Ci Jinzhi

As soon as Emperor Xingyuan said these words, all the officials looked at Xin You.

It was made by Xin Daizhao!

The Minister of Rites had a complicated mood: It was Xin You who instigated it again!

After appreciating the reactions of the ministers, Emperor Xingyuan looked calm, but he could not hide his show off: "Didn't I ask you earlier if there was a way to get the Xiling war horse without marrying the princess? In the end, no one came up with an idea. . Today Xin Daizhao brought me this sugar and proposed to exchange the sugar for war horses."

Upon hearing this, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue couldn't help but ask: "How complicated is it to make this sugar? What is the output and cost? I would like to remind you that if it is just an equal exchange, we have many things for exchange in Daxia. If the cost of this sugar It’s high and the yield is low, so there’s absolutely no need to trade it for anything.”

People in Daxia have never tasted this kind of sugar miraculous product, so giving it to Xi Ling is not a loss.

The other ministers nodded after hearing this.

What Yu Shangshu said is right. I tasted this white sugar today. The sugar I had before was just tasteless. It is not worthwhile to exchange it.

Emperor Xingyuan did not answer what the Minister of the Ministry of Finance said, but asked a question: "What do you think is the appropriate price for a pound of sugar?"

"I think I can sell it for one tael of silver!"

"One tael? There are people who buy such good candy even if you sell it for two taels."

"Indeed, once such a rare item comes out, there will be people competing for two taels of silver and one pound."

……

Emperor Xingyuan was in a good mood as he listened to the discussions among his ministers.

Four pounds of brown sugar produce one pound of white sugar, and two pounds of sugar of similar quality to white sugar. This is not cost-free, it is a negative cost!

Seeing the enthusiastic look in Emperor Xingyuan's eyes, Xin You had to remind him: "Your Majesty, the output of sugar cane in our country is certain."

At present, the technology for making white sugar has not been leaked out, so it is indeed a waste of money. But brown sugar is made from sugar cane, and the production of brown sugar is limited by the production of sugar cane and is not endless.

This is just like the population growth problem caused by the New Deal mentioned before. Moderate population growth is of great benefit to a country, but the food output of the fields is certain. Once the population growth exceeds the support of the fields, it will be a disaster.

The solution is to either reduce the population or increase food production. This is why she readily agreed to go overseas to look for high-yielding crops.

The New Deal and the opening of the sea are inseparable. When she persuaded him to implement the New Deal, the relaxation of the sea ban was natural.

Emperor Xingyuan calmed down: "Then exchange fifteen pounds of sugar for a Xiling war horse. Let's negotiate based on this bottom line."

The Minister of Household Affairs couldn't help but ask about the cost of sugar.

Emperor Xingyuan glanced at the ministers who had their ears pricked up, and said calmly: "The cost is not high. The main reason is that the technology of making sugar is relatively complicated. In short, it is very cost-effective to exchange sugar for war horses. The cost of building a sugar mill and mass-producing sugar is just From my internal funds.”

The internal funds are the emperor's small treasury and are not under the control of the Ministry of Household Affairs, so that the secret of sugar production can be kept longer.

The Minister of the Ministry of Revenue was overjoyed when he heard that there was no need to pay.

"In this case, the Xiling envoy who returns tomorrow can directly bring a message to King Xiling."

"It's best to ask them to bring some sugar to King Xiling to taste before we can talk."

……

The ministers made suggestions one after another, and Emperor Xingyuan smiled and nodded: "That's what I have in mind."

His eyes went back and forth between the Minister of Hubu and the Minister of Rites, and finally landed on the book of the Minister of Hubu.

"Yu Shangshu, please talk to Prince Baori in your own name today. Seeing that he is not interested in sugar, you can also guess the attitude of King Xiling."

Diplomatic matters originally belonged to the Ministry of Rites, but Emperor Xingyuan did not think that the somewhat pedantic Minister of Rites could do this well. It's better to be old than good, but when it comes to money, it's like getting chicken blood. The Minister of Household Affairs was happy to fool Prince Baori, but he looked embarrassed: "I don't know enough about sugar -"

Xin You said: "I can communicate with Prince Baori together with Yu Shangshu."

Emperor Xingyuan refused without hesitation: "No need. There is no need to tell them more about cost and technology. The main thing is the exchange amount of sugar and war horses. I have also said the bottom line. And then there is what we can come up with in two months." Amount of sugar.”

Speaking of this, Emperor Xingyuan looked at Xin You.

Since Xin You entered the palace with sugar, he had already made a plan in his mind and immediately said: "If everything goes well, we can make ten thousand catties."

The ministers calculated and were a little disappointed: there weren't many horses that could be exchanged.

Xin You took in everyone's expressions and continued: "White sugar is not as good as grain. Xi Ling cannot eat too much at one time, but we can sell the rest in Daxia, and the money earned can be used to buy war horses. It is a special fund. Furthermore, , Xiling may not have much demand for sugar every time, but the sugar will always be eaten up. This is a long-term business..."

The girl spoke at a moderate speed and her voice was like falling beads. She talked so eloquently that even people who were dissatisfied with her would not notice it.

When she finished speaking, Emperor Xingyuan laughed loudly: "Okay, it's better for Xin Daizhao to think carefully." At this point, he did not forget to remind: "It's better if the minister comes forward to discuss with Prince Baori."

Xinyou responded with a yes.

Shangshu Hube brought a small bottle of sugar to see Prince Baori.

Most of the envoys from Xiling will go back tomorrow. Prince Baori did not go around anymore, but stayed in the guest house and wrote a letter to King Xiling.

Being entrusted with the important task of being an envoy, the relationship between the two brothers is still very good. Prince Bao Ri felt that it was necessary to talk to his brother about what he had left behind, so as to prevent his brother from going crazy.

At this time, the servants sent word that Daxia's Minister of Household Affairs was looking for him.

Prince Baori thought for a while and got an impression in his mind.

In the past few days since he came to Daxia, he had taken demerits seriously to those high-ranking officials.

"Your Majesty is interrupting me."

Prince Baori said hurriedly: "Xiao Wang is a guest, and it is Xiao Wang who is disturbing us."

After the greetings were finished, Shangshu of the Ministry of Finance mysteriously took out a thumb-thin vial from his sleeve.

Prince Baori was puzzled and couldn't help but sigh: Daxia is different, look at how delicate this small bottle is.

"Our Majesty has a loving father's heart and is not willing to marry his beloved daughter far away. However, it is very sad to think that your envoy came all the way and returned empty-handed." Shangshu pointed to the small porcelain vase, "This is our great envoy." Xia's unique sweet delicacy, called white sugar, has never been among the people. I would like to invite your envoy to taste it today."

Prince Bao Ri looked at the small porcelain bottle and twitched his mouth slightly. He thought that this small bottle that could not be found even if it fell to the ground contained the candy that he was invited to taste?

Gee, is Daxia too "generous", or is it really so precious?

"Then Xiao Wang, give it a try." Prince Baori took the small porcelain bottle, opened the cork and poured it into his hand.

Frost-like sugar was sprinkled on the palm of his hand, which shocked Prince Baori: "Is this sugar?"

Their Xiling Society purchases sugar from Daxia through border trade. He has eaten both red and white sugar and malt sugar, but he has never seen anything like this.

I heard that Daxia has a specialty called arsenic...

Prince Bao Ri's thoughts ran away for a moment, he dipped his finger in sugar and put it in his mouth.

(End of this chapter)