But Zhu Bai recognized that this was Li Shanchang's handwriting.
He put down the paper, frowned and thought for a while: It made sense for Hu Weiyong to frame Li Shanchang and Liu Bowen, because they blocked his way to promotion.
But why did he go against me, Zhu Di and Zhu Biao?
Could it be that there are still accomplices?
If it is true, then Hu Weiyong started planning it from that time on, and it is really insidious and cunning.
But knowing this now is of no use.
Because Hu Weiyong no longer bothers to hide his teeth and claws, and doesn't care about others knowing the truth.
After Zhu Bai returned to the palace, he told Lao Zhu about the incident. Of course, he did not mention the gold hairpin. He only said that Hu Weiyong forged the imperial edict and bypassed the Ministry of Personnel and arranged his own gang members in the Ministry of Rites.
Lao Zhu lowered his eyes and listened, then replied with three words: "I understand."
Zhu Biao frowned after hearing this: "This Hu Weiyong is really becoming more and more courageous."
In fact, he had admired Hu Weiyong before.
Because Hu Weiyong handles things neatly and dares to speak out and oppose the situation. He seems to be an upright and loyal minister.
Therefore, during the period when he was ruling on government affairs, he delegated a lot of power to Hu Weiyong.
Unexpectedly, after Hu Weiyong gained power, he became more and more aggressive. Not only did he ignore him, he also wanted to climb on top of Lao Zhu.
Fortunately, I didn't really hand over all the rights to Hu Weiyong, otherwise it would be too late to regret.
Lao Zhu said meaningfully to Zhu Biao: "Let him be crazy, just to show you how arrogant and ambitious a person who appears to be loyal, honest and low-key can become once he tastes power.
Therefore, you should not trust anyone easily, let alone let anyone have more power than you. You must find a way to disperse the power of the ministers, and it is best to let them fight with each other. Then they will not have the ability to covet the imperial power."
Zhu Biao saluted Old Zhu: "I understand. I really learned a lesson this time."
Lao Zhu actually didn't put it that bluntly: he was also testing Zhu's choice of people this time.
The result is obvious.
Zhu Biao still needs to practice more.
-----
The map has been revised and organized.
In order to print a large map of the country, Zhu Bai also hired two engraving carpenters to carve a plate three feet wide and six feet long, and printed ten copies with the best sheepskin. At the same time, he also hired embroiderers and painters to embroider or draw on silk.
superior.
So the map that Zhu Bai presented to Lao Zhu in the end was made of three materials.
This sheepskin one will be used in battles in the future. The other two will be hung in the study by Lao Zhu and Zhu Biao.
Detailed maps of other professed chief ministers were drawn on fine silk cloth one foot wide and two feet long and bound into a book for Lao Zhu's convenience to read.
While watching, Lao Zhu sighed to Zhu Biao: "This guy is so thoughtful and meticulous in doing this kind of thing. No one can compare with him."
The main reason is that Zhu Bai has money and is willing to spend it.
Use the best ingredients, hire the best people, and it will be done naturally.
Zhu Biao also said: "This map is well completed. It will be much more convenient in the future whether it is marching to fight, appointing or removing officials, or providing disaster relief. The twelfth brother has made another great contribution."
Zhu Bai took the abridged civilian version and printed it into a book, which he sold in his bookstore and the "Juren Inn". At the same time, he put it on the counters of all official bureaus and bookstores throughout the Ming Dynasty.
This is his exclusive business again.
Because others can’t do it without Lao Zhu’s permission,
In addition, people who do business and people who like to go out for sightseeing and sightseeing all need one, so there is no need to worry about selling.
In the first month of sales, thousands of taels of snowflake silver came to Zhu Bai from all over the country through Guanyinzhuang.
Whenever Lao Zhu heard the news reported by Erhu, he would love, hate, be surprised and rejoice: This kid is really making money.
This made us reluctant to let Zhu Bai go to the domain too early.
Zhu Bai secretly laughed: Hey, that’s right.
I just want to make money for you, Lao Zhu and Zhu Biao.
You can't live without me, you can only protect me and provide for me.
-----
Early in the morning, someone was shouting and slamming the table at the entrance of Guanyin Village.
Veins popped out on the man's neck, his face turned red, and his eyes seemed to pop out: "You profiteers, aren't you embezzling our people's money in vain?"
The clerk at Guanyinzhuang explained patiently: "Sir, the thousand coins you have here are indeed not heavy enough. How about you take it back and weigh it yourself? If you insist on changing it for one tael of silver, Guanyinzhuang will lose money."
The man was reluctant and pointed at the notice posted outside Guanyin Village: "You wrote the notice yourself. Could it be that you don't recognize it."
The shopkeeper said: "Yes, of course I do."
The man added: "'It is allowed to exchange copper coins for equivalent silver. There is no limit on the number of times and quantities.' Isn't a thousand coins equal to one tael of silver? It has always been like this."
The shopkeeper said: "Take a closer look. Equivalent, equal value. That means the value of copper coins must be equal to one tael of silver. To look at the value, it is the weight of brass. A piece like this with more than 20% wear
, has long been worthless.”
The man was angry and anxious. He grabbed the shopkeeper by his collar and tried to beat him: "You guys have the final say anyway."
Everyone was worried that the matter of exchanging copper coins for silver would eventually fail, so after hearing this man shouting, everyone immediately gathered around to see how Zhu Bai would solve the problem.
Someone immediately went to the Guanya Bureau next door to call Zhu Bai.
Zhu Bai happened to arrive early today, so he slowly walked over to take a look.
When the man saw Zhu Bai coming, he came over and said, "Your Highness must make decisions for the people."
Zhu Bai asked about the cause and effect, and was secretly amused: The copper coins minted by Zhu Biao had been circulating in the market for more than two months, and it was time for the problem to appear.
The reason why everyone dares to accept copper coins with confidence now is because Guanyinzhuang is willing to exchange silver for copper coins.
In other words, the circulation of copper coins is equivalent to that of silver.
However, after using it for a period of time, some copper coins have become worn.
Some people exchanged all the copper coins they had saved at home and minted nine years ago in Hongwu for silver.
Those will wear out even more.
A thousand copper plates can be exchanged for one tael of silver. Now that they are badly worn and incomplete, it may take 1,050 copper plates to be heavy enough to exchange for one tael of silver.
Anyone who comes to accept the broken copper coins is equivalent to breaking "fifty coins" in vain.
And as time goes by, this will happen more and more often.
There is also a possibility that some criminals, without adding any impurities, melted only ten coins and cast them into eleven or twelve coins, which is a little thinner than the money minted by the government and cannot be seen without weighing it.
Although this operation may seem uneconomical with little profit, it is amazing when the volume is large.
Zhu Bai's request to take it back based on weight was also to prevent anyone from taking advantage of this loophole.
Zhu Bai said: "My guest, don't be angry. Guanyinzhuang really can't use this kind of broken copper coins, because Guanyinzhuang doesn't have the right to mint coins. You can only take them to Baoyuan Bureau to exchange them for new copper coins."
