"I'm willing to pay 20% higher than the market price to buy all the fruits and vegetables you have here!"
A fat-bellied businessman shouted loudly, waving the banknotes in his hand.
"I am also willing to buy these fruits at a 30% higher price!"
A businessman in the fruit business looked at the fruits in front of him with bright eyes. It can be seen that the fruits that have just arrived are the best fruits, and they are also very fresh.
These fruits can be transported to the capital in just a few hours via the Beijing-Tianjin Railway, and you can make a fortune just by changing hands.
"Lao Liu, you are still awesome~"
Hearing the shouts of these businessmen, Zhu Houzhao couldn't help but give Liu Jin a thumbs up.
Vegetables and fruits in winter are inherently expensive, much more expensive than meat, and fresh vegetables and fruits are even more expensive. With this steamer, you can constantly travel to and from Ryukyu and the Beijing-Tianjin area, and you will earn a lot of money this winter.
"That means I will make a loss-making business?"
Liu Jin smiled as if it was natural.
"No sale, no sale~"
"These are vegetables and fruits from Tianjin Ocean Trading Company~"
The staff of Tianjin Ocean Trading House impatiently chased away the businessmen around them. Are you kidding me? They ask you to make money in the Beijing-Tianjin area?
Soon, four-wheeled carriages arrived at the dock and quickly transported these fruits and vegetables, some of which were shipped to vegetable and fruit stores in Tianjin for direct sale.
Some are transported to the train station and taken to the capital by the nearest train. There are also branches in the capital. Fresh vegetables and fruits are absolutely popular and can be sold at good prices, and sales are very strong.
As for the fruits and vegetables brought into the palace, Emperor Hongzhi and the Empress ate them with open stomachs. In fact, they could not eat much, they only accounted for a very, very small part.
"Let's go back to Beijing to see the construction status of the vegetable greenhouse."
"The vegetables shipped from Ryukyu take several days even if there is a steamer. They are not very fresh. Only vegetables picked fresh are the freshest."
Looking at the busy scene on the dock, Liu Jin also left here and prepared to return to the capital.
"The steamship has been successfully launched. It will usher in a period of rapid development. The ship will be built bigger and faster."
"It will become more convenient to travel between Golden Island and Australia."
Sitting on the four-wheeled carriage, Liu Jin fell into thinking.
"The 19th year of Hongzhi is about to pass, and it will soon be the 20th year of Hongzhi. Time flies so fast. In the blink of an eye, I am already in my early thirties."
"Next year, it's time to deal with the Hakes Khanate, destroy the Hakes Khanate, push the Ming Dynasty's border to the east of the Ural Mountains, connect the north and south of the Caucasus Mountains, and then wait for an opportunity to enter the Eastern European Great Plains."
"It still depends on whether the Ottoman Empire can teach the Europeans a lesson. If the Ottoman Empire can win on the European battlefield, it will be much easier for our Ming Empire to march westward and occupy the Eastern European plains. Then we can directly attack the Baltic Sea coast.
.”
"We have obtained the vast Siberian plain, but cannot develop it. This is also a problem. This area is too cold."
"Especially in the next few decades, with the arrival of the Little Ice Age, the weather will be even colder, and the Siberian Plain will be even more difficult to develop."
"Forget it, never mind it, as long as it's occupied, it won't be too late to talk about whether to open or develop it later."
Liu Jin had a lot on his mind, a lot.
Take a four-wheeled carriage to Tianjin Railway Station, and then transfer to a train. With the train, traveling between Beijing and Tianjin becomes much more convenient and more comfortable.
…
Inside the study room of Qianqing Palace in the Imperial Palace of Beijing.
Emperor Hongzhi, Liu Jian, Li Dongyang, Xie Qian and other ministers sat beside the fireplace and chatted and laughed happily. The emperor and his ministers were harmonious and got along harmoniously. This can be regarded as a fine tradition that the Hongzhi Dynasty has always maintained.
Even though Emperor Hongzhi was disappointed with the civil servants, he did not really punish these important ministers in the court. Although Zhou Jing was originally imprisoned, he was released when he found an opportunity and allowed him to live a long life.
This shows that Emperor Hongzhi is really kind-hearted, and he is also very good to his ministers. Emperor Hongzhi has always attached great importance to the three elders in the cabinet.
"Time flies so fast. In the blink of an eye, it will be twenty years since Hongzhi."
Liu Jian looked at the howling cold wind outside the window and sighed.
"Yes, time flies, and another year has passed quietly."
"I feel like I'm obviously getting older, and my body is getting worse day by day."
Li Dongyang also nodded and sighed, and then coughed slightly.
He was in poor health and submitted a resignation form to Emperor Hongzhi at the beginning of the year, begging to be able to return to his hometown to live in retirement, but was rejected by Emperor Hongzhi.
"Li Aiqing, please pay attention to your health. I will ask professors from Tai Hospital and Daming Medical College to take a look at you later."
Emperor Hongzhi saw it and quickly said with concern.
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. This is an old problem. I have already gone to Daming Medical College to see it."
"My health is getting worse day by day. I'm afraid I won't be able to continue to serve His Majesty."
Li Dongyang sighed.
To be honest, it is enough for him to be an official to the point where he is a very popular minister, but he has not yet reached the position of chief minister of the cabinet, so he can't help but feel a little regretful.
But I can't blame anyone. I am more than ten years younger than Liu Jian. I am only sixty years old now. Liu Jian is already seventy-four years old. However, Liu Jian is very strong and has no problems at all. But what about me? , his health was getting worse day by day, and he often had to ask Emperor Hongzhi for leave to recuperate.
It seems that the position of chief minister of the cabinet is unlikely to last. This is what Li Dongyang regrets.
In terms of intelligence, Li Dongyang naturally thinks that he is not inferior to anyone, but his body is not as good as others, so there is nothing he can do.
"Li Aiqing said something serious, it's just that she's feeling a little unwell."
"Xiao Jing, take ten kilograms of Korean ginseng as tribute from North Korea and give it to Li Aiqing to take home to recuperate."
Emperor Hongzhi quickly comforted him and generously rewarded him with ten kilograms of Korean ginseng.
In fact, Emperor Hongzhi also saw that Li Dongyang's health was getting worse and he was considering new candidates. However, Li Dongyang's resignation was due to health reasons, so the emperor naturally had to reject it repeatedly to show his respect for Li Dongyang. The attention of the ministers is also to give the ministers face.
If you want to replace someone, even if the other party doesn't want to resign, you have to find an excuse to resign. After repeated rejections, the other party will continue to resign, and finally it is approved.
This is the routine and process for ministers to resign in ancient times. In the final analysis, it is actually to express the emperor's kindness and at the same time to estimate the face of the ministers.
It is also a kind of success for an official to resign due to poor health. Generally, if someone like Li Dongyang resigns, the emperor will give him generous rewards to support him in his old age.
"Thank you for the reward, Your Majesty, but I am sincere..."
Before Li Dongyang finished speaking, Emperor Hongzhi quickly waved his hands and said: "Li Aiqing, you are resourceful and talented, and you are also loyal. You are my humerus and the pillar of the imperial court. I can't leave you, and neither can the country of Ming Dynasty leave you."
.”
"Your Majesty, I am willing to serve your Majesty till the end of my life."
Hearing Emperor Hongzhi's words, Li Dongyang burst into tears and was moved to tears. Living with a boss like Emperor Hongzhi, his life was pretty good. To be honest, it wasn't because he was not in good health. Who would be willing to leave such a boss?
Open up the power in your hands.
Liu Jian and Xie Qian next to them also watched silently. In fact, Liu Jian should also apply for retirement. He is already over seventy years old. He is an old man and even his beard has turned white.
But there is no way. Liu Jian is in good health and in good mental condition. The key is that the position of the chief minister of the cabinet is extremely powerful and powerful, and no one can give it up.
Xie Qian is the youngest among the three. He is only fifty-seven now. Of course, he is not willing to retire now.
Just as the scene of tears was unfolding between the monarch and his ministers, Queen Zhang walked in with a smile on her face.
As soon as Emperor Hongzhi saw Empress Zhang, he immediately burst into smiles. He quickly stood up and went to help her, and at the same time said: "Be careful, be careful~"
Empress Zhang rolled her eyes at Emperor Hongzhi, "It's only been a few months, and your belly is still not visible. It makes you nervous."
As for Liu Jian, Xie Qian, and Li Dongyang, they all stood up and saluted.
"Your Majesty~"
"I came here specially today because I have something important to discuss with His Majesty and all the ministers."
Empress Zhang sat down with the support of Emperor Hongzhi, and then said with a smile.
"event?"
When Emperor Hongzhi, Liu Jian, Li Dongyang and others heard this, they all looked puzzled.
"What's the big deal?"
"Please give me the Queen's instructions."
Liu Jian also quickly expressed his stance.
"Originally, the harem is not allowed to be involved in politics. Logically, I shouldn't talk about this matter."
"But this matter is also related to our Ming Dynasty, the country, and the foundation of the country. Moreover, His Majesty seems to have forgotten this matter, so I have to stand up and talk about it."
Empress Zhang looked at Emperor Hongzhi, then at several ministers and said.
"What's the big deal?"
"Will I forget?"
Emperor Hongzhi was even more confused. What important event would he forget?
Even if he forgets it, Xiao Jing, the secretary, should not forget it. He will definitely remember it.
"Your Majesty has really forgotten~"
"This year is the 19th year of Hongzhi. After the new year, it will be the 20th year of Hongzhi. The prince is already seventeen years old this year. After the new year, he will be eighteen."
"It stands to reason that we should have chosen the Crown Princess a long time ago, so that we can spread the branches and leaves of the royal family and consolidate our Ming Dynasty. However, Your Majesty has been busy with national affairs and has actually forgotten this matter."