Chapter 133 Private visit incognito, Beijing branch!
On the second day of the Lunar New Year, Zhu Youtang also had a rare rest.
Zhu Youtang first went to Yangxin Hall to see the progress of the construction, and then went to Xiyuan for a walk.
Compared with the enthusiasm of Yangxin Hall, the reconstruction project of Xiyuan has not yet started, and the overall style still maintains the same as it was during the reign of Emperor Yingzong.
After walking around Taiye Pond for a while, Zhu Youtang felt a little bored, so he had the idea of leaving the palace.
"Call Wang Zhi and Mou Bin. I want to leave the palace for a private visit."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The accompanying young eunuch immediately went to invite Wang Zhi and Mou Bin.
After the two received the news that Zhu Youtang was leaving the palace for a private visit, they had their first experience and were not too shocked.
At the first opportunity, a large number of factory guards were arranged in the capital to do a good job of security before leaving the palace.
Then he changed into regular clothes and came to the palace to have an audience.
"I am here to see you, Your Majesty!"
The two met Zhu Youtang in Chongzhi Hall in Xiyuan. At this time, Zhu Youtang had also changed into regular clothes.
“No need to be polite, let’s go.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Zhu Youtang got into an ordinary sedan chair, which was carried by Mou Bin and Wang Zhi, and left Xiyuan through Xi'an Gate.
Zhu Youtang was sitting in the sedan chair, looking at the snowy scene in the capital, and suddenly felt something.
“I remember that the last time I paid a private visit incognito, you two were also carrying the sedan, and Huai En was walking beside him.”
Mu Bin and Wang Zhi did not dare to pick up Zhu Youtang. If so, just keep your head down and move forward.
It wasn't until he arrived at Xizhimen that Wang Zhi asked in a low voice: "Master Huang, where are we going now?"
"Where is the busier place now?"
"It should be Qianmen Street."
"Then let's go to Qianmen Street."
"Yes, Mr. Huang."< br>
Zhu Youtang did not have a particularly clear purpose for this trip, he just wanted to relax.
During this period of time, affected by the heirloom case, Zhu Youtang was not in high spirits, so he took advantage of the Chinese New Year to go out and relax.
Soon, the two men carried Zhu Youtang to Qianmen Street.
When Zhu Youtang heard the shouting and shouting coming from outside the sedan, he knew that he had reached a busy place, so he asked them to put him down.
The sedan carried by these two people was too narrow. Zhu Youtang was used to riding in a dragon chariot carried by eighteen people. It was really uncomfortable to sit in such a small sedan.
Zhu Youtang stepped out of the sedan, stretched his limbs, looked at the bustling crowd around him, and felt much better.
"Nine heavens have closed the palace, and all the nations are wearing clothes and hats."
Zhu Youtang looked at all kinds of people on the street and couldn't help but sigh.
Because on this street, there are not only the people of the Ming Dynasty, but also many barbarians wearing various costumes.
There were not only blond white missionaries, but also Arabs wearing turbans.
Zhu Youtang was walking casually on the street, and unknowingly came to a silk shop.
I saw an Arab wearing a turban, using Hongzhi treasure money to buy a carriage full of silk.
Just when paying, Hu Shang looked at the treasure money in his hand, frowned and sighed.
Zhu Youtang was a little surprised. Did he not expect that this Hongzhi treasure banknote has been circulated to the point where even foreigners are using it?
Zhu Youtang took the initiative to walk into the silk shop and stepped forward to ask: "You Hu merchants, are you also using these Ming treasure banknotes now?"
The Arab Hu merchants turned around and found that A richly dressed and domineering young man was asking himself a question.
His tone was very impolite, which was rare in the Ming Dynasty, which was very particular about etiquette.
But he spoke very naturally, and he naturally exuded a kind of calmness and confidence, as if his condescending attitude was natural.
And behind him, two men with extraordinary aura stood respectfully behind him, not daring to go any further.
Hu Shang's status in the Ming Dynasty was already low. Seeing this scene, Hu Shang naturally did not dare to neglect.
“My lord, this Hongzhi treasure note is easy to use. Everyone who comes to the capital to do business loves to use it.”
Zhu Youtang asked again: "Then why did you sigh when you were using the treasure just now?"
Hu Shang couldn't help but sigh again when he mentioned this.
“Although this treasure banknote is good, there is one thing that makes it really painful to use.”
“If it weren’t for the officials in the capital who could only use treasure banknotes for transactions, I would really Those who are unwilling to exchange silver for treasure banknotes. ”
“Whether you exchange treasure banknotes for silver or exchange silver for treasure banknotes, you have to pay a handling fee no matter how much silver you exchange.”< br>
"It's 1 out of 20 for treasure notes, and 1 out of 50 for silver. Now and then, it's 7 out of 100, which is really scary."
"And the guy who does the work Father-in-law, you will also ask for some money for tea. If you don’t give it, I won’t do it for you, alas..."
After hearing this, Zhu Youtang’s face instantly darkened, and he turned around and left the silk shop.
This handling fee was originally a profit-making business that he wanted to implement in branches all over the country.
And this business should only be available for inter-bank withdrawals.
And the rates shouldn’t be so high.
But now, Jingcheng Bank has begun to collect such handling fees, and they charge them so high.
Zhu Youtang looked at Wang Zhi behind him and lowered his voice: "Wang Zhi, you set the handling fee?" In addition to the eunuch of the imperial horse supervisor and the director of the West Factory, Wang Zhi also He is also the president of the Central Bank of Ming Dynasty.
Wang Zhi was so frightened that he broke out in a sweat in the middle of winter. He was so panicked.
"Your Majesty, forgive me, I am...I don't know anything about this."
Zhu Youtang did not reply and walked quickly to the capital.
There was still a long queue in front of the Jingcheng branch, but everyone who walked out of the Jingcheng branch had their brows furrowed tightly and their faces full of sadness.
Zhu Youtang just took a look and realized something was wrong.
The people maintaining order outside the Beijing branch have been replaced by people from the Wucheng Military and Horse Division from Xichang Fanzi.
Zhu Youtang looked at Wang Zhi beside him and asked in a low voice: "Where are the people from Xichang? How did they become members of the Wucheng Army and Horses Division?"
Wang Zhi was startled, and his heartbeat began to speed up. He quickly lowered his head and replied softly.
“Back to Your Majesty, when we were investigating the late emperor’s poisoning and murder case, the manpower of the Xichang Fanzi was really insufficient, so the minister boldly recalled the Fanzi stationed in the capital branch.”
"Later, the Wucheng Military and Horse Division was reinstated. After taking power, according to regulations, the security of the capital was handled by the Five Cities Military and Horse Division. They also took the initiative to send people to maintain public order, so the ministers did not send more people. "
After hearing this, Zhu Youtang knew that Wang was in charge. Since what he said was true, he said nothing more.
During this period of time, Zhu Youtang has left almost all important matters to Xichang.
In the northwest expeditionary army, the eunuchs who supervise the army are from Xichang, and the eunuchs who supervise grain are also from Xichang.
At the same time, the investigation of the generals in the city was also done by Xichang, and the investigation of the heirloom case was also left to Wang Zhi.
It was also left to Xichang to clean up the remnants of the case of hiding the Virgin Mary and the Empress Dowager.
It is reasonable for Wang Zhi's men to be nervous.
"Let's go and see the Jingcheng branch. What's the situation like now."
Zhu Youtang said and walked straight to the Jingcheng branch.
The people waiting outside suddenly opened their eyes wide and looked at Zhu Youtang's back in disbelief.
Especially the wealthy businessman from Jiangnan who was ranked first had the most excited expression.
"Hey! Hey! Why do you jump in line..."
Before he finished speaking, the wealthy businessman's mouth was tightly covered.
Wang Zhi put a few Hongzhi treasure notes into the hands of the wealthy businessman: "My time is precious and I can't wait. This is a little compensation."
After doing all this, Wang Zhi Only then did he let go of his hand to stop the wealthy businessman from shouting.
The wealthy businessman first opened his eyes in surprise, and then angrily threw the money in his hand to the ground.
“Who wants your stinky money!”
The wealthy businessman was so angry that he sneered: "I don't know where the country people came from. They don't understand the rules and dare to jump in line in front of Da Ming Bank!" Presumptuous”
“Otherwise. If you are caught by the people from the Wucheng Army and Horses Division, you will be punished with more than just a few scoldings, and you will be sent to jail!"
As the wealthy businessman was talking, he saw several people patrolling outside the Beijing branch! Soldiers from the Wucheng Army and Horse Division saw Zhu Youtang jumping in line and immediately came over to stop him.
"Hey! You..."
Before the captain of the Five Cities Soldiers and Horses Division, the leader, had finished speaking, Mou Bin had already stood in front of him.
This commander happened to be a soldier under Geng Wenxin, the commander of the Zhongcheng Army and Horses Division.
It was Mou Bin who led the Jin Yiwei people, suspended them and took over their work, so he was deeply impressed by Mou Bin.
"Mou..."
The captain felt his legs were weak, and before he could finish speaking, Mou Bin pinched his mouth.
Mou Bin put a finger in front of his mouth and made a silencing gesture.
"Shut up the people who told you and keep quiet."
The sergeant nodded repeatedly: "Yes...yes..."
Mu Bin let go of his hand, the sergeant Turn around, ask all his men to disperse, and shut their mouths so as not to make a sound.
Zhu Youtang walked straight into Daming Bank without squinting his eyes.
Mou Bin also followed suit and entered Daming Bank.
Seeing this scene, everyone outside Daming Bank widened their eyes in surprise, wondering who Zhu Youtang was, who could actually make the five-city troops stationed there take the initiative to give way.
When Wang Zhi saw Zhu Youtang walking into the Beijing branch, he turned around and followed him.
The wealthy businessman from Jiangnan was left behind, looking at Wang Zhi’s back in shock.
His legs began to weaken, and he began to feel a sense of fear in his heart.
When Zhu Youtang walked into the Beijing branch, he saw more than a dozen young eunuchs at work.
At the same time, there are also more than a dozen soldiers from the Five Cities Soldiers and Horses Division armed with swords, patrolling to protect the safety of the Beijing branch.
There are seven people in total who handle business at Daming Bank.
Some came to exchange their silver for Hongzhi treasure notes, while others came to exchange the treasure notes for the corresponding silver.
Originally, they were just two very simple tasks, but the eunuchs in the Internal Affairs Bureau took their time to complete them. It would take half a day to complete each task.
Zhu Youtang looked unhappy and was very dissatisfied with the efficiency of the Beijing branch.
But the little eunuchs at the Beijing branch did not notice anything amiss and continued to deal with the business in hand casually.
(End of this chapter)