Zeng Cheng, with a sullen and grim face, said sarcastically, "Reporting to Your Majesty, I am indeed greedy, but I am greedy for fame, not wealth. If you ask me if I have saved enough money, then I truly haven't. Even if you send the Embroidered Uniform Guard to investigate, you won't find me with enough."
Emperor Zhu was instantly amused to the point of laughter, "No, you, Elder Zeng, have been prime minister for nearly thirty years and haven't saved any money, and you're proud of it?"
Zeng Cheng craned his neck, looking as if it were the most natural thing in the world, "Is it not glorious?"
Liu Huaiwen and Liu Hemming, standing beside Zeng Cheng, were completely dumbfounded.
Emperor Zhu had asked Zeng Cheng if he had saved enough money. If Elder Zeng had money, he should say he had it; if not, he should say he didn't. Why did he have to retort to the Emperor? What if Emperor Zhu became truly angered, and Elder Zeng was the one to suffer?
However, Emperor Zhu paid no attention to Zeng Cheng. Instead, he turned his gaze directly to Liu Hemming, Liu Huaiwen, and the others, "Going by this, you few should not have saved much money either?"
Liu Hemming, Liu Huaiwen, and the host of other dignitaries were even more bewildered.
Was Emperor Zhu's salary and treatment not high?
It was indeed very high. Not to mention the current Grand Secretary like Zeng Cheng, even the salary of any random ninth-rank official was enough to support a family of five, and even save a considerable sum.
The key was that the Emperor's question about whether one had saved money was too deadly.
Should they say they had no money, like Zeng Cheng?
The consequence of doing so would only be to anger Emperor Zhu, just as Zeng Cheng had done.
Should they say they had saved a large sum of money?
Then how much was considered a lot? Why would a court dignitary save so much money?
In short, Emperor Zhu's question was a trap, and one could easily fall into a situation where, no matter what, it would appear as if they were up to no good.
While Liu Huaiwen and Liu Hemming and the host of other dignitaries were contemplating how to answer Emperor Zhu's question, Emperor Zhu's complexion had already turned three shades darker than the bottom of a pot.
Emperor Zhu pointed at Zeng Cheng, then pointed at Liu Hemming and the host of other dignitaries, and reprimanded them angrily, "You are truly something! I had already told you before that I would sell some overseas territories to you in the future, giving you opportunities to go out to sea and proclaim yourselves as kings. But what about you few? Not a single one of you has saved money?"
"Where has the salary I gave you gone? I'll tell you frankly today: either you give me an explanation, or I'll have the Embroidered Uniform Guard investigate and give you an explanation!"
Being told this by Emperor Zhu, Zeng Cheng, Liu Hemming, Liu Huaiwen, and the host of other dignitaries were immediately flustered.
Emperor Zhu had indeed told Zeng Cheng, Liu Hemming, and the host of other dignitaries before that he would allow them to purchase overseas fiefs in the future, giving them opportunities to establish kingdoms and proclaim themselves kings overseas.
However, Zeng Cheng, Liu Hemming, and the host of other dignitaries had never expected that Emperor Zhu's question about whether they had saved money this time was a prelude to this matter.
Damn it, who would have known that Your Majesty was referring to this matter?
If they had known that Your Majesty was asking if they had saved money in order to purchase overseas fiefs and establish kingdoms, they would have known how to answer. If Emperor Zhu had said that the Great Ming's national treasury was extremely empty, and coincidentally there was a place that required a lot of money, then everything would have been easy. They would have taken out all the money they had, and if necessary, even sold their assets to help him through the difficult times, because they were one with the Great Ming court.
But if Emperor Zhu had said to purchase overseas fiefs?
Then they had no money!
Even if they did, they wouldn't admit it!
Was the food in the Great Ming not tasty anymore? Or was the scenery in the Great Ming not beautiful anymore? Or was life in the Great Ming not enjoyable enough?
Look at Zhu Erdan and Zhu Sanshun, who had already gone overseas to establish kingdoms. Those two sent people to the Great Ming every few days, babbling all sorts of nonsense, but the core meaning was only one thing: they didn't want their fiefs anymore; Emperor Zhu could send any governor or official to take over, they wanted to return to the Great Ming!
Now Emperor Zhu, not even bothering his own sons, wanted to trick them into establishing kingdoms overseas?
Bah! Even a dog wouldn't go!
Seeing Zeng Cheng, Liu Hemming, and the host of other dignitaries exchanging glances, Emperor Zhu's anger grew. He pointed at Liu Hemming and asked indignantly, "Come, tell me first, have you saved money? Don't you want to go overseas and proclaim yourself king?"
To Emperor Zhu's surprise, Liu Hemming, after a long pause, stammered, "Reporting to Your Majesty, I... I have no great ambition, I am like mud that cannot be plastered onto a wall. I only wish to die in the Great Ming, and to be buried in our Ningyang County. I truly have no desire to go overseas and proclaim myself king."
When Liu Hemming finished speaking, Zeng Cheng and Liu Huaiwen, standing beside him, and the host of other dignitaries all looked as if they had found a kindred spirit. Especially Liu Huaiwen, who said decisively, "Reporting to Your Majesty, I am also not young anymore, and I don't have many years left to live. Why would I go overseas to proclaim myself king at this time? It's better to stay steadily in our Great Ming."
Emperor Zhu was immediately flustered.
Well, these were the top dignitaries in the Great Ming court. They would rather admit to being aimless and useless, like mud that couldn't be plastered onto a wall, than go overseas and proclaim themselves king!
Emperor Zhu looked at Zeng Cheng, then at Liu Hemming and the others, with a furious gaze, and finally could only sigh helplessly, "You, you really are mud that cannot be plastered onto a wall!"
Liu Hemming muttered indifferently, "Why plaster onto a wall? It's much better like this!"
Emperor Zhu glared fiercely at Liu Hemming, but he did not bring up the topic of them going overseas to establish kingdoms again – if these fellows were determined to be mud, then there was truly no way to force them up the wall.
After thinking for a moment, Emperor Zhu simply shifted the topic back to Europe, "Since none of you are willing to go overseas, then so be it."
Zeng Cheng, with a sullen and grim face, said sarcastically, "Reporting to Your Majesty, I am indeed greedy, but I am greedy for fame, not wealth. If you ask me if I have saved enough money, then I truly haven't. Even if you send the Embroidered Uniform Guard to investigate, you won't find me with enough."
Emperor Zhu was instantly amused to the point of laughter, "No, you, Elder Zeng, have been prime minister for nearly thirty years and haven't saved any money, and you're proud of it?"
Zeng Cheng craned his neck, looking as if it were the most natural thing in the world, "Is it not glorious?"
Liu Huaiwen and Liu Hemming, standing beside Zeng Cheng, were completely dumbfounded.
Emperor Zhu had asked Zeng Cheng if he had saved enough money. If Elder Zeng had money, he should say he had it; if not, he should say he didn't. Why did he have to retort to the Emperor? What if Emperor Zhu became truly angered, and Elder Zeng was the one to suffer?
However, Emperor Zhu paid no attention to Zeng Cheng. Instead, he turned his gaze directly to Liu Hemming, Liu Huaiwen, and the others, "Going by this, you few should not have saved much money either?"
Liu Hemming, Liu Huaiwen, and the host of other dignitaries were even more bewildered.
Was Emperor Zhu's salary and treatment not high?
It was indeed very high. Not to mention the current Grand Secretary like Zeng Cheng, even the salary of any random ninth-rank official was enough to support a family of five, and even save a considerable sum.
(End of this chapter)
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Heavenly Emperor's Noble Lineage reminds you: Please remember to collect after reading.