My uncle is Zhu Di

Chapter 120: Not as Good as Sakyamuni
Xia Yuanji hoped that they would not force the opening of the customs, but instead attack the Weaving Bureau so that it would not go out to sea to trade again.

However, Huang Fu disagreed. In addition, Jin Zhong did not say anything, and he agreed with Huang Fu.

"It's better to lose a lot of profits than to say that the weaving bureau makes more money from overseas trade and your majesty and the army are out of our control. Do you still want to experience the tyranny of Taizu again? Taizu killed ministers as easily as killing chickens and cattle. First control all the money under the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War, and then take it slowly.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince agrees with our ideas. His Majesty relies on His Royal Highness the Crown Prince for most of the affairs of state. If one year doesn't work, we can wait three years, or even five years. Don't be impatient about this matter, as it will only cause delays.

This time, Yuan Fu and his men were too hasty. If the customs had been established, they would have dealt with Xu Qin first, and there would not have been these subsequent troubles. "Xia Yuanji continued to explain to them.

"However, it is difficult for us in the court to control or oppose the affairs of the Weaving Bureau. Everything is based on the will of His Majesty, so this matter is not easy." Jin Zhong said to Xia Yuanji worriedly.

"Then we should use multiple methods. Your Majesty set up the Weaving Bureau in order to get money so that we can train the army and fight foreign wars. It has been a month since the Weaving Bureau returned from Japan, and Your Majesty has not shown any intention of starting it up.

I guess that Your Majesty has not chosen the right person yet. Therefore, Your Majesty still wants Xu Qin to do this. We just need to find a way to stop Xu Qin from going.

Once Your Majesty initiates the overseas trade of the Weaving Bureau, we can contact those merchants and ask them not to supply goods to the Weaving Bureau. Everyone may have forgotten that the proposal of overseas trade is to protect the livelihoods of those weavers.

The Weaving Bureau was only engaged in silk fabric business at the beginning, while the tea plantations, porcelain workshops and other workshops controlled by the court were all run by our people.

Besides, your Ministry of Industry is also capable of controlling those craftsmen.

Once the Weaving Bureau decides to go out to sea, let them buy spindles and cloth. As for other things they want to sell, we can do it. Of course, it cannot be too obvious. Now we need to make arrangements and let them reduce production.

There are two purposes for reducing production. One is that there will not be so many goods to be delivered to the Weaving Bureau. The other purpose is that the cost will increase and all the money will flow into the Ministry of Industry, reducing the profit of the Weaving Bureau.

I think it would be difficult for the Weaving Bureau to go out to sea for trade if it relied solely on silk fabrics. Cotton cloth was only used in the north, that is, only Japan and Korea used cotton cloth. Places in Southeast Asia did not use cotton cloth, but did use silk fabrics.

Whether it is cotton or silk cocoons, there is a limit to the quantity. Once there is too much overseas trade, the domestic price will go up, and the people will complain. That is when we oppose the weaving bureau's overseas trade.

The Weaving Bureau is not making any money and the court does not have enough money, so we can propose to open a customs office. Now the time is ripe.

But this takes time. I estimate about a year.

Of course, if we inform those merchants to store the cotton, spindles, and cloth and not sell them first, it will speed up the weaving bureau's cessation of maritime trade." Xia Yuanji sat there and said to the two of them.

"Good idea!" Huang Fu immediately nodded in agreement when he heard Xia Yuanji say this.

Jin Zhong also nodded and said, "Okay, I think it's okay. When the time comes, let's hint it to the officials below. I believe they understand. We don't need to intervene in this matter."

"Is it settled then?" Xia Yuanji said, looking at the two of them.

They both smiled and nodded.

Xia Yuanji picked up the teacup and said with a smile: "Come, have some tea!"

On Zhu Di's side, he also received news that Xia Yuanji and others had gone to visit Xu Qin. It was unknown what they talked about, but Zhu Di knew without thinking that they probably wanted Xu Qin to promote customs affairs.

Zhu Di sat there thinking about this matter, with the Crown Prince and Zhu Gaosui standing beside him.

Zhu Di suddenly asked, "Do you think that Shakyabao will agree with their suggestion? To promote the construction of the customs?"

"I won't agree. There is a rumor in Nanjing City now, which was spread by Xu Qin on purpose. Besides, Xu Qin was murdered by them before, and he is still angry. Another point is that no matter what, Xu Qin is the son of a military general, and he will never get involved with Xia Yuanji and others." Zhu Gaochi stood there and said with his hands clasped. He was worried that Zhu Di would start to suspect Xu Qin again.

"Well, what is Sakyabao doing? Going out of the city every day?" Zhu Di said, looking at Zhu Gaosui.

"Yes, he goes out of the city every day and built a few kilns. I don't know what he is going to do with them. And his family is already preparing to start demolishing the house. It seems that the date is set for the sixth day of next month." Zhu Gaosui also replied with a bow.

"Tear down all of them?" Zhu Di continued to stare at Zhu Gaosui and asked. Zhu Gaosui looked up at Zhu Di, thinking that fortunately he had really inquired clearly this time, otherwise he would be scolded again. He didn't know how many times he had been scolded in this first month, all because of Xu Qin. Zhu Gaosui continued, "Yes, basically tear down all of them, except for where they live now, all other houses will be demolished, and even the gate will be rebuilt.

A few days ago, my aunt asked someone to decide the location of the main gate, and the locations of the other gates were also decided. I guess they all need to be demolished and rebuilt.”

"Where are the drawings? This is not a house of one or two acres, but of more than three hundred acres. How could Xu Qin start to demolish and rebuild without any drawings?" Zhu Di frowned and asked Zhu Gaosui.

"Dad, there are blueprints. I heard that they were all made by Sakya Bao, but we haven't seen them yet. We went to find those craftsmen, and they said that they can't bring out the blueprints yet.

Dad, I heard from those craftsmen that the drawings of Xu Qin's mansion are very exquisitely drawn and well planned. There is a lake of fifty or sixty acres in the mansion, as well as rockery, orchards, gardens, etc. It has everything. The whole mansion has twenty-small courtyards, of which the main courtyard covers an area of ​​15 acres, and the other courtyards cover an area of ​​10 acres. Each courtyard has a garden and a pool.

According to the craftsmen, if they wanted to build the mansion, they would need at least five million taels, or even more. The timber had already cost one million taels, the blue bricks had cost nearly one hundred thousand taels, and the tiles had also cost one hundred thousand taels. In addition, they would need to mobilize about five or six hundred people to start construction at the same time.

Just digging that artificial lake required a lot of people and a lot of time. This guy is really generous!"

Zhu Di and Zhu Gaochi were stunned when they heard what Zhu Gaosui said.

After a while, Zhu Di looked at Zhu Gaochi and said, "Look, you are not as good as Sakyamuni. Half a year ago, his family had no money, but now he dares to spend 5 million taels to build a house.

Your father wanted to move the capital and build Beijing, but you said you didn't have the money? Your uncle was imprisoned, and Shakyabao built such a large mansion to give him more room for activities. Your father wanted to move the capital, but you said you didn't have the money? "

"Dad" Zhu Gaochi just wanted to explain.

Zhu Gaosui, who was standing next to him, asked Zhu Gaochi first, "Brother, how could you be out of money? The textile bureau sent so much money, and you spent it all?"

"Hey, what do you know? We were short of 3 million taels before, do you want to make up for it? Also, Dad allocated another 2 million taels for compiling the Yongle Encyclopedia, and 4 million taels for dredging the canal. The Ministry of War owed almost 1 million taels of wages before, and 2 million taels were allocated for repairing military equipment. The Imperial Astronomical Observatory said that there will be a lot of rain in the south and a lot of drought in the north this year, so the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue prepared food and disaster relief supplies in advance, and allocated another 2 million taels.

It's not even a month yet, and 14 million taels have been spent, leaving less than 7 million taels. The canal isn't even open yet, so it's impossible to prepare materials for repairing Beijing right now? It's not easy to send them there, is it? "Zhu Gaochi stood there and started counting on his fingers.

There is not a single ounce of silver that can be saved here, and all the money was spent with the approval of Zhu Di. Zhu Di knew it well. Zhu Di asked this now purely to scold him. Don’t he know that?
"I will prepare for a northern expedition this autumn to attack Tatar. Please prepare more food, fodder and military equipment." Zhu Di said while sitting there.

Zhu Gaochi immediately said to Zhu Gaosui: "Listen, is that enough?"

Zhu Gaosui licked his lips and thought, Dad is really good at spending money, I just heard it clearly.

"I don't care. Overseas trade must continue. Boss, you go and push this matter forward." Zhu Di stared at Zhu Gaochi and said. Zhu Gaochi had a headache. What could he do when he met such a father?
Zhu Gaosui thought for a moment and said, "If it doesn't work, force Shijiabao to go. You know this kid. It's a waste to keep him at home to repair the house."

Zhu Gaochi turned his head to look at him and thought to himself, the third brother is brave.

"Get out!" Zhu Di suddenly yelled at Zhu Gaosui, who looked confused.

Zhu Gaochi had been trying hard to hold back his laughter. Zhu Di glanced at Zhu Gaochi and cursed, "Get lost too."

"I'll take my leave!" Zhu Gaochi immediately bowed, and Zhu Gaosui followed suit.

After the two brothers left the Qianqing Palace, Zhu Gaosui turned his head and looked behind him, then complained, "What's wrong with Dad? What did I say wrong? Didn't Shijiabao do a good job last time we went out to sea for trade? Isn't it better to let him do it this time?"

"Don't you blame me? You were already enduring it because dad didn't hit you just now. If you hadn't frozen Sakyabao for a whole night, dad would have asked mom to go find him. Why are you still bringing this up?" Zhu Gaochi said with a smile.

Zhu Gaosui then remembered, touched his head, and murmured: "Brother, this matter really can't be blamed on me."

"Okay, okay, I'm going back to the East Palace. You be careful and don't bother dad during this period. Otherwise, you will be in danger." Zhu Gaochi said with a smile, and then he walked quickly forward.

Zhu Gaosui quickly followed and immediately said to Zhu Gaochi: "Tell me, is there any other way to force Shakyabao to come out and work?"

(End of this chapter)