Just as the ministers were talking in a low voice, the celebrant and eunuch Bi Yun waved his whip, made a "pop" explosion, and shouted: "Silence! ”

The ministers immediately quieted down, and Zhu Houxi had already finished reading Xu Jin's recital at this time, and nodded: "I think Xu Qing's words are not unreasonable, and I ask Mao Shangshu to recite it to everyone." ”

"Command!" Mao Cheng, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, flicked his sleeves, took the notebook handed by Xiao Huangmen, and recited it in a subdued tone.

Xu Jin's letter mainly opposes the ban on the sea by stating two reasons: the first is to communicate with each other, learn from the strengths of other countries to make up for their own shortcomings, so that the country can develop and progress; The second is that trade enriches the people, and when the people are rich, the country will naturally become strong.

However, the idea of "the kingdom of the heavenly empire" of the ministers present has been deeply rooted, and feudalism has always emphasized agriculture and suppressed commerce, so Xu Jin's two reasons could not be agreed with by the ministers at all, and even made them feel ridiculous.

No, as soon as Mao Cheng, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, finished reading Xu Jin's recital, Shi Xuan, a scholar from Hanlin, came out of the ranks, glared at Xu Jin angrily and scolded: "Xu Jin, you are talking about business and Jia throughout this recital, it is really in vain to read the book of sages, and this official is ashamed to be with you." ”

As the so-called Shinong industry and commerce, the merchants ranked last, which shows the low status of the merchants in the feudal society, especially the scholar class, which looked down on the merchants. In the poems of the ancients, the image of businessmen is selfish and cunning, valuing profit over affection, and is not ashamed of scholars.

Xu Jinjian raised his eyebrows slightly, and said calmly: "Dare to ask where the clothes worn by Lord Shi, the dishes on the dinner table at home, and the utensils used at home come from?" Could it be that it was all made by Lord Shi himself? ”

Shi Xuan's face was slightly gloomy, and he didn't know how to refute for a while.

Xu Jin continued lightly: "There are seven things for ordinary people to open the door in the morning, firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, and tea. Which one can be separated from the businessman? Therefore, the business affairs involve all aspects of people's livelihood, dare to ask Lord Shi, what is the shame of saying business affairs? ”

Shi Xuan's face turned red, and he was even more speechless, and the little emperor Zhu Houxi was secretly happy in his heart when he saw this, and secretly gave a thumbs up.

At this time, Xu Jin continued to say: "The people are rich at the bottom, and the king is rich from the top. The people are sufficient, who is the king and the insufficiency? When the people are rich, the country will be strong. There is a saying: Rely on the mountains to eat the mountains, rely on the sea to eat the sea. Since the people along the coast of the Ming Dynasty can obtain wealth from maritime trade, why should they prohibit it? If the city is closed and the maritime trade is banned just because of the vendetta of the two people, it is undoubtedly tantamount to a waste of food due to choking. In addition, as the so-called stones from other mountains can be used to attack jade, trade between countries, exchange what is available, learn from others' strengths, and promote the progress of their own country is the right way.

Therefore, the minister believed that not only should the municipal shipping promotion divisions in Fujian and Ningbo be abolished, but the municipal shipping lifting divisions should be increased to further open up maritime trade. ”

Mao Cheng, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, turned pale, and reprimanded sharply: "Nonsense, nonsense." The foundation of the country is agriculture and mulberry, and emphasizing business and ignoring agriculture and mulberry is a stupid practice of abandoning the basics. What's more, could it be that you only have those yellow and white things in your eyes, completely ignoring my dignity? The Japanese people openly burned, killed and looted at the border of our Ming Dynasty, and we opened the country to trade with it, where will this put my Ming face? ”

Wang Ze, the secretary of the Ministry of War, nodded and agreed: "What Mao Shangshu said is extremely true, not to mention that I am a great Ming and a treasure of heaven, and I don't lack anything. ”

In the middle of the criminal department, Zhou Yusheng jumped out and said sharply: "It is forbidden to go to the sea with a piece of board, this is the ancestral system set by Taizu, Xu Jin openly bewitches the public, and his heart can be punished." The minister implores the emperor to order the killing of this fang, so as to set the record straight! ”

Xu Jin couldn't help but be angry, today he finally understood the barbarism of the professional trolls of the Ming Dynasty, who will be killed at every turn, I R your uncle, said coldly: "Forgive me for being clumsy, who is Your Excellency?" ”

Zhou Yusheng said proudly: "This official is the criminal department to Zhou Yusheng in the matter, what advice does Jing Anbo have?" ”

Xu Jin smiled lightly: "I don't dare to give advice, but according to Zhou's words, should the Three Treasures Eunuch Zheng Gong be executed by Ling Chi?" ”

As soon as these words came out, the entire Fengtian Hall was as silent as death, and Zhou Yusheng's face turned green. You must know that the Three Treasures Eunuch Zheng He went to the Western Ocean seven times, each time it was thousands of ships, mighty, if you want to say that it violates the ancestral system, this has been completely violated, if according to Zhou Yusheng's words just now, the Three Treasure Eunuchs Ling Chi a hundred times is not enough to atone for his crimes, but the Three Treasures Eunuch went to the West on the order of Chengzu Zhu Di, could it be that even Chengzu was chopped together?

"Xu Jin, you ...... You...... Are you arguing? The official ......, "Zhou Yusheng stuttered and ate, and he couldn't even finish a sentence, and his back was sweating."

Xu Jin didn't bother to continue to pay attention to this small role, and turned to Wang Ze, the secretary of the Ministry of War, and said: "Wang Shangshu just said that the Wa Kingdom is a small country, and there is nothing worthy of our Daming?" ”

Wang Ze snorted coldly and said proudly: "What, is it true, is this official wrong?" ”

"Zi said, there must be my teacher in the threesome. Although I am a treasure, I am not lacking nothing, everything is the best, for example, the Japanese knife is no worse than our waist knife; For example, the Franco's cannon is also stronger than our artillery; Another example is this ......" Xu Jin said and took out the delicate pocket watch, and continued: "We don't have the accurate timekeeping tools of Westerners, aren't these worthy of our emulation?" ”

Wang Ze sneered: "It's just a trick, it's not worth it!" ”

Xu Jin was again, sure enough, you can't wake up a person who is pretending to be asleep anyway, and in the same way, no matter how much you talk about the lotus, you can't convince a group of self-righteous "old antiques". If this group of people hadn't had a knife on their necks and made them really feel the pain in their hearts, their minds wouldn't have changed in any way.

Xu Jin was suddenly a little disheartened, in this situation, he wanted to promote the "ban on opening the sea", which was obviously just wishful thinking, so he simply put the pocket watch back in his arms, and didn't bother to refute Mao Cheng, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, and bowed to the throne and retreated to the back of the line.

Zhu Houxi obviously understood that he couldn't do anything today, so he couldn't help but sigh secretly, and said lightly: "If you listen to both, you will be clear, and if you listen partially, you will be dark." Since I ascended the throne, I have been open to speech, and if you have any suggestions, I will not condemn anyone for my words. ”

"The Emperor Shengming!" The ministers of the two classes said in unison.

Zhu Houxi looked at the four elders of the cabinet and said with a pleasant face: "What do you gentlemen think Xu Jin is discussing?" ”

Yang Tinghe took a step forward and said: "It is true that the people are rich and the country is strong, but the foundation of the country is agriculture, and business is only an auxiliary. As long as the emperor pays taxes lightly, does not serve as servants, and administers benevolently, the people will naturally become rich and recuperate. This is the real people who are rich at the bottom, and the king who is rich from the top.

Therefore, Xu Jin's performance is not worth scrutinizing at all, not to mention that the Japanese are so arrogant, how can there be no reason not to punish them severely. In addition, the ancestral system must not be violated. ”

The third assistant Mao Ji and the fourth assistant Jiang Mian also nodded in agreement, as for the second assistant Fei Hong himself did not agree to open the sea ban, plus everyone else was against it, he naturally could not obviously favor his protégé, and finally nodded and said: "The minister is in favor of abolishing the city and lifting the department, prohibiting the coastal people from going to the sea, and strengthening the coastal defense to prevent similar incidents from happening again!" ”

The four elders of the cabinet all expressed their stance on banning the sea, and the Manchu ministers almost overwhelmingly supported the abolition of the city's promotion department, so the matter was closed. Xu Jin couldn't help but sigh secretly, it seems that he is taking it for granted, with his current status and connections, even if he has the support of the little emperor, he can't do these old schools.

After the dispersal of the dynasty, Xu Jin left the Fengtian Hall sullenly, and was stopped by the teacher Fei Hong as soon as he left the Zhaode Gate, and hurriedly stood still and waited respectfully.

Fei Hongxing came to Xu Jin and said calmly: "Ziqian, go down to the teacher's mansion and have something to talk about for the teacher." ”

"Yes!" Xu Jin smiled bitterly in his heart, probably going to be trained.

Fei Hong nodded and paced in the direction of the cabinet, Xu Jin just wanted to turn around and leave, when he saw Yang Tinghe, the first assistant, coming head-on, he hurriedly stood up and saluted: "I've seen Yang Ge Lao!" ”

Yang Tinghe nodded lukewarmly, and said lightly: "Xu Ziqian, the old man heard that you had a falling out with the emperor yesterday?" ”

Xu Jin frowned secretly and nodded: "Exactly, the emperor is happy to see the hunt for a while, and it is inconvenient for the lower officials to sweep the emperor's interest." ”

Yang Tinghe snorted coldly and said, "Don't think that the old man can't see it, you have already discussed the matter of opening the sea ban with the emperor." The emperor is still young and easy to be bewitched, don't blame the old man for not reminding you, Jiang Bin is a lesson from the past, you are a talent, the old man doesn't want to watch you embark on the road of courtiers, and in the end, there will be no return. Do it for yourself! After saying that, he flicked his sleeves and walked away.

Xu Jin's eyebrow sword was slowly raised, and his sleeved hands were tightly clenched into fists, this time, he was completely angry.

Originally, Xu Jin still respected Yang Tinghe as a capable official, and never thought of going against him, but he finally saw it clearly today, although Yang Tinghe is a capable official and an upright official, he is also a representative of the old school, and he is too self-righteous.

This kind of old-fashioned ministers are undoubtedly a stumbling block to the progress of the times, and if they want to make a difference in the officialdom and implement changes that are beneficial to the Ming Dynasty, they must sweep away all the old-fashioned ministers such as Yang Tinghe.