I, Zhu Youjian: the first prodigal son of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 5 I have a way to make money

"Come on, call Wei Zhongxian to me." Zhu Youjian ordered casually, picked up a book, and pretended to read it.

I am a loser, but when it's time to pretend, I still have to pretend.

After all, he is also the king of a country.

After a cup of tea, Wei Zhongxian rushed to Qianqing Palace sweating profusely. It seemed that this great eunuch was really a busy man.

"Long live, long live, long live, long live..."

As soon as he entered the door, Wei Zhongxian bowed down first, shouting long live, as meticulous as in the court, which made Zhu Youjian more comfortable.

Look, this is professionalism.

No wonder this guy came from a poor background and was illiterate, yet he managed to climb to the position of eunuch in charge of ceremonies and Bingbi in just 20 years, becoming the out-and-out 'second emperor' of the Ming Dynasty.

"Wei Aiqing doesn't need to be too polite, let's be flat." Zhu Youjian looked at the book without raising his eyelids and said, "I have one matter that needs to be settled with Wei Aiqing."

Wei Zhongxian stepped forward and asked: "What is the order of the Lord Long Live? Even if the ministers are smashed to pieces, they must do the errands assigned by the Lord Long Live."

Zhu Youjian asked casually: "When the late emperor passed away, I was heartbroken and distracted. I was at a loss for what to do. All the national funeral matters were handed over to Wei Aiqing and the Ministry of Rites. I don't know what's going on now?"

According to the old rules of the Ming Dynasty, when the former emperor passed away, a new ruler must be established first according to the edict to establish the great position.

After the new emperor came to the throne, he had to be given the honorary titles of Daxing Emperor, Harem Concubine, etc. before he could announce it to the world. The country mourned for three years and the whole country mourned, and all entertainment activities were prohibited.

Strictly speaking, on the first night of Zhu Youjian's ascension to the throne, four stunning women were sent to test and seduce the new emperor. To put it bluntly, Wei Zhongxian's actions were convicted of a felony of exterminating the nine clans, which is not unjust.

Therefore, as soon as he heard the words "the first emperor died", the great eunuch Wei Zhongxian panicked immediately.

Sure enough, this little thief pretended to be ignorant while pretending to understand!

Last night, he got a bargain, and now he's showing it off to be a good boy, and just for this matter, he took a ceremonial supervisor Bingbi eunuch to death!

Wei Zhongxian fell to his knees with a 'plop', and beat his head on the ground, calling him a death penalty. It was visible to the naked eye that a large area of ​​the back of the scarlet brocade robe was soon wet.

Zhu Youjian was taken aback for a moment, and immediately figured out the joints.

However, he didn't intend to pursue responsibility for this matter. Whoever let this great eunuch hold the power in his hands, not only controlled the military power of the capital to defend the capital, but also the military supervisors were all Wei Zhongxian's minions;
In addition, because during the Tianqi Dynasty, his emperor's elder brother was obsessed with carpentry, the "selection" of officials of the Ming Dynasty, and the construction of the country's lifeline, such as pearl pools, silver farms, market ships, and weaving. Attributed to the eunuch admiral.

Forget it, anyway, I am a prodigal son, the more chaotic the Ming Dynasty, the faster the defeat...

"However, what should be guarded is one or two precautions. Don't let your prodigal career just start, and be killed by these gangsters in the harem first..."

Zhu Youjian thought about it, pondered a few times, and said softly: "I understand in my heart that Wei Aiqing has worked hard to manage the new emperor's enthronement ceremony, and at the same time preside over the honorary titles of the Daxing emperor and the emperor's wives. Thank you for your hard work."

When Wei Zhongxian heard this, he felt relieved not to pursue the previous disaster.

"If you have any difficulties in holding a national funeral for Emperor Daxing, you can tell us what you want," Zhu Youjian said indifferently, "But please don't give me...cough, don't save money for the Ming Dynasty, you can spend as much as you can." How much do you spend?"

Wei Zhongxian hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed, weeping blood and said: "The ministers are deeply favored by the late emperor, how dare they save money on national funerals!"

Zhu Youjian nodded slightly, as if thinking of something inadvertently, and asked casually: "Back then, how much money was spent on the national funeral of the great grandfather?"

Wei Zhongxian pondered for a while, and replied: "According to some inner court records, although the great grandfather said that he left a will and kept everything simple for the old man's national funeral, the well-documented expenses are about more than 400 million taels..."

While talking, Wei Zhongxian's voice lowered.

If an eunuch talked about the great ancestor of the Ming Dynasty like this, if those civil servants heard about it, he would probably have to add another major crime of exterminating the nine clans...

This new master, with no expression on his face, is really elusive.

"How much was the budget for Emperor Qi's national funeral that day?" Zhu Youjian finally put down the scroll in his hand, and stared at Wei Zhongxian very seriously, his eyes sparkling, which seemed to be quite meaningful.

This question made Wei Zhongxian difficult.

Let's talk too much, what if Xindi doesn't like it?Let's stop talking, who knows what the new master is thinking.

"According to the opinions of the ministers and the Minister of Rites Zhang Ruitu and Mr. Zhang, it is about 230 million..." Wei Zhongxian hesitated, but finally reported a figure that he thought was similar.

Not very high, not very low.

Based on his judgment on the relationship between Emperor Tianqi and the new emperor Zhu Youjian, although the two are said to be brothers, their personal relationship is not very deep.

Even, the Emperor Tianqi once had murderous thoughts towards this 'King of Faith'...

"How can this be done!" Zhu Youjian stretched out his hand and slammed it heavily on the case table, with a painful expression on his face, he said sadly: "The former emperor treated me as a brother, and love as a brother!
Wei Aiqing also knows that when I was young, my mother and concubine were in distress, and I was lonely and helpless since I was a child. If my elder brother was not always looking after me, I would have died of starvation and freezing somewhere in the palace...

230 taels of silver for a national funeral, is this shabby for the late emperor?Or declare to the outside world that the national treasury of the Ming Dynasty is weak and empty, and even the national funeral of Emperor Daxing is held in such a simple way? "

After speaking, Zhu Youjian himself burst into tears, and the great eunuch Wei Zhongxian also looked sad.

Look at these two brothers, it is worthy of Emperor Tianqi that he can pass on the great position, this kind of friendship is enough to move the heavens and the earth...

"The minister should be damned. The minister will draw up a new regulation with Mr. Zhang. Please take a look at it!" Wei Zhongxian knelt down on the ground in tears of gratitude, shouting "Long live" again.

"Well, Wei Aiqing can understand my painstaking efforts, and it is rare for you to show such filial piety to the late emperor." Zhu Youjian was in a very happy mood after completing a "prodigal event", and asked casually:
"Wei Aiqing, I have spent all the money in the treasury to hold a national funeral for the late emperor, do you feel a little nervous?"

Wei Zhongxian hurriedly replied: "Holding the national funeral for the late emperor is the filial piety of us servants and courtiers. Even if we tighten our belts, we must not let the funeral be shabby!"

When Zhu Youjian heard the words, he had a general idea in his mind.

It seems that the treasury of the Ming Dynasty really can't squeeze out any more money.

"I have an idea," Zhu Youjian picked up a bowl of tea, took a sip, and said with a smile: "I have a way to make money here, and at the same time, it can better demonstrate the greatness of the late emperor. I wonder if Wei Aiqing intends to no?"

While speaking, he stretched out his hand and patted Wei Zhongxian on the shoulder lightly.

After rubbing and pressing again, let him sit beside her.

Wei Zhongxian was terrified, he didn't know what the new master was thinking, so he sat down in a well-behaved manner, and said with a flattering smile: "Long live Lord Shengming, it must be an excellent idea."

"It's okay," Zhu Youjian smiled, and asked suddenly: "Do you see the most valuable furniture in this palace?"

Wei Zhongxian was taken aback for a moment, and suddenly a look of bewilderment appeared on his face.

"Long live God is holy! Long live God is really an emperor through the ages!"

Wei Zhongxian stood up and rubbed his hands excitedly, "With this sum of money, not only can the late emperor's national funeral be held with great vigor, but also the mighty kindness of the late emperor can be brought into full play!"

Looking at the ecstatic and flattering Wei Zhongxian, Zhu Youjian breathed a sigh of relief.

Such a clever and treacherous official, what a pity to kill him?
The Chongzhen Emperor back then was simply a big idiot!

Zhu Youjian wished he could get seven or eight of such good money-management prodigals like Wei Zhongxian at once; but it was such an excellent talent who was forced to death in the hands of Emperor Chongzhen...

(End of this chapter)