Several days later,
Zhu Mo gave some instructions, packed his luggage, and boarded the large ship carrying the silver.
At the same time, memorials regarding various matters in Jiangnan were sent by express courier to the capital.
Meanwhile, Zhu Mo, Xiao Xiao Sheng, and Zhu Qi embarked on their journey back to the capital, leisurely admiring the scenery along the Grand Canal.
...
One afternoon,
Loud, hearty laughter echoed through the tranquil Prince Yu's residence.
After reading the secret reports from Zhang Juzheng and Tan Lun, Gao Gong couldn't help but laugh heartily and said:
“Your Highness, Elder Xu, thirty thousand looms! Thirty thousand looms! Zhu Mo is indeed a man of extraordinary talent and ingenious plans, and Grand Tutor Zhang is also truly capable! In just a few months, thirty thousand looms! Look, he even says he can weave over one million bolts of fabric next year! How terrifying is that? I was worried that Zhu Mo might not be up to the task, but look, it has turned around again!” httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
Xu Jie and Prince Yu nodded with smiles.
However, Xu Jie was constantly observing, noticing a hint of worry on Prince Yu's face. He spoke frankly:
“Your Highness, Grand Tutor Zhang is skilled in calculation, and Zhu Mo excels in planning and is extremely astute… I believe there will be no mistakes… If they say they can do it, they likely will. The money lent out will always be repaid, perhaps with considerable profit… Your Highness need not worry too much… In life, what is meant to come will come, and there is no need to be overly fearful… Constantly worrying is not the way…”
Prince Yu's face turned red as he defended himself:
“Uh… well… I’m not worried, it’s just that things are getting bigger and bigger? I’m always a bit uneasy about it… As the saying goes, ‘Governing a great nation is like cooking a small fish,’ one must govern by non-action… Making such a big fuss inevitably leads to some mishaps… Zhu Mo is so young, why is he making everything so grand… Sigh…”
Prince Yu thought of Zhu Mo again, always feeling that this person was a troublemaker, causing great disturbances wherever he appeared! Yet, His Majesty trusted him so much!
Little did he know, upon hearing these words, even Xu Jie, who was adept at self-preservation, suddenly felt a spark of annoyance—
This Prince Yu was too cowardly!
What was the use of fearing what was to come?
If things blew up, the benefits would also be immense!
How could he be so timid and fearful?
How could he be the future Emperor of the Great Ming like this?!
Thinking this,
Xu Jie couldn't help but sigh deeply. He wanted to speak several times but couldn't. He thought that they were all surnamed Zhu; if Prince Yu had even a tenth of Zhu Mo’s spirit, his own wrinkles would not be so deep.
At this moment,
Princess Yu suddenly emerged from behind the curtain and said to Elder Xu with a forced smile, "Elder Xu, Your Highness is concerned about the snow disaster in Xuan Da… Over a hundred thousand people are already out of food, and not a single tael of silver from the national treasury has been seen… Even if that Zhu Mo makes a big splash in Jiangnan, it's still nothing but debt!”
Hiss~~
Xu Jie’s heart flinched: Damn it, I forgot about this shrew eavesdropping! I've offended her today…
One must know,
Princess Yu, Lady Li, was always vicious and overbearing, completely controlling the already timid Prince Yu, who dared not utter a word of dissent. Her confidence grew, and she made all decisions only after consulting his wife.
In recent years, this woman had also often interfered in court affairs, making them, the upright officials, feel like neither fish nor fowl.
Today, she had been eavesdropping behind the curtain, and upon seeing Xu Jie’s contempt for her husband, she became furious.
And with her words, both Xu Jie and Gao Gong showed shame.
Yes,
No matter how capable Zhu Mo and Zhang Juzheng were, the money had not yet reached the national treasury.
And for the current snow disaster, the court had to rely on the salt tax silver from Yan Shifan and Yan Maoqing!
In the end,
The Yan family was more capable than their group of upright officials!
With his wife’s support, Prince Yu immediately became more assertive. He cleared his throat and said, “Elder Xu, Lord Gao, those thirty thousand looms are intangible things… And for the money needed now, we must also find a way. We can’t rely on the Yan family for everything, can we? I heard that Zhu Mo has returned from Jiangnan? He’s probably still enjoying the scenery on the Grand Canal…”
Ugh~~~
Xu Jie was immediately choked, his face flushed red, and he thought to himself: No wonder this shrew is mocking me. That Zhu Mo is only good at causing trouble, and indeed, no silver has been seen yet…
Gao Gong, however, cursed in his heart: Damn it! No matter how incapable Zhu Mo is, he’s one of us! No wonder we’ve always been unable to defeat the Yan family over the years. It turns out this wicked woman has been whispering behind our backs all this time! Prince Yu only listens to his wife’s words. What will happen in the future…
He was always straightforward. At this moment, he couldn't help but snort and glare fiercely at Princess Yu.
Princess Yu was not to be trifled with. She was about to put Gao Gong on the spot and was about to spew her sharp and venomous words when a doorman shouted from the courtyard:
“Your Highness! Something has happened! Something has happened!”
“Yan Maoqing’s silver was robbed by Yan family retainers!”
The sound reached their ears,
All four were stunned!
What kind of nonsense was this?
Yan Maoqing’s silver was robbed by Yan family retainers?
Aren't they all part of the Yan family?!
...
Meanwhile,
In Yan Song’s residence, there was a sound of porcelain shattering—
Bang bang!
Bang bang bang!
“You son of a bitch! Yan Maoqing, you son of a bitch!”
“Yan Maoqing, what the hell are you doing, smoking green smoke?!”
“You’ve embarrassed me so much, and you’re still recovering at home?! Recovering your ass!”
“Zheng Bichang! Are you still eating shit to grow up?!”
“Scum! All of you are scum!”
“You servants! Have you really eaten too much shit all these years?!”
“Zheng Bichang even submitted a memorial to the court himself!?! Isn’t that eating too much shit?!”
“This idiot! He’s a second-rank official, a provincial governor, and still a pig’s brain! How could I have been blind back then? Why did I use such an idiot in Jiangnan?!”
“Raised for a lifetime, and he turned into a white-eyed wolf! He turns around and slaps my face?! And he personally submitted a memorial?! Why didn’t they let that Zhu Mo submit it?!”
“Yan family retainers robbing Yan Maoqing?! This has become a huge joke! Zheng Bichang, and those people in Jiangnan, why don’t they think? A Shou is in Jiangnan, but would he rob our own family’s money?! Even if Yan Maoqing embezzled it, in the end, isn’t it still ours?!”
“This is clearly someone framing us… Who? Who else could it be? Isn’t it that Zhu Mo?!”
“…”
Yan Shifan was furious today, smashing things in his study as he spoke. The ground was already covered in shards of porcelain.
It was still midday, but most of the Yan family’s household officials had arrived. They stood neatly in two rows, not daring to move, waiting for the Young Grand Secretary to vent his rage.
However, the old Yan Song was unusually calm today. He sat alone on the couch, exuding a calm aura amidst the agitated crowd. His eyes were fixed on something, lost in deep thought.
Because,
This matter was too strange!
Too terrifying!