Qianqing Palace, court meeting.
Zhu Di paid attention to the progress of the big project and prepared to retreat.
However, at this moment, Xia Yuanji suddenly appeared.
‘Your Majesty, two days have passed since the seven days of trade. The merchants have not sold even a few percent of their goods, but they have already attracted the ire of heaven and earth.’
‘The obscene and clever things that Zheng He brought back attracted the officials and the people to chase after them. Extravagance spread everywhere. The world was declining and sediment was rising. If we don’t wake up the world, it will be too late!’
Zhu Di frowned when he heard this but did not answer.
However, Huang Huai also came out and said, ‘Your Majesty, although the flower boats on the Qinhuai River still have historical origins, it is an indisputable fact that they have increased in number within a few days.’
‘Some officials, in collaboration with overseas envoys, openly visit brothels and engage in prostitution. Not only do they undermine their own moral integrity, they also disregard the state and disgrace the Ming Dynasty!’
‘The world is declining, mud and sand are rising. On the clear Qinhuai River, it is dark and dark, and the sounds of prostitutes can be heard endlessly. Women from good families dare not go to the streets, and girls in boudoirs close their windows. Good people are tempted by this, and they are willing to fall. They borrowed money to buy sex, causing the wife and children to scatter like dogs and cats… Is this what the emperor calls a prosperous age？’
As soon as he finished speaking, there was silence in the hall.
Xia Yuanji sighed and said, ‘Your Majesty, there are no less than a thousand overseas tribute envoys in the same hall, and they spend no less than the first two taels of silver every day. They are too happy to miss Shu, and their return journey is uncertain. In the long run, the court will be overwhelmed!’
‘Furthermore, some overseas envoys and merchants do not abide by national etiquette, do not know how to respect themselves, drink alcohol day and night, and destroy our good customs. If small holes are not blocked, they will lead to big troubles. A thousand-mile embankment will collapse in an ant nest, Your Majesty!’
‘I dare to report to the emperor, and send them back to the country as soon as possible!’
‘Save the waste and clean up the folk customs!’
Zhu Di had been listening quietly, his brows furrowed tightly.
However, Yang Shiqi followed closely and made a shocking revelation.
‘Your Majesty, a Gongsheng from the Imperial Academy was arrested in Dali Temple yesterday.’
Zhu Di was stunned and asked coldly, ‘What happened again？’
Hu Yan, who was serving wine at the Imperial Academy, came out and sighed, ‘There was a Gongsheng student named Liu Ruming who did not want to study and cultivate virtue. Instead, he went to the foreign goods trading market and started doing business.’
‘He privately purchased pearls, corals and other goods, but was discovered by officials from the Ministry of Rites and seized them on the spot. He was handed over to Dali Temple for questioning!’
As soon as the news came out, the whole country was in an uproar.
Some civil servants were so angry that they started talking about it.
Yang Shiqi sighed again, ‘The emperor cherishes his talents as much as his life. The imperial court pays for the daily food, clothing and phone expenses of the imperial students. He doesn’t have to worry about food and clothing. Yet he is willing to degenerate and do such a shameless act. This shows that the Ming Dynasty fleet brought him back.’ The unhealthy trends have shaken the foundation of our Ming Dynasty, Your Majesty!’
‘Asshole!’
Zhu Di was angry and threw the memorial to the ground.
Originally, he implemented the policy of discounting salary for extra goods in order to let officials and common people feel the benefits of Zheng He’s voyages to the West, so that no one would dare to comment on this national policy.
However, this policy has been implemented for less than two days, and now a lot of problems have been exposed.
When you open the window, mosquitoes and flies attack your face; when you step into the water, mud and sand rise up!
The ruling and opposition parties of the Ming Dynasty are now a mess!
But what made Zhu Di most angry was that not even a few percent of the goods were sold!
‘Xia Yuanji, you just said that you didn’t sell even a few percent of the goods. What’s going on？’
‘Your Majesty, according to statistics from the officials of the Ministry of Rites, the 125 shipments of goods brought back by Zheng He were sold in two days, but only ten shipments of goods were sold in total.’
‘Moreover, they are all in-demand decorations such as jewelry and corals, as well as a small amount of spices. As for unpopular goods such as medicinal materials, no one has bought them, and they are still piled on the dock!’
‘In addition, those merchants refused Zheng He’s official purchase price and stated that they wanted to sell it themselves!’
After hearing this, Zhu Di was stunned.
How can this be？
What about those extremely wealthy businessmen in the Ming Dynasty？
They are not making any money, so what are they waiting for？
Without the intervention of these wealthy businessmen, those small traders alone would not be able to eat so much food!
And how dare those merchants refuse？
If they can’t sell their goods, aren’t they anxious？
Zhu Di suddenly turned his head and looked at the old god Zhu Gaoxu, his eyes full of doubt.
Zhu Gaoxu noticed his gaze. On the surface, he was as calm as an old dog, but in his heart he was panicking.
Going against Emperor Yongle is so damn exciting!
But Zhu Laosi’s look was really scary.
Zhu Di took a deep look at King Han, and then snorted coldly.
‘Don’t you think you have any other option but to accuse me？’
‘Humph, send the merchants back to China？ That’s nice to say, but what about these merchants？ Let Zheng He go to sea again and transport them back？’
Seeing the emperor’s anger, all the officials lowered their heads.
The emperor’s meaning is very clear. If he wants to send away envoys from overseas countries, he must first solve the mountains of foreign goods!
Otherwise, would it be possible for Hubu to tighten his belt and support Zheng He’s next Western expedition？
Isn’t that a complete betrayal？
‘Who has anything to say？’
Zhu Di glanced at the ministers with cold eyes, and when no one said a word, he immediately stood up and left.
Seeing this, Little Nose hurriedly shouted loudly, ‘Retreat from the court————’
The emperor angrily withdrew from the court, and all the officials looked at each other.
Zhu Gaoxu was in a very good mood and walked up to Huang Huai with master steps.
‘Hey, Mr. Huang, aren’t all the Imperial Academy’s students talented and handsome？ Aren’t they all the pillars of the country？ How could someone like Liu Ruming be born？’
‘This really impresses me!’
Huang Huai was choked to death by his words, and his beard almost stood up with anger.
When Hu Yan, Yang Shiqi and others saw this, they dared not speak out in anger and could only curse in their hearts.
This King of Han, Zhu Gaoxu, is really not a fucking thing!
Just at this time, Little Sniffle came over and said, ‘Prince Han, the Emperor calls you to go to the Imperial Study Room.’
Oh haha!
It’s over!
Zhu Gaoxu was startled, and then followed him honestly.
In the imperial study, Zhu Gaoxu had just stepped forward with his left foot when a pile of memorials hit him in the face.
‘You bastard, you have to go against me, don’t you？’
‘Did those wealthy businessmen not buy foreign goods because of your instructions？’
Zhu Di had his hands on his waist, his eyes widened and his face filled with anger.
Seeing this, Zhu Gaoxu sighed, leaned down and picked up the memorials one by one, and placed them on Yuzhuo in a leisurely manner.
‘Dad, I have long said that the methods of discounting wages and purchasing goods at official prices will not work, but you just don’t believe it. The courtiers are dissatisfied, the people are dissatisfied, even the merchants are dissatisfied, and you insist on making the Ming Dynasty a mess. …”
‘You’re such a traitor, you still have the nerve to mention it. If you hadn’t been the one who got in the way…’
‘If you don’t listen to the slander and stop me from continuing to hold tastings, I’ll have sold out all those products today!’
The father and son stared at each other, neither of them willing to take a step back.
Little Sniffle shivered in fear when he saw it, and didn’t dare to say a word at all.
This Prince Han’s temper and courage are really getting bigger and bigger!
After an unknown amount of time, Zhu Di sneered and said, ‘You deliberately held those wealthy businessmen in your hands. What do you want to do？ Are you going to rebel against me？’
After hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu’s face was full of teasing and ridicule.
‘My son is afraid that you are poor, so he wants to make some money for you.’
‘The auction of the goods at the tasting is just the first step. If it goes well, my son can promise you that the treasury will no longer be empty and you will no longer be short of money. Whatever you want to do, you will have to look at Xia Yuanji’s cold face.’
Zhu Di was startled when he heard this, and his anger dissipated instantly.
‘Are you telling the truth？ What is your plan？’
‘Let me cash in the goods first, and I want this guy Liu Ruming.’
Zhu Di frowned and thought for a moment, and finally nodded.
‘It doesn’t matter, dad will believe you this time.’
‘It’s done, but if you can’t do it with lots of rewards, you just wait to be sent to the high wall!’
Zhu Gaoxu ‘？？？’