Except for the British Duke Zhang Weixian, Daming estimates that few people dare to say this to the emperor, because the emperor has made it clear that at least nine million taels of silver will be required.

Violating the emperor's will is tantamount to disobeying the decree.

"British Princess, I know you are sympathetic to Wei Aiqing, but are you still afraid of too much silver? The nine million taels of the Yamen of the Governor of Haiphong are their share, and the silver handed over by other yamen is the share of other yamen, and the more silver, the better. Zhu Youxiao said.

Wei Zhongxian was overjoyed when he heard this, and secretly praised the emperor for growing up and talking, and this was just to the point!

Originally, Wei Zhongxian missed the previous strategy one after another, wanting Wei Bao to continue to temporarily lead the Yamen of the Governor of Haiphong in the position of Zhengsanpin, and wanted to divide Shandong, Denglai and Cangzhou Mansions, as well as tens of thousands of Denglai infantry troops, his plan to fail.

If you reduce the silver of nine million taels to three million taels of silver.

Wei Zhongxian not only felt that he had no face, but also felt that the court and Wei Bao had suffered a lot in this transaction!

"Your Majesty, if you want the Governor of Haiphong Yamen to come up with so much silver at once, this is to catch fish with all his might, in order to make up for the shortfall, the Governor of Haiphong Yamen will definitely have to draw heavy taxes when he dominates the maritime trade in the future, which can only force the big maritime merchants to take risks when carrying out overseas trade, and make it more difficult to deal with them. In addition, migration and even business development will be affected, which may not only force many people to take risks, but even go overseas to earn a living, further reducing the population. It is not conducive to maintaining the stability of the Ming Dynasty. And some local officials are essentially not opposed to overseas trade, at least. In this way, there is no need to hand over a good income, and at the same time, the private sector continues to trade overseas for many reasons. British Gong Zhang Weixian said.

When Wei Bao heard this, he nodded secretly, admiring Zhang Weixian's insight, Zhang Weixian sometimes seems to be an old gentleman, and sometimes he seems to be very wise and considers the problem quite comprehensively.

Zhu Youxiao frowned and asked Wei Bao: "Wei Aiqing, you will be fully responsible for the Yamen of the Governor of Haiphong in the future, what do you think?" ”

Wei Bao was a little embarrassed, in fact, of course, Wei Bao wanted to pay only three million taels, who likes to take out the silver?

Moreover, Master Yuezhang has already paid three million taels of silver, and he is fully responsible, so he can't change it himself.

But Zhu Youxiao asked himself now, obviously wanting to make himself promise to pay nine million taels of silver.

And Wei Bao understands that from the emperor's point of view, he must hope to get as much silver as possible.

It's very difficult.

Seeing that Wei Bao didn't speak, Zhu Youxiao frowned again, a little displeased, "Wei Aiqing, did you hear what I said?" ”

"I hear you." Wei Bao hurriedly replied, but he didn't know what to do.

Fortunately, Zhang Weixian hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, if you force Wei Bao to take out nine million taels of silver, Wei Bao can only raise it through private loans." As Lao Chen said just now, it will be an act of fishing with all his might, which will force the governor of Haiphong, Yamen, to have no way to control the measure of maritime trade well, so he can only increase his strength and open up the sea trade without restrictions, so as to make up for the deficit and repay the private loans as soon as possible. On the surface, taxes can be increased, but in the long run, it will have a significant impact on the rich who own land and the poor who rent land. In the past, maritime trade was banned in successive dynasties, and this was discovered that led to the maritime ban. ”

The Chinese civilization was a very precocious civilization, and a centralized system based on the agricultural economy was formed early, and the geographical conditions supported the continuation of this system.

In the middle, there were some improvements such as the "imperial examination system".

Under such conditions, China did not have the opportunity to develop the "Age of Discovery" earlier than the West.

Even "Zheng He's voyage to the West" is a continuation of the idea of agricultural economy.

China's maritime power could not rise earlier than that of the West, but it had the opportunity to follow the tide of this great voyage.

There are many maritime forces on the sea. The Ming court had no way to control these forces, so it banned the sea on one side and recruited peace on the other.

Although the equipment of these maritime merchants is far weaker than that of the West, they contain the spark of change.

If the situation at the end of the Ming Dynasty could continue, the maritime merchants could continue to grow, but after the Manchu Qing Dynasty entered the customs, the new regime had a strong mobilization ability and swept away the large maritime forces.

Moreover, the Qing Dynasty not only had class contradictions, but also relatively large national contradictions, so the rulers were more conservative than their predecessors, and the sea ban was also intensified.

Of course, maritime merchants will not be able to become bigger.

At the end of the Qing Dynasty, the control of the imperial court was much less than before, and the environment for the rise of maritime merchants was long gone.

"Wei Aiqing, you, is that so? Is the Yamen, the governor of Haiphong, raising nine million taels of silver for the imperial court, which will affect the stability of the Ming Dynasty, and raising three million taels of silver, it will be fine? Zhu Youxiao asked Wei Bao directly.

Wei Bao didn't hesitate this time, nodded and said: "Raising three million taels of silver for the imperial court is already the limit of the Ming Dynasty's additional taxes, and Weichen can do it." Your Majesty thinks that if you collect one out of ten according to the past tax amount, three million taels will be collected, which means that more than 30 million taels of silver will enter and leave the Ming Dynasty! As for raising nine million taels of silver for the imperial court, which is equivalent to more than 90 million taels of goods in and out of the Ming Dynasty, Weichen worked hard and could do it, but it was indeed like the British government, which would cause many problems and be difficult to control. The goods of 90 million taels of silver are likely to cause many landlords to have no income within a few years of the Ming Dynasty. If His Majesty wants to get 30 million taels of silver, or even 100 million taels of silver, and Weichen can also find a way, then there will be more problems, more difficult to control, and even endanger the foundation of the Ming Dynasty. ”

Wei Bao is the truth, so there is no need to hide it, the British public Zhang Weixian and Wei Zhongxian both feel that Wei Bao's words are reasonable, so although Wei Bao did not answer the emperor's question head-on, he should not help the court get three million taels of silver, or nine million taels of silver, anyway, everyone present will not feel uncomfortable listening to it.

Zhu Youxiao is a smart man and is silent.

The landlords of the Ming Dynasty have no income for several years? Isn't that a big mess?

The things grown in the land of Daming, the people on the land of Daming buy and sell, sell to outsiders, can the landlord feel at ease.

The goods outside the Ming Dynasty enter the Ming Dynasty, and the things grown on the land of the Ming Dynasty are not wanted? The money will have to flow out.

When Zhu Youxiao thought of this, he felt that his brain was cloudy, just now he felt that Wei Bao and Zhang Weixian just didn't want to get more silver for the imperial court, and deliberately wanted to get three million taels of silver.

Now Zhu Youxiao's mind has changed, and he thinks it's not good to get more silver.

Wei Zhongxian said: "Your Majesty, anything will cause problems, if you let the Governor of Haiphong Yamen raise nine million taels of silver, it will be a problem, and if you raise three million taels of silver, Lord Wei will also have a problem." The old slave believed that with Lord Wei's means, he should be able to guarantee that nothing would happen, as long as Lord Wei nodded. ”

When Zhu Youxiao heard this, his eyes lit up, and he said to Wei Bao: "Wei Aiqing, can you guarantee that you will raise nine million taels of silver for the imperial court, and the next will still be stable?" If you can do that, wait until the beginning of spring, and I will make an exception for the cabinet to promote you to the governor of coastal defense!" You are only sixteen years old, and you are already the governor of Zhengerpin, which is not only unique in the Ming Dynasty, but also rare in previous dynasties, right? ”

"Your Majesty, Wechen works for Your Majesty, not for high-ranking officials, as long as it is for the good of the Ming Dynasty, Wechen will return to his hometown to farm, and he will be conscientious." Wei Bao said: "As for raising three million taels of silver, or raising nine million taels of silver, how big a problem will it be, Wechen feels that he has understood to His Majesty, and obeys His Majesty's orders, Wechen will do his best if he gets the holy decree, as for whether Wechen has the ability to guarantee that nothing will happen, Wechen really can't guarantee it, three million taels is definitely not a big problem, double, six million taels, the problem is not big, nine million taels, it is very bad." ”

"Then why don't you break it?" When Kebaba heard this, he whispered in the emperor's ear: "Three million taels is too little, nine million taels is too much, and six million taels of silver is not too much, it can also solve most of the problems of the border army's military salary, which year will not be in arrears of military expenses?" Send half of it, and the border soldiers have to be grateful to Dade, happy for the New Year, next year's affairs, next year, let's do it again, if not, I will think of getting some money from the Criminal Department. ”

It was the regular practice of the feudal dynasty to get money from the criminal department, and it was also the easiest and least likely to cause social unrest.

The house is raided quickly, but the officials all have gangs, and the last time Wei Bao engaged in a large-scale text prison, the reason why there was no big incident was because Wei Bao was fast, and everyone didn't react to it.

On the other hand, Wei Bao has no obvious political attributes, and he does not make a big show and take a clear stand as a Donglin party, or as a martyr.

When the literary prison was held, it also treated the Donglin Party and the martyred members equally, and if one was found, the house was raided.

This kind of thing can be done occasionally, and it is easy to do it on a large scale against the landlords, and the landlords have woken up and want to join forces to fight, Wei Bao is over.

If the landlords of the entire Ming Dynasty join forces, the landlords of a range of areas will be able to fight against the imperial court when a prestigious landlord takes the lead.

Therefore, it is difficult for Daming to do anything to officials in the near future, and then to do it, the officialdom wants people to go to the empty building, and no one is working.

To get money from the Criminal Department, at most a few rich landlords who have committed crimes will be brought out, an average of 10,000 taels each, and 1 million taels will come out if 100 people are gained, and at most they will be scolded and scolded by the common people behind their backs, so that there will be no big mess.

But if the entire people of the Ming Dynasty are dark behind their backs, this world will not be too peaceful

Wei Bao, Wei Zhongxian, Zhang Weixian and others didn't know what Emperor Qi Zhu Youxiao and Kebaba were talking about in private, and they were all anxious to know how the emperor would decide.

In fact, this is still the initial stage of a business, and now is not the decisive time to succeed or not.

It's as if a storefront is in the process of determining the business items and determining the pricing stage.

As for whether the business is good or not, and whether there will be a flow of people after the opening, that's a story for later.

When the emperor introduced the new policy, the common people did not care, and the attitude of the officials and landlords would be, I don't know yet.

"Just six million taels of silver, not enough difference, Gonggong Wei, you can ask the cabinet to summon all ministries to think of a way." Zhu You proofread Wei Zhongxian.

Wei Zhongxian sighed slightly, his face was originally not easy to show his emotions, but now he unconsciously revealed a trace of displeasure.

Wei Zhongxian was displeased, but it was not entirely because Wei Bao paid three million taels of silver.

Daming is like a big company, with such a large amount of input all of a sudden, the next problem is easy to solve.

Wei Zhongxian is mainly annoyed with losing face, Wei Zhongxian's desire for money is actually good, mainly because of his heavy desire for power, especially after taking charge of the entire Ming dynasty, he has become accustomed to being a majestic 9,900-year-old on weekdays, and can replace the emperor's words, not only is the emperor's spokesperson, but many times, he can even faintly regard himself as the emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

Wei Bao secretly glanced at Wei Zhongxian, and then at his father-in-law.

Zhang Weixian's face was happy, no matter what Wei Zhongxian thought, the emperor could relax and make concessions in the amount, Zhang Weixian thought that he had won, and his influence in front of the emperor exceeded Wei Zhongxian.

Kebaba's eyes also drifted everywhere, looking at Wei Zhongxian, and then at Wei Bao and Zhang Weixian.

Kebaba is a little bit of a loser, now she is equivalent to secretly helping Wei Bao, knowing that Wei Zhongxian will definitely be unhappy, and even angry with herself, I don't know if I secretly did this for Wei Bao, can Wei Bao understand it, will he understand that he helped him.

"The old slave obeys." Wei Zhongxian's middle and low tones are not like a eunuch many times, quite masculine.

Wei Bao even felt that Wei Zhongxian not only looked very much like the star Chen Daoming in later generations, but also had a somewhat similar voice, which was completely different from the image portrayed of eunuchs in film and television dramas.

Zhu Youxiao smiled slightly, "Okay, since it's all decided, let the cabinet report as soon as possible and complete it as soon as possible." ”

Wei Zhongxian frowned, "Your Majesty, I'm afraid this matter will not be easy to handle, after the cabinet reports, will we see the reactions of the yamen in various places?" If it arouses the opposition of the yamen in all parts of the Ming Dynasty, and even the opposition of the yamen in Beijing, it will not be easy to do. ”

"You work hard, you have to go through everything big, this matter is decided, and Wei Aiqing takes the lead, what do you want them to agree to?" Zhu Youxiao said impatiently.

"Your Majesty, this matter is agreed by Your Majesty, and it is not false that Lord Wei will take the lead in doing it, if all localities oppose it, how can the goods from all over the Ming Dynasty flow into the treaty port? How did foreign goods flow into Daming through the treaty port? Therefore, this is not something that the Yamen of the Governor of Haiphong can do with full authority, otherwise it will be easier to do, and some officials oppose it in their books, at most they pretend not to see it. But this is not a school," Wei Zhongxian reminded.

Zhu Youxiao was very dissatisfied, "Whatever you want, this matter must be decided before Chinese New Year's Eve, and the border army officers and soldiers cannot be delayed to celebrate Chinese New Year's Eve." ”

"The old slave obeys." Wei Zhongxian said.

Zhu Youxiao seemed to see that Wei Zhongxian had the intention of disobeying the yang and the yin, and said in an accentuated tone: "Father-in-law Wei, this thing must be done, if you don't have the ability to do it, tell me earlier." ”

Zhang Weixian, Wei Bao, Wei Zhongxian, Ke Baba, and the eunuchs present were shocked at the same time.

The emperor rarely said harshly, and this was already very harsh.

And Wei Bao also heard from the words of Emperor Qi Zhu Youxiao that Zhu Youxiao still has a certain ability, at least for the ability to control the eunuchs, and controlling the eunuchs seems to be the innate ability of the emperors.

"The old slave is scared, the old slave must be watching, please rest assured, Your Majesty." Wei Zhongxian said stiffly.

Now, it is estimated that the emperor can say this to Wei Zhongxian, and Wei Zhongxian has to be like a dog.

"Okay, no problem." Zhu Youxiao was happy again, "You all retreat, Wei Aiqing, are you free?" Accompany me to go out of the palace again. ”

"Wechen obeys." Wei Bao agreed with a smile, knowing that the emperor was calling him to do carpenter work together.

Wei Bao didn't like or dislike the carpenter work with the emperor, but it was a very tiring thing.

No matter what Zhu Youxiao's level of handling the court situation and handling of state affairs is, anyway, Zhu Youxiao's level of carpenter work is very high.

Carpenter work is also technical work, and it is not easy to play with a person with good skills.

Wei Bao can't pretend that he doesn't understand, and he can't be too out of position, as if he is more powerful than the emperor, that's even worse, this degree is very difficult to grasp.

Fortunately, the emperor's personality is not bad, and he is quite easy to get along with, otherwise it would be even more troublesome.

"Father-in-law Wei, you help me send one to the British father." Zhu Youxiao said again.

"Old minister, thank you, Your Majesty Longen." Zhang Weixian hurriedly agreed.

Zhang Weixian didn't need Wei Zhongxian to send him, and he didn't like Wei Zhongxian's send, but the emperor's words could not be violated, and the emperor let the big eunuch send him, which also belonged to a kind of grace.

Wei Zhongxian also agreed, and then made a gesture of invitation to Zhang Weixian.

Now the person Wei Zhongxian wants to talk to alone the most is Ke Baba, Wei Zhongxian really wants to ask Ke Baba, what was good before, let Ke Baba make trouble from it, why didn't Ke Baba do what he did.

"Grandpa Guo, are you happy now? Your Majesty is so happy to be at the mercy of your husband and son-in-law. Wei Zhongxian said to Zhang Weixian in a weird way.

Zhang Weixian was furious when he heard this, "Father-in-law Wei, who are you talking to?" Are you an old man and a eunuch in your inner palace? ”

"Grandpa Guo is angry, how dare the old slave be a eunuch in the inner palace? The old slave is congratulating the grandfather of the country. Wei Zhongxian quickened his pace.

Zhang Weixian saw that Wei Zhongxian was really angry, and smiled: "Father-in-law Wei, aren't you just unhappy to see that Your Majesty has reduced the payment of three million taels of silver, what a big deal." If it weren't for the treasure, the old man wouldn't have bothered to care about these things. The relationship between Bao and your father-in-law Wei has always been good, you don't need to embarrass him, as a high-ranking person, you should have that measure. Bao didn't get involved with the Donglin people, so he can't be regarded as your Wei Gonggong's enemy, why do you push people out. The old man really can't see where Bao has offended your father-in-law Wei. ”

"Grandpa Guo, our family doesn't want to embarrass Lord Wei, our family is a dog by His Majesty's side, shouldn't we think more about Your Majesty?" Wei Zhongxian said coldly.