After parading the troops, being knighted, receiving the salute and listening to the congratulations, and meeting the envoys, Zhu Houxi still has one thing that has been planned for a long time in this year's Halloween ceremony.

Before dawn the next day, many people outside the Xihua Gate of the Forbidden City were waiting here.

They all came, some wearing silk brocade and some cloth.

But it can be seen that they are basically pampered on weekdays.

But at this moment, whether it was a total of 36 provincial-level township sages from two capitals and 16 provinces, or business representatives from various major merchant gangs and guilds in Daming, most of them were nervous and excited.

Today's banquet was actually arranged in the Qianqing Palace, which is a glorious thing worthy of writing about after returning to his hometown.

Although there was nothing about these businessmen who went to the palace yesterday to celebrate their birthday, they were basically invited to the military parade the day before yesterday because they had pledged to buy treasury bonds.

This time I entered Beijing, and the harvest was extraordinary.

At this moment, Zhang Fujing, Xia Yan, Yang Shen, Yan Song, Liu Long, Liu Tianhe, and Gu Dingchen were waiting outside the noon gate.

Naturally, everyone understands what it is for today, although they do not yet know what the emperor is going to do.

But now, Zhang Fujing spoke to Liu Tianhe first: "Brother Songshi, today Your Majesty meets a rich businessman and gives a banquet to the Qianqing Palace, and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce is afraid that it is the top priority. Although Brother Songshi's appointment as the secretary of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce was mainly for the Huanghuai flood, that major event was presided over by Tang Zonghe, and Brother Songshi still needed to worry about other things. ”

Liu Tianhe was promoted from Prime Minister Hehe Yamen to Secretary of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, and the scope of work he was responsible for was indeed much larger.

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce is an increasingly important part of the current ministerial reform. After the implementation of the procurement law, although most projects have only needed the Ministry of Industry and Commerce to formulate plans, solicit contractors, and supervise the quality and payment of projects, at the same time, the administrative procedures such as the registration and filing of enterprises, companies, commercial banks, and shops in the world have also been brought under the system of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, and have become an extremely important part of the commercial law and tax law in the new law.

Hearing Zhang Fujing say this at this moment, Liu Tianhe bowed slightly to show respect: "Since the general assistant has said this, it should be something else, right?" ”

Zhang Fujing nodded, and looked at Liu Long and Yang Shen first: "Your Majesty has worked hard over the years, and you can save money when you use it in the palace." In addition to the renovation of the Yangxin Palace, Qingning Palace, and Rijing Gate at the beginning of the succession, other large and small projects in the palace in these years are all for the foreign courts. Yesterday's ceremony, the outer dynasty area is magnificent, but there is a lot of water in the harem over the harem these years. Especially in the eighth year of Jiajing, there was a fire in the West Seventh Institute. Ten years later, there was a fire that destroyed the Weiyang Palace. ”

Yang Shen didn't know why he mentioned these things at this time.

One yard to one yard, Zhu Houxi has been on the throne for more than ten years, and there are indeed some large and small fires in the palace.

The most dangerous of them was indeed the tenth year of Jiajing, and the fire spread to the Weiyang Palace next to the northwest of the Yangxin Palace. This Weiyang Palace, at that time, not only lived in Concubine Wen Suyun, but also the Western Zhaoyi Carolina and the third prince who was only four years old at the time.

Originally, the repair plan had been set, but at that time it was already preparing for the Northern Expedition, and at the end of the next year, there was an attack on the Duoyan Department and the battle of Yu Dayou's restoration of Tucheng, and then it was last year that Outer Yunnan, Nanyang, and Mobei all used troops, and the project was delayed until now.

"The treasury is unified, Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, and the amount is also fixed to be spent annually. However, His Majesty is now all over the world and the world, and this time foreign countries come to the court, and they don't know how many female officials and ministers are presented. There are precedents of Duoyan, Lanna, Ordos and Qingong, and naturally there are more latecomers. Your Majesty is in good health, and his children are flourishing, and those who are ministers should have foresight. ”

Zhang Fujing glanced at everyone meaningfully: "Your Majesty has no choice but to set up a royal school in the Zhongyuan Palace." His Majesty intends to teach by word and deed, so that the prince, the clan, and the relatives will know the righteousness of the future. Now that there are more people who have been rewarded in the First World War, and there are many people who can be blessed to enter the Forbidden Palace and get His Majesty's ears and faces, how can the imperial school still be set up in the Zhongyuan Palace? For the sake of long-term planning, the Ministry of Rites and Relations and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce should come up with a strategy and ask for the Holy Judgment. ”

Zhang Fujing, who was approved by the emperor and would definitely be re-elected for another term, mentioned the plan to renovate the Forbidden City at this moment, and Yan Song immediately said: "What the general assistant said is very true! Although the imperial school has dean Wen, Zhang Xuezheng and other relatives to teach, but if it is located in the south of Qingning Palace, then the state affairs of the Wenhua Palace and the edicts of the Hanlin Academy can be teachers! ”

Yang Shen's heart was shocked.

The crown prince has reached the age of ten, and it is time to consider setting up a special East Palace.

And the education of the prince, the clan, and the relatives after that, if there is no Wenchen to exert influence from now on, it will also be a great hidden danger.

It's not that everyone wants to intervene in this group that the emperor is ready to directly influence, but now that the Ming Dynasty is strong, if you don't make some preparations now, when the emperor is older or even the next generation, the old and new ministers are still expanding their strength for military merits, which is a huge concern for the country.

Zhang Fujing wanted to help the emperor replan and renovate the Forbidden City in the name of leaving a framework for the future prince's affairs and the balance of civil and military affairs.

Yan Song couldn't help but look at Zhang Fujing: Yong is still brave, this matter is easy to make the emperor think too much and be dissatisfied.

Xia Yan was on the spot, but he nodded: "What Mao Gong said is very true!" ”

Although he represents the interests of the military, when Wenchen is the chief of military staff, he himself must do the same.

It's just that he has other opinions: "The place of the Renzhi Hall is also big enough. ”

One is the ready-made Renzhi Hall located in the north of the Wuying Palace, as long as it is no longer used as a few feast halls. One is located in the northeast of the Wenhua Palace, and there are still a lot of vacant spaces on the east side of the Forbidden City.

One is closer to the Wuying Hall where the Military Council is located, and the other is closer to the Wenhua Hall where the ministers of state gather.

Zhang Fujing only smiled: "You might as well mention it today and see what Your Majesty means." ”

So before the emperor summoned them, the important ministers had already had a preliminary exchange of views on a new matter.

When the most prestigious Xiangxian Yuan in the provinces was accompanied by the representatives of the most prestigious commercial houses in the industry in various places, they understood that today was not just a simple banquet.

Zhu Houxi was very interested.

For those who are mainly local nobles and have at least a prominent background, he is purely polite. Under certain historical conditions, the use of local clan power to stabilize the rule was only a situation that would have occurred when the system of the Xiangxianyuan system was first established.

Zhu Houxi is naturally more interested in these wealthy businessmen.

In the current political and business environment, these people can stand out, and all of them are extremely smart and capable of methods.

Among them, there are Jin merchants, Hui merchants, and Cantonese merchants.

In addition to the old salt, tea, rice, cloth, paper, ink, and porcelain, there are also new light industries.

Among them, the most special is naturally the fertilizer boss Jin Kela.

To be honest, the production capacity of his Jinkela fertilizer plant has not been able to rise, and the cost is difficult to really suppress. Until now, only the largest grain storage number and some other large families who do not care much about cost can afford to use it.

In this regard, Jin Qila is very ashamed. Because he knew that the reason why the emperor looked at him differently was because he expected his fertilizer factory to benefit the ordinary people of the Ming Dynasty.

However, strudite can only be transported from overseas, and once the fertilizer he makes is transported over a long distance, it cannot compare to the cost of self-sufficiency in the farmers' own way of making some fertilizer.

At present, the improvement of agricultural technology in the Ming Dynasty is more important than farm tools, water conservancy and the breeding of the Agricultural College of Huangming University.

After everyone had saluted, several important ministers sat on either side of the nearest side in front of the emperor, while the others were given seats and sat in several rows in the hall opposite the emperor.

Zhu Houxi looked interesting, and after opening his mouth, he said: "If the presidents of the enterprises under the Huangming Assets Bureau also come, this can become the Daming Economic Work Conference." ”

In one sentence, many wealthy businessmen were enthusiastic: just these businessmen, are they qualified to participate in the Ming Economic Work Conference?

It seems that today is not just to meet them, hoping that they will buy more of the rumored 10-year treasury bonds, but also has another important event.

"Today, I'd better give a lecture and talk about your profession."

Wang Zhi's "owner" Xu Dong listened to the emperor in a daze.

Agriculture, industry, commerce and services, means of production and labour, consumption and markets, the environment created by the State to improve transportation and provide a stable internal administrative system......

There are many concepts, some of which do not need to be explained, and some of which are easy to understand once they are spoken.

Except for Jin Kela, many businessmen who had never met the emperor could only be shocked at this time: the Son of Heaven who was high up knew the situation of all walks of life so well, and saw the old business they ran so thoroughly?

Zhu Houxi naturally couldn't fully understand some of the small methods and methods they would use when doing business, but he only needed to talk about the essence.

"Farmers pay taxes, merchants pay taxes, this truth needs not be said more." Zhu Houxi looked at them, "I am staring at the big things, the ministers are assisting me, although a lot of the grain and silver collected from the entire Ming Dynasty is to be used for money, silver and many other expenses, but the ultimate goal is to stabilize the internal and external stability of the Ming Dynasty, so that the people and you can also benefit." ”

There is so much foreshadowing, not just to talk about this truth.

Zhu Houxi said again: "It's not from ancient times, there are stutterers, there is a place to spend the night, and it is enough to live to be twenty or thirty years old and leave heirs." If conditions permit, who doesn't want to live a few more years and have better food and clothing? I have implemented new laws to make people's lives less burdensome, and that is for the future. To give people a way to live, to make people live better. The more people who have spare money to buy things to improve their lives, the bigger the market for your future business! ”

"For example, in this northern expedition, there are so many Mongolian people, it stands to reason that they will be killed in one hundred. However, as long as they don't give birth to chaos, then there are hundreds of thousands of people, if they want to live, and their children and grandchildren want to live, they will inevitably have to buy some goods. So, why kill them all? Not only them, but also the Tartars who were driven away, I am not ready to kill them all. If you are close to the Ming Dynasty, you can live a better life, and the northern plague will really be extinct. Therefore, the imperial court was ready to expand the scale of the border market. ”

Speaking of this, these wealthy businessmen were naturally convinced and delighted to call them saints.

In the past, because the restrictions were too strict, they could only come and pour some domestic salt, tea, rice, grain, and so on. The profits of the border city need to be clear about the civil and military classes in the border town before they have the qualifications to do it.

Nowadays, although the requirements for paying taxes are higher, it has to be said that the merchants are well regulated, and they are also much easier.

In the future, the scale of the border market will be expanded, and the sea ban will be lifted, which is indeed a good era of business that they have never experienced.

"I have said so much, why I have set up various enterprises and managed some key industries, you should also understand." Zhu Houxi paused, "It's not to compete with you for profit, but because those industries are related to the important national economy and people's livelihood, and they can't cause chaos." I close a door and open a door for you. Behind this new door, it is not only the relaxation of restrictions on trade, but also the fact that you do not have to be inferior from now on. ”

Jin Qila couldn't help but look up at the emperor, who was more familiar with the emperor, and he faintly felt that this so-called not inferior was definitely not just to meet them at this moment, but to face the entire group of businessmen.

Zhu Houxi said with a smile: "The imperial court is studying how to change the household registration system. Since ancient times, there have been sayings about agriculture, industry and commerce, three religions and nine streams, although some people are also the people of the Ming Dynasty, but they must be divided into three, six, nine and so on. Times are changing, and so are the circumstances. Soon, in terms of laws, Daming will no longer distinguish a clear household registration, there is no need for someone in the military family to join the army, and the business family does not have to wear a cloth dress in order not to violate the prohibition. ”

Sure enough, everyone in the cloth clothes couldn't believe it, and couldn't help but glance at the faces of those important ministers: In this way, wouldn't there be no etiquette and great order?

But Zhang Fujing, they didn't have too many surprises.

The discussion about household registration is not a year or two again.

It can only be said that by this time, the emperor already had enough prestige to promote these things, and the important ministers in the court also saw through it: in the stage of change, knowing the direction of the general trend, he could always make some preparations in advance and take the lead.

Zhu Houxi said at this time: "No matter what your background is, everyone should study and be reasonable." If you open the wisdom of the people, you will find a way to live a better life. When the days are good, there will be spare money to buy goods, and all industries will flourish. All industries are prosperous, and the tax revenue of the imperial court will also be high. There is no distinction between people, and the government and the court are not easy to control, but this is also my new requirement for hundreds of officials. If you can't manage it well, you can still govern the Ming Dynasty, that is the real heroic talent. ”

"The day before yesterday, you all met the generals and read them, you must know that in my heart, Da Ming will need three armies of one bright and two dark in the future!" Only then did Zhu Houxi get to the point, "The Ming branch is the Ming Xiongshi, the generals are brave and strategic, the weapons are invincible, and the guarantee is foolproof." The two dark branches, one is the economy and the other is the culture! ”

"Let the foreigners live a better life, and then earn their money back, they have to rely on the Ming Dynasty economically, how can they still make trouble?"

"Let all the foreigners have their hearts towards the Ming culture, learn my Ming language, and practice my Ming system, and the days can get better and better, why do you still want to make trouble?"

Zhu Houxi raised his hand and pointed at them: "You are my economic army!" The ambassador not only helps you, but also the vanguard of the cultural army. Everyone in the Ming Dynasty knows that they are knowledgeable, prosperous in culture and education, and the weather of the country that day is also your invincible confidence! ”

It is already clear what the emperor summoned them for.

The word "army" is full of coldness, but it is for the future of the Ming Dynasty.

The atmosphere in the Qianqing palace has changed somewhat, and most of the village sages are just local big landowners, but the wealthy merchants all know that since the emperor wants to encourage them to use goods to "attack the city" of the surrounding feudal states, there will naturally be some deployment arrangements.

So they're expecting.

"In the past, if in order to protect the family and defend the country, after the Ming Dynasty laid down some territories, they had to send officials to work hard. Away from the Ming Dynasty, officials are unwilling; When I went to the border, I also did a lot of evil, so I often failed. Zhu Houxi said first, "In the future, change your thinking." There are no longer three, six, nine and so on in the Ming Dynasty, and the Han people are all people. The Celestial Dynasty has become a king, and I don't know how many people of different races have been naturalized for thousands of years. ”

"Remember this when you go out to trade. The economic and cultural army is to turn them into Han Chinese. support those who are ambitious, so that their lives are better; Suppressing selfish desires is too much, making it difficult for them to move forward. One generation, two generations, three generations, around the Ming Dynasty, will no longer be troubled. ”

"Lift it up!"

Zhu Houxi commanded, and a screen was carried out by the ministers and placed in front of everyone.

When they looked up, they saw that it was a map.

This map encompasses the world, not only the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Houxi looked around and said slowly: "Today, you have been summoned to the palace, and you have this qualification, to participate in the world's thousand-year-old opportunity, and to seek the foundation of the eternal family and country. The imperial court wants to implement the ten-year Ming Dynasty construction treasury bonds, and you have naturally heard the rumors. The subscriber will then be able to take a stake in two new ventures. ”

They were still staring at the screen, only to see that it was starting from Daming, like two armies. Each army went out of the frontier, and there were several arrows.

The road to the west, pointing to the west, seems to be the ancient silk road of the Han and Tang dynasties. The one to the east is either to the northeast and east, or to the northeast.

"One is the Great Wall Company on land, and the other is the Great Wall Company on the sea." Zhu Houxi explained, "These two companies, the Huangming Assets Bureau and the Ministry of Finance and Taxation together account for the majority of the shares, and the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Rites and Communications, and the Ministry of Culture and Education are all involved. You participate, you contribute money and people, but you don't care. Because these two companies are open roads, there are generals, guns, and warships. After the fortress was established, it set up the capital protection office, which was not only a border market trading station, but also a diplomatic and religious base. ”

"The army of the Ming Dynasty is the pioneer, followed by your respective trading houses, trade routes, selling goods, buying raw materials, and making friends with the locals."

After a short pause, Zhu Houxi looked at them meaningfully: "If you encounter obstacles, you can hire generals from these two companies to protect you in a land outside the territory." ”

Everyone in the hall, including Zhang Fujing, was shocked.

Is this to allow businessmen to borrow military power as well?

Yes, just borrowed.

Zhu Houxi thought about it, but he still couldn't allow these wealthy businessmen who had the courage to step out of the country to arm themselves like the West, because the trouble would be too great.

Xuanwei can only be the official power of the Ming Dynasty. The use of commercial means to promote appeasement is the main thing they are allowed to do.

But when you're away from home, there's always danger. Sporadic incidents do not affect the overall situation.

In the way of hiring, there is only a bumper, at least to tie up the beasts that Daming is about to release.

The Ming Dynasty is about to cut and train elite soldiers, and there are many soldiers who need to be diverted.

If they have this ambition, it is also a way out of reemployment.

On this day, the "economic meeting" in the Qianqing Palace was held for a long time.

The most outstanding wealthy merchants of the Ming Dynasty heard with certainty from the emperor's mouth that there were many places and what products were there.

For example, the New World is full of gold and silver.

To the south of Naguawa Island, for example, there is a huge island with coal and iron that is almost sprinkled on the ground.

For example, in the desert of the Persians, there is a lot of oil that Shen Kuo mentioned in the "Dream Creek Writings", which His Majesty said would be more important than coal and iron in the future. This point is the conclusion that he and Tao Zhenren have studied for a long time.

There is no need to emphasize it so much, Shen Kuo himself said: This thing will be in the world in the future.

By noon, before the feast, the screen was removed.

After the banquet was set, Zhu Houxi raised his glass and said: "The Prime Minister and Minister of State, the General Staff of the Military Council, and several Shangshu are here, you must know that this is the supreme achievement of the Ming Dynasty to carry forward the past and forge ahead into the future and establish a foundation for China for all generations!" The guns and cannons of the Western Yi warships and the accompanying merchant ships have arrived at the door of the Ming Dynasty. They are arrogant, and they have the idea of dividing up the world. I am far away, but what I am looking at is the world of great controversy in the universe under the situation of no change for thousands of years! ”

"Frequent felling is a means! With the economic and cultural army of the Ming Dynasty, it is an invisible new Great Wall on land and sea. I understand the new learning, pay attention to practicality, practical benefits, exhaustive study of physics, human reason, not for the good and great achievements to dominate the world, just for the descendants of the Ming Dynasty to enjoy peace and prosperity for all generations! Although the people of China have relocated to their land, they are never afraid to spread out! ”

Zhu Houxi circled around: "Drink this cup full!" If this deed is successful, with the future of the Ming Dynasty's territory, the wealth of the family and country, and the stability of the region, why should I be stingy with the princes and uncles? ”

(End of chapter)