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

Chapter 155 I just want to trick you in front of everyone!

Kong Xixue couldn't help but said: "Isn't this a joke? Do you know what 50 taels of silver is?
Nowadays, one tael of silver can buy two stones of grain, and 50 taels of silver is equivalent to 100 million stones of grain! The total annual rent collected by our Kong family is only dan!
After deducting expenses, it would be nice to be able to leave thirty thousand shi every year!
Even including miscellaneous income, our family can save two to thirty thousand taels of silver a year, which is considered very good!
Your words will take away twenty years of savings of the entire Kong family. It is simply unreasonable!
Never mention this again!

Our Kong family is a small family and we don’t have that much money for you, Master Kong, to squander! "

Kong Yanqing became anxious when he heard this.

Without dad's support, wouldn't this soap business be in ruins?

Kong Yanqing couldn't help but said: "Dad, we have to take a long-term view. Although the investment is large, once the soap is made, the benefits will be more than that!

This soap locust is expensive and hard to use, but soap is cheap but easy to use! If everyone in the Ming Dynasty used soap in the future, this business alone would make our Kong family the richest man in the Ming Dynasty! "

Kong Xixue couldn't help but sigh when he heard Kong Yanqing's words.

"Yan Qing, with our Kong family's family background, these properties, and these savings, even if you spend your whole life eating, drinking, having fun, marrying wives, taking concubines, and squandering at will, you won't be able to use it up!
However, if you really use your family's property to do something, you might be able to destroy your home in one go!
We are already the top family in the Ming Dynasty, why bother? "

Kong Xixue said helplessly: "Why don't you just learn to be bad?"
Just be like those kids from aristocratic families, be a playboy and give birth to a bunch of grandsons for your father, that will be considered as your filial piety! "

When Kong Yanqing heard this, he became extremely angry.

He couldn't help but said: "Dad, how can you say that to my child? After all, my child is a person with great ambitions!
Our Kong family in Yanzhou is not just raising a large family like the Kong family!

The Yan family, the Meng family, and the Zeng family all rely on us!
In addition to ancestor worship, a considerable part of the annual expenses is sent to them!
Over the years, our Kong family has harvested so much farmland that we donated, and we have been criticized by many people and officials. Even His Royal Highness King Lu came to our Kong family a few days ago, wasn't it also about the land?
To put it bluntly, these fields are used to make money. If we feed our family, the output of several hundred acres of land is enough!
Dad, think about it.

If this soap workshop is established and the soap is produced and sold to people all over Ming Dynasty, our family will no longer be short of money, let alone carry such a reputation!
We can live up to our noble family, and who can say anything then? "

When Kong Xixue heard this, he suddenly fell silent.

Honestly.

It is not easy to run such a large Kong family.

Because of Mencius, Yan Hui, and Zeng Gong, as descendants of Confucius, they had to support the descendants of these three families, whether out of ancestral friendship or for their own reputation.

And this also put a lot of financial pressure on the Kong family.

Nowadays, the Kong family's dozens or millions of acres of farmland, after collecting the rent every year and deducting expenses, what they can accumulate is not much.

On the contrary, it also damaged the reputation of the Kong family.

Especially in Qufu.

Many people even cursed secretly!
Take the simplest example of collecting rent.

Although the tenant rent collected by the Confucius Mansion was a little less than the court's land rent, it was only a little bit.

In order to receive the maximum amount of tenant rent, the Confucius Mansion also divided these fields into four categories: upper, middle, middle lower, and lower, which were even more detailed than those divided by the imperial court!

Even if the burden of farming on tenant farmers was smaller than that of the imperial court, it was not much smaller.

On the contrary, in times of famine, the court knew how to reduce or reduce some tax burdens and even provide relief.

But the Kong family has never done this!

This also led to many tenant farmers going bankrupt and fleeing.

This also led to many people criticizing the Confucius Mansion.

Kong Xixue felt bitter.

If you don't know how expensive firewood and rice are, how could these people know how much financial resources are needed to maintain the expenses and lives of members of such a large family!

But now, his son Kong Yanqing has indeed pointed out a brand new path for Kong Xixue.

That’s business!
But it’s not exactly business.

Because the Kong family is only responsible for production, but they may not necessarily sell it themselves.

In this case, it will not affect their reputation for farming and studying.

Just as they produce so much grain every year, don’t they all sell it to rice and noodle shops?

You can't just keep it all by yourself, right?
The more Kong Xixue thought about it, the more it made sense.

A few days ago, King Lu Zhu Tan came so aggressively. If he hadn't moved out Emperor Hongwu himself, King Lu would have ordered people to start clearing the Kong family's land!

Then everything will be over.

A family of dignified saints with a clean reputation actually accepted the investment of hundreds of thousands of acres of land in order to help people evade taxes!
By then, not only will he become the laughingstock of the scholars, but His Majesty will also be quite dissatisfied!
However, although King Lu was wary of moving out of His Majesty's territory last time, he gave up on occupying the land on the spot.

But who knows when he will make a comeback?
Even though Kong Xixue believed in his heart that the Kong family was the largest family in the world.

But the situation is stronger than the people.

After all, it is the Zhu family that rules the world now.

King Lu is also a vassal king, the biggest local snake in Shandong.

The Kong family's strength is indeed its reputation, but can reputation be used as food at a critical moment?
If Zhu Tan is determined to embarrass himself, Kong Xixue has no confidence that he can resist it.

As for the soap Kong Yanqing was talking about.
Kong Xixue is also quite optimistic in his heart!
but
Why does it cost 200 million to build a soap workshop?

This is almost the entire savings of the Kong family!
It consumes too much!
Kong Xixue struggled for a moment and couldn't help but said: "Is that old man lying to you? How can a workshop cost so much? If it costs so much, can the cost of producing soap be low?
And if the workshop was so expensive, how did he make the soap? "

Kong Yanqing shook his head and said, "That Taoist priest shouldn't be lying to children!
I saw the soap he made with my own eyes. The method of making this soap is quite simple, and the cost of the raw materials is not high. It seems to me that it is just some plant ash and lard.

He just burned the ashes of random plants and water, and it was done! "

Kong Xixue frowned and said: "The steps are so simple, why does it cost so much money to build a workshop?"

Kong Yanqing sighed and said, "According to the Taoist priest, it's because stoves that burn plant ashes are more expensive! He also had a small stove in his hand, and when the child saw it, it was made of pure gold!

The Taoist priest said that if you want to make more soap, you need to use a lot of gold to build a stove specially designed to burn plant ashes!

The stove he had was too small and would be too inefficient for a soap workshop.

In fact, the other steps don't require much money, but this stove is really expensive! "

Kong Xixue frowned for a long time.

He didn't know much about these Taoist priests, and he wasn't sure whether what Kong Yanqing said was true or false.

"Tomorrow, you can bring the Taoist priest to meet your father! You will have to take care of your father!"

The next day.

Kong Xixue looked at the old Taoist with a calm and graceful face in front of him, and felt a little relieved.

Asked around.

The old Taoist's name is Lai Mingzhen.

The Dharma name is Yichenzi.

The old Taoist was originally cultivating in Qingcheng Mountain.

I came to Shandong just to accumulate merit.

As soon as he saw Kong Yanqing, he knew that this person was extremely valuable, but if he could help him and add the icing on the cake, he would get a lot of merit!
Kong Xixue frowned and said, "Since Taoist Master is here to accumulate merit, why do you still need money? Why don't you think of a way and give Yanqing a workshop?"

The words fell.

The old Taoist was also stunned for a moment.

His Royal Highness King Lu's plan is shameless enough.

did not expect.

The Kong Xixue in front of me is even more shameless!
You actually want the old Taoist priest to do his best in vain!

From soap to stories about old Taoist priests, everything is provided by Lu Wang Zhu Tan!
The purpose is to cheat the Kong family!
Yichenzi smiled bitterly and said: "Teaching people how to fish is worse than teaching them how to fish! What's more, a poor man is alone, with some magic power but not so much money! Haha."

Kong Xixue nodded and frowned: "Does this stove have to be made of gold? Doesn't silver, bronze, or black iron work?"

Yichenzi shook his head and said: "Absolutely not! Only by borrowing the essence of gold can this plant ash turn decay into magic and make soap!"

Kong Xixue sighed.

After struggling for a long time, he said, "Can't you make a smaller stove?"

When Yichenzi heard this, he was also stunned.

His Royal Highness, Prince Lu, never taught me how to respond to this.
How should I explain this to him?
This thinking room.

suddenly.

Kong Yanqing said: "Dad! No! This furnace must be built big!"

After all, this method of making soap may not be kept secret for long!

If the stove we build is smaller, less soap will be produced! don't want
By then we will earn even less money!

During this period, other people learned how to make soap and built soap workshops.

We can't make so much money!
It is best to build a large workshop from the beginning with higher output.

In this way, even if someone later learns this method and makes soap, the output may not be as large as ours!
Moreover, we have already sold so many pieces before, so we will probably get our money back long ago!

Dad, a big stove is worth it! "

When Yichenzi heard Kong Yanqing's explanation, he was so excited that he almost kowtowed to him on the spot!
Good guy.
I don't even know what to say, but you made up for me perfectly!

Yichenzi smiled slightly and said: "That's exactly the truth! But if Yan Shenggong doesn't care how much money he makes, it doesn't matter!"

Kong Xixue was speechless when he heard this.

Is not this nonsensical? I don’t care how much money I make, why should I start a soap workshop?
If we collect rent honestly, we can still have tens of thousands of taels left over every year.

I hesitated for a long time.

Kong Xixue finally said: "In that case, let's build this soap workshop! But we have to arrange for people to watch the entire construction process! Please forgive me, Taoist priest." Yichenzi smiled and said: "That's natural. It should be."

In the end, Kong Xixue was worried and asked Yichenzi to use his small stove to refine some alkali on the spot and use the alkali to make some soap.

After seeing this scene, Kong Xixue made up his mind to exchange for gold!
Build a soap workshop!
Yanzhou.

Prince Lu's Mansion.

Zhu Tan heard a report from a guard.

He smiled and said: "Okay! The old Taoist priest did a good job! When he comes back, I will promote him to an official position!"

In front of Zhu Tan, Yin Shao, Xu Zengshou and Lan Bin stood.

The three of them looked at Zhu Tan with curiosity.

Xu Zengshou frowned and said: "Your Highness, if the Kong family is watching the refining process of this furnace, how can we steal the gold? If we can't steal the gold, then the Kong family will have no loss."

Yin Shao also sighed and said: "Let me tell you, this matter is not that easy! Now that I have really mastered the golden furnace, I'm afraid it is of no use. This furnace can't be stolen in public, right? .On the contrary, it also comes with a soap formula! Alas!”

Lan Bin was smiling but didn't speak.

Xu Zengshou asked curiously: "Lan Bin, don't you have anything to say?"

Lan Bin smiled and said: "I know how I came to be the second best! Your Highness can let me be the second best, so why can't you trick the Kong family? I don't believe it! Anyway, I believe in Your Highness unconditionally!"

Zhu Tan gave a thumbs up and said with a smile: "You still have vision! Unlike those two idiots!"

After saying that, Zhu Tan stood with his hands behind his hands and said confidently: "I still have a way to squander this gold in front of everyone!"

Yanzhou Prefecture.

Qufu.

Confucius Mansion.

at this time.

A huge open space.

Kong Xixue, Kong Yanqing, the old Taoist Yichenzi, and a large number of craftsmen gathered together.

in front of them.

It was filled with gold ingots one after another.

All the gold exchanged for five hundred thousand taels of silver is here.

A full 12 taels!

at this time.

In the alchemy furnace in front of the old Taoist priest Yichenzi, the golden water was hot and sparkling, reflecting the swaying light of the fire.

The air was filled with the hot smell of metal smelting.

Kong Xixue frowned and said, "Isn't it a furnace for refining pure gold?"

Yichenzi smiled slightly and said: "Of course it's not pure gold! If it's just a pure gold furnace, how can it produce alkali!"

Kong Xixue nodded and said, "Everything depends on the Taoist Master!"

soon.

Pieces of gold ingots were thrown into the boiling molten metal.

There was a burst of shouts all around!

Although there are people who marvel at this wonderful scene, I guess more people still feel sorry for the fact that so much gold was thrown into the alchemy furnace so easily.
As a large amount of gold was smelted into the gold water.

Kong Xixue was also a little excited.

That is all the savings of the Kong family since the late Yuan Dynasty.
When he was thrown into the furnace today, his whole body seemed to have been hollowed out and drained dry.

My feet are a little weak.

As the refining process proceeds further.

soon.

Yichenzi ordered someone to pour some medicine into the alchemy furnace.

There are white crystalline powders and colorful ores.
As these things enter the furnace, they are smelted for a long time.

Yichenzi gave an order.

The gold water in the alchemy furnace was poured into the mold.

Just wait until it cools down and you'll get the golden furnace.

At this time, the refining of the gold furnace was completed.

Kong Xixue let out a sigh of relief.

In any case, the gold was turned into a furnace under his own eyes.

Even if the workshop doesn't make money in the end, refining the gold won't be considered a loss.

With the gold furnace refining completed.

The Kong Family Soap Workshop was officially opened.

All processes are personally directed by Yichenzi.

Soon, the first batch of alkali and the first batch of soap will be produced.

Kong Xixue was very happy when he saw that the workshop was reliable.

This night.

Kong Xixue was drinking and celebrating with his family.

suddenly.

Kong Cheng, the housekeeper of the Kong Mansion, ran in in panic.

"Old Master! What's wrong! The Taoist priest Na Yichenzi and those craftsmen are gone!"

Kong Xixue stood up suddenly and asked: "What's going on?"

Kong Cheng said in panic: "I don't know, I just heard what the servants said!
The Taoist leader said he would take the craftsmen to a restaurant for dinner. Unexpectedly, they would not come back after leaving! "

Kong Xixue was immediately shocked, and then hurriedly asked: "Is the stove okay?"

Kong Cheng said: "That's okay! It's still there!"

Kong Xixue nodded.

As long as the stove is still there!

Just leave those people.
As long as the furnace is there, the gold is there, and you can't lose it no matter what!
At the soap workshop, Kong Xixue rushed over with the goldsmiths from the Kong family.

Kong Xixue's face was gloomy, and beside him stood a dejected Kong Yanqing.

Kong Xixue said coldly: "I told you a long time ago! Don't bother, don't bother! You won't listen! What's wrong now? I was still deceived after all!

If I hadn't personally watched him smelting the gold, maybe all the gold would have been lost to you!
When the twenty years of savings of the Kong family are destroyed in one day, you will be unable to recover even if you die to apologize! "

While cursing, Kong Xixue looked at Kong Yanqing.

For some reason, Kong Yanqing's face was completely distracted at this moment, and he was clearly out of shape.

He didn't even reply to his own words.

Kong Xixue knew that this was probably the first time his son had encountered such a big setback, and since he had been deceived again, his mind would inevitably be confused.

He couldn't help but sigh.

If I knew today, why bother?

Kong Xixue was soft-hearted and comforted: "Okay! As a father, I also know that you have good intentions, but you just mistrusted the traitor!
In this life, it is inevitable to be cheated!

As long as you learn from it and gain wisdom, don't keep being stupid!
I don’t blame you as a father this time!

At worst, the soap workshop is ruined. Losing so many thousand taels of silver is nothing! "

When Kong Yanqing heard what Kong Xixue said, he nodded and said in a daze: "Yes! Dad! I will never believe the words of an adulterer again!"

Kong Xixue smiled with satisfaction.

"That's good!"

With that said, Kong Xixue said to all the gold households: "I watched the Taoist priest refine this furnace with my own eyes! It only cost 120,000 taels of gold! Please take the trouble to refine this gold again!"

Everyone nodded and accepted the order.

The Confucius Mansion is like a local emperor in Qufu, and the gold households are like their domestic slaves.

As everyone gathered around, they suddenly frowned.

Suddenly, a gold household couldn't help but said: "Mr. Yan Shenggong! This gold stove doesn't look right to a villain. It doesn't seem to be gold!"

Kong Xixue gritted his teeth and said: "It is indeed not pure gold! It was the damn old man who mixed some messy things together to make it look like this! All you have to do is dissolve the gold out again!"

That Jinhu frowned and said: "No, no! I've seen alloys, too! But I feel like there's no gold in them! Even if there is, there's not much!"

Kong Xixue's heart skipped a beat when he heard this, and couldn't help but lost his voice: "How is that possible? This, this is obviously gold! Can you do it? If you can't, don't talk nonsense!"

(End of this chapter)