"This briquette that costs 2 cents a piece can actually earn a million taels of silver a year. What on earth is going on?"
Emperor Hongzhi also couldn't believe this figure. He originally estimated that he might still lose money. A briquette worth 2 cents had to be mined from the mountains, crushed, mixed with yellow mud, pressed into shape, and added
Transportation, etc., all aspects of expenditure are very large, it would be good to be able to maintain operation.
Unexpectedly, in just the first half month, I actually made 50,000 taels of silver. This is 50,000 taels of silver, not 50,000 copper coins. The purchasing power of silver in this era is still very strong, and the silver from the Americas is not yet big.
large-scale inflow.
"Mr. Zhu, this briquette sells for 2 cents each. It doesn't seem to be profitable. Our profit from this briquette is actually not high, but it depends on the quantity. If the quantity is large, the profit will be very considerable."
"This briquette is paired with a briquette briquette stove. It can be used to boil water, cook, keep warm, and make tea. It can be said that even if it is not winter, people's demand for it is still very strong."
"Every household uses it every day. Not to mention other things, in our city of Beijing alone, there are hundreds of thousands of households and millions of people. Each household burns two pieces of briquettes every day, which is 4 cents.
Money, the entire capital will use hundreds of thousands of briquettes on this day, nearly a million yuan worth of business."
"Calculating that the briquettes used in the entire city of Beijing cost thousands of taels of silver in one day, it is really nothing for us to earn 50,000 taels in half a month."
"Right now, our output is limited, and coal stoves are not popular enough. When everyone uses briquettes and our output can keep up, we will be able to earn even more money each month."
"Mr. Zhu, just wait for the day to make money."
Qian Youcai smiled, and then began to calculate the account for Emperor Hongzhi with his fingers. After just a simple calculation, everyone present realized that this seemingly inconspicuous briquette actually hid such huge hidden potential.
profit.
"I see, it seems that the price is still a bit high."
Emperor Hongzhi suddenly realized this, and then he thought about it and said again.
His words shocked Qian Youcai, and he quickly said: "Mr. Zhu, the briquettes costing 2 yuan a piece are already very cheap. If the price is lowered, we may lose money. We are still relying on small profits.
Only by selling more can you make some money.”
As Qian Youcai spoke, he carefully looked at Emperor Hongzhi and Liu Jian, Xie Qian, Li Dongyang and others around him. He really didn't understand why Emperor Hongzhi had money but didn't make any. It was really puzzling.
"I'm just saying this~"
Emperor Hongzhi smiled and replied, in the past, he really didn't want to make money from this briquette, but now he knows that this briquette can earn millions of taels of silver a year, and he is the major shareholder, accounting for 60%, that is to say
This briquette business alone could bring Emperor Hongzhi at least 600,000 silver in profits a year.
With such a huge income, even as an emperor, he is no longer calm.
There is no way, the emperor is also poor, and the Ming court is even poorer.
He, Emperor Hongzhi, had been the emperor for 10 years, and he had only saved one million taels of silver through frugality. The tax revenue of the Ming Dynasty would not exceed 3 million taels of silver a year, and the treasury was actually empty most of the time.
The kind that even mice don't bother to visit.
With the income of 600,000 taels of silver this year, how could Emperor Hongzhi not be moved and give up so easily? This is obviously impossible.
"That's good~that's good~"
Qian Youcai wiped the sweat from his forehead. He was really afraid that Mr. Zhu would say another word about lowering prices. It was not easy for him to make a profitable living, and he hoped to save some money through this.
"Let's go and see Xishan."
Emperor Hongzhi was in a good mood, with a smile on his face. After thinking about it, he was ready to go to Xishan to see Liu Jin. If it weren't for Liu Jin, it would be a foolish dream for him to earn 600,000 taels of silver a year.
Even though he was an emperor, he claimed to be able to command the world and be rich, but in fact he lived a miserable life. He couldn't bear to eat or wear anything. He had no choice but to live in poverty.
He managed to save some money from his own internal funds, and everyone in the imperial court kept an eye on him, always trying to find ways to get Emperor Hongzhi to use the internal funds to supplement the national treasury.
Emperor Hongzhi could predict that once the news spread, ministers would probably write a letter the next day to include the money from the coal proceeds into the national treasury.
This money is hard-earned, but it is like running water when spent. It can add 600,000 taels of silver a year. Whether you use it yourself or occasionally contribute to the national treasury, you can be more comfortable.
"Liu Jin is really a talented person. Not only did he solve the problem of people's heating in the winter, but he was also able to make money. It's really rare."
On the way to Xishan, Emperor Hongzhi was in a very good mood. Sitting in the carriage, he also smiled and said to Liu Jian, Xie Qian and Li Dongyang beside him.
"He is indeed a talented person. Of course, what is more important is that His Majesty has a keen eye for real gold, knows people and uses them well. He also has a bodhisattva heart and loves the people like a son. In his heart, he is thinking about the problem of people keeping warm in the winter, so he has what he has now.
of briquettes.”
Liu Jian also smiled and nodded, and then took the opportunity to flatter Emperor Hongzhi.
This time, Emperor Hongzhi was still very useful. If you think about it carefully, it was really because he was concerned about the people's heating problems in winter that he met Liu Jin in the rich charcoal store, and the matter of briquettes came about.
Emperor Hongzhi and his party were walking towards Xishan in a carriage. Just when they were leaving the gate of Beijing, a little accident happened.
It turns out that it is freezing cold at this time, and the weather becomes very cold. Just like in previous years, when winter comes, many people who cannot survive will become refugees, and people who are closer to Beijing will move towards Beijing.
Come.
After all, Beijing is the capital of the Ming Dynasty. It has a large population and is a place where powerful people gather. When refugees come here, it is much easier to beg, find a job, buy coolies, etc. than in other places.
I can always find something to eat to survive this winter.
As long as they survive the winter and wait until next spring, when the weather warms up and everything recovers, the most difficult winter will be over. These refugees will naturally return to where they came from, pick up their hoes again, and work hard in the fields.
Get to work.
However, this winter is really too cold. The number of refugees this time is much larger than before. They can be seen in every corner of Beijing. Now there are also a few gathered here at the city gate.
