Two hundred and sixty-eight chapters are still active
When Empress Ma heard that she could only protect her capital, she immediately felt unhappy. She was here to make money, so wouldn't she be unable to make any money? "Can't we still make wine? Isn't wine making extremely profitable?"
Han Du took a deep look at Queen Ma and explained: "Brewing wine is a last resort. According to Wei Chen's estimation, before the people of the Ming Dynasty can have enough to eat, there will be almost no extra grain for brewing.
. Even in the same year, the situation in various places will not be exactly the same. There will always be good years in some places and bad years in other places. Once the royal family takes control of the grain trade, the most they will do every year is to take advantage of the good years.
Local food is transported to places experiencing famine, not to make wine."
When she heard that there was no money to be made from grain for the time being, Empress Ma suddenly lost half of her interest. But she couldn't say that she would simply stop doing the Ming Dynasty Royal Grain Industry. After all, she asked Han Du to hand over 90% of his shares in the briquette workshop.
But she acted very positively. If she said this, wouldn't it mean that she was here just for money?
This is a bit too tacky.
Therefore, Queen Ma turned her attention to the emperor, hoping that Lao Zhu would make the decision.
Lao Zhu pondered for a while and said solemnly: "If you can't make money, you can't make it. I have never thought about making money from food. As Han Du said, the people have been struggling to sell food at a low price in good years, and they have been burned in famine years.
It has been a long time since people sold their sons and daughters for high-priced grains. Not to mention that it is just that they cannot make money, even if they lose money, I will give this suffering to the people of the world."
These words were sonorous, powerful and resounding.
After hearing this, Han Du felt a surge of power in his chest.
He knelt down and shouted loudly: "On behalf of the people, I thank the emperor for his grace!"
Lao Zhu waved his hand nonchalantly, asking Han Du to stand up, and immediately said: "I immediately issued a decree to establish the Ming Dynasty Royal Grain Industry and the Ming Dynasty Royal Charcoal Industry, not to make money, but just to...well,
To use your kid’s words, it’s just to ensure that the people have charcoal to cook and food to eat.”
When Queen Ma heard that the emperor agreed to establish the Ming Dynasty Royal Charcoal Industry, she finally laughed and said to Lao Zhu: "Your Majesty, don't underestimate briquettes. Food is not very profitable, but briquettes can make a lot of money. Otherwise, I will
I won’t be so concerned.”
"Isn't it right?" Lao Zhu looked at Queen Ma in confusion, pointed at Han Du and said: "Last time he told me that a honeycomb briquette weighed two kilograms, so he only sold it for three cents. I calculated that one hundred kilograms of pebbles
One hundred and thirty coins can only make fifty briquettes, which is really not very profitable."
"Humph!" Seeing Lao Zhu's innocence, Empress Ma couldn't help laughing and snorted. She waved her sleeves and said, "I used charcoal when I was a child. I remember it very clearly. I burned a pound of charcoal.
After that, there was only a little residue left, less than one or two pounds. But the briquettes I saw now weighed one kilogram after burning. Don’t even ask, your good minister who claims that briquettes are not profitable
,What did you add to it?”
Han Du was looked at by Empress Ma jokingly, and he had the urge to turn around and run away. But there was no point in running now. I'm afraid Han Du would be captured before he could reach outside the palace gate.
Down.
After listening to Queen Ma's words, Lao Zhu suddenly felt something was wrong. He looked at Han Du and asked sharply: "What did you add to it?"
Han Du said hesitantly: "Yeah, it's nothing. I added things to it mainly to make the briquettes shape. If I don't add them, the charcoal will not be able to make the briquettes. It will just be a pile of loose slag."
Let’s not talk about anything else. Let’s first explain to Lao Zhu the importance of adding things to the briquettes.
"Tell me, what did you add to it?" Seeing Han Du talking about other things, Lao Zhu asked a little louder.
Han Du had no choice but to reply honestly: "Added, added loess..."
Sell the coal in the loess to the common people? Lao Zhu's eyes widened, and suddenly he felt that the profiteers he thought of as a child were all cute little bunnies in front of Han Du.
"Yeah, not much, just about the same, almost half..." The more Han Du said, the softer his voice became, as if he was afraid that Lao Zhu would hear it.
But at this time, the imperial study room was quiet. No matter how quiet Han Du's voice was, Lao Zhu could hear it clearly.
half?
Lao Zhu was shocked by Han Du's words. Han Du actually regarded half of the loess as coal and sold it to the people. Fortunately, at the time, he thought that Han Du's price for the briquettes was very conscientious. He didn't expect that Han Du
His heart is as black as coal, and he directly makes half of the profits of the people.
Taking a breath of cold air, Lao Zhu pointed at Han Du, his fingers were trembling, and asked sternly: "Tell the truth, how many briquettes can be made from one hundred kilograms of pebbles? Think about it, I will send someone to you later.
Go check it out in the briquette workshop, and if there is any falsehood, I will punish you for deceiving the emperor."
There is nothing that Handu can do.
He carefully stretched out three fingers and whispered: "About three hundred."
Three hundred?
Lao Zhu shrank his eyes, waved his hand and smashed the teacup in front of Han Du. "Is this what you told me about honeycomb briquettes not making money?"
I’ve already made twice as much money. Isn’t that enough money?
Han Du shrank his neck and muttered in a low voice: "I never said that briquettes are not profitable."
When Lao Zhu heard this, he was stunned. After thinking about it carefully, he found that he couldn't find the memory of Han Du saying this. The so-called briquettes are not profitable was all Lao Zhu's own speculation.
But the reason why I think so is because you guys misled me. Didn’t you make me mistakenly believe that briquettes are not profitable?
This kind of behavior is even more abhorrent.
Seeing Lao Zhu, he was about to get angry. Han Du quickly defended: "Your Majesty, although I have made a little money, I have also benefited the people. If the people burn firewood, they need to spend forty or fifty cash per day.
But burning briquettes only costs less than ten cents, and I have saved the people almost five times the cost of firewood."
Queen Ma suddenly heard that briquettes were twice as profitable, and she was very happy. The harem, which had been harsh for so many years, could finally let go. She became more and more pleased with Han Du, and she quickly spoke up to help Han Du, because
Empress Ma didn't want the emperor to lower the price of briquettes. She was helping herself by helping Han Du.
"Your Majesty, what Han Du said is true. He has indeed helped the people save money, which can be regarded as meritorious service."
Who knew that even with the support of Queen Ma, Lao Zhu was still unwilling to give up and said angrily: "Forget it if you have merit? You can't earn so much if you have merit."