Chapter 133: Six books and one account, the double-entry bookkeeping method

Zhang Juzheng took out a memorial, flipped through it, thought about it, looked at Wang Guoguang, and opened his mouth to say, "After the Emperor read the Grand Minister's memorial, he commented: Does the Grand Minister really want to submit this memorial?"

Everyone looked at Wang Guoguang. What kind of memorial made Zhang Juzheng and the Emperor so cautious that they had to ask specifically?

Wang Guoguang nodded and said, "The border reserves have annual deficits. The officials in charge of grain follow the old ways and spend the public accumulation at will. The arrogant and cunning people sit and invite thick profits. If the ministers in charge are like this, it is truly like a leak in the vast sea, eventually running dry."

"I am the Minister of Revenue; if I don't submit this memorial, who will?"

If I don't go to hell, who will? After Ge Shouli finished listening, he knew that this day had finally come.

Wang Guoguang discussed the deficit of the border reserves. The officials in charge of grain followed the old ways and spent the public accumulation at will. If this continues, the Great Ming's public accumulation, even if it is a vast sea, will leak dry.

This is the truth.

Piercing this abscess and then curing it—if it is effective, then the local treasuries will also do the same. This is the implementation of the degree-by-degree communication, an imperial edict that completely returns the Great Ming's fiscal tax to the imperial court.

Zhang Juzheng began to explain Wang Guoguang's memorial. It is actually very simple.

It is that grain storage must be filled with "Kanhai" (verification documents) to prevent powerful families from colluding to sell and invade their profits; any extra demands or extortion from those waiting for grain must be strictly prohibited; those who are summoned to buy civilian grain must set a deadline for completion, and those who exceed the deadline will not be recorded in the accounts;

"Collect together, pay together, have collection and have payment, and then at the end of each year, order the Provincial Governors of each town to send the salt permits summoned and traded in that town, the grain purchased, the price silver issued, etc., and the officials in charge will create a register and send it to the Ministry to verify the officials in charge. Each will also send a Ministry register to verify the merits and demerits. It is necessary for the border officials to be sincere to the country and determined to carry it out. Within a year, the military needs can be met." Zhang Juzheng finished reading the last paragraph and waited quietly for the court officials to digest these words.

The actual application of the "Examination Method": the Provincial Governor and the officials in charge create a register of the grain entry verification documents and send them to the Ministry of Revenue as evidence to examine the officials in charge, and then send them to the Ministry of Personnel to screen for merits and demerits for dismissal, appointment, and removal.

The verification documents must correspond to the account books, clearly stating the reasons for the withdrawal. If there is a problem with the accounts, then don't blame the Ministry of Personnel for being ruthless.

Wan Shihe listened carefully to the court discussion and asked with confusion, "Doesn't that mean that the border Provincial Governors and the officials in charge can collude, make the account books well, and then deceive the superiors and hide the truth, continuing to invade the public accumulation? In order to eliminate the great evil of collusion and the private feelings of officials, the result is that the imperial court's edict binds them together completely. This is my confusion."

"Minister Wan, this doubt of yours is excellent," Wang Guoguang began to speak: "The Frontier Viceroy holds a 'General Ledger' in his hands; this is a general ledger prepared together with the management officials. There is also a 'Fish-Scale Register'—a land register obtained from land surveys—an 'Internal Ledger' for the circulation of money and goods within the various frontier towns, an 'External Ledger' for the circulation of money and goods between the imperial court and the frontier, a 'Budgetary Ledger' from the Ministry of Revenue's director in charge of money and grain, a 'Balance Ledger' for the remaining amounts, and a 'Tally Ledger' for all expenditure vouchers."

"This is the 'Six Ledgers and One Account,' involving the Frontier Viceroy, the Investigating Censor, the Grand Coordinator, the Provincial Administration Commissioner, the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner, the Regional Military Commissioner, the Ministry of Revenue's director in charge of money and grain, the military town's regular army, the granary officials, and the common people who trade. Once these six ledgers and one account are well-prepared, the state's fiscal and tax affairs will be thoroughly settled."

Zhang Juzheng looked at Wan Shihe and thought for a while before saying, "Minister Wan, there are only a few people in our Wenhua Hall for court discussion, and each has their own thoughts. If the local areas can do such a good job with so many accounts, and they are colluding inside and out, then it is not a problem of account books, but a problem of researching the deployment of troops and pacifying rebellions."

"Reasonable." Wan Shihe was silent for a long time before saying, "Once the border accounts are done smoothly, should the accounts of the world be done?"

Wang Guoguang nodded and said, "Yes, I have never hidden or avoided this point. This is a pilot project. Once it is done smoothly, it can be promoted to the world. It is the same as the Examination Method and Beijing Inspection in the capital, and the current land clearing, cleaning up encroachments, returning land, and tax inspection in the Southern Yamen. First, find out the various problems of the account books, and then complete the new law of the Great Ming's fiscal tax."

Wan Shihe let out a breath of turbid air and said, "Sure enough, there is a reason why the Emperor asked the Grand Minister whether he really wanted to submit this memorial. Now Minister Wang is settling the general accounts with the world's nobles, officials, powerful families, gentry, and powerful households. After we leave, they will settle the general accounts with us."

Just this one memorial—if it is really implemented at the border and then promoted to the world, how many people's interests will it harm? Everyone is lying on this towering tree of the Great Ming to suck blood. If you don't let these people suck blood, they are helpless when you hold power. When you don't hold power, what kind of criticism will they have for you?

Cutting off someone's path to wealth is like killing their parents.

This is a hatred that cannot coexist.

Zhu Yijun looked at the court officials who were silent and opened his mouth to say, "Yes, so I asked the Grand Minister if he really wanted to do this. The Grand Minister said, yes, he really wants to do this, because the country is drifting and restless."

"Actually, as Minister Wan said, the Zhang Yuanfu doesn't need to, the Grand General doesn't need to, the Grand Tan Sima doesn't need to, the Grand Minister of Revenue doesn't need to. I am confused, the Zhang Yuanfu pretends to be confused, the court officials pretend to be confused, the court officials pretend to be confused, the meat-eaters pretend to be confused together, cover their eyes, shout 'it is difficult to be confused,' and muddle along. As long as the Great Ming doesn't perish in our own hands, that's enough."

Closing your eyes and stepping on the gas pedal is also a way of living.

Zhu Yijun continued, "Why be so calculating, so harsh, so urgent, hurting the hearts of the gentry of the world? 'Cultivate virtue and be close to the nine clans; the nine clans are harmonious, and the people are peaceful; the people are enlightened, and the world is harmonious.'"

"'Think of danger, think of change, think of retreat.' Minister Wan, there is nothing wrong with what you said. People, after all, seek profit and avoid harm. Like the Zhang Yuanfu, the Grand General, the Grand Tan Sima, and the Grand Minister of Revenue, seeking harm and avoiding profit, not caring about themselves—how is this not a kind of stupidity?"

Wan Shihe's face was painful. He waved his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I... I am guilty."

"Then do you want to retire?" Zhu Yijun smiled and asked, "Avoiding is a coward's behavior, but I didn't ask Minister Wan to be a brave man. If Minister Wan wants to retire, I can add one rank to your official position and let you return home with honor."

"I... I don't know." Wan Shihe knelt on the ground and thought for a long time before saying in a panic, "I am terrified and dull. I don't know what to do."

Zhu Yijun thought for a while and said, "Minister Wan doesn't know what to do, so why not follow the crowd? If everyone says new policies are okay, then do new policies. If everyone says new policies are not okay and want to deny them completely, then deny them completely, how about that?"

"I obey the decree." Wan Shihe was silent for a moment before bowing his head.

"Exempt from the ceremony." Zhu Yijun said with a gentle face. His requirements for Wan Shihe were really not high. Wan Shihe was not a brave person. He could translate "Western Mathematics" and offer it, and he could do the Ministry of Rites' work well. Zhu Yijun felt that Wan Shihe had already done very well.

Being too harsh is unnecessary.

"Done!" The open-minded Tan Lun said with excitement, "What a big deal! Not convinced? If you are not convinced, let's fight a battle! Whoever wins will listen to whoever!"

Qi Jiguang said quite calmly, "I guarantee that the imperial court can win. The new army in the capital already has initial combat capability. Jizhou, Yongping, and Shanhai Pass have 100,000 usable soldiers, which is completely enough."

Hence Hai Rui and Ge Shouli looked at each other. Hence Hai Rui deliberated for a while and said, "Then do it? If we don't do it, the imperial court won't have money, right? People always have to eat, and the imperial court always has to collect taxes."

"Respect the power of the master's prestige and happiness." Ge Shouli opened his mouth to express.

This is the means of the imperial court's centralization of power, or the embodiment of the concentration of imperial power. As for the other part of the Jin Party, the clan parties like Wang Chonggu and Zhang Siwei, Ge Shouli, as the leader of the Jin Party, wished Zhang Juzheng could beat them to death immediately.

When Yang Bo left, he explained things very clearly. Wang Chonggu and Zhang Siwei were both dogs. They would only go home and howl when they were beaten by Zhang Juzheng. If Wang Chonggu and Zhang Siwei were beaten to death, Ge Shouli, the leader of the Jin Party, would sit firmly.

Ge Shouli was actually better at party building. The All-Jin Hall was made prosperous by Ge Shouli. Even the All-Chu Hall was following his lead. Ge Shouli had no ability regarding the line problem, but he walked to the end of the line of implementing the power of the master's prestige and happiness.

"The Zhang Yuanfu handles things well!" The Minister of Personnel thought for a long time and expressed his opinion. The Zhang Yuanfu did the right thing.

This sentence made the heavy Wenhua Hall feel a little lighter, and smiles appeared on everyone's faces.

The Minister of Justice Wang Zhigao had a complex face. After looking and thinking for a long time, he knelt down and bowed five times and kowtowed three times, saying, "Your Majesty, my mother is old. I beg Your Majesty to let me return home to take care of my mother, retire and support my parents."

Zhang Juzheng never thought that Wang Zhigao would be the deserter. There is no road in the world that is straight from the beginning; they are all winding and rugged. One of his fellow travelers was missing one today. Wang Zhigao didn't dare to continue.

Zhu Yijun never thought that even Wan Shihe didn't choose to be the deserter, but Wang Zhigao did.

"Granted. The Ministry of Personnel will discuss and choose a wise person to see." Zhu Yijun smiled and said, "Add one rank to your official position, return home with honor."

"I kowtow to thank Your Majesty for your great grace." Wang Zhigao kowtowed again before standing up and slowly exiting the Wenhua Hall. Standing outside the hall, the sun was scorching, and for a moment, he felt a little dizzy. He looked back, shook his head, and left.

This was a peaceful breakup. There was no need to make it so ugly. Wang Zhigao didn't stay in the Wenhua Hall to be a mole, which was already very moral.

Zhu Yijun once asked Zhang Juzheng about the road to the Great Ming's revival. This road is blocked and difficult. When walking on the road, there will definitely be people who get separated. There is no need to be overly harsh on those who get separated. They might just be tired of walking and don't want to continue moving forward.

Perhaps Wang Zhigao had long intended to leave, but had been hesitating, and finally chose to leave.

"Is there anyone else who wants to leave?" Zhu Yijun looked around, especially at the Minister of Rites Wan Shihe. His tone was very gentle. If Wan Shihe was also tired of walking, he could leave.

Wan Shihe pondered, but didn't answer. If he wanted to retreat, he could retreat, but it was unnecessary. If there really was a day to clear the monarch's side, he, the treacherous official, wouldn't be ranked. If the sky fell, the tall ones would hold it up. Who would clear whom was not certain.

Wan Shihe didn't answer, which made Zhu Yijun somewhat surprised. He actually didn't choose to run away!

"If there is no objection, let's build it from the border. Within a year, the military needs of the Nine Borders can be met." Zhang Juzheng looked around again, wrote his opinion on the floating ticket, signed it, and sent it to the Emperor.

Zhu Yijun picked up his seal and stamped it on it.

"The eldest son of the Fushun Prince Huo Houkun, the first son Yihuo, died of illness. He submitted a memorial to change the title of the second son, the Auxiliary State General Yiting, to the eldest grandson." Zhang Juzheng continued the court discussion on the Great Ming's affairs.

After the court discussion was the lecture banquet. Zhu Yijun thought for a long time before opening his mouth to say, "Sir, who do you think is suitable to be the Minister of Justice?"

Zhang Juzheng shook his head and said, "The Ministry of Personnel will naturally discuss and recommend. I don't know."

"The Minister of Personnel Zhang Han has always shouted that the Zhang Yuanfu handles things well. If Zhang Han discusses it, isn't that the Zhang Yuanfu's meaning?" Zhu Yijun smiled and asked.

Zhang Juzheng thought for a while and said, "Discussion is discussion. I will not instruct. People's hearts are separated by skin. Fu Yingzhen, Wu Zhongxing, and Zhao Yongxian are all my students, but they still impeach me as a treacherous official."

The officialdom is a zero-sum game, which is also the terror of the six books and one account. Using degree-by-degree communication and mathematics to divide local officials is an important supplement to the Examination Method to break the great evil of the world's indulgence.

Zhang Juzheng never thought that Zhang Han was his party member. He shouted that the Zhang Yuanfu handles things well, but what he would do behind his back was not something Zhang Juzheng could know.

"Then let's have the lecture banquet." Zhu Yijun nodded.

When Zhang Juzheng returned to the All-Chu Hall, the Minister of Justice Wang Zhigao was already waiting in the Wenchang Pavilion of the All-Chu Hall.

"Sir, I am going home." Wang Zhigao stood up straight and said, "I can't accompany you any further."

"I am exhausted, and I have little help." Zhang Juzheng was also extremely helpless. Although Wang Zhigao was not Zhang Juzheng's party member, the two had a close personal friendship. Wang Zhigao's daughter was studying in the family school of the All-Chu Hall, which could also be considered a kind of alliance, but a relatively loose one.

"Then can you agree to the marriage of our children?" Wang Zhigao mentioned the second purpose of his visit. The first purpose was naturally to say goodbye, and the second purpose was the marriage of their children.

Zhang Juzheng's fourth son, Zhang Jianxiu, was a childhood sweetheart with Wang Zhigao's daughter in the family school. Wasn't it time for them to be married? Wang Zhigao intended to find a good match for his daughter.

Although Zhang Jianxiu's academic performance was not good, not as good as his brothers who could pass the imperial examination if they wanted to, his character was excellent, and he was a good match.

But Zhang Juzheng was the Zhang Yuanfu, and Wang Zhigao was the Minister of Justice. If they became in-laws, wouldn't they be like Wang Chonggu and Zhang Siwei, becoming a clan party of in-laws? Wang Zhigao already had the intention to leave. He wanted to go home to support his parents and find a good match for his daughter. He wanted to perfect his small family and was unwilling to sacrifice his small family to perfect the big one.

Between public and private, Wang Zhigao chose private.

In this day and age, marrying off a daughter is like letting her be reborn, so Wang Zhigao was naturally cautious.

"Alright." Zhang Juzheng nodded, agreeing. Wang Zhigao was no longer the Minister of Justice, so naturally, there was no concern about clan parties.

"Be careful of Zhang Han. This person is not a good person." Before Wang Zhigao left, he suddenly said with a heavy face.

"That's why I said I am exhausted and have little help. You know, it's very difficult to do things. You insist on leaving, what can I do?" Zhang Juzheng smiled after hearing this, and his face was peaceful.

Wang Zhigao was silent for a long time before saying, "My mother is old, and her legs and feet are inconvenient. I have long had the intention to leave. What you are doing, Sir, is just futile."

Zhang Juzheng shook his head, extremely disapproving, saying, "How do you know it's futile if you don't do it?"

"Sigh, I'm leaving." Wang Zhigao waved his hand and left the All-Chu Hall.

You Qi asked with full confusion, "Sir, why agree to the marriage of the children? He is leaving."

"It is precisely because he has retired that I can agree." Zhang Juzheng explained, "I didn't agree before because he was the Minister of Justice."

"I don't understand." You Qi frowned and asked, "Wang Chonggu, Zhang Siwei, and Yang Bo could do it, but you can't, Sir?"

"I can't do it." Zhang Juzheng nodded quite seriously.

"Can the villain do it, but the gentleman can't? Where is such a reason?" You Qi was even more confused.

Zhang Juzheng flicked his sleeves and smiled, saying, "Because if a gentleman does it, he is no longer a gentleman and becomes a villain. Look at Minister Yang at the end—he couldn't even settle himself. Clearly a man of great virtue, yet he ended up in such a sorry state. Your master, I, want to be a gentleman."

"I don't understand." You Qi finally shook his head.

Zhang Juzheng had been fiddling with a model of a hydrofoil sailboat recently. It must be said that he stepped on the bellows with force, and the model of the hydrofoil ship indeed produced an upward lifting force, which convinced Zhang Juzheng that this thing was indeed the infinite principle of all things, rather than the Daoist magic of the True Martial Emperor.

Zhang Siwei asked his follower Liu Xuan to invite Wan Shihe over for a chat. This Liu Xuan was originally under Wan Shihe, but he identified more with Zhang Siwei's point of view. Wan Shihe kicked Liu Xuan out directly, and Liu Xuan also completely became Zhang Siwei's student.

When Wan Shihe arrived at Zhang Siwei's mansion, he looked at the person sitting on the right with horror. This person was none other than the Minister of Personnel Zhang Han, who was shouting all day that the Zhang Yuanfu handles things well!

"You... you... you... why are you here?" Wan Shihe looked at Zhang Han in a daze, unable to believe his eyes.

Zhang Han smiled and said, "Why can't I be here? The Ministry of Personnel discussed and recommended the Xuan-Da Viceroy Wang Chonggu as Minister of Justice. Naturally, I can be here."

Wan Shihe was a bit confused. He pondered for a long time before he understood.

Zhang Han is just another Lu Shusheng!

This statement is not accurate. Lu Shusheng entered the court as a member of the Zhang Party and ended up stabbing Zhang Juzheng in the back. Zhang Han was actually recommended by Yang Bo and finally became the Minister of Personnel. Zhang Juzheng is neither Zhang Han's teacher, fellow villager, fellow examinee, nor relative. Therefore, Zhang Han, who always shouts that the Zhang Yuanfu handles things well, is not a member of the Zhang Party, but a genuine member of the Jin Party!

People are really too complex, and the water in the capital is too deep. Wan Shihe regretted it. He should have retired with Wang Zhigao!

"Human feelings are complex, and people's hearts are unpredictable. The ancients did not deceive me." Wan Shihe sat down and said, "Tsk tsk, I didn't see it. Minister Zhang has such a face. Does the Zhang Yuanfu know about this face of Minister Zhang?"

"He probably doesn't know." Zhang Han was not very sure whether Zhang Juzheng knew or not, but he was clear that he had no other way to go.

Wan Shihe suddenly realized and said, "No wonder, Chen Xuehui communicated with Legazpi, and Legazpi kept saying that gold and silver are demonic things that corrupt people's hearts. As long as the price is right, even a soul can be sold to the devil."

"I think Legazpi's monarch must have faced such a situation."

Zhang Han didn't pick up the conversation and said quite solemnly, "Let's talk about serious business. Wang Chonggu's return to the capital to take office must pass through court discussion. Without Minister Wan's support, it is absolutely impossible to achieve."

Wan Shihe waved his hands repeatedly and said, "The court discussion has passed, but does the Zhang Yuanfu agree? If the Zhang Yuanfu agrees, does the Emperor agree? My agreement is useless. I am just a Minister of Rites who is scolded by the Emperor every day."

"When you are struck by lightning, don't implicate me."

Zhang Han and Zhang Siwei had heavy faces. This Wan Shihe was becoming more and more difficult to deal with. Was the pedantic old scholar of the past so slippery?

The smooth Wan Shihe was slippery and didn't say he agreed, nor did he say he didn't agree. He looked at the wind—whichever side the wind was strong, he stood on that side. Imperial permission, follow the crowd!

After Wan Shihe got this news, he deliberated very seriously. His mind was full of official position screens, which was a visual management system for power. After he figured it out, he asked his servants to prepare gifts and went directly to the All-Chu Hall to submit a visiting card.

Zhang Juzheng was extremely surprised by Wan Shihe's visit!

"Minister Wan, what brings you here?" After exchanging pleasantries about the bright sunshine tonight, Zhang Juzheng and Wan Shihe began to discuss serious business.

Wan Shihe said with a heavy face, "Zhang Han said he wanted to recommend Wang Chonggu as Minister of Justice."

"Oh." Zhang Juzheng was not very surprised.

Wan Shihe was greatly surprised and said, "Did the Zhang Yuanfu know this would happen?"

"The Ministry of Personnel recommended it, I cannot question it. The time is different now. If he continues to stay in Xuan-Da, his foundation will be even deeper, and he will form an obstruction to the Great Ming's six books and one account edict."

Wang Chonggu returned to the capital before, the capital camp was not strong, and Wang Chonggu could threaten the Emperor's power of prestige and happiness, but now, Wang Chonggu could no longer do it.

Wang Chonggu lived very comfortably. In Xuanfu, using "eating, drinking, and having fun" to describe it was not an exaggeration. He was extremely comfortable. Then an order was sent from the capital to Xuanfu, and Wang Chonggu was stunned.

Return to the capital for what? Return to the capital to face Zhang Juzheng, who eats people without spitting out bones, is insidious and cunning, and simply cannot be fought? In Xuanfu, he could make money and enjoy life, doing whatever he wanted. Returning to the capital, layer after layer of shackles were put on him. On Zhang Juzheng's turf, what could he use to fight Zhang Juzheng?

"Stupid! Extremely stupid! Can you people use your brains before doing stupid things, even if you tell me?" After Wang Chonggu returned to the capital, Zhang Siwei, Zhang Han, and Wan Shihe took Wang Chonggu to Zhang Siwei's mansion, and Wang Chonggu scolded them directly.

Zhang Juzheng and Wan Shihe had a good chat about matters concerning the Ministry of Rites and the Court of State Ceremonial, especially regarding the continued translation of various Western mathematical works, maritime schools, interpreter schools, and so on.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 134 =====

"It is clearly the case that symbols are more convenient and algebra is more convenient, yet we cling to the distinction between Chinese and barbarians, remaining stagnant and refusing to advance, turning what was originally progressive into something backward—that is what is truly shameful."

"The ocean accepts hundreds of rivers and thus becomes vast; take the strengths of others to make up for one's own weaknesses, and discard the dross to keep the essence—this is His Majesty's instruction, and it is also the established law of our ancestors. If our cannons and muskets are not as good as others', we learn and improve them; if our shipbuilding methods are not as good as others', we learn and improve them."

"I see that in Western algorithms, there is a type of 'double-entry bookkeeping'—could it be translated for us to look at? It would be good as a supplement to the Great Ming's bookkeeping methods."

Wan Shihe nodded frequently, in full agreement with Zhang Juzheng's words. Mathematics was already difficult enough; if one insisted on writing it like a heavenly book and refused to simplify it, how could it be convenient for promotion? If one does not have a suitable carriage for a long journey, how can one reach a distant place? He said affirmatively: "The Grand Secretary is right; I will have Chen Xuehui translate it immediately."

When Wan Shihe left the All-Quan Quan Chu Hui Guan, he went to the All-Jin Guild Hall again. Ge Shouli was not very surprised by this. Are there few who shout about loyalty to the sovereign and the state while plotting for private gain? Carrying... are there few? It is not a major matter.

The next morning, at the Wenhua Hall, Zhu Yijun granted an audience to the special envoy of the Great Frankish Kingdom, Li Yashi, and the heir of the Small Frankish Kingdom, Antonio.

"An envoy from afar pays respects to His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Ming. Long live, long live, ten thousand years to His Majesty. I have come from afar, bringing a letter from the King of our country." Li Yashi held up a letter; this was the letter written by Philip II to the young Emperor.

The Director of the Court of State Ceremonial, Chen Xuehui, had already translated it, striving to achieve faithfulness, expressiveness, and elegance.

Zhu Yijun had also read it long ago and had already written a reply. Considering that the West lacked Great Ming interpreters, he had it translated directly into Latin at the Court of State Ceremonial in a bilingual format to prevent misreading; the Chinese-Latin bilingual text was sealed across the seams.

"Antonio, do you know a man named Shylock? A usurer?" Zhu Yijun asked curiously, looking at Antonio.

Antonio thought seriously for a long time, shook his head, and said: "Shylock? I do not know him. My shipowner is King Philip II of Spain; I do not need to borrow money to do things. As long as I can sail the ship well, that is enough."

"Supreme Emperor of the Great Ming, I have several gifts to offer."

Two young eunuchs carried up a large chest. Antonio opened it and said: "These are all the various kinds of sweet potatoes and potatoes from all over the world that I could collect. Believe me, Your Majesty, there is no one in this world who has collected them more completely than I have."

"From India, from the Congo River, from Peru, from La Plata, from New Granada—all the potatoes and sweet potatoes are here. I heard that the respected Emperor was looking for these, so I brought them this time. There is only a portion here; the others have already been handed over to your country's construction officials."

This was the first gift: sweet potatoes and potatoes from all over the world. The Great Ming court wanted to plant and promote potatoes. As one of the heirs of Portugal, Antonio had the power to mobilize Portuguese resources in the Indian Ocean. Since the young Emperor liked farming, he naturally had to cater to his preferences.

Upon learning that the young Emperor was very fond of farming, and specifically of sweet potatoes and potatoes, he had come up with this idea.

"Is the Prince bribing Me?" Zhu Yijun asked with a smile. After seeing the actual items, Zhu Yijun even changed his form of address, from Antonio to Prince. If he could produce more things, Zhu Yijun would not mind being more polite.

Face is something given to each other. Antonio was willing to travel across the ocean, bringing these things that Zhu Yijun needed to give him face; Zhu Yijun was naturally willing to give him more face in return.

Prince? An unfamiliar title. Antonio was somewhat silent. He had a very high reputation among the common people, but no one had ever addressed him this way.

Most people called him a merchant or a captain.

Antonio waved his hands repeatedly and said: "No, no, no. In our West, there is no such thing as bribery. This is called an offering or an investment. Of course, it is the same thing. In our West, this does not violate the law."

"As Your Majesty sees, I need Your Majesty's investment."

Begging for monthly tickets, Awoo!!!!!!!!!

(End of chapter)