Rebirth of the Ming Dynasty: Sixth Generation of Glory, I don't want it

"It's not just letters, it's a lot of other things, including money. So we all think this shouldn't be handled by private individuals."

Zhu Dong added some explanation and then went on to tell the whole story again.

It has been eleven years since the Ming Dynasty officially began its foreign maritime trade.

Because of maritime trade, ordinary people in this country are no longer limited to making a living from the land. Many people make their living by relying on the local economy boosted by maritime trade.

For example, working in a workshop, or going out to sea on a ship.

After the opening of the road permit system in the eighth year of Yongle, more and more people left their hometowns to seek a living outside, and quite a few left the country to seek a living overseas.

It would be fine if you don't go far from home and just bring the money and things you earn back home regularly.

For those who live far away, the cost of a trip home may be more than the money they save.

Not to mention those who went overseas and drifted with the fleet on ships.

Some people's families live on the money they earn from working outside.

So once they have some savings, they can only find ways to ask friends or fellow villagers to bring them home.

But it's hard to say whether we can make it up at this time.

Whether it is things or money, they have to be delivered to the family at the right time.

Later, some people in Jiangsu and Zhejiang started to specialize in this business.

In the beginning, it was done by individuals, who would help with the delivery at designated times and locations, and charge a 10% commission.

By last year, as the Royal Business Administration had become more and more sophisticated and the number of routes increased, individual capabilities were no longer able to cover all areas.

There were people from the Ningbo Gang who set up private credit bureaus near several Maritime Customs Offices.

The private post office can send letters, things, and money.

The first two are fine.

There is something wrong with the one who sent the money later.

These private post offices now have locations both at home and abroad. When a sender sends money, they simply give a money order.

After the recipient receives the money order, he/she pays the handling fee at the local credit bureau and withdraws the money.

The three of them felt that something was wrong. They shouldn't do this.

"Our treasure notes are a piece of paper, and their bills are also a piece of paper. Does that mean they are also printing treasure notes?"

Zhu Dong didn't really know much about money, but he just felt that he couldn't let them do this.

"Indeed... Oh, you've made progress!"

Zhu Di was a little shocked by the way the merchants asked for money, and even more shocked by the sensitivity of his younger brothers.

"Brother, what you said is true. My brothers have been making progress, right?"

Red taro with black lines.

"All right, all right, everyone has grown up and can do things now! As your fourth brother, I am very pleased!"

Zhu Di laughed out loud.

"We have to take care of this. The private post office can do it. It's up to them to send letters or things. But money is not allowed."

Zhu Gaochi had many dealings with Xia Yuanji and knew very well that bills of exchange like this could end up being discounted by the private sector.

Anything related to money can only be done by departments under the imperial court.

Now it is being done by private individuals, and there is no upper limit on the amount. Isn't this a ready-made loophole for tax evasion?

"So the three of us feel that the imperial court should do this. Now that the Commercial Newspaper of the Commerce Bureau is stable, there is no need for all three of us to stay. I want to continue to stay in the Commerce Bureau, and the twenty-second and twenty-third brothers can go to the Civil Letters Bureau."

Zhu Dong made a representative summary.

The three brothers came to Zhu Di after careful consideration.

It turned out that these brothers were hanging around in the Six Departments, but they were nothing.

No one pays attention to my suggestions, and no one praises me for what I do.

Everyone assumed that they were just here to pass the time and act as spies.

Zhu Di was so busy that he had no time to care about what they were thinking.

After going to the Royal Commerce Bureau, Zhang Xin gave them time when they had nothing to do, and when they came up with good ideas, Zhang Xin was willing to let them try them.

I won't be cautious just because they are princes and will scold them when necessary.

When we praise them, we really mean it.

They originally thought that with their biological father gone and their biological brother ascending the throne, their lives as idle and unpopular princes would become increasingly worse.

In fact, the more the better.

They originally wanted to talk to Zhang Xin about this matter, but everyone knew that Zhang Xin had eye problems and wanted her to rest more, so they came to Zhu Di.

"It just so happens that I just told my dad about the express delivery shop today. We can do these two things as one."

Zhu Gaochi felt that things really just came together.

"Express delivery shop?"

Zhu Dong asked.

“It’s also a place to send things.”

Zhu Gaochi gave his three uncles a brief explanation.

Regarding the express delivery shops, when talking about building the express delivery shops and maintaining them, Zhang Xin also mentioned another direction, which is to make the express delivery shops self-sufficient.

There is a shop every ten miles. In order to reduce costs, there are probably only four people in one shop.

If they were only responsible for delivering military reports and court documents, there might not be enough people when it was slow, and not enough people when it was busy.

So what about giving express delivery shops the responsibility of sending letters and parcels within the country?

It can generate income and you can also use the extra money to hire people.

Moreover, the more places it is distributed, the more convenient life will be for the people, and the more detailed control the court will have over the people below.

"This works!"

Zhu Ying was the first to agree.

"I think the convenience money service that my nephew started before is very good. It can exchange treasure notes, borrow treasure notes, and exchange them for silver and so on. It's better to put the matter of sending money under the convenience money service."

Zhu Gao also put forward his ideas.

"All is fine. Then Zhu Ying will run the express delivery shop, Zhu Gao will handle the money business, and Zhu Dong will continue to work in the Commerce Bureau?"

Zhu Di made the final decision after careful discussion.

"Yes, Fourth Brother. We can treat either of them well, but can we let our niece-in-law take care of us? This is our only request!"

Zhu Dong also raised his hand and made a "one" gesture, requesting for discussion.

"Tsk! What's wrong with returning to the imperial court? How can I let you down?"

Zhu Di pretended to be angry.

"Well, Fourth Brother, tell me the truth. My niece's wife has a good temper, and we feel comfortable. She is not like my brother, who yells at us all the time. Besides, there are many things going on in the court. It is very troublesome."

Zhu Gao bravely spoke the truth.

"I started swearing in front of my face, and you still say I have a bad temper?"

Zhu Di pointed at his nose and looked at Zhu Gaochi in disbelief.

"See, I'm just speaking my mind, brother, and you say I'm cursing!"

Zhu Gao also had an expression of "as expected" and stared at Zhu Di.

"Good fellow, you are waiting for me here! Get lost! Come to the morning court tomorrow and discuss the matter!"

Zhu Di wanted to close the door and let the dogs out.

The three younger brothers were smart enough to bow and leave immediately.

The three of them left the study room, and Zhu Dong poked his head out again and shouted:

"Brother, I have to say one more thing before I leave. It's too early to attend the court. This is one of the reasons why we don't want to be under the control of the court."

"roll--"

In response to them, Zhu Di roared even louder.

"Yes, Fourth Brother, let's go——"

Zhu Gao's words were drawn out, and Zhu Di looked at Zhu Gaochi with a dark face.

"Uh, I was wrong. I'm leaving too. How does Dad want me to leave?"

"roll--"

"Okay, let's go--"

Zhu Gaochi performed a forward roll on the spot, successfully made Zhu Di laugh, and then quickly rolled out of the study.

[A little knowledge: During the Yongle period, the "Public Letter Bureau" was first established by Ningbo merchants. It is a privately operated profit-making institution whose business includes mailing letters, goods, and handling foreign exchange.]