Zhu Yuanzhang, who commanded the wind and rain, lived a long and arduous life.

Prince Ning paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "It's nothing."

"Oh, right, I came today to say goodbye."

Prince Ning took the vegetable bun and started eating it heartily with the radish porridge.

"I'm going to take up my fiefdom in Daning tomorrow, I'll leave early in the morning."

Zhu Xiong Ying said "Oh," looked at Prince Ning, and said, "The area of ​​Da Ning Commandery is sensitive. It is surrounded by important military towns on both sides and is close to Beiping."

After thinking for a moment, Zhu Xiong Ying's expression turned serious: "Prince Ning, do you believe me?"

Prince Ning placed the bowl of porridge he was carrying on the table and replied solemnly, "I believe you!"

Zhu Xiong Ying said, "Just guard your Da Ning peacefully, and don't have too much contact with any of the vassal kings. I know you have many brothers in the Northern Frontier, and you'll inevitably have to maintain social relationships."

"But as I said before, remain neutral, and your Prince Ning lineage will enjoy eternal peace."

Prince Ning was somewhat stunned.

He stared at Zhu Xiong Ying intently and said sincerely, "You really are a product of the old man's teaching; you even speak exactly the same way!"

Last night, the old man said the same thing to himself in the Hall of Diligent Conduct!

Zhu Xiong Ying was taken aback and asked, "What do you mean? What did Grandpa say to you?"

Prince Ning was somewhat embarrassed and quickly said, "Oh, I just happened to run into you this morning... um."

Zhu Xiong Ying nodded: "I see."

Prince Ning looked at Zhu Xiong Ying, stood up, clasped his hands in a fist and said, "I have a favor to ask of you, please promise me."

Zhu Xiong Ying looked at the humble Prince Ning and hurriedly said, "Please sit down first and tell me what you want to say."

Prince Ning said, "My mother passed away a long time ago. My current mother is Consort Zhang, who raised me single-handedly."

"My mother has had a hard life, and these years have not been easy for her. She has not received much favor from the Emperor. If she ever encounters trouble in the future, you must speak up for her."

Zhu Xiong Ying looked at him solemnly and said, "Okay, I promise you."

With Zhu Xiong Ying's words, Prince Ning was completely relieved.

Prince Ning left with a sigh of relief.

Zhu Xiong Ying watched him leave, then went to brew a pot of tea and placed it on the stone table.

While waiting for the tea to cool, he went to the greenhouse with his hands behind his back. It was already springtime, and the greenhouse needed to be dismantled. So Zhu Xiong Ying ordered his servants to dismantle the greenhouse frame.

The cinchona tree next to the greenhouse has grown into a towering tree.

This is a bonsai that Princess Changye of Champa gave to his master, Zhu Changye, last year. His master then entrusted it to him to take care of, and it has grown to this size in just six months.

Cinchona tree is the best traditional Chinese medicine for treating malaria.

For more than two thousand years, smallpox and malaria have been things that Chinese people fear and dread. For feudal society, these two plagues were the natural enemies of rulers throughout history.

However, malaria mostly occurs in southern Xinjiang, and historical records show that there are few records of malaria epidemics in the Central Plains and northern Xinjiang.

Just as Zhu Xiong Ying was sorting out her thoughts, Tie Xuan walked over dejectedly.

"Too deceiving!"

Tie Xuan walked and talked, his face showing great anger.

Zhu Xiong Ying seemed to understand what was going on, and looked at Tie Xuan, asking, "Didn't you manage to borrow any money?"

Zhu Xiong Ying gestured for Tie Xuan to sit down and poured him a cup of tea.

Tie Xuan was flattered and hurriedly took the teapot from Zhu Xiong Ying and poured a cup for Zhu Xiong Ying as well.

He took a swig of tea and said angrily, "It's not just that I couldn't borrow money; I even tried to borrow at an interest rate of nine out of 13, but the Ministry of Revenue refused."

"They even said the Ministry of Revenue's budget for this year is already full, so what about shipbuilding in the southeast coastal areas, firearms manufacturing by the Ministry of Works, military expenses for the border regions, and official expenditures... Nonsense!"

Tie Xuan grew angrier as he spoke: "To be honest, when I heard all this, I just laughed."

Zhu Xiong Ying looked at him curiously: "What the Ministry of Revenue said is not without reason."

Tie Xuan said angrily, "What kind of logic is that? The Southeast can allocate funds, the Ministry of Works can allocate funds, and the provincial administrations of various regions can also allocate funds, but the Southern Frontier alone will not receive any!"

"Isn't Jiaozhi a territory belonging to our Great Ming Dynasty?"

“His Ministry of Revenue is very shrewd. He knows that the funds allocated to the provincial administration can be covered by the summer and autumn taxes. In other words, his Ministry of Revenue knows that if the money is allocated to other places, it will return to his Ministry of Revenue’s pocket.”

"In their eyes, Jiaozhi was a barbaric wasteland where even birds wouldn't bother. They had no hope for Jiaozhi at all, and allocating funds to Jiaozhi was like throwing money down the drain."

"So despite the tight budget, the Ministry of Revenue still prioritizes other provincial administrations. If the Ministry of Revenue weren't so well-off, I estimate they wouldn't have allocated a single penny to Jiaozhi by the end of the year!"

"Hmph! The other provincial administrations allocate funds from the fiscal budget, but we in Jiaozhi borrow from the court at high interest rates. Even so, they are unwilling to allocate funds to us. It's infuriating!" Tie Xuan cursed the Ministry of Revenue incessantly, his face contorted with rage, wishing he could curse the Ministry of Revenue's ancestors for eighteen generations.

Zhu Xiong Ying also understood the Ministry of Revenue.

The situation extends far beyond the Ministry of Revenue. The old man had told himself that no one in the court felt that Jiaozhi was worth developing.

When the Ming Dynasty conquered Jiaozhi, it was only because of its military and geographical value.

As long as Jiaozhi is in the hands of the Ming Dynasty, there will be time to deploy troops to the interior.

As for developing Jiaozhi... Annam has been developing for a hundred years and is still dirt poor. How can that place be developed? Further development would only be a waste of time!

Zhu Xiong Ying comforted Tie Xuan: "It's over. What's done is done. There's no use scolding them now."

"Since the imperial court won't lend money, then we'll find a way to borrow from somewhere else."

"It's not like you can't borrow it anywhere."

Tie Xuan said righteously, "How can that be?!"

"Jiaozhi is the provincial administration of the Ming Dynasty. It's outrageous for a dignified provincial administration to inquire about private lending! Wouldn't that just invite more criticism?"

Zhu Xiong Ying said, "If we care about what others say, how can things move forward? The gentry is in dire need of money, we can't refuse to give it to them."

Tie Xuan was stunned for a moment, then suddenly looked at Zhu Xiong Ying: "Young Master Zhu, your treasury must be quite full of money, right?"

So this guy finally realized it, huh?

Zhu Huai felt somewhat embarrassed about making money this way, like a prostitute trying to maintain a virtuous image.

"Ah."

Zhu Xiong Ying nodded: "We can still come up with 300,000 taels of silver."

Tie Xuan was delighted: "Then it makes perfect sense to ask Zhu Lang for a loan."

Zhu Xiongying:?? ?

"What do you mean it's reasonable for me to borrow from you? Does that mean I don't have to pay interest?"

Tie Xuan hurriedly waved his hand: "Young master, you misunderstand. Interest must be paid, of course. Nine out of thirteen returns, the Ministry of Revenue will pay as much as you do."

"What I mean is, you are the future of the Ming Dynasty... uh, you are in control of Jiaozhi, so it's not shameful for our Jiaozhi Provincial Administration to ask Zhu Langjun for a loan! It's only right!"

As he spoke, Tie Xuan felt a pang of self-reproach: "I was too hasty. I shouldn't have gone to the Ministry of Revenue to suffer this humiliation. Why didn't I think of Zhu Langjun at the beginning?"

Zhu Xiong Ying waved his hand: "It's settled. You should coordinate this matter with the Liao brothers. The sooner the better. Get the money into Xie Jin's hands as soon as possible. We can make things difficult for ourselves, but we can't make things difficult for Xie Jin."

"Tell Xie Jin that he should also oversee the organization and training of the South China Sea naval defense force to ensure nothing goes wrong."

"Okay! I'll get on it right away!"

Tie Xuan took another sip of tea, then hurriedly lifted his robe and left.

Fu Youwen arrived at the Ministry of Revenue early in the morning to report for duty.

There was a small court assembly to attend later, so he first organized a small meeting with officials of the rank of secretary or above in the Ministry of Revenue to understand the Ministry's financial situation, in case Zhu Yuanzhang asked any questions later.

Two senior officials, one on the left and one on the right, and an assistant director from the Fourth Bureau of Revenue were seated in the central hall of the Ministry of Revenue’s office.

After learning about the financial revenue and expenditure situation over the past two months, Fu Youwen casually asked if anything had happened at the Ministry of Revenue that day.

Wang Wendao, the secretary of the Department of Revenue, said: "Lord Fu, Tie Xuan did come by today."

Fu Youwen was stunned.

Tie Xuan was Zhu Xiong Ying's man, and he knew very well that he was Zhu Xiong Ying's future right-hand man.

Upon hearing this, he hurriedly asked, "What brings you here?"

Master Wang replied, "I came to inquire about the allocation of the fiscal budget by the Jiaozhi Provincial Administration Commissioner."

"We need 300,000 taels of silver."

"Hehe." Master Wang smiled and said, "But I've made an excuse for you."

Fu Youwen was taken aback, and asked anxiously, "Your Ministry of Revenue can't allocate 300,000 taels?"

Master Wang replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Squeezing in is possible."

Officials in the early Ming Dynasty were generally upright and performed their duties well. Most of them were not obsequious. Even though Wang Wen's official rank was much lower than Fu Youwen's, he still acted in accordance with the rules and was wholeheartedly concerned for the Ministry of Revenue.

"Although Tie Xuan said he would pay interest on the nine outs and thirteen returns, I still refused."

"Anyone with eyes can see that the Jiaozhi Provincial Administration Commission can't do anything worthwhile. Although this money is not much, it can be of great use to the Ministry of Revenue if it is used elsewhere or to prepare for possible natural disasters or man-made calamities."

"Isn't allocating the funds to Jiaozhi just throwing money down the drain?"

Seeing that Wang Wen's words were reasonable and well-founded, Fu Youwen was at a loss for words.

You can't exactly say it's the Ministry of Revenue, and they need to give the future crown prince face, can you?

Fu Youwen said weakly, "Master Wang, what if Jiaozhi really develops? Wouldn't our Ministry of Revenue lose a huge amount of revenue?"

Wang Wen smiled and said, "It's alright. Even if Jiaozhi develops, the tax revenue will still be sent to our Ministry of Revenue."

Fu Youwen was speechless for a moment. You don't feed people, but you expect them to lay eggs. And after they lay the eggs, you expect them to be given to you. What you, the Assistant Director of the Revenue Department, are doing is truly despicable!

However, by then, it probably won't be so easy for you to get money.

Zhu Xiong Ying, you might say he has a broad vision and a grand perspective, but sometimes when it comes to small things, he really hates evil and is very protective of his own!

……

This day.

Zhu Yuanzhang was in an excellent mood today, as bright as the spring sunshine.

Even after hearing Fu Youwen say that no funds had been allocated to Jiaozhi, the old man wasn't particularly angry.

The old man left Zhu Xiong Ying to handle his own attitude towards Jiaozhi.

Zhu Yuanzhang didn't really care what the final outcome would be; a hundred Jiaozhi provincial administration commissioners were not as important as one Zhu Huai.

He wanted to see how Zhu Huai would break free from the predicament of governing the country.

At the small court assembly in Wuying Hall, only a few people stood in the main hall.

They were all important ministers of the state, and the backbone of Zhu Yuanzhang's rule.

"I have some good news to tell you all today."

"Yes, Minister Li, come out and speak."

Minister of Rites Li Yuan stepped forward. Since it was a small court assembly, there was no need for civil and military officials to hold tablets to record events.

He glanced at his colleagues, who were whispering and looking on with curiosity, and said with a smile, "The Timurid Khanate to the west of the Great Ming Dynasty has sent an envoy with three hundred warhorses, who have come from afar to pay tribute to our Emperor!"

Upon hearing this, everyone's faces gradually filled with joy.

Regardless of whether they were scholars or warriors, they all wore proud smiles.

The Timurid Khanate was founded by descendants of Genghis Khan. It was these very same Ming generals and officials, who rose from humble beginnings, who drove them to the western Chagatai Khanate, a thousand miles away from Hami, the capital of the Ming Dynasty, on the European continent.

The Battle of Buyur Lake, organized by Lan Yu a few years ago, completely shattered the Northern Yuan Mongols, and the Khans of the Northern Yuan were no longer valued by the Ming court.

Now, this group of Mongol nobles no longer poses any threat to the Ming Dynasty.

The Ming court now focuses on the two powerful tribes that stand as remnants of the Northern Yuan Dynasty in the northern frontier: the Tatar Grand Tutor Arughtai and the Oirat Grand Tutor Mahmud.

Because of their special geographical location, close to the northern border of the Ming Dynasty, the Ming court had been strengthening its strategic defense against these two tribes.

To be honest, the Timurid Khanate was too far away from the northwest of the Ming Dynasty, as well as from the Tatars and Oirats, and could not form any strategic value.

However, the Timurid Khanate's tribute mission to the Ming Dynasty was of extraordinary political significance, as it was tantamount to the Timurid Khanate on the European continent recognizing the Ming government and rejecting the Tatar and Oirat governments.

"Hahaha!"

Lan Yu laughed loudly, "These Mongols, have they finally come to their senses? They know that in the East there is only the Ming Dynasty, and no Oirats or Tatars?"

Lan Yu was very proud because he had personally defeated and destroyed the Mongols!

After the Battle of Buyur Lake, Lan Yu was regarded as a god of war and invincible by the Mongols!

Now that he heard his defeated subordinates coming to pay tribute to the Ming Dynasty and become its vassals, Lan Yu was naturally pleased.

However, he still maintained his composure and clasped his hands in greeting to Zhu Yuanzhang, saying, "Congratulations, Your Majesty! The influence of our Great Ming Dynasty in the Western Continent is growing ever stronger, and Your Majesty's fame is spreading far and wide! Long live the Emperor!"

A deafening roar erupted in the Wuying Hall: "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

The old man beamed with joy.

Emperors always cared about two things: civil administration and military achievements.

Now that Zhu Yuanzhang has managed both of these matters so well, how could the old man not be happy?

"Ah!"

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and accepted the flattery of his ministers. He then said to Li Yuan, "Your Ministry of Rites must not neglect the Timurids. You must demonstrate the great etiquette of our Ming Dynasty."

Vice Minister Li hurriedly nodded: "Your humble servant obeys the decree!"

……

Harem.

Prince Zhu Quan of Ning is combing and washing Lady Zhang's hair.

Zhang Meiren is forty years old this year, still charming, and her hair is wet, obviously she just washed it.

Prince Ning stood behind Consort Zhang, looking at his mother in the bronze mirror as she slowly combed her hair.

"Mother, I'm leaving tomorrow morning."

Zhang Meiren also felt a little reluctant.

She raised Zhu Quan to adulthood herself over the years, and neither she nor her son were particularly favored in the harem.

Zhu Quan was chosen by Zhu Yuanzhang to guard the Daming Commandery.

It wasn't that Zhu Yuanzhang particularly liked Consort Zhang, nor that he particularly admired Prince Ning.

The old man was entirely considering Zhu Huai's best interests, which is why Zhu Quan got this advantage.

"My child, life in the north is tough. I'm afraid we'll have very few chances to see each other in the future. Take good care of yourself when you go there."