"Old Liu, you don't know. Although my father gives me a lot of things every year, he can't see any money. I am really short of money and poor!"
When he said this, Zhu Houzhao was stunned.
How should I put it? Although he is a prince who has no worries about food and clothing and is extremely noble, he really doesn't have much money when it comes to money. According to the rules established by Comrade Zhu Yuanzhang, the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, the prince can earn 50,000 shi and 25,000 guan a year. , forty pieces of brocade, three hundred pieces of silk, a hundred pieces of yarn, Luo, five hundred pieces of silk, a thousand pieces of winter and summer cloth, two thousand taels of cotton, two hundred pieces of salt, a thousand catties of flowers, all year-old, and horse fodder. , the monthly branch is fifty horses.
If you look carefully, you will find that although there are many kinds of things inside, there is no real money or silver at all, and the banknotes included are just precious banknotes.
This thing was invented in the Yuan Dynasty. By the Ming Dynasty, Comrade Zhu Yuanzhang and his descendants did not understand the true meaning of currency. They thought that the value of the treasure banknotes was as many as they were printed. As a result, the treasure banknotes were issued indiscriminately, resulting in the treasure banknotes becoming as valuable as Toilet paper makes no difference.
So originally this 25,000 guan banknote could be said to be real gold and silver, but by this time, it is estimated that even a few thousand guan banknote cannot be exchanged, and no one will accept it at all.
Of course, this is the prince's treasure. Even if it is worthless, he can still suppress it with the power in his hands. Just like other powerful people, they suppress it layer by layer. In the end, it is actually transferred to the poorest. In the hands of ordinary people.
There are many kinds of things, but there is no real gold and silver. This is also a major feature of the Ming Dynasty. The court was poor, the emperor was also poor, and the real rich were the gentry and merchants.
There are so many things that he could actually sell for a lot of money, but Zhu Houzhao is the crown prince, and his every move is watched. If he does this, there will inevitably be people making irresponsible remarks, and there are some in the court. The censor had nothing else to do but watch the emperor's family and find fault with it every day.
Zhu Houzhao is not pretending to be poor now, he is really a little poor, especially since this kid likes to have fun, which will always cost him some money.
"Okay, since you've said it all, let's start this glass business together. Anyway, I don't have any foundation. I need to find someone to do business with me. I know everything about it when I partner with you."
After listening to Zhu Houzhao's grievances, Liu Jin thought about it and readily agreed.
The success of Xishan Coal Industry's business was only due to Emperor Hongzhi's backing, otherwise Liu Jin would have been in trouble by the powerful people in the capital.
This glass is definitely more profitable than briquettes. If Liu Jin does it alone, he will definitely not be able to keep this gold mountain. He must find others to cooperate with him.
Originally, Liu Jin wanted to continue doing this business under the name of Xishan Coal Industry. Now that Zhu Houzhao has come to the door, this is definitely the best thing.
By partnering with Zhu Houzhao, Liu Jin's backing is naturally stable, not to mention that he can make a 50-50 split and make a lot of money. If he partners with other powerful people, Liu Jin estimates that he will be swallowed up to the bone. .
"Haha~ Lao Liu, you are so cheerful, enough of a friend, and enough of a brother."
When Zhu Houzhao heard this, he immediately laughed happily and patted Liu Jin on the shoulder.
"Ahem, this is a partnership to do business. I made an agreement first. We brothers will settle the accounts clearly, so as not to fall out over such trivial matters in the future. Let us explain the rules and some things clearly first. From now on, everyone will do things according to the rules. This is the best.
Let’s make a fortune together.”
Liu Jin smiled, and then said seriously and seriously.
"Of course, don't worry, there will be no problem doing business with me."
When Zhu Houzhao heard this, he immediately patted his chest and said.
"Okay, I'll provide you with the technology to make glass. Shouldn't you provide the money to build a glass workshop and open a shop in the capital to sell glass products?"
"I can't afford the money and the secret recipe for making glass, right?"
Liu Jin nodded and continued.
"Old Liu, you are right, but I don't have any money now, which is a problem..."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Houzhao nodded, then thought about it and patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, the investment in building the glass workshop and so on is all mine. I have raised the money in the past few days."
"Okay, I'll prepare for the glass manufacturing here first. We already have the manpower. We don't even need that many people here in Xishan."
Liu Jin looked at Zhu Houzhao and didn't know how he would get the money, but he was the prince, so it shouldn't be difficult to get some money, so he said with confidence.
"Okay, I'll go collect the money now and come back to you in two days."
Zhu Houzhao was very fast-paced in his work. After talking about business, he would leave immediately without saying a word.
…
On this day, Emperor Hongzhi habitually came to his study after the morning session, and then habitually looked at his most beloved painting, "Spring River with Snow" by Wu Daozi, the "painting sage".
"Come here~ come here."
Emperor Hongzhi's eyes widened. It was really unbelievable that his beloved painting was missing.
"Your Majesty~"
After hearing what Emperor Hongzhi said, Xiao Jing hurried over and said respectfully.
"Where's my painting?"
Emperor Hongzhi asked, pointing to the place where the "Spring River Snow Map" had been placed.
Xiao Jing looked at the location pointed by Emperor Hongzhi, and was immediately frightened. He quickly knelt down and said, "I will check it right away and I will definitely get the painting back."
"Who's on duty?"
Emperor Hongzhi had an angry look on his face. It was not uncommon for things to be lost in the palace. The little yellow gates and maids in the palace would occasionally steal royal belongings and sell them, but they dared to use the emperor's money to do so.
People who love things the most have never really done it, and it is definitely not something ordinary people do.
"Yes, it's me."
When a little Huangmen heard what he said, he was so frightened that he knelt down and said.
"Who has come into my study?"
Emperor Hongzhi looked at the small yellow door and asked sternly. The emperor's study involved military and state affairs, and ordinary people were strictly prohibited from entering or leaving.
"Only the prince came once today."
Xiao Huangmen replied weakly, he remembered this very clearly, after all, there were very few people who came to the emperor's study, very few.
"Prince?"
When Emperor Hongzhi heard this, his eyes suddenly darkened, and he immediately said to Xiao Jing: "Go and check immediately, get my painting back, and then see if anything else is missing."
"Yes~"
Xiao Jing secretly breathed a sigh of relief. If it was the prince, it would be okay. If it were someone else, it would be really bad.
Thinking carefully about the prince's behavior and actions, Xiao Jing also estimated that the painting was probably taken away by the prince, but he couldn't figure out what the prince had used the painting for.