The whole body of the whale is full of treasures. Leather can be tanned, and the quality of whale skin is no less than that of cowhide. The subcutaneous fat of whales can be used for oil refining, consumption or other chemical raw materials. Whale bones and guts can be used to make fertilizer, and whale meat is the best source of protein in this era.

In Zhu's memory, an adult* can weigh more than 150 tons, one of the largest mammals in the world, can provide more than 30 tons of whale oil, equivalent to the total fat of 1,700 pigs or 8,000 sheep. There are more than 60 tons of whale meat, which is equivalent to the meat that 1,000 pigs can provide.

Zhu Youzhen thought about it for a while, and then said to Xu Xinsu: "You go to Japan this time, and by the way, recruit some fishermen from Denglai and Fujian, go to this Fangzong Peninsula, and learn how to hunt whales from local fishermen."

Then set up a buying point there to buy whale skin, whale bones, whale oil, whale meat from these fishermen. Look at what the local fishermen need, and you will bring whatever goods you want. In addition, bring an extra boatload of salt to the local whale meat. ”

Going to Japan to hunt whales and buying a large number of whale products made Xu Xinsu feel worthless. However, he quickly reacted that it was a good excuse to sell salt to Japan.

Japan's coastline is long and winding, but it lacks wide, gentle mudflats that can be used to dry salt, so it can only be used by decoction or a very labor-intensive salt pan salt production method.

Therefore, the price of salt in Japan is almost twice that of the Ming Dynasty, which also makes Japan's pickle culture and variety far behind that of China and South Korea.

After talking with the emperor for nearly two hours, the two left the Wuying Hall with great satisfaction. That night, Chongzhen ordered a banquet to be held in the Diaoyutai of Taiye Pond to entertain King Guanghai and Mao Wenlong, the chief soldier of Dongjiang Town.

A beautiful North Korean girl knelt beside King Gwanghae obediently and poured wine and food for him.

Although he couldn't see everything in front of him, listening to these magnificent music, King Gwanghae seemed to recall the time when he had just ascended to the throne of Joseon.

Mao Wenlong, who was sitting opposite King Guanghai, although he was smiling and dealing with the emperor's persuasion, a trace of worry flashed in his eyes from time to time.

Chongzhen, who was sitting at the top, was in a very good mood, and since Mao Wenlong was willing to come back to see him, at least he had already explained that he didn't have other thoughts now.

Zhu Youzhen was not only happy, but also couldn't help but frequently persuade Mao Wenlong and Guang Haijun to drink, basically ignoring the hints of the officials of Guanglu Temple on the side.

There are certain rules for royal banquets, and Chongzhen persuaded him to drink like this, which completely destroyed the etiquette of the palace banquet, but the emperor's interest today is very high, and this Guanglu Temple official really does not have the courage to speak out to admonish.

After three rounds of drinking, Mao Wenlong looked at Chongzhen's face was slightly red, and when he spoke with a slight sense of alcohol, he finally put down his wine glass and said to Chongzhen: "Your Majesty, the minister has one thing to ask Your Majesty for sin, and please ask Your Majesty to see that the old minister has been stationed in the border for many years, although he has no merit and meager hard work, he will be forgiving." ”

Zhu Youzhen looked at Mao Wenlong with a serious look, as if it was a great event, and some of his drunken feelings slowly faded.

He said a few words to Wang Chengen, who was waiting beside him, and Wang Chengen immediately ordered the music and singing and dancing to be suspended, and waved his hand to let the idle people and others retreat, and soon there were only four people left in the hall: Mao Wenlong, Guang Haijun, Chongzhen and Wang Chengen.

After everyone else withdrew, Mao Wenlong waited for Ai Ai to tell the emperor what had happened, and his righteous son Mao Chenglu had a peach incident with Zhaorong Ren Aiying of Guanghai Jun.

Seeing that Chongzhen, who was originally smiling, suddenly froze, Mao Wenlong immediately changed the topic and talked about how many military exploits this righteous son had made in the war against Houjin.

In Mao Wenlong's chatter, Guang Haijun suddenly groped his way and pushed away the table in front of him, and then bowed down to the place where Chongzhen made a sound, and said with grief and indignation: "Please also ask Your Majesty to make the decision for Xiao Wang, Ren Zhaorong is already pregnant, this is really a great shame on Xiao Wang." ”

Mao Wenlong was speechless for a moment, and he had to bow down to the emperor and say: "Please also ask Your Majesty to be extrajudicial and merciful, spare the life of the son of the minister, and the minister is willing to take his title to offset it." ”

Looking at the two kneeling below, Chongzhen suddenly disappeared from any alcohol. He stroked his forehead with one hand, and he had a big headache at this kind of.

Zhu Youzhen was silent for a while, and then said coldly to Mao Wenlong: "The imperial court rewarded you with your title, but to reward you for your bloody battles in Liaodong, and the merit of eating ice and drinking snow, not to let you have your own merits, but to threaten me."

Mao Shuai is also the person who leads the troops, don't you know what it means to be rewarded for meritorious service and punished for mistakes? ”

Mao Wenlong's heart suddenly cooled, and he also knew that Mao Chenglu's disaster this time was too great. Although Gwanghae-jun was the deposed king of Joseon, he was also the former king of Joseon. According to the Ming Dynasty's feudal regulations, the status of the king of Joseon was equal to that of a prince at home, which was very different from that of other overseas vassal states.

But Mao Chenglu was the head of the adopted son he accepted, followed him to fight in the north and south, and saved his life several times on the battlefield, he really couldn't bear to give up on him like this. Thinking that Gwanghae-jun was the deposed king after all, he held on to a glimmer of hope and wanted to exchange his title for the life of this righteous son.

However, now that the emperor's tone is so stern, he can no longer continue to intercede for Yizi, so he has to open his mouth to defend himself: "The minister just regrets that Dongjiang has lost a general, and he has no intention of threatening His Majesty, and I ask Your Majesty to investigate." ”

After watching Mao Wenlong confess, Zhu Youzhen said kindly to Guanghaijun: "Guanghaijun, how do you want me to make decisions for you?" ”

Guang Haijun's forehead was pressed against the wooden floor, and he said without hesitation: "Please Your Majesty kill Mao Chenglu and wash away this humiliation for Xiao Wang." ”

Zhu Youzhen waited for a while before asking suspiciously: "Then what are you going to do with Ren Zhaorong and the child in her belly?" ”

Guanghaijun hesitated for a long time before he said quietly and clearly: "After she gives birth to a child, the minister will let her become a monk, and then leave the child as my Guanghaijun's queen." ”

Zhu Youzhen looked at Guanghaijun for a long time before he said, "I understand, Mao Shuai, where are the two of them now?" ”

Mao Wenlong sighed secretly in his heart, and then replied loudly: "Mao Chenglu and Ren Aiying are now imprisoned in the Huitong Pavilion. ”

Zhu Youzhen thought about it, and then instructed Wang Chengen: "Go find someone to bring the two here." ”

Wang Chengen bowed and nodded, accepted Chongzhen's order, and then carried his robe and walked out of the inner hall of Diaoyutai quickly.

Zhu Youzhen asked Mao Wenlong and Guang Haijun to get up and sit back in their places, but the original cheerful and warm atmosphere in the hall had disappeared, leaving only an oppressive silence.

Mao Wenlong was stunned for a moment in the face of the wine and food on his desk, and began to pour wine into his wine glass, and drank it silently, with a tired and sad look on his face that could not be concealed.

Guang Haijun's face suddenly became very calm, and he couldn't see that he had just complained about the emperor's grief and indignation.

And Zhu Youzhen closed his eyes slightly, and seemed to have fallen asleep. About an hour later, Wang Chengen walked in with four guards, escorting a man and a woman.

Only then did Zhu Youzhen open his eyes and look at the pair of "adulterers*" kneeling in front of his case.

The man had a big beard and many small scars on his face, and he looked extremely vicious. However, when he glanced at the woman next to him from time to time, his eyes were full of tenderness.

And the woman is a gorgeous mature woman, her figure looks very good, and it is not yet time to show her pregnancy. With his head down, he pursed his lips tightly, and his expression looked calm.

"You are Ren Aiying? Gwanghae-kun's appearance? After Zhu Youzhen waved his hand to let the four guards out, he asked the woman.

After Ren Aiying kowtowed to Chongzhen, she replied simply and forcefully: "The sinner is Ren Aiying." ”

"Are you guilty?" Zhu Youzhen said coldly.

"The sinner is guilty, and asks Your Majesty to spare the life of the child in the sinner's womb, and the sinner is willing to accept death." Ren Aiying obviously didn't think that she could still live, she only thought about being able to let the child in her belly live.

"It's all the fault of the criminal, it was the criminal's who forced her, not her willingness. One person does one thing and one person is responsible, please Your Majesty punish the sins of the ministers and do not hurt the innocent. Mao Chenglu looked up at Chongzhen and said angrily.

Wang Chengen suddenly stepped forward nervously to block Mao Chenglu's gaze, and then reprimanded loudly: "Bold, what do you want to raise your head to spy on Your Majesty?" ”

Mao Chenglu was suddenly startled, and quickly lowered his head, only then did he remember that he was not talking to his father-in-law.

"Okay, don't be so nervous, you guys should also step down, don't get in the way of my questioning." Zhu Youzhen grabbed Wang Chengen and drank back the guards who rushed in.

When calm returned to the hall, Zhu Youzhen stared at Mao Chenglu and asked, "Are you really willing to die for the sake of this woman next to you and the child in her belly?" ”

Mao Chenglu turned his head to look at the woman kneeling beside him, her face looking casual, but her body was trembling. He nodded subconsciously and said, "The minister is willing to die, please forgive her." ”

Zhu Youzhen leaned back and whispered a few words to Wang Chengen on the side, and after Wang Chengen listened, he glanced at Mao Chenglu strangely, and then turned around and walked to the side door.

A quarter of an hour later, Wang Chengen walked in with a wooden plate, which contained only a wine jug and a sea bowl.

Wang Chengen put the wooden plate in front of Mao Chenglu, poured a full bowl of wine in the sea bowl, and then put down the wine pot and returned to Chongzhen's side.

Zhu Youzhen stretched out his right hand and made a gesture of please, and said, "There is a bowl of poisonous wine here, and I give you a choice, either you drink it, or let the woman next to you drink it." ”

Before Mao Chenglu could react, Guang Haijun had already screamed out loud: "Your Majesty..."

Zhu Youzhen immediately interrupted him, "Be quiet, Guanghaijun." ”

Mao Chenglu looked at the reddened wine in front of him, and then looked at the woman who was still trembling next to him, and he picked up the wine bowl in front of him and sent it to his mouth.

Ren Aiying, who was still trembling just now, suddenly grabbed his hand and said to him thoughtlessly: "I have no regrets." ”