At the court meeting two days later, in the face of the twists and turns that had been polished by Wei Zheng many times, although there was a big dispute between the court and the court.

However, with the trust of Emperor Chongzhen, the support of Luo Yangxing, and the silence of the Ministry of Shangshu, the request of the Tiger and Par Army to expand the army was unsurprisingly accepted.

Not only that, but the expansion of the Haw Par Army directly increased from 20,000 to 30,000 as expected by the Wei Zheng.

At the end of the court meeting, in order to show his trust in Wei Zheng, Emperor Chongzhen specially summoned and left Wei Zheng for lunch.

After giving a big salute to Emperor Chongzhen, who was dressed in a dragon robe, Wei Zheng said respectfully: "Your Majesty, the minister entered Beijing this time, in addition to thanking the emperor, he also brought a big gift to the emperor, and asked the emperor's brigadier to bring the gift in." ”

"Uh..."Emperor Chongzhen's face, which was slightly inconsistent with his age, quickly showed a hint of interest.

Then, he said to Wei Zheng: "I want to see what gift your martial artist will bring to me?" ”

After several glass mirrors of different sizes were sent to Emperor Chongzhen, the expectant expression on Chongzhen's face was immediately replaced by disappointment. Although he did not express any dissatisfaction, the change in the expression on his face clearly showed that Emperor Chongzhen was dissatisfied with New China at this moment.

At this time, Wang Chengen, who had been standing behind Chongzhen's side, said with a smile: "Isn't this a glass mirror?" “

"Master Wei may not know that the glass mirror is a treasure for ordinary people. However, it was already a very common object for His Majesty and the royal family as a whole. So, Lord Wei, isn't this gift of yours? ”

Unexpected. The expression on Wei Zheng's face. There has been no change because of Wang Chengen's words.

Under the gaze of Emperor Chongzhen. He said in a calm tone: "Your Majesty, the big gift that the minister wants to give to Your Majesty is not the glass mirrors in front of you, but related to the glass mirrors in front of you......"

Speaking of this, without waiting for Emperor Chongzhen to react, he continued: "Your Majesty should know that all the glass mirrors used in the palace were transported by Europeans by ship from the other side of the sea. The cost is very high...."

"As far as the small glass mirror brought by the minister is concerned, it is worth fifty taels of silver. If it is the largest glass mirror, I have already bought five thousand taels of silver in the market, which is enough to be worth thousands of loads of grain..."

Although Chongzhen was puzzled, he still nodded patiently and replied patiently, "That's true, I also know the situation you said." So, the glass mirror for royalty. It's no secret though, but. Among all my concubines, even the queen has such a large glass mirror. ”

"As for the other concubines, they all use ordinary glass mirrors of a few hundred taels of silver..."

Seeing that Chongzhen had already gone to the Dao, Wei Zheng changed his words and continued: "Your Majesty is wise..."

"The great gift that the minister wants to give to His Majesty today is not these glass mirrors in front of him, but hundreds of glass mirrors worth thousands of taels..."

After listening to what Wei Zheng said, the first expression on Chongzhen's face was shock.

shocked Wei Zheng's generosity, and the glass mirror worth hundreds of thousands of taels was given to me casually.

However, this shocked expression only lasted on Chongzhen's face for less than a few seconds before it was covered with heartfelt doubt.

With a puzzled face, he asked Wei Zheng, "Aiqing, I want to know, where did you get so many glass mirrors... As far as the minister knows, this kind of glass mirror is very fragile, and this is a very important reason why the larger the glass mirror, the more expensive it is. ”

"Besides, you sent me so many glass mirrors at one time, although it is worth a lot, but I can't use so much?"

Under the gaze of Chongzhen and Wang Chengen, Wei Zheng shook his head and replied: "Your Majesty, the minister gave His Majesty so many glass mirrors, not for His Majesty to use for himself, but for His Majesty to sell ......."

As soon as Wei Zheng finished speaking, Wang Chengen's sharp shouts sounded in the hall.

"Lord Wang is bold, His Majesty is the king of a country, how can he sell things like a merchant. If it spreads, what will be His Majesty's face..."

After listening to what Wang Chengen said, Emperor Chongzhen's puzzled facial expression was instantly replaced by a hint of solemnity.

However, Chongzhen, who was getting deeper and deeper in the city, did not speak immediately, but quietly looked at Wei Zheng, waiting for Wei Zheng to explain.

At this time, although Wei Zheng was very reluctant, for the sake of himself and the future of the Tiger and Leopard Army, and for the sake of turning Emperor Chongzhen in front of him into his background. Wei Zheng still showed a sincere and frightened expression, quickly knelt on the ground, and shouted to Emperor Chongzhen for mercy.

"Please calm your anger, the minister doesn't mean this, please listen to the minister's words......"

As a conceited emperor, Chongzhen enjoyed this kind of expression of sincere fear when his courtiers knelt in front of him.

After waving his hand casually, he said to Wei Zheng: "Aiqing, get up....I allow you to finish your words, but if you can't give me a reasonable explanation, a charge of blasphemy against the imperial power is absolutely indispensable." ”

"Xie Majesty..."

Wei Zheng hurriedly stood up from the ground, pretending to be aggrieved and said: "Your Majesty, the minister learned from the mouth of the Jinyi Wei Luo that the imperial court has reached the point where it is beyond its means, not only has the household department has no money and no light, but even His Majesty's inner treasury is about to be exhausted because of the long-term replenishment of various needs of the imperial court..."

Wei Zheng exposed the shortcomings of the imperial court in this way, and although Chongzhen, who was sitting on the dragon chair, was dissatisfied, his face also turned red in an instant. However, Chongzhen did not speak, but quietly waited for Wei Zheng to follow.

Facing Chongzhen's constantly changing facial expression, Wei Zheng continued: "In this case, although the minister is a foreign minister, he also wants to share his majesty's worries and do his part..."

"As far as the minister knows, the imperial family has scattered many imperial stores throughout the country. The minister means that since the price of these glasses is so expensive and the profits are so high, then put these glasses in the imperial store for sale, and as for the profits from the sale of these glasses, all of them will be supplemented by His Majesty's inner treasury, and the ministers will not have a penny..."

Hearing this, Chongzhen, who was sitting on the dragon chair, finally had a moving expression on his face.

A pair of eyes stared at Wei Zheng in front of him, and asked with a face full of anticipation: "Then according to what Aiqing said, if all these glasses are put into my imperial store for sale, how much profit can I get in a year......

"At least two million taels..."Wei Zheng replied without thinking.

"Two million taels, Aiqing, you are not wrong....you must know that the bully will be killed..."Hearing this number, the expression of expectation on Chongzhen's face directly turned into excitement, and he asked loudly at Wei Zheng.

Under Chongzhen's gaze, the expression on Wei Zheng's face remained unchanged, and he replied with a straightforward expression.

"Please rest assured, the minister has the courage to talk nonsense in front of His Majesty..."

"These glass mirrors that the minister brought to His Majesty today were not brought back from overseas, but produced by the minister himself. After the minister took up the post of commander-in-chief of Datong Prefecture, he found several different foreigners among the displaced people. The subordinate who had never seen those Hongyi people was very curious, so he called them over and asked. ”

"What Xia Guan didn't expect was that this question actually made Xia Guan discover a few secrets."

"These Hongyi people all offended the local magnates and fled to our Ming Dynasty. What's more, these Hongyi people actually know how to make zuò glass mirrors..."

"After more than a month of hard work, these Hongyi people finally made the first piece of glass in our Daming Dynasty. And these pieces of glass that His Majesty saw were made by these Hongyi people. ”

"It's just that because the process of making these glass mirrors is too complicated, it is difficult to gather the materials needed. So, the cost of glass mirrors is still very high..."

"For this kind of large glass mirror, which costs three thousand taels, if you want to make a piece, it will cost at least two thousand five hundred taels... However, even so, the imperial shop of His Majesty Xià could make a profit of five hundred taels of silver from selling this piece of glass. ”

What Chongzhen didn't expect was that Wei Zheng didn't say a word in his heart.

That is: "The manufacturing cost of this kind of glass is far from being as high as I say, and a piece of glass of three thousand taels of silver, at most the cost of thirty taels of silver, can be made." ”

The reason why Wei Zheng reported the production cost so high was to not leave a bad impression in the heart of Emperor Chongzhen in front of him that he was greedy for money and robbing silver with the emperor. However, these words will never be spoken.

Seeing the relieved expression slowly showing on Chongzhen's face, Wei Zheng continued, his words full of firmness.

"Therefore, the minister means that in order to share the worries of His Majesty, he will increase the income of His Majesty's inner treasury. The minister provided the glass mirror to His Majesty at cost price. The Imperial Store of Majesty Xià is responsible for selling these glass mirrors to all parts of the country. ”

At this time, Chongzhen finally spoke.

He said to Wei Zheng with emotion: "Okay, very good... Aiqing is worthy of being my humerus's minister... Those ministers in the imperial court are thinking about how to get money from my inner treasury all day long, only Aiqing can understand my difficulties and share my worries....very good, very good..."

Speaking of this, Chongzhen, who was smiling, ordered directly to Wang Chengen: "What are you still doing in a daze, don't show Lord Wei a seat....such a loyal minister, I must not let Aiqing be wronged in the palace..."

When Chongzhen saw Wei Zheng in front of him, even if he was sitting in his seat, he still had a face full of sincerity and fear, and he didn't show the slightest arrogance, and his impression of Wei Zheng was even better.

He affirmed loudly to Wei Zheng: "Aiqing, I accepted this great gift you gave me." After I go down, I will send someone to Datong to discuss specific matters with you, Aiqing..."

"In addition, Aiqing, although you just received a reward today, you have been promoted to the chief soldier of Shanxi. However, in order to commend Aiqing for her loyalty to me, I decided to give love a reward except for one time........."