Daming: I became Zhu Yuanzhang's eldest son

On this day, Zhu Yuanzhang came to Zhu Tao's Zhuangzi again.

Recently, my index finger moved a lot, and I remembered the joy of eating skewers and drinking beer, so I rushed to Zhujiazhuang, just wanting to eat a meal of red willow barbecue made by Taoer.

When I came here, I found out that Zhu Tao is making a big seafood restaurant. All kinds of seafood are cooked in different ways, but they are also very mouth-watering.

While eating happily, Zhu Yuanzhang asked Zhu Tao.

"Tao'er, where did you get so many seafood? It tastes delicious when you look at it. Although a gentleman is far away from the kitchen, you really can't lose your craftsmanship. It's not even the slightest bit better than those imperial chefs in the imperial dining room. Son!"

Zhu Tao didn't feel that comparing himself with those imperial chefs was a compliment to him. On the contrary, he felt that with his own skills, he was more than enough to be an imperial chef.

However, this time he didn't want to talk to his father about these things.

"These seafood were given to him by a friend of the farmer. It was a fisherman by the sea. So much seafood was given to his friends when he couldn't sell it. By the way, I also took advantage of it."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and didn't say anything, but Zhu Tao said.

"Father, you are now a wealthy country of the imperial court and you can participate in the government affairs when it is fair. I think you should suggest to the imperial court to open the sea ban."

Zhu Yuanzhang was eating a big crab with great enthusiasm. Hearing what Zhu Tao said, he put down the crab and asked.

"Then tell us, what are the benefits of this sea ban? Keep setting up sea bans, in fact, you don't want to share with overseas barbarians, and you don't want them to disturb the border of Ming Dynasty!"

Zhu Tao shook his head and said to Zhu Yuanzhang.

"The current emperor has always been a man of great talent, boldness and broad-mindedness, but it is quite unwise to set up a sea ban. This strategy is ugly to say that it is to close the country, and it will eventually lead to backwardness."

Although Zhu Yuanzhang was a little dissatisfied with Zhu Tao's denial of his sea ban policy, he still wanted to hear what truth this monstrous adopted son could say.

"Hmph, then tell us, I really opened the sea ban, will those overseas barbarians take the opportunity to infiltrate and do some bad things to our Daming, and the Japanese pirates are from the sea, you all know this!"

Of course Zhu Tao is very aware of the disadvantages of the opening of the sea ban, so he said with a smile.

"I once heard a play, in which there was a line like this: when friends come, they have good wine, when enemies come, they have shotguns, and the Ming Dynasty has millions of iron armors, so why worry about harassment by Japanese pirates? It is his blessing if he doesn't come, if he dares to come, The sea is his burial place."

Seeing that Zhu Yuanzhang seemed a little moved, Zhu Tao continued.

"Actually, opening the sea ban is more conducive to us earning a lot of gold and silver from the overseas barbarians. You must know that although we have opened a mining department and copper bureaus in various places, after all, no matter how rich the minerals are, they are non-renewable resources. , sooner or later there will be a day of exhaustion, so doing business by selling goods and earning money is the real way to manage the country and manage money. Dad, you are the Duke of Fuguo, and this title is worthy of your memorial , open the sea ban."

After Zhu Yuanzhang listened to Zhu Tao's words, he soon fell into deep thought.

After a long time, he said to Zhu Tao.

"This is not a trivial matter. Although my father is the Duke of Fuguo, he only has the right to make suggestions but not decision-making powers, so I want to go to the court and wait for the final decision of the court. Now you should serve me the draft beer first, so that I can make a decision." I'll drink some more."

After arriving in the palace, Zhu Yuanzhang immediately called Zhu Biao and the three chief shopkeepers, and explained all Zhu Tao's suggestions.

Finally, Zhu Yuanzhang saw that all the people present bowed their heads in silence, so he asked them helplessly.

"We called you here just to let you take the current year's test, and all of you keep your heads down and don't speak. What's going on?"

In fact, from the prince Zhu Biao to the three cabinet scholars, they all knew very well that if it was Zhu Tao's suggestion, basically there was nothing that the emperor would not implement.

Calling them over to discuss this matter is nothing more than a formality, and it is to find the rationality of this suggestion.

Prince Zhu Biao first spoke and said: "Father Huang is wise, and my son thinks Brother Tao's suggestion is very good. After the sea ban is lifted, overseas trade can be done. At that time, a steady stream of silver will flow into Daming, and our gold The silver reserves will be more substantial, and the treasure banknotes will have greater confidence."

Seeing that the crown prince has said so, the remaining cabinet members have no scruples. Li Shanchang is the head of the Duke, so he stood up and said it first.

"The prince is very thorough, and I think so too. My Ming Dynasty has millions of soldiers. Even if the Japanese invade the inland, they can still be wiped out, let alone at sea? You must know that the Fourth Highness's National Commercial Department is fighting with Shaozhuang The Lord is also studying the issue of steam engine ships, Yanchuan stone liquid refines gasoline, once it is applied on a large scale, the Ming Dynasty will never be able to destroy ships and guns, and will never be afraid of overseas barbarians."

Both the crown prince and Li Shanchang said this, and the remaining two cabinet members and ministers also agreed one after another. At this time, Zhu Yuanzhang also made up his mind and said to them.

"Since you all think so, then we will do as good as we can. We have decided to open the sea ban from the first day of the first month of January next year. Specifically, the establishment of the sea defense yamen and the yamen and garrison for seaside transactions. The prince and your three cabinet ministers Take out a charter and report it to us, and after we read it, we will execute it directly."

The crown prince and the three ministers all glanced at each other, thinking to themselves.

"Zhu Tao is a monster, he eats, drinks and has fun by himself when he has nothing to do. If he can't do it anymore, he will make an invention and give an opinion. Anyway, every time he makes an opinion, he breaks our legs."

Thinking so, these people still admire Zhu Tao from the bottom of their hearts.

Just when they were leaving and going to the cabinet room to draw up the regulations, Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly said something.

"We have another matter. I want to tell you that after you explain it clearly to the civil and military officials below, you will announce to them that Zhu Tao is our adopted son, but no one needs to reveal this relationship. You are also not allowed to go to Zhujiazhuang to make trouble in any way, otherwise you will be punished severely. If officials of the third and fourth ranks want to ask for advice, they can inform the prince in advance, and the prince or us will take them there. Officials below the fifth rank should not go if they have nothing to do. Join in the fun."

Everyone was shocked, His Majesty is finally going to announce Zhu Tao's identity?
Thinking this way in my heart, the executive power of these chief assistants was extremely fast, and soon, this order was conveyed to the six yamen and officials of all sizes in Beijing.

And the officials who received this order, many of them, were full of doubts.

Who is Zhu Tao?