Chapter 178 Free Offerings Are the Most Expensive
The eldest brother can go out to sea to play, and his younger brothers are very envious.
However, they did not clamor to go with him. They still forced themselves to smile and said they had a good trip and that they would take good care of themselves and would not let their eldest brother worry.
"My third brother and I will help my eldest brother share the government affairs, record what happens after my eldest brother leaves, and wait for my eldest brother to come back to check." Zhu Chong does not trust others, he only trusts his own brothers.
Zhu Gang also nodded vigorously: "Brother, bring me some local specialties when you come back."
Zhu Di and Zhu Su also pulled Zhu Biao's sleeves and asked him for local specialties.
Zhu Biao had a headache: "Local specialties, what local specialties does Goryeo have? Let me think..."
Zhu Yuanzhang offered advice: "Ginseng?"
Zhu Biao said, "Don't take medicine if you're fine. Food supplements are worse than medicine supplements... Well, you can buy some ginseng to make face cream for mother."
Zhu Yuanzhang was a little jealous.
This guy treats his father like "food supplements are worse than medicine", and treats his mother like "grinding ginseng into a face cream for her". What a difference in treatment! Dissatisfaction!
Seeing his father getting jealous, Zhu Biao immediately tried to appease him: "Bring some back for Dad, too. Although medicine is not as good as food, it's okay to use it occasionally."
The four younger brothers immediately said, "We too..."
Zhu Biao's face turned serious: "Young people take too many tonics, and the more they take, the worse their health will be!"
The four younger brothers sighed in a long tone, and even Zhu Chong, who was already very mature outside, tried to open his already big eyes wide and act coquettishly to his brother.
Zhu Biao tried to keep a straight face: "I'll go see if I can bring you some new and interesting things."
The four younger brothers were satisfied.
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at his other four sons with disdain, and the other four sons also looked at their father with hidden disdain.
Zhu Biao was extremely worried. After he left, would his father chase after his four younger brothers and beat them up?
Fortunately, after Ma Xiuying heard that Zhu Biao was going to Goryeo, she hurried over.
"Mom, you must watch over Dad and don't let him beat my brother!" Zhu Biao said coquettishly, "If my brother does something bad, you beat him, Mom, don't let Dad beat him."
Ma Xiuying didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Okay, mom will beat me!"
She reminded him of the same thing for the tenth time, and Zhu Biao responded seriously for the tenth time.
Although Zhu Biao had lived alone (with his younger brother) and had even been to the battlefield, people of that era were afraid of the vast ocean, and Ma Xiuying was still very worried.
Although she would not restrict Zhu Biao's steps out of concern, it was inevitable that she would nag him before he set off.
After the news that Zhu Biao was going to leave with the navy spread, the people of Beijing were a little worried that their good prefect and provincial governor were going to leave, and they cried and wanted to arrange to send him an umbrella.
When the people learned that Zhu Biao was only going on a diplomatic mission to neighboring Goryeo and was buying some food to replenish the granaries left by the soldiers on the expedition, so that they could continue to provide work-for-relief during the lean period, they cried even harder.
The people of this era were used to fighting on the front lines and going hungry. Living in a border town, this was even more unavoidable.
But they didn't complain.
Because even now, when soldiers went to war, they only used the food in the granary and did not collect food from the people's homes. This was simply unbelievable to the people.
Now they knew that their little officials not only did not collect food from the soldiers when they went to war, but were also worried that the government would not be able to help them during the months when they would starve, so they had to go out to sea to buy food.
Perhaps the officials have a high sense of morality, and the gentry and wealthy merchants in the city also feel proud of it. They want to keep up with the officials' pace and become "philanthropists."
After they counted their granaries and left enough food to last for one or two years, they took out the old grain in their homes and transported it to the government office.
"Zhisheng, don't go overseas. It's dangerous. Let us donate!" The leader patted his chest and said, "We can do more charity work!"
Zhu Biao smiled and said, "I am deeply touched by your kindness. However, if difficulties arise under my rule, I will ask you for food and men. How is that any different from those who exploit you?"
The man in front of him couldn't help but feel relieved. He immediately said, "We know that the governor is not that kind of person..."
Zhu Biao waved his hand and said, "I am not that kind of person, so I must maintain my integrity. Besides, you know, I am essentially a businessman..."
Zhu Biao narrowed his eyes and smiled. "Rather than asking for things, I prefer to exchange things with you in a reasonable, legal, and ethical way, as a businessman."
The man's eyes lit up. "The Governor has something new to sell... No, ahem, is the Governor going to hold another charity gala?"
Zhu Biao continued to smile and said, "I am not free now. I have to go to Korea to do a big business."
The man in front of him thought carefully for a moment, and then said in a trembling voice: "Are we going to Goryeo this time just to buy food?"
Zhu Biao nodded to the man in front of him and said, "I admire you very much. Please keep the grain you donated and let others take their grain back."
The man immediately became excited; "Yes!"
Zhu Biao urged, "I will be leaving in three days at most. You must make sure everything is in order. I will only allow two of you to accompany me... Well, each of these two people can bring one guard, no more."
He was so excited that he bowed and clasped his hands together, and stumbled as he left the room, as if he were drunk.
Zhu Yuanzhang came out from the side compartment and frowned, "If they want to offer it to you, you should just accept it. Why do you want to take them to do business?"
Zhu Biao joked, "Dad, you've been around those people in the court for too long. They've made you think inflexibly. You're no longer the wealthy merchant you once were!"
Zhu Yuanzhang tapped Zhu Biao's forehead lightly: "Don't be naughty."
Ma Xiuying also came out of the cubicle, rubbed Zhu Biao's forehead, and scolded him softly: "Biao'er has grown up, don't keep hitting Biao'er's forehead."
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "No matter how old he is, he is still my son."
Zhu Biao waited until his parents had finished arguing before explaining, "Depending on my personal reputation..."
He smiled and shook his head as he said this: "How many times can I receive offerings? And are offerings really free? Free things are the most valuable. Is there anything more valuable than favors?"
Zhu Yuanzhang seemed to be lost in thought. "That's right. They're offering you gifts, and next time they ask for your help, it's hard for you to refuse... If you can't refuse, just tell Dad!"
Ma Xiuying was nodding in agreement when she heard Zhu Yuanzhang's shameless words. She nudged him in the waist with her elbow and said, "You have no shame, but Biao'er has. If you have a bad reputation and Biao'er has a good one, won't it be easier for you to get things done?"
Zhu Yuanzhang rubbed his waist and said with a grin, "Madam, you're too harsh. Okay, that's right. So, Biao'er, you've turned offerings into a business?"
Zhu Biao nodded. "Only by exchanging interests can you gain something from the other party in the long run. The collusion between corrupt officials and businessmen is essentially a form of business. Businessmen seek to gain more profits, and corrupt officials provide protection for them in exchange for a share. I simply made the exchange of interests legal, reasonable, and moral."
Ma Xiuying interjected, "It would also be in the best interests of the Ming Dynasty. By allowing more merchants to legally trade with Goryeo, the Ming Dynasty would be able to collect more taxes."
Zhu Biao said, "Mother understands things immediately, she's smarter than father."
Zhu Yuanzhang glared at Zhu Biao. "Why isn't your father smart? I figured it out too! Merchants are driven by profit. Even if we...our Ming Dynasty closes its sea trade, they'll still secretly trade with foreign countries, just like the merchants who smuggled salt and iron to the grasslands before. They might even sell out the Ming Dynasty. Merchants who can sincerely donate money and grain to the people, even if they're only thinking about profit, are much better than those who are stingy. Let them first... uh, Biao'er, what you said is called becoming bigger and stronger. It will be more beneficial to the Ming Dynasty."
Zhu Biao praised: "Dad is also very good! Yes, at least these people have never evaded taxes."
This "never" does not mean that there is no legal tax evasion. As long as they are legally evading taxes, Zhu Biao will not do anything to them, at most he will just close the loopholes.
Zhu Biao collected most of the Ming Dynasty's commercial taxes, and while he didn't exploit merchants much, the penalties for tax evasion were severe, with property confiscated and death imposed. Therefore, most merchants were willing to pay taxes without the need for government urging.
At least that's the case in Beijing.
Under Zhu Biao, there was no phenomenon of officials adding layers of tax burdens, and the businessmen lived a comfortable life. Therefore, when Beijing encountered difficulties, they were willing to donate generously.
Feudal gentry valued land, but they also knew that business was the fastest way to make money. Therefore, behind almost every wealthy businessman was a local gentry. Zhu Biao controlled these merchants and thus controlled the purses of the local gentry.
This is one of the reasons why Zhu Biao was able to quickly revitalize a city every time Zhu Yuanzhang conquered it.
Zhu Biao had plenty of ways to make these people hand over their property with both hands - this was not about taking out the old grain that the family did not need, but about gritting their teeth and taking out all their property and following Zhu Biao to "gamble."
Businessmen who can make their businesses bigger and stronger are all those with a gambling nature in their hearts, and Zhu Biao knows this all too well.
"They are gamblers, and I am the banker," Zhu Biao explained. "They make money with me first, and when I let go, they may make money or lose money, but I will never lose money. And since I have already let go, if their business fails, what does it have to do with me?"
Zhu Biao showed a sinister smile. Zhu Yuanzhang and Ma Xiuying's filter for Zhu Biao was thicker than the walls of Beijing and Nanjing combined, and they kept praising Biao for his intelligence.
After learning from Zhu Biao, they learned a lot and had already thought about how to go back and try Zhu Biao's methods.
The imperial court will encourage maritime trade in the future, and they must learn these things well so that the Ming Dynasty can make a profit without loss.
Zhu Biao accepted several carts of grain from the leader, who immediately sent more grain and cloth, and promised to send in order to buy a place on the ship.
Even though Zhu Biao did not allow the leader to tell others, this "not telling" was almost like "Hey, I'm going to tell you a secret, you must not tell anyone else." It soon spread throughout Beijing and even to the ears of all the wealthy merchants in northern Zhili, and was passed on to the south.
Goryeo's ginseng and furs were always in high demand, and Ming silk and porcelain were incredibly profitable there. Zhu Biao, the merchant god known to all as the God of Wealth, was about to personally go to Goryeo to open a shipping route. Everyone knew who would get on Zhu Biao's ship, and even a little bit of the money that slipped through his fingers would be enough for them to live on for a long time.
With only three days left, the merchants were going crazy, wishing they had wings so they could go to Beijing to donate grain and money and ask for a place on the ship.
Some businessmen only learned the news three days later, and many of them became sick from anger.
If I don’t get this opportunity to make a lot of money, don’t let me know about it!
Why am I not in Beijing!
Move! From now on, wherever the God of Wealth is serving as an official, that’s where our company’s main store will be!
The loss from moving house or warehouse can be earned back tenfold or a hundredfold with just a little help from the God of Wealth!
The wealthy merchants in Beijing were so excited when they had the chance to board the ship that they went all out.
They regretted very much that they did not fight for the position of leader, and they all tried their best to get a chance to meet Zhu Biao.
The day after the news was released, Zhu Biao posted a notice to auction three places on the ship. Merchants participating in the auction must not have committed any criminal offenses, including tax evasion, and only grain and cloth were accepted in the auction.
Zhu Yuanzhang was dumbfounded when he saw the crazy looks of the merchants at the scene.
He kept shaking Liu Ji's shoulders and said, "Look! How powerful my Biao'er is!"
Liu Ji swallowed his treasonous words, "My Lord, why don't you abdicate now?" and sighed, "Collusion between officials and merchants is inevitable. No matter how much we prohibit it, human greed is difficult to control. How to control this in the hands of the court and 'collusion' in a moral and legal manner is something that every court must consider. Perhaps no one has done a better job than Biao'er and my Lord, two wealthy merchants."
When Zhu Yuanzhang heard Liu Ji praising him, he smiled so hard that his mouth was about to be crooked.
Zhu Biao only gave places to four people, but the warehouse in Northern Zhili was already one-tenth full.
Zhu Yuanzhang had very complicated feelings and it took him a lot of effort to eliminate the idea of confiscating the homes of these people and putting all their property into the national treasury.
I am also a wealthy merchant, I do not hate the rich. What's more, I am a more powerful merchant than them! Zhu Yuanzhang not only muttered in his heart, but also muttered it out loud.
Liu Ji was terrified, fearing that Zhu Yuanzhang would become jealous and rob him with a knife. Zhu Yuanzhang's temper turned leftist, and Biaoer went out to sea again, so they really had no choice but to bang their heads against the pillar and die.
Before Zhu Biao set out, the grain in the warehouse had already exceeded the minimum warning line. This ability to make money was truly amazing to many people in the court who wanted to make a fuss about this matter.
What made them even more jealous was that although Zhu Biao was making money in this way, the merchants not only did not feel that they were being exploited, but they also beat their chests and cried out that they had not had such a good thing.
"What? Zhu Zhisheng just wants our money? Are you kidding me? Zhu Zhisheng went to Korea to do business himself. He easily earned back this little grain. He just gave us a chance and brought us common prosperity!"
"When Zhu Zhisheng was still surnamed Chen, he liked to support other merchants, unlike Shen Wansan who only cared about the profits. Otherwise, the Chen family would have surpassed the Shen family to become the world's most powerful merchant. Why would they have waited until the Shen family fell?!"
If Emperor Hongwu and his confidants had not known that the money earned by Chen Guorui and Chen Biao was used to subsidize Zhu Yuanzhang, which led to the Chen family's wealth being less than that of Shen Wansan's family, they would have believed the lies of these businessmen.
Zhu Biao boarded the Ming Dynasty's steam warship. When Chen Lin saw him off, his tone was a little sour: "When it comes to business, I'm also good at it. When will the governor take me with him to do business?"
Zhu Biao promised: "Definitely next time!" It is precisely because you are good at it that I let you stay.
Zhu Tong, who had returned to Nanjing to visit his relatives, hurried back and brought his brother Zhu Yi with him.
Zhu Yi was better at business than at being an official, and was a typical Confucian businessman. When Zhu Tong was an official, Zhu Yi took care of Zhu Sheng while doing business.
This time, Zhu Sheng kicked Zhu Yi out and asked Zhu Yi to learn Zhu Biao's skills.
"Making money for your own family is not a great skill. You should be able to make money for the people and the entire Ming Dynasty like Biao'er." Under Zhu Sheng's earnest expectation, Zhu Yi had no choice but to go with Zhu Biao.
"Biao'er, I really don't want to go out." Zhu Yi sighed, "I'm not saying I like doing business, but I'm really too lazy to be an official or run around."
Zhu Yi, the Confucian businessman, only does business in one city!
Zhu Biao laughed so hard that he couldn't straighten his back. "It's because you're lazy that Mr. Zhu kicked you out of the house. It's too late now. You've fallen into my clutches."
Zhu Yi smiled bitterly. Falling into Biao'er's clutches, he would be in for a lot of trouble.
Zhu Yi didn't want to be busy, but the other four wealthy businessmen on the boat were eager for Zhu Biao to order them around.
Zhu Biao used them to teach them how to make money!
Liao Yongzhong glanced at the shore and found that only Zhu Guorui and his wife were there to see him off. It seemed that the emperor and the empress would not come, so he could only announce the departure with regret.
It would be great if the emperor could come out and say a few words of encouragement for the steam warship's first mission. Liao Yongzhong was a little unhappy.
"Are you wondering why the emperor didn't come?" Zhu Biao asked after the ship set sail.
Liao Yongzhong immediately said, "No, no, why would I think so?"
Zhu Biao was puzzled: "It's normal for Uncle Liao to think this way. The Emperor is in Beijing, and Uncle Liao is sailing to Goryeo, so it's only natural for him to come and see you off."
Liao Yongzhong immediately said, "Yes...ah, no, it's not what I should do. It's just a little regrettable. After all, the emperor is in Beijing."
Zhu Biao looked at Liao Yongzhong who took over his words very naturally, as if he had known about the emperor's presence in Beijing for a long time, and sighed in his heart.
He smiled and said, "The Emperor didn't show up, probably because he didn't want to give Gaoli the illusion that we value them too much, so as not to arouse their attention."
Liao Yongzhong nodded: "That's true."
Zhu Biao said, "When Uncle Liao returns with a full load, the Emperor will surely come to greet him."
Liao Yongzhong thought to himself, of course, but I don’t know whether it is the emperor or Zhu Guorui who is coming.
But all he could say was, "I will definitely not disgrace the Emperor's will!"
Zhu Biao and Liao Yongzhong chatted for a few minutes and then returned to the cabin to rest.
He lay in the boat with his arms and legs spread out, sighing softly.
It's really nothing, right? It doesn't matter if you don't test it, because it doesn't matter anyway.
You must believe in your parents who love you the most.
Zhu Biao turned over and took out from his arms the Buddhist scriptures embroidered by his mother, which contained the Buddhist scriptures written by his father, which his father himself probably didn't believe in. He chuckled softly.
Zhu Biao made such a big fuss that Goryeo naturally also knew that the Ming navy was about to arrive with envoys.
But when they learned the news, the Ming navy had already reached the shore.
Even if their spies knew about it a few days in advance, it would still take nearly ten days to reach the destination, whether by water or by land.
It only takes one day for a steamship to reach the Korean Peninsula from Haejin Town.
Ming warships, belching black smoke, approached the Korean Peninsula. The Korean fishermen, believing they were sea monsters, turned their boats around and fled, while others jumped overboard.
Daming also rescued several fishermen who jumped off the boat, but was speechless when he learned the reason why they jumped off the boat.
If we were sea monsters, wouldn't you be seeking death by jumping into the sea?
So before the news the spies received from Beijing reached Kaesong, the King of Goryeo in Kaesong had already received news that warships suspected to be from the Ming Dynasty were coming to Goryeo, causing an uproar in the court.
While the court was arguing about whether to fight or surrender, the spy's news finally came back.
It was indeed the Ming Dynasty navy, led by the Ming Dynasty's Grand Marshal Liao Yongzhong. But surprisingly, this was not the person in charge on the ship. The person in charge was Zhu Biao, who was almost regarded as a god.
Some people in the Goryeo court were happy while others were afraid.
Zhu Biao had almost no defeats. Was Zhu Biao joining the army this time to attack Goryeo?
When Goryeo was a vassal state of the Yuan Dynasty, its nature was similar to that of Yunnan. The Yuan Dynasty could interfere with Goryeo's succession of the throne and government affairs at will, and the only thing left was to abolish the country and establish a province.
After that, Goryeo and Yuan intermarried for generations, and the current Goryeo king's beloved wife is a noblewoman of the Yuan Dynasty. Not to mention that the mother of the current Yuan crown prince is also Goryeo.
Under such circumstances, it is understandable that even if Goryeo saw that the Yuan Dynasty was on its last legs, it would still refuse to surrender to the Ming Dynasty.
Some people in Goryeo were truly loyal to the Yuan Dynasty.
But there was still a group of people within Goryeo who really wanted to surrender to the Ming Dynasty.
They were deeply influenced by Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism and believed that being loyal to the orthodox Han Dynasty was what Goryeo should have done. It should not have accompanied the Yuan Dynasty to death, nor should it have been indecisive.
Being loyal to a king is what a subject should do.
They had great influence in the court, and basically all the middle and lower-level gentry were close to the Ming Dynasty.
When these people heard that Zhu Biao was coming, they were so excited that they wanted to celebrate - for the King of Goryeo, this was indeed a great occasion to celebrate.
Zhu Biao is here. Is it still far away for us to become ministers of the Ming Dynasty?
The current upper class of Goryeo is controlled by large landlords who are close to the Yuan Dynasty. Although they are numerous, their power is not strong and their voices are not loud enough.
Now that Zhu Biao and the Ming navy are coming, their voices are finally heard louder.
The King of Goryeo hid in the palace and refused to listen to the group's advice. They rushed to the palace gate and wanted to bang their heads against the pillars to protest his remonstrance.
This shows that they are indeed very experienced in Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism.
King Wang Zhuan of Goryeo held the tablet of his beloved wife and sobbed.
Wang Zhuan was a relatively wise king in his early years. Internally, he suppressed the large landowner class, reformed domestic policies, and supported the Cheng-Zhu School of Neo-Confucianism and the small and medium-sized landowners and gentry who practiced it, in order to counter the domestic landlords who only cared about enjoying themselves. Externally, he maintained close relations with the Yuan court, receiving numerous Yuan support and benefits to develop the domestic economy.
But all this came to an abrupt end after Wang Zhuan's beloved wife died.
The Goryeo kings almost always married princesses from the Yuan Dynasty. Unlike other political marriages, Wang Zhuan truly loved Queen Bong Tasi-ri. Even though she was infertile and he took in several concubines, his love for her remained undiminished.
After Baotashili's death, Wang Zhuan became obsessed with his beloved wife and almost ignored state affairs. He also stopped his reforms and spent his days drinking to drown his sorrows. Goryeo fell into chaos, and the court officials were very dissatisfied with the king.
The faction close to the Yuan Dynasty believed that the king was too obsessed with love affairs, which led to his lack of offspring and was the root cause of the chaos in Goryeo; the faction close to the Ming Dynasty believed that the king was too obsessed with love affairs, so he clung to the Yuan Dynasty and refused to surrender to the Ming Dynasty, which was the root cause of the chaos in Goryeo.
Wang Zhuan was very depressed.
He wondered, did he really have to ignore his promise to his beloved wife for the sake of Goryeo?
"Goryeo is still more important." Wang Zhuan murmured.
