Ming Dynasty: I risked my life to teach the prince, the emperor begged me not to die

Chapter 299 Hongzhi's Imperial Edict
The Tongji Canal was ablaze with fireworks, and the Qianqing Palace was as bright as day.

The Minister of Revenue Qin Hong and the Minister of Works Xu Guan went to the palace overnight to meet with Emperor Hongzhi.

Regarding Chen Ce's business plan, they needed to discuss it with Emperor Hongzhi. If the country wanted to achieve the transformation from agriculture to commerce, it must be regulated from top to bottom.

This idea is great, so great that it can only be known by a small number of like-minded people in the empire.

Business enriches the country, prevents land annexation, and macro-controls the signs of business prosperity...

After Qin Hong instilled Chen Ce's ideas bit by bit to Emperor Hongzhi, Emperor Hongzhi pondered for a long time, then slowly opened his eyes and let out a long sigh.

He asked Qin Hong: "How does the state regulate commercial prosperity?"

Qin Hong said: "The emperor recently planned to renovate the Shuntian Imperial Examination Hall. The Ministry of Works was originally scheduled to carry out the project, and the cabinet approved the Ministry of Revenue to allocate 200,000 taels of silver."

"I pray that this project be contracted to a private construction merchant."

Emperor Hongzhi looked at the Minister of Works Xu Guan. This old man was upright by nature and might not agree. This was obviously bullying the Ministry of Works.

But to the surprise of Emperor Hongzhi, Xu Guan, who had always been upright, did not even open his mouth to refute.

It seems that Xu Guan also went to see Chen Ce and was persuaded by Chen Ce.

That boy...is so charming.

Emperor Hongzhi asked Qin Hong: "Giving it to private merchants can certainly encourage them to participate actively and promote commercial prosperity, but merchants are profit-seeking. Has your Ministry of Revenue estimated the cost?"

Qin Hong thought for a moment before saying, "Let them bid, the one with the lowest price wins. Maybe there will be a surprise, and the price may be lower than the budget of the Ministry of Industry."

"Ok?"

Emperor Hongzhi said: "Merchants are cunning. Since they are lower than the Ministry of Works, is it possible that they cut corners?"

Qin Hong hadn't considered this yet, but he was sure that private businessmen wouldn't be so bold. If the imperial court didn't dare to kill the people in the Ministry of Works, how could it kill you private businessmen? Unless someone was tired of living and dared to cut corners on this project.

Qin Hong shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, I don't think so."

Emperor Hongzhi asked again: "How much does your Ministry of Revenue intend to pay to the merchant?"

Qin Hong said: "One hundred thousand taels, the highest."

hiss!
Emperor Hongzhi secretly took a deep breath. The Ministry of Works needed at least 200,000 taels to make the project, but you only needed 100,000 taels to contract it out to a private merchant?

Just like what Qin Hong asked Chen Ce, Emperor Hongzhi asked Qin Hong uncertainly: "This little money? Is it enough?"

Qin Hong had no confidence either, so he could only bite the bullet and say, "I suggest you give it a try."

After all, what Chen Ce said had not been verified in practice. Qin Hong and Xu Guan were not sure whether the contract for 100,000 taels could be completed, so they did not dare to make a guarantee to Emperor Hongzhi.

Emperor Hongzhi probably knew what was going on. Perhaps they listened to the advice of that kid Chen Ce and were not confident, so he suggested giving it a try.

Okay, let’s give it a try.

But if the merchant really bought it at a price lower than 200,000 taels, how should the Ministry of Industry settle the accounts?

The budget they originally reported was 200,000 taels. Doesn't this mean that there was massive corruption in the Ministry of Works?

Emperor Hongzhi squinted his eyes and glanced at the Minister of Works.

Xu Guan didn't say anything, but his meaning was very clear. If the merchant really got the bronze coin at a price lower than 200,000 taels, the Ministry of Works would have to liquidate a group of people, but it could not take large-scale action.

As for how to settle the accounts, it all depends on the Emperor Hongzhi's own wishes.

Chen Ce cannot be exposed in this matter. As I said before, once those corrupt officials know that it was Chen Ce who did it, I don’t know how they will retaliate against him.

They were all protecting the little guy who was silently contributing to the Ming Dynasty.

Emperor Hongzhi waved his hand and said to Qin Hong and Xu Guan: "You guys organize this matter as soon as possible."

"According to the order!"

……

The Zhang brothers hurried to find Chen Ce because the Tongji Canal was closest to Chen Ce's home.

"Good disciple."

Chen Ce: “…”

These two guys were really angry. Chen Ce just laughed and drank his tea, ignoring them.

The Zhang brothers said, "Disciple! You can't betray your master and ancestors like this! If this gets out, where will your reputation be?" Chen Ce said calmly, "Why should I have a reputation? I'm a businessman, I don't have a reputation."

Zhang brothers: "..."

That's not right. When they threatened Li Mengyang like this, Li Mengyang was speechless. Why is it useless when it comes to Chen Ce?

Doesn't he care about his reputation?
The Zhang brothers quickly changed their words and said, "Okay, we won't call you our disciple anymore."

"Xiao Chen, I have something to ask you, tell me quickly."

Chen Ce: "You can ask, but I don't want to tell you."

Zhang Heling: "Brother...I beg you, it's urgent, I have something to ask you, can I?"

Chen Ce: "Oh, you ask."

Zhang Heling asked, "Excuse me, what is the recipe for fireworks?"

Chen Ce looked at the two brothers suspiciously and asked, "Why do you want to know the formula of fireworks?"

Zhang Yanling rolled his eyes and said, "Learning never ends. We brothers have always been eager to learn."

Chen Ce suspected that the two brothers were going to show off to the Jurchens again, but why would the Jurchens want to know the formula of fireworks?
Are you planning something bad?
Chen Ce thought for a moment and said, "Oh, cow dung, pig dung, dog dung, mix them and dry them in the sun."

Why is it all feces? It seems unreliable.

Zhang Heling said, "I have little education, so don't lie to me."

Chen Ce shook his head and said, "No."

"Ok."

The Zhang brothers secretly memorized the recipe and walked out. Chen Ce thought about it and followed them.

The Zhang brothers asked cautiously, "What are you doing?"

Chen Ce said, "There are fireworks going off over there. Let me see which idiot would do such a luxurious thing on a non-holiday."

The curse is so ugly!

The Zhang brothers' faces turned pale, and they argued cunningly: "We call this leisure and leisure."

"You guys put it there?"

The Zhang brothers said, "It benefits all the people and makes the people of Beiping appreciate it. This is a great achievement. What's wrong with that?"

"It's ok, can I go take a look?"

The Zhang brothers said: "No!"

"why?"

Because you are too handsome and talented, the excellence of us brothers cannot be highlighted.

"Because there are a lot of people over there. Yes, a lot of people. Don't you dislike crowds? Haha."

Chen Ce said, "I like excitement now. You set off so many fireworks. Could it be for the Jurchen women?"

Zhang Heling laughed and said, "How is it possible! How could we brothers be so despicable? We are marquises, the Jurchens are nothing! Would we flatter her?"

"Okay, it's late, go back to bed."

Chen Ce pointed to the front and said, "We're here."

Damn, so fast? The Zhang brothers trembled. Miss Yanyan is going to ask us about the fireworks formula later. Doesn't that mean we are trying to please her?

The two brothers looked at each other, stepped back, and said to Chen Ce: "You go first, we have stomachaches."

Chen Ce: “Oh.”

……

Lun Wenxu had been thinking for a long time. Su Hanmei looked at Ning Zhijun, who had a serious expression, and asked, "Zhijun, can you answer it?"

Ning Zhijun looked embarrassed and said, "This pair is of a very high level. I can't think of it right away."

Su Hanmei said: "What should we do? If we can't figure it out, won't we really lose face as Han people in front of the Jurchens?"

(End of this chapter)