In Liu Jin's mansion and Liu Jin's study in the capital, Zhu Houzhao came here early. Eating and drinking was his daily routine. There was no other way. Liu Jin, a foodie from later generations, would always try his best to make something after traveling through time.
Produces a variety of delicacies.
Zhu Houzhao wanted to kill the cooks in the palace many times. Compared with the delicious food in Liu Jin's house, the food in the palace was like pig food.
Under the restrictions of the household service system, the imperial doctors, imperial cooks, etc. in the palace are all inherited from time to time. Regardless of whether the skills are good or not, this iron rice bowl is passed down from generation to generation. Naturally, the level of the cooks in the palace can be imagined.
And you know, in the past, Emperor Hongzhi would often take Zhu Houzhao out to perform toothpaste rituals.
“I can’t say enough about this bun, it’s delicious~”
While Zhu Houzhao was enjoying his meal, he could not help but admire it. There was actually a lot of care involved in the simple buns. Liu Jin didn't have many other hobbies, but he only had high requirements for this kind of food.
"Your Highness, eat slowly, no one will compete with you~"
Liu Jin looked at Zhu Houzhao and was really afraid that he would choke to death.
He doesn't look like a prince now. To Liu Jin, he feels like a wild boy from the countryside. Whether he sits or eats, no one would think that he is the current prince.
"Old Liu, you better know how to enjoy it. The food in your house is truly the best in the capital."
Zhu Houzhao had eaten more than a dozen steamed buns in a row, and finally he couldn't eat any more, so he reluctantly put down the steamed buns and said to Liu Jin.
"Your Highness, don't leave in a hurry. I just got a new kitchen utensil here. Let's try some new food together later."
Liu Jin smiled, and then looked at the snowflakes floating outside. What is the best thing to do in winter?
Of course, it is the most suitable for eating hot pot. Liu Jin has wanted to eat hot pot for a long time, so he also asked someone to build a hot pot. He planned to find time to make a side stove and eat hot pot.
"New kitchenware? New food?"
"Okay, it seems you are blessed today."
When Zhu Houzhao heard this, his little eyes immediately narrowed, and then he touched his round belly and said.
"Haha, I will definitely not disappoint Your Highness~"
Liu Jin said very confidently.
Hot pot is the most delicious thing to eat in the winter. Its charm is irresistible. You will fall in love with it after eating it once.
"Your Highness, the stewards are still waiting for us. Should we go and listen to the annual report?"
Seeing that Zhu Houzhao had eaten and drank enough, it was time to get down to business.
Seeing that the Chinese New Year is coming soon, the time for this annual inventory has also arrived.
"Let's go~"
When Zhu Houzhao heard this, he quickly got up and walked to Liu Jin's study.
He also wants to know how rich he is now. There are so many properties he has bought with Liu Jin. Each property is like a hen laying eggs. How much money has he earned in a year? Zhu Houzhao also wants to know
Know.
Soon, Liu Jin and Zhu Houzhao arrived at the study. In the room, many stewards were already waiting, all holding account books in their hands, waiting to report the year's income to Zhu Houzhao and Liu Jin.
"I have met His Royal Highness~"
As soon as Zhu Houzhao arrived, many stewards hurriedly saluted. Although he was just a steward, not in the mainstream, and there was no way to compare with those noble scholars, when these stewards learned that they were working for His Highness the Crown Prince, they
Everyone is still very excited.
Every year during the Chinese New Year, it is a great honor for them to report the income of the past year to His Highness the Prince, and to be able to meet the Prince in person.
"No need~"
Zhu Houzhao waved his hand and said.
"Let's get started~"
Liu Jin didn't want to waste time, so he continued.
"Yes~"
Many of the stewards nodded quickly, and then looked at each other. The first one to stand up was He Run, the general steward of Daming First Bank.
There is no doubt about the importance of the First Bank of the Ming Dynasty. Now the banknotes issued by the First Bank of the Ming Dynasty have become the paper currency of the Ming Dynasty. Basically, in disguise, the right to issue currency is in its own hands.
Moreover, everyone in future generations will know the importance of banks.
Liu Jin also attaches great importance to Daming First Bank, investing a lot of energy and placing high expectations on it. It is considered the most important among many industries.
"Your Highness, Mr. Liu~"
"Since its establishment at the beginning of the year, the First Bank of the Ming Dynasty has opened 36 branches in major cities in 13 provinces of the Ming Dynasty and Beijing. The total number of deposits received has reached 350 million taels of silver, and the total number of loans granted has reached 230 million taels.
Ten million taels of silver...the total number of silver notes issued is 100 million silver dollars, and the total number of silver dollars issued is 200 million silver dollars."
He Run's voice was very loud, and he reported on the situation of the First Bank of Ming Dynasty one by one.
"The annual operating income was 15 million taels of silver, and the annual loss was 3 million taels of silver~"
When he said this, He Run's voice lowered a lot.
That’s right, Daming First Bank didn’t make any money in the first year, but actually lost money.
Factors such as establishing branches in the early stage, issuing banknotes, paying interest, and minting silver coins also caused the First Bank of the Ming Dynasty to lose three million taels of silver in the first year.
“I actually lost money~”
When Zhu Houzhao heard this, he was a little surprised and said.
"Your Highness, the main reason for the loss is that we opened branches all over the Ming Dynasty at the same time, and we also suffered losses when we issued banknotes and silver dollars. In addition, there are still relatively few people coming to our bank for loans. We have a large amount of deposits in the bank and there is no mortgage loan. Just paying
I lost a lot in interest.”
He Run thought for a while and replied.
"Okay, you have to make money next year, you can't lose money every year."
Zhu Houzhao curled his lips, thought for a while and said.
"Yes~Your Highness~"
He Run nodded quickly.
"Actually, don't be in a hurry to make money. The key point is to get more people accustomed to using our banknotes and silver dollars, and at the same time, let more people deposit and borrow in our banks. As for making money, there is no rush.
."
Liu Jin on the side thought for a while and warned.
"Yes~"
He Run also quickly and silently wrote down that he had lost money. Neither Zhu Houzhao nor Liu Jin criticized him too much, which made him secretly relieved. As for other managers, they also seemed to be much more relaxed.
After He Run finished his report, Zhao Dahu, the manager of the Beijing Glass Factory, also stood up.
Zhao Dahu is the elder brother of Zhao Erhu, and he is also from the same village as Liu Jin's Xiahetun. Glass is a very simple thing, and anyone who knows how to make it can easily make it. There is no technical difficulty at all.
But if you don't know how, this glass is difficult to make.
In order to firmly keep this hen that lays golden eggs in his own hands, Liu Jin also implemented the strictest management of the Beijing Glass Factory. The people inside were all from Liu Jin's Xiahetun Village, and were managed by Zhao Dahu
.
Until now, countless people are jealous of the profits of glass and are trying every means to obtain the manufacturing method of glass. However, due to Liu Jin's many strict measures and Zhao Dahu's carefulness, the manufacturing method of glass has always been firmly controlled by Liu Jin.
in hands.
It was so profitable that Liu Jin was really reluctant to let it go.
A piece of glass becomes a mirror by plating it with some tin silver. Although the price of a mirror has been reduced a lot, only rich people can afford it. It can easily cost dozens or hundreds of taels of silver, but it is still still the same.
The most popular thing among the upper class of Ming Dynasty.
Glass lamps made of glass are also the most popular thing, and they are also very expensive. Various glass products are now not only popular among the middle and upper class of the Ming Dynasty, but also spread to Korea and Japan.
The Japanese country also aroused great popularity.
Every time a merchant ship goes to Korea and Japan, it will definitely bring a large number of glass products. Some things that are not valuable at all can be exchanged for a lot of money. There is nothing more profitable than buying gold.
"Your Highness, Mr. Liu~"
"Our Jingcheng Glass Factory achieved an annual operating income of 30 million taels of silver and a net profit of 27 million taels~"
Zhao Dahu is now very impressive. He used to be illiterate, but now he is a steward. He is also studying hard. Not only can he read and write, but he can also calculate some numbers.
"Tear~"
Hearing Zhao Dahu's words, Liu Jin could clearly hear a hint of exclamation.
What everyone is amazed by is not the turnover of the Jingcheng Glass Factory, but its profits, which are really too high. The net profit is as high as 27 million taels of silver. Such a terrifying profit rate is simply unbelievable.
But that’s the beauty of glass!
Due to the monopoly of the exclusive business and Liu Jin's initial hype, glass was regarded as high-end and classy in the eyes of the people of the Ming Dynasty. All kinds of glass products were very expensive, but they were also very popular.
Best-selling in Ming Dynasty, Korea and Japan.
"Not bad~ Not bad~ Well done."
After Zhu Houzhao heard this, he narrowed his eyes and nodded with satisfaction. It was only a glass factory, but it was able to earn nearly 30 million taels of silver, such a huge figure.
It was unthinkable in the past. You must know that in the past, the tax money of the Ming Dynasty's national treasury was less than three million taels of silver, and the internal money that Emperor Hongzhi had worked hard to save for nearly ten years was only less than three million taels of silver.
More than one million silver coins.
From here you can see how profitable this glass factory is. It is the hen that truly lays golden eggs. This is why Liu Jin is always reluctant to make it public.
“It’s really good~”
"Next year we will strive to open up more markets, preferably to sell overseas, not to mention Japan and North Korea. Next year we will open routes to Nanyang, and we will strive to let people here in Nanyang use our glass products."
Liu Jin also smiled and nodded. Glass factories make money, but Liu Jin also knows that the market for Daming Glass is almost there. If he wants to make money, he still needs to open up overseas markets.