Chapter 290, Strive for the support of the military commander's strength
"Old Liu, tell me the truth. After we build a salt farm and pay two million taels of silver to the national treasury, will we really still make money?"
Hearing Liu Jin mention the two million taels of silver again, Zhu Houzhao couldn't help but ask Liu Jin again.
In his opinion, although the salt is profitable, the output of a salt farm is always limited. Now that two million silver has been handed over to the national treasury, how much profit can there be?
"You still don't believe me?"
"Once this salt-drying method is developed, its output will be a hundred or a thousand times the current output. What we will be worried about then is the sales of salt."
Liu Jin smiled and said confidently.
In later generations, salt fields all over the world used sun-dried salt, and the output was huge. It not only met the demand for table salt, but also met the huge demand for industrial salt. There is absolutely no need to worry about the output.
Moreover, Liu Jin has already chosen a place. The place where the salt field will be built is in the Changlu Salt Field area in later generations. There are many tidal flats in this area, which are flat and open. It is sunny and rainy throughout the year, and the wind is also strong.
The most ideal place to dry salt.
"That's fine, as long as you don't lose money."
"Huh~huh, I've long disliked those salt merchants in the south. They dared to target me last time. Look, I'm going to pull the trigger this time and knock you back to your original shape."
After hearing Liu Jin's answer, Zhu Houzhao couldn't help but said harshly.
What happened last time made Zhu Houzhao remember it deeply in his heart. He finally managed to build some industry and wanted to make some money. These people were targeting him and wanted to restrict the imperial power. This is absolutely intolerable.
.
Now the case is getting deeper and deeper, and more and more people are coming to the surface. What is clear is that southern salt merchants, Huizhou merchants, big businessmen, etc. were involved in this matter.
The reason why Emperor Hongzhi agreed with Liu Jin and Zhu Hou to run the salt field was because he wanted to suppress the salt merchants in the south. The salt and iron monopoly did not benefit the state treasury, and he, the emperor, could not get any benefits at all. As for ordinary people, the same was true.
Eat expensive salt.
Almost all the benefits went to the mouths of these salt merchants. The key is that after receiving the benefits, these salt merchants actually extended their hands into the court and wanted to restrict the imperial power. This is absolutely intolerable.
However, Emperor Hongzhi also knew that even if a group of salt merchants were killed, as long as this system existed, new salt merchants would still emerge, so he tried to make some changes.
"Your Highness, if you want to successfully open the salt farm, it's not enough for us alone. We must involve more people."
Liu Jin thought for a while and said to Zhu Houzhao.
This is a strategy that Liu Jin has always pursued. No matter what he does, everyone is involved, especially the participation of the Generals Xungui Group.
Because there is strength in numbers, only if more people taste the sweetness and gain benefits from new affairs, the power to support new affairs will be greater.
"Tell me in detail~"
When Zhu Houzhao heard this, he immediately narrowed his eyes.
"When we build a salt farm, we must benefit all aspects. The court can receive huge taxes, and the people can eat cheaper salt. In addition, we must allow more businessmen to make money with us, and at the same time, we must allow more
people to open more salt farms..."
Liu Jin thought for a while and spoke slowly, discussing the next step of action with Zhu Houzhao in detail.
…
On the island in the middle of the lake in the back garden of Duke Dingguo's mansion, Xu Guangzuo and Liu Jin were drinking tea and talking about the expansion of the cement factory.
At the beginning, the British prince Zhang Maofei wanted to cooperate with Liu Jin and three other princes to build a cement factory. Cement was an indispensable artifact for the construction industry. Coupled with the Beijing-Tianjin cement road as a demonstration, cement suddenly became a hot commodity.
Things are in great demand.
The imperial court ordered cement on a large scale from major cement factories to build the Great Wall and passes, city walls in border towns, defense lines, etc. These large orders from the government undoubtedly fell into the hands of several large cement factories.
of mouth.
Tianjin Cement Factory, Zhang's Cement Factory, Zhou's Cement Factory, Sihai Cement Factory, Sangong Cement Factory, these cement factories all got their own piece of this huge cake.
In addition to official large orders, the demand for private orders is also growing. More and more people are beginning to use cement to build roads, bridges, and houses, especially in the Beijing-Tianjin area. The demand is very huge, making large and small businesses
The cement factory's business is very booming, orders can't be filled, and supply exceeds demand.
"I think it is necessary to expand production, but there is no need for us to expand production capacity here in Beijing. We can open branch factories in various parts of Daming."
"The demand for cement will be found everywhere, and as time goes by, the demand will only increase. There are too many cement factories in Beijing and Tianjin. There are hundreds of large and small cement factories. Beijing is fierce."
"But in other parts of Daming, there are currently relatively few cement plants. We can open branch plants in other places to meet the demand for cement in various regions."
After listening to Xu Guangzuo's plan to expand the cement plant's production, Liu Jin thought about it and put forward his own opinions.
Tianjin Cement Factory has now stopped its expansion in Tianjin and has started to open branch factories in various parts of Ming Dynasty. The first branch factory is planned to be located in Nanjing and is currently under preparation.
"I also have this idea. The demand for cement is huge, and transportation costs account for a relatively large proportion. It's fine if it's closer. But if it's far away, it won't be easy to transport."
After hearing what Liu Jin said, Xu Guangzuo thought about it and nodded to express his support.
Seeing the huge market prospects of cement, he also invested heavily in this area. Some time ago, he also sold thousands of land to Liu Jin in exchange for 500,000 taels of silver. He planned to use these like Zhang Mao.
Silver is invested in three areas: cement factories, fishing industry, and ocean trade.
"It's best to discuss this matter with Mr. Zhang and Mr. Zhu. After everyone has finished discussing it, just talk to me."
Liu Jin smiled and replied.
"Okay, I'll find another time to call everyone over to discuss and discuss."
Xu Guangzuo nodded.
"Brother Xu, I wonder if you are interested in running a salt farm together?"
Liu Jin thought for a while and asked Xu Guangzuo, if you want to set up a salt farm, the support of these military generals is indispensable. What if they support him?
The best way is to lure these military generals and nobles onto the pirate ship and let them follow them to build the salt farm.
"Reaching a salt farm?"
When Xu Guangzuo heard this, he was immediately surprised and said: "This salt and iron is exclusively owned by the imperial court and will not be handled by private individuals."
"Your Majesty has given permission for the prince and I to set up a salt farm, and I have a new method of making salt. The salt production can be a hundred or a thousand times the current salt production."
Liu Jin smiled and said, and then explained in detail his method of drying salt and his idea of setting up a salt farm.
"Salt method?"
"Is this really feasible? The output will be hundreds or thousands of times that of the current salt production method?"
After Xu Guangzuo heard this, his eyes widened. He couldn't believe it. This salt has been made by boiling it since ancient times, but he had never heard of the method of drying salt.
"Of course it's possible. The only solution is to dry out the water in the sea water. The essence of sun salt and boiled salt is actually the same."
Liu Jin nodded confidently, and then whispered: "The only problem now is that some people will oppose it, but once this matter is completed, everyone can set up a salt farm in the future. Brother Xu, you should know the profit of this salt."
of."
Xu Guangzuo also nodded after hearing this. Of course he knew that salt made money. None of these big salt merchants in the south was rich enough to rival the country. They were many times richer than him, Dingguo Gongfu.
These military generals and nobles have wanted to get involved in the salt industry for a long time, but because the imperial court has no say, the huge cake of salt naturally cannot fall into their mouths. They can only let these people in the south give it to them all the time.
Dominate.
"I need to think about this carefully."
After thinking for a while, Xu Guangzuo replied.
At this time, Xu Waner and several of her maids seemed to pretend to be walking in the garden and came to the island in the middle of the lake.
"Brother~"
"Master Liu~"
When Xu Waner came to the island in the middle of the lake, her face was slightly red. She was very excited when she knew that Liu Jin was coming to the house as a guest. She came over early and waited in the corridor nearby, waiting for Xu Guangzuo and Liu Jin to discuss important matters. She also pretended to be here.
Encountered by chance while walking.
"Miss Wan'er~"
Liu Jin smiled and said to Xu Waner.
"Ah~ By the way, I have something urgent to do. Sister, please help me entertain Liu Jin first."
Xu Guangzuo was very sensible. When he saw the look in his sister's eyes at Liu Jin, he immediately knew that he, the lightbulb, should go out of his way, so he found an excuse and left in a hurry, as if something was really urgent.
In the pavilion on the island in the center of the lake, with Xu Guangzuo leaving, only Liu Jin, Xu Waner and a few of her personal maids were left in the pavilion.
"Congratulations to Mr. Liu for winning Jieyuan in the provincial examination~"
Xu Waner sat opposite Liu Jin, her face flushed. Seeing that Liu Jin looked at her without speaking, she blushed even more, so she thought about it and said.
"You are so beautiful~"
Liu Jin looked at Xu Waner. Last time, there was a distance and there were many people present, so it was difficult to stare at people. Now that they were sitting face to face and no one else was present, he knew her thoughts even more, so Liu Jin also stared at her.
She looked.
Look carefully, it's beautiful, really beautiful.
Forgive me that Liu Jin only has these words in his mind to describe the Xu Waner in front of him. Her beauty does not belong to those stars of later generations. More importantly, she is such a lady, gentle and pleasant, and the beauty of a classical woman. Let Liu Jin
Zi was stunned and couldn't help but say.
Hearing Liu Jin's words, Xu Waner's face turned even redder, and she was so embarrassed that she wanted to find a crack in the ground and crawl in.
In this era, even if you like someone or praise someone, it is usually in a more tactful way, not as direct as Liu Jin.
But when Liu Jin said she was beautiful, her heart felt as sweet as honey, and she suddenly didn't know how to reply.