"Put!"

"Boom, boom—"

In mid-October, on the wharf outside the east gate of the Nanjing Chengjiang River in Yingtianfu, when more than a dozen 5,000-material treasure ships entered the berth, the salute on the wharf also rang out 18 times in a row, in order to celebrate the success of the Oriental fleet.

"Good ...... How many treasures do you have to bring back from such a big ship? ”

"It's supposed to be our ......"

"Shh......h Be quiet. ”

On the wharf, in addition to the tens of thousands of soldiers and horses who maintained order, there were also tens of thousands of people who came to see the excitement.

Of course, more of them are the laborers who work on the docks, and the second is the people who watch the excitement.

However, among them, there are also many coastal merchant gang leaders and stewards who have come to inquire about the news.

On the pier, Zhu Di stood under the yellow tent, followed by Zhu Gaoxu.

Behind their father and son, more than 100 officials from the six ministries and six governments were all present.

As if to let them see the benefits of going to the East, Zhu Di specially called all the officials above the fourth grade in Jingzheng.

In fact, the ministers all know whether there is a benefit to going to the East, but they have a very vague concept of this benefit.

Although there are hundreds of coastal merchant gangs, in fact, only the top-notch ones are doing well, and most of the remaining smuggling coastal merchant gangs can not make a high profit after deducting various expenses.

But at present, the Oriental Fleet under the Ming Dynasty monopolized the Ming Dynasty's trade with Japan, and it can be said that the income from their voyage this time is equivalent to the income of Jiangdong, Fujian and Zhejiang and other large and small merchant gangs for a year, or even more.

"Bang!"

When the sound of the boat ladder on the dock sounded, Zheng He, Yang Zhan, Yang Li and others got off the boat one after another, and hurried all the way towards the Yellow Tent.

"Your Majesty is the envoy Zheng He, see Your Majesty, Your Highness, ......"

"Etiquette is waived, I just want to see what you get."

Zheng He led everyone forward and tried to bow five times and bow three times, but was stopped by Zhu Di, and even Zhu Di himself stepped forward to support Zheng He.

In this regard, the smile on Zheng He's face was difficult to hide, and Yang Zhan directly turned around and signaled to several commanders who followed behind.

A few people understood, and hurriedly ordered people to start moving the proceeds of this trade off the treasure ship.

Compared to 150 ships that went to sea with full loads, only 18 treasure ships returned and arrived in Nanjing with their goods.

But even so, the treasure ship that returned with a full load was enough to make people look forward to it.

The first to move off the treasure ship were the hundreds of boxes on Zheng He's boat, which were large enough to hold one person.

They have the same volume, but they don't have the same weight.

Some of the boxes need to be pushed by carts, while others are carried by four people from the docks.

When they were placed in front of the ministers, the treasure ship in the distance was still unloading its goods, and in a short time it was piling up nearly a thousand chests.

It was difficult to end their movements quickly, so Zheng He turned around and said: "Open the box!" ”

"Beep-"

It seems that after the rehearsal, as soon as Zheng He spoke, Yang Li on the side blew the wooden whistle.

For a while, the boxes placed in front of Zhu Di and the ministers were unlocked and opened one by one.

"Gold!!"

"And silver, so much silver?!"

When the boxes in the first row were opened one after another, not only the ministers gasped, but even Zhu Di, who was used to seeing the world, also gasped.

When the first chest was opened, there were twenty or thirty gold ingots, and there were different rules of silver pressed underneath.

After it, almost half of the ten chests in the first row were filled with silver, and the rest were all kinds of copper coins.

Before Zhu Di came back to his senses, a smile was already on his face, and Zheng He also spoke at the right time and presented a transcript.

"The proceeds of this trade in the East were 6,742,27 taels of gold, 369,600 taels of silver, and 964,000 52,600 taels of copper......

"In addition, there are more than 364,000 catties of raw red copper, 121,600 catties of sumu, 460,000 catties of sulfur, 1,000 horses, and more than 460,000 catties of various commercial goods."

Zheng He's gift list, calculated from the gold, silver and copper coins alone, brought back nearly 1.4 million guan, and the value of the rest of the various goods is difficult to estimate, but according to the market price, it is not less than 800,000 guan.

It can be said that the income from this trip to the East is even more than Zhu Gaoxu expected, at least 2.2 million yuan.

If the cost of 420,000 guan is removed, Daming will make a net profit of 1.78 million guan, nearly 500,000 guan more than the expected harvest.

"Good!!"

Zhu Di's eyes swept over the batch of gold, silver and copper coins, and he only felt that his snort was extremely hot, and he was almost about to burst into flames.

If it weren't for the presence of the ministers, he would have picked up the dozens of gold ingots.

"I have already asked the soldiers to prepare a banquet in Liujiagang and Chang'anmen, and the military attache of the fifth rank in the army has also prepared a banquet in the Wuying Hall of the Inner Court, and I will go now."

Zhu Di happily took Zheng He's hand, and while his face was full of smiles, he turned around and saw the expressions of the ministers.

Some of them are genuinely happy, while others are smiling at all.

This scene was also seen by Zhu Gaoxu, who turned around, and there were not many officials who were really happy, and this is not difficult to understand.

Historically, Zhu Di stored all the income from going to the West in the inner treasury, and he would only take out a large amount of money when he wanted to carry out any national project, so the ministers in history had almost no sense of participation in the West.

If you really want to talk about the sense of participation, then they only have a sense of participation when they contribute to work, money, and food.

But now it's different, Zhu Gaoxu has long discussed with Zhu Di to build a city warehouse in the imperial city, and all the income from going to the West will be included in the city warehouse and managed by the household department, but the transfer requires the consent of the emperor and the prince.

In this way, the things in the city warehouse are under Zhu Di's nose, but they belong to the household department, although it is a little cumbersome when it is spent, but at least it gives the six departments a sense of participation.

"Swing the Martial Arts Palace!"

The accompanying eunuch Wang Yan opened his mouth to salute, and soon the team of Han generals composed of Jinyi Wei escorted Zhu Di, Zhu Gaoxu and others to the convoy.

The ministers retreated one after another to open a road, and in the middle of the road, Zhu Gaoxu saw Wang Xuan and hurriedly nodded to him, and Wang Xuan also responded with a smile.

However, after Zhu Gaoxu left, his eyes immediately turned to the team behind him and saw Yang Zhan.

"Yue Guogong!"

Wang Xuan shouted at Yang Zhan, Yang Zhan had just arrived in the capital, and he didn't know that Wang Xuan was also in the capital, so when he heard this familiar voice, he couldn't help but be stunned for a moment, and then hurriedly looked around.

When he saw Wang Xuan, who was smiling honestly, he immediately broke away from the team and gave him a hug with open hands.

"Good! Don't tell me when you come to the capital! ”

"You are adrift at sea, and you don't have the opportunity or time to deliver a letter."

When the old friends reunited, the two jokingly let go of their hands and chatted regardless of the opinions of others.

"You're here, I'm going to drink and eat meat with you this time."

Yang Zhan showed the vigor he should have at his age in front of Wang Xuan, and Wang Xuan also grinned when he heard this: "It's a pity that I can't go to conquer Annan, otherwise we can fight side by side." ”

"You want to go? Then I'll talk to Your Highness. As soon as Yang Zhan heard Wang Xuan say this, he immediately wanted to go to Zhu Gaoxu, but Wang Xuan stopped him.

"Eh, I'm just joking, Your Highness has already given me an errand, and I also met with Your Majesty a few days ago and talked with him about a lot of things."

"Three Xuan and Six Consolations?" Yang Zhan opened his mouth silently, then pulled Wang Xuan to the side and whispered:

"If you delay in that place, I'm afraid you and I won't be able to meet it in our lives."

Yang Zhan knew very well that although he also fought on land in Guangxi, he could not compare to the sea after all.

What's more, with the importance that His Royal Highness attaches to the navy, it is estimated that he will have to stay in the navy for the rest of his life.

As a result, not only could he and Wang Xuan not be able to fight side by side, but they even had few opportunities to communicate and meet.

"It's hard to say, who knows."

Wang Xuan still looked that honest, and Yang Zhan, who saw this, couldn't help but feel upset for him: "Has Your Majesty given you a knight?" ”

"No, but I got promoted." Wang Xuan shook his head, and at the same time was worried that Yang Zhan would be upset about himself, so he hurriedly said:

"But His Royal Highness said that the title will be kept for me, and I will be able to confer the title after I have more achievements."

"That's okay......" Hearing Wang Xuan do this, Yang Zhan, who was about to have a seizure, also breathed a sigh of relief, but still continued: "Your merits are no worse than those who have made marquis and earls, but you can't say it, it's a little embarrassing." ”

"Fortunately, you and I are still young, and we have time to prepare, if you can't be knighted when you reach your thirties, then I will risk ......"

"Alright, there will be." Wang Xuan interrupted Yang Zhan, and Yang Zhan wanted to speak, but seeing Wang Xuan's serious expression, he slowly closed his mouth.

"Let's go, let's go to Wuying Hall and have a few drinks!"

"Let's go!"

After calming down, Yang Zhan regained his usual calm, and pulled Wang Xuan to follow the team heading to Wuying Palace.

At the same time, Zhu Gaoxu also walked to the side of the chariot, and after watching Zhu Di and Wang Yan and Zheng He get on the chariot, he stood in place and waited for a while.

After a long time, he saw Wang Xuan and Yang Zhan walking briskly towards this side.

"Arrange the first carriage after the golden chariot for Wang Xuan and Yang Zhan."

"Yes"

Zhu Gaoxu instructed Yishu to lose a word, but he also lost Ha and did not refute it.

After all, among the military attaches in Beijing at the moment, except for Xu Huizu and Zhang Yu, who have already devoted themselves to teaching, there is no one who can have a higher status than Yang Zhan.

Yang Zhan and Wang Xuan were in the same car, and it was not a violation of the rules after following Jin Xuan.

"Your Highness!"

Wang Xuan and Yang Zhan came to find it, and Zhu Gaoxu hurriedly smiled and signaled: "Go and take that carriage, follow me." ”

"Yes!" The two returned the salute and then got into the carriage that Yishiha had arranged for them.

Not long after, as Jin Lu set off, a large number of Wenchen who had been in the early morning behind him finally followed the team.

"Delay so many people for the sake of two people......"

In a carriage, Xie Jin retracted his body leaning out of the window and complained dissatisfied.

In the same car with him, there were also Yang Shiqi and three civil officials with small official positions.

Although Yang Shiqi was only compiled by Hanlin, he had a great reputation in the Jiangxi literary circle, so he was also appointed by Zhu Di as Zuo Zhongyun.

In addition to him and Xie Jin, the other two civil officials were Hu Guang, the right concubine, Hu Yan, the priest of the country, and Jin Youzi, the attendant of the Hanlin Academy.

Judging from their official positions alone, they seem to be dispensable, but in addition to their own official positions, they also have the status of palace scholars.

If the Scholar of the Palace may not be familiar to people, but when it comes to its other name, "Cabinet", many people are familiar with it.

At present, it is still the Yongle period, and the scholars of the palace pavilion have no real power, but are only advisers to the emperor, similar to the secretary of later generations, and have not evolved to the kind of power that has drafted edicts, approved and recited on behalf of the emperor, and actually holds the power of the prime minister.

But even so, they were the closest people to the emperor every day, so although their official positions were low, their status was high.

"Recently, the East Palace released news that it is ready to classify the West as an area for private maritime free trade, and the maritime merchants of Fujian, Zhejiang and Jiangdong have got the news and have their own plans."

"They have a plan, and the officials of Zhedong and Jiangdong above the temple can only concentrate on the matter of going to the West, and we also prepare in advance, and take this opportunity to find some excellent scholars, waiting for Your Majesty to start the imperial examination in the coming year."

Xie Jin slowly spoke, everyone thought it was true, and Yang Shiqi also spoke: "Wang Zhi, Wang Ying, Zhou Shu, and Li Shimian are not bad. ”

"The place of origin is ......," Hu Guang said tentatively.

"They are all my Jiangxi children." Yang Shiqi replied, and Xie Jin also bowed his head: "Compared with other places, the children in my hometown finally understand some things." ”

"There are no high-ranking officials in the six ministries, if it is the imperial examination, I am afraid it will be one step behind."

Hu Guang was worried, but Xie Jin was determined: "My Jiangzuo literary style is prosperous, why do I need to worry about this?" ”

"Compared to this, it is better to put your mind on the East Palace."

Xie Jin's voice was lowered a little: "Although the tax department over there in the East Palace has not taken action, as long as they exist, it will be possible to measure the acres of land at any time." ”

Hearing about the measurement of acres of land, everyone frowned.

At present, there are 40 million mu of cultivated land in Jiangxi, of which the amount of water is very small, but the water content of the quality of the acres is very large.

Thanks to the repair of Jiangxi's water conservancy during the Song and Hongwu dynasties, the quality of Jiangxi's cultivated land is actually not bad, but when it comes to paying taxes, Jiangxi's 40 million mu of cultivated land only has more than 2.6 million stone of grain in summer and autumn.

Although this amount is a lot, it is much worse than Shanxi, which has about the same amount of arable land.

Shanxi, which has more than 39 million mu of cultivated land, pays more than 2.8 million stone in land taxes, which is much less than Jiangxi's cultivated land, and the reason for this is that the tax rate given by Lao Zhu to Shanxi is different from that of Jiangxi, and more importantly, many acres of land and household registration in Jiangxi have been changed by local officials, chiefs, and grain chiefs.

Just as the wealthy households in Jiangdong changed the upper households into middle households and lower households, and changed the high-grade paddy fields into low-grade dry fields, Jiangxi also did the same.

Or not only Jiangxi, but the whole world is saying this.

Zhu Gaoxu's tax department is the sword hanging above the heads of this group of people.

It's just that the current strength of the tax department is too weak, and there is no way to clear the world's acres and check the situation of the world's fields.

In addition, Zhu Gaoxu had already convicted Jiangnan, so soon after he was transferred back, the tax department was sent to Qingzhang Tianmu in Shandong.

However, even if they went to Shandong, there seemed to be few rumors of their rich fields.

Although many people are still watching them, they really don't get much information, except that they are constantly measuring acres of land in Qingzhou, Dengzhou and Laizhou, and at the same time helping to reclaim wasteland in the local area.

But even so, they don't think that this is Zhu Gaochu is giving in, after all, the two methods of governing Annan given by Zhu Gaochu a few days ago are widely circulated in the circle of high-ranking officials above the fourth grade.

His temperament is still brutal, how can he let go of the matter of clearing the country's acres.

Xie Jin just thought about it, and then thought of what Zhu Gaoxu wanted to do.

"Although Liaodong is closed to news, it is not a place where water cannot be splashed."

Xie Jin listened to the sound of horses' hooves, and slowly said to Yang Shiqi: "The imperial court allocated eight million stones to Liaodong last year, but do you know what the specific situation in Liaodong is now?" ”

"I heard that there are more than 7 million mu of cultivated land, and there will be at least 5 million stone of real grain in the coming year, which can solve at least one-third of the food rations of the people in Liaodong."

Hu Yan tentatively spoke, and Hu Guang on the side also added: "Even so, the household department has already sent a note a few days ago, preparing to transport all the fields in Shandong, Henan, and Lianghuai to Liaodong. ”

"I did the math at the time, almost 6.4 million stones, which is a little less than last year, but more than what the East Palace asked for at the beginning."

"Naturally, there are more." Xie Jin snorted lightly, and his face was a little unsightly.

"Do you know what the situation is like in Liaodong's official school?"

"This ......"

Xie Jin asked Hu Guang and the others a question, but Yang Shiqi on the side picked up the topic: "It is rumored that it has been widely opened. ”

"Not only Guang, but the entire students outside the customs are basically qualified to enroll!"

Xie Jin's words immediately made the rest of the people in the carriage realize that something was wrong.

The reason for the prosperity of Jiangxi's literary style is nothing more than the large number of government-based and private schools, and the number of students who can bless Ze is even more than that of Zhejiang and Zhili.

In this way, even if the number of people named by Jiangxi every time cannot overshadow Zhili and Zhejiang, they will not lose too much, and even often win.

But at present, Zhu Gaoxu has invested so much, although he will not be able to catch up with Jiangxi for a while, but there is already a threat to Jiangxi.

After all, although the number of jinshi is large, there are only 400 people at most.

If there are more people who refer to it, the intensity of competition will increase, and the places that were originally in hand will also be snatched away by others.

There is also a solution to this problem, that is, to increase the number of jinshi places.

However, the number of jinshi is only a point, and the number of officials is fatal.

After Zhu Di changed back to the old Hongwu system, the number of civil officials in Beijing dropped back to more than 900, and the tax department was not included.

Locally, the number of civil officials remained at more than 26,000 in the late Hongwu period, and the same was true during the Yongle period.

However, counting the tax department and civil officials in Beijing, the overall number of officials in Yongle has reached 30,000.

Not counting the three divisions, Fuzhou and the current capital, the normal number of officials in a county is five, and in the entire Ming Dynasty, the number of officials in ordinary counties is basically only more than 9,000.

Counting the three divisions, the state, the government and the capital, it can barely reach 30,000.

In this case, even if you pass the Jinshi examination, it is difficult to get the position of real power, and as for those who are lifted, they are basically waiting for the shortage that the Jinshi does not want to make up.

Zhu Gaoxu's great revival of official education in Liaodong can be said to be an eye medicine for the entire existing bureaucratic system.

Once hundreds of thousands of students in Liaodong are successful and pour into the battlefield of the imperial examination, even if their literary skills are not good, hundreds of thousands of people will eventually be able to pour out a lot of talents.

Everyone didn't expect it, but they saw that the carriage had stopped.

For a while, the officials got out of the carriage one after another and walked into the outer court along the Xihua Gate.

Zhu Di took the lead and pulled Zheng He towards the Wuying Palace.

After a short time, he took Zheng He and his ministers across the Sanlong Bridge, which was already full of tables and chairs, and there were soldiers and eunuchs standing on the left and right.

Officials above the third grade walked into the Wuying Hall to attend the banquet, and the rest of the officials sat down in the square outside the Wuying Hall one after another, waiting for the meal to be served.

There were more than ten tables and chairs in the wide Wuying Palace, Zhu Di let go of Zheng He's hand, walked onto the golden platform of the main hall of the Wuying Palace, and sat down after the ministers sang and sat down.

Zhu Gaoxu's position was under the golden platform, very close to Yang Zhan's table.

Seeing the ministers seated, Zhu Di spoke: "The matter of going to the East is so successful, so before the start of the state banquet, I am going to announce one thing, that is, from now on, I will start preparations to go to the West. ”

He said his thoughts, and for a while the ministers in the palace looked at each other, not knowing what to say.

They were silent for a long time, and then reluctantly waved at Zhu Di on the golden platform: "Your Majesty Shengming ......"

"Let's have a feast!" Seeing the reluctant appearance of the ministers, Zhu Di had a smile on his face, and at the same time ordered Wang Yan to hold a banquet.

Soon the wine and food were on the table, and the cooking of the big kitchen in the early Ming Dynasty and Guanglu Temple was okay, but it was not like the late Ming Dynasty that was criticized for poor cooking.

Famous dishes such as fried mutton, fried goose, stir-fried yellow cabbage with pork, pepper and vinegar shrimp were served to each table, and eight people sat at each table, and twelve plates of dishes were placed.

Looking at the table full of food, Zhu Gaoxu knew why Miyagi's expenses were so big.

Zhu Di likes to give banquets, and the banquets are not bad, so the cost will naturally go up.

"Your Highness......"

Soon after the banquet began, Zheng He found Zhu Gaoxu after toasting with Zhu Di.

At this moment, Zhu Gaoxu was still talking and laughing with Yang Zhan, Wang Xuan, Xu Zengshou and others who had just come to toast, and when he saw Zheng He coming, he looked at him with a smile: "This thing is done well, after pacifying Annan next year, the imperial court still needs you to continue to go to the West, I look forward to your performance." ”

What he said was nothing more than how much gold and silver goods he brought back, which Zheng He also knew, but compared to this kind of thing, Zheng He cared more about other things.

"Just now, the slave maid toasted with Your Majesty, and Your Majesty said about the establishment of the Propaganda Department in the Old Port and Luzon, so the slave maid came to ask His Highness."

Zheng He opened his mouth in front of Yang Zhan and others, which meant that he did not regard Yang Zhan and others as outsiders, which made Zhu Gaoxu very happy.

"This matter is complicated, you drink wine and eat meat today, and in two days I will summon Xiping Marquis and them to come to Wuying Hall together, and we will talk about this matter."

"By the way, I also asked someone to make a sand table of Nanyang for you, so you can take a good look at ...... then."

After a few glasses of wine, Zhu Gaoxu also seemed a little excited, after all, there are too many old friends today, and since entering Nanjing, he has rarely participated in this kind of lively banquet.

"Then the slave maid will go and toast with the other fleet brothers."

Seeing Zhu Gaoxu say this, Zheng He also breathed a sigh of relief.

This time he went to the East Ocean and experienced several storms, and if it weren't for the detailed map provided by Zhu Gaoxu, I am afraid that the fleet would have encountered a lot of trouble.

Now Zhu Gaoxu said that he has prepared a sand table to go to Nanyang, which means that he has already investigated Nanyang, but it saves Zheng He a lot of trouble.

"Go, go, drink to your heart's content!"

Zhu Gaoxu patted Zheng He on the shoulder, and the force made Zheng He grin, but he had to squeeze out a smile: "The slave and maid are ...... to retire."

Looking at his appearance, Yang Zhan, Wang Xuan, and Cui Jun on the side looked at each other.

They seemed to have a deep understanding of Zhu Gaoxu's strength when he was happy.

"Records of Emperor Taizong of the Ming Dynasty": "In October, Zheng He returned from the East and obtained millions of gold, silver and spice goods. ”

"Bohai Chronicle": "In October of the first year, the eunuchs of the Three Treasures returned to Yingtian, and obtained more than 2 million gold, silver, copper coins and other commercial goods. ”

(End of chapter)