Chapter 524 Planning

Before the Northern Expedition left, there were a few more changes in the temple, but at this time, Jiang Xinghuo didn't pay much attention to these things.

After a three-month window period, they won the Taixue Association and successfully took the lead in the Jiashenke Imperial Examination. Basically, all the goals that the reform faction needed to achieve have been achieved.

Jiang Xinghuo's focus this year is on matters related to domestic and foreign trade, peer-to-peer trade, and tax guards going to the countryside.

"National Division."

"Enter."

Jiang Xinghuo hung his wrist, stopped the pen in his hand, raised his head and looked at the person.

Gaozhi, the Prime Minister of Guanglu Temple, was a former official in Tingzhou Prefecture. He single-handedly promoted him according to the examination method.

In the Ming Dynasty, Guanglu Temple had one Guanglu Temple Minister, from the third rank; two Shaoqings, from the fifth rank; and two Sicheng, from the sixth rank. However, according to political conventions, Shaoqing and Sicheng were often short of personnel, and those below them The institutions include the Bookkeeping Department, the Animal Husbandry Department, the Animal Husbandry Bureau, and the Bank Treasury.

The promotion officers are the second-ranking officials of each prefecture. The promotion officials belonging to Shuntian Prefecture in Beijing and Yingtian Prefecture in Nanjing are in the sixth rank, while those in other prefectures are in the seventh rank. Therefore, Gaozhi's official rank has been raised by half a step, but Considering that the transfer from the local to the central level can basically be regarded as a level promotion.

Gao Zhisheng was wealthy, with a few strands of beard under his chin, and a somewhat reserved smile on his face. He held a stack of documents in the crook of his arm. Even though he spoke with an accent, it was unavoidable. Although Ming Dynasty had Mandarin, its popularity was still limited. Obviously it cannot be compared with the Mandarin of later generations.

"Master, this is a cold incense. I wonder what kind of incense is used?"

Jiang Xinghuo put down the brush and motioned for him to sit down. Then he stood up and poured two cups of tea from the tightly sealed hot pot. He took the tea over and answered.

“Have you heard of Junzizhai’s new ‘Plum, Orchid, Bamboo and Chrysanthemum’ series of perfumes?”

"I've heard of it, but it's a pity that I'm short of money."

Junzizhai, the external name of the perfume workshop, currently only has a few stores in Nanjing, responsible for marketing.

As a luxury brand specifically targeting the ancient scholar-bureaucrats, Junzizhai’s advertising slogan is very simple and crude—

[A gentleman is like an orchid, solitary and fragrant]

The packaging is good, the quality is high, and the store service is good. Correspondingly, its products are very expensive.

If the fertilizer workshop and the glass workshop still have some ingredients that benefit the people, then perfume is a consumer product that is not necessary for people's lives. It is the rich people of the Ming Dynasty who are preying on them. Therefore, in terms of pricing, Jiang Xinghuo is basically Never hesitated.

A small bottle of perfume usually costs hundreds of copper coins.

However, although it is very expensive, this kind of luxury product with a packaging and promotional style that is very reminiscent of the Wei and Jin Dynasties is very popular among scholar-bureaucrats. Scholar-bureaucrats pursue a celebrity and fashion. However, male-oriented perfumes are even surprisingly available in the women's market. Customer groups.

The rouge gouache of this era usually has a strong smell, while the 'Plum Blossoms, Orchid, Bamboo and Chrysanthemum' series of perfumes are more elegant and cold. Therefore, many women in the boudoir who don't like strong perfumes will buy them to try.

"Smell it."

Jiang Xinghuo handed over the perfume bottle.

Gao Zhi took the perfume bottle, sniffed it close to his nose, with an intoxicated look on his face, and after a moment he praised:

"Famous people enjoy themselves."

Jiang Xinghuo nodded, and then took out a long, well-packaged perfume box from the drawer on the other side of the table. Inside were four boxes of 'Plum, Orchid, Bamboo and Chrysanthemum' perfume. It would not be a problem to save some and use it for a year or two. .

"Take it."

Jiang Xinghuo didn't tell him that he had a whole drawer full of this stuff in his drawer.

"This gift is too valuable."

Jiang Xinghuo glanced at the documents Gao Zhi brought and said.

"It doesn't matter, it was originally sent from there. Besides, now that I have come to Beijing to be an official, I have a lot of poetry and calligraphy in my heart. When I go out to socialize, I should have something to accompany it, so as not to be looked down upon by others."

This is true. Although it seems that such luxury goods are not something that officials can afford under the salary stipulated by Lao Zhu. But once you become an official, your hometown will have many more industries to rely on, let alone officials in the capital. In fact, the bulk of the income is not the income from the capital, but the various "reverences" given by officials from other places during the New Year and festivals, such as ice respects, charcoal respects, etc. Therefore, perfume has become a trend among the officials in the capital, and no one has seen it. Even if you are arrested, the Metropolitan Procuratorate will not care.

And since this thing was related to Jiang Xinghuo and was given to him personally by Jiang Xinghuo, it was not a case of corruption or bribery. Therefore, Gao Zhi said with a smile: "Thank you, Imperial Master. Nowadays, people really look at their appearance." , even among officials, this is inevitable."

Although Gao Zhi's words are simple, they are quite reasonable. After all, although every literati hopes that others will praise him for his brilliant literary talent and broad mind, in real private social situations, if they are not particularly hierarchical, the first glance will definitely show It's clothing, appearance, bearing, accessories and so on.

For the big bosses, it is definitely better to be low-key and simple. Their faces and the pomp of people shouting and cheering are the best expressions. But for middle- and lower-level officials, this is definitely not the case.

At this time, Gao Zhi handed over the document in his hand at the right time.

Jiang Xinghuo had previously asked "Ming Pao" to arrange a special interview for him. This was a very revealing thing for a middle- and lower-level official like Gao Zhi. After all, in Nanjing, the most indispensable thing was someone of the sixth or seventh grade like him. Officials, to be exaggerated, one of ten leaves falling from the tree can hit a green-robed official.

Gao Zhi, who was transferred to the capital from other places, has no background. He is only considered to be unique in the study of "Xunzi". Therefore, he naturally has to seize the time to report to Jiang Xinghuo when he is free, and firmly Hug your thighs tightly.

Jiang Xinghuo took it and took a look.

"The rule of the Holy King: When the vegetation is flourishing and plentiful, no ax can enter the forest and it will not die young or stop its growth; when the turtles, fish, turtles, and loaches are pregnant and parting, poisons will not be allowed to enter. Rivers never die young and never end their growth; spring plowing, summer cultivation, autumn harvest, and winter storage are all in their proper time, so the grains are not exhausted and the people have enough to eat; Erchi, Yuanmarsh, and Sichuan Ze are in their proper time. Forbidden, so there are plenty of fish and turtles, and the people have more to use; cutting down and raising them does not lose its time, so the mountains and forests are sterile, but the people have more to use.

The functions of the sage king are as follows: to observe the heavens above, to observe the earth below, to be placed between the heavens and the earth, and to be applied to all things. It is subtle but bright, short but long, narrow but wide, and the gods are broad and boundless. Therefore, it is said: One and one are human beings and are called saints. "

There are dense annotations and expansions at the back, which are obviously carefully thought out.

"Yes, the knowledge of the Holy King is subtle and profound, and your research is very insightful."

In this era, since Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism inherited the theoretical foundation of Mencius, most scholars studied the Tao of Confucius and Mencius, but there was no mention of the Tao of "Confucius and Xunzi". Xunzi and his two methods A disciple of the family, he was always despised by Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism. Although Xunzi was unique among pre-Qin thinkers, few people studied him in the early Ming Dynasty. Gao Zhi was considered the leader in the study of Xunzi's theory.

Originally, this kind of research was just a hobby, but now with the change of the imperial court's thinking, the big blood-sucking insect accepted Jiang Xinghuo's suggestion and indulged in the "Holy King" theory to provide another angle for his act of killing the king and usurping the throne. After the correction, Gaozhi moved at this time and got his own opportunity of the times.

"In the Ming Dynasty Administrative School, in the second half of the second year of Yongle year, we plan to open a special rotating training class. Last year, we talked about clean government. This year, we plan to talk about Xunzi's sage-king studies, so that all the princes in the temple can also learn from it. At that time, I will teach Huang Ziwei Tell me, I will transfer you to give lectures for a while."

Daming Administrative School stipulates that there are two types of rotation training, one is business rotation training and the other is special topic rotation training.

Needless to say, business rotation training, for example, in the accounts department, it is rotation training related to four-legged accounts, banking and other specialized businesses, while thematic rotation training is basically spiritual education.

You ask whether it is useful. If we only look at the feedback from the first year of Yongle, the effect of business rotation training is not big but not small. You can learn something back, but the effect of special topic rotation training can only be said to be better than nothing.

But from a long-term perspective, rotation training on special topics is definitely necessary. This is just like my mother telling you to get up and go to school. If you wake up day after day, some people can form a biological clock. Sometimes when the time comes, I will not wake up. Ask yourself to get up too.

While business rotation training can usually only come into contact with officials from a certain ministry or a separate system, special topic rotation training can come into contact with a relatively large number of officials, and there are many senior officials among them. Therefore, if you serve as a lecturer and give lectures to these senior officials, you can gain a lot of benefits. The benefits are actually intangible, and are not just the tuition fees offered by Daming Administrative School.

As for my job

Without Jiang Xinghuo in the Ming Dynasty, the power of the reform sect has not yet been fully strengthened, and various reform measures have not yet taken root in the hearts of the people, so the temple may have some problems, but without Gao Zhi, Guanglu Temple can be transformed as it should be. What's more, Huang Ziwei, the minister of Guanglu Temple, was the former Songjiang magistrate and a die-hard confidant of Jiang Xinghuo, so he would not disagree with the secondment.

In this way, Gao Zhi's work in the second half of the year is actually very exciting. Today's trip has actually been booked for a long time, but it is finally not in vain, at least it will not be a mess in the position of Guanglu Temple Cheng. Yeah, literally eating and waiting to die. Guanglu Temple is responsible for purchasing sacrifices and preparing for palace and diplomatic banquets. There are countless conferences and small meetings every year. The first, second and third leaders have to take turns to taste the food before the banquet. It is part of their responsibilities. , it’s quite fresh at first, with delicacies from all over the world, but after eating too much, it becomes really greasy and disgusting.

In short, in this era, it is not easy for a small official like Gao Zhi to get such an opportunity!

"Thank you, Imperial Master."

Gao Zhi said respectfully, not daring to be proud.

"Well, choosing people to do things is all about putting them in their proper positions."

Jiang Xinghuo smiled and encouraged him, then changed the subject:

"But you can't relax. Not only must you prepare for your coursework as soon as possible, but you must also study hard and combine Xunzi's thoughts with everything currently available."

"Please rest assured, Imperial Master."

Gao Zhi understood deeply that many of Xunzi's thoughts are indeed very suitable for reform and reform, such as "the movement of heaven is constant", and "controlling the destiny of heaven and using it" and so on.

"Okay, here is a pamphlet. You can take it home and read it slowly."

After Jiang Xinghuo finished speaking, he handed over the brochure on the side.

Gao Zhi took it and hurriedly flipped through it. He stood up excitedly and saluted: "Thank you, Imperial Master, for your appreciation!"

The content here is some of Jiang Xinghuo’s reading notes when he read "Xunzi", as well as the context of the research. Since it can be given to him, it is obviously showing him the way and letting him go along this road and complete the research. The content of Xunzi's thoughts on change is better integrated with the reform method.

In fact, as the teacher of Han Fei and Li Si, Xunzi's thoughts are naturally in line with the current situation of various official rectifications and rule of law in the Ming Dynasty.

Gao Zhi did not expect that not only would he be recognized by Jiang Guoshi and be able to give lectures at the Ming Dynasty Administrative School, but he would also be given special guidance and would have a long-term mission. It was foreseeable that he would definitely take less steps in his career development in the future. It may take a detour, or even make it to the top.

After dismissing Gao Zhi, Jiang Xinghuo stretched out and leaned back on the chair contentedly, planning to close his eyes and rest for a while.

But even if it was the so-called rest, Jiang Xinghuo's mind was full of things at this time.

All the messy things happened, but I didn't write them down for fear that I would forget them.

Jiang Xinghuo opened his eyes, picked up his pen, and began to plan his work.

Overseas, with the gradual expansion of trade with Japan and North Korea, Ningbo Port has become the most important commercial port. Ryukyu also needs to pay some attention. It is true that Ryukyu is a small country, and it is also a tripartite state internally, but Ryukyu has a strong influence on the Ming Dynasty. His attitude is very friendly and respectful. This place is not easy to be directly brought under the rule of the Ming Dynasty, but it also needs a military base. It can directly threaten Japan's southern coast.

"It just so happens that there are a few Ryukyu students studying in the Imperial College."

The current main military targets of the Ming Dynasty are the Sai kings in Qin and Jin, the Tatars in the north, and the Jurchens in Liaodong. Therefore, Japan is not the highest priority, and even if these intuitive or potential threats in the north are resolved, the Ming Dynasty There is also the risk of invasion by the Timurid Empire.

The bastions, raw materials and craftsmen for making cement have all been sent to Gansu. The actual area controlled by the Ming Dynasty does not fall into the traditional "Western Regions". Further to the northwest, there is a territory that must not be lost for eight miles.

This is because a few decades ago, not long before the establishment of the Ming Dynasty, the Mongol Chagatai Khanate that ruled Central Asia was divided into two parts: the east and the west. The Great Khan of the Eastern Chagatai Khanate was mainly active in Beslopali ( Bali is a land in Turkic language (meaning "city"). According to Ming Dynasty records, it was called the Bali Kingdom of Beelse. The first version of the globe made by Jiang Xinghuo actually had some fallacies here. Bali was renamed "Yili". "Bauli" or "Yili Bali" would not be named until the 16th year of Yongle, when Huisi became the Great Khan of the Eastern Chagatai Khanate, and then moved his family westward to the Ili Valley. However, those who have seen the globe, It was just a matter of transliteration, but no one was careful enough to notice Jiang Xinghuo's mistake.

When Waisi died, their descendants were no better than each other, and the Eastern Chagatai Khanate also split. One of the descendants still used the name of Yilibali to pay tribute to the Ming Dynasty, and the other one used the name of Tulufan. As the center, he established himself as Khan to compete with the Ming Dynasty. By the time of the first year of Chenghua in Jiang Xinghuo's previous life, the Ming Dynasty had too many tributes and people from the countries in the Western Regions (too many people were collecting wool), and the restrictions were also limited to three to five years. At one time, there were no more than ten people at a time. After that, the tribute exchanges between the two countries gradually became rare. Later, a force in Turpan expanded and unified the Eastern Chagatai Khanate, and Yilibaoli was never recorded again.

Of course, regardless of whether it is Bieshe Bali, Yili Bali, or Yili Bali, their name among the Mongols is actually the Eastern Chagatai Khanate. In the 24th year of Hongwu, they were the Great Khans of the Eastern Chagatai Khanate. The historians here sent envoys to pay tribute to Zhu Yuanzhang, which was the beginning of formal contact with the Ming Dynasty. The exchanges between the two parties have now been more than ten years. They are nominally a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty, but due to the face of the Timur Khanate The military pressure is relatively high, so there are also forces in the country that are inclined to Timur. However, overall, the forces opposed to Timur are still dominant. This is because of the grievances between Timur and the Chagatai Khanate.

Regardless of whether Timur, an old cripple, would die suddenly on his expedition to the Ming Dynasty like in history, the Ming Dynasty had made preparations in advance, whether it was building a group of bastions in the Hexi Corridor in Gansu to strengthen defense, or cleaning them up early The kings of Qin and Jin were preparing for a possible all-out war with Timur.

War is not something that can be avoided by just escaping. As the world's most powerful country, Ming Dynasty will never be able to pin its peace on Timur's sudden death. Therefore, even if it invests various resources, it must build the northwest defense line.

As for whether it can be fought, it is best if it cannot be fought. The Ming Dynasty is not afraid of spending money in vain, and if it starts to fight, there will be a time to gradually resist along the Hexi Corridor while conducting field troop mobilization and training nationwide, right?

Therefore, the layout in Ryukyu can be regarded as a piece of cake. Even if the results appear, optimistically speaking, it will only be a few years later.

This year is the second year of Yongle. To deal with the two vassals of Qin and Jin, to conquer the grasslands in the north, and to conquer the Jurchens in the west, we can complete them all within this year if we pay more attention to the schedule.

According to the historical line of Jiang Xinghuo's previous life, after the news of Timur's expedition reached the center of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Di ordered Song Sheng, the commander-in-chief of Gansu Province, and He Fu, the commander-in-chief of Ningxia, to mobilize and strengthen the defense. When the war was about to break out, Timur He was bedridden due to contracting malaria and died of illness on February 18, the third year of Yongle, at the age of sixty-nine. The vanguard team had already arrived in Beslopali. At this time, news came that Timur had died of illness. The war against the Ming Dynasty could no longer advance and had to withdraw its troops. Subsequently, within Timur's empire, his four sons and many grandsons began a power struggle, and no one planned to use troops against the Ming Dynasty.

However, the difference from the Golden Family is that the Golden Family's bloodline can be said to be full of talents. However, although Timur's descendants are also brave and good at fighting, there are no descendants like Meng Ge, Tuo Lei, and Kublai Khan. As the proud figure of the grassland, after Timur's death, his huge Timur empire also fell apart.

Ming Dynasty still has one year to integrate internally and eliminate external troubles.

Even if the historical line was not disturbed by Jiang Xinghuo because Timur's empire was too far away, Timur's Eastern Expedition was still the top priority in Ming Dynasty's strategy.

Therefore, the cross-sea expedition to Japan, including the complicated preliminary preparations, would have to be postponed until the fourth or fifth year of Yongle.

But Jiang Xinghuo doesn't need to worry about these military matters. There are so many generals in the Ming Dynasty who have been trained in the Jingnan Campaign. Even if Zhu Di doesn't do it himself, it won't be a problem to defend and counterattack Timur.

If we really have to go head-to-head, as long as the main force of the Ming army is assembled in Guanzhong, good supplies are hoarded, and the Ming army has rich war experience and advanced firearms, it is still quite sure of victory.

Jiang Xinghuo's focus is still on domestic economic construction and various reforms involving grassroots systems.

As he was writing and drawing on paper, Jiang Xinghuo felt more and more that he should go to the grassroots level.

Mainly from several aspects, the first is the ideological aspect. Although through various reports and descriptions of relevant scholars, Jiang Xinghuo can understand the current ideological trends of Shilin. In addition to the New Learning Thought and the aftermath of the Taixue Meeting, the current "Kingship" 》Reformation based on ancient literature, sorting out the ancient literature school and modern literature school, dividing classics and history, etc., have gradually become hot topics in the future.

But for this kind of thing, what others say is on the one hand, go and listen to it yourself at the grassroots level, and on the other hand, what others say does not necessarily mean to deliberately deceive you, but since it comes from someone's mouth, it must be his own. Therefore, it is necessary to go down and understand it personally, otherwise sitting in the office for a long time will easily create an information cocoon.

The second is the economic aspect, the implementation of the four-legged account, the expansion of the bank-money system, and the current situation of the withdrawal of treasure money, all of which require Jiang Xinghuo to pay personal attention.

The third aspect is agriculture. Agriculture includes not only the actual distribution and explanation of agricultural books in pilot areas, but also things that need to be corrected during use, and then the different effects of crop rotation and intercropping. These all need to be inspected on the spot. In addition, the tax soldiers and guards were sent to the countryside, and the land that followed was re-cleared.

Literally, the clearing of land is definitely not an adjustment to the existing land relationship. It is just a re-measurement and re-drawing of the "Fish Scale Book". However, the actual situation is not that simple. It has been more than thirty years since the founding of the Ming Dynasty in Hongwu. , the land at the grassroots level is not only subject to changes, but also has many tricks and great resistance. However, if you want the tax guards to collect agricultural taxes properly, it will definitely not work without clearing the land.

Even if the opposition from the gentry and landlords is loud, this matter must be pushed forward forcefully. The long-term pain is worse than the short-term pain. In Jiang Xinghuo's previous life in the Ming Dynasty, many capable ministers and ministers had implemented such matters as clearing land and acres. It is not that it cannot be pushed forward forcefully. If you push it, you are afraid of delay. As long as the determination of the center is strong enough and the attitude is firm enough, it will definitely be done.

After all, although the clearing of land will cause the gentry and landlords to lose part of their profits, it is just cutting off the flesh and will not force the gentry and landlords to the point of breaking their bones. Unless they are a few crazy people, there should be no one who has experienced Zhu Di's After the army swept across the south of the Yangtze River, they still dared to fight against the tax guards.

Of course, this is before the implementation of the "gentlemen's integrated grain payment" policy has not yet been decided. If a killer-level policy like "the gentry's integrated grain payment" is implemented, it is hard to say whether it will cause a violent backlash. Well, after all, it was a routine matter for the imperial court to repaint the "Fish Scales Book" by the Qing Dynasty's father-in-law, and "the gentry all received food from one body" was really nerve-wracking.

But no matter what, the reform is carried out step by step. You can't escape the first day of the junior high school, but you can't escape the fifteenth day. After clearing the land, when the tax soldiers and guards can really take root at the grassroots level, then naturally the policy of "the gentry receiving food as one body" will be carried out. It’s time to implement it.

Jiang Xinghuo is not in a hurry about this. Anyway, he has a long time, so it is better to go slow, so as not to take too much steps and pull his pants. Anyway, the public opinion dilemma of the reform has been basically solved. After the unified thinking, all aspects of things will gradually The results have been seen after the reform, and if we continue to cultivate officials who benefited from the reform, as well as emerging social classes such as businessmen, factory owners, workers, and citizens, etc., they will also grow. It is foreseeable that in more than ten years, More than twenty years later, even if Jiang Xinghuo really has some shortcomings and has formed a reform plan for the vested interest class, it can no longer be interrupted by any force.

In fact, even during the vigorous Jialong Wanda Reform, Zhang Juzheng's New Deal only lasted for ten years, and it had a profound impact on all aspects of Ming society. After Zhang Juzheng's death, Shen Shixing still partially adhered to Zhang Juzheng's New Deal He worked in the positions of second assistant and first assistant for nearly ten years, and carried out the reform very well.

Therefore, as long as the general trend is established, even if the emperor does not like it, these policies that benefit the country and the people will continue to be implemented.

Fourth, it is the progress in industry. In terms of heavy industry and specialized commodities, it is not really necessary to look at it, because I just went there not long ago. It is mainly about the progress of the Jiangnan cotton textile industry. Jiang Xinghuo has been busy for more than a year. Due to various disputes in the DPRK, he never had time to return to Jiangnan.

The fifth is business. If he has time, and since it is not that far away, Jiang Xinghuo still wants to go to Zhejiang to see the implementation of things like point-to-point trade and Ningbo Shipping Company.

In short, there are many things to do, but if you really want to work at the grassroots level, it actually involves two places and five aspects. Look at economic and ideological things in the capital, and look at agriculture in Jiangnan and Zhejiang, that is, the Shanghai-Hangzhou area. Clear land and the development of light industry and commerce.

"Help me go to Honglu Temple to call Jie Jin and ask him to go out with me."

Jiang Xinghuo called Guo Jing and asked him to go to Honglu Temple.

"When you're done, you can go home directly. I'll check off today's duty record for you first."

Seeing the sky getting dark, Guo Jing was not only happy. As a worker, even if he was a Beijing official, he had to work overtime when something happened and expected to get off duty on time when nothing happened. With Jiang Xinghuo's words, he never stopped working. You can go home directly from Honglu Temple without having to go back to "check in".

And this was earlier than the time when he would normally be off duty, so the trace of resentment that could not be detected and instinctively floated out of his stomach immediately disappeared without a trace.

——————

At this time, at the Hu family's residence not far away, Hu Jiyou was holding a basin of hot water and a wet cotton towel, scrubbing his son himself, and spraying it according to the "Instructions for Use" that came with Junzizhai. perfume.

It is not easy to talk about Lao Hu. According to the chronology of later generations, Lao Hu was born in 1336 AD. He is one year younger than Yao Guangxiao and the same age as Yuan Gong. All of them will be almost 70 years old this year.

Seventy years of life are rare, and there is no guarantee that one day it will be gone, and Hu Jishen’s experience in this year is even more magical. For ordinary people, with such a huge gap, I am afraid that they would have collapsed long ago, but the old Hu didn’t, Lao Hu was very strong.

This stems from Hu Jishen's life experience.

Hu Jima was born into a local wealthy family in Vietnam. His ancestors were high-ranking officials in the Chen Dynasty of Vietnam. He had two aunts who became queens. They were both married to the fifth emperor of the Chen Dynasty, Chen Mingzong and Chen Mei. They were known as Empress Mingci and Empress Dunci respectively in history. Empress; Empress Mingci is the biological mother of the sixth emperor Chen Xianzong, Chen Wang, and the eighth emperor Chen Yizong, Chen Hao. Empress Dunci is the biological mother of the ninth emperor Chen Ruizong and Chen Hao.

Therefore, Hu Jisao was a decent relative of the Chen Dynasty, or a senior relative.

In addition to his background, Lao Hu also strives for success himself. Not only is he outstanding in governing local areas and possessing extraordinary political wisdom, he is also a famous Confucian master and great poet in Annan Kingdom. He is the author of "Book of Ming Dao" and "Guo Yu Shi Yi" and other Confucian and famous works. Poems and works. In addition to martial arts, Lao Hu was also good at martial arts. In his military career, he had an outstanding record of resisting the peak army of the occupying state led by Zhi Peng'e. He can be said to be a man with both civil and military skills.

In the end, he supported the young Chen Shao Emperor Chen An as emperor. This trick was done to show all the civil and military officials. The purpose was to tell all civil and military officials that he was the actual ruler of the Chen Dynasty. Even the emperor abolished and established the capital. He has the final say.

Four years ago, Lao Hu deposed Emperor Chen Shao and ascended the throne himself. According to the political tradition of Annan Kingdom, dynasty changes are all referred to by the royal name instead of the country name. Therefore, the history of Annan Kingdom begins with the Chen Dynasty. , changed to the Hu Dynasty, the old Hu was named Shengyuan, and soon passed the throne to his second son Hu Hancang, who had the blood of the Chen Dynasty, and he became the Supreme Emperor. Unfortunately, with the Ming Dynasty's southern expedition to Annan, he became the Supreme Emperor. After two years, he became a prisoner.

Looking at Lao Hu's life, he has a remarkable characteristic, that is, he can endure.

You know, Jiang Xinghuo's goal was to send away the three emperors of the Ming Dynasty, but Lao Hu actually sent away the six emperors of the Chen Dynasty.

You have endured decades of oppression and exclusion. What kind of tolerance and psychological quality does this show?

In addition, he has read a lot of history books and is well versed in the survival methods of subjugated kings in Chinese history. He also has his own Confucian way of cultivating mind. It may not matter in good times, but in adversity, it makes a big difference whether a person has these things. of.

Therefore, although there was a huge gap, Hu Jiyou, who was captured and came to the Ming Dynasty, quickly adjusted his mentality.

"As the years get colder, the pines and cypresses will wither, and the theme of plum blossoms, orchids, bamboos and chrysanthemums is certainly good. It would be even better if there are pines and cypresses."

Hu Yuancheng spent a long time in the cannon foundry, and his body smelled of gunpowder. After his father cleaned him up personally, he sprayed him with perfume with the theme of "Xiu Bamboo", and he immediately felt refreshed.

"Confucius's words are a metaphor for a gentleman being as resilient as a pine or a cypress, able to withstand hardship and torture. It is also an encouragement to you, my father and my son."

"It's not a hardship or torture, is it?"

Hu Yuancheng tilted his neck back, stretched the muscles on his shoulders, and said.

Hu Jiya changed another cotton towel, looked at the dirty water in the copper basin, and shook his head helplessly.

As my eldest son, I am good at everything. The best part is that I really love what I do!

"Can you have some consciousness like a person who has subjugated his country?"

"I think it's pretty good now."

Look at Xiao Hu, why is it that he can achieve the achievement of "being the most popular minister in two countries" while other surrendered ministers have been marginalized? This is a professional attitude!

Seeing that his eldest son did not need to feed himself chicken soup, Hu Jiya was relieved. He weighed the cotton towel in his hand and asked: "Actually, as a father, the cannons you tinker with are important, but it really doesn't matter. Light cotton towels are important. Do you know how much this cotton towel costs?”

Hu Yuancheng glanced at the cotton towel as white as snow and couldn't answer his father's question.

Cotton towels are much softer and more comfortable to use than linen towels.

So Hu Yuancheng thought for a while and said, "How can I get ten cents?"

Hu Jiya shook his head and smiled bitterly, and said: "Does it cost ten cents? Five cents a piece, thirteen cents a pack (three pieces)."

Hu Yuancheng was immediately startled and said subconsciously: "Then I'm afraid no one will use linen towels."

"That's the way it is."

Hu Jima wiped his son's back again, folded the towel at his wrist, and said, "You spend all day soaking in the iron yard. Who knew that this little cotton towel is now used in Japan, North Korea, Ryukyu, and even Annan?" , Champa, and Luzon, they are cheap and easy to use. All countries have basically signed a "Friendly Trade Contract" with similar terms to the Ming Dynasty, and now they are shipped from the south of the Yangtze River one by one."

"Can I make money?"

Hu Yuancheng is not that sensitive to economic figures. At this time, he has not realized what the concept of small profits but quick turnover is. Hu Jishen is not sensitive to economics. Well, as long as one of the father and son can understand the macroeconomics , Dayu's finances will not be bankrupted by them.

But after experiencing Jiang Xinghuo's dimensionality reduction blow, Hu Jishen gained a new understanding of economics. Although it was very superficial, he finally got in, and he was not a layman with a lot of trouble.

Hu Jisha replied: "Of course you make money. There is an interest rate difference of two or three cents for a cotton towel. If you sell it for takeout in a year, you may have to sell millions of towels. How much do you think it will cost?"

If converted according to the price of 1,000 copper coins = 1 tael of silver, that would be a net profit of tens of thousands of taels of silver.

Don’t be too little. On the one hand, the price of silver was extremely strong in the early Ming Dynasty. On the other hand, this was just a commodity called “cotton towels”. There were many cotton fabrics, and they were generally more profitable than cotton towels. Much higher.

After Hu Yuancheng calculated this, and then looked at the perfumes at hand, he was really stunned by the money-making ability of these products in Ming Dynasty.

While the father and son were discussing, Hu Hancang also returned excitedly from the Imperial College.