But Li Jinglong and He Guangyi could not imagine that the worse was yet to come.
"Your Majesty, I feel that I should not accept the heavy gift from the Japanese envoy!" Zhu Gaochi said, "I will donate these boxes of gifts to the national treasury. If the Japanese envoys give them to me again later, I will do the same!"
"You..." Li Jinglong and He Guangyi couldn't help but look at each other and said at the same time, "You are so damn noble!"
This was an open and honest way to make money, and Zhu Gaochi cut it off for everyone with just one sentence.
In fact, they didn't really count on these things, but because Zhu Gaochi said these words, they fell down. Besides, this is something the emperor has already approved, why are you pretending to be arrogant?
If you want to be really noble, can't you say it privately?
"Why?" Zhu Yunxi was also slightly surprised and asked with a smile.
"As Cao Guogong said, I am all ministers of the Ming Dynasty. It is really inappropriate to eat the emperor's salary and accept gifts from foreign countries!" Zhu Gaochi said seriously, "Besides, I still have something unsatisfactory in my heart!"
"Say it!" Zhu Yunxi glanced at Li Jinglong.
Zhu Gaochi took a deep breath and said, "Accepting gifts from foreign countries is also accepting bribes, and it is also a crime to bribe the country. Since the emperor ascended the throne, he has rectified the government and established a clean government to clean up the extravagance in the world and the court. In this case, ministers should not be allowed to accept bribes from foreign countries.
, after all, this is ill-gotten wealth!”
Immediately, he paused, "Don't do anything because of small things, otherwise you will lose big things because of small things. Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, and you cannot condone your ministers to practice such unhealthy practices!"
In an instant, He Guangyi and Li Jinglong looked at each other again, and then said in unison, "This is exactly what I mean. No one can take this ill-gotten wealth!"
Li Jinglong said again, "Your Majesty, you are cutting down the expenses in the palace, and I can't bear to see them when you are having a hard time. If I see these things, how about I put them into the inner treasury for the royal expenses?"
Zhu Yunxi looked at Zhu Gaochi, his eyes falling on the latter's broad shoulders.
He stood up and walked slowly to Zhu Gaochi, patting him on the shoulder, "You are right, I didn't think carefully about this matter, and I shouldn't act rashly!"
Although Zhu Gaochi's words were subtle, they were scolding him.
You don't allow the world's officials to be corrupt, but you allow your closest ministers to accept gifts from Japan. Isn't that a slap in the face? You are a fool!
"Your Majesty is serious!"
Zhu Yunxi patted the other party's shoulder again and said with a smile, "Right is right and wrong is wrong. I am not a saint, so I will naturally make mistakes. I said yes because you have the courage to confess my faults in person, instead of just saying nice things.
." He said with a smile, "This is much better and more important than many officials making official articles and talking about nonsense without hurting it!"
"You should be rewarded for your heart and responsibility!" After saying that, Zhu Yunxi thought for a moment and smiled, "You are the crown prince. According to the example of the crown prince in the Ming Dynasty, you will be rewarded with a five-clawed golden dragon costume.
"
"I don't dare!" Zhu Gaochi was shocked.
Although the old man decided that all the princes, princes and heirs could wear five-clawed golden dragon-patterned clothes, that was at the time of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Now, more than 30 years after the founding of the Ming Dynasty, the flesh-and-blood affection among the brothers of the Tian family has gradually faded and the monarchs and ministers have ascended the throne.
No one dares to overstep their bounds. This five-clawed golden dragon costume can only be kept under the box. Who dares to wear it randomly? Even if it is worn, it is only in the palace of one's own family. Who dares to spread it around the market?
"To show my appreciation!" Zhu Yunxi said with a smile, "You are the Crown Prince of Yan now, and you will be the Minister of the Ming Dynasty in the future. As a helper around me, what I want is your ability to check for deficiencies and to speak out and advise!"
Zhu Gaochi pondered for a moment, "In this case, I can only accept it with shame. Thank you for your kindness!"
"As for these things?" Zhu Yunxi looked at the boxes again, "Whether it's the national treasury or my internal treasury, I don't need them!" As he said that, the topic changed, "Recently, the treasure shipyard on the other side of the Sancha River has been with the household again.
The Ministry asked for money, and Zhang You had several lawsuits with me. These things were sent to the shipyard to be used in shipbuilding. Although it was a drop in the bucket, it was better than nothing. In the future, the Japanese envoys will send it again and send it to the shipyard together!"
"High!" Li Jinglong suddenly gave a thumbs up and smiled, "Use the Japanese money to build ships and transport troops to Japan in the future. High, really high!"
"I have one more thing to say!" Zhu Gaochi said again.
"But it doesn't matter!" Zhu Yunxi was in a good mood and said with a smile.
Zhu Gaochi hesitated for a moment and said, "I thought that the Ming Dynasty's ships have been used up now. Shipbuilding is too expensive. I heard that the Ministry of Revenue has used Yingtianfu's treasure ship, Songjiang Shipyard, Fuzhou Shipyard and other places as bottomless pits. It is spread out every year.
The money we have is enough to feed hundreds of thousands of soldiers and horses. Not to mention that we have to give land to cut down those century-old trees in the deep mountains and old forests. I heard that the shipyard only needs fir and all other wood..."
"I have my own thoughts on this matter!" Zhu Yunxi interrupted him directly.
These things are somewhat difficult to understand for people like Zhu Gaochi who received traditional Confucian education.
Only after a ship is built can one know whether it is suitable for ocean-going voyages, and the craftsmanship of shipbuilding is constantly improving. Nowadays, the navy of the Ming Dynasty can only wander around in the surrounding Southeast Asia, and it is unable to do anything further.
It’s not that there’s a lack of shipping routes or people, it’s that there’s really a shortage of ships.
Moreover, problems continue to arise in the process of shipbuilding. In terms of raw materials and structure, everything is a headache. But it is worth the headache. The sea ban established in the old man's era seems to be a dead letter at present.
The annual customs tax revenue is astonishing, and opening up the sea is imminent.
By then, the demand for ships will be greater.
And if we don’t have a good foundation now, how can we face the coming era of great navigation and great migration in the future?
In fact, the Ming Dynasty was not lacking in craftsmanship. Historically, when Zheng He sailed to the Western Seas, the Ming Dynasty's technology led the world. But in the end, it was because some officials believed that going to sea was futile and useless, so the shipbuilding technology and nautical charts were all shelved, leaving the Ming Dynasty behind.
Hundreds of years of sailing were ruined.
"I am not arbitrary!" Zhu Yunxi said, "Shipbuilding is the real weapon of the country. When I have some free time, I will take you to the treasure shipyard outside the city and you will understand!"
Faced with the emperor's stubbornness, Zhu Gaochi could only hide it in his heart even if he had ten thousand excuses.
It's a coincidence that at this moment Bastard said outside, "Your Majesty, Lian Zining, the Minister of Industry, would like to see you!"
"Let him in!"
~~
Lian Zining was in charge of the two important tasks of coinage and shipbuilding, and was recognized as the first choice for the next Minister of Industry.
"I'm here to greet you..."
"Knowing that I am impatient with these big rules, why do you still kowtow?" Zhu Yunxi said with a smile, "Why do you want to see me?"
Lian Zining cupped his hands and said, "Back to the Emperor, there are some errors in the keels of the Wen Tianxiang and Yuewu Mu built under the supervision of Sanchahe Shipyard!"
The significance of Wen Tianxiang and Yue Wumu to the people of Zhongxia is self-evident, and it is self-evident how important it is to have a station battleship named after them.
Both of these are giant warships with three layers of plywood, 52 meters long and 14 meters wide, and carrying 700 troops. This kind of warship is more than 150 meters long, 60 meters wide, and has nine masts carrying 700 troops.
A treasure ship with a thousand people cannot compare. A treasure ship is a huge thing, but the manufacturing requirements of a treasure ship are not as high as those of a battleship, and its role at sea is also different.
If Wen Tianxiang and Yuewu Mu were placed in later generations, they would be third-class sailing battleships. This kind of battleship is specially used for combat. This is the first time that Bao Shipyard has built it. If completed, the whole ship will be equipped with seventy-four heavy guns.
The door is like a giant on the sea in this era.
"What's the problem?" Zhu Yunxi asked.
Lian Zining said, "According to the report from the shipyard, the wood is not good enough. If the construction continues, the tired part of the warship will not be able to bear the weight of three decks and seventy-four cannons." After saying that, he paused.
After a pause, he continued cautiously, "The shipyard's supply of fir wood is no longer available..."
Zhu Yunxi sighed and looked at Zhu Gaochi, "I just said that I would take you to have a look when I have time another day. It seems that it is better to choose a different day." After that, he said to the outside world, "Get ready, I will go to the Bao Shipyard to have a look.
!”
This chapter has been completed!