The Ming Dynasty started with caution

Fengtian Temple,

Emperor Hongzhi seemed to be reading the memorial, but his attention was always on Yan Chengjin.

For a quarter of an hour, the boy stood like a piece of wood, but his mind was far away.

"Yan Qing's family, what are you thinking about?"

Yan Chengjin thought about it carefully and said, "The prefect of Ningxia sent a secret letter. I am thinking about how to refuse it."

The expressions of Liu Jian and the others tightened, and they looked over with a slight hesitation.

Emperor Hongzhi put down his memorial and asked unhurriedly: "What's the matter?"

"Sun Jingwen begs to stop the taxation of Ningxia safflower."

"In this matter, I personally warned that the Honghua tribute must not be cut off. He has not received my decree?"

Emperor Hongzhi frowned. This man's memorandum was ignored, and he sent a special edict to Ningxia.

Li Dongyang bowed and said: "Sun Jingwen also thinks about the people."

"I knew he was an upright official, so I didn't issue an order to punish him. Both the Queen and the Queen Mother like to drink red flower tea soup. I didn't approve it, so I won't mention it again."

Emperor Hongzhi raised his voice and expressed his firm attitude.

Tax-free cultivation?

It is not feasible. As long as the Ministry of Household Affairs has this tax item, Ningxia will provide a certain amount of safflower every year.

If this tax item is cleared, it means that Ningxia will regain its freedom and can grow safflowers or not.

Therefore, the imperial court imposed the safflower tax on Ningxia.

Yan Chengjin said: "When your majesty asked, I just mentioned it and never thought about abolishing it."

Zhang Fuhua frowned slightly and wanted to cancel, but he heard the determination and hesitation in His Majesty's tone.

Han Wen, Yang Suishou and others had different expressions.

Sun Jingwen went to the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Cabinet successively, and was dismissed twice, but was retained by His Majesty both times.

Compared with previous emperors of several generations, His Majesty is already very frugal. The princes want to ask for it, but they have no reason to abolish this tax item.

Zhang Heling's eyes lit up, he slapped the arm next to him, and whispered: "In a moment, we will go to the empress to complain."

"Brother, let's tell Yan Chengjin to go back and ask him to return my mansion."

After retiring from the court, Emperor Hongzhi left first. Yan Chengjin wanted to return to the cabinet, but was blocked by the Zhang brothers.

Zhang Yanling gritted his teeth angrily: "Gouguan, give me my mansion back, otherwise, don't blame our brothers for going to your empress to file a lawsuit against you!"

Zhang Heling slapped him in the face, can he return it if you say so? He smiled and said to Yan Chengjin: "My dear nephew, give it back to us. Once we brothers are happy, we won't say anything."

"Marquis Shouning threatens me?" Yan Chengjin raised his head and asked.

Li Dongyang knew that if this matter was reported to the empress, it would be reported back to His Majesty: "Discussing the red flower tax items is interfering in politics. If the two of you are involved in politics, don't blame me for impeachment."

Zhang Heling and Zhang Yanling's expressions changed and they left with green faces. Li Dongyang couldn't afford to offend them.

After coming out of the main hall, Zeng Jian reminded Yan Chengjin: "The two of them went to Kunning Palace. Your Majesty stayed up late and stayed up late at night. He did not stay with the empress. The red flowers as tribute are compensation for the empress. If you mention it again, you will be touched." "Reverse Scale."

This kid didn't mention it with his mouth, but he was still thinking about it in his heart.

Yan Chengjin nodded: "Thank you, Mr. Zeng, for the suggestion."

Hanyuan,

Hu Yu kept looking at the entrance of the small courtyard. Sun Jingwen's biography came to Beijing. Today, His Majesty may hold a meeting to discuss the safflower tax items.

Seeing Mao Ji, a bachelor of Hanyuan, striding into the small courtyard, he quickly greeted him and bowed: "Sir, has your Majesty abolished the red flower tax?"

"I declined. No one can stop this matter. Don't get into trouble and go back to study."

Hu Yu sighed in frustration.

Yan Chengjin was looking through Ningxia's safflower taxes over the years. Safflowers are put into storage and counted in stones, just like duck down is counted in pounds.

After exchanging silver to pay taxes, he still owed seven stones of red flowers. No wonder Sun Jingwen was anxious.

This tax is indeed harmful to people. However, after asking to repeal it three times and failing, Your Majesty is determined to keep it.

When it came to Shenshi, Yan Chengjin was ready to go on duty: "I have something important to do. I'll go to the East Palace."

When he left the duty room, he was stopped by a Hanyuan civil servant.

Hu Yu spoke concisely and to the point, bowed and said: "Master Yan should know about the tax on safflower. I have been to Ningxia and this is really harmful to the people. From planting to picking and bringing it to Beijing, it consumes more labor than plowing the fields. Please advise your majesty."

It was he who wrote to Jiangning, the Prime Minister of Ningxia, telling him that there was Yan Chengjin in the court.

"Are you teaching me how to do things?"

"I don't dare!"

"Since I made a promise in front of His Majesty, I will not speak again. Don't mention it again."

Yan Chengjin walked around him and strode out of the cabinet room.

Returning to his mansion, he called Wang Busui over and asked, "How much silver is a pound of red flowers?"

Wang Busui looked at him like he was looking at a fool. Finally, there was something the young master didn't know.

"Red flowers are calculated in money. They are two taels of silver per penny. They are tributes and are difficult to buy in the market. Young master, do you want to buy red flowers?"

If Yan Chengjin only buys a few taels, he can find a way to get them, but he won't be able to get more.

The royal family's supply exceeded demand, and only some of the pieces that went to the market were bought up by the gentry.

Yan Chengjin didn’t want to buy red flowers.

If you want to exempt Ningxia from taxes, you need to find a substitute for safflower.

Queen Zhang did not know the efficacy of safflower.

It is only when wealthy people are after it that they regard it as a treasure. If Wang Ji is allowed to praise another thing, the red flower is worthless.

Just like, Yan Song found a Taoist priest for Jiajing, boasted that he was an immortal, and taught Jiajing to pray to heaven all day long.

However, this thing also needs to have medicinal effects so as not to deceive the king.

Soon, Wang Ji came to Yan's mansion and said, "Sir Yan, these medicines have the same effect as safflower."

Yan Chengjin only took his fancy to one, Korean ginseng.

After thinking for a long time, even if he turned American ginseng into Putian ginseng, it might not make His Majesty abolish the safflower tax.

Whoever mentioned it in front of His Majesty would surely displease His Majesty.

Shouning Marquis Mansion,

Zhang Heling ordered people to fill the fish pond in the mansion and began to bury the silver. The silver collected from the island country was sent to the mansion.

Hongzhi Commercial Bank belongs to His Majesty. It is only a matter of a word to take it back. How can it be saved?

Buried in the yard, it is safest!

There are several large pits on the ground, buried with more than a dozen coffins, and the coffins are full of silver.

Zhang Heling took the shovel and said in a deep voice: "These six are mine, and these two are yours."

"Brother, why do I remember that there are three?"

Zhang Heling slapped him: "I am your brother, how can I lie to you!"

At this moment, someone came over.

"Get lost, who told you to come here!"

"Master, Second Master, Lord Yan is here."

"No, it's bad luck!" Zhang Heling cursed, he would be in trouble if he saw Yan Chengjin.

Zhang Yanling didn't want to see Yan Chengjin either, the mansion was in his hands, and last time the two ships of goods were detained by the Censorate, and the ships were also confiscated by His Majesty.

The housekeeper said in embarrassment: "Lord Yan has already come in, the Jinyiwei drew their swords, and I dare not stop him."

In the main hall, Yan Chengjin sat on a rattan chair.

Zhang Heling came with his hands behind his back, smiling: "My dear nephew, how come you have time to come to my uncle's house?"

"I have a business that can make money, and I want you two lords to make it bigger and stronger."

Zhang Yanling glanced at Yan Chengjin lightly: "Except for mining, we brothers do nothing."

"My lord, have you heard of safflower? Doctor Wang found a medicine that can also be sold for two taels of silver and one penny."

As soon as he finished speaking, Wang Ji took out a porcelain bottle from his sleeve and poured out the gray Korean ginseng powder.

Zhang Heling's face became serious. He didn't believe Yan Chengjin, but he believed Wang Ji.

Wang Ji took some of it with water in front of them.

Yan Chengjin took out a piece of paper: "This is the prescription."

Last night's monthly ticket was fixed at 222. Thank you for your monthly tickets. Thank you