First Minister of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 425: The innocent Zhang Xianggong

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Ming Yuzhen's dispatch of troops undoubtedly blocked Chen Youliang's last way of life. In fact, as long as he did not help Chen Youliang and cut off the road to Shu, it was enough.

In September and autumn, two generals, headed by Xu Da and Chang Yuchun, each commanded the troops and horses.

The war broke out suddenly!

Before the deployment of troops, Zhongshu Province began to mobilize ordnance, food, and preparations for combat supplies.

From top to bottom, the gongs and drums are in full swing, and there is no slack in the slightest.

There are more than 200,000 elite soldiers and nearly 500,000 logisticians.

As the world's number one war machine, it rumbles. The army representing Zhu Yuanzhang's will to rule the world began a thousand-mile campaign.

At the core, Zhang Ximeng can feel the majesty of the war and the helplessness of the battlefield.

In addition to soldiers and civilians, there are workshops in the rear, artisans producing weapons, female workers sewing clothes, and scribes buying glue and lacquer in various places.

All in all, almost a million people were involved in this war.

The daily military expenses are like running water, rushing.

For this battle, Li Shanchang hoarded more than 3 million shi of grain, but at the beginning, 1 million shi was consumed. Half of it is consumed on the road.

The bills for all kinds of expenses alone are dizzying and overwhelming. Take as much as you can and use it like sand.

The salary has to be earned every month, but when it comes to renovating the house, it costs tens of thousands and tens of thousands... my heart is bleeding.

But what can be done?

Just grit your teeth and hold on!

When I had nothing to do, it was very comfortable to see Li Shanchang doing his best in Zhongshu Province. Apart from facing Zhang Ximeng, he showed his prestige as the head of all officials.

But when it came time to fight, Lao Li became an old scalper in an instant, working day and night, allocating material, grain and salaries...and there was no computer assistance. The country's financial, material, and human resources were all within In his heart, through a head and a mouth, it is distributed.

All officials must come to Zhongshu Province to take orders.

Li Shan grew up and screamed, but after a few days, his voice was hoarse. The rest of the ministers were all too busy to be dazed and did not dare to slack off.

Although these people may not be good, and it is difficult to keep many corrupt officials, but at present, most of them are still doing their due diligence.

In contrast, Zhang Ximeng's affairs are still a lot easier. He only needs to discuss the military situation with Zhu Yuanzhang and formulate a general strategy.

On this day, the monarch and minister talked about the fact that it was almost noon, and the faces of the two people were not very good when faced with the list sent by the Zhongshu Province.

"The cost is still too high. At the beginning, it exceeded the budget by 50%! Li Shanchang, this Xiao He, has ordinary skills!" Lao Zhu said angrily.

Zhang Ximeng has no words, maybe, Lao Li can't do it, but who can do better than him?

Zhu Yuanzhang also seemed to realize that he was going too far, so he lowered his voice and said, "Sir, to be honest, we still have some money in our hands, I wonder if we can move it?"

Zhang Ximeng was startled, and quickly said, "What did the lord say?"

Zhu Yuanzhang sighed softly: "Didn't that child Zhu Ying collect millions of guans! Before he went to Lingnan, he left us 3 million guans." Old Zhu pressed his thigh with one hand and leaned forward to ask for advice. Tone: "Sir, do you think this money can be moved?"

Zhang Ximeng frowned, and he understood it almost instantly.

The boy really understood what he said.

Zhu Ying doesn't seem to need that much money, as long as it is enough to let people know that he is rich... So he left 3 million pieces to Zhu Yuanzhang and 300,000 pieces to Zhang Ximeng.

As for himself, with 700,000 kangaroos.

However, this money is not for office work. On the contrary, it is used by Zhu Ying to put on stage, promote publicity, and tell stories... Anyway, he has realized the essence of creating something out of nothing.

But fortunately, the shipping route of the Ganjiang River has been unblocked, and the Dayu Ridge has also been renovated... Since the Red Turban Uprising, the trade route has been cut off. Especially overseas businessmen, they are too greedy, just looking forward to tea, porcelain and other things.

As long as the trade routes are smooth and the financial resources are rolling, even if there is not a tael of silver, it is enough to become a mountain of gold and silver.

But even so, it was really not easy for Zhu Ying to keep the big boss.

"My lord... the money seems to be able to move, but it cannot be moved directly."

Zhu Yuanzhang was startled, "Sir, what do you mean?"

"Master can borrow it!"

"borrow?"

"Yes! The lord can use the salt tax as a guarantee, mortgage and issue bonds, and borrow the money."

Zhu Yuanzhang is even more stupid. He is a prince, rich in the world, and the whole world is his own. Do you still need to borrow money?

What's more, if you are your own son and borrow money from him, isn't that stealing the lollipop from the child's hand?

Is our old Zhu so unstyled?

"Sir, we have become emperors!"

"The emperor can't do whatever he wants, turning a stone into gold!" Zhang Ximeng said with a smile: "Please think about it, lord, after sending troops to subdue He Zhen in Guangzhou, only then did the Lingnan trade, and the heaven-sent opportunity came out at once, so many businessmen went south to make a fortune. Not yet. Relying on the Son of Heaven for protection? If it’s just doing business and paying taxes, doesn’t it seem a little unreasonable... The lord borrows money from them, but also gives them an opportunity to serve the country. And the lord wins, the business route expands, the opportunity comes, or it’s good Let them follow along to share the profits... The minister thought that this was the best of both worlds, and there was nothing wrong with it. Moreover, relying on the debt relationship, the top and bottom were tied more closely. In the past, the lord also worried that the merchant family and we are not in the same mind, but now we have At this level, at least those businessmen who are willing to buy bonds and share weal and woe with Ming can always be trusted."

Zhu Yuanzhang just listened silently, his eyes rolling from time to time. Valley

To be honest, he was still a little hesitant... Old Zhu originally thought very simply, just embezzle the money and find a way to fill it up after the war. Even if the pit is not filled, what can he do to the emperor?

As a result, when he arrived at Zhang Ximeng's place, he even encouraged him to borrow money from merchants and put forward a lot of reasons.

More or less, Lao Zhu was a little hesitant. Mr. Zhang was able to think so completely, and he was afraid that he had already made plans... Could it be the proposal to develop the industry and commerce, did he have any ideas?

Lao Zhu pondered in his heart, and after a long time, he finally let out a long breath and nodded with a smile, "Sir, then do as you wish... But don't make a big deal of it beforehand, so as not to cause unrest in the hearts of the people, and it will not end well."

Zhang Ximeng nodded quickly, "Don't worry, lord, the minister will arrange it properly. As for this interest, 3% is enough for the minister. After all, this is the lord borrowing money, the risk is very small, and the interest is not too high."

Seeing that he had already figured it out, Lao Zhu nodded and listened to Zhang Ximeng!

Coming out of the palace, Zhang Ximeng couldn't help but sigh of relief, his back was already soaked. Recalling the past few days to discuss the military situation with Lao Zhu, Zhang Ximeng was a little apprehensive.

He continued to lead Lao Zhu on the road of borrowing money and issuing bonds.

Although Zhang Ximeng had no selfish intentions to influence military affairs, he sometimes lost his detachment and calmness, and seemed impatient and reckless... Of course he knew his own problems.

It's not even the 300,000 troubles in his arms!

You want to collect money, want to splurge, want to enjoy...you can't help but be frightened and fidgety. When something happened, he went forward and backward... He suddenly understood Zheng Shiyuan's state of mind. He had collected so much gold and silver, but he just hid it and couldn't enjoy it openly.

He still eats dried tofu and broad beans. Did he enjoy the money?

Obviously not, he's just a very unlucky custodian!

At Zhang Ximeng's place, these 300,000 guilds, although not greedy for ink, are not fair. Of course he can enjoy it, but he still feels ashamed!

If Zhang Ximeng was brooding about being passive and incorrupt at the beginning, he always wanted someone to challenge his weakness. But someone really did it, and it was Zhang Ximeng who was uneasy.

In the final analysis, he is still a young man who has not completely lost his character as a petty citizen. In his heart, there is also a dream of gold and silver like mountains, hugging from left to right.

Wake up and take control of the world, drunk on the knees of beautiful women.

Why can't you just enjoy it?

But when he really got the money, Zhang Ximeng found that he couldn't bear it at all. Along the way, he wrote articles and taught others. In the end, when I got here, I couldn't be flawless in white jade, flawless in silk... I'm still deceiving myself a bit!

Zhang Ximeng, ah Zhang Ximeng, you can't even get through this test yourself, why are you talking about other things?

It's really a slap in the face!

Tianliguo's human relationship... What must be done to complete it?

Exposing Zhu Ying even ruined the overall situation of developing Lingnan?

Obviously it doesn't work.

Talk to Zhu Yuanzhang and ask Lao Zhu to agree, this is no problem, but even if he gets the money, Zhang Ximeng doesn't think he can spend it calmly.

There is no other way, just as there is a shortage of military supplies, let Lao Zhu issue bonds!

Zhang Ximeng immediately bought 300,000 bonds in Zhu Ying's name... Then he wrote a long letter, sealed it up, and asked people to chase Zhu Ying overnight, give him the bonds, and explain the reasoning clearly.

It may not be perfect, but it is solved after all.

Zhang Ximeng had no dreams all night... Turning around, he arrived at Menxia Province and happened to meet Jiang Nan again.

"Zhang Xiang, you said you would invite me to eat lamb shank and anchovies, wouldn't you forget?"

Zhang Ximeng was stunned for a while, then smiled: "Okay, come over at noon!"

Jiang Nan readily agreed, and at noon, the one in front of her, UU Reading www. uukanshu.com only has a bowl of Yangchun noodles.

"Zhang Xiang? You, how can you lie?"

Zhang Ximeng chuckled, took a bowl of noodles for himself, and then said with a smile, "Have you heard a word? Courtesy must be requested by others!"

Jiang Nan was stunned, "Then, if you say that Zhang Xiang doesn't need a humble position?"

Zhang Ximeng smiled and said nothing, just let Jiang Nan eat the noodles. Jiang Nan was so angry that he stared, but he was helpless, so he could only chew with a big mouth, as if he was eating fresh and tender mutton.

"Jiang Nan, in fact, I ate this noodles today, but it was sweeter than any kind of meat... You must have misunderstood that day. I didn't mean to do Li Xiang." Zhang Ximeng said in a low voice.

Jiang Nan was stunned for a moment, then suddenly laughed, "Sure enough, Li Xiang's son hasn't arrived in Lingnan, even if he wants to send money, he can't do it! At that time, there was only one person who could give money, and he would definitely not give it to Li Xiang. Send money!"

Zhang Ximeng nodded and smiled bitterly: "What do you think now? Do you feel disappointed?"

Jiang Nan lowered his head and said softly, "But it was dealt with?"

"Well! It was lent to the lord for military expenses."

Jiang Nan actually smiled slightly, and the more he laughed, the louder his shoulders twitched. Finally, he managed to control himself, looked up at Zhang Ximeng, and said with a smile, "So it seems that Zhang Xiang is also a mortal!"

Zhang Ximeng sighed softly, "I don't dare to compare myself to sages!"

"When Confucius was an official in the early years, he was also mad when he was ambitious. When he was 70 years old, he dared to say what he wanted." Jiang Nan said with a smile: "Zhang Xiang returned to his basics so quickly. "

"The flattery is good! It's a pity that there is no reward, only Yangchun noodles!"

"Yangchun noodles are good! Innocent!" Jiang Nan hurriedly picked up a chopstick and added it to his bowl. He smiled and said, "I also think this one is sweeter than lamb leg shad."