The Ming Dynasty’s Prodigal Son - Chapter 1617

[1617. Chapter 1537 Your Majesty is wise]

Emperor Hongzhi returned to the palace.

Along the way, he pretended to be worried, but he was in high spirits.

That bastard prince… He was so sleepy that he just gave me a pillow.

After arriving at Fengtian Hall, Emperor Hongzhi sat down and immediately summoned Liu Jian and others to see him.

Liu Jian and the others came to salute. It was getting late at this time and it was almost time to get off duty. At this time, His Majesty suddenly called, which made them feel a little strange.

Emperor Hongzhi glanced at them, suddenly laughed and said, “Have you ever heard of the Shiquan Dabulu?”

Liu Jian and the other two looked at each other.

This topic was asked a bit suddenly.

But when it comes to this… they feel a little guilty.

Because although the three of them can be regarded as gentlemen, they are by no means unreasonable people.

For example, the usual courtesy exchanges are still there, after all… there are so many disciples and former officials, you can’t keep a straight face and shut out everyone.

There are simply too many of these Shiquan Daluo in the three families’ houses, and they are all seen by others in the name of others.

Liu Jian and the others never expected that His Majesty would mention this thing specifically.

With some embarrassment, Liu Jian coughed and said: “Your Majesty…”

Emperor Hongzhi held his hand, not wanting Liu Jian to interrupt him. He said calmly: “Does the Qing family know that the prince and Fang Qing’s family are building a workshop? How much profit can be made from selling Shiquan Dabulu?”

Liu Jian and the others looked at each other again.

Your Majesty, is this crazy?

It’s just a small workshop, but Your Majesty actually cares about it?

Emperor Hongzhi said with a profound smile: “I have done the math for them. This annual income is between 3,000 and 50,000,000 taels of silver…”

Three thousand and five thousand are nothing, but the addition after them is nothing. If you read 10,000 words, it will be completely different.

Liu Jian’s pupils suddenly shrank, his whole body trembled, and he felt that his breathing was about to stop.

Li Dongyang looked dazed and confused.

But Xie Qian stared directly at Emperor Hongzhi without saying a word.

The new tax system has begun to be gradually piloted, and the revenue of the treasury continues to rise. Last year’s annual income reached more than 36 million taels of silver. Of course… this is just that the real tax system has not been rolled out. This year’s growth, It’s probably gratifying, but I’m afraid it will rise a lot more.

But even so… this is just a small workshop, how did it get to this point?

My eyes are red and my ears are hot.

If I have so much money, how much can I do as prime minister? Isn’t it easy to become a wise prime minister?

But why… it’s like the money has grown legs and feet, running towards the prince and that piece of shit Fang Jifan?

The three of them pursed their lips and remained silent.

Although my heart was extremely hot, I also knew that the money had nothing to do with me at all. I just listened to it, then let out an exclamation, and finally tried not to think too much about it.

Emperor Hongzhi seemed to see the thoughts of the three people and said with a smile: “I made a bet with the prince. If I can run the workshop well, the workshop will be handed over to the imperial court. I have thought about it. If I get this workshop, half of it will be returned to the imperial court.” Money, half of it is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Household Affairs, and all the money obtained is used to replenish the national treasury and internal funds. What do the three Qing families think?”

Liu Jian’s eyes immediately widened in disbelief.

In this way… wouldn’t it be… wouldn’t it be… that the annual revenue of the treasury could be increased by an additional 10 to 20 million taels of silver?

This…is nothing short of a great joy from heaven.

Liu Jian said excitedly: “Just business?”

“That’s right.” Emperor Hongzhi smiled and nodded: “It’s just business!”

“Only need to run such a small workshop? Your Majesty, I wonder how many workers there are in this workshop?”

“More than a thousand people

It’s just a human being,” Emperor Hongzhi said.

Liu Jian and Li Dongyang looked at each other.

Each could see the ecstasy in the other’s eyes.

Liu Jian seemed to have gained a little more vitality all of a sudden. He smiled and said: “With only a thousand people, it is too simple. Your Majesty… I am not boasting. Not to mention a thousand people, I can control ten thousand people.” Even one hundred thousand people is just a matter of chance. Your Majesty and your ministers will definitely win this bet.”

Xie Qian also said: “I am not boasting. When I controlled the river, I was ordered to control 70,000 craftsmen and civilians. What is a workshop with just a thousand people?”

Even Li Dongyang couldn’t help but think.

His Royal Highness is clearly giving away money, but I don’t know what the intention is behind this.

Emperor Hongzhi cheered up: “Yes, I thought it was just a small workshop, but I really can’t bear to take away their workshop, but the prince is too arrogant. If I don’t temper him, he won’t know how to teach me a lesson.” I have already thought about it. I will go with Liu Qing and Li Qing in the next two days. The Xie Qing family is here to be on duty. He is my chief assistant and is the best at making decisions. I sit in the middle and this workshop… is determined to win.”

Xie Qian couldn’t help but feel depressed when he heard that he had to stay in the cabinet.

But if you think about it carefully, it takes three knives to kill a chicken. Is this one still missing?

I am in the cabinet, waiting for good news.

It’s good to have money. The natives over there are rebelling, so more money needs to be paid. This year, Guanzhong is in a wilderness again…

The four monarchs and ministers were all beaming with joy. Together, they were more than two hundred years old. At this moment, their faces were filled with competitiveness, and they looked like they had rejuvenated their youth.

………

The next morning, just as he was on duty, Chen Tong, the left minister of the household department, was called inexplicably.

Then he met the emperor in the palace.

The emperor was dressed in casual clothes, and so were Liu Jian and Li Dongyang, who were all dressed in Confucian robes.

This made Chen Tong, who was unaware of the situation, feel very unusual.

Li Dongyang saw Chen Tong coming, and without waiting for Chen Tong to salute, he said to Emperor Hongzhi: “Your Majesty, this is the left minister of the household department. He is very responsible in the household department. He is an economic talent and is my right-hand man. For the sake of safety, I I think it would be best to invite this person to go with you.”

Emperor Hongzhi looked at Chen Tong carefully and nodded.

He couldn’t help laughing and said: “The Qing family… are cautious after all, but caution is also good. Originally, I wanted to call Wang Bushi from the Hanlin Academy, but this Wang Bushi is only a first-term Hanlin scholar. Although he knows the way of business, , But after all, there is no need for such things. Besides, I and the ministers are enough. No matter how many people there are, it will look like I am bullying that kid.”

Chen Tong looked at Emperor Hongzhi and the two cabinet ministers carefully, always feeling that. They had a chuckle.

What…what’s a good thing?

Soon, he understood what was going on.

His Majesty took the three people out of the palace, and Li Dongyang secretly informed him about the bet.

After Chen Tong heard this, he immediately smiled from ear to ear: “There is really such a thing as pie in the sky in this world, Xianguan… Xianguan… Haha…”

The four of them arrived at the workshop in a happy mood.

According to the rules, the identities of each other are kept confidential.

Emperor Hongzhi and several ministers lived in this workshop these days.

Within half a month, it was completely run by the four people of Emperor Hongzhi, and it was announced to the outside world that the place had changed owners. Within half a month, if the revenue increased, Emperor Hongzhi would be considered the winner.

But if revenue drops, Emperor Hongzhi loses.

Fang Jifan was very considerate. He seemed to be afraid that Emperor Hongzhi, Li Dongyang, Liu Jian and others would not know anything about Shiquan Dalu, so he took them around the work sheds everywhere and happily pointed out the process. What does it do? What does that process do?

Liu Jian and others were overwhelmed and dumbfounded.

Shiquan Dabulu…

is this how it is made?

This piece of shit…

but business is more important now.

Li Dongyang and Chen Tong put it together. The four people present were all very smart people in the world. They understood everything at once and immediately understood what was going on in this workshop.

Therefore, Chen Tong gave Li Dongyang a firm look, as if to say, just look at it.

Immediately afterwards, Zhu Houzhao began to negotiate with Emperor Hongzhi. Emperor Hongzhi was eager to take office. Although he felt that this was ridiculous, he also felt that after earning so much money, he did not know how he would squander it or put it on the prince. It is good for me and the treasury to be here, it is beneficial to the world.

So he took the matter seriously and even accepted the seal of the workshop owner.

After that, Zhu Houzhao and Fang Jifan fled directly and disappeared.

Emperor Hongzhi was in high spirits and exuded confidence.

He was in a great mood and sat in the spacious public room, which was even luxuriously equipped with comfortable sofas.

Not only that, there are several servants waiting next door to the public house, and all the daily necessities are luxurious.

Emperor Hongzhi even saw a menu.

This is all served by Zhu Houzhao, and the various dishes in it are shocking.

Emperor Hongzhi laughed and said: “Look, look at my son. He is so luxurious at a young age. The things he uses are all valuable. These are all included in the revenue. This money is all They were squandered by him. The first thing I did was to eliminate all these useless things and just live on a simple diet. The so-called management method is nothing more than increasing revenue and reducing expenditure. This reduction… starts with me. In this way, you can save more than a hundred taels of silver every day, don’t underestimate a mere hundred taels, this half month will be one thousand five hundred taels.”

Liu Jian and others were all excited when they heard this. .

Liu Jian bowed down and kowtowed with a heartfelt expression: “Your Majesty, your Holy Might, you took the lead in doing this and cutting down on expenditure. Although you only saved a thousand and five hundred taels, your Majesty took the lead in this workshop, and the savings were made. It may be shocking, but based on this, the revenue and profits are even more gratifying.”

Chen Tong was also inexplicably moved.

He knew in his heart that it was Li Dongyang who promoted him this time, and it was a God-given opportunity for him to have the opportunity to perform in front of His Majesty.

I have managed a racecourse at the border, served as a local official for two terms, and worked in the Ministry of Household Affairs for so many years. These valuable experiences can be put to use in front of His Majesty today.

So he said: “The first thing your Majesty did was to hit the target. So, why worry about this workshop not being prosperous?”

…

Chapter 2 Asking for monthly votes, and…

(End of this chapter)