Chapter 94 The Emperor's Grace
After hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang frowned. He looked at Deng Qianqiu and suddenly found that this guy was like a completely different person.

You were so timid in the past, but now you dare to ask for my money?

Of course, it seems that this silver does not belong to me yet.

But anyway...

Deng Qianqiu said confidently, "Your Majesty, there is a saying that goes "It's better to say it in advance." If you don't set the rules first, it will be difficult to get involved in the future. Your Majesty has wrongly favored me and wants me to take on greater responsibilities, so how dare I not do my best? But my thoughts...are different. If you want to do something, you have to use your own methods. Otherwise, if your Majesty is short of guards and gatekeepers, I can also do my best."

Deng Qianqiu's words were even more bold.

Of course, he has his own considerations.

He can no longer hide himself now, so the only thing he can do is to work honestly.

But it's not that easy to get work done. According to the monthly salary of the Ming Dynasty for the imperial army and the Five Military Commandery, even if Deng Qianqiu wanted to work, it would be extremely difficult to find someone who could really work hard with him.

Because of this, it is better to be bold and reveal the truth at this time. The size of the thousand-household unit can be reduced to a hundred-household unit, and the basic taxes and levies can also be cut, but... if the job is done, you have to pay.

Because Deng Qianqiu knew better than anyone that if you asked someone to work for you, you had to pay them, and if you asked someone to go through fire and water, you had to pay a high price.

Zhu Yuanzhang put his hands behind his back and could not help but said, "You have plotted against me. You are so bold. Do you want to deduct 20% or 30%? Then 20%."

Zhu Yuanzhang was straightforward. The matter of the crown prince still frightened him. He felt more and more that the Yiluansi was unable to cope with the situation. It was not that it was incapable, but that it was lacking in some aspects. At this time, Deng Qianqiu had to make up for it.

What's more, Deng Qianqiu had made great contributions in protecting the prince, and Zhu Yuanzhang was planning to reward him handsomely.

Deng Qianqiu didn't expect to convince the stingy emperor so quickly, and said happily: "Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty."

Zhu Yuanzhang paced back and forth while saying, "Let's set up this centurion's office in Chunhe Palace. You will be the centurion, and I will let you choose the rest of the candidates. All matters involved..."

At this point, Zhu Yuanzhang paused. He was silent for a moment, thinking seriously about something, and then continued: "The duty is to protect Chunhe Palace, arrest traitors and villains, and investigate evildoers. In addition, it is also the duty to supervise the officials of Chunhe Palace. If there are corrupt officials, they should be investigated and questioned."

The duties here are actually similar to those of the Yiluansi, except that the scope of authority is centered around the crown prince. It is equivalent to a small Yiluansi.

But the fact that he is the official in charge of supervising Chunhe Palace is a bit of a joke.

Deng Qianqiu even felt a sense of ridiculousness. Theoretically speaking, there was nothing wrong with this kind of supervision.

It happened that this was the Hongwu Dynasty. In order to establish a team for the crown prince, the Hongwu Emperor made almost all the important officials of the court also serve as officials of the Chunhe Palace.

For example, the Left Prime Minister Li Shanchang was also the Prince's Junior Tutor, the Grand Marshal Xu Da was also the Prince's Junior Tutor, the Zhongshu Pingzhangluejun and national affairs Chang Yuchun was also the Prince's Junior Protector, the Right Commander Feng Sheng was also the Right Chancellor, and so on.

It can be said that the staff of the Chunhe Palace basically emptied out the entire Ming Dynasty staff. Even someone like Tang He, who had an extremely close relationship with Zhu Yuanzhang and was conferred the title of founding marquis, might not be ranked in the Chunhe Palace.

Let Deng Qianqiu supervise these people? Are you kidding me?
Deng Qianqiu said, "I will obey your order."

Zhu Yuanzhang glanced at Deng Qianqiu with satisfaction. He liked this guy's ability to face challenges head-on.

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and said, "I will order someone to issue an imperial edict in a few days. You should make preparations early."

Deng Qianqiu did not leave immediately, but said: "Your Majesty, can you also include the commission in the edict? No, I have no other intentions. The main purpose is to show this edict to others... so that everyone can trust me."

Zhu Yuanzhang glared at him and said, "You only know how to ask for money!"

Deng Qianqiu: “…”

The emperor's look was a bit disdainful and even a bit fierce. This time, Deng Qianqiu didn't dare to offend him again and left in a dignified manner.

After he left, Zhu Yuanzhang immediately called Yesen over and ordered him, "A hundred-household unit of personal soldiers will be set up in Chunhe Palace to protect the crown prince. Go to the Secretariat and teach them to draft an imperial edict. I will have someone deliver the specific rules tomorrow."

She should have nodded hurriedly: "I understand."

He looked up and saw that Zhu Yuanzhang was in a very good mood and seemed very happy.

Having been by the emperor's side for a long time, she naturally knew that what his majesty was most worried about before was that the culprit behind the scene was related to his concubine or son. Now the truth has finally come to light.

What is even more surprising is that the people captured now are actually the descendants of Bayan, who destroyed the Song Dynasty.

But at this time, Zhu Yuanzhang said with a straight face: "Humph, 20% to 30%, this kid is quite arrogant, giving him 20% is not bad."

As he spoke, Zhu Yuanzhang showed a look of pain. This is silver, real gold and silver!

Now the country has a lot of work to do and the expenses are huge. Zhu Yuanzhang has been extremely frugal and has even come up with countless little tricks to save money. It can be seen how much psychological shadow Deng Qianqiu's words had on him this time.

I should have been ignorant of the situation first, so I smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I don't know what 20% means?"

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand impatiently: "Go away, stop talking about things that are not related to the topic."

I had to put away my curiosity and said, "Yes."

…………

On the other side, Deng Qianqiu excitedly left the Forbidden City and let out a long sigh of relief.

Outside the Forbidden City, thirty or so men had been waiting for a long time.

As soon as they saw Deng Qianqiu, they hurried over to greet him.

Deng Qianqiu smiled and asked, "Why are you still waiting here?"

Niu Shisan said: "Captain, we have nowhere to go, and we don't know the news in the palace, so..."

Deng Qianqiu said cheerfully, "From now on, we have a place to go. His Majesty will set up a Hundred Households Office in Chunhe Palace, and we will work there. This time, you have done a great job, and I will report to the emperor to commend you. Now this Hundred Households Office is still short of general flags and small flags. Hmm... I'm afraid we need to recruit some lieutenants. However, quality is more important than quantity. Let's take our time. First, I will give you an official position based on your merits this time."

Deng Qianqiu said it lightly.

But Niu Shisan and others were all shocked. He had just transformed from a small soldier in the Five Cities Army to a royal guard, and now he was going to be promoted in the blink of an eye?

To be honest, people like Niu Shisan have only seen a limited amount of the world. In their eyes, let alone their own army, even if they can serve as a general flag or a small flag in the Wucheng Bingmasi or the Five Military Commandery, they are considered to be remarkable figures.

You have to know that this is the Ming Dynasty, and the war across the world is nearing its end. So many heroes need to be arranged and deployed, and various positions have already been occupied.

Even in the future, among these meritorious officials, not to mention the high-ranking dukes and marquises, the descendants and grandchildren of the hereditary commanders, hereditary thousand households and hereditary hundred households will occupy positions of varying sizes when they grow up.

It can be said that there was no place for Niu Shisan and others in this life-changing founding feast, but now, Deng Qianqiu has opened a door for them.

Niu Shisan's eyes suddenly turned red and he sniffed.

Deng Qianqiu couldn't help but ask, "Why, you're crying again?"

Niu Shisan wiped his eyes and said, "Captain, I became a personal soldier. My parents are so happy that they are going crazy. They told everyone about it, but the neighbors still don't believe it. If the captain still praises me like this and I get an official position, what will happen? If my parents knew, they would rather shorten their lives by ten years. I am a rough man and don't know any great principles. I just know... following Captain Deng, I will have a good life."

Deng Qianqiu waved his hand: "Don't give me that. While I was playing with your tricks, you were still playing with mud."

Deng Qianqiu said, "Following me has its benefits, but there are also rules. If you break any of these rules, you will be punished according to the family law and killed immediately. In a few days, I will make the rules clear, and you must memorize them by heart. The most important one is that if anyone dares to take bribes or break the law, I will tear him into pieces no matter who he is."

"Okay, stop talking so much. The most urgent thing right now is to quickly confiscate the house."

"House search?" The teenagers couldn't help but wonder.

Deng Qianqiu thought that he would have money soon, and he was in a good mood again. He said, "The rebel Pudasili is the descendant of the Yuan thief Bayan. After they destroyed the Song Dynasty, they stayed in Jiangnan for a long time. When the world was in chaos, they began to hide everywhere. I guess they must have hidden a lot of wealth, and they want to borrow this gold and silver to continue their dream of overthrowing our Ming Dynasty. Therefore... the second merit that our centurions have to achieve is to find this wealth."

Niu Shisan opened his eyes and said, "If we had known this, we would not have handed the traitor over to the Yiluansi. Now it seems that he has been imprisoned by the Yiluansi. Captain, let's go and try him now. Will the Yiluansi let us take over?"

Deng Qianqiu smiled and shook his head: "I'm afraid this thief won't speak so quickly. Now we just have to buy time and find this place."

"Captain Deng, how about we work harder and search around now..."

Deng Qianqiu shook his head: "No need to search, I already have an idea of ​​it, this location... should be correct, you haven't slept well in the past two days, but now you need to cheer up, follow me and copy this place immediately."

Niu Shisan and others were puzzled.

But now, they were completely devoted to Deng Qianqiu and were very convinced. Without saying a word, they immediately packed up and followed Deng Qianqiu.

More than an hour later, at a warehouse near the Qinhuai River, Deng Qianqiu suddenly led his men to attack, and then, like a god descending from the sky, they finally kicked open a warehouse, and then... Everyone looked at the warehouse full of dazzling things and countless boxes piled up, and everyone couldn't help but stare.

"This...how much silver is in here?" Niu Shisan's eyes lit up and he couldn't help but sigh.

(End of this chapter)