Even Zhu Youzhu didn't expect that the promotion of mining and the collection of mining taxes in the court would be so smooth.

It turns out that when these ministers are unsatisfied, they will do something against me?

How did you know that the mining tax was exchanged for them first, and they all seemed to wilt? I came out to oppose it! I'm still waiting to debate with you on how we can benefit the country and the people.

After the end of the court meeting.

After Zhu Youzhu returned to the Qianqing Palace, his face was also full of emotion: "I still thought that there would be many people in the court who opposed it, and who would have thought that they all agreed with me ordering Bingkuan to open the mine." Now the difficulty lies in Bingkuan himself, and I hope that he can find out where the ore veins are through the feng shui he has learned. ”

Dai Yi said with a smile: "Mr. Zhang knows astronomy and feng shui, how can he not find it?" ”

"Alright, I'm going out to the theater. What's going on today? Zhu Youzhu asked.

This time, Xiao Jing reminded: "It's the West Chamber." ”

"Oh, I once read the script of the West Chamber, but I said that it was all about the folk men and women, but there was no family and country feeling, and the martial arts scripts written by Bingkuan before should also be written into a play, I want to see it on the stage."

Zhu Youzhu doesn't like folk operas.

With his identity and status, he prefers to watch "exciting", even if he can't fly flesh and blood on the stage, at least it makes him feel the magnificence of the virtual.

Xiao Jing said: "The slave will tell Mr. Zhang." ”

"Hmm." After Zhu Youzhu nodded, he ordered to arrange the affairs of leaving the palace, he should leave the palace before noon, and according to the plan, he would not return to the palace gate until sunset.

……

……

Zhang Zhou did not need to accompany the holy driver that day.

The emperor went out of the palace to watch the play, it was not his idea, but the Empress Dowager Zhou's order, Zhu Youzhi did this more to "fulfill filial piety", as for what drama to watch...... Zhang Zhou can plan it.

But whether the person that Empress Dowager Zhou likes has the opportunity to get close to Zhu Youzhu depends on Zhu Youji's own taste.

Zhang Zhou received an edict from the imperial court on the same day, allowing him to open mines.

Moreover, the rules of mining all show that there are people who can find coal, iron ore and saltpeter mines, and those who want to be loyal and want to surrender the mine to the imperial court can also pass through the hands of Zhang Zhou.

This is tantamount to a bombshell for private businessmen.

Especially those businessmen who have their own mining needs, some of them actually found ore veins, and some of them have been questioned by the imperial court for private mining, and now the imperial court has given them a chance to turn "illegal" to "legal", but how to contact Zhang Zhou and donate the mine, and how many percent of the profits of each family will be divided in the future, there is a saying.

Zhang Zhou went to see Jiang Dezhong.

"Virtuous son-in-law, don't you know, as soon as the news comes out today, there is an endless stream of people who come to visit the old man, and they all know that the old man is helping you open a mine, otherwise, you open a price code, and how much silver will be collected for a given mine! In the old man's mind, the big mine is 3,000 taels, and the small mine ranges from 500 taels to 1,000 taels, what do you think? ”

Jiang Dezhong is a trader.

When he knew that Zhang Zhou had the power to certify illegal mines as legal mines, he wanted to realize the power in Zhang Zhou's hands.

Zhang Zhoudao: "Father-in-law, listen to what you mean, you plan to make money." ”

Jiang Dezhong was surprised: "If you don't make money, is he okay?" ”

Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "But the question is, I helped him pass the official residence in those mines, and he produced ore, how much will he give me?" The imperial court asked me to use the veins to make steel, cannons, and gunpowder, and these mines will help me to accomplish this? ”

"This ......"

Jiang Dezhong only thinks about making money, what to serve the court, it doesn't seem to be within the scope of his thoughts.

It's all a matter of the way to make money.

Zhang Zhoudao: "Let's put it this way, if you want to open a mine by yourself, I want to look everywhere to see if there is a suitable mine vein, and I must not compete with the people for profit." Those who want to donate to the mines, let them also save their hearts, and the heavens will not drop gold to them, nor will it fall to me. ”

Jiang Dezhong was puzzled: "Don't you want a ready-made mine, you want to open it yourself?" How long is this going to be? ”

"Listening to my father-in-law, it seems that he doesn't believe in my ability." Zhang Zhou said with a smile.

"Well...... Jiang Dezhong really didn't believe it, "Virtuous son-in-law, it is said outside that you can pinch and calculate, and even be able to communicate with ghosts and gods, and the old man doesn't know why they have such thoughts." Since you are so capable, how can you still ...... before? Down to that point? ”

Zhang Zhou thought to himself, you old man Jiang is really good at soul torture.

If I hadn't been so depressed, the Gongyuan dung number would have hung around my neck, and I wouldn't have anything to do now.

"Do you understand what it means that things must be reversed? Do you understand what it means to bring the dead back to life? If you don't put it to death, how can you be reborn? Zhang Zhou said, "Anyway, you don't have to worry about opening a mine, give me a good look at the coal mine in Xishan, I will go to check it recently, open a few more mines, don't think about filling your pocket." ”

"Virtuous son-in-law, you open a mine, of course the old man has to help......"

"No need!"

Jiang Dezhong was in a hurry.

He thought that Zhang Zhou was here to give him business and money, but it turned out that Zhang Zhou was here to settle accounts with him.

Zhang Zhou opened an iron mine this time, and it seems that he didn't plan to cooperate with him at all.

……

……

Hallym Temple.

Zhang Zhoulai checked the proofreading of the "Daming Huidian" together, and met Cheng Minzheng and Lin Han, who were working hard here, and they were the helpers Zhang Zhou found, and they were even more ruthless.

After all, Lin Han is about to become Zhang Zhou's father-in-law.

Weng and his son-in-law went to the library where the classics were stored together.

"Why haven't you been seen lately? Busy with things in the DPRK and China? Lin Han asked.

Zhang Zhou said with a smile: "It's very busy, why don't you open a mine again today." ”

Lin Han nodded.

Lin Han didn't look at the usual high and arrogant, but he was under a lot of pressure in terms of supporting his family, just look at the children and their families who only lived in the dormitory of the Guozijian after arriving in Beijing, you can see how much pressure he has...... also because he still has wives and concubines to support him.

Lin Han's favorite thing to do in his later years was not to repair books or anything, but actually ...... Have a baby.

Now it seems that Lin Han is already old and healthy, but Zhang Zhou thought that this old guy had only given birth to his last son, Lin Tingji, in the sixth year of Zhengde, and he knew what it meant to be old and strong.

If I marry your concubine as a concubine, don't look down on me, who is more noble than whom?

Readers, don't you just talk about wine and wealth?

"What's going on in the Northwest?" Lin Han actually seriously asked Zhang Zhou about the situation in the northwest.

Zhang Zhou smiled.

In the past, Lin Han was an academic right attendant of the Ministry of Rites, and he had always been doing the errand of teaching and educating people, but now Lin Han seems to realize that after the "Daming Huidian" is written, his official position will be further improved, and he is likely to have the opportunity to take charge of himself in the court.

It means "to be a happy person from tomorrow, feed horses, chop wood, travel the world, and care for food and vegetables from tomorrow".

In the past, Lin Han was a little deaf to what was going on outside the window, but now he finally began to care about the court situation.

"The situation in the northwest is okay, and it is imperative to suppress the trap, but the focus of the imperial court is on the sidelines. Before Wang Dehua and Zhu Zhijie went to the side pass, His Majesty had an order to change the offensive and defensive thinking, if the expectation is not bad, they will immediately send troops to attack the Tatar camp after gaining a firm foothold, and drive the Tatars out of the vicinity of the side pass, and there may be a battle report in the next two days......"

Zhang Zhou told Lin Han about the situation in the northwest.

Lin Han said: "Rushing to send troops, aren't you afraid of breaking the halberd?" ”

In the matter of marching, Lin Han did not show a condescending attitude when he asked, perhaps he also knew that even if he had a high reputation in the academic world, he was a novice layman in matters such as the use of soldiers.

Zhang Zhou shook his head: "For Your Majesty, the national prestige is now more important than other things, and the border officials will be able to understand this thought, even if the troops do not go well, they will not be held accountable too much." On the contrary, those who are timid to talk about defending as offense will be replaced in the end. ”

"Oh."

Lin Han nodded in understanding.

From Zhang Zhou's words, he understood that the emperor's intention now was to send troops and no longer shrink back to defense.

This kind of thing has to be explained to him...... Not even a door.

This is also the reason why he likes to talk about court affairs with his prospective son-in-law recently.

No way, who made Zhang Zhou the one who can best grasp the emperor's mind?

And he Lin Han is not taking the path of a traditional civil official, if he wants to be promoted to the sixth Shangshu of the Beijing Division or a real squire, he must understand the emperor's thoughts, because from the perspective of keeping up, it was the emperor and Zhang Zhou who promoted him, if he doesn't know how to stand in line, it will be the same as Cheng Minzheng, maybe a big black pot will fall from the sky at some point.

……

……

The entrance of Zhang's house.

Zhang Ye and Zhang Ping, father and son, had been coming to visit since noon, and no one allowed them to enter the door, not even near the gate.

In the end, the two could only squat in the corner, one carrying a pile of "gifts" in their hands, and they did so until sunset, and finally saw Zhang Zhou's carriage stop.

"Second Brother ......"

Zhang Ye rushed forward cheekily, but was stopped by the brocade guard, and two people came behind him to grab the collars of the two, and almost pressed the person to the ground to teach him a good lesson.

Fortunately, these two goods have nothing to show their faces recently, and the people around Zhang Zhou know them, so they are not embarrassed to do it.

The toad jumps on the instep and does not bite and disgust people.

Zhang Zhou smiled: "Big brother, eldest nephew, you two haven't returned to Nanjing yet?" Is there still a way for you to live in the capital? ”

Zhang Ye said with a sad face: "No, your sister-in-law heard that you are now prosperous, so let people bring a little entanglement, let us stay here for a few more months, and see if we can maintain the relationship between brothers." ”

"Hey, big brother, don't blame you as a brother, you are a big man who has been away from home for a long time, and the money in the family is still managed by women, aren't you worried? In case you go back, your sister-in-law sweeps you out of the house......"

"Phew! Hey...... Second brother, you have to remind you, why don't you let the eldest brother go back to Nanjing earlier for the sake of the brothers? ”

Zhang Ye wanted to get close to Zhang Zhou, but he could only be three feet away, blocked by someone, and discussed with Zhang Zhou about the bad things in his family.

"Those who come are guests, let them in."

This time, the father and son of the Zhang family brought gifts, but Zhang Zhou did not stop them and let them enter the courtyard.

The father and son of the Zhang family finally had the opportunity to set foot in the courtyard of the Zhang family in this life, and they were invited in, not to mention how excited Zhang Ye was, there was probably a feeling of "the second brother finally forgave me, and I will be a new person in the future".

"Sit down."

Zhang Zhou didn't plan to let Zhang Ye's father and son enter the room, but just greeted him in front of the stone bench in the courtyard.

But Zhang Ye didn't care anymore, swaggered over, and sat down.

"Second brother, you are really soaring, such a big courtyard, close to the palace gate, let alone a few thousand taels of silver, right? The encouragement to you at the beginning really blossomed! Do you think, when you are down, can you be a brother who will not be saved? I was trying to help you turn back, and didn't I give you back 200 yuan when you couldn't eat......

This kind of, even Zhang Ping next to him frowned when he heard it.

This father, can he speak a little more fakely?

Second uncle is not a fool, people will listen to your nonsense?

Zhang Zhou smiled: "Big brother, let's talk about it directly." What's the matter, is this time seeking fame or profit? You don't want to inherit my house, do you? ”

"No, no, no......" Zhang Ye hurriedly said, "Second brother, you are now in a high position in the middle of the court, I heard that you are all first-class masters?" ”

"No, it's just a false position, I'm just a Hanlin servant." Zhang Zhou said with a smile.

"That's also very powerful, our ancestral grave is smoking, why don't you help our brothers repair the ancestral grave when you return to your hometown? It's time to repair the ancestral hall at home or something...... My father and mother left early, and they were all for my brother's and pee......"

"Wait, big brother, it seems that it hasn't been a few years since my father and mother passed away, right? Are you bullying me for my bad brain? ”

"Uh...... But the brother didn't treat you badly, did he? ”

Zhang Ye found that this younger brother didn't seem to be as easy to fool as before.

In the past, this younger brother would listen to whatever he said, and the younger brother at that time was very pedantic.

How is the monkey spirit monkey spirit now?

"Heh, big brother, don't mention the old things, right? Hurt brotherly feelings. If you have something to say, you should say it directly, get out of the house early, maybe before I die of old age, I will remember you a little bit when I think of you, the eldest brother. ”

Zhang Ye blinked.

How do you say that...... Second brother, that's the case, I heard that you have another Jinyi Wei errand and an official position, and today I heard that you are going to open a mine? You give my eldest brother a little benefit, don't ask for anything else, let the eldest brother go back, just be able to deal with your sister-in-law. ”

Zhang Ye sent Zhang Zhou to kneel, "Otherwise, you see, when you are a brother and sister-in-law, I haven't given you anything before, but your eldest nephew has never offended you, he remembers you as a second uncle in his heart, you leave him in the capital and give him an errand." Just leave a chance for my Zhang family's children and grandchildren to get ahead, what do you think? ”

Zhang Ye's words were deeply meaningful.

Zhang Ping, who was next to him, was very moved when he heard it.

When the son tugged at his father's clothes, it probably meant, Dad, let's not ask for this second uncle, we can't afford to lose that person, let's leave early.

This scene couldn't help but make Zhang Zhou think of Zhang Jun's kid.

The two cousins are a bit of the same in temperament, they both know so much about "filial piety and etiquette", and they are the "filial sons and grandsons" of the Zhang family.

"Big brother, I just let you in for the sake of my nephew, otherwise why do you think I am abandoning this with you? Find someone to knock you out of the capital, and if you come again, they will beat you out, do you think there is still a chance to gain a foothold in the capital? Zhang Zhou smiled.

"Good, good. Zhang Ping, did you hear that? In the future, I will have a good time with your second uncle. Zhang Ye said to his son earnestly.

"Hmm." Zhang Ping didn't mention how excited he was.

The father sacrificed his ego, didn't want to save face, and always lived in a wall, and finally pushed your son and me to the brink of glory, and he himself had to go back and continue to suffer the torture of his mother.

Such a spirit of sacrifice is really touching.

Zhang Zhoudao: "I lack an apprentice in my shop, I earn two dollars a month, and I take care of my own food and lodging, do you think my eldest nephew can suffer from this?" ”

"Huh?"

Zhang Ye, father and son, looked at Zhang Zhou together.

What about insults?

Two dollars a month? Do you still have room and board to take care of yourself? Also apprentice buddy?

"Oh, big brother, you have to broaden your horizons, I am doing things for Your Majesty, the things that come out of my hands, what kind of mighty heavenly gunpowder, Shenwei Yuancannon, etc., are all firearms in the Northwest Army, you can learn from me for two years, and you can also mix an official and a half-post in the Ministry of Industry in the future."

Zhang Zhou was painting cakes for the Zhang family father and son again.

When Zhang Ye heard this, he looked back at Zhang Ping and said, "Son, did you hear what your second uncle said?" Follow your second uncle to work hard, and as a father, I will go back to your mother first. ”

"Father, take your son back with you."

Zhang Ping originally thought that he could soar, even if the second uncle didn't give him any position of Jinyi Wei Baihu, it wouldn't be too much to give a general flag, a small flag and the like, right?

And the result is an apprentice?

Or is it a gunpowder maker?

I'm afraid I don't know how I will die when I turn around, and whether there will be a whole corpse after death is another matter.

"Big brother, it seems that your father and son haven't discussed it, why don't you father and son go back and discuss it for two more days?" Zhang Zhou said with a smile.

Zhang Ye was not polite, stood up and said sharply: "Zhang Ping, now that you have grown up, you should also be responsible!" It's rare that your second uncle appreciates you, and he wants to keep you by his side to cultivate, let alone be an apprentice, even if it is to let you start from the hard work of lifting, it is also a kind of kindness! In the future, your father will not be by your side, and your second uncle will be your father! Honor him! ”

Zhang Ping: "......"

Now the son also understands that his father is planning to throw him away, so that he can go back to his mother-in-law to make an errand.

This is a burden to my father.

Zhang Ye said to Zhang Zhou with an excited face: "Second brother, my son who is not angry, I will rely on you in the future." ”

"No problem." Zhang Zhou smiled.

Zhang Ye sighed, turned around and left: "Son, follow your second uncle well, and come back to pick you up for your father." ”

"Father's ......"

……

……

After Zhang Ye left, he packed his things and prepared to go back to Nanjing.

Zhang Zhou arranged this nephew in the workshop, and went over to give him two taels of silver on the same day.

"Zhang Ping, your father and your mother are confused, I don't think you should be confused." Zhang Zhou said, "Although they are all nephews of the Zhang family, you should know what kind of material you are." Stay and work hard, or go back and continue to be your eldest young master, you choose for yourself, if you are still there when I come back tomorrow, it means that you have made a good choice. Work hard with me in the future! ”

Zhang Ping's face remained silent.

When Zhang Zhou came back the next day, Zhang Ping's cover roll was long gone.

His father discussed with his second uncle to sell him, he would not betray himself, he still wanted to go back to his mother, be the son and grandson of his Zhang family, continue to live a life of worry-free food and clothing, and wait to inherit the family business in the future.

(End of chapter)