"No rush..."

Kou Ji waved his hand and said with a smile: "After you bring the cotton back, we will also study how to weave it and how to plant it on a large scale. This will take a long time.

We can afford to wait, but the refugees cannot afford to wait.

Therefore, cotton textiles can only be used as a long-term solution, but cannot be used to change the current situation."

When Mu Chong and the other three heard this, their interest was much lessened.

It took more than a year at least for cotton to go from large-scale introduction, to large-scale planting, to large-scale textile.

In other words, it will take more than a year at least for them to use refugee women on a large scale.

Before that, they could only set up some hemp and woolen weaving workshops to make some small fuss.

It doesn't take too many people.

If we feed those refugees for a year in vain, the price will be too high.

When Kou Ji saw the expressions on the three of them, he knew what they were thinking.

After all, he was in control of the conversation between the four of them from the beginning.

Kou Ji stared at the three of them and said with a smile: "Then do you know about Bintie?"

When Mu Chong and the others heard Bintie, their eyes widened for a moment.

Salt and iron are all government-owned.

Ordinary people can't get involved.

Those who sold iron privately in the Song Dynasty had more or less official backgrounds.

Not to mention iron and steel.

Bin iron was an imported product. Once it arrived in the Song Dynasty, it was all controlled by the Song Dynasty court and used to forge weapons.

Not to mention ordinary people, even officials in the DPRK may not be able to control the iron and steel trade.

So when Kou Ji mentioned Bintie, the three people's hearts felt like they were being tugged.

Qian Leqiang swallowed his saliva and asked Kou Ji in a trembling voice, "Is there any way for the Kou Ministry of Industry to make me wait to sell iron?"

Selling iron is more than just making money.

If they can be sold to other countries, they can immediately become guests of other countries.

Kou Ji glanced at him and said dumbfounded: "What are you thinking! Salt and iron are both controlled by the court, not to mention iron. Even if I find a way to help you get the right to buy and sell iron, you dare to

Will the iron be sold?"

Mu Chong and the other three were stunned and shook their heads in embarrassment.

They wanted to tell Kou Ji loudly that they dared.

But due to Kou Ji's status, they did not dare to say such words in front of Kou Ji.

Kou Ji said in the awkward look of the three of them: "The reason why I mentioned the iron to you is not to let you sell the iron."

Qian Le smiled bitterly and said, "Then why did you mention it?"

Kou Ji said frankly: "You three know that our country does not produce iron ore. All iron ore in our country comes from the sea, so the price is extremely high. Except for the imperial court, ordinary people have no way to care about it."

Mu and Chong nodded.

All three of them knew what Kou Ji said.

But they didn't speak, because they knew that Kou Ji would definitely have something to say.

really.

Kou Ji then added: "Bin Iron is controlled by the imperial court, so naturally we cannot interfere. But the craftsmen in my house can use ordinary iron ore to cast iron that is better than Bin Iron. Do you know what this means?

"

Mu Chong and the other three people's eyes widened for a moment, with shocked expressions on their faces.

What does iron better than iron mean?

This means that the imperial court is likely to abandon iron in the future and use new iron to forge ordnance.

Seeing the shocked expressions on the three people's faces, Kou Ji said with a smile: "The cost is very low, a little more expensive than ordinary iron, but several times cheaper than iron."

The eyes of Mu Chong and the others were filled with fire, as if there were flames burning in their eyes.

Better than iron ore, cheaper than iron ore?

The imperial court would definitely use new iron to forge weapons.

From now on, wouldn’t more than half of the imperial court’s annual expenditure on forging ordnance fall into their pockets?

Qian Le stuttered and asked Kou Ji, "Really? Is this really possible?"

Kou Ji nodded slowly.

Mu and Chong looked at each other and looked firmly at Kou Ji.

Kou Ji smiled and said, "But forging new iron requires a lot of manpower."

The three of them, Mu Chong, bowed to Kou Ji and said, "All orders are from the Kou Ministry of Industry."

Kou Ji nodded with satisfaction.

With the support of the Mu, Qian, and Meng families, it will not be that difficult for him to deal with the problem of refugee resettlement.

These three companies have been in business for many years, and they not only have money, but also food, connections, and manpower.

These are all what Kou Ji needs.

"We still follow the old rules, each of your three families will get 20%, and I will get 10%."

Kou Ji said with a smile.

The three of them, Mu Chong, nodded without hesitation.

There was no need for Kou Ji to say anything about where the remaining 30% of the people had gone. They knew in their hearts.

What they are doing is an earth-shattering big business, and it is appropriate to teach them some protection fees.

After all, they alone cannot hold on to such an earth-shattering deal.

After it's agreed upon.

Kou Ji then ordered the three of them: "The court will naturally handle the food needed to resettle the refugees. What we need to handle now are medicinal materials, lime, wood, craftsmen, stones and other supplies."

"Give me the herbs and lime."

Mu Chong took the initiative to ask for help.

Qian Le said with a smile: "Then I will be responsible for the wood?"

Meng Weizhong glared at the two of them and sighed: "Then I will be responsible for the craftsmen and stone materials."

Obviously, the craftsmen and stones were the most difficult things to prepare for the three of them.

Mu Chong and Qian Le took the lead and grabbed the easiest thing.

Meng Weizhong could only chew hard bones.

"The speed must be fast... I want to see the first batch of things when the refugees flock to Bianjing City."

Kou Ji spoke up and warned.

The three of them, Mu Chong, smiled knowingly.

"Don't worry, the Ministry of Industry and Communications, the three of us still have some prestige among businessmen. If we want anything, others won't dare not give it to us."

After a pause, Mu Chong added: "For official matters, there is the Ministry of Labor and Industry."

Kou Ji nodded and said: "You can rest assured that the imperial court has handed over this matter to our Ministry of Industry. You can also tell other merchants when you go out that you are cooperating with the Ministry of Industry."

When Mu Chong and the other three heard this, the smiles on their faces became even brighter.

Cooperation with Kou Ji can only be regarded as a private official-business cooperation.

But working with the Ministry of Industry is different.

That means they are doing things for the court.

By helping the imperial court, they can enjoy convenience in many aspects.

Such as tariffs.

"Be fast!"

Before leaving, Kou Ji reminded him again.

The three of them, Mu Chong, repeatedly promised that they would prepare what Kou Ji needed when he needed it.

Kou Ji said goodbye to Mu Chong and the others, and comforted Lu Ming with a few words, who was still worried about him.

After returning to the house, they saw Xiang Yan and the servants moving money out.

Kou Ji was slightly startled when he saw this scene.
To be continued...