my brother-in-law is the prince

Chapter 538
Listening to Zhang Anshi's direct response to his request, Qiu Fu smiled knowingly.

It seemed that an important matter had settled down, and he sincerely said with emotion: "Your Highness, this old man just now understands that it is his luck that this kid Qiu Song is as close to His Highness as brothers. It is getting late, this old man has to go back quickly Make some preparations and let it go.”

Zhang Anshi looked at this old man with white beard and hair, he was not bad mentally, but he was lame, and he was about to go thousands of miles away to continue to fight for it. A little more admiration.

Immediately said: "I will send one to Shibo."

Qiu Fu left.

Zhang Anshi then ordered someone to go to Qixia's palace to inform him, and he was ready to add a new baby to the palace.

But soon, he no longer cared about these personal matters, what should come will always come.

Three days later, Zhu Di summoned Zhang Anshi to meet him.

This time, a large amount of detailed information on the storage of gold and silver has been placed on Zhu Di's case. Although the specific number may take several months to be calculated, just looking at the tip of the iceberg is enough to make Zhu Di spend his days. I am very happy.

Seeing Zhang Anshi, Zhu Di, who had been in a good mood all the time, said with a friendly smile: "Yesterday, Zheng Banban came to see you, and he talked about the customs of Europe and the local conditions. So, in ten years rotation, merchants, private households, etc. will be requisitioned, and they will be stationed for a long time, and the merchants of my Ming Dynasty will be replaced by the Venetian merchants. What does Zhang Qing think?"

Zhang Anshi smiled and said: "The reason why the Merchant of Venice appeared in Europe is because of market demand. Now that the Merchant of Venice is gone, it is extremely necessary to quickly replace it. Therefore, I thought... The replacement requires preparation in three aspects."

Zhu Di couldn't help restraining his smile, and said with an attitude of ready to listen carefully: "Speak."

So Zhang Anshi said: "Now Venice is the Fubo Prefecture, Genana is the Zhenhai Prefecture, and several islands and coastal lands in North Africa and the Near East are owned by my Ming Dynasty. It was created as a transshipment and distribution center for our Ming Dynasty and European maritime trade, these are almost all key points in Europe, occupying this, then the problem of maritime trade has become more than half."

After a pause, he continued: "Secondly, we should make friends with the Pope of Rome..."

Zhu Di listened, but said indifferently: "He is a barbarian monk, why should he befriend him?"

Zhang Anshi said: "Your Majesty, the Venetian Merchant appeared precisely because of the great influence of the Pope. Those who believe in the Pope must abide by the commandments and be forced to pay tithes. Therefore, The status of the Pope is as stable as Mount Tai, which is beneficial to my Ming Dynasty."

"And once the authority of the Pope is challenged, the monarchy of the European countries will definitely open their eyes. At that time, they will get taxes, which may be used to recruit more soldiers and train more soldiers. I am trying to strengthen myself. Since that is the case, why not... let the Pope collect this tax and use it to support monks, big and small?"

Zhu Di couldn't help but said, "It's really weird."

Zhang Anshi smiled, and then said: "The information I got from Europe is that at this time in Europe, the most powerful monarch, the King of France, can get no more than 600 pounds in taxes every year. But the Pope Your Majesty, the Knights Templar, which collects tithes for the pope, has an annual income of 600 million pounds. Think about it, Your Majesty, if the [-] million pounds were not taken by the monks, if they were given to the kings of Europe, What good does this do for me, Daming?"

Zhu Di frowned and said, "In this way, peace with Rome is the most important thing?"

Zhang Anshidao: "Exactly, not to mention that Europe is too far away after all, force alone is not enough, but ingenuity is needed. Now take this opportunity to make friends with it, and use the authority of the Pope to make waves for me." Endorsing merchants from Zhenhai and Zhenhai prefectures, you can do business in Europe calmly, and you can also take this opportunity to cooperate with the Pope."

Zhu Di nodded: "That's it... After a while, I will send out a letter of credence."

Having said that, Zhu Di looked at Zhang Anshi firmly and said, "What words should I use?"

Zhang Anshi said: "This depends on His Majesty, but the attitude can be relaxed."

Zhu Di nodded.

Zhang Anshi said again: "The third is to take advantage of the trade with Europe to continue to improve the various trading stations and feudal lands on the route between Europe and Daming. , the ports along the way... At least a dozen or even dozens of ports are needed, and the imperial court should greatly encourage ships to open up new routes and discover islands along the way. At the same time, the imperial court should also take this opportunity to invest more."

Zhu Di smiled and said: "This is easy to handle, as long as it is profitable, after all, this is a profitable business, the money that the Venetian merchants can earn, I, Da Ming, earn it, and take out the money... just treat it as being in this sea. A railway was also built."

Zhang Anshi couldn't help laughing: "Your Majesty is really wise, and he hit the nail on the head."

Regarding this point, Zhang Anshi admired Zhu Di very much. Although the emperor Zhu Di loved money, he would not be obsessed with spending money when it was time to spend it.

With his hands behind his back, Zhu Di chatted enthusiastically for a while, and then, Zhu Di started to get to the point.

Zhu Di took a sip of tea, then said slowly: "In the past few days...Yi Shihalai has reported something, saying that the prices of gold and silver are slightly lower in the East and West markets of the capital, and even in Qixia. Signs of depreciation. I heard that this is a merchant, and I also heard the news of Songjiangkou, because I was afraid of the flood of gold and silver...Has Zhang Qing heard of this matter?"

Zhang Anshi said calmly: "Slightly."

Seeing Zhang Anshi's calm expression, Zhu Di couldn't help but said in surprise, "Oh? Zhang Qing isn't worried about it?"

Zhang Anshi said: "In the past few years, the imperial court has actually imported a lot of gold and silver from all over the world through trade, but the price has not fluctuated too much. Don't forget, Your Majesty, the customs statistics of the gold and silver that flowed into my Ming Dynasty every year, But they are all astronomical figures."

After Zhu Di heard this, he nodded his head and said, "That's true. In the past...there were so many inflows, but the prices didn't rise. What's the reason for this...?"

Zhang Anshi said: "It's very simple. Although there are a lot of gold and silver, His Majesty has forgotten. Over the years, the property of my Ming Dynasty has also been rising. Not to mention other things, just steel. Ten years ago, the steel smelted by Daming, Compared with today, it is less than one-twelfth. There is also cotton spinning, which is several times that of the past. To put it bluntly, gold and silver are just a medium to replace the value of goods, but because of their rarity, it has become the most suitable currency in the world .”

Zhang Anshi paused, and then said: "Therefore, a large amount of gold and silver is imported. If my Ming Dynasty was ten years ago, the annual production of steel and cotton was limited, and the annual production of grain... was also limited. Then the market's The goods have not changed, but the gold and silver have increased, which will naturally lead to a sharp drop in the price of gold and silver. Because there are more people holding gold and silver, but fewer people holding the real thing.”

Zhang Anshi talked eloquently: "But at the same time as the increase in gold and silver, the production is also increasing rapidly, and a balance has been reached between them! The input of gold and silver has made the market demand more vigorous, and the demand is strong. The increase in production and output brought about by this will be of great benefit to the court and the people."

After Zhu Di heard this, he couldn't help nodding his head: "What you said makes sense."

Zhang Anshi continued: "But this time, what's different is that so much gold and silver came all at once, and the market was worried, which led to the depreciation of gold and silver. As I expected."

Zhu Di couldn't help staring at Zhang Anshi curiously: "Then what should I do?"

Zhang Anshi smiled and said: "That's not how."

Zhu Di: "..."

What's the difference between answering and not answering?
In Zhu Di's speechless expression, Zhang Anshi said again: "As long as the depreciation is within a more reasonable range, then there is no hindrance. Even because of the sudden increase in gold and silver, the increase in physical prices will actually make the producers earn more money." They saw better expectations, and now that the imperial court is now overhauling the railway, the demand for steel, sleepers, cotton spinning, machinery, and tools is huge, which will further motivate all producers , Do everything possible to expand production."

"In this way, Your Majesty, although our currency has increased, the output can also be greatly improved. The major workshops are expanding, and the railway needs more labor. At this time, we want to recruit more people. Manpower will inevitably require processing money, at least for now, His Majesty has more gold and silver in his hands this time, and can support the construction of the railway more easily."

Zhang Anshi paused, and continued: "Businessmen can take this opportunity to make a lot of money. Soldiers and civilians also have more places to go to produce, and wages can also take this opportunity to increase. In other words, under the drive of these, I am afraid that the output in the past few years will be multiplied many times, so is this not the way to enrich the country and strengthen the people?"

After Zhu Di heard this, he couldn't help but open his eyes slightly, smacked his lips in surprise and said, "This is also okay?"

Zhang Anshi smiled and said: "This is just a good expectation! The specifics need to be observed. The ancestors often said that there must be a degree of relaxation, but in the end...but it still needs to be above this degree. All of this needs to be controlled within a certain limit range."

Zhu Di seriously lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then said: "Well... If that's the case, then let me observe a little more. Jin Yiwei should also keep an eye on some, and the briefings related to the price of goods in all parts of the world should be posted to me at any time. on the desk."

Zhang Anshi said with a wry smile: "But this minister is no longer the commander of Jin Yiwei."

Zhu Di glared at him and said, "I don't care, Jin Yiwei is not doing well, so I only ask you."

Zhang Anshi: "..."

Well, as a worker for the emperor, he, a courtier, is powerless to refute.

At this moment, Zhu Di suddenly changed the topic: "Qiu Qing's family is looking for you?"

Zhang Anshi then said: "Yes, he is going to Chennai."

Zhu Di showed emotion on his face, and said: "Well, I have already received his inspiration. Hey...he is just like me, when he gets old, he will eventually run around for his children and grandchildren."

Zhang Anshi laughed and said: "Your Majesty and Duke Qi's running around is because there is hope, so although it is hard work, it is also enjoyable. The so-called prosperity of the world is for profit, and the world is for profit. There are thousands of rides in the world. Kings, lords of thousands of families, and lords of hundreds of families are all like this. But there are still many hungry and cold people in the world. What they are rushing about is not hope, but just food for the moment..."

Zhu Di always felt that there was something in Zhang Anshi's words, so he pondered for a while, looked up at him and said, "What exactly do you want to say?"

"Your Majesty understands me." Zhang Anshi said: "What I mean is that since you have money, then... it's time for the emperor to make a big move."

Zhu Di, who had been in a good mood for a few days, finally sullen his face again, and said: "The emperor's grandson... has no money, and you have to keep an eye on him. After all, he is still young, and I am still worried."

Zhang Anshi immediately said: "Observe the order."

Zhu Di said again: "Besides, I plan to send someone to Zhan Ji's office as a secretary."

Zhang Anshi raised his eyes in surprise, and couldn't help but become deeply curious, and said: "A mere secretary, why should your majesty ask special questions?"

The so-called clerk is actually a secretary, just a mere civil official, so he can be arranged by His Majesty?

That's surprising enough!
Zhu Di said: "Changsheng has also grown up, and he has benefited a lot from me. It's time for him to go out and practice for a while."

Zhang Anshi: "..."

It was his big brother, which was beyond his expectation.

Zhu Di completely disregarded Zhang Anshi's feelings, and sighed: "I have spent so much gold and silver, I hope... this new policy can be extended to the world."

Zhu Di's voice lost some of the excitement typical of these days, but was faintly mixed with depression.

He is old, looking back on the past, Jing Nan is his great achievement, he can seek to win the nephew's position, after all, no matter how great the martial arts are, it is inevitable that there are flaws in the jade.

But thinking carefully, the New Deal was the second half of his life, and it almost ran through most of the major events of the Yongle Dynasty. This matter was not only about his personal name before and after his life.It is even more related to the country and the country, and it is related to the eternal foundation of Daming.

Zhu Di willing to give all his wealth so generously, from the perspective of a military strategist, it is nothing more than a sinking boat.

It's just what the result will be, but it will eventually make people worry.

After all, Zhu Di still has lingering fears from the lessons learned from the failure of the construction of the Jiangxi Railway back then!

Looking at Zhu Di's aging face, Zhang Anshi couldn't help comforting him and said: "Please rest assured, Your Majesty, the minister is in charge of the hall, and the emperor's grandson is the vanguard, so I dare not disappoint Your Majesty."

"Yeah." Zhu Di nodded, nodded and said, "You are very confident. What I am worried about is the lesson I learned in Jiangxi."

Zhang Anshidao: "The present is different from the past. In Jiangxi back then, the hearts of the gentry were in the hearts of the gentry, so it was extremely difficult to achieve anything. But now, what I have planned is to reverse the hearts of the people, so that countless soldiers, civilians and common people will participate in it. Hope with them...so...will succeed."

"hope?"

Zhu Di muttered to himself.

………………

This chapter is only [-]. Today I am too tired to write. I have almost recovered, but I have a sore throat. I drink porridge every day and feel a little tired. That’s all for today. I hope everyone can understand.

(End of this chapter)