it fun?" Zhu Youxiao was interested.

"This ......" Wang Chengen was stunned for a moment, and then carefully described the various matters of the tractor.

"That's not fun, I guess my brother and I have different interests."

After listening to Wang Chengen's tractor, Zhu Youxiao lost interest, but walked back to his place and sat down, and said to Wang Chengen:

"You've seen all six women, haven't you? Who do you think is the best for your brother? ”

Zhu Youxiao wanted to hear about the character and things of the six concubines of King Naqi, although among the six concubines, only the main concubine could enter the palace, but he still wanted to know the six people in advance.

After all, if he goes to the Qi Palace, he may meet his younger siblings and his younger brother's five favorite concubines in the future.

"Hmm...... It should all fit. ”

Zhu Youxiao's question stopped Wang Chengen, so he could only answer with words.

"Fit is suitable, how can there be a should?" Zhu Youxiao frowned, obviously dissatisfied with Wang Chengen's answer, and even his tone couldn't help but be heavier.

"This ......" Wang Chengen looked embarrassed:

"The slave really can't imagine what His Highness looks like when he is with these six girls."

"The love of men and women, what is unexpected?" Zhu Youxiao wanted Wang Chengen to give an answer, but Wang Chengen said:

"Your Highness is a good woman but not greedy, although the slave has been with His Highness for ten years, except for the two in the house, I really haven't seen His Highness talk and laugh with other women."

"That's ......" Zhu Youxiao replied, but somewhat agreed with Wang Chengen's words.

His younger brother was busy with state affairs, so he neglected the love between men and women, and in the early years, many courtiers waited for him to get married, and wanted to use etiquette and righteousness to force him to obey after his marriage, so this matter has been delayed.

Thinking about it this way, Zhu Youxiao felt even more guilty.

As for the rest of the people in the car, it is even less surprising.

If it weren't for Zhu Youzhen accepting Yang Yuanai and Yang Ru is two aunts and nephews, I'm afraid that Beijing would have already begun to spread that Zhu Youzhen had a good Longyang.

Although civil officials are not terrifying, the mouths and pens of civil officials can give headaches to many eloquent and strategic people.

In fact, rumors have long been circulating in the market that Zhu Youzhen has a good Longyang, and it is prevalent in Jiangnan.

If it weren't for Zhang Yan and others hearing about this rumor, they would not have selected the fifth and sixth concubines for Zhu You in one go.

The civil servants can't make up other rumors about Zhu Youzhen, so they can only make up such rumors.

Not only Jiangnan, but also Yunnan, Taining, Nanzhou, Jiugang, Jiaozhi......

In short, the place full of exiled civil officials, there are all kinds of rumors about Zhu Youzhen.

Jin Yiwei also told Zhu Youzhen about these rumors, but he often asked people to collect them, and he laughed after reading them.

Civil officials often slander and spread rumors about those they can't deal with, and those who can deal with them boast of being the king of sages and benevolence.

Zhu Youzhen was already prepared in his heart, anyway, he didn't care about false fame, and those losers could do whatever they liked.

"When will my brother go to Fangshan?"

Zhu Youxiao quickly came out of the guilt, and even asked Wang Chengen.

"His Highness said a few days, but he didn't say the specific time, it should be that His Highness himself is not sure."

Wang Chengen recalled for a moment, and then replied, and Zhu Youxiao also bowed slightly when he heard this.

"I remember my brother's words, you let someone tell my brother that the internal money will be transferred to Huimin Pharmacy every year, so that my brother doesn't have to worry."

"As for this year, I will add some more from the internal funds to make up a whole number for the wedding, 500,000 taels."

After that, Zhu Youxiao added: "This matter is not negotiable. ”

"Slave and maid order ......" Wang Chengen breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that the matter was finally finalized.

He waited for a few seconds, until he was sure that the emperor had no new instructions, and then he bowed, then turned and got out of the carriage.

He led the people of the Imperial Horse Supervisor towards the capital and returned, while the majestic Son of Heaven continued to drive towards Fangshan......

A brother and a brother are busy with their own affairs, but the news that keeps sending out from the capital has made everyone from all walks of life cheer up.

"Jinglu, if His Highness uses troops to the north, then what should we do?"

In mid-September, when the news from the north reached Yunnan, Yongchang temporarily passed through the palace, the old god Hong Chengchou was there, and Mu Yi was slightly worried.

At this time, Yunnan is still beautiful and the climate is like spring, but Mu Yi's heart is turbulent.

Seeing that the provincial road is about to be repaired to the southwest border pass, the Ping-Burma War is about to break out, and the merits are about to be reached......

As a result, at this juncture, the king of Qi wanted to personally conquer Jianyu and launch the third northern expedition during the Apocalypse.

Mu Yi was not worried about money and food, he was worried that the Ping-Burma War would be dark in the face of the Third Northern Expedition, resulting in their achievements being inconspicuous.

This is not his personal unfounded worries, but the result of Zhu Youzhen's many personal expeditions.

The First Northern Expedition and the Second Northern Expedition launched by Zhu Youzhen respectively overshadowed the two major battles of Pingnanyang and Pingjiaozhi.

At present, the Pyong-Burma War and the Third Northern Expedition may collide, so they will most likely become a background board.

Mu Yi's worry was written on his face, Hong Chengchou glanced at it, and said like a steady Diaoyu Tai:

"If you use soldiers, you will use soldiers, and if you cover them, you will cover ......"

"No matter how you cover it, your merits are still written in the merit book, and the titles of the earl and knight are all on the pen of His Royal Highness."

Hong Chengchou didn't say it too clearly, to put it bluntly, he would rather every big battle he had been covered by Zhu Youzhen's personal recruitment.

It is important to know that the bird is not good at the beginning, the bird is beaten at the beginning, and the person is killed.

Zhu Youzhen himself is already a master, and he is unwilling to let others also be a master.

It's not his selfishness, it's a way for him to protect his men.

He was confident that the emperor would not suspect him, but Hong Chengchou did not.

Zhu Youzhen's personal expedition, according to the calculation of time, should be to overshadow Huang Long's exploits, so that the ministers of the DPRK and China will shift their attention from Huang Long to themselves.

Qi Yuanfu's reminder to Huanglong is already very real, the current Huanglong has become a master, and the ministers and emperors of the court are already dissatisfied with him.

But Huang Long didn't care about it, he only felt that he was not for them, but for the king of Qi.

is also fortunate that in knowing the advance and retreat, Zhu Youzhen often does not have to think of his own way by his subordinates, but takes the initiative to find a way for his subordinates.

Don't say anything else, just talk about the Qin and Qi families.

Defend Liaodong, break the building, and operate the southwest and southern coasts.

Isn't the emperor afraid of this merit and power?

It's just that without waiting for Qi Jin and Qin Bangping to retreat, Zhu Youzhen supported Hong Chengchou to fight.

After the success of the level crossing, the Qin and Qi families were not so conspicuous, because Hong Chengchou could suppress them, and the court was relieved.

When Huanglong destroyed more than ten countries in Jiugang, he was actually already a master, but Zhu Youzhen protected him with the first Northern Expedition.

If Hong Chengchou didn't think wrongly, then this time Zhu Youzhen's expedition to the Northern Expedition, in addition to really wanting to destroy Jianyu, he also had the idea of protecting their southwest generals and admirals.

"After this battle, I should be able to go to the pavilion, and as for Huanglong, there will be a place to go......"

Hong Chengchou sighed a little in his heart, after all, there are too few superiors like Zhu Youzhen who are willing to take responsibility.

Perhaps this is his charm, he will protect all those who are attached to him and contribute to the court.

Even a self-interested person like Hong Chengchou, after figuring everything out, he couldn't help but have the idea of supporting Zhu Youzhen as the emperor.

Although he knew that if Zhu Youzhen wanted to do it, he would be able to easily sit in that position without his own support, but he still thought in his heart.

Zhu Youzhen took almost all aspects into account, and even used Qi Jin's three people's notes to make Zhu Youxiao and the courtiers realize the importance of veterans.

Next, even if Hong Chengchou is transferred, the imperial court will no longer be afraid of the Qin and Qi families, because except for these two families, everyone else is from the Qi Palace.

In the case of the Qi Palace's strength, it is what they have to do to support the old man to maintain balance.

"Jinglu, do you say that His Highness will reinstate Sun Chuanting to participate in the Northern Expedition?"

Mu Yi couldn't see Zhu Youzhen's operation clearly, and he was a little worried about Sun Chuanting's resurgence and Hong Chengchou's fight for the throne.

"Won't ......"

When Hong Chengchou heard Sun Chuanting's name, he instantly responded categorically:

"The situation is complicated at the moment, and it is not a good thing to achieve merit."

"Sun Chuanting's previous affairs in Sichuan have not completely subsided, and His Highness will not let him appear in front of the courtiers again in such a short period of time."

Hong Chengchou was not worried at all about Sun Chuanting competing with him for the throne.

Unless the King of Qi wanted to kill Sun Chuanting, he would not choose this battle to bring Sun Chuanting back up.

Sun Chuanting's battlefield was in Mobei, in Wusizang, in the Western Regions, not in the Northeast.

Hong Chengchou can see it clearly, and he also knows in his heart that as long as he finishes fighting Myanmar and governs the local area well, then he will be in the pavilion day and night.

But in order to shorten this time, he had to prepare for another thing.

"Has the construction of the railroad been started?"

Hong Chengchou said in surprise, looking sideways at Mu Yi, and Mu Yi said:

"Construction has begun, according to the standard of the government road to continue to widen four zhang, the construction of 2 million, from Kunming to Yangon Port in Myanmar, is expected to be 2,800 miles, and the construction period is estimated to take five years."

Speaking of this, Mu Yi was puzzled:

"After a strategy, forgive the ignorance of the humble duty, even if it is only to build the roadbed, this road will cost 1.8 million taels of silver."

"The court has not issued an order, why do we want to build this road?"

"You don't have to worry about this, just oversee the construction."

Mu Yi was puzzled, and it could even be said that many people in Jinglue Mansion were also puzzled, but Hong Chengchou insisted on building it.

The reason for this is also what he can see from the nine railways of the Ministry of Industry.

Not surprisingly, Hong Chengchou estimated that he would need to govern Myanmar for three years and relocate a million people before the local authorities could subdue the Ming Dynasty.

From the map, Yangon will be the bridgehead of the Ming Dynasty against India in the future.

Therefore, although Hong Chengchou did not know what the railway was, he knew that after Burma was recovered, the King of Qi would definitely order the construction of this road.

If he had started the construction ahead of schedule and repaired even a third of the distance before the end of the peace, the king of Qi would have been greatly satisfied.

As long as King Qi is satisfied, then the matter of his own entry into the pavilion will probably be greatly advanced.

Thinking of the scene of his own pavilion, Hong Chengchou felt a little fluttery and very comfortable......