Chapter 104: A gunshot outside Xiyuan

Not long after.

There were footsteps outside Yuxi Palace.

Huang Jin, who had been waiting outside, supported Yan Song, followed by Xu Jie and Gao Gong.

As for the new cabinet minister Yuan Wei, he did not come today.

This senior official used the excuse that he was busy writing a few poems, which he wanted to send to the Western Garden before appearing before the Emperor.

In response, Yan Song, Xu Jie and Gao Gong said nothing.

Yuan Wei has made his attitude clear these days in Wenyuan Pavilion.

You guys fight your own fights.

Don't get close to me.

Lu Fang, who was serving the Taoist priest, raised his head and glanced outside.

"Master, the elders are here."

The smile on Jiajing's face never disappeared because of the embarrassing situation Yan Shaoting was facing at the moment.

He smiled and said, "As usual, give Elder Yan a seat."

Lu Fang nodded in response.

Jiajing turned his eyes and said, "Send someone to Yan's house later."

"Go to Yan's house?"

Lu Fang looked puzzled.

The emperor has been quietly watching the excitement in the Yan residence today. Is he going to personally come out and make things more difficult for Yan Shaoting?

Jiajing showed a bit of jealousy on his face, and said quietly: "Tell that kid, how can people be partial to one and ignore the other? Huang Jin has Qing Luo Baba to eat, so does it mean that I have nothing?"

After understanding what the emperor meant, a smile immediately appeared on Lu Fang's face.

He responded, and then said, "Then I will go there myself later, and I will ask for some things from Servant Yan."

The master and servant were discussing how to rob the minister's house, and they laughed in tacit understanding.

front.

Yan Song and his companions had also walked into the back hall.

"minister."

"See Your Majesty."

After planning with Lu Fang how to rob Yan Shaoting, Jiajing was in a good mood.

Look at the people coming over.

Jiajing smiled and said, "Please sit down."

Lu Fang, who had originally planned to move a stool for Yan Song alone, was a little surprised.

Xu Jie and Gao Gong also felt puzzled.

what's going on?

Are we now at the level of Lord Yan?
Several people were puzzled, but Lu Fang had already brought stools for the three of them.

Yan Song sat down slowly as usual, propped up his thighs.

Xu Jie and Gao Gong, on the other hand, sat half-down on the stools with some confusion in their eyes.

The emperor was quite nice to them today.

Not quite adaptable!

After seeing the three of them sitting down, Jiajing slowly spoke: "Zhang Juzheng has sent a memorial, mentioning the issue of increasing silk production in the southeast and selling it overseas. I think I still need to discuss it with you."

Southeast China has now entered a stable period.

At least in Zhejiang, the task of replacing rice with mulberry and in Suzhou and Songjiang prefectures with cotton instead of mulberry had been basically completed by this time.

The looms under the weaving bureau originally under the management of Yang Jinshui, together with Shen Yishi's looms, are now all under the management of the Jiangnan Weaving Bureau.

Now we just have to wait for the mulberry trees planted this year to grow a large number of mulberry leaves next year. By then, we can increase the number of silkworms, and the silk production will be increased by spinning cocoons.

Yan Song was the first to speak at this time: "Zhang Juzheng's trip to the south and southeast personally supervised the national policy and was quite effective. Although some problems occurred in the middle, they have now been solved one by one.

Zhang Juzheng was able to convert 50,000 mu of rice fields in Zhejiang into mulberry fields in such a short period of time, especially converting 150,000 mu of cotton fields in Suzhou and Songjiang into mulberry fields. This is rare and his contribution is invaluable. "This is the leader of the Yan Party. It is rare that he praised Zhang Juzheng, the disciple of the leader of the Qingliu, in front of everyone.

Even Xu Jie couldn't help but move his butt and look in the direction of Yan Song.

Jiajing also smiled: "Zhang Juzheng has worked hard this time, and it is difficult for him."

There is some interesting meaning in this statement.

Xu Jie lowered his head silently.

Yan Song continued, "A few days ago, Yan Shaoting and I discussed this matter at home."

When Jiajing heard the three words "Yan Shaoting", his eyes lit up for no reason.

He asked curiously, "What did Lord Yan and... Yan Shaoting discuss at home?"

Xu Jie and Gao Gong both felt a tightness in their hearts.

I am afraid that at this time, the Yan family will cause trouble in front of the emperor again.

Yan Song remained calm and said, "According to Yan Shaoting's idea, next year we will establish a monopoly on the silk trade with the Spanish merchant Bo Fugui to increase the selling price and increase the annual revenue of the court.

But this method cannot last forever, so after doing high-priced business for a few years, this method must be changed.

We must make sure that the people of all European countries can wear silk."

Jiajing thought about it for a moment, then nodded and said, "That's right, but if we do that, won't the court's annual revenue be sharply reduced?"

Yan Song said calmly: "This is not a difficult problem. This year, the two prefectures of Suzhou and Songjiang can convert 150,000 mu of cotton fields into mulberry fields in one fell swoop. At that time, at most, we can convert another 150,000 mu of cotton fields into mulberry fields.

In this way, the imperial court and Bo Fugui's business could classify the woven silk into grades. The good ones would naturally be sold at a high price, and the ordinary ones would be sold at an ordinary price.

Although it is the imperial court doing business with foreign merchants, we still need to pay attention to the long-term and sustainable development, and we will benefit from cooperation. "

We also need to convert 150,000 acres of cotton fields into mulberry fields in Suzhou and Songjiang!

When Xu Jie heard this, he felt a lump in his chest.

Gao Gong was thinking about something else, and said, "What Lord Yan said is feasible, but if we want to do it, we can't keep Zhang Juzheng in the southeast forever, right?"

Today, the Yan family's influence in the court seems to be even greater than before.

He and Old Xu are already having a hard time in the cabinet with the incompetent Yuan Wei.

If Zhang Juzheng stayed in the southeast and didn't come back, something big would happen.

For Gao Gong, he has already converted 150,000 acres of land in Suzhou and Songjiang. Even if he converts another 150,000 acres in the future, it will only be a matter of routine.

The important thing is to let Zhang Juzheng return to the cabinet as soon as possible and continue to fight with the Yan family.

Without waiting for Xu Jie to speak.

Yan Song echoed Gao Gong and said, "What Su Qing said makes sense. Your Majesty, seeing that the situation in the southeast is almost over, we should let Zhang Juzheng return to Beijing by the end of this year. Once the cabinet is complete, it will be a good time to celebrate the New Year."

?

Gao Gong, like Xu Jie before, moved his butt and looked at Old Yan, who seemed like a different person today.

how?

Can't Old Yan see that he wants Zhang Juzheng to come back and fight him?
At this time.

Huichang Street is located in the southwest corner outside Xiyuan. On the northeast side is the Xiyuan Palace wall, and not far to the southwest is Taipu Temple.

A carriage was traveling at a very fast speed on the street from south to north towards the wall of Xiyuan Palace.

The carriage arrived at the street corner, raising a cloud of dust, and stopped at the foot of the palace wall.

Bang!
A loud bang was heard, startling the flock of birds resting on the branches beside the Taiye Lake behind the palace wall.

Fires flickered and the smell of gunpowder spread, lingering at the angle under the wall of the Xiyuan Palace.

This place is originally a remote place outside the West Garden.

Before anyone could react, the carriage had already turned into an alley.

Soon, all traces disappeared completely in the huge city of Beijing.

…………

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(End of this chapter)