Chapter 15 Planting a seed in a small stream

Outside the Yuxi Palace in Xiyuan.

There was heavy snow all over the place, and the Taiye Lake was like a jade belt. After being frozen, it was covered with a soft snow blanket.

Yuhe Bridge spans the Taiye Lake and leads to the Forbidden City in the east.

Yan Shaoting and Zhang Juzheng had already walked to the Yuhe Bridge in the snow, holding umbrellas.

This is an important passage between Yuxi Palace and the Forbidden City. Even at this time, many eunuchs in the inner court braved the wind and snow to clear the snow.

"People say that auspicious snow means a good harvest, but if it continues to snow, I'm afraid the beginning of spring will be a disaster."

If the snow is too thick and melts when the weather warms up in spring, it will cause floods.

As Zhang Juzheng spoke, his eyes swept across Qionghua Island on the north side of the bridge and fell on Yan Shaoting's face.

Yan Shaoting smiled without commenting: "Your Excellency's trip to the southeast this time is under the order of the Emperor. The Emperor's mission is to increase the production of silk and sell it overseas. The local government dare not refuse."

Zhang Juzheng smiled lightly.

He was saying that the Yan family had controlled the court for too long, causing troubles in the court and the country. However, the eldest son of the Yan family was very sure that the Yan family would not secretly make trouble when he went south to the southeast of Nanzhili and Zhejiang.

It seems a bit irrelevant.

Zhang Juzheng thought about it and shook his head: "It's just that what the emperor said today is to raise the price of silk with foreign merchants. I'm afraid we still have to deal with it carefully."

No one in this world is a fool.

Merchants from Western countries, and even from Europe, knew very well how much silk cost in the Ming Dynasty.

Yan Shaoting changed the subject and asked, "Do you think it would be smooth to convert 50,000 acres of rice fields in Zhejiang into mulberry fields and 150,000 acres of cotton fields in South Zhili into mulberry fields?"

When saying this, Yan Shaoting stared at Zhang Juzheng deeply with a scrutinizing look in his eyes.

Zhang Juzheng was more than twenty years older than Yan Shaoting, which meant they were a whole generation apart.

But at this moment, Zhang Juzheng felt that the young man in front of him actually made him feel like they were of the same generation.

He said, "With the imperial decree, do the two provinces of Nanzhili and Zhejiang dare to disobey?"

After saying that, Zhang Juzheng also stared at Yan Shaoting: "Besides, now Hu Zongxian is the governor of Zhejiang and Zhili, and Zhao Zhenji of Nanzhili and Zheng Michang of Zhejiang are supervising the affairs of the two provinces. I think the local government dare not hinder it."

As he spoke, Zhang Juzheng glanced at Yan Shaoting dimly.

Since you, Young Master Yan, said that the Yan Party will not interfere in this matter, then Hu Zongxian and Zheng Michang are both members of your Yan Party and will definitely not do anything behind the scenes.

As for Zhao Zhenji of Nanzhili, he was a man of action and would not disobey the emperor's orders.

Yan Shaoting just laughed.

Obviously, this handsome old man, who was an important figure in the Ming Dynasty, did not understand what he meant.

Yan Shaoting had no choice but to speak: "What I meant was not the local government, but the owner of the 200,000 acres of cotton fields, especially the 150,000 acres of cotton fields in Nanzhili."

Before Zhang Juzheng could speak, Yan Shaoting spoke again.

"Most of the 150,000 mu of cotton fields in Nanzhili are in Suzhou, Changzhou, and Songjiang, especially in Su and Song. If the cotton farmers here are unwilling to change cotton to mulberry, how will you deal with it? If there are any more scandals, how will you deal with it?"

Yan Shaoting thought about it silently.

The Xu family owns no less than 200,000 acres of land in Songjiang Prefecture, and it seems that more than half of the land is used to grow cotton and weave cotton cloth.

This time he failed to stop the policy of replacing rice with mulberry, and then he started to replace cotton with mulberry in Nanzhili, and pushed Zhang Juzheng to go south to preside over this matter.

The purpose is to let the student see the true face of his teacher.

In the court, are the Yan family really the only bad guys?

What he wanted to do today was to plant a nail, a seed of mutual suspicion, within Qingliu.

Yan Shaoting looked into the distance.

"Sir, I will send you here. If Sir Zhang has any orders for matters concerning the southeast, I will do my best."

After saying this, Yan Shaoting bowed and said goodbye to Zhang Juzheng, who was frowning and seemed to be thinking about something.

Zhang Juzheng, who suddenly had a lot on his mind, staggered to the Forbidden City.

But he saw that Xu Jie and Gao Gong were still waiting there, but they were both sitting in the carriage, pulling open the curtains and looking in the direction they came from.

Zhang Juzheng stepped forward quickly: "Lord Xu, Lord Gao."

Xu Jie just nodded silently without saying anything.

Gao Gong asked with a smile: "Have you finished talking?" Zhang Juzheng hummed and looked at Xu Jie: "Teacher..."

"Let's go to Prince Yu's Mansion first."

Xu Jie said something and then lowered the curtain.

The coachman also shouted softly and started driving the carriage.

Gao Gong was in another carriage, watching the situation, and just smiled: "Let's go, let's go. If we go too late, I'm afraid we won't be able to eat Yuanxiao."

After saying this, Gao Gong also lowered the curtain.

Zhang Juzheng looked at the two carriages that had already started moving, and could only frown and get on his own carriage.

And on the other end.

Outside Yuxi Palace.

The three generations of the Yan family, grandparents and grandchildren, had already finished eating Yuanxiao with Jiajing.

Yan Shifan held an umbrella in one hand and supported Old Yan with the other as they walked out of the palace.

Lu Fang clasped his hands together, and a young eunuch held an umbrella for him as he followed behind to escort Lord Yan out of the palace.

Yan Shaoting followed beside him.

Arrived outside the palace gate.

Yan Shaoting stopped and looked at Lu Fang: "Eunuch Lu, please stay. His Majesty still needs your service. My father and I will take Grandfather back home."

Lu Fang nodded with a smile: "Master Yan has relieved His Majesty's worries today. You will serve Lord Yan in the future. A bright future lies ahead."

Yan Shaoting showed a pure and shy smile: "It's just to show filial piety and loyalty. I dare not talk about the future."

Lu Fang stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty just said that of the three million taels of silver that Master Yan sent to the palace today, one million taels of silver should be kept in the Ministry of Revenue.

This is the money Young Master Yan earned for Your Majesty. It is his duty to put two million into the imperial treasury, but if this one million goes to the Ministry of Revenue, it means Young Master Yan has made a contribution to the court."

Yan Shaoting's heart moved.

It seems that Jiajing approved of the 20:1 split between the court and the outside world.

He looked up and pretended to be puzzled, "I saw Eunuch Feng a few days ago, why haven't I seen him today? Last time, I took away Eunuch Feng's job, and I didn't even have time to apologize."

This is just an excuse to bring up what happened later.

Lu Fang was naturally a shrewd person, and a hint of dissatisfaction appeared on his face: "You ignorant thing have been sent to Prince Yu's mansion to serve the prince. When you learn the rules, you can come to the palace to serve His Majesty the Master."

Yan Shaoting smiled and said, "Not long ago, I heard someone say that an official changes three times. Perhaps Eunuch Feng will achieve greater things in the future after he goes to Prince Yu's Mansion."

As he spoke, Yan Shaoting looked at Yan Shifan who was helping Old Yan get into the carriage.

Lu Fang laughed cheerfully, "Speaking of which, Master Yan said that he had taken away Feng Bao's job last time, but in fact, it should be said that Master Yan had done him a favor. As his godfather, I have to thank Master Yan on his behalf."

Yan Shaoting shook his head: "Although Eunuch Feng is in the inner court, I think he is quite loyal and brave. I don't know when I can have more contact with him..."

Having said that, he finally revealed his true purpose.

Prince Yu's Mansion.

A light flashed in Lu Fang's eyes, but she still smiled cheerfully: "Master Yan has a promising future, and there will be opportunities. I will not see you off, Master Yan, please walk slowly."

Yan Shaoting bowed and said, "Please stay and walk slowly."

On the other side, Yan Shifan, who had settled the old man into the carriage, turned to look at his son at the palace gate.

A trace of anger appeared on Yan Shifan's face.

Seeing this rebellious son still smiling there, he felt even more angry.

"Do you want me to castrate you? Stay here!"

………………

Monthly ticket recommendation ticket

　Sir, please read it~
　　…………

　　Thanks for the reward

　　
　
(End of this chapter)