Chapter 427: Subscription Registration Begins

Zhu Youxiao glanced at Chen Hong, walked over to his side, and said softly, "Know your limits when doing things. Sometimes don't overthink—it won't do you any good."

"Yes, Your Highness, this servant understands." Chen Hong hurriedly knelt and bowed his head.

"Go collect your punishment yourself." Zhu Youxiao nodded and said, "Remember, twenty strokes."

"Yes, thank you, Your Highness! Thank you, Your Highness!" Chen Hong quickly replied.

After saying this, Chen Hong turned and walked out. He knew he had spoken out of turn.

Zhu Youxiao watched Chen Hong's departing back and shook his head helplessly.

People—every single one of them has selfish motives. Knowing what to do at any given time and keeping to one's place—truly few can manage that.

After thinking it over, Zhu Youxiao ordered those around him, "Send word to Wei Chao—tell him to come back."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Someone nearby acknowledged, and then the palace fell silent again.

Zhu Youxiao stretched his limbs and turned to walk outside.

Standing on the steps looking at the sunlight outside, he felt it was quite nice. The weather today was very good, the sunshine very bright.

Ever since winter began, the weather in the capital had turned unpredictable. Zhu Youxiao remembered that in his previous life, when he listened to Guo Degang's crosstalk, the comedian always loved to say how cold it was in the old, old days.

In fact, when New China was founded, the weather was still extremely, extremely cold. Into the sixties and seventies, winter still looked like winter—there was no such thing as a warm winter. It was simply the lingering chill of the Little Ice Age that made the weather very cold.

And in this Great Ming, which was about to enter the Little Ice Age, winters were beginning to turn unbearably cold. In a few more years, the whole realm would become even harder to endure.

Zhu Youxiao had very clear memories: north of the Yangtze River, snow fell everywhere, blanketing the sky.

In the era Zhu Youxiao lived in, the Yangtze River region had not seen such heavy snow for many years, and winter came very early—there simply wasn't enough time for crops to grow.

When the snow melted in spring, you planted the seeds; by the time winter snow fell again, the plants still couldn't be harvested. That was why everyone had such a hard time.

The food shortages of the late Ming were mainly due to this—not to mention the droughts, floods, and earthquakes on top of it.

In short, the earth was not peaceful, and life was not easy.

And in Jiangnan, which should have been a bountiful grain-producing region—places like Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Huguang, and elsewhere—much land had been converted to mulberry and hemp. The "converting rice paddies to mulberry is state policy" mentioned in *Ming Dynasty 1566* is fictional; in actual history, no such state policy ever existed.

However, the conversion of rice paddies to mulberry was a real phenomenon. Because of the development of smuggling trade, places like Zhejiang throughout Jiangnan needed huge quantities of raw silk for spinning.

And raising silkworms required vast amounts of mulberry leaves. The great households didn't need the court to urge them—they converted their fields to mulberry on their own. As for the small families, those with land could talk about it; those without land didn't even need to be mentioned.

Moreover, for families that owned land, growing mulberry earned far more than growing grain. The sprouts of capitalism in the south—that is, the emergence of hired labor—was largely due to this reason too: huge overseas demand and rampant smuggling trade.

Although things improved somewhat after the Longqing era opened the seas, smuggling was still rampant in reality. The court couldn't get much benefit out of it.

A feudal dynasty that couldn't even collect land taxes—what taxes could you expect it to collect? Could it possibly collect commercial taxes?

In this era, not just anyone could do business—you needed real skill. "I don't pay my land tax, and you want me to pay commercial tax? Dream on!"

Ever since transmigrating, Zhu Youxiao had been thinking of every possible way to raise money to equip his army. Put plainly, it came down to one thing: ensuring no one dared to touch him, the Emperor.

As for the reforms Zhu Youxiao had made, very few touched fundamental interests. This reform of the Imperial Academy counted as a reform to be promoted across the realm—there was nothing else.

Zhu Youxiao was simply waiting—waiting for his army to take shape, waiting for the decisive battle in Liaodong to settle the realm, waiting until his own troops returned with the might of a great victory, and then he could truly begin reform.

But before that, he still needed money.

Standing on the palace steps looking outward, Zhu Youxiao's gaze seemed to pierce through the entire capital, seeing places far beyond.

After winter set in, although the weather grew colder, there would occasionally be a fine day—bright sunshine, temperatures not so low.

The sixth day of the eleventh month was just such a day.

With the New Year fast approaching, the capital was beginning to bustle and prosper.

Although these past two years had seen many events, the Great Ming was generally peaceful overall, and the court was functioning smoothly.

The entire capital was suffused with the lively atmosphere of the coming New Year.

Amid this atmosphere, one matter had become the talk of the capital's common folk: the new imperial district was about to begin subscription registration.

Though the term "subscription registration" had only just appeared, it had already been accepted by everyone and was widely discussed and debated.

Many people were rubbing their hands in anticipation, waiting for this round of subscription to begin.

As the sun rose, Zhu Youxiao walked the capital's main streets, his mood relaxed. Come to think of it, it had been a long time since he'd been out and about.

Lately, aside from handling state affairs, Zhu Youxiao spent most of his time in the palace keeping Empress Zhang and his son company. So getting out for a while counted as relaxation.

A few days ago Zhu Youxiao had been agonizing over naming his child, but now he could put that matter aside for the moment.

Behind Zhu Youxiao followed two eunuchs—one was Chen Hong, the other Wei Chao, who had just returned from Liaodong.

Compared to when he had left the capital, Wei Chao had matured considerably. After returning to the capital this time, his heart held even more trepidation and unease.

Wei Chao had no desire to be sent out again. Though life in Liaodong had been fairly comfortable, it was hard to endure.

Turning his head from time to time to glance at Chen Hong, Wei Chao wore a smile on his face.

Ever since Wei Chao returned, Chen Hong had begun to find him disagreeable. Although Wei Chao's standing in the capital had fallen quickly during his time away, and many of his trusted people had been reassigned, Wei Chao still had connections.

After all, judging by the current situation, Wei Chao was very likely on the rise.

There have always been those who tend cold stoves, and the stove before them was about to become hot—so it was still very easy for Wei Chao to gather information.

Wei Chao had basically figured out why Chen Hong was so hostile toward him. Put plainly, it was just power struggles within the palace—nothing to make a fuss over.

As for the rivalry between the two men behind him, Zhu Youxiao paid it no mind at all.

The reason he had brought Wei Chao back was precisely to keep Chen Hong in check. Having spent so long by the Emperor's side, Chen Hong had inevitably bred some thoughts he shouldn't have.

A person's ambition changes with time and the growth of power—this Zhu Youxiao understood well.

As an emperor, he couldn't kill everyone, nor could he make everyone ambition-free. That simply wasn't realistic.

Finding someone to apply pressure and maintain balance—that was very important.

Glancing at the time and the sky, Zhu Youxiao said, "It's about time—let's go join the fun."

"Yes, Your Highness." Chen Hong and Wei Chao answered together.

Today was the day the Imperial Household Department was to begin subscription registration. Zhu Youxiao wanted to see just how lively this affair would be, and in the process test Huang Changzong—to see whether this man had the ability to advance further.

For Zhu Youxiao, the Imperial Household Department would play a major role in the future. If he couldn't find a capable person to run things, problems would likely arise later.

Of the people he had sent to the Imperial Household Department, some were suitable and did well; others were not suitable and did poorly.

As for his father-in-law Zhang Guoji, he had already passed the stage of bearing pressure, and his reputation was about as good as it would get.

When it came to practical ability, Zhang Guoji was not much to speak of. If the Imperial Household Department were handed over to him, the consequences would be severe. So Zhu Youxiao had already prepared to replace him.

The group soon arrived at the Imperial Household Department.

The place was already packed to overflowing. Members of the great families had come in person, while others had sent their subordinates—in short, a scene of bustling prosperity.

Officials dressed in resplendent finery were preparing to purchase a set of residences to show support for His Majesty.

Lower-ranking officials had come to look at the houses built for them. After all, this was a benefit granted by the Emperor—if they could eventually be allotted a house, that would count as property too.

As for the merchants, they had come to inspect the shops. Shops in the capital had long been saturated; the small ones they looked down on, and the large ones they couldn't buy.

Over the years, shop prices had been rising steadily. Now that new shops were available, they naturally wanted to compete for them. Moreover, the people living in these newly built houses were all officials and nobles—rich and honored alike—so their spending power went without saying.

The shops on this side were bound to be prime locations. If one operated a high-end business there, future sales would be excellent. Thus, the merchants who came here were essentially all wealthy ones, each backed by someone behind the scenes.

Even many nobles and imperial relatives were planning to secure a shop here as well. This counted as securing a piece of industry for the family—a move that killed many birds with one stone.

After showing the invitation to the gatekeeper, Zhu Youxiao led his people inside.

Beyond the entrance was a large courtyard, where quite a few people were gathered in twos and threes, discussing something.

In the very center of the courtyard stood a huge wooden model, fashioned after the property displays of later generations.

Through this model, one could clearly see the functional zones and building distribution—clear and easy to understand.

Huang Changzong had evidently put real effort into this.

Standing before the model and looking at it for a while, Zhu Youxiao nodded in satisfaction.

77】 Many people in the courtyard were also gathered around the sand table, pointing at it from time to time, as if deciding which house to buy. As for the prices, most people didn't care much—after all, their families were not short on money.

Many people in the courtyard were also gathered around the sand table, pointing at it from time to time, as if deciding which house to buy. As for the price, most people didn't care much about it—after all, their families weren't short on money.

Everyone standing here came from families that were thoroughly wealthy. Spending a bit of money didn't matter; what mattered was that the goods were good.

As the sun climbed high into the sky, people's patience was nearly exhausted.

At this moment, Huang Changzong slowly walked out from the building, his plump face wreathed in smiles.