During these days, Lao Zhu gradually came back to his senses about some things.
Lao Zhu's face darkened and he said angrily: "Although Han Du is a businessman, when it comes to greed, he is no weaker than those corrupt officials."
"Why did your father say this?" Zhu Biao felt nervous when he heard his father classify Han Du as a corrupt official. He knew how much his father hated corrupt officials, and he had seen his father with his own eyes.
How to punish corrupt officials.
If Han Du fell to that end, Zhu Biaocai would really be heartbroken.
Besides, in Zhu Biao's eyes, Han Du is still a very good person. For example, the memorials he wrote are good. He thinks about things that ordinary people don't think about, thinks about things that ordinary people don't think about, and has a tricky angle, but it seems that there is a brilliant way in them.
A glimmer of light appeared in Lao Zhu's eyes, and he said in a deep voice: "Last time, that kid kept selling the Ministry of Industry waist knife at the market price, and also said that he didn't make much money."
Zhu Biao was eager for success and wanted to excuse Han Du, and quickly interjected: "The waist knife that time was also seen by Erchen and inspected by the Ministry of Industry. The knife is good, not like the previous ones."
The steel waist knives provided by Han Du are indeed consistent with what he said, they are all pure steel waist knives. There should be nothing wrong with this, right?"
"Is there anything wrong?" Lao Zhu glanced at Zhu Biao and sneered at the same time. "I didn't think there was anything wrong before, but later I realized that I had been fooled by that kid. Those waist knives Han Du must have made a lot of money.
He made a lot of money, otherwise he wouldn't have bought cotton at such a high price. He just threw out nearly two thousand taels of silver, so generous. If he hadn't made money in the waist knife, would he have the money to buy cotton? It's still so high.
What’s the price? How much money does his Baochao Company have? When Han Du took over, the accounts of the Baochao Company only had a few hundred guan. Even counting the 1,000 coins I gave him later, his Baochao Company
Even if all the officials in the office of lifting the civil servants did not eat or drink, they still could not collect enough two thousand taels of silver. Do you dare to say that he did not make a lot of money on his own terms?"
Zhu Biao was dumbfounded when he heard this, and suddenly became speechless. He thought in his heart that his father was worthy of being his father. No one could hide this unique thinking from his father.
If Han Du heard what Lao Zhu said, he would definitely have something in his mind that he didn't know whether to say or not. How could there be such a person? How could anyone calculate how much money he earned through his own expenses?
Lao Zhu does not talk about martial ethics.
It's a pity that Lao Zhu is sitting on the dragon throne, watching the world, but he doesn't have to talk about it.
Just when Zhu Biao was speechless and didn't know how to answer, a melodious voice like an orchid in an empty valley came from outside.
"I've been listening outside for a while. I've been listening back and forth. Your Majesty, why are you still angry with a minister?"
Queen Ma said as she walked in from outside.
"My son, I pay my respects to my mother." When Zhu Biao saw her, he stood up and saluted.
Queen Ma waved her hand to indicate that Zhu Biao was exempted.
She went straight to Lao Zhu and sat down. Seeing that Lao Zhu looked unhappy, Empress Ma said, "Why, Your Majesty, do you really want to be like a minister?"
Lao Zhu said nothing.
Seeing this, Queen Ma continued: "Although I have never seen this Han Du, from what the emperor said, I also know that he is a capable official."
"Why did sister say that?" Lao Zhu glanced at Queen Ma in surprise. Although Zhu Yuanzhang was the emperor, he knew how arrogant his queen was. Even Zhu Biao, who had always won his heart,
It is rare to hear kind words from Queen Ma.
Zhu Biao was also very surprised. He lowered his head and raised his ears, ready to hear why his mother praised Han Du so much.
Queen Ma rolled her eyes at the two of them, and immediately understood what they were thinking, and said with a smile: "As the saying goes: It is difficult for a clever woman to make a meal without rice. In fact, this truth applies to ordinary farmers, a yamen, or a country.
it's the same."
"Your Majesty, you also said that when Han Du first took over the treasure banknote collection department, he only had a few hundred taels of silver, but now he can easily spend 2,000 taels of silver to buy cotton. What does this mean? What does this mean?
The office of civil servants is no longer what it used to be."
"The money he paid for raising money from Baochao did not come from me." After hearing this, Lao Zhu was a little dissatisfied. Although Han Du was a transaction with the Ministry of Industry, after Lao Zhu saw it, the whole world
It belongs to me, and the money from the Ministry of Industry also belongs to me.
Empress Ma burst out laughing. After she had laughed enough, she slowly said, "That's because Your Majesty only allows him to be the home of Baochao Tusi. Naturally, he only thinks about Baochao Tusi."
Seeing this, Zhu Biao also smiled and interjected: "What the Queen Mother said makes sense. What's even more rare is that he can sell higher-quality waist knives at market prices. If you think about it differently, Father, what kind of waist knives do you think of him?
If it were put on the market, would it be worth the price?"
Lao Zhu fell silent for a moment.
It’s worth it! That’s for sure.
A belt knife forged by Baogang would cost three guan per piece, while a belt knife made of pure steel from Handu would only cost two guan. If it were put on the market, it would be worth thousands of dollars.
At this time, Empress Ma also smiled and continued: "Your Majesty, if all the ministers in your court are like Han Du, and can manage the affairs of the Yamen in a prosperous manner without you allocating a penny, then that would be
It's a blessing for the court. In that case, Your Majesty, you wouldn't have had to worry so much about preparing military supplies some time ago."
Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but smile when he thought of the scene mentioned by Empress Ma, but he quickly calmed down, shook his head and sighed: "How is this possible?"
He waved his hand and stopped the conversation.
Empress Ma also knew that her idea was impossible, and she only wanted him to see the difference in Han Du when she told Lao Zhu.
Turning the impossible into possible is Han Du's ability that is stronger than others.
Since Han Du has such a personality and is working for the court, the emperor naturally has no reason to blame. In this way, Queen Ma's purpose of helping Han Du was achieved to everyone's satisfaction.
Seeing that his father's anger towards Han Du had subsided, Zhu Biao breathed a sigh of relief. He changed the topic to the beginning again, "I would like to inform my father that I would like to ask my father to make a decision on the pricing of coal."
Queen Ma listened without any reaction, as if she hadn't heard Zhu Biao's words. She was an extremely smart woman, and she naturally understood the principle of when enough was enough. She had already persuaded the emperor once today, and she could not involve him again unless it was absolutely necessary.
The second thing is to avoid letting the emperor misunderstand that she is nosy. Therefore, even if she wants to express her thoughts again, she will not say it in this situation. She will only quietly be a loyal person on the side.
audience.
Lao Zhu stroked his beard, thought for a while and said: "One hundred and twenty cents is a bit high. My coal is used to benefit the people, not to make Han Du rich. I will pay him 20 cents per hundred catties."
Sell it."
Zhu Yuanzhang is worthy of being an emperor who came from a commoner background. Whenever there is a place that can benefit the people, he will not leave any one behind. Of course, because he does not understand economic reasons, he often does bad things with good intentions, but regardless of
No one can deny that Zhu Yuanzhang had a good heart for the people.
Zhu Biao was very surprised when he heard this, but he did not dare to go against his father's will, so he quickly replied: "Yes. I will inform Han Du immediately and sell it at 20 coins and 100 catties."
Queen Ma stood aside, looking at the emperor with a smile on her face, and thought to herself: Your Majesty, you have benefited the people, but you have never thought of benefiting the palace? My concubine has not made new clothes in three years.
Seeing that the emperor didn't even notice her, Empress Ma got a little angry and turned her head to give Zhu Biao a hard look.
Zhu Biao was so frightened that he shrank his neck, and secretly showed a corner of his white robe to his mother. He indicated that he was also poor, but he must not take any chances on himself.
Queen Ma glared at Zhu Biao angrily, and Zhu Biao quickly lowered his head and pretended not to notice.
Empress Ma looked away angrily, turned to Lao Zhu and said with a smile: "You must be tired after talking for so long. Let's have dinner."
After Zhu Biao finished his meal with his father, the emperor and his mother, he stood up and left.
When Queen Ma saw Zhu Biao coming out of the palace, she shouted loudly: "Your Majesty, please slow down, the exposure is heavy at night, please wear more robes." After saying this, she stood up, picked up a robe, and chased Zhu Biao out.
.
Lao Zhu continued to sit and eat without paying attention to the mother and son.
When Zhu Biao saw his mother coming out with a robe, he quickly took it and said with emotion: "My son, thank you for your love and care."
Empress Ma smiled slightly and said, "Let's not thank you too much. I would like to ask you, did Han Du give you 40% of the limestone ore?"
Zhu Biao nodded, not understanding why his mother asked this.
Queen Ma was very satisfied after hearing this, but a sad look suddenly appeared on her face, "It's difficult for a mother to be a queen. She said that she was the queen and was in charge of the harem. She kept her promise. In fact, this palace has long become a
Empty shelves, not to mention the concubines, even the expenses of this palace have been reduced again and again. Your father has pulled out the flowers and trees in the imperial garden and used them to grow vegetables."
Zhu Biao also came to his senses at this time and said loudly: "My father's diligence and frugality make me ashamed, so I decided to go back to the East Palace to reduce some expenses." After saying that, Zhu Biao turned around and wanted to leave.
However, since someone has put so much effort into laying the groundwork, how can he be allowed to escape easily?
Sure enough, Queen Ma had quick eyesight and quick hands, and grabbed Zhu Biao's arm. She stared at him with burning eyes: "The Queen Mother hasn't finished speaking yet, where do you want to go?"
Seeing that his intention to run away was discovered by his mother, Zhu Biao said with a straight face: "Mother, please give me your instructions. I am all ears."
Queen Ma's eyes twitched and she gave Zhu Biao a hard look, "Your father gave you so much property in the East Palace, more than in the Imperial Palace. Give me 40% of the shares in the charcoal mine."