Chapter 800: The Damage Is Not Great, but the Insult Is Extremely Strong

The censors opposed the Jifu Viceroyalty. After all, it had reached the southern part of Africa, and the sea voyage exceeded 20,000 li. It was so far away, and there were no local specialties worth the Great Ming's favor. Running so far to establish a viceroyalty was really a bit too radical.

Moreover, the investment was not small. Neither the national treasury nor the inner treasury had silver, and the imperial court was blocking the Emperor from borrowing money. Where would the investment come from? This became a problem, and the censors would naturally oppose it sternly.

However, with the Strait of Magellan blocked, the Jifu Viceroyalty became precious.

The New Sun Canal cannot be built for a while, and the construction period of thirty or fifty years is really too long. Passing through the Western Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean to detour to the West is also a path.

"Wang Qian, restrain yourself a little bit. Sometimes, loosen your grip under your hands and don't make enemies everywhere. The money is not yours." Wang Chonggu talked about Wang Qian's affairs at the Yanxing Building Trading Firm; this job offends too many people.

Wang Qian said quite solemnly: "I know what Father means, but I won't change."

"If you don't listen to the old man's words, you will suffer in front of your eyes. How come you are living more and more like Hence Hai Rui? In this world, how can there be so many things that are clean?" Wang Chonggu was very helpless. A son grown up cannot be controlled by his mother. Wang Qian is older, and Wang Chonggu really cannot control him.

Wang Qian took a deep breath and answered very firmly: "They had better be able to kill me! That Yao Guangqing could risk his life to take a knife from the Japanese pirates for a few thousand catties of kelp. He is my defeated opponent, and he can still be so desperate; I can too!"

"I'm going to Yanxing Building."

Wang Qian refused to continue communicating with Wang Chonggu. He knew very well what he was doing. His battle with Yao Guangqing had gone from being a wealthy young master to competing in the officialdom, not only for meritorious service but also for some somewhat empty and nihilistic ideals: to establish a life for the people and to open peace for all generations.

After Wang Qian arrived at Yanxing Building, he summoned all the clerks of Yanxing Building and held a small meeting on the fifth floor of Yanxing Building.

Wang Qian took a deep breath and said: "I will state a few conditions today. Any private workshop that meets any of the following characteristics does not need to report to me. I will not approve it."

"Unless you can persuade the Emperor to issue an imperial decree, otherwise, it won't pass with me."

"First, skilled artisans do not have equity. These shares only circulate among the owner, the owner's relatives, the chief manager, and the manager's relatives. No need to report; not allowed."

"Second, profits have not grown significantly, or have even started to decline, and most of the profits are maintained by the owner's personal connections. No need to report; not allowed."

"Third, before entering the market, large-scale dividends were suddenly paid to major shareholders, resulting in insufficient funds on the books to support operations, using the excuse of supplementing liquidity. No need to report; not allowed."

"Fourth, the source of profit for the private workshop is too single, and a single source of profit exceeds half. No need to report; not allowed."

"Fifth..."

"... the main business of the private workshop is to act as a purchasing agent for the imperial court Yamens. No need to report; not allowed."

"Sixth, assets must be personally investigated. Even if their iron mines and copper mines are in Juezhou or in the West, they must be personally visited to confirm they are true. If they are vague, no need to report; not allowed."

"Seventh, unable to penetrate, unable to find the actual controller, only able to find the agent broker. No need to report; not allowed."

"Eighth, cannot provide tax payment tickets, has not passed the tax audit of the Tax Audit Institute, and has a record of tax evasion. No need to report; not allowed."

"Ninth, within three generations of direct lineage, there are criminals. No need to report; not allowed."

"Nine not allowed! Whoever reports it, go to the Northern Town Fusi yourself to accept the interrogation of the Embroidered Uniform Guard!"

The equity system has become very common in the Great Ming. Skilled artisans are also one of the masters of private workshops. Although they hold a small amount of shares, and most of them are fake and have no decision-making power, only dividend rights, this is enough.

The distribution of the equity system is more reliable and reasonable than the employment relationship.

The equity system is a new production relationship that encourages production enthusiasm, actively improves production tools, and improves production efficiency and productivity. This is a production relationship above the free employment production relationship.

Skilled artisans having no equity means that this private workshop has no future and no production enthusiasm.

The personal connection business in the second article is the trash among trash.

For example, some time ago, Wang Qian rejected a private workshop. This private workshop relied entirely on its brother-in-law to provide supplies at the Ningbo Ocean Trading Firm. Today, the brother-in-law is there, and the business is there. Tomorrow, the brother-in-law is thrown into prison, and this business is immediately gone. The tree falls and the monkeys scatter, leaving a mess.

The third article, large-scale dividends before listing leading to insufficient liquidity, is simply preparing to sell the private workshop to Yanxing Building investors. Buying these valuable tickets, buying and buying, you can become the big owner.

The fourth article, the source of profit is too single, represents that the rise and fall of this private workshop is highly bundled with this source of profit. There is 99% interest transfer here, and 99% is threshold business. I can do it, others can't—that is the threshold.

For example, last year, Hence Hai Rui, the Chief Censor, carried out anti-corruption and arrests on the Longjiang Shipyard of the Southern Yamen, and caught fourteen such private workshops.

The fifth article, acting as a purchasing agent for the imperial court and Yamens, is mainly because the repayment is too slow.

The Yamen is relatively rigid. Sometimes, the purchasing agent working for the imperial court Yamen starves to death, and the silver approved by the imperial court Yamen has not yet finished the process.

Layer-by-layer auditing has caused great rigidity. The possibility of such private workshops dying suddenly is greater than Wang Qian dying in an assassination.

A financier like the Emperor who pays first is rare, so these types of projects are all great construction projects, with imperial funding, supervised by the Six Ministries, and are wonders that are fast, quick, and excellent, basically without major problems.

Being able to do the Emperor's business...

... is too rare.

The sixth article, concealing major assets, not providing accurate information, and being vague—this is simply coming to cheat, coming to cheat Yanxing Building's silver!

Wang Qian suffered this loss. A private workshop in Shandong said it raised tens of thousands of mu of kelp, but after the meeting, these kelp got sick and all died. The next year, the kelp magically grew out again. In the end, Wang Qian directly stopped it. After investigating clearly, he found there was no kelp at all; it was just hard cheating.

For this type, Wang Qian directly reported it to the Tax Audit Institute, letting the Embroidered Uniform Guard of the Tax Audit Institute greet their ancestors for eighteen generations.

The seventh article, unable to penetrate, not allowed—same as the sixth article, coming to cheat silver. Finding some agents for the actual control, and not wanting the imperial court to pursue responsibility—then this market, you cannot enter.

If something goes wrong, you have to find the responsible person. Whoever did the evil, whoever cleans it up.

The eighth article, having tax payment, represents that it has passed the strict review of the accounts by the Tax Audit Institute. The accounts are generally reliable. Reviewing the main accounts again, 99% will not have problems.

The ninth article, criminals don't come to Yanxing Building to join in the fun. In this era where illegal acts can be redeemed with silver, being able to leave a criminal record means they are vicious criminals involved in heavy crimes.

"Is the nine not allowed too strict?" A clerk tremblingly stretched out his hand and said in a low voice: "Then if the Duke asks someone to come and speak, is it not allowed either?"

Wang Qian tilted his head, looked at the clerk, and said: "Whoever sends someone to lobby! You tell me, I will go and tell the Emperor, and let the Emperor find them to talk!"

"We can't afford to offend the ministers, but can the ministers afford to offend the Emperor? Disturbing the market stability of everyone being a shipowner is disturbing the great cause of opening the seas, is opposing the Wanli Reform! Is plotting rebellion!"

Wang Qian put a series of big hats on them. He is also a Jinshi, also a scholar-official. The things that the treacherous scholar faction knows, he also knows!

Either don't do it, or do it to the end!

This is the life experience summarized by Wang Qian, this wealthy young master. Since the face has been torn, and you still want to think about "you are good and I am good," being polite, then why tear the face?

"Censor Wang, I have a case here, which was sent by someone entrusted by the Second Grand Secretary." A clerk used a very low voice, took out a case, and handed it to Wang Qian.

As soon as this was said, the West Flower Hall of Yanxing Building was extremely quiet; you could hear a pin drop.

You, Wang Qian, don't talk so righteously. Right now, this is a case recommended by someone sent by your own father, asking you to make it convenient. Will you make it convenient?

Wang Qian finished reading the case, and the more he looked, the brighter his eyes became. He slapped the table, startling everyone.

"Good, good, good! Everyone, let's jointly submit a memorial to impeach the Second Grand Secretary! This nine not allowed is just missing a flag-sacrificing object! Come, come, come! Everyone has a share!"

The clerks looked at each other. Everyone knew Wang Qian very well and knew that the old Wang family had some family misfortune. The father dug a hole for the son in the provincial examination...

... wanting to be promoted can only take the path of lucky advancement, there is no other way. The son angers the father every day. The Beijing scenery line of the Seven-Star Ring-Head Sword is also famous.

However, being able to be filial to this extent is simply astonishing to everyone!

This is not only not making it convenient, but also impeaching!

Wang Qian's memorial of impeachment was written very smoothly, flowing like clouds and water, as if he had a plan in his chest and had a draft long ago.

"This is not appropriate, is it? No matter what, the Second Grand Secretary is also the Censor's father. Since ancient times, relatives have hidden for each other. Is it not very good to impeach so directly? Let's just reject this case." A censor saw Wang Qian was serious and stood out to compromise.

Censors and clerks just want Wang Qian to take a stand. You have personal connections from your father; will you make it convenient? If you don't even give your father's personal connections convenience, that is fairness, treating everyone equally. Then there is nothing to say; everyone has no opinion, and nine not allowed is nine not allowed.

Many corruptions of laws are corrupted from top to bottom, not from bottom to top. When revising the tax law, it was already discussed very clearly. Since Wang Qian doesn't even give his own father face, only the Emperor's face, then there is nothing to say; the system can be implemented.

They didn't expect that Wang Qian was also prepared to impeach Wang Chonggu, which created the strange scene of a son accusing his father.

But this is nothing. Zhang Juzheng was also impeached by his own students, which can be considered as sharing the same fate.

In this day and age, heaven, earth, emperor, relatives, and teachers—the teacher-student relationship, this disciple is half a son. Zhang Juzheng was also impeached by a disciple, and Wang Chonggu is now impeached by his own son.

Wang Qian blew the ink dry, his eyes flashing with excitement, and he said loudly: "Haha, you don't dare, so I will impeach him myself. If you have any guts, sign it. The Second Grand Secretary can't dance the Seven-Star Ring-Head Sword anymore!"

The Great Ming court is not all about killing and fighting; there is also human sentiment. Wang Chonggu also inevitably has times when he can't save face. The person who came out to lobby had a relationship with Wang Chonggu, but it wasn't that big of a relationship. It was generally a relationship of being distant or close, and those who understand, understand.

Even if this matter is poked to the court, as long as Wang Chonggu bites to death that he didn't instruct it, the censors can do nothing to him.

The damage is not great, but the insult is extremely strong.

In the future, when Wang Chonggu and Zhang Juzheng quarrel, Zhang Juzheng only needs one sentence: "You were impeached by your son," and the Second Grand Secretary would have no way to talk back.

"No one is signing?" Wang Qian passed the written memorial around and found that none of these censors and clerks wrote their names.

"Censor Wang, you offended the Second Grand Secretary, at most you go home and kneel in the ancestral hall for two days. We offended the Second Grand Secretary, and tomorrow we will probably be exiled to Coconut Sea City because we entered the door with our left foot." A censor explained: "Don't make things difficult for us either."

"That's true." Wang Qian handed the memorial to the Secretary and said: "Send it to the General Administration Office to report to the imperial court."

Once the memorial is handed to the Secretary...

... it indicates that the impeachment process has officially begun, representing that the matter of Wang Qian impeaching his own father has begun to go through the administrative process.

According to the established rules of the Great Ming, once the process begins, this matter must be clarified, especially involving the problems of ministers.

After Wang Chonggu saw the impeachment memorial, he almost fainted in the Wenyuan Pavilion!

But he still had to write a statement of facts according to the process to clarify the problem. The memorial was very long, meaning that he did not understand the specific situation, but he would take responsibility and requested to resign.

After all, not being strict in governing subordinates and having an improper family style is also a manifestation of a minister not being able to manage his family well in the Great Ming. According to the traditional value system of the Great Ming, Wang Chonggu is not suitable to continue to serve as the Second Grand Secretary.

"Actually, it's nothing. This Huisheng Private Workshop is in the business of rice, flour, grain, oil, and wool. This nine not allowed, only this one is a purchasing agent for the imperial court, which does not meet the rules. The other eight articles can all pass."

"Wang Qian is also borrowing power." After Zhu Yijun finished reading these memorials and understood the details of the matter, he could only say that Wang Qian is truly suitable for being an official. He himself had some difficulties in promoting the nine not allowed, so he could only use his own father's reputation to gain the Emperor's recognition.

There is no problem with the case. It is just that it started with the primary processing of Suiyuan wool and gradually expanded to rice, flour, grain, and oil. Nine not allowed, only one does not meet—that is acting as a purchasing agent for the imperial court. The repayment period for the primary processing of wool, which is the main business, is a bit long.

Doing business with the Yamen, just this point, the money might be received, but how long it will take, that is unknown.

Because of this, this Huisheng Private Workshop was blocked outside the door.

Regarding whether the Yanxing Building Trading Firm allows private workshops to raise funds, the Great Ming also argued for a long time. In the end, the four major ocean trading firms successfully entered the market, which was considered to have officially opened the door. However, following the major case of the Ningbo Ocean Trading Firm, the entry threshold for the Yanxing Building Trading Firm has been tightening.

A political decree is always like this, rising and falling, and only then can it reach a state of compromise that everyone can accept.

Now, the strictest nine not allowed has come, but to implement it in place is full of difficulties. Wang Qian's own power is a bit weak; he has to rely on his reputation and the Emperor's authority.

Zhu Yijun let out a turbid breath, pondered for a long time, and shook his head, saying: "I initially thought that the North and South should not be torn so severely, and shared the dividends of opening the seas with the powerful and wealthy in the North, so I established the trading firm on the ruins of fine wool and silk currency."

"I thought that when the northern powerful families could speak on maritime trade, I would close this trading firm, but many things do not shift according to people's will."

"The Second Grand Secretary will be fined half a year's salary as a slight punishment, and Wang Qian will be demoted by one rank for accusing his father, as a warning."

Zhu Yijun made a decision to hit both sides with fifty strokes. In this matter, Zhu Yijun can only balance the water; he needs Wang Chonggu to continue to serve, and he also needs to stand up for the nine not allowed.

He can only learn from that Shen Shixing, the master of balancing water, to balance the water.

Wang Jiaping is still in Guangzhou. If this Wang Chonggu really resigns, will the Emperor personally manage the affairs of the Industry Party? If the Second Grand Secretary is not punished, then should the nine not allowed be promoted? Let those cheaters go to the Yanxing Building Trading Firm to cheat money?

So he can only hit both sides with fifty strokes.

"Your servant obeys the decree." Feng Bao received the order.

Since Wang Chonggu was shaved a lock of hair in the 3rd year of Wanli and placed in the palace, this was the first time he was punished. A fine of half a year's salary doesn't look like much, but if this kind of thing continues to happen, it is definitely not as simple as a fine. As the Second Grand Secretary, the loss of authority and face is the loss of actual interests.

And the Emperor's meaning is also very clear: don't come to the Yanxing Building Trading Firm to cheat money.

Zhu Yijun's fingers tapped on the table and said: "Cutting off people's wealth is like killing their parents; leading people to get rich is like being their parents. This thing Wang Qian did offends people. When you issue the decree, remind Wang Qian to pay attention to safety."

"Your Majesty is wise." Feng Bao received the order and went to Wang's house to issue the decree. He went to issue the decree himself because he wanted to watch the fun!

The old Wang house must be very lively now!

As for the far-reaching influence of the political decree, it needs to see the implementation effect, but the old Wang house must be restless today. These fifty strokes each, no one got any benefits. The father and son don't know how much fun they will make.

When Feng Bao arrived, he saw an extremely calm house. Wang Chonggu was not holding a ring-head sword and wanting to kill Wang Qian, and Wang Qian was not tossing the house into a mess. The father and son reacted relatively flatly.

After Feng Bao issued the decree, he realized that this time it was a big deal.

"Two, two, how much hatred and resentment can there be between father and son? Is Wang Qian going to move out of the Wang family house? It shouldn't be, it shouldn't be." Feng Bao asked in surprise.

Wang Qian was expelled from the house by Wang Chonggu!

"With a grandson, I don't care if he lives or dies. I painstakingly told him to restrain himself, but he didn't listen and even accused his own father. I can't tolerate him. Go wherever he wants!" Wang Chonggu said angrily: "Zhang Juzheng's student accused him, and my own son accused me! The Grand Secretary and the Second Grand Secretary have all suffered this crime, and the old face is lost!"

"He is also capable now, has money, and can set up his own industry. Go wherever he wants. Just leave the grandson to me. I'll pretend I don't have this son!"

Wang Qian didn't hesitate either. He knelt on the ground, kowtowed three times, put the packed luggage on the cart, and left the Wang family house with his wife.

"Sigh." Feng Bao watched Wang Qian leave and sighed. This is equivalent to telling everyone that the father-son relationship is severed.

Doing this is to protect the little grandson at home, so that if Wang Qian causes a huge disaster in the future, it won't lead to the old Wang family having no descendants.

Wang Qian left resolutely, knowing that the path he took, from ancient times to the present...

... is a dead end, or rather, the Wanli Reform itself is a dead end. It's just that the Emperor is wise and martial, and Wang Qian wants to try, try together with the Emperor.

If it succeeds, it's best; if it doesn't, he has tried his best.

This is the martyr that Li Yashi repeatedly mentioned. China has never lacked martyrs. No matter which class, they can become part of the backbone.

"Take care, Second Grand Secretary." Feng Bao flicked his whisk and returned to the palace with the little eunuchs.

Wang Chonggu's expression didn't change, but he still stared blankly at the street corner for a long, long time, as if he saw himself back then.

When he killed Japanese pirates in Yangzhou, killed Tatars in the Northwest, and formed the Jin Party, he was also so resolute. Later, he became a treacherous official and a sycophant.

The older people get, the more conservative they become. Completely believing in their past experience, they will become more and more afraid of things, afraid of their posthumous name, afraid that they will die and their children will not be able to take care of themselves. The more afraid they are, the more conservative they will be, and the more they will act according to established experience.

Wang Chonggu can understand Wang Qian's thoughts, but he doesn't support them. The father and son finally reached this step.

"Misfortune is where fortune lies; fortune is where misfortune hides. Who knows what will happen in the future?" Wang Chonggu shook his head and went back to check on his grandson's studies.

Wang Qian's matter soon spread throughout the capital. After everyone watched the fun, they were immediately attracted by another piece of news.

That is, there is very clear news indicating that there is a large amount of gold mines in Juezhou!

The news came from the Luzon Viceroyalty. The Luzon Viceroyalty specially dispatched a ship to offer auspicious omens, which arrived in Songjiang Prefecture. On the ship was the natural gold nuggets discovered.

The Great Ming's Star-Gazing Ship obtained a 30-catty natural gold nugget when trading with the natives. Because its shape resembled a rooster, it was also called the Juezhou Golden Rooster.

This batch of auspicious omens, natural gold nuggets weighing more than five catties, totaled more than thirty pieces.

This news immediately ignited the entire Great Ming capital, and these gold pieces mainly came from the livable area in the southeast of Juezhou, not the dead land in the west where thousands of mountains have no birds flying and ten thousand paths have no human traces.

Gold is not used as currency in the Great Ming. It's not that they don't want to, but the Great Ming really doesn't have gold and silver mountains to squander, so they can only use copper coins.

This large batch of natural gold nuggets, the Juezhou Golden Rooster, landed at Tanggu Port in Tianjin Prefecture three days before the Mid-Autumn Festival in the 15th year of Wanli, and then was escorted by train to Zhaoyangmen Station. After strict inspection at Zhaoyangmen Station, it was sent to the Tonghe Palace by the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Zhu Yijun looked at the more than twenty natural gold nuggets placed in front of him and looked for a long time before saying: "It really is gold."

Pure gold has a bright luster, but all the natural gold nuggets are not pure, with some black spots embedded in them.

The Juezhou Golden Rooster has a very smooth surface, no edges or corners, and some honeycomb-like small pits.

All kinds of signs indicate that these are not fake auspicious omens sent by the Luzon Viceroyalty to please the Emperor; these are true auspicious omens.

"Viceroy Yin said: The concentrated discovery of these natural gold nuggets indicates that there is a large gold mine in the southeast of Juezhou. He has already sent a maritime defense inspector to explore." Escorting the gold into the capital was Zhu Yijun's son-in-law in name, Governor Yin Zhengmao's youngest son, Yin Zongxin.

This is when working; Yin Zongxin naturally calls his position.

Zhu Yijun looked at his son-in-law, who was only two years younger than himself, and said with a solemn face: "Gold mines are very important to the Great Ming, especially since the 25th year of Wanli might need to issue treasure notes."

"I initially thought that just opening the seas and letting silver flow in continuously would be enough. Later, I found that I needed red copper. Slowly, I found that if the West tightened silver slightly, I would be grabbed by the throat and unable to move. Now, silver is not enough, and red copper is barely enough."

"I am indeed the Son of Heaven, but if I want to issue treasure notes, I must have something to make the people believe that I can cash them."

"Therefore, by any means, bring the gold back."

"Your servant obeys the decree." Yin Zongxin bowed his head and received the order. The Luzon Viceroyalty made such a big show, naturally to ask for the Emperor's imperial decree. With the Emperor's imperial order, it would be convenient to take action.

Making a big show and announcing it to everyone also has a reason, which is actually very simple: there are not enough people.

It's not that there are not enough corvee laborers, but that there are not enough Han people in the main position. Mining gold mines is not a small matter; it needs to be carefully managed.

Zhu Yijun initially thought that Governor Yin Zhengmao deliberately made up a story about gold everywhere in Nanyang to cheat Great Ming people to go to Nanyang because of the population gap in Nanyang.

But when he saw Yin Zongxin, Zhu Yijun was very convinced that the Luzon Viceroyalty was for real.

Such a big matter, the son-in-law escorting it into the capital, represents taking on this responsibility. If there is no more gold flowing into the Great Ming, he will have to bear the crime of deceiving the Emperor.

"What do you need?" Zhu Yijun asked about the difficulties of the Luzon Viceroyalty.

Yin Zongxin didn't be polite either and bowed his head, saying: "Your Majesty, we need more Star-Gazing Ships, Earth Masters, and Boat Masters. We need naval garrisons, naval forces to ensure the safety of mining and smelting, to ensure the safety of shipping routes, and we need more firearms to deal with jumping rabbits and natives."

"Without these, the Luzon Viceroyalty alone cannot eat so many gold mines, and Luzon doesn't need that much gold either."

A natural gold nugget was discovered at Woma Gang, and there was a large mining area.

And this time, dozens of natural gold nuggets were discovered. This mining area needs the full support of the Great Ming mainland from prospecting, mining and smelting, road construction, and safe sea transportation to the Great Ming. Relying solely on the Luzon Viceroyalty, it would be impossible to succeed for generations.

"Sit down and talk. Zhang, pour a cup of good tea for Zongxin." Zhu Yijun stretched out his hand and said to Feng Bao: "You go to the Imperial Manor now and send this batch of natural gold nuggets to the Imperial Manor. Make it as eye-catching as possible. Let the Great Ming people know that I have obtained a treasure and discovered a large gold mine in Juezhou."

Feng Bao bowed his head and received the order, took the little eunuchs to the Imperial Manor, set up a display cabinet outside the door, and arranged for several secret agents to guard it, exhibiting this large batch of natural gold nuggets.

Natural gold nuggets are very precious. Even in the Great Ming imperial collection, there are no such large and numerous natural gold nuggets.

The outdoor exhibition lasted for three days, and then they would be placed in the most conspicuous position in the Imperial Manor. Anyone passing by the Imperial Manor could see the glittering appearance of these natural gold nuggets.

For the effect, Feng Bao also specially added two lime spray lamps to provide lighting for this batch of gold nuggets. ===== CHAPTER 801 =====

For effect, Feng Bao even specially added two lime spray lamps to light up this batch of gold ingots.