Chapter 306

It could not even be considered the main body of imperial power.

The reason why the Eight-Legged Essay could be born and flourish for hundreds of years.

In essence, it was not because it trapped the world, but to facilitate the scholar-gentry in taking shortcuts.

The Eight-Legged Essay had many restrictions.

There were many clauses.

Similarly, the more restrictions there were, the more it showed that within such essays, as long as one found the pattern, there was a chance to pass as a fraud.

Moreover, when examiners graded the papers, if a mistake occurred and they were accused of missing a "worthy talent," they could use the Eight-Legged Essay as a pretext to excuse themselves.

If one happened to meet a famous master, and that master taught you these techniques, you were guaranteed to at least become a Jinshi.

If one did not meet a famous master.

Then one could only hope to be a genius like Li Dongyang or Zhang Juzheng by nature.

And discover the techniques within it oneself.

Thus it can be seen.

Under the sun, there are ultimately no new things.

Either pay money.

Or grind!

Su Qiao looked at Zhu Youjian, whose face showed confusion, and said with deep gravity.

"I actually think they will agree."

"Moreover, there is absolutely no better opportunity than now!"

Having said this, Su Qiao immediately went back into the Bureau of Military Equipment.

And started tinkering with gunpowder...

169, Who in the world does not know Great Ming!

For the following period, Su Qiao seemed to forget the purpose of his arrival in the Chongzhen era.

Every day, he just tinkered with gunpowder in the Bureau of Military Equipment.

Sometimes, he was even too lazy to go to the Bureau of Military Equipment.

He simply hid directly in the residence provided by Zhu Youjian and slept soundly.

However, just when Su Qiao was doing nothing.

The edicts drafted previously by the Grand Secretariat gradually reached the Maritime Trade Offices and the passes along the Great Wall.

Huge amounts of Bai Yin were sent into the newly established Maritime Trade Offices and exchanged for Treasure Notes.

And in the north of Great Ming.

Countless merchants traveling west, especially those so-called Eight Great Shanxi Merchants.

Were also forcibly ordered by the border soldiers to exchange their payments for Treasure Notes.

Even though these Shanxi Merchants were extremely unwilling in their hearts.

At least the court had promised that these Treasure Notes could be exchanged for silver at any time.

After exchanging a few more times.

These merchants grew too lazy to argue with the court.

After all, time is money.

Their profits had not been damaged, and there were so many Zhang Zui at home waiting to eat.

How could they spare the time to wrangle with the court?

They obediently exchanged for Treasure Notes and then simply went out of the pass.

It was just this exchange in and out.

That truly made the court's jaw drop.

One month later.

Inside the Qianqing Palace.

Du Du Yinxi, holding several Memorials to the throne, walked before Zhu Youjian with his eyes wide open in shock.

"Your subject Du Du Yinxi pays homage to Your Majesty!"

Zhu Youjian, who was chatting casually with Old Zhu in the chat group, looked up, saw it was Du Du Yinxi, and hurriedly said.

"Provide a seat for Du Taige!"

Wang Chengen in the distance hurriedly brought over a round stool and placed it behind Du Du Yinxi.

Once Du Du Yinxi sat on the round stool, Zhu Youjian finally spoke.

"Du Taige, you entered the palace in such haste; is there something the matter?"

Du Du Yinxi clasped his hands and said.

"Your Majesty, Mr. Su's new policies have been implemented for over a month; I have come specifically to report the results to Your Majesty."

Hearing this.

The emperors in the chat group and Zhu Youjian all became interested and hurriedly asked.

"What are the results? Speak quickly so I may listen."

Du Du Yinxi hurriedly clasped his hands and said.

"Your Majesty, I dare to ask one question: Is this Lord Su a celestial star descending to the mortal world?"

Zhu Youjian suppressed the smile on his face and said with a beaming expression.

"Enough, Du Taige; who Mr. Su is, my lord need not concern yourself. I only ask you, what exactly are the results!"

Du Du Yinxi finally snapped back to his senses, unfolded the Memorial to the throne, and said.

"Your Majesty, the five Maritime Trade Offices south of the Yangtze River, together with the horse markets of the Nine Frontiers, and the Maritime Trade Offices of Dagu and Denglai, currently hold accumulated silver of three hundred and fifty million taels..."

Even though Zhu Youjian had long prepared himself mentally.

But when Zhu Youjian truly heard this number,

he still could not help but draw in a sharp breath of cold air.

"Three hundred and fifty million taels?"

Du Du Yinxi hurriedly said,

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"The Nine Frontiers garrisons are fine enough; silver is scarce while soldiers are numerous. The military offices of the various Maritime Trade Offices have already reported emergencies to the Ministry of War several times, requesting the recruitment of more troops and the establishment of additional silver vaults. Even these Regional Commanders have been terrified!"

At the very beginning,

these high-ranking regional officials indeed had some crooked thoughts about this silver.

But very quickly, their courage vanished.

The reason was nothing else.

This silver was truly too much.

And it was accumulating more and more.

If in the past they had embezzled ten thousand or twenty thousand taels of silver, they would not have cared at all.

But now, each Maritime Trade Office possesses tens of millions, or even dozens of millions of taels of silver.

What lies in that silver vault,

is no longer silver.

It is a blade that demands life!

If they dared to take ten thousand taels, with subordinates taking a bit here and a bit there, within a few months,

the silver vault would be emptied.

At that time, when the overseas merchants came to exchange their treasure notes but could not get silver,

their own nine generations of relatives would hold hands and go to meet Emperor Taizu.

Looking at the military camps that had already been hollowed out by them through pocketing soldiers' pay,

and then looking at the silver vaults in the distance,

many Regional Commanders directly brought their bedding and slept in the silver vaults.

They feared that some bandits somewhere nearby, having eaten bear hearts and leopard guts, would dare to come and rob this silver.

Du Du Yinxi looked at the stunned Zhu Youjian and asked,

"Your Majesty...? Your Majesty?"