Chapter 514: Bai Xiangsheng in the Capital

Author: solid state drive

Chapter 514: Bai Xiangsheng in the Capital

With Xiao Yifu's warrant and the help of the servants, in less than two days, the head of the He family had pulled out the list of those who had not returned from Fujian's overseas voyages since the beginning of the year.

Then the head of the He family began to spend his own money, and arranged for people to take road guides one by one, and quickly visit the homes of those maritime merchants to inquire about the situation.

Confirm how many of them did not return at the agreed time, how many of them went to seek refuge with relatives and friends, or ran away only to find out that they owed debts or committed crimes, and had no intention of coming back at first sight.

The reason why we need to confirm is that many of them may have disembarked in the shallow waters along the coast in advance, returned home by land, and asked the caravan to mark their names on their behalf, but the caravan forgot about it.

This situation is not uncommon in this era. Although the Zheng family charges per ship, there are only a few excellent seaports that can berth large merchant ships and facilitate the unloading of goods. In the end, the ship has to be parked in the corresponding seaport.

But every family works together to do business, and it may even happen that your family goes out on a boat this year, my family goes out on a boat next year, or a whole village goes out on a boat together.

Under such conditions, they had every reason to disembark early along the way and clean up the cargo along the coast, just to get home a few days earlier.

As information was collected bit by bit, it became clear that, just like the He family's relatives and friends in Zhangzhou, more than a dozen caravans with hundreds of people in total did not return as scheduled.

And as time gradually passed, after a month, that is, after the New Year, the number would be even higher. Xiao Yifu knew at a glance that the problem was serious.

Coupled with the battle report obtained from the Zheng family, Xiao Yifu began to close the thread and prepare the content of the report. The specific content still needs to be carefully polished by him to increase his reputation accordingly.

Through re-reading newspapers and talking with the head of the He family in the past two days, he gradually discovered that the imperial court, or rather Chongzhen, had extended its claws to territories that did not belong to the traditional Ming Dynasty several times, without any concealment.

The newspaper said that Chongzhen once personally took a plane, circled the earth under his feet, discovered the land of Fusang, and also found the survivors of the Yin Shang in the Fusang land.

This was just a discovery of a location, but the newspaper actually reported directly on the establishment of the Yanzhou Chief Envoy in the cabinet, saying that this was because the survivors of the Yin and Shang dynasties had not been kings for a long time, but they were the survivors of the sages after all, so they should accept His Majesty's leadership again

.

Still later, because there were Folangji people in Dongfan, he directly recaptured Dongfan. He also sent a report that he sent a national division to Folangji people’s hometown to punish Folangji people, and also asked Folangji people to carry out the invasion and occupation of Dongfan.

indemnity.

Later, the Royal Army followed the Koryo people and invaded the Japanese country. This time, the court even directly created a new kingdom.

And their reason turned out to be just because the Japanese country organized pirates several times to attack the coast of the Ming Dynasty? This was clearly Chongzhen's intention to expand his territory.

He could see this through what happened in Yanzhou, but at the same time, the imperial court was still supporting the emergence of new small countries, such as the Kingdom of Kyushu, and the original Goryeo and Ryukyu.

He couldn't understand why Chongzhen was so kind to Ryukyu and Goryeo. These two small countries could just be easily crushed to death and turned into a small government. They were not even worthy of the Royal Army stationed and educated.

The head of the He family couldn't understand either. After all, they had never personally experienced commercialization and financial dilution, but they could all tell that Chongzhen was playing a big game.

"Nanyang, how should I write it? Royal Army, can it...

Well, but Fujian is tens of thousands of miles away from the capital, and the Royal Army can still reach it in a few days. This Luzon is just another Fujian to the capital.

If a citizen of the Ming Dynasty was killed in Luzon and his family asked for justice...well, no, if you are forcing your majesty like this, the cabinet will definitely fight back.'"

In fact, it would be good for him to bring up the fact that someone was killed in Nanyang, because after the imperial court turns its attention to the south, he will definitely have to participate more and require more authority, and there will be opportunities for promotion.

No matter how powerful the governor was, he was only under the cabinet. In the Ming Dynasty, being in the cabinet was the real pinnacle of power.

Xiao Yifu has never been able to enter the cabinet. Instead, he has circled around Fujian because he can't mix with the people in Beijing. His roots are in Nanjing.

If he wants to truly reach the center of power in the capital on his own, this report is an opportunity. When the opportunity comes, maybe he can get some military exploits.

"That's all, let's just say that the villagers have not returned for a long time and are afraid that they will be persecuted by the Folangji people in Luzon."

Xiao Yifu didn't know that his plan coincided with Chongzhen's idea.

Wang Chengen, who was far away in the capital at this time, was very busy at this time, but he was no longer with Chongzhen, but was busy selecting the team that would go with him on his mission to Nanyang this time.

I was busy confirming with the Ministry of Rites about the reward materials needed to prepare for the southward cruise, and I was busy confirming the accompanying equipment with the Royal Army.

And in the end, he was busy learning and understanding from Chen Ye, how to spread culture and how to establish a loyal son relationship with the kings of various places. Ming Dynasty cannot be taken advantage of by future generations. Is there any threat from the Emperor of the United States these days?

Chongzhen said that Wang Chengen would leave after the new year, but the actual preparations could not be completed in a few days, so from that night, Wang Chengen did not stay in the palace again.

All Wang Chengen's positions in the palace, except for his honorary position as a teacher at the Royal Army Academy, were cut off from his position as director of the factory, director of the gunpowder factory, and commander-in-chief of the drones.

Gao Yushun, who had just returned from Tongzhou, and the Royal Army cadets promoted by Chongzhen took over one by one, which could be regarded as gradually redistributing the combined rights to the non-eunuch departments.

The change in position corresponds to Wang Chengen's clothing, which changed from a red eunuch's high-quality uniform to an ordinary red and green civil service uniform. However, this gown was made by Queen Zhou, which has extraordinary meaning.

After a few days of adapting outside, he gradually sorted out his new subordinates, and after confirming that everyone began to receive corresponding skill training, Wang Chengen re-entered the palace and stood opposite Chongzhen and Chen Ye.

"Well, not bad, shopkeeper, how are you? From now on, Wang Banban will be Foreign Minister Wang."

"The prince has outstanding abilities. He should have made arrangements like this a long time ago so that he is not overqualified. Now that he has changed his appearance, he seems to be more energetic and independent.

In this state, we will definitely be able to make good arrangements for the southern tour. Come on, Foreign Minister Wang, you will surpass the miracle of the Three Treasures Supervisor and become the foreign minister who contributed the most to the Ming Dynasty in history."

"Wang Banban, did you hear that? The shopkeepers said that what you are wearing looks really good."

"Thank you, the emperor, for cultivating me, and thank you, the shopkeeper, for taking care of me.

It's just the Emperor. I still feel that it doesn't have to be like this. The army is full of talk. All the soldiers of the Royal Army know my identity. In the future, there will always be outsiders who know my details and know that I am the Emperor's servant.

When the Three Treasures Commander went to the West, the various places did not despise the Three Treasures Commander because of his shortcomings. On the contrary, the kings of various countries treated the Three Treasures Commander with courtesy because of their ancestors.

What I represent is His Majesty's domestic servant and the person who can speak for His Majesty. This gesture is intended to be conspicuous, but on the contrary it is a disgrace and makes people disrespectful of Your Majesty.

Please pay attention to your internal service."

Wang Chengen clasped his fists and said that he was not as sad as the old slave in the costume drama about not being able to serve Chongzhen. Only a foolish and loyal person could do that.

Being able to achieve a career in front of the emperor's eyes was obviously more attractive to Wang Chengen than serving Chongzhen.

For him, only in this way can he be a useful person to Chongzhen, rather than a servant who can only serve tea and water. Although he is already capable of flying drones, radio, education, and

All-round talents on construction sites.

Therefore, he had no regrets about Chongzhen not being allowed to serve him, but he was a little irritated when he was not allowed to wear high-quality eunuch uniforms.

He was originally a eunuch, which was not a shame in this era, but he could not wear eunuch uniforms, which meant that he was further away from the emperor.

"You also know that those clothes are from me? Then how can you test your ability by wearing them? How can you be famous throughout history in the name of Wang Cheng'en?

I just want you to go to Nanyang under the name Wang Chengen and as a specially appointed diplomat of the Ministry of Rites of the Ming Dynasty.

Wang Banban, and Gao Banban, I have very high expectations for you!"

"Your majesty's kindness will be unforgettable to me. I will go through fire and water for your majesty in this lifetime without any hesitation!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your cultivation!"

Wang Chengen bowed to Chongzhen movedly and said. Gao Yushun behind him listened to Chongzhen's mention, and the envy in his eyes turned into surprise.

Although this time Chongzhen chose Wang Cheng'en instead of him, it may not be the case next time. The emperor actually missed him. You must know that the world is so big and there are many places to employ people.

In the following time, Wang Chengen met with different people in the Ministry of Rites every day. Regarding Wang Chengen's patrol of the South China Sea on behalf of the emperor, the capital gradually began to leak.

The function of the Ministry of Rites is the most important one. After all, the various etiquette required for this southern tour on behalf of the emperor are beyond the comparison of trade and rewards. His standards are higher than those of previous missions.

What's more, Chongzhen will also have real-time video calls with the monarchs of various Southeast Asian countries through satellites. Various rehearsals and the dialects of various countries will need to arrest people first to practice.

Satellites in the sky, combined with long-range drones, are conducting map shows every day. Various islands in the South China Sea and the best sea routes are distributed along the way.

Everything is being steadily prepared, but the critical moment for the mission to turn into revenge has not yet arrived.

At the beginning of December, the snow in the capital was a little heavier again. The entire capital was covered in snow, and it was time to go to the market again.

The people in the inner city of the capital are all nobles, or rely on their nobles for their lives. In winter, they are not like farmers, who go out in twos and threes wearing rich clothes.

Either they visit each other, or they visit the more upscale markets in the inner city, or they go directly to the outer city, or they go out of the city to the suburbs, making the entire inner city seem quiet.

The outer city gathered ordinary people, nobles from the inner city, merchants who came from other places to stay, relatives of the Royal Army, and farmers from outside the city bringing things into the city, making it very noisy.

In the outer suburbs of the capital, farmers who are not going to the market are not idle at home. Instead, they go to the mountains to collect firewood, repair their small houses, prepare food, and dig game.

Or go to the nearest recruitment center and find some odd jobs. This way you can not only earn some coins in the cold winter, but also lose one day of food, which is equivalent to making two days of money in vain.

As for those who were not looking for work, most of them were young people and children. At this time, they were organized by villages and towns to sit around under the radio, listen to the radio's literacy classes, and follow the newspapers to learn literacy.

The number of Chongzhen's admirers is increasing as the organization learns. As the general trend is, any order the court wants to issue can be issued directly. Even if the people below want to do the opposite, they will be interspersed among their own people.

"Loyal ministers" report.

Of course, this kind of lively scene can only be seen in the prefectures and counties under the direct jurisdiction of Chongzhen, that is, the prefectures and counties where the Royal Army is directly stationed.

In areas slightly remote from prefectures and counties, radiation capabilities are getting weaker and weaker, and those small counties blocked by mountains are still continuing according to past history.

But a single spark can start a prairie fire. The world of the Ming Dynasty has changed unconsciously. The people have become accustomed to obeying Chongzhen's orders and making changes, and think that what Chongzhen said is right.

"We're hiring! We're hiring! We're hiring for city wall renovation, and it only costs three yuan a day! Two meals are included in the daily payment!"

"Tongzhou Chemical Plant is recruiting workers! Two dollars and fifty cents a day, three meals included, and a shack! The pay is good, only those who have the strength to do so!"

"We are selling vegetables! The fresh vegetables just brought out from the Jingshi Vegetable Center are cheap, only 50 cents for half a catty!"

"Frozen pears, authentic frozen pears, comes with a straw!"

"Hot and spicy soup! Hot and spicy soup! The hot and spicy soup taught by the imperial chef costs only 80 cents a bowl!"

On the streets of the capital city, Chongzhen and Chen Ye were wearing ordinary gowns and light makeup. The two Ming rulers, who were not afraid of assassination, hid in the crowd as ordinary scholars.

The hustle and bustle of the outer city of the capital and the leisurely and contented scene of people hanging out in groups of three or three in the inner city formed an extremely strong contrast, making it more lively.

What is different from the past is that nowadays, there are very few hawkers, workers, and people looking for work who look like they are about to starve to death, and even fewer are seen in ragged clothes. The light in everyone's eyes can shine.

everything.

"Lao Zhu, how do you think this capital city compares with the capital city in your imagination? Are you satisfied?"

"I used to imagine the grand scene of the capital, that is, people have houses to live in, food to eat, and no homeless people or beggars everywhere on the streets.

Because when my brother was still here, all I saw was that the people in the capital did not have enough to eat and lack of warmth, so I never thought about how the people would live after they had enough to eat and clothing.

It wasn’t until I saw you, the shopkeepers, that although the people were tired, at least they still looked like human beings, I didn’t know what kind of life the people should live like after they have enough food and clothing.”

Chongzhen said with a smile. The people in front of him were full of vitality and everyone looked full of hope. It was really similar to his ideal Ming Dynasty.

After wandering outside, Chen Ye and Chongzhen did not leave the city again. If they kept walking outside the city, there would be nothing to see.

After taking some snacks and walking back to the inner city while eating, the two of them took the car to the cabinet again to deal with the report from Fujian.
Chapter completed!