Li Jinglong hid the fact that he signed a contract with Myanmar from others, but he would not hide it from Nan Shufang.
To him, the pedantry of the Ming Dynasty's moneybags, the Minister of Household Affairs and the Counselor of the Nanshufang, and the literati and officials like Zhang Yan were nothing more than a means of bargaining for interests.
Although it was unreasonable to sign a treaty in private, it could bring huge benefits to Ming Dynasty, so his pedantry turned into being happy to see the results. He was even a little happy that the imperial court could solve the long-standing problem of shipbuilding without spending a penny.
Timber problem, why not?
He listened for a long time. Guo Ying and Li Jinglong regarded the imperial ship as a favor, and after weighing it in their hearts for a long time, they spoke softly.
"What's going on with the state affairs?" Guo Ying asked.
Zhang Yan smiled elegantly, "If it is a state matter, what you two said is a bit too much. All major matters of state should be decided by the Lord Long Live."
Guo Ying quickly changed her words, "What about private matters?"
"If it's a private matter, even if you are princes, you can't treat the imperial ship as your own?" Zhang Yan said with a smile, "I have always served the imperial court personally. How can the imperial court seek personal wealth?"
"What happened to you..."
"What does Zhang Shangshu mean?" Li Jinglong quickly stopped Guo Ying, fearing that he would say something unpleasant.
"Although the official heard this with only a half-understanding, he also understood it!" Zhang Yan continued to smile, "The old military princes are thinking about using the imperial court to transport teak wood to find a future for their children and grandchildren." He said, laughing again,
"Actually, there is nothing wrong with it. This matter is said to be a state matter, but it is not really a state matter."
But then he changed the subject, "But if you want to take advantage of the opportunity of transporting teak wood to pursue other things, that's different."
Zhang Yan was the Chief Secretary of Yunnan in the early days, so it can be said that these roads are clear. Back then, in order to meet the food and grass needs of the Yunnan garrison, the method used was to issue salt and silver tea coupons to merchants, which was legal smuggling.
"What do you mean?" Guo Ying looked a little unkind.
"I just heard what the old marquis said. If all the distinguished families contribute their efforts, then it is definitely not a state matter!" Zhang Yan continued to smile harmlessly, "If it is not a state matter, we cannot use the imperial ship.
Not to mention people from the imperial court, unless..."
"Unless what?" Guo Ying's temples jumped.
"Buy it with money!" Zhang Yan said, "Although the treasure shipyard does not belong to the Ministry of Household Affairs, the money used is from the Ministry of Household Affairs, and the money spent is the money of our Ming Dynasty. Now you princes want to use it, but there is no favor.
There is no reason to refuse, but apart from favors, there is no reason to let the court spend money in vain!"
"This..." Guo Ying and Li Jinglong immediately looked at each other.
These nobles have become accustomed to taking advantage of the imperial court over the years, and they have never thought about it.
"That ship is so expensive!" Li Jinglong opened his mouth and said, "Every ship is expensive to build. Even if there are only more than ten ships, it is an astronomical figure!" He said, looking at Guo Ying, "One family can't afford it.
, how about you go back and add it up with a few others and use the money to buy it?"
Guo Ying was stunned and thought for a long time, "How much will it cost?"
There was a crunching sound, and Zhang Yan pulled out an abacus from somewhere, placed it on the table and began to count.
"Take a thousand-material sea-going ship as an example. It requires three hundred and twenty fir trees, two chestnut trees, one hundred and forty-nine miscellaneous trees, twenty individual logs, thirty-eight oars, and three thousand gold and eighty taels of tung oil.
,35,742 nails..."
"Wait a minute! Stop it!" Guo Ying's head hurt because of his calculations, "Just tell me how much a boat costs!"
One thousand materials is the smallest treasure ship, which is about sixty tons in later generations.
"The official price of this ship is seven thousand and twenty silver dollars!" Zhang Yan said with a smile.
"Hiss..." Guo Ying took a breath of air.
Is the smallest boat still so expensive? Wouldn’t the bigger boat be twice as expensive?
Unexpectedly, the unpleasant words were still behind him. Zhang Yan laughed again and said, "The official price is the capital. Again, there is no reason for the court to suffer a loss. So if you want to drive the ship out of the Bao Shipyard, you have to add
Thirty percent!”
"Why?" Guo Ying said angrily.
"This is still a favor price!" Zhang Yan was not anxious at all and said with a smile, "The cost of Bao Shipyard's ships has doubled, and there are also large merchants who are willing to buy them. Don't think they are too expensive, the supply is always in short supply!"
One ship costs 10,000, but a dozen ships equals 100,000!
Guo Ying was desperately calculating in her mind. It wasn't that noble families like them lacked the money, but... it was because they had difficulties.
According to the original distribution, the Marquis' family accounts for the majority, so does it also have to account for the majority of the money?
Besides, this is only the ship's money, not counting the sailors' money, the cargo money, or other money.
At this time, Zhang Yan said something more cruel, "And this sea-going ship will not break down no matter how you buy it! The deck is replaced every now and then, the cabin is repaired, and the sails and masts are replaced... Let me tell you this.
, this is a bottomless pit.”
"How about!" Li Jinglong looked at Guo Ying, "Let's just forget about it!"
"Wait a minute!" Guo Ying seemed to think something was wrong. They were obviously planning to borrow the imperial fleet and take them with them privately, so why did they suddenly want to buy a boat?
"But, there is no other way to do this!" Zhang Yan suddenly said again.
Guo Ying's eyes lit up, "Well, you are a scholar and you have a smart mind. Tell me about it!"
"It's very simple!" Zhang Yan said with a smile, "The Ministry of Household Affairs will become a shareholder!"
"Huh?" Guo Ying and Li Jinglong looked at each other again.
Zhang Yan took a sip of water, moved closer, and laughed in a low voice, "The Ministry of Household Affairs will buy the boat, and it will be used by you for free. But for maintenance, everyone will pay for it together."
"This method is good and saves trouble!" Li Jinglong said from the side.
"The Ministry of Revenue accounts for 60% of all the income from Burma to the Ming Dynasty..."
"Why?" Guo Ying glared, "The Ministry of Revenue will just ship out and then take 60%?"
"You always listen to your official!" Zhang Mingxiao's smile was very gentle, "This account cannot be settled like this! Do you think it will be easier for the customs to talk with the Ministry of Accounts as a shareholder?"
"That's right!" Li Jinglong slapped his thigh, "It saves a lot of trouble!"
"With the Ministry of Household Affairs' endorsement for all of you, my journey will be smooth!" Zhang Yan said with a smile, "This is just one of them!"
Then he continued, "As for the second one, think about it, your military princes are nothing more than a dozen ships holding the sky. If the Ministry of Revenue comes forward, we can start with at least thirty ships. It is not just Burma that takes the sea route.
, the islands and vassal states around Burma can be visited everywhere, is this true?"
Guo Ying thought about it and nodded reluctantly, "Yeah, too!"
"There is a third one!" Zhang Yan said with a smile, "Isn't the biggest problem is that there are no sailors?" He looked at Li Jinglong and said with a smile, "With the Ministry of Revenue, even if it is semi-official, how can Weihaiwei Fuzhou
What big deal is it to transfer two battalions of sailors from the Guards? All official matters will be handled by the Ministry of Household Affairs without any trouble for you."
"The most important thing!" Zhang Yan didn't wait for Guo Ying to understand, and continued, "With the shareholding of the Ministry of Accounts, it is reasonable and legal, and in a few decades, he will still be a source of wealth!"
"That's right!" Li Jinglong slapped his thigh again, "Old Marquis, this is a good thing that no one can find fault with!"
"The Ministry of Finance will ship out the ship, and we will ship out the rest?" Guo Ying was still a little hesitant, "Do we still need to account for 60%?"
"Look at the long term!" Zhang Yan said with a smile, "This is a long-term thing!"
At this moment, a bastard's shameful voice suddenly came from outside, "Is Mr. Guo here? The emperor told you, and Mr. Cao Guo!"
~
Guo Ying stood up with concern and walked out with Li Jinglong.
When he was about to go out, Li Jinglong quickly turned around and gave Zhang Yan a look.
The latter smiled understandingly and buried his head in the paperwork again.
After leaving the south study room, he walked along the corridor towards Qianqing Palace. After walking a few steps, Guo Ying suddenly turned around and said, "Xiao Lizi, you said that even if you don't buy a boat, you can't do this?"
"Yes!" Li Jinglong laughed, "It's just a small fight!" After saying that, he took two steps forward and whispered, "Besides, this matter is not nice to him. We are all our own people, junior, please say something. If you are secretive, you and your elders are still here, so no one may say anything. But one day you... take advantage of the imperial court, after all, it is not a good thing, is it? "
"When the time comes, there may be people who are looking for fame and reputation and will focus on your children and grandchildren and make a fuss about it. Think about it, those civil servants who have suffered from the plague will be slapped with their hats one after another. Who can stand it? Yours Children and grandchildren, after all, they are not you, but you don’t have that much face!”
"Besides, if you cooperate with the Ministry of Accounts, whose pocket does this money end up going to?"
"Who?" Guo Ying said, suddenly understanding.
He slapped Li Jinglong on the shoulder, "You mean?"
Li Jinglong endured the pain and pointed his finger at the sky, "As long as you can figure it out!"
This chapter has been completed!