After a brief moment of confusion, Guo Dan quickly realized that he guessed that the Empress Dowager Li suddenly looked for him, and it was very likely that it was because of the vassal king.

Because since he mentioned this matter to Wanli last time, Wanli has never mentioned it again and has no reply, because it involves the vassal kings, the Lu king, and even the entire royal family, this must be discussed with Empress Dowager Li.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but complain to Wanli. He didn't want to face a woman like Empress Dowager Li. Logically speaking, it was easier for them to discuss this matter with their mother and son, after all, he was just an outsider.

It is very difficult to deal with when it comes to the matter of a vassal king.

Of course, he did not reveal anything in front of Zhang Cheng and followed the palace maid to Cining Palace.

When he arrived at Cining Palace, Empress Dowager Li, who was still charming, was in a very simple outfit, twisting Buddhist beads in her hand, and it seemed that she had just finished reciting the scriptures.

But Guo Dan didn't believe that the empress dowager believed in Buddhism. Otherwise, Zhu Yili did so many bad things, why did she still have to protect and indulge? With a villain's heart, he guessed that Empress Dowager Li recited the Buddha's name to make herself forget her power. After all, power is like a poison, and once it is touched, it is difficult to quit, such as the old witch Cixi.

"Guo Dan, a grass-roots man, met with the Queen Mother."

Guo Dan was respectful and respectful, and did not dare to be careless at all.

"No gift."

After Guo Dan got up, Empress Dowager Li smiled like a spring breeze on her face: "Guo Dan, the last time I went back to Weihui Mansion, thanks to you, I should thank you as a mother."

It is not difficult to see from what she said that she knew it was Zhu Yiliu's fault, and it can be seen that she wanted to protect Zhu Yiliu and would not say so obscurely.

Guo Dan hurriedly said, "Your Majesty treats the people as kind as a mountain, and he can get to know the King of Lu. These are all blessings for the people who have cultivated the people for ten generations. In comparison, what the people do is simply insignificant and not worth mentioning."

"strangeness!"

Empress Dowager Li suddenly said.

Guo Dan subconsciously raised her head and looked at Empress Dowager Li in confusion.

Empress Dowager Li understated: "Two days ago, the emperor mentioned the restructuring of the vassal kings with me, saying that they were allowed to stay overseas, and that it was your idea, but I don't believe it. Although you are young, your words and deeds have always been very cautious, mature, and smart. How could you ignore your identity and talk about the royal family? This is a beheading!"

This sentence was so important that Guo Dan was a little sweating, and he didn't know how to answer for a moment.

The key is that she added a "behead" behind her. If it was "bankrupt", he would know how to respond.

Empress Dowager Li glanced at her eyes and asked, "Why don't you speak? Is it really you?"

"Grandmaster spares my life."

Guo Dan thrust and knelt down.

Empress Dowager Li suddenly looked dark: "It seems that you are really saying that you are really bold and arrogant. A small businessman dares to interfere in the affairs of the royal family. Do you think you have kindness to King Lu, and you feel that you can do whatever you want?"

Guo Dan felt that facing Empress Dowager Li was much more pressure than facing the emperor.

Empress Dowager Li waited for a while and suddenly asked sternly: "What? Do you have other intentions?"

Guo Dan looked shocked and blurted out: "The Empress Dowager is clear about it, and the people are determined to be your Majesty, and they have no other intentions."

"For Your Majesty?"

Empress Dowager Li changed her tone and asked in a gentle tone: "How do you say this?"

It is said that women are fickle, and it is true. Guo Dan was so eager to die by these words from Empress Dowager Li. He had no idea what Empress Dowager Li was thinking. She was not questioning, but she didn't seem to be asking.

He directly denied that he didn't have the courage, but if he wanted to admit it, he was a little scared. The key was that he didn't know how Wanli told her.

Suddenly, I thought, yes, I am just for Your Majesty. As long as I seize this point, I believe she will understand it no matter what, because no matter what she thinks, Your Majesty's interests must be her interests.

"Reporting to the Empress Dowager, this matter has to start with Cao Min going back to Weihui Mansion."

"Is this related to Wei Hui Mansion?"

"That's not."

Guo Dan explained: "When Caomin passed by Zhangde Mansion, he happened to meet a county lord's son starved to death in the house. The noble father-in-law was there at that time. If the empress do not believe it, please ask the noble father-in-law."

Queen Mother Li asked, "What is the relationship between these two things?"

Guo Dan said: "Because Caomin thought that the man who died must be resentful to the court, but in fact, His Majesty has fulfilled their kindness and righteousness to them. Caomin felt that the current system of vassal kings was hard to be grateful, so Caomin offered advice to His Majesty."

Empress Dowager Li smiled and nodded, saying, "You get up first."

After hearing this, Guo Dan immediately breathed a sigh of relief and stood up tremblingly.

Empress Dowager Li smiled calmly and said, "You don't need to be too scared, because fear will make you lose your limits. Think about it carefully before talking about it."

Guo Dan was under great pressure to face him, but it was so relaxed to face Guo Dan. After all, she had never seen anyone.

Guo Dan was stunned for a moment, and then thought about the reason he had just now. He felt that he was indeed a little stupid. He was too glorious and unlikely to fool him. Moreover, Empress Dowager Li was right. He was indeed a little confused and had to calm down.

Empress Dowager Li smiled and said, "You are a smart businessman. The businessman cares about interests, not chivalrous and righteous, and stand up for injustice. How could you not know the interests in this? If you take this risk and make suggestions to Your Majesty, it must be that there are huge benefits in it. Am I right?"

Did she scare me? It doesn’t look like me! Guo Dan was really a little confused.

Queen Mother Li smiled and said, "Don't you think I'm bluffing you?" Although I haven't been asking about politics for a long time, I don't need to use this method to deal with you, a small businessman."

Just die, anyway, I am also thinking about everyone and by the way.

After these few sentences, Guo Dan knew very well that he was not the opponent of Empress Dowager Li. After all, he ate more salt than he ate rice. If he couldn't hide it, he would be more honest and said truthfully: "Reporting to the Empress Dowager, in fact, everyone knows that the vassal kings occupy a large amount of resources, but they have no contribution to His Majesty and the country. As a businessman, this is unreasonable.

What's even more terrifying is that they may also have resentment towards His Majesty. If this situation is prevented from spreading, the country's finances will be ineffective. Once the country falls into a fiscal crisis, the consequences will be very serious. It is said that if this skin does not exist, where will the hair be attached?"

After hearing this, Empress Dowager Li couldn't help but smile and said, "If you really worry about the country and the people, and have ambitions, you should enter the court as an official, rather than just doing business."

Everyone knows this problem of the vassal king. She did not accuse Guo Dan of saying it wrong, she was just targeting Guo Dan's motives.

Guo Dan also understood in his heart that Empress Dowager Li suspected that it was his motive, not his own, not his own, but her bottom line, and she would not express any opinions on the system of the vassal kings. If she said anything, it would be equivalent to interfering in political affairs, saying: "The Empress Dowager is really wise and the Cao people are not that great. The Cao people have only His Majesty in their hearts, because the Cao people can have today all rely on His Majesty's protection. If it were not for His Majesty's protection, the Cao people might have already lost their families and their people. The Cao people are truly considering His Majesty.

The financial issue is the issue that Your Majesty is most concerned about at present. Without money, it is difficult for Your Majesty to achieve the great and hegemony in his heart. The issue of the vassal king is not a question that the people should consider, but the issue of the vassal king made the people think of another issue, which is the expansion of overseas."

Empress Dowager Li smiled and said, "I am a brilliant person in the Central Plains, with a vast land and abundant resources, so why should I?"

Guo Dan mustered up the courage to interrupt Empress Dowager Li, "In fact, many people starved to death every year in the Ming Dynasty, but Franchise people lived very well on Luzon Island."

Empress Dowager Li frowned slightly, her pretty eyebrows and eyes showed anger.

Guo Dan also took the initiative. The empress dowager made him feel a little uncomfortable and continued to say, "As for the wealth and wealth, the silver used by the Ming Dynasty now comes from overseas, thousands of people from Defronji, carrying ships of silver to my Ming Dynasty to buy silk and tea. However, the emperor of my Ming Dynasty often whispered to borrow money from the ministers for tens of thousands of taels. His Majesty is like this, let alone the people."

Empress Li was criticized, her face was blue and white. It was the first time since she became the queen that she was criticized like this. Zhang Juzheng didn't dare to talk to her like this. Zhang Juzheng only dared to confront Wanli.

Guo Dan said: "The reason why Caomin proposed the overseas expansion plan was because Caomin knew that His Majesty had many helplessness. Even though the national treasury was not full, he had to spend hundreds of thousands of taels every year to help those vassal kings.

Even though I know that many people evade taxes, I can only endure it as if I didn’t see it. Even though I have ambitions, I can only sulk with myself because of one’s own etiquette or another. Since these cannot be changed, I can only expand to the outside world, occupy more territory, and occupy more resources to bear all this.

If the Caomin really had a strange intention, he would not mention the issue of the vassal king to His Majesty at all. The Caomin himself could do it. Let the vassal king go, which would cause trouble to the Caomin.

However, Caomin believes that it is more representative to occupy the vassal kings. They were there to be kings. The land and people naturally belonged to our Ming Dynasty and the royal family. At the same time, they could also share the pressure brought by the vassal kings to the country and the burden brought to His Majesty and the people.

As a royal relative, what was wrong with expanding territory for the Ming Dynasty? Caomin really doesn't understand. I hope the Empress Dowager can tell Caomin."

After hearing this, Empress Dowager Li's expression eased a little, but said, "If this matter was so easy to solve, it would be your turn, a businessman, to point fingers here, or do you think you are the only smart person in the Ming Dynasty?"

"The Queen Mother has been over-rewarded."

Guo Dan said: "Caomin cannot even pass the exam for scholars, so he is naturally not a smart person. If Caomin is smart, he will not offend all the civil and military officials of the court, and he will not mention this thankless thing. Smart people generally do not do such things."

"It seems that you are saying it is reasonable."

Empress Dowager Li smiled and nodded. From this point of view, Guo Dan was really not smart enough. Smart people would not offend everyone. Today, she almost offended her and said, "Overseas expansion? You said it lightly. Do you know how much it costs to fight a war?"

Guo Dan said: "Caomin dared to ask the Queen Mother, if Caomin did not contract the Weihui Mansion, and the court would have to save Weihui Mansion, how much money would it cost?"

Empress Dowager Li was stunned and frowned and thought.

If it is traditional, it is to transfer grain from the surrounding area to provide relief. Zhang Juzheng did the same, but Guo Dan did not spend a grain of rice in the imperial court and restored Wei Hui Mansion.

Guo Dan said again: "Does the Queen Mother know that many Franchisemen have occupied the entire Luzon Island? If it is unprofitable, why did Franchisemen come here thousands of miles away and occupy an island next to my Ming Dynasty? Why didn't I take it? As a merchant, he is puzzled."

Queen Mother Li asked: "That is to say, your overseas expansion does not require money?"

Guo Dan said: "As the Queen Mother said just now, as a businessman, Caomin must do something profitable. He will never think about doing a losing business. Although it requires a cost, it does not cost much, and he will make it back soon."

Empress Dowager Li looked directly at Guo Dan for a moment and suddenly said, "You go back."

ps: The plugs in the bedroom suddenly ran out of power, and I couldn’t ask someone to repair them. There were no tables in other rooms, so I could only go to the living room to write. My family didn’t go out now. It was so noisy that I had to go to the living room to write. I was really drunk.
Chapter completed!