Daming: At the start of the showdown, Lao Zhu was stunned

Chapter 758: The Second King Returns to the Capital
Zhu Su nodded, and Tie Xuan, Zhang He and others found the gold mountain as soon as they went out to sea. In addition, Fengmingzhou was too far away from the mainland of China, and there was a shortage of manpower. The gold mountain in Jinshanbao was not taken over by the court like the Sado Gold Mine and Iwami Silver Mine in Japan, but was open to all gold diggers to go and pan for gold, but only collected a certain rate of port tax... In addition, the gold in Fengmingzhou was of excellent quality, which attracted many gold diggers and merchants. Those Kanhos to Fengmingzhou were indeed the same as gold.

The sea route that the Ming Dynasty traveled to and from Fengmingzhou was a waterway full of gold and silver.

However, Zhu Su still felt strange: "Although Fengmingzhou has incredible benefits, the news shouldn't leak out so quickly."

"Aren't they the Western Barbarians?" The Li family's steward rolled his eyes. "A year ago, the fleet that went to Fengmingzhou returned with a lot of gold. All the young men who followed the fleet to sea became rich. After going to sea once, they even earned enough money to support the next 18 generations."

"Those barbarians who obtained the permit also made a lot of money. They returned home in glory. Aren't they envious? The barbarians value profit the most. When they see someone getting rich, they naturally flock to him... There have been quite a few merchants coming from the west in the past few days!"

"These foreign merchants are thousands of miles away from our Ming Dynasty, yet they are so determined to invest huge sums of money to go to Fengmingzhou to pan for gold? Are they so sure that our Ming Dynasty will give them a permit?" Zhu Su said.

Previously, although the Ming Dynasty also gave those Western barbarians a permit, it was limited to a certain number of people. So what if so many people came at once? Without a permit, they could not go to Fengming Island.

"We have to come here and give it a try, right?" the manager said. "Besides, China is rich in products. Even if we can't go to Fengmingzhou to pan for gold, China's tea, silk, or the popular wool sweaters and corn, as long as they are shipped back to their country, we can at least make five or six times the profit..."

"It's a sure-win business, so naturally these foreign merchants are flocking to it."

Zhu Su nodded. It was indeed true. Transporting gold had a hundredfold profit. If they had the opportunity to make a hundredfold profit, it would be great. But if they couldn't, transporting silk and tea would not be in vain.

There is profit on both sides, so why not do it?

Fortunately, when I came here, I and Li Jinglong planned the Nanyang. Now many important ports in Nanyang have been under the control of the Ming Dynasty. The shipping routes are in hand, so there is no need to worry about these Western barbarians causing trouble in the Ming Dynasty's seas. Moreover, they trade back and forth, and the taxes from these many ports are also a good income.

It took several more months for Zhu Su and Zhu Di to successfully return to the Ming Dynasty. After the two landed in Taicang, it was Yan Xizhe, the Minister of Taxation, who came to greet them. Zhu Su and Zhu Di had been to Taicang in their early years. In their impression, this place was still a very remote place, but now, it is already full of boats and ships, and there are many people shouting and selling, carrying and unloading goods, and all kinds of people are flowing in an endless stream. It is called a lively and extraordinary place.

The prevalence of commerce and the development of maritime trade have made this small port, which was originally just a place for garrison soldiers to live, have the atmosphere of a large coastal town.

"A mere Taicang Weicheng has become like this. I almost don't recognize it." Zhu Su sighed, turned his head and smiled at Yan Xizhe, "Just from what I can see, I have seen many merchants... I think the amount of commercial tax in our Ming Dynasty must be booming in recent years."

"I think Minister Yan has been very trusted by the court in the past two years?"

Yan Xizhe bowed slightly towards Yingtian and said with a smile: "Your Majesty has been so kind to me that you have entrusted the position of Tax Commissioner to me. I have worked very hard and finally made some small contribution."

"However, the position of the Minister of Taxation is of great importance, and one cannot stay in office for long... Therefore, the emperor has already ordered that after the new year, I will be transferred to the cabinet as a Grand Secretary..."

Yan Xizhe was previously not tolerated by the old school of civil servants, but he was closer to Zhu Su's new school. Later, he set up the Taxation Bureau, and many of his taxation officials were Zhu Su's new school disciples. Because of these two relationships, he and Zhu Su were very close in political stance, so he naturally did not have too many scruples when speaking.

"Oh? Then congratulations to Lord Yan." Zhu Su congratulated with a smile.

Now that the Ming Dynasty has no prime minister, and the status of the cabinet is rising day by day, the cabinet minister is undoubtedly the pinnacle of the status of civil officials. In addition, the cabinet did not have a minister before, and most of its affairs were handled by the crown prince Zhu Biao. Now that Yan Xizhe will be promoted to the cabinet minister, its political significance is self-evident.

In addition, as everyone knows, the cabinet is now the base camp of the prince's faction. Entering the cabinet and becoming a grand secretary is equivalent to having a seat in the future reign of Zhu Biao... It is no wonder that Yan Xizhe is smiling happily for such a good thing.

"But your highnesses." After exchanging pleasantries with Zhu Su and Zhu Di, Yan Xizhe's face became serious and he took a few steps closer to them. "Although our Great Ming has a lot of commercial taxes every year, and there are also subsidies from gold and silver mines in Fengmingzhou and Japan, there are also voices in the court saying... our Great Ming has spread its wings too wide."

"Besides, gold and silver are attractive, and there are always some people who don't benefit from it, who are jealous and want to stir up trouble."

"And the merchants... not all of them are obedient. Your Highness should be careful."

"Really?" Zhu Su's eyebrows slightly tightened. Yan Xizhe had been the Minister of Taxation for many years, mediating between the court and merchants for many years, so his words were extremely credible. "So, someone actually had an idea about the court's commercial tax?"

Yan Xizhe didn't dare to say too much, he just cupped his hands, and then smiled and said: "Of course, maybe this humble official is just worrying too much."

"Your Highness is gifted with talent and wisdom, so you don't need to worry about the few evil spirits..."

Yan Xizhe's words seemed to imply that under the flourishing foundation of the Ming Dynasty, there was already a dark current. Most of these changes were caused by Zhu Su, so Zhu Su's face inevitably showed some worry in the carriage on the way back to Beijing. Zhu Di watched from the side and couldn't help laughing and said, "Why think so much?"

"This Ming Dynasty was not supported by you alone."

"My eldest brother and father are both extraordinary people. If there really was a disaster, wouldn't they know about it? It's just that they don't take it seriously yet."

"Even if there are really some daring ones... Haha, my Great Ming has a million soldiers and many famous generals. Can't we defeat them?"

"..." Zhu Su was stunned by what he said, and then he suddenly realized.

It is indeed true. When the enemy comes, we will fight him; when the water comes, we will block it with earth... Zhu Biao and Lao Zhu are both smart people among smart people. Even Yan Xizhe has seen it, so how could they, father and son, not see it?

(End of this chapter)