Da Ming: Father, step aside, I'll be the prime minister!

Chapter 300 Forget about benevolent governance! A good emperor is one who ensures people have enough to eat!
Just when things were at their most critical moment, Zhang Yunxiu rushed to Xishan and pulled Yu Xiangdou out.

Over the past few months, Yu Xiangdou has been extremely busy, but he has gained a lot of weight, transforming from a refined businessman into a pot-bellied man.

He certainly knew how to enjoy life; he settled down in Xishan and even took two concubines.

When Zhang Yunxiu arrived at his residence, the guy still had two long, white legs wrapped around his body.

Seeing Yu Xiangdou's dazed state, Zhang Yunxiu gave him two hard slaps before he finally came to his senses.

"Master of the Imperial Guards." Yu Xiangdou, still immersed in the gentle embrace of love, finally snapped out of his reverie and hurriedly bowed.

"What are your orders, sir?"

Zhang Yunxiu didn't waste any words and lowered his voice to speak.

"What about the goods I asked you to secretly stockpile, and the futures contracts?"

Yu Xiangdou smiled and quickly replied.

"Please rest assured, sir, I have taken care of everything. The goods are all stored in the Xishan warehouse, and the futures contract worth 500,000 taels is also stored there."

“That’s perfect.” Zhang Yunxiu grinned. “Now I’m giving you a task: sell off all the goods and futures contracts you have on hand within three days. If you still have any left, I’ll hold you responsible.”

Yu Xiangdou was immediately startled: "What's going on? These are all hens that lay golden eggs! Are you just going to sell them off like this, sir?"

As early as when the Southern Zhili Futures Market was established, Zhang Yunxiu had already set aside some silver to purchase goods and futures ahead of the gentry and merchants.

In the past few months, it has nearly doubled.

Yu Xiangdou spent his days guarding those properties, which, although not his own, still made him feel very content.

If you were to give away all that money-making stuff all at once, anyone would instinctively feel resistance.

"Just do what I tell you to do." Zhang Yunxiu kicked him impatiently and added, "Sell it at a 60% increase. If you can sell more, it's yours."

Yu Xiangdou was filled with bitterness. Even the officials in the imperial court couldn't understand economics. He was just a merchant who wanted to make some ill-gotten gains, but he unwittingly got involved in the power struggle within the imperial family.

However, after hearing Zhang Yunxiu's last words, he immediately beamed with joy and rushed off to take care of the matter.

That's the only good thing about working for Zhang Yunxiu; his attitude is really not good, and I don't know where he picked up that bad habit from.

He likes to kick people's butts at the drop of a hat and yell "You dog!"

But Zhang Yunxiu really did give him money!
Everything else is meaningless; only the tangible benefits you receive are real.

Yu Xiangdou hurried towards the warehouse, but after thinking for a while, he realized something was wrong and turned back.

I still have 40,000 to 50,000 taels of silver in futures contracts, which I need to sell as well.

Others might have doubts, but if it's Zhang Yunxiu, Yu Xiangdou chooses to believe him directly.

Nanjing City.

The area around Jubao Gate on the banks of the Qinhuai River was the core area of ​​Nanjing's market. Since the founding of the nation, countless commodities such as silk, grain, and tea were traded here, along with numerous money shops, banks, and brokerage firms.

For several months, a rather large "teahouse," or more accurately, a "futures trading market," has appeared in the market area inside Jubao Gate.

"Please wait a moment, gentlemen."

A well-dressed guard at the gate stopped the two scholars, one old and one young. He didn't seem mercenary at all; instead, he bowed apologetically and said...

"I'm really sorry, but our futures trading market is not a place where you can just come and go as you please. You need proof of opening an account to do so."

"Ordinary people can't enter?"

An elderly man with sharp eyes and a resolute gaze slowly raised his head. He was dressed in a scholar's robe, with bald hair and a white beard, and looked like a "heretic" who was not easy to mess with.

The patrolman, however, appeared quite cultured: "Sir, we don't care about background here, we only care about money. Futures trading is not something ordinary families can afford. If you don't have some wealth, coming here will only cause you trouble."

He pointed to the teahouse next door and said, "If you are interested in opening an account, please go to the teahouse and ask the staff for help. They will assist you with all the formalities. However, I must remind you that futures trading involves risks, so please be cautious when entering the market."

The old man raised his small eyes, looked at the other person with great surprise, and then said sincerely.

"Your futures market is quite disciplined. It's a place where money is spent, but it's definitely not a place for ordinary people."

Xunlan smiled without saying a word, not intending to continue the discussion with the old man.

The old man said to his page, "Wenwei, bring out our account opening certificate. This is a place where rules matter. It seems the Geng brothers were right. This futures market is quite interesting."

"Yes, sir." The page boy, who looked to be about thirteen or fourteen years old, obediently handed over the document.

Xunlan glanced at him, a smile spreading across his face. He cupped his hands in greeting and said, "So it's Mr. Li Hongfu. I've been very rude. Please come in and take a seat."

The old man nodded slightly, said nothing, and simply led the page into the futures trading market.

Xunlan glanced at the strange old man and began to have some doubts.

The name Li Hongfu sounds very familiar; I feel like I've heard it somewhere before.

After thinking for a long time, he finally widened his eyes and said in surprise.

"So it was that unorthodox Li Zhi!"

Li Zhi's name was known to all scholars in the Ming Dynasty. Those who praised him considered him a literary master comparable to Wang Shouren, while those who criticized him considered him a "madman" who often made outrageous statements such as "opposing the eight-legged essay" and "opposing the rites and teachings," and even wrote articles to ridicule the most holy teacher, Confucius.

There were also rumors that this old man was secretly spreading the idea that the world did not need an emperor, making him a prominent figure in the literary world during the Wanli era.

At the beginning of the year, Li Zhi resigned from his official post in Yunnan and returned to his hometown in Hubei, intending to devote himself to scholarship and criticize current affairs.

However, the changes that have occurred in the world this year have forced him to come out of seclusion to take a look.

"Sir, I don't understand what kind of magic this sign contains that can make so many people so engrossed in it that they forget to eat and sleep."

Is it something to be praised when merchants are blinded by profit and forget morality?
Is this what you mean by seeking truth and being pragmatic?

This schoolboy, named Yuan Wenwei, was an orphan adopted by Li Zhi in his hometown in Hubei, and he often accompanied him.

Li Zhi glanced at the green display board and lightly tapped Yuan Wenwei on the back of the head.

“I told you to remember what the teacher said, but you still bring up the whole moral and ethical stuff.”

Those upright gentry and intellectuals, while spouting benevolence and morality, were hardly any cleaner in heart than the merchants. Conversely, although the ways of commerce were evident everywhere, a pragmatic and truth-seeking principle was subtly present.

"The students don't understand."

Yuan Wenwei shook his head, his eyes fixed on the roast chicken sitting next to him, his mouth practically watering.

Li Zhi ignored him and began to examine the Wanli Xinbao in his hands, looking at the financial report over and over again. He had already read it many times before, but now, looking at the price fluctuations in the futures market and the ebb and flow of emotions in the crowd, he seemed to have a completely different understanding.

"This time, Xu Zisheng and the others are really going to suffer a setback."

"Tsk tsk tsk~"

Li Zhi shook his head repeatedly, sighing with emotion.

"Throughout history, there have been very few who could make powerful families and local gentry suffer losses. Zhang Shiyuan is truly a remarkable person."

Yuan Wenwei said with some surprise, "Why do you make such a statement, sir? Xu Zisheng and other upright scholars uphold the orthodox literary tradition and are supported by scholars all over the world. Everyone is cursing Xishan and Zhang Shiyuan. Why don't you think Zhang Shiyuan will suffer a setback, but instead think Xu Zisheng and others will suffer a setback?"

Li Zhi felt as if he had found a nemesis. Why did this disciple speak in a way that sounded like he was addressing the upright and honest people?
However, Li Zhi had always enjoyed debating the classics, and he patiently explained.

"This is the principle of economics, and even I, your teacher, am not entirely clear about its mysteries. Perhaps I can only find out by asking Zhang Shiyuan. But I do understand one principle."

He paused for a moment before speaking.

"There are countless principles in this world, but in the end, they are all based on people. The upright officials who speak out against evil are all like enemies. When they see that Xishan has the momentum to pursue private interests, they swarm to him like locusts."

What they didn't know was that while they could portray the emperor as a greedy and lustful man, and say that he was corrupt and biased, favoring his classmate Zhang Shiyuan, they also knew that the emperor was corrupt and biased.

"It is certainly true that Xishan was acting for personal gain," Li Zhi said, looking at the green display board. "But cause and effect are cyclical and retribution is inevitable. Since the people of the world believe in the evil of the emperor and Zhang Shiyuan, they will naturally think that Xishan will find a way out because of this evil deed."

Whether it's going overseas to seek trade, creating some new and interesting things, or making a stir in Jiangnan to dig into the roots of those aristocratic families.

There is always a way out for Xishan. Where there is a way out, there is hope. And where there is hope, how could Xishan fall apart?

The price of these goods should naturally return to their original value.

Yuan Wenwei was confused and shook his head.

"But what benefit does all this bring to the people of the world? You often say that we should 'put the people first' and seek the principles of benefiting the country and its people, and making the country rich and strong. Can Xishan really make the country rich and strong?"

"Why not?"

Li Zhi pointed to the financial report and said.

"Look at the numbers on this list. They are all in whole and small amounts. We can verify their authenticity once we check them in Yingtian."

If Xishan makes money, everyone in the world can make money too. The emperor profits, the nobles and princes who invested in the court profit, and ordinary people can also taste some of the benefits.

The only ones who suffered losses were the gentry and powerful families.

This is the general trend!

But Yuan Wenwei shook his head and said, "Sir, you are mistaken. The rise and fall of dynasties are all the suffering of the people. The gentry are tigers and wolves that exploit the people, but isn't Xishan the same? The money still ended up in the pockets of the emperor and Zhang Shiyuan."

He looked somewhat indignant and pouted as he spoke.

"Neither side is a good thing, so how can one be considered superior or inferior?"

"Idiot!"

Li Zhi stared wide-eyed as he spoke.

"This applies to things throughout history. It doesn't matter if they are jackals or tigers, or if they are greedy or insatiable. There is only one principle in the world: to ensure the survival of the people."

As long as Xishan is willing to allocate silver to help the starving people survive, I, Li Zhi, will support him for a day!

“Aren’t we seeking the principles of governing the country and bringing peace to the world?” Yuan Wenwei frowned deeply; he seemed to be born with a rebellious streak.

"What nonsense about governing a country! There are no saints in the world, and there's no logic to it."

Li Zhi said with red eyes.

"Have you ever seen people exchanging children to eat, with bones scattered all over the ground? What is there to say about propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame in this world? What are the ultimate principles of the world? If you don't even have a life, what are you talking about benevolence and righteousness?"
The greatest truth is ensuring that all people in the world have enough to eat.

With this overwhelming momentum, how could Xishan possibly lose?

Li Zhi was never one to engage in empty talk. Before venturing into the futures market, he first visited various villages and towns under the jurisdiction of Yingtian Prefecture.

In particular, regarding the cotton and silkworm farmers recruited by the Jiangnan Textile Bureau, everything he saw and heard was that Xishan used the "loan method" and the "Tiangong Weaving Machine" to help countless impoverished people find a way out.

Are the people suffering? Weaving cloth and silk has never been an easy task.

Did the people complain? Almost no one complained, because before this, they didn't even have this kind of livelihood, and they couldn't even get a full meal.

Now, with just the efforts of one family, they can earn more money than they could have in the past.

This is the greatest benevolent governance in the world!

"That's how it is."

Li Zhi said with red eyes.

"If Zhang Shiyuan can feed everyone in the world, what's wrong with making him emperor? The people are the most important, the ruler is the least important. If an emperor can be overthrown if he is unrighteous, what exception is there for the gentry of Jiangnan?"

Yuan Wenwei originally wanted to argue, but upon hearing Li Zhi's words, he immediately realized that his master's "madness" had returned. Fearing that he might cause trouble, he waved his hand with a smile and said...

"Master, there's no need to say any more. Your disciple understands, understands, isn't that enough?"

But Li Zhi burst into maniacal laughter.

"You're afraid of this? I just don't understand, does the world really need an emperor?"

"My lord! Please forgive us, we were not virtuous."

Yuan Wenwei's face turned pale with fright, and he quickly stood up and bowed to those behind him.

Li Zhi was also startled, almost frozen in place, but he forced a smile and said...

"That's right, Commander. Please don't take offense. My accent was a bit heavy; I was referring to someone named Huang Di, who is truly despicable!"

Li Zhi was already planning which friend to write to to get himself out of the clutches of the Embroidered Uniform Guard; this wasn't the first time he'd done something like this.

But when he turned around, he found that there was no one behind him except for a pot-bellied merchant who stared at the display board with a deathly pale face.

"Oh no, oh no~"

The merchant was covered in sweat and was on the verge of collapse.

In contrast, Li Zhi appeared energetic and shouted angrily.

"You unfilial disciple, how dare you mock your master!"

He turned to grab it, but missed.

Yuan Wenwei then dashed out of the futures market.

Li Zhi followed him out of the futures market, gave his rebellious disciple a good lesson, and only then did he have time to look back at the futures market.

He showed no anger on his face, but rather seemed somewhat expectant as he spoke.

"You rebellious disciple, shut up! Come with me to the capital again. I want to see for myself who Zhang Shiyuan really is!"

Just as Li Zhi was leaving the futures market, the prices on the display board changed again.

"rise!"

"rise!"

"rise"

The sound stopped abruptly, and everyone seemed to have had their souls ripped out.

An elderly gentleman, dressed in fine clothes, let out a long howl and exclaimed, "Impossible! Absolutely impossible! A drop of thirty points in one day! Is Zhang Shiyuan trying to tear my heart out?"

After saying that, he fainted.

The same emotions played out in countless people, some even becoming bloodthirsty and shouting angrily.

"Others' fear emboldens me; this is the perfect time to buy! I'm bullish! Buy!"

However, most of them had completely given up any hope of getting away with it and were frantically waving their futures certificates, almost knocking over the trading counter.

"Settle the accounts! Settle the accounts!"

"I'm selling this at half price!"

Short selling! Short selling!

Among the crowd were several servants who were so frightened that they ran out of the trading market as fast as they could to report back.

Late November of the ninth year of the Wanli reign.

The darkest week in the history of financial transactions in the Ming Dynasty has begun.

(End of this chapter)