"I heard that you made a lot of money from internal affairs?"
That night, at the dinner table in Ningxiang Palace, Emperor Wei mentioned this matter intentionally or unintentionally.`
After hearing this, Zhao Hongrun rolled his eyes, glanced at his father speechlessly, and said angrily: "Lao? It's just a fair transaction."
"A fair deal?" Emperor Wei swallowed the food in his mouth and said with a half-smile: "An iron mold requires 50,000 taels of internal manufacturing?"
"It was originally a mold worth one hundred thousand." Zhao Hongrun emphasized: "Sold to the internal manufacturing bureau at half price, it was for the sake of my father's face... Well, it was also for the sake of the face of Eunuch Tong who acted as a broker.
"Having said this, he turned back and glanced at the great eunuch Tong Xian who was standing beside him.
The latter nodded with a smile on his face.
"Are you still reasonable?" Emperor Wei said strangely after hearing this: "As far as I know, your Smelting Bureau can cast one iron mold in one day... During this period, the cost of iron ore and other materials, even including the craftsmen's remuneration, is
, is also insignificant.”
Next to him, Zhao Hongrun's younger brother, Zhao Hongxuan, stared wide-eyed after hearing this. He wanted to interrupt several times, but Concubine Shen Shu shook her head and signaled him not to interrupt. After all, it was the Emperor Wei and Zhao Hongrun talking about some unimportant matters between the DPRK and China at the dinner table.
The most common way for father and son to enhance their relationship now.
On the other hand, if there were no such topics, the father and son would probably have nothing to talk about. This is a common problem among contemporary fathers and sons.
"You can't say that." Zhao Hongrun took the braised pork from his mother-in-law Shen Shufei with chopsticks in a bowl, and said with a little pride: "With the new technology used by our smelting bureau, one mold can make four candles in one hour.
One hundred candles, a conservative estimate of four thousand candles a day... If the original old technology is used, how long will it take to make four thousand candles? How much manpower is required?" At this point, he glanced at Emperor Wei and hummed.
: "A mold costs one hundred thousand taels, which is not expensive at all."
"Having said that..." Emperor Wei seemed unable to accept this statement. He shook his head and said, "The Smelting Bureau has made a lot of money just from some ores..."
"Hey!" Zhao Hongrun was happy when he heard this. After shaking his head, he said sternly: "Indeed. Those iron ore and other materials are cheap, but have you ever thought about why the internal manufacturing bureau wants to buy them from your son's smelting bureau?
"
Emperor Wei raised his head and looked at his son, his eyes clearly saying: You say.
"Technology!" Zhao Hongrun didn't mean to show off. He said unceremoniously: "It's because the internal manufacturing bureau does not have the technology to build that iron mold!... Our Smelting Bureau can build it, but the internal manufacturing bureau cannot.
This is the reason why Erchen sold it for one hundred thousand yuan!...Those iron ores are valuable, but the craftsmanship of making iron molds is priceless!"
Emperor Wei was convinced by his son's simple and straightforward explanation, and shook his head with a wry smile.
But in his heart, he did not deny that his son was right. In business matters in this world, what affects the price is not the word "have or have not"? I will naturally sell the things you don't have at a high price, and things are more valuable when they are rare.
Well.
However, Emperor Wei still had some doubts about the speed of making candles with the new technology. After all, the amount presented by the eunuch was too scary. It seemed that yesterday the candle workshops across the country, including the Yubu, had produced
Candles. Today, the Smelting Bureau can handle everything with just a few hundred people. I have to say that this is an unconvincing thing.
"In the future, your smelting bureau plans to sell candles to make a living?"
"How is that possible?" Zhao Hongrun curled his lips and said nonchalantly: "My son, I left this matter to the Yu Department."
"Throw...really to the Yu tribe?" Emperor Wei was obviously surprised when he heard this. Next to him, Eunuch Tong, the eunuch, looked at the emperor innocently, because he had already reported this matter to the emperor.
, but Emperor Wei didn’t believe it at the time.
"Of course it's true." Zhao Hongrun looked at Emperor Wei in surprise and said in a strange tone: "The reason why I want to make candles is just to make money. The ultimate goal of raising funds for our Smelting Bureau is still to improve the smelting industry."
The craftsmanship that creates the situation!... If you ask the craftsmen in the bureau to make candles if you see that you can make money by selling candles, isn't this putting the cart before the horse?"
Emperor Wei was even more surprised after hearing this. After thinking about it for a while, he asked: "You won't give it to Yu Bu in vain. Have you reached an agreement with Yu Bu?"
"Ah, it's settled." Zhao Hongrun said vaguely while using chopsticks to pick up the rice: "In the future, the production and sale of all candles will be taken over by Yubu, but every candle must be marked with the mark of our Smelting Bureau.
‘As for the profits…share them equally!”
After hearing this, Emperor Wei made a rough estimate. He found that even including the cost and transportation expenses, the total profit of the Yu Department was almost 30%. In the face of such a huge candle production, this 30% profit would definitely be jealous of the Ministry of Household Affairs.
profit.
"Sold through what means?" Emperor Wei asked cryptically.
As if he had read through his father's thoughts, Zhao Hongrun said while chewing: "Don't worry, Lord Yubu Shilang Zhou Pei will talk to Cangbe... He will give Cangbe a share of the profit."
As soon as he said this, his mother-in-law Shen Shufei gently knocked him on the head: swallow the food in your mouth before you speak!
This kid doesn't seem to be ignorant of the ways of the world...
Emperor Wei was slightly emotional. He originally thought that his son would be a solitary eater. Unexpectedly, his son handed over the way to make money to Yu Bu and handed over the sales to Hu Bu. This approach of sharing profits equally is undeniable.
This is the measure that a superior person should have.
Yes, not being greedy, knowing how to give profits to those under you, so that more people will follow you willingly, this is what those in power should understand.
People who eat alone often do not live long, even if their status is as high as the king of a country.
In this regard, Emperor Wei was very satisfied with Zhao Hongrun, his son.
But having said that, in fact, except for Zhao Hongrun, none of the other sons of Emperor Wei were people who paid attention to money. This may be related to the education these princes received since childhood.
"What are you going to do next?" Emperor Wei asked curiously: "You asked the Construction Department of the Ministry of Industry to renovate the workshop of the Smelting Bureau, and also asked them to build several furnaces outside the city. You are preparing for a big undertaking.
What?"
Zhao Hongrun wanted to reveal a few words to appease his father. Unfortunately, as soon as he raised his head, he saw Concubine Shen Shu looking at him with a somewhat unkind expression. She obviously didn't like him talking while eating, so she closed her mouth knowingly: "
secret."
Emperor Wei was dissatisfied when he heard this and was about to ask more questions. At this time, Concubine Shen Shu put a chopstick of vegetables into his bowl and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, eat more vegetables."
Emperor Wei understood immediately and stopped talking with regret on his face.
Not to mention, as the relationship between the family of four became more and more harmonious, Concubine Shen Shu's status in this small family became higher and higher. At least at the dinner table, this gentle woman could influence the relationship between the Emperor of Wei and King Su of Wei.
mind.
After dinner, the palace maid Xiao Tao served tea, and the family talked about some things that were not related to national affairs. For example, they talked about Wu Guifei, the biological mother of Zhao Hongrun and his sixth brother Zhao Hongzhao.
After all, Zhao Hongrun personally promised Zhao Hongzhao that he would try his best to take care of his mother and concubine.
The care mentioned here is of course not care for anything else. After all, Concubine Wu Gui's status in the palace is higher than that of Concubine Shen Shu.
But having said that, this was only in the past. As the saying goes, the mother is more valuable than the son. When Zhao Hongzhao was in Daliang, Wu Guifei's status and prestige in the palace were indeed very high. There were even some people who compared her with other queens. Although Wu Guifei was
I have no interest in the position of mother of the country.
Now that his son Zhao Hongzhao has gone to Qi State, Wu Guifei's status in the palace has inevitably been affected. Therefore, Zhao Hongrun asked his mother-in-law Shen Shufei to go to Mei Palace on his behalf to have a chat with Wu Guifei a few days ago.
Chat.
Firstly, Concubine Shen Shu and Concubine Wu Gui have similar personalities, so they should become quite tacit chat friends. Secondly, Zhao Hongrun also wants some restless women in the palace to think clearly, even if there is no Qilin in Daliang Bianjing Palace now.
His son Zhao Hongzhao, but his Su Wang Zhao Hongrun is still there.
After all, in the final analysis, although Wu Guifei is not interested in the position of the mother of the country, I believe that many people are very interested in her position as a noble concubine, and what Zhao Hongrun wants to do is to frighten the women of his father.
Fulfill his promise to his sixth brother Zhao Hongzhao.
"Concubine Wu Gui... Speaking of which, Your Majesty, I want to take Concubine Wu Gui to relax outside the palace, but I don't know..."
Perhaps thinking of something, Concubine Shen Shu made a rare plea to Emperor Wei.
It has to be said that Emperor Wei knew Concubine Shen Shu's temperament very well. Because of her poor health, she rarely left Ningxiang Palace, let alone went outside the palace to relax. It was obvious that the reason why she made this request was
That was mentioned for Wu Gui's concubine.
After all, her son went to Qi State. As a mother, how could Wu Guifei be relieved?
What a good woman.
Emperor Wei admired a few words in his heart, nodded and said: "I will inform the imperial guards later, and ask the imperial guards to disguise themselves as ordinary people, protect the beloved concubine and Wu Guifei and go outside the city to relax." When he said this, he seemed to
Thinking of something, he put his hands on his hands and said, "By the way, Hongrun, your Prince Su has almost been renovated. I just want to take your mother and Aunt Wu to take a look."
…
Zhao Hongrun was stunned when he heard this, and then looked at Emperor Wei expressionlessly, with a bit of gritted teeth: Which pot should not be opened?
But this time, Zhao Hongrun misunderstood his father. After all, Emperor Wei really said it casually this time. He didn't think of anything until he said the words, so he watched with interest his son as his mother and concubine smiled.
He was trembling under his eyes.
"Run'er, you seem reluctant to go to your Prince Su's Mansion for my mother. If that's the case, then I won't go for my mother..."
Play hard to get...Brother, just wish yourself well.
Zhao Hongxuan glanced at his brother with pity, took the tea cup and walked away knowingly, he did not want to be affected.
"How...how can that be possible!"
Faced with Concubine Shen Shu's deliberately pretending to be disappointed, even though Zhao Hongrun knew it well, he had no choice but to obey: "Concubine I want to go to my son's Prince Su's Mansion. It is my son's blessing..."
"Then it's settled?" As Emperor Wei and Zhao Hongxuan looked on gloatingly, Concubine Shen Shu took the opportunity to decide the matter with a smile.
"well."
Zhao Hongrun could only nod his head and agree, and at the same time secretly murmured in his heart, you know, there are many women who have already booked to live in his Prince Su's Mansion.
"By the way, I'd like to ask my mother to meet that Miss Su."
As the saying goes, a child is better than a mother, and Shen Shufei's words made Zhao Hongrun feel a little frightened. (To be continued.)