King Luhuang of the Ming Dynasty: My father, Ming Taizu

Chapter 150: Make millions! Thousands of households want money! Carry out reforms!

Zhu Tan looked at the two of them and smiled slightly.

"Since we are all friends, it's not too much to give each other gifts, right? Isn't it just a few million catties of salt? It's a joke, I gave it to you!"

The two of them couldn't help but be overjoyed!

According to their consistent understanding of the Ming Dynasty.

The Ming court was extremely generous!

Take tribute, for example.

In the past, both Korea and Japan had tasted tribute.

For example, Japan.

Pay tribute once and bring your own specialties, a thousand Japanese knives.

The situation was similar for Goryeo.

Zhu Tan waved his hand and said: "It's such a waste of time and energy for you to go all out to find gifts. I can't bear to see two good friends working hard!

After all, it’s so profitable!
Otherwise, why don’t we just say that the Chinese people are kind and generous?
Therefore, both Ashikaga Yoshitomo and Li Jiuming were extremely excited at this time!

Let's do this, you can just give me money! It needs to be refined!

The money that such a person makes every day is just like running water!
Does a character like him care about money?
Certainly not!

The two of them reacted for a long time before finally wondering what the relationship between friends was.

Bringing these things back home can make you a hundred times more profitable!
later.

You have great spirit!
The old man engages in foreign trade as a grievance. You bastard, you still want to treat me as a grievance?

Doubling the price would be extremely generous!

For example, sulfur, raw copper, hematoxylin, paper fans, etc.

Zhu Tan glanced at the two of them coldly.

Why does His Highness Prince Lu still think it is less?
This is very unwise!
Ashikaga Yoshichi smiled bitterly and said: "Your Highness, the price we offered is already twice the market price. This price is actually not low."

The words fell.

Zhu Tan smiled and said: "Have you forgotten something? Since you are also my friends, then I have given you a gift, should you return the gift?"

Ashikaga Yoshitomo and Li Jiuming nodded after hearing this and said with a smile: "That's natural! How can a villain let His Highness suffer? His Highness has given us such precious salt, so of course we have to give His Highness a precious gift in return!"

Besides, this is the impressive courage and spirit of the Ming Dynasty."

He also made an unhappy expression on his face.

Zhu Tan sighed.

Li Jiuming also nodded and said: "Your Highness, the villain, is also willing to pay twice as much money in exchange for salt!"

The words fell.

"Twice? Now the original price of Ming Dynasty is four cents of silver per catty, and double the price is only eight cents of silver per catty! With this amount, in the eyes of my friend, you two are not friends enough!"

Each piece is a rare treasure from their own country.

Your Highness, I think this price is profitable for Your Highness, and we can make friends, so why not?

In short, the principle pursued by the Ming Dynasty court was to give more to others than others.

Zhu Tan nodded and said: "Then let's talk about the price next! Let's talk about how much silver you should give me!"

The two of them felt something was wrong, but they didn't know what to say!
In short, His Royal Highness King Lu is so compassionate that he is willing to sell the salt to them, which has given them the opportunity to earn a lot of money. How can the two of them dare to raise any objections!
They all nodded in agreement and said with a smile: "That's natural! This is the best, hehehehe."

Your sister is brave!

talking.

There shouldn't be too many impurities. In this case, I can take it and buy whatever I want. You can also consider it as a gift to me, okay? "

The Ming Dynasty court generously gave back 500 pieces of silk, 500 taels of gold, 2000 taels of silver, jade, copper coins, etc.

The Japanese people are more savvy, and their tribute items are also diverse. No matter what they bring, they are all highly praised.

It turns out that His Royal Highness Prince Lu thinks his price is too low!
But the price is not low anymore.
At eight cents a pound, is the price of salt still low?
You, Ming Dynasty, only sell it for four cents of silver per pound!
As foreign envoys, we didn't say three pennies a pound, which is already very generous!

If you order rice, bear paws, ginseng and the like as tribute, you can often make more than a hundred times the profit!
The myth of wealth created by these tribute missions after returning to their home countries has been circulated year after year!
Goryeo and Japan have also been pursuing the restoration of tribute to the Ming Dynasty as their greatest pursuit.

Every time I pay a high price to buy these tribute items, not to mention that these items are usually put into storage and sealed up. Even if they are really thrown into the private sector and sold, they will never be able to get back the money given by the court. .

Li Jiuming also nodded and said: "Your Highness, our Ming Dynasty has always been very generous to the vassal countries. My father and brother once paid tribute to the Ming Dynasty and they all felt it deeply!
The Ming Dynasty is indeed the central country that everyone in the world longs for. Such courage and magnanimity are really touching! The villain only felt this way because of the words and deeds of his father and elder brothers!

Zhu Tan couldn't help but curse loudly in his heart.

Ashikaga Yoshichi smiled and said: "Hai! Your Highness King Lu! I am never stingy with my friends! Your Highness, I am willing to pay twice the price of salt on the market. No! In exchange for salt!"

The two of them were excited.

"Eight cents of silver per pound of salt! Are you using this to make friends? I think you are really a bunch of stingy people. I was wrong about you!"

Since His Highness King Lu is the biological son of the Ming Emperor, it is said that after taking control of the Changlu Salt Field, he monopolized the entire salt trade of the Ming Dynasty!

Then this time, everyone will make a lot of money!

"Yin Shao! This is the sincerity you said they showed, bastard! I have wasted so much time in vain, it is really unreasonable!"

With that said, he stood up and left.

Yin Shao looked at the two of them with an angry look on his face.

Then he hurriedly apologized to Zhu Tan.

Zhu Tan waved his hands and said: "What's the use of apologizing! I'm very angry now, forget it! These two friends are no longer friends!"

As soon as these words came out, the two of them became anxious!

What can we do if all the wealth and wealth we have obtained is gone?
Ashikaga Yoshitomo hurriedly shouted: "Your Highness! The villain is wrong! Eight cents of silver per pound of salt is indeed not enough to express our sincerity in making friends! The villain is willing to pay 2 coins of silver per pound to buy salt!"

This price is already five times higher than the price of salt on the market in Daming.

Despite this, Ashikaga Yoshitomo feels that it is still profitable.

After all, in Japan's own country, silver is cheap and prices are high.

A pound of coarse salt can be sold for 4 coins.

As for such high-quality salt, it is estimated that the nobles in Japan would not feel sorry for it even if they paid a tael of silver.

After all, Japan's products are poor, and everything is good for others. Only money does not feel bad to spend, because many times, it cannot be spent at all.

This may also be an important reason why their entire nation has been robbing since ancient times.

Ashikaga Yoshitomo even felt that if this salt was sold to Japan, even if it was priced at 4 taels of silver, it might not be impossible!

In this way, even if you bid 2 coins, you will still make a huge profit.

Of course, it is not enough for Zhutan!
Zhu Tan shook his head.

Looking at Li Jiuming, he asked: "Good friend, Japan is a foreign country after all. It's easy to understand that they are not friends enough! At worst, I won't give them this salt! Koryo has always been a loyal vassal of China! How much do you think should be appropriate? Woolen cloth?"

Li Jiuming was stunned.

I cried secretly in my heart!

Compared with Japan, Korea is even worse!
Not only is it as poor in resources as Japan, it doesn't even have much money.

Silver is also expensive!
Li Jiuming estimated that for this refined salt, in Goryeo, those high-ranking officials would pay the most at 2 to 3 taels of silver per pound.

I estimate that 2 taels are easy to sell, but 3 taels are more difficult to sell.

Subsequently.

Li Jiuming couldn't help but look at Ashikaga Yoshitomo.

This fool raised the price so high in one breath.

It’s directly doubled to five times the market price in Daming!

How can anyone be so honest in doing business? Who doesn’t raise the price little by little!

His Royal Highness, Prince Lu, saw that you were raising the price so happily, and he thought that it could still go up in the future!
You still have the nerve to call yourself Ashikaga Yoshitomo!

It's simply Ashikaga retarded!

I complained in my heart.

Li Jiuming said with a smile: "Your Highness is right! How can these Japanese barbarians compare with the relationship between Korea and the Ming Dynasty? This villain is willing to pay three cents of silver per pound!"

Zhu Tan hasn't reacted yet.

After hearing what Li Jiuming said, Ashikaga Yoshitomo instantly became angry!
"Baga! Three coins per catty is such a great price. I thought you could be so generous! Your Highness! I am willing to pay four coins per catty!"

Li Jiu Ming:
I have seen pig teammates, but I have never seen such pig teammates.

Zhu Tan felt secretly happy when she saw it.

Roll it up, roll it up!
Yin Shao was frightened when he heard this.

Four coins per pound?
The price is also crazy.

This is ten times the price of salt on the market in Ming Dynasty!

Are these people crazy?
In fact, this is just Yin Shao thinking that they paid too much.

If Zhu Tan had been cruel and just wanted to make money, the price of this refined salt in the Ming Dynasty would have been three to five taels of silver per pound!
After all, such delicious salt, even if it costs dozens of taels of silver a year, is nothing to high-ranking officials.

The spending power of rich people and ordinary people is really very different.

An ordinary family's income is only twenty or thirty taels of silver a year.

The rich and powerful might spend this amount on just a few things in a day.

Zhu Tan looked at Li Jiuming, his eyes full of questions.

Look how generous Japanese people are.

What about you?

Li Jiuming gritted his teeth and said, "I have five coins per catty!"

Ashikaga Yoshitomo did not hesitate.

"I have six dollars!"

Li Jiuming's face was filled with confusion and he said helplessly: "Seven dollars!"

At this time, Ashikaga Yoshichi also broke out in cold sweat on his forehead.

Every dollar that goes up is a profit.
Li Jiuming couldn't stand it anymore when he looked at the Japanese man with two poles in front of him.

Die Japanese pirates!

If you want salt, go and send someone to grab it yourself!
What else are you buying!
Is it fun to raise prices with me here?
Cursing secretly in his heart, Li Jiuming gritted his teeth and said: "Eight coins per pound!"

Don't wait for Ashikaga Yoshitomo to speak.

Zhu Tan waved his hands and said: "Oh! We are all good friends! I think you should stop arguing! You can't let this matter hurt the harmony!"

The words fell.

Ashikaga Yoshitomo and Li Jiuming breathed a sigh of relief at the same time.

Li Jiuming even wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

To be honest, Goryeo was poor and even poorer than Japan. If the struggle continued, he would definitely not be as good as Ashikaga Yoshitomo.

Your Highness, King Lu, is so kind.
If we continue to watch the fun from the side, the fun for both of us will be great.

the other side.

Wu Waner's face was already full of shock and she was stunned on the spot!

Originally, she thought it was great to be able to sell salt at twice the price, and this opportunity was also rare!

That's why she introduced this Korean and Japanese to His Highness.

But things are now developing completely out of control!
In the Ming Dynasty, salt sold for four cents of silver per pound, but now it was priced at eight cents of silver by these two people!
20 times higher than the market price!
This is too scary and outrageous!

As the two bid, Wu Waner was shocked!
Your Highness is so awesome!
It was only now that Zhu Tan stopped the bidding of the two that Wu Waner breathed a sigh of relief.

It's not because she feels sorry for the Koreans and Japanese people.

But she was worried that the two of them would shout until the end, the price negotiation would break down, and she would not buy it!
Just go smuggling!

of course.

It's not that easy to smuggle salt either.

One is that the Ming Dynasty has implemented a sea ban. If their ships want to transport salt back to the country by sea, it will be very difficult.

Another is that ordinary people can only buy five kilograms of salt each time. It is really difficult to save hundreds of thousands of kilograms of salt.

However, if the price is too high for them to bear, the result will definitely be like this!

They simply didn’t buy it!

Now His Highness stops, in Wu Waner's opinion, it's just right!
Yin Shao was confused.

That shouldn't be the case. Why didn't His Highness let them continue bidding?
8 coins per pound, where is this?
If he did it himself, he would have to sell the salt for more than one tael of silver!

Of course, you have to give yourself a commission!
As Yin Shao thought about it, he couldn't help but miss the good old days when he blackmailed the salt merchant Cao Wenlong.
I got 2500 taels in one go!
If His Highness is more generous this time and gives him a commission of ten thousand taels.

Yin Shao can make these two big enemies cry and return home!
Ugh!
pity!

What a pity!

Your Highness is still too kind!

Why did you let them go with only eight coins per pound!
Waste, really waste!

On the other side, when everyone looked at Zhu Tan.

Zhu Tan said with a smile: "Don't argue anymore, you are all nobles of your own country, so be honorable!
What's more, if you continue to fight like this, your losses will only get bigger and bigger and endless. If I don't stop, how much will you lose by then! How about it! "

Li Jiuming and Ashikaga Yoshitomo almost shed tears when they heard this!

Your Highness, what have you been doing?
Do you think we will suffer a loss until we shout the price to 8 silver per pound?

Although at this price, the two of them can still make huge profits, seeing themselves paying 20 times more than the people of the Ming Dynasty to buy these salts feels like eating a fly!
Why is it so much more expensive for foreigners to buy things? Are foreigners not human beings?
Although they complained in their hearts, the two of them were still very grateful to Zhu Tan.

At least it didn't allow them to continue to expand their losses.

Li Jiuming bowed and said: "Your Highness is so kind! This villain is really touched!"

Ashikaga Yoshitomo also bowed and said: "Your Highness has shown me the magnificence of Ming Dynasty!"

Hearing this, Zhu Tan smiled slightly and said: "You're welcome, we are all good friends! So, I will tell you the number, four taels of silver per pound! I can deliver the goods at any time! Delivery to your door is guaranteed!"

The words fell.

The place fell silent for an instant!

Everyone stared at Zhu Tan with wide eyes!

no way!
This price is really outrageous!

Four taels of silver!

A pound!
In other words, if Li Jiuming and Ashikaga Yoshitomo wanted to bring the salt of the Ming Dynasty back to the country, they would have to spend a hundred times as much as the people of the Ming Dynasty!

Although the two of them had long been mentally prepared to be killed by His Highness King Lu, they did not expect that this sword would be directed towards killing the person!

What is the concept of four taels of silver?
Take Japanese knives, a specialty of Japan, as an example.

The Japanese knife is exquisite in shape and extremely sharp. It is a very popular Japanese specialty in the Ming Dynasty.

A fine Japanese sword costs only 5 taels of silver to make!
To make a Japanese sword, high-quality steel needs to be refined through a special "Ta Tao method". This process may require three days, three nights or even seven days of non-stop smelting.

Then, the smelted steel is classified according to different carbon contents, forged repeatedly, and finely polished and decorated to make a beautiful Japanese sword.

The whole process takes Japanese craftsmen more than 100 days to complete.

Such a painstaking work would have sold for 2 to 3 taels of silver a handle in the Ming Dynasty.

And now, what did His Highness King Lu say?
A pound of salt costs four taels of silver!
this.
Isn't this a joke?
Although, Ashikaga Yoshitomo did plan this way.

But if His Highness King Lu sells salt at this price, what profit can Ashikaga Yoshitomo make?

the other side.

Li Jiuming also looked extremely embarrassed!
Goryeo was already poor, but now that His Highness King Lu has offered such a high price, who can afford it?
Even if they can afford it, only a handful of people can eat it.

Originally, Li Jiuming was still thinking about it.

If you take such delicious salt back home, it will definitely be very popular among the Chinese people!
Especially the nobility!
After all, Korean people’s favorite kimchi requires a lot of salt!
And that kind of rough salt not only has a bitter or even fishy smell, but is also dirty and cannot be compared with the salt of the Ming Dynasty.

Li Jiuming once ordered his servants to make a jar of kimchi using the salt from the Changlu Salt Farm. The delicious taste made him shed tears of excitement when he tasted it!

When he decided to bring the salt from the Ming Dynasty back to the country, he had thought that all the nobles could taste this delicious salt and make a lot of money at the same time!
And now, Li Jiuming even doubts.

Even the King of Goryeo would be willing to eat kimchi made with such luxurious salt!

For God's sake, four taels of silver per pound!
the other side.

Wu Waner looked at Zhu Tan, her lips slightly parted, and almost speechless.

Four taels of silver per pound!
This. This price is really outrageous!

If you dare to offer such a price in business, you will definitely be called a profiteer.

but.

Now since it is the price offered by His Highness.

Wu Waner took a deep breath.

As expected of Your Highness!
The price is reasonable!

Yin Shao frowned and thought for a while, then whispered to Zhu Tan: "Your Highness, give me a share, just 1000 taels of silver! I am sure that I can raise the price of salt by another five taels of silver!"

Zhu Tan was stunned when he heard Yin Shao's words.

What a bastard!
Are you enlightened?
He actually took the initiative to ask for a commission!
but.

It's not necessary. If you can sell it for four taels of silver per catty, you are already making a lot of money.

It is not good to fish when the lake is exhausted.

the other side.

Li Jiuming was silent for a long time, and finally forced a smile and said: "Your Highness, if this is the case, I think it is too expensive! Otherwise, let's forget it!"

Ashikaga Yoshitomo also struggled for a long time.

Originally, I wanted to sell this salt in China for four taels of silver per pound, but now that His Highness King Lu has offered this price, isn't it a waste of money for me?
Forget it, give up on your own.
While thinking about it, Ashikaga Yoshitomo said: "Your Highness! This villain also thinks that this price is really unaffordable."

Zhu Tan smiled and said: "You two must think that this king has gone too far!
Yes!
Nowadays, people in the Ming Dynasty only need 4 cents of silver per pound to buy salt. Why do they cost taels of silver to sell it to you?
It's a hundred times different. Isn't this bullying? "

Li Jiuming and Ashikaga Yoshitomo remained silent.

It was regarded as acquiescing to Zhu Tan's statement.

Zhu Tan smiled and said: "You only see how cheap it is for the people of the Ming Dynasty to buy this salt, but you don't know how much the king paid!"

Yin Shao stood behind Zhu Tan and curled his lips.

Fudge, keep flicking!

Wu Waner was also full of curiosity.

The cost of this salt is not high.
She did the cost accounting herself.
As more and more production lines are built in various places in the salt field, and they become more and more perfect, the cost of refining the salt has been diluted to an almost infinitesimal level, and the main expenditure is on labor.

Therefore, the income of Changlu Salt Farm this year is even expected to exceed tens of millions of taels of silver!

Why is there suddenly a price to pay now?

When Li Jiuming and Ashikaga Yoshitomo heard Zhu Tan's words, they both looked at him with curiosity.

Zhu Tan sighed and said: "This is not the first time for you to come to Ming Dynasty.

You should know what the price of salt was in the Ming Dynasty in the past!

At that time, a pound of ordinary coarse salt cost one cent and four cents of silver per pound!
The price of refined salt can even rise to one tael or even two taels of silver per pound!
You must have bought that kind of refined salt, right?

How does it compare with the salt from Changlu Salt Field today? "

When the two heard Zhu Tan's words, they remembered it.

Yes!

Not to mention, at the beginning of the 18th century in Hongwu, the price of salt was still one cent and four cents of silver per pound!

And it’s just large grains of kosher salt!

As for the kind of refined salt sold among nobles, it is indeed expensive!
One to two taels of silver is normal!

Of course, even such expensive salt cannot compare in quality with the salt from Changlu Saltworks today!

So this is the main reason why the two highly admire the salt from Changlu Salt Farm and want to bring it back to the country for sale.
This is bound to make a lot of money.

When they thought of this, they both looked at Zhu Tan and nodded, indicating that they recognized Zhu Tan's statement.

Zhu Tan continued: "It wasn't until recently that I accidentally obtained the method for refining refined salt, and then refined salt was produced!

However, the finer the salt, the higher the production cost!

Whether it is filtering, boiling salt or grinding powder, the steps required are very complicated, and the labor cost is even more terrifying!
There were not so many soldiers stationed in the Changlu Salt Field before, and the guards were not very tight. But if you have been there now, you can see that the Changlu Salt Field is now tightly guarded and heavily guarded!

I'm not afraid of your jokes, I'm just afraid of those who take care of you, and I can't stand the pain of this master, so I turn to flee!

Therefore, the cost of this salt was originally about one cent of silver per pound, but now the cost is as high as one cent of silver per pound! "

Hear this.

Li Jiuming and Ashikaga Yoshitomo were both shocked!
They have long been interested in this salt, and have all been to Changlu Salt Farm. They even considered stealing the salt recipe of Changlu Salt Factory, but they gave up because of the tight security.

Originally, they thought that the Changlu Salt Farm was so protected from the outside because the salt-making formula was indeed very precious.

Now it seems that it turns out that the emotions are not guarding against the outside, but guarding against the Zaohu inside from escaping.
The two people who were brainwashed by Zhu Tan nodded one after another.

Wu Waner and Yin Shao looked at Zhu Tan with wide eyes.

It turns out that lies can be made up like this!
It even fits perfectly, every one of them is correct!
Li Jiuming couldn't help but ask: "But Your Highness, I have a question!
Since the refining cost of salt from Changchang Saltworks is as high as one penny per catty, why does it cost four cents per catty to be sold out? Isn’t that losing money every day? "

In fact.

This is what Wu Waner and Yin Shao are curious about!
If the cost is higher than the selling price, wouldn't it be a joke?

Could it be that His Highness Prince Lu was a little careless in deceiving people and forgot about this flaw?

Zhu Tan sighed deeply and said: "You have forgotten that our Ming Dynasty practiced the Kaizhong method!
Merchants transported grain and grass to the front lines in exchange for salt. And this salt guide can be used to sell to the outside world in the salt field!
Salt introduction also has a cost!

Therefore, we must sell salt to merchants at low prices so that they can make a profit!
Although the salt farm lost money, the court made a profit!

The salt farm belongs to the imperial court, so although it is a compensation, it cannot be regarded as a compensation!

Originally, the price of salt could still be maintained at one cent and four cents of silver per pound.

but"

talking.

Zhu Tan looked at the two of them mysteriously and said, "I want to tell you a secret, that is, I, the Emperor Ming, are not satisfied with the current population!

Father thinks the quantity is too small!
But now, the price of salt makes people unable to afford salt, and they have fewer children!

That’s why the Ministry of Revenue was asked to lower the price of salt!

Even if the court cannot make money, the people must have more children and make the Ming Dynasty more prosperous! "

At this point, not only Li Jiuming and Ashikaga Yoshitomo believed.

Even Wu Waner and Yin Shao, who originally knew the inside story, almost believed it!
This lie is made up by someone who has a nose and eyes!

Li Jiuming sighed.

"As expected of a great kingdom! He values ​​the people so much, and His Majesty is so far-sighted! How can the Ming Dynasty not be strong?"

Ashikaga Yoshitomo also said thoughtfully: "So that's the truth.

The lighter the burden on the people, the more likely they are to have children!

When the population increases, the country will become stronger!

Daming, there are so many places worth learning from."

Zhu Tan looked at Ashikaga Yoshitomo and smiled: "This is why I sell high-priced salt to you!"

When the two heard this, they were stunned again.

How does this have anything to do with selling high-priced salt?

Zhu Tan said: "If I sell the salt to you for four cents of silver per catty, you will definitely have to add freight to transport it back, right? In addition to the freight, you will definitely have to make a little difference, right?

By then, the price of a pound of salt may be much more expensive than coarse salt in the country!

But if people taste this refined salt once, they may not be willing to eat coarse salt again.

When the time comes, people will have to spend their money on having children to buy salt. Will the population of the entire country decline?
it's good now.

I charge a price they can't afford!
In this way, they won't spend too much money on this refined salt!

Instead, you can eat coarse salt with peace of mind, have children honestly, and contribute to the prosperity of your country! Wouldn't that be nice? "

When Li Jiuming and Ashikaga Yoshitomo heard this, they immediately felt that it made sense!
Yup!

Why do those untouchables eat such good refined salt?

If all the money spent on raising children is used to enjoy life, what will happen to our country?
Decades later, when the population drops sharply, who will our nobles exploit?

Who should be served?

These untouchables cannot eat refined salt!
They just need to keep producing more untouchables for us in the future!
Zhu Tan then laughed and said: "Don't think that this refined salt is expensive when it sells for four taels of silver per pound! Is it expensive for the nobles of your country? Doesn't it count?
Even if a person uses 10 kilograms of salt in a year, if you transport it back to the country, even if you add two taels of silver to the price, it will only be six taels of silver per kilogram!

What does it mean for a nobleman to spend 60 taels of silver a year on salt?
As for who it can be sold to at that time, there are too many people!

Ashikaga Yoshitomo, your current population in Japan is more than 10 million, and there are at least hundreds of thousands of nobles, right? Including their families, there are millions of people!
These people eat tens of millions of pounds of salt every year!

They can all afford refined salt!
As for Li Jiuming, you also have more than four million people in Korea!
There are hundreds of thousands of nobles, right? It’s not a problem to consume tens of millions of pounds of salt in a year!

Calculated this way, you are still profitable!

Moreover, the profits are astonishingly huge!

After all, there is no place in the world where such good salt can be made! "

Speaking of which.

The two of them also made crazy calculations!
This is really the truth!
For those truly wealthy nobles, they can still afford not to mention six taels of silver per catty, even ten taels of silver per catty!
And with such a large sales volume, as long as they can earn one tael of silver a year, wouldn't they be able to earn hundreds or tens of millions of taels of silver a year?
When the two of them thought of this, their eyes flashed with gold, as if they saw endless ways to make money!
Zhu Tan said with a smile: "You two, after what I have said, do you still think that I am not a friend enough?"

The two shook their heads, and then said excitedly: "Enough! It's really enough! It's only four taels of silver per pound, what a bargain!"

Seeing the sincere expressions of the two of them, Zhu Tan couldn't help but be stunned, and couldn't help but ask: "If you think it's cheap, why don't I raise the price a little bit more?"

The two of them felt a chill in their hearts, and they both shook their heads and said, "Goodbye! Your Highness, the price is already astonishing."

In fact, there is another important reason why the two agreed so happily, that is, Zhu Tan said that it can be delivered to the door, which means that they do not need to find a way to transport salt by themselves. Among them, A lot less risk!
And as long as they transport the salt to their home country and sell it successfully, they can easily make money!

During the whole process, they don't have to do anything except pay for salt. They can make money when they get to their home country, so why not? It doesn’t matter if the price is a little higher!
soon.

The three parties finalized the purchase quantity and price.

Ashikaga Yoshitomo bought 100 million kilograms of salt.

Li Jiuming bought 40 catties.

Added together.

Zhu Tan earned 560 million taels overnight!

Of course, it will take some time for such a large amount of silver to be brought in.

Anyway, Zhu Tan is not in a hurry. Whenever the money arrives, he will send a ship to deliver salt!

In short, Qingzhou is within his control and has Rizhao Port, so it is not difficult to go to sea.

At this time, Wu Waner and Yin Shaoze were completely convinced!
I have seen black-hearted people, but I have never seen anyone so black-hearted!
In such a short period of time, the price of salt can increase by a hundred times!
Moreover, people who buy salt are asked to be grateful to His Highness King Lu.
The knowledge in this is enough for two people to learn for a lifetime.
Just as the guests and hosts were enjoying themselves, Zhu Tan ordered his subordinates to serve wine to celebrate his new acquaintance with two good friends.

suddenly.

An old man rushed in carelessly.

The old man's face was pale and exhausted.

The warriors looked at the old man, but did not dare to stop him.

Because they all know it.

In Prince Lu's Mansion, except for a few people, such as His Royal Highness Prince Lu, Princess Lu, Marquis Wu Ding, etc., who cannot be stopped from entering, there is another person who cannot be neglected in the slightest!

That is Tao Chengdao Tao Wanhu!
This is the most valued guest by His Royal Highness King Lu.

at this time.

Tao Wanhu looked around the main room and couldn't help but frown slightly.

"This is all such a mess, it's like going to court!"

Zhu Tan was stunned and couldn't help laughing.

"It turns out that Mr. Tao is here! I don't want to say this next time!"

In fact.

Tao Wanhu used to be quite cautious and polite.

After all, he also served as a mountain chief and was an out-and-out scholar.

But ever since he started studying gunpowder and firearms, his whole temperament has become weird.

He became straightforward and unscrupulous in his speech, and even treated Zhu Tan very casually.

Tao Wanhu snorted and said nonchalantly: "Okay! I'll pay attention next time! Your Highness! I'm here to ask for money! There's no money in the firearms workshop! We can't continue to study gunpowder and firearms!"

Zhu Tan sighed.

That means I can tolerate you!

If you meet another prince and see how rude you are, I'm afraid you will have to pay attention in the next life.

suddenly.

Zhu Tan frowned and said, "Isn't it just that you are short of money? Why did you come to see me? Just tell Yin Shao no!"

Tao Wanhu snorted and said: "Yin Changshi is too stingy! I spend money very unsatisfactoryly! It's better to come to His Highness to ask for it!"

Zhu Tan was stunned, looked at Yin Shao, and asked: "Yin Shao, what's going on? Didn't I say that? You can give Mr. Tao whatever money he wants!"
What happened? He even came to me personally to ask for money! Do you know how precious his time is! "

Hearing Zhu Tan's words, Yin Shao felt a little aggrieved!

He said helplessly: "Your Highness, Mr. Tao, wants money, and I always order people to allocate it on time. However, now that the amount is getting bigger and bigger, I don't dare to allocate too much at once!"

Mr. Tao said angrily: "You scholar, you are just ignorant! You just see me spending money, but you don't see how powerful the things I develop are. That is the truly valuable thing. Do you know what I am researching now?" Is this gunpowder as powerful as the new guns and artillery? Just a moment, then."

Zhu Tan hurriedly stopped Tao Chengdao!
There are so many outsiders here!
Why does the old man have no control over his words, so he opens his mouth to reveal such a confidential matter?
"Mr. Tao, don't rush to say this! Don't you just want money? How much do you need? I will ask Yin Shao to allocate it to you!"

Anyway, I just made a windfall, don’t spend it in vain!
Zhu Tan couldn't help but think.

Tao Wanhu said: "Let's take 500,000 yuan first! If it's not enough, we can make up for it later!"

Hear this.

Zhu Tan was also a little surprised!
Five hundred thousand dollars!

Here, Tao Wanhu and Zhu Tan want Ming Dynasty treasure notes.

After all, according to court regulations, everyone cannot spend money on weekdays.

Either use Ming Dynasty treasure banknotes for transactions, or use copper coins, which is the so-called Hongwu Tongbao.

No matter which transaction is used, gold and silver must be exchanged with the court.

Nowadays, the value of Ming Dynasty treasure banknotes is getting more and more depreciated. Although the imperial court still stipulates that a consistent treasure banknote corresponds to one thousand copper coins and one tael of silver, which can probably buy two shi of food!

But among the people, the price of treasure notes has long been reduced to only a quarter, or even lower!
Even so, the 500,000 yuan that Tao Wanhu wanted was staggering!

That's equivalent to more than one hundred thousand taels of silver!

Yin Shao said helplessly: "Your Highness, I give Mr. Tao 50,000 guan every time, but he asks me for it every other month! It's really too much, so I don't dare to make the decision without permission. There are so many Mr. Tao!"

In fact.

Yin Shaodu suspected that Tao Wanhu was a liar. He planned to take so much money at once, so he simply ran away!

Tao Wanhu snorted coldly and said: "This is a lot of money? Do you know the prices of saltpeter and sulfur? Moreover, His Highness asked you to study water explosives! Do you know that the green vitriol used to make water explosives How much is a tael of oil? I really have never seen the world!"

talking.

Tao Wanhu said sadly: "More! How much does a human life cost? Five of my disciples have been killed in the bombing! Who should take care of their parents and relatives? Is it okay if there is less money?"

Hear this.

Zhu Tan stopped talking immediately.

He just looked at Yin Shao and said: "Yin Shao, I have the final say and give Mr. Tao one million guan!"

talking.

Zhu Tan said to Tao Wanhu: "Mr. Tao, please give more compensation to the five gentlemen who died because of the experiment!
Just double what you plan to give!

This is a little bit of my thoughts! "

Tao Wanhu was slightly moved when he heard this!

Although his temperament is getting weirder now, he still knows the truth.

What is the concept of one million coins?
Two hundred and fifty thousand taels of silver!
If you put it in your hometown, you can buy 250,000 acres of fertile land!
There are currently twenty-three vassal kings in the Ming Dynasty. This much money is more than the salary they received in a year combined!
Tao Wanhu was moved and couldn't help but ask Zhu Tan: "Your Highness, I know that you are willing to give so much money out of good intentions."
But, does the palace have so much money?

Don’t let yourself be wronged or miss something important!
I gave each of the five disciples a pension of 10,000 guan, which is already a lot!

In fact, the real money is spent on saltpeter, sulfur and green vitriol oil.”

Zhu Tan waved his hand and said: "The palace has plenty of money! I just sold a lot of salt! It will definitely be enough for you to spend!"

joke!

A full 5.6 million taels of silver!
When Tao Wanhu heard this, he was stunned and couldn't help but said: "Selling salt? That stuff is so cheap, it costs less than ten cents per kilogram! How much money can you make from selling salt? Your Highness, you are not trying to trick me."

Tao Wanhu hasn't finished speaking yet.

Zhu Tan's expression changed and he shouted: "Why don't we invite Mr. Tao down yet!"

To know.

Now in the main room, there are two good friends I just made, Li Jiuming and Ashikaga Yoshitomo!
The costs Zhu Tan mentioned just now are now fully exposed!
For a while.

The scene was extremely embarrassing!

Li Jiuming and Ashikaga Yoshitomo looked at Zhu Tan.

Zhu Tan gave a dry laugh and said, "That old Mr. Tao is a gunpowder tinker and doesn't understand this! Don't believe him!"

The two nodded numbly.

So what if you believe it or not!

In short, since King Lu is determined, he wants to sell the salt at this price
If you want to buy it, you can only listen to him!

Yanzhou.

Prince Lu's Mansion.

main room.

at this time.

In front of Zhu Tan, officials from Yanzhou and Qingzhou were standing!
Yanzhou has four prefectures and 23 counties: Jining, Dongping, Cao and Yi, and Qingzhou has one prefecture and eleven counties.

All the county magistrates, prefects, prefects, and tongzhi were standing here.

Zhu Tan said calmly: "Now, I have the final say in Qingzhou and Yanzhou! This time, I will give you a task first!
That is to conduct a thorough inventory of the land and population of the two states!
There must be no concealment or omission!
Prepare for the next implementation of allotments! "

(End of this chapter)