Late Ming Dynasty: Oops, I am surrounded by the Donglin Party

Twenty-two years old, still weak, old?

How would the thirty-year-old fairies of later generations feel about this?

"Stop talking nonsense. I think you are too idle. I must find something for you to do in the future." Zhang Shikang said before leaving after he put on his clothes.

"What can we women do? We just take care of our husbands and children.

My husband, you don't need to worry about me. Just focus on state affairs. That's enough." Liu Rushi smiled as she looked at Zhang Shikang's back.

Although they had only known each other for a month, there was already little formality in their conversation.

On the one hand, this was due to Zhang Shikang’s hard work, and on the other hand, it was also because Zhang Shikang was not like those so-called Donglin Confucian scholars who always spoke and acted in a roundabout way, leaving people to guess.

"If you like, there are many things to do.

There are many things that are suitable for you. For example, when the court is quiet in a while, I plan to petition Your Majesty to set up a bank directly under the court.

You all know math, so you can read more books on math in the future." Zhang Shikang thought for a moment and said.

In fact, money shops had already appeared in the Ming Dynasty, and silver bills had long been circulated among wealthy families.

But at that time, all the money houses were privately owned. It’s not that there was anything wrong with private ownership. Money houses did have a lot of positive impacts on the circulation of currency.

Not only does it allow merchants to settle large sums of money without having to carry excessive amounts of silver, it is also a manifestation of the monetary credit system.

However, private enterprises are private enterprises after all, their credit is limited, and the settlement of money among various banks is very cumbersome and troublesome.

More importantly, how can the national monetary credit system be borne by private individuals?

This is too unsafe. Although it can be controlled, there are still too many variables.

Zhang Shikang's idea was to build a complete money house system in the name of the imperial court, such as setting up state-owned money houses in counties.

The settlement is made once per prefecture, summarized per province, and finally returned to the central government.

This agency will be independent of the Ministry of Revenue and will be directly responsible to the Cabinet and the Emperor.

Because this institution is only responsible for settlement, for example, if the credit of the silver reserves is good, there may no longer be a need to transport silver back and forth between the north and the south in the future.

You only need a few large-denomination silver bills to withdraw cash from money houses in various places.

Of course, this is only the first step in Zhang Shikang’s financial planning for the future of the Ming Dynasty. His ultimate goal, of course, is paper money.

But the road has to be taken step by step, and if you try to do it in one go, it's easy to get into trouble.

Speaking of paper money, in fact, paper money was already issued during the reign of Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang of the Ming Dynasty.

And this thing still exists today.

However, Comrade Zhu did not understand finance, and the excessive issuance of banknotes was extremely serious.

Moreover, Comrade Zhu was very generous in rewarding officials and royal family members, often giving them cartloads of rewards.

To the extent that within a few years, the Baochao was only slightly more expensive than toilet paper.

The actual purchasing power cannot be said to be even worth a dog, but it can be said to be better than nothing.

But there is no doubt that the Ministry of Revenue of the Ming Dynasty still has the Baochaosi until now.

Seeing that Liu Rushi was hesitant to speak, Zhang Shikang knew what she wanted to say, so he immediately answered:

"Stop, I know what you want to say, it's just that a woman should not show her face in public.

Do I look like a law-abiding person?

As long as there is talent, we can make the best use of it. Oh, this is about other people.

If you really want to do something, then go ahead and do it. I'll take care of everything.

Whoever dares to talk nonsense, let them see whether your husband's sword is sharp, hehe."

After saying that, Zhang Shikang walked out.

……

Inside the Nanjing military camp.

Sun Dasheng, Xu Wenyuan, Wang Jingduo, Zheng Chong, Song Liangzu and other members of the Second Sons Group were drinking.

This military camp was previously owned by Gao Jie's troops. It had all the necessary facilities. Gao Jie even had a separate house in the military camp.

After the fall of Nanjing, this house was used as Zhang Shikang's temporary residence, and he also handled official business here.

But ever since Zhang Shikang moved to the Guanjun Marquis Mansion, this place has been vacant and has become a gathering place for Sun Dasheng and other brothers of the Second Son Group.

During the war, they each led their own troops outside, and although they were in the same camp in the capital, they actually did not have many opportunities to eat and drink together.

Military law does not actually allow soldiers to drink alcohol in the barracks, but drinking alcohol in the military is actually the norm.

Zhang Shikang also knew that this thing, just like Mai Yinpiaochang, could never be eliminated, so he could only turn a blind eye.

But there is one rule: drinking is not allowed during wartime, especially during a major war.

This is an iron rule. Anyone who violates it will be punished with a military stick.

Of course, this rule is currently only implemented in the Beijing camp.

Since clearing out the rebels in Nanjing City, Sun Dasheng and others have been free.

They used to often come to Zhang Shikang to drink with wine and meat in the evening, but ever since Zhang Shikang moved to that damn Guanjun Marquis Mansion, he never drank with them again.

"Second Brother Xu, Big Brother rarely comes out to drink recently.

What on earth are you busy doing, staying in that house all day long?" Wuyi Bo Zheng Chong asked.

Zheng Chong is only seventeen years old this year, but he has experienced several tough battles in the past year or so. However, his brain still seems to be dull and he is like a fool.

"What else can I be busy with? Busy with women." Wang Jingduo curled his lips and muttered:

"I really don't know what's good about women, just take my mother for example, she beat me from childhood to adulthood, and even beat my father.

Our eldest brother is really asking for trouble by being so fierce. "

Xu Wenyuan gave Wang Jingduo an approving look. Although those handsome boys had been sent away for a long time, he would still think of them occasionally when he was fighting outside.

"Your mother is a special case." Sun Dasheng took a big sip of wine and said:

"I'm telling you, there are three types of unfilial behavior, and having no offspring is the worst. We should find a wife as soon as possible."

"Tsk, this must be your father who taught you, right?

Your family has been a single-son family for three generations, so of course your father is afraid. But we are not the same as your family. Every family has several brothers.

My father already has three grandchildren." Song Liangzu clinked his wine bowls with Chen Tao.

"Anyway, I have to marry a wife. The wife must be very interesting, otherwise I can't find seven at once." Sun Dasheng grabbed a piece of beef and stuffed it into his mouth.

Xu Wenyuan suddenly frowned and said, "I don't know what I remembered.

"No, brothers, we have to go save our eldest brother."

"What's wrong, brother?" Sun Dasheng immediately threw the meat into the plate and stood up.

Everyone was also puzzled.

“Think about it, there are seven women and only one eldest brother.

Brother, with his physique, even a man of iron can’t withstand it!

As the saying goes, gentle places are the graves of heroes. Do you know what a grave is? "

Zheng Chong shook his head like a rattle.

"How stupid! A tomb is a grave." Wang Jingduo reminded.

"Second Brother Xu means that eldest brother is heading towards the grave!" Sun Dasheng suddenly realized.

"Yes, big brother has been addicted for half a month!"

"Even we brothers have forgotten."

"Is this okay?"

"No, we have to rescue Big Brother from this sea of suffering!"

"Correct."

The group of people had already drunk a lot and their brains were not working well. Soon they rode on their horses and rushed towards the Guanjun Marquis's Mansion.

As soon as everyone arrived at the gate of the mansion on horseback, they saw Zhang Shikang walking out of the mansion.

"Brother." Zheng Chong sobered up immediately.

But Sun Dasheng didn't care about that. He drank the most and immediately started to criticize Zhang Shikang:

"Brother, how can you linger in the land of tenderness? Women are nice, but you got seven of them at once. This is iron-clad..."

"I think you guys are free, so go to the barracks and get your ten military sticks!"

Zhang Shikang had a sullen face. He certainly knew why these guys came. They were here to catch someone committing adultery.

Especially this Sun Dasheng, he is regarded as Cao Mengde who got Diao Chan, but he is not Cao Mengde, and Sun Dasheng is not Xu Chu.

"Anyway, we are doing this for big brother's good, why should I be beaten with a military stick?" Sun Dasheng said unconvinced.

Zhang Shikang made up a reason and said:

“Because you are suspected of drunk driving.

It's not wartime, how can you ride a horse in Nanjing? Get back to the barracks!"

After saying that, he walked towards the military camp on his own. To be honest, he had been having too much fun recently.

But you must never show weakness in front of your brothers, otherwise they will talk about you.

He really had some important business today and had to go on a long journey.

The meeting with Zheng Zhilong was originally scheduled for October, and now it is already October 18th.

The Zheng family's fleet was already waiting by the river, and he was going to take a boat to Quanzhou, Fujian today.

……

PS: I only wrote a little bit of color in the previous chapter, but it kept violating the rules. After I made the changes, it is still under review, but it just won’t pass. So I’ll just send this chapter out first. I’ve finished seven chapters today and will take a nap.