The Ming Dynasty started with caution

Yan Chengjin looked at the ministers kneeling at his feet.

These ministers are likely to have benefited from the maritime ban.

Keep it in mind first and impeach them when there is a chance in the future.

"Yan Chengjin's words are too superficial. He doesn't know the situation of the countries in the Western Regions.

Although Hami and Tufan pay tribute to the Ming Dynasty, there are constant disputes between the two countries. It is not appropriate to open the Silk Road for no reason to start a war." Xie Qian said.

Those ministers who knelt on the ground to advise were ecstatic, but the two cabinet elders opposed it.

This matter is likely to fail.

Yan Chengjin thought about it carefully and said, "Did Liu Gong and Xie Gong travel along the Silk Road? If they hadn't, how would they know that they couldn't trade.

The Ming Dynasty was rich in resources, and merchants didn't need to send goods to France.

Instead, they sold them to merchants in Hami, who then traded westward, and transported them layer by layer to France."

At this time, the censor who was kneeling on the ground said indignantly, "Lord Yan didn't travel along the Silk Road either, so what's your evidence?"

Yan Chengjin said to Emperor Hongzhi, "There was a man who traveled along the Silk Road, not only to Daqin, but also returned home in glory, and that was Liu Jin."

Emperor Hongzhi ordered someone to summon Liu Jin.

...

In the East Palace,

Zhu Houzhao was happily brushing the horse's mane. He bought a red mare from Liangxiang.

"When you grow up, I will ride you into the grassland and fight Dayan Khan for three days and three nights."

Liu Jin flattered at the right time, "Your Highness is brave!"

This mare was chosen by Liu Jin.

When it comes to excellent horse breeds, even the Tatars cannot compare to the nomadic peoples in the Western Regions.

The horses they raise are better than those of the Tatars.

Liu Jin rode many horses to the Western Regions and had a deep understanding of horses.

This little mare is very strong, and the mane that grows in winter is majestic.

He stood beside with a straw bucket, and from time to time, fed the little mare a handful of grass.

"Your Highness, I heard that the price of silk in Jiangnan has increased."

Zhu Houzhao put down the wooden comb and said happily: "Do you mean that you can ask Lao Gao for silver?"

"In my opinion, it is better to ask for this silver as soon as possible, in case the price of silk drops again in a few days.

When I was doing business in the Western Regions, I encountered such a situation.

The carpet that was valuable the day before was worthless the next day."

Liu Jin did not dare to say that Yan Chengjin had cheated him of his money.

If the Jinyiwei spread it, the observation period would be cancelled.

But he couldn't watch Zhu Houzhao being cheated out of money, and Liu Jin was also a loyal man.

"I will ask Lao Gao for money in a while. How much money can I get according to the current silk price?" Zhu Houzhao closed his eyes and calculated in his mind.

According to the share agreed in the contract, Lao Gao should give him at least two thousand taels.

It cost one hundred taels to buy the mare.

Now there are more than one hundred taels left in my pocket...

As Zhu Houzhao was calculating, the eunuch in front of the emperor came in and reported: "Your Highness, His Majesty asked Eunuch Liu to go to the East Warm Pavilion."

Liu Jin felt something was wrong for some reason, and hurriedly took out one or two taels of silver from his arms.

"But Lord Yan is looking for us?"

The eunuch happily took the silver: "Lord Yan said that only you have walked the Silk Road, so His Majesty summoned you."

Zhu Houzhao said nonchalantly: "Go and come back quickly, help me feed the horse."

Liu Jin came to the East Warm Pavilion nervously and knelt down to Emperor Hongzhi.

All the officials looked at Liu Jin with their own thoughts. Such a weak eunuch had returned from the Western Regions.

Xiao Jing couldn't help but look at him a few more times. He heard that the prince had given him a name.

It was called Xiaoqiang.

But what kind of eunuch could be given the honor of a name, didn't he know?

However, this name was really uncultured.

How can Xiao be strong?

The name your highness chose is contradictory!

Emperor Hongzhi just wanted to know what would happen if the Western Regions were open to trade, and said: "I heard that you went to the Western Regions to do business?"

"I have been a businessman and a beggar in the Western Regions, but the best thing I do is cooking."

Liu Jin raised his head slightly and glanced at Emperor Hongzhi, then quickly lowered his head.

Yan Chengjin said: "I want to ask you, can you do business in the Western Regions?"

"Yes, although there are wars in the countries of the Western Regions, there are also safe roads.

When there is war in the south of Tubo, the north is stable.

I found the road and came back safely from the Western Regions."

Liu Jin looked at Yan Chengjin nervously, not knowing why he asked these questions.

Yan Chengjin said: "The Western Regions are vast. Although there are wars between small countries, there is also mutual trade.

And there is more than one land Silk Road."

There is a dispute between Chang'an and Luoyang about the starting point of the Silk Road.

Some people think it is Chang'an, and some people think it is Luoyang.

But no matter which one it is, Yan Chengjin is sure that it is not a fixed route.

But as trade spreads, where there is trade, there are traces of merchants.

"Your Majesty, the ancestral system cannot be violated!"

The ministers kneeling on the ground shouted.

Emperor Hongzhi stood up and said, "Let's adjourn the court!"

Yan Chengjin and the officials were a little confused. His Majesty had not made a decision yet, but he announced the adjournment of the court.

This was a rare thing in the court.

The officials shouted goodbye and so on.

Liu Jin slowly approached Yan Chengjin and asked in a low voice, "Sir Yan, am I right?"

"I am not satisfied." Yan Chengjin shook his head.

Liu Jin's face changed slightly, and he almost knelt down to him.

"Your Highness asked Sir Yan to go to the East Palace..."

A quarter of an hour later,

Yan Chengjin came to the East Palace and found a little mare in the yard.

It has a thick and bright mane and strong and beautiful limbs. It stands in the yard and makes people want to ride it.

I don’t know where Zhu Houzhao got it.

Zhu Houzhao stood next to the little mare and smoothed her mane.

"How about my little mare? I bought it from Fan Shang for a hundred taels.

After freshening up, she looks so good. "

It seems that His Majesty has been very busy recently. There is an extra horse in the East Palace, but he has not noticed it for so long.

Zhu Houzhao only lasted for two days.

When Jin Yiwei reported it to Emperor Hongzhi, it was a familiar script again.

Yan Chengjin said: "What does your Highness want to do with you?"

"The price of silk in Jiangnan has increased. Why don't you send me money? Do you want to embezzle my money?" Zhu Houzhao blinked and asked.

"Until the silk from Liangxiang is sold, the price will rise five times."

…

Huagai Hall,

Emperor Hongzhi summoned the cabinet and six ministries here.

Nowadays, merchants collect tax money. If the price of silk can increase five times, it will be five times the tax money!

This is a great fortune!

However, when he was in Nuan Pavilion, all the officials knelt down to admonish him, so he couldn't make a decision.

Summon the cabinet and six ministries to Huagai Hall for further discussion.

"What do you think Yan Chengjin said?" Emperor Hongzhi asked.

Liu Jian and others stood in front of the imperial case.

Li Dongyang took the lead and said: "There has been no trade in the northwest for a long time. I am afraid that Chaoguan and the post station have long been in disrepair."

Merchants cannot do business without a post station, otherwise they will not even have a safe place to stay.

Moreover, in the northwest area, there are no patrol roads and military preparation roads.

I encountered robbers on the road and there was no place to report them to the police.

Liu Jian said sadly: "When the Three Treasures eunuchs went to the West, they did not violate the ancestral system. Does your Majesty really want to establish the ancestral system?"

Emperor Hongzhi felt uncomfortable and hesitant.