Chapter 533: Glory belongs to the Emperor, power belongs to the Yan family

The forty-fifth year of Jiajing.

The Xinhai day of the twelfth lunar month.

night.

More than ten days have passed since the death of Emperor Jiajing, and the sad atmosphere in Beijing has gradually dissipated. As the end of the year approaches, and the prince is about to ascend the throne tomorrow, there is a more joyful and lively atmosphere.

The officers and soldiers of the Wucheng Bingmasi patrolled in teams along the streets between the various districts in the city at night.

On the streets, domestic dogs and stray dogs are fighting for territory.

Cats climbed onto roofs, climbed over walls, and sneaked into other homes to hook up with the best domestic cats.

Yanfu Lane was completely silent.

In previous years, by the end of December, the Yan family would have hung up big red lanterns early.

However, this year, because the previous emperor passed away, red lanterns can no longer be hung, and even Spring Festival couplets can no longer be posted on the door.

The emperor is the father of all people in the world.

Ordinary people outside the capital may not have so many concerns, but as the family of the current Grand Tutor and Earl of Changping, the Yan family must strictly follow the rules.

Fuzhong.

The young mistress of the house had given orders a few years ago that servants should return to their rooms to rest at night and no longer have to wait for the master's orders to serve them.

There were only a few men guarding key locations in the front yard and back house to prevent thieves from climbing over the wall and breaking in.

Accompanied by the sound of dogs barking.

In the backyard.

It was the sound of the mistress of the house scolding the young master.

There was a flurry of excitement.

The young master cried for a few times before he fell asleep peacefully.

However, the lights in the study in the front yard were bright.

The manager of the front yard led several maids and stood guard in the corridor outside the door. A food box with its own warm stove was placed on the ground, ready for the old master to call in.

And in the study.

Yan Song was lying on a soft couch, covered with a snow-white blanket. Yan Shifan was sitting at the end of the couch, tapping the old man's legs.

Yan Shaoting was sitting on a wooden stool next to the couch. In front of him was a small copper stove on which oranges, red dates and other things were being roasted.

As for the old acquaintance of the Yan family, Xu Wei, the Right Secretary of the Zhanshi Mansion and the Director of the Changping Public Security Bureau, was making tea on the side.

After working for a while, the tea was finally poured out and brought over.

Yan Song took the teacup and looked at Xu Wei with a smile on his face: "Wen Chang is still at home at this hour. I wonder if the family members at home will blame me."

Xu Wei smiled and replied, "The person chosen by the young lady is gentle and knows the general situation. He will definitely not say anything."

Yan Song nodded, then glanced sideways at his eldest grandson who was starting to eat the roasted oranges.

Yan Shaoting has already eaten several roasted oranges.

The flavor was sweeter and the temperature was just right.

Seeing the old man looking at him, he handed a freshly peeled orange to the old man.

"This baked orange is not only sweeter, but also less spicy. Would you like to try it?"

Yan Song shook his head repeatedly: "No food at night."

Yan Shaoting hummed, then withdrew his hand and stuffed the orange into his mouth.

Yan Song asked, "You went to the palace today to discuss the affairs of the Ministry of Finance and the Gold Bank. You should also write to Jiangnan and explain it to Zhang Juzheng and others."

After Yan Shaoting came back from the palace today, he explained clearly what he had done.

At this moment the old man mentioned this matter again.

Obviously there is a purpose.

Without waiting for Yan Shaoting to ask.

Yan Song continued, "If you want to promote new policies and make new laws, then money and grain will definitely be the top priority of the new policies and laws. If you grasp the money and grain, you can also grasp the direction of the new policies. I also know that Zhang Juzheng has a lot of ideas. Since he is now staying in Jiangnan, the capital must communicate with him."

Yan Shaoting nodded.

The old man is a very experienced person after all. Having been in the court for decades, his vision is much deeper than that of ordinary people.

If you grasp the money and grain, you can grasp the new policies.

Not everyone can say this.

Yan Shaoting smiled and said, "When we were in Nanjing before, Zhang Juzheng wanted to implement the Single Whip Law, which was the same law proposed by Gui Egong back then, and he also wanted to collect land tax and capitation tax in silver."

Yan Song shook his head.

"I also know that Lord Gui'e first proposed this method."

"But if Zhang Juzheng wants to do it openly, it will be unlikely."

"It looks good, but in the end it's a waste of money and time. The local authorities probably won't be able to handle it well, and in the end the interests of the people will be damaged in vain."

Yan Shaoting smiled slightly: "So my grandson rejected his idea at that time."

Yan Song hummed in satisfaction, then lowered his head to look at his son who was tapping his legs, and said, "So, you thought about the matter of the Qiansi and the Jinhang?"

In Yan Song's view.

Since Zhang Juzheng had mentioned the Single Whip Method created by Gui E to Yan Shaoting, and he also denied the other party's idea, it must be because he understood the drawbacks and hidden dangers of the Single Whip Method.

Then, we should set up a money department and establish a gold bank.

In this way, it seems that the omissions of the Single Whip Method can be made up to some extent.

However, Yan Shaoting nodded and shook his head: "It's half."

This made Yan Song look surprised.

Although for a long time he had been playing the role of a bystander in dealing with this eldest grandson whom he had high hopes for.

But he could basically figure out the intention of what his eldest grandson did every day.

This time, it's a rare occasion that I didn't watch the whole thing.

Yan Song immediately showed curiosity.

He did not feel tired at all even though it was already night.

Yan Shaoting explained: "My grandson proposed to establish a money bureau and gold shops in various places. Half of it is because of the loopholes in the Single Whip Law. If the money bureau and gold shops are controlled by the court, the court can have the right to manage gold, silver and copper coins, so that it can check and balance the local gentry and merchants. As for the other half, it is because our dynasty really needs to have a perfect money law. In the future, the court can even turn the money law into a weapon like a sword or a gun, and go overseas to gain greater benefits for our dynasty."

When a mature and complete financial system appears in a primitive trading society, it is a dimensionality reduction attack.

Yan Song understood it instantly.

He asked in disbelief, "Are you interested in the fact that our dynasty is now opening up the sea to trade with foreign countries?"

Yan Shaoting didn't even need to respond.

Yan Song continued, "The Ministry of Finance sets the exchange rate between gold, silver and copper coins, mints new coins, and the gold shops are responsible for withdrawing them. In this way, those foreign merchants who trade with our dynasty will naturally gradually switch to using our new currency, or even the kind of banknotes you mentioned, so that it will be convenient for them to cross the sea to do business. When our coins and banknotes are brought back by these people, and they are used to using banknotes, then our dynasty can buy all those foreign small countries with just a few pieces of paper..."

At the end, Yan Song suddenly shook his head.

The idea of ​​using Ming Dynasty's money to buy a small foreign country only flashed through his mind.

Yan Song said: "We cannot do such a thing, because it will cause our dynasty's credibility to collapse instantly."

Yan Shaoting smiled and said, "But we can make small foreign countries subject to our dynasty. As long as we operate carefully and spend a few years, our Ming Dynasty can also control a large number of vassal states thousands of miles away without spending a single soldier."

Today, the Ming Dynasty monopolizes most of the world's trade.

It can even be said that 80 to 90 percent of the world's trade today revolves around the Ming Dynasty.

Such a unique condition.

It is not difficult to promote the Ming Dynasty's currency and banknotes to the whole world.

After all, he still has a group of foreign businessmen like Bai Fugui, who can transform themselves into European traitors at any time.

Dengdeng.

Yan Song kicked his son who was still massaging his legs.

Yan Shifan raised his head and frowned slightly: "Dad, you chat, your son will just serve you."

However, Yan Song snorted and said, "The prince will ascend the throne tomorrow. When all matters are settled, they will probably discuss new policies and laws. Among them, the affairs of the Ministry of Finance and the Gold Bank will surely be included. You should make arrangements by then and have the court submit more memorials." This meant that he wanted to flatter the Ministry of Finance and the Gold Bank and sing their praises.

Yan Shifan's eyes flashed: "Son understands, don't worry."

Seeing that his son was becoming more and more obedient, Yan Song showed satisfaction on his face.

He then said, "Although Your Highness mentioned the Mathematical Academy and Shuai Jiamo today, I think that when the time comes, the Gold Company will recruit people from the graduates of the Mathematical Academy, but Shuai Jiamo must not work for the Gold Company."

Yan Shaoting nodded and agreed: "My grandson will let him participate in the construction of the gold shop and the formulation of various regulations. After everything is done, he will continue to teach in the School of Mathematics."

Seeing that his grandson already had a plan, Yan Song finally felt relieved.

He whispered, "That child has a solitary personality. He was very good in the academy. Don't let him be contaminated by filth."

Yan Shaoting was a little surprised.

Unexpectedly, the old man was unwilling to let Shuai Jiamo work in the gold shop because of this reason.

Otherwise, with Shuai Jiamo's talent in arithmetic and the support of Zhu Zaigui, the former principal, it would have been a piece of cake for him to take the position of the first head of Beijing Gold Shop.

In this way, Shuai Jiamo could be considered to have entered the officialdom.

But the old man obviously thought more thoroughly.

Shuai Jiamo is not suitable for officialdom.

Yan Song saw that it was nothing serious.

He kicked his son again, so that Yan Shifan had to stand up from the couch in confusion.

Yan Song took a sip of tea.

"It's getting late."

"The crown prince will ascend the throne tomorrow. It will take a long time, so everyone should take a rest early."

"Rest well and wait till tomorrow to welcome the successor to the throne..."

……

The next day.

The forty-fifth year of the Jiajing reign, the day of Ren Zi in the twelfth lunar month.

The Ministry of Rites has long determined that today is an auspicious day.

The Crown Prince of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Zaigui, was urged to ascend the throne three times by civil and military officials, military and civilian elders, and he received the imperial edict from the previous emperor and ascended the throne to become emperor.

Early in the morning.

From before dawn, the whole city of Beijing began to get busy.

When the city gates opened.

Duke Chengguo Zhu Xizhong, Earl Xuancheng Wei Shouzheng and other nobles represented the royal family and went to the Altar of Heaven and Earth, the Altar of Land and Grain, and the Imperial Ancestral Temple to worship in person.

In the palace.

Crown Prince Zhu Zaigui also rushed to Fengxian Hall early in the morning to pay tribute to the late emperor.

The entire set of ritual procedures for the emperor's enthronement seems extremely cumbersome and complicated.

The nobles were busy offering sacrifices to heaven and earth on behalf of the royal family, and the prince was busy comforting the late emperor.

All the civil and military officials in the court could only wait outside the Huangji Palace.

"Would you like some?"

"..."

"Listen to me. You have a lot of work to do today. If you don't do some work now, you'll suffer later."

"..."

Among the crowd of civil and military officials waiting for the time in front of the Huangji Palace, Yan Shaoting approached Hai Rui and without saying anything, he stuffed a meat pie hidden in his sleeve into the hands of Hai Rui, who had obviously not eaten since he got up early.

Then he squatted in a corner and gnawed on his piece of meat pie.

Hai Rui looked down at the meat pie stuffed in his hand, then looked at Yan Shaoting who was squatting in the corner eating a meat pie, and then glanced at the entire square in front of the Huangji Palace where people were gathered in groups of three or five, many of whom were eating quietly. He could only sigh and choose to close his eyes and squat down next to Yan Shaoting.

Yan Shaoting continued to eat the cake, and glanced at Hai Rui who had already started to eat the cake silently. Then he smiled and said, "This is made by my sister Wen Yan herself. Others want to eat it but can't. You are lucky to have a bite."

Hai Rui immediately shut up, then held the meat pie and bowed.

"Please also tell Lu Gaoming that Hai Rui thanks Gaoming for the meat pie."

Yan Shaoting curled his lips: "Eat, eat, you are the only one who has so many rules."

Hai Rui was not angry, he just ate the cake silently.

However, Yan Shaoting quickly finished the meat pie in his hand, then half-knelt up, lifted up his official robe from under his waist, and almost took out a small silver pot from under his crotch.

Pull out the stopper.

A warm aroma of wine entered Hai Rui's nose.

Yan Shaoting took a small sip.

"Don't say I don't know the rules."

"If we really have to wait here until noon, who can stand it without this thing?"

And Yan Shaoting indeed only took a sip and stopped drinking the warm rice wine in the pot before leaving.

He did prepare this thing for warming up.

Hai Rui did not speak either, as if he was adhering to the rule of not talking while eating. After he finished the whole meat pie, he carefully took out a handkerchief and wiped his mouth clean.

He then said, "Mr. Yan, I feel that what I asked in front of Yan's alley not long ago may come true."

Hai Rui's tone was calm, and his expression did not fluctuate, but the look in his eyes was extremely firm and full of scrutiny.

It was as if the head of the Northern Pacification Division of the Jinyiwei was interrogating a prisoner imprisoned in the imperial prison.

Yan Shaoting just narrowed his eyes slightly.

He could clearly sense that Hai Rui had changed a bit.

And his relationship with this moral saint.

I'm afraid some subtle changes will also occur accordingly.

Hai Rui continued, "Today is the day when the successor emperor ascends the throne. In such a solemn and dignified place, the guest family is the head of all officials, but they do not know how to be restrained. Even if the guest does not have the intention of being a powerful official, the things he has done have made him a powerful official."

Yan Shaoting looked at Hai Rui deeply.

Then he stood up and looked back at the tall Huangji Palace.

"Can etiquette allow you to wait here without being hungry?"

"Or can you and I not suffer the cold here?"

Hai Rui's face was tense. "Mr. Yan, there is no need to talk about other things. I only said this today for personal reasons. I have done my best. Whether you listen or not is not something Hai Rui can control."

Yan Shaoting's face darkened as he whispered, "Hai Rui, do you know that my family got up early this morning? My grandfather is over 80 years old, but he still wears court robes and stands in front of the Huangji Palace, waiting for the crown prince to ascend the throne. All the glory today belongs to the new king. My family is respectful and prudent. How can we become powerful officials just because of a piece of cake and a pot of wine?"

A cold wind blew.

This made Yan Shaoting's face even colder.

But he was also somewhat disappointed.

In the past, my close relationship with Hai Rui might really have been just because both sides needed each other.

When it comes down to it, Hai Rui is not really a sociable person.

He has always had his own basic rules to abide by.

But Yan Shaoting felt a little disappointed at this moment.

He didn't know what Hai Rui would become in the future, and how far he would drift away from him.

But Hai Rui just sneered.

"Today the glory belongs to the emperor?"

"Does that mean that all power belongs to the Yan family?"

…………

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(End of this chapter)