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

Chapter 305 How vulgar!
In Cuiwei Tower by the lake, Li Mengyang, the head of the Ministry of Revenue, and Wang Qin, the head of the Ministry of Works, were having a small gathering.

To be precise, it was the head of the Ministry of Works invited by Li Mengyang.

"Brother Wang, this commercial reform has really made those of us under him suffer!" Li Mengyang sighed after taking a sip of wine.

Li Mengyang and Wang Qin also attended the bidding meeting held in Shuntian Prefecture yesterday.

"I don't know what the higher-ups are planning. It's a good project that you can build yourself, but you insist on handing it over to private businessmen."

Wang Qin sighed helplessly. As the head of the Construction Department, he was in charge of the construction and management work throughout the country. This office made a lot of money. Now that it was handed over to private businessmen, the one with the greatest interests involved was undoubtedly the Construction Department of the Ministry of Works.

From the doctors to the deputy directors and even him as the chief, everyone had complaints about the bidding reform, but since the decision was made from above, they dared not disobey.

Li Mengyang shook his head, looked around, closed the door, and lowered his voice, "Don't be afraid to tell my brother that this commercial reform of private bidding was not the idea of ​​the two ministers of the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works."

Wang Zhushi was stunned for a moment and said, "If it's not what the two ministers meant, then who did it?"

Li Mengyang said: "Brother Wang, why don't you take some time to follow Minister Xu to see who he is meeting recently."

"Brother Li, please don't keep us in suspense. Who on earth could have thought of such a wicked thing?"

Li Mengyang said: "If I'm not mistaken, he should be a civilian businessman named Chen Ce, who lives in Huaihua Hutong."

"What? A lowly merchant from the folks? How could he win the trust of the two ministers and even deceive them into carrying out reforms according to his wishes?"

Li Mengyang shook his head and said, "I don't know the details... Haha, forget it, let's have some wine."

After the banquet, Li Mengyang looked at the departing back of Director Wang and smiled slightly while holding his glass of wine.

"Chen Ce, Chen Ce, you let the two marquises of the Zhang family humiliate me like this. I can't deal with you, but I can kill someone with a borrowed knife."

Li Mengyang has been keeping an eye on Chen Ce these days, but he doesn't disturb Chen Ce. He is just looking for an opportunity.

He really found it. He discovered that Qin Shangshu from his own office and the Minister of Works often went to Chen Ce's courtyard, and then there was the incident of yesterday's engineering bidding meeting.

Li Mengyang knew that Chen Ce was very capable and had a strong background, otherwise how could he recommend two scholars to go to the southwest?

Now, he found his chance. Your reforms have blocked the way for countless people in the Ministry of Industry and deprived them of many benefits.

I don't dare to deal with you, but I can ask people from the Ministry of Industry to test your strength!

……

The next morning, there was a grand court meeting.

Emperor Hongzhi received the Jurchen envoys from Liaodong in the Fengtian Hall.

Just as Zhu Houzhao said last night, after paying tribute, this group of Jurchen envoys indeed proposed to reopen the Liaodong horse market.

Emperor Hongzhi directly refused in person, saying that closing the horse market was the national policy set by his ancestors and he did not dare to change his ancestors' will at will.

The six ministries of the cabinet were somewhat puzzled, as Emperor Chenghua did not seem to regard this trivial matter as a national policy.

However, since Emperor Hongzhi spoke in this way, he must have his own deeper meaning, and the officials did not dare to raise any objections.

Although Dong Yuanbao persuaded them with both emotion and reason, and even elaborated on the many benefits that the opening of the horse market would bring to the Jurchens and the Han people in Liaodong of the Ming Dynasty.

Emperor Hongzhi still refused. Dong Yuanbao's speech was very sophisticated, all written by Dong Yanyan, and even convinced all the officials of the Ming Dynasty, but failed to convince Emperor Hongzhi.

Dong Yuanbao could not help feeling extremely disappointed.

After the court meeting ended, Emperor Hongzhi left the six ministries of the cabinet.

The three cabinet elders had doubts in their hearts. At this time, the cabinet chief Liu Jian asked Emperor Hongzhi: "Your Majesty, what the Liaodong envoy said at the court meeting just now makes sense."

"We closed the Liaodong horse market because of the Aisin-Gioro Dongshan Rebellion. At that time, Liaodong was weak and economically poor, so we had no choice but to secretly trade with the North Koreans."

"The horse market was booming back then, and we obtained quite a few war horses from Liaodong. This fine war horse can be put into use by the army. The opening of the horse market can also increase the income of the people in Liaodong, which is the wish of the people in both places. I wonder what the emperor is worried about, and why he insists on not opening the horse market?"

Deputy Minister Li Dongyang also echoed: "I am stupid. Reopening the Liaodong horse market will only benefit the Ming Dynasty. I dare to ask what the Holy Emperor is worried about."

Emperor Hongzhi said calmly: "The horse market can be opened, but it must be opened by me on my own initiative, not by the Jianzhou Jurchens asking me to open it."

As soon as these words came out, the three elders reacted instantly. They were stunned and hurriedly clasped their fists and said, "Your Majesty is wise! We are ashamed!"

The Ming Dynasty took the initiative to open the market, which was a blessing from heaven to the three tribes of Liaodong. The three tribes of Liaodong Jurchen would be grateful to Emperor Hongzhi.

But if the Ming Dynasty opened the horse market because the Jianzhou Jurchens requested to open the market today, would the three Jurchen tribes still be grateful to the Ming emperor? They must be grateful to the Jianzhou Jurchen leader who worked for their benefit!
That's the difference!
No wonder Emperor Hongzhi refused to open the market in the court today. The six ministries of the cabinet all clasped their fists and said, "Long live the wise Emperor Hongzhi."

Emperor Hongzhi gritted his teeth and accepted their worship. If Zhu Houzhao had not warned him in advance, he might have suffered the same fate as the Jurchens.

This group of Jianzhou Jurchens...are not simple!

……

Dong Yuanbao and Dong Yanyan's carriage team left Peking in a low-key manner.

Dong Yanyan narrowed his eyes and said with emotion: "Brother, this Ming Dynasty emperor is wise and intelligent, and is much more difficult to deal with than I thought."

"He saw what I was up to."

"You see, when we return, it won't be long before the horse market will still be open, but it will have nothing to do with us. The three Jurchen tribes will be grateful to the Ming emperor, not us."

Dong Yuanbao had always looked down on the people of the Ming Dynasty, always feeling that his sister's wisdom was far superior to theirs. This diplomatic mission to the Ming Dynasty made him face the reality.

There was still a huge gap in the wisdom and background between this group of nomadic people outside the Great Wall and the people of the Ming Dynasty, which made him inevitably feel a little depressed.

Dong Yanyan comforted him, "Brother, you don't have to be discouraged. We have not gained nothing from this mission."

"At least it's clear to us that we are no match for the Ming people at this stage. Let's set a small goal first - unify the three Jurchen tribes and wait for the Ming Dynasty to fall!"

This generation is destined to be unable to look south to the Central Plains, but the descendants of Aisin-Gioro will sooner or later march on horseback to the Central Plains!

The two marquises of the Zhang family stood on the city wall, watching the Jurchen carriage going farther and farther away with tears in their eyes.

Zhang Heling sighed deeply and said, "I spent so much money but still didn't sleep with her. What a pity!"

Zhang Yanling said resentfully, "Brother, it's all your fault. You insisted on using the gentleman's way and your personal charm to conquer her! In my opinion, you should just rape her."

Damn it! Zhang Heling shouted with disgust: "Vulgar fellow! Vulgar words!"

(End of this chapter)