Chapter 81 The era of mass production has begun! (Please subscribe)
"Do you agree?" Zhu Yuanzhang leaned on the soft cushion, unable to hear the joy or anger in his voice.
Zhu Biao said: "My son did not respond, he just said that he would consider it, but in my opinion, it is indeed worth a try."
"In the future, the refugees in Shouzhou and Chuzhou can It must be properly arranged."
"Secondly, we can dig out the secrets of Xia Zhibai bit by bit."
"Thirdly, the imperial court can take the opportunity to see the actual effect. If it can really be as Xia Zhibai said, the government, the people, and the kitchen households can all get better results, it will be a great achievement."
Zhu Yuanzhang He snorted coldly, sat up slowly, and said in a cold voice: "You think too highly of Xia Zhibai. He is a scholar. He has read some books, seen some things, and has a lot of passion. How can he really achieve something?"< br>
“He thinks running the country is too simple.”
“He thinks we haven’t thought about it before? Haven’t thought about it?”
“We have thought about it.”
"But why we didn't do this, of course we have our own reasons."
"We can let the kitchen households produce more salt, but when there is too much salt, it cannot be sold at a high price. Businessmen are all snobbish. See If there is no profit, they won't sell salt. It's okay in big cities like Yingtianfu, but in remote villages, merchants won't go there at all. In the end, it's these kitchen households and local people who will be hurt. "< br>
“He doesn’t understand at all.”
“We have considered raising commercial taxes.”
“But the principle is the same. When commercial taxes are high, merchants will stop doing things. .”
"They will only set the price higher."
"Why does the government set the price of salt so low? It is to make the merchants profitable. Otherwise, why would the merchants do things for us? Carry all kinds of salt for us. Growing grain, supplies, and ironware?”
“We have a little less tax revenue.”
“But by opening the Chinese method, we don’t have to carry grain and grass ourselves. The profit is nothing compared to the business tax. He doesn’t understand the benefits at all.”
“Government business?”
"Haha."
"It's a good idea, but it's unrealistic."
Zhu Yuanzhang sneered, his eyes full of disdain and contempt.
He has been in the war.
I know that fighting is about logistics.
Therefore, we have a good understanding of the material delivery situation.
Very expensive!
If the imperial court is really responsible for it, how many more officials will be needed? How many more people does the imperial court need to support, and how much food does it need to spend? In the end, it is very likely that the gain outweighs the loss.
He has an account in his mind.
I have already settled these accounts clearly.
Daming can't afford it.
He doesn’t want to raise it either.
It is very difficult for the Ming Dynasty to support such a large number of officials. If it creates a lot of trouble for itself, it is asking for trouble, not to mention whether it can make money in the end. Even if it does, it will be hard work. Money will also exacerbate official corruption.
Why bother?
As for the household registration mentioned by Xia Zhibai, he even sneered.
He was deliberately restrained to death.
People go to higher places, and water flows to lower places.
Everyone in the world knows that it is good to study and become an official, but if everyone only thinks about studying and becoming an official, then who will farm, work, or do business? The world is really in chaos.
Zhu Biao nodded.
He knew that there was a reason why his father was so determined.
But he couldn't help but said: "Father, I think it's time to give it a try."
Zhu Yuanzhang's face turned cold.
Zhu Biao hurriedly explained: "Father, my sons and ministers don't really agree. They just think that there are certain problems with the current salt policy of the Ming Dynasty, and certain adjustments and changes need to be made."
"Just like Xia Zhibai said."
"Some Zao households have a large population, and some have a small population, but no matter how large the population is, the court stipulates that they need to pay thirty yin of salt. Tax, which is obviously unaffordable for many families, the 30-yuan salt quota may need to be changed.”
Zhu Yuanzhang's face softened slightly and he nodded: "This is a problem."
"When we are free, we will convene officials to discuss and re-define the salt policy."
He said.
Zhu Yuanzhang showed an angry look, slapped the table angrily, and cursed: "What do our Ming Dynasty officials usually do for food? Do we still need Xia Zhibai to remind us of these things?"
" Everyone who meets us says the world is peaceful, but is the world really fucking peaceful?”
"Damn it."
"There are always a bunch of rotten bitches who hold power but dare not do anything."
"Let him be an official and let him come Enjoying it?"
Zhu Yuanzhang was angry.
His temper was already violent, especially when it came to matters involving the common people. The key issue was brought out by Xia Zhibai, which made him even more angry.
Zhu Biao smiled bitterly.
His father has always had a clear distinction between love and hate for officials.
If they are sitting in an official position, but they are sitting in the same position, only looking at the position on their buttocks, and not doing other things, then my father's response to these officials is also very simple.
Kill!
The officials who were dismissed, exiled, or killed every year in the Ming Dynasty were not only those who committed corruption and fraud, but also those officials who were incompetent, lazy and incompetent. These people were the targets of key punishments by the emperor. .
Zhu Biao comforted him: "Father, please calm down. If you are so angry about this, your body will be broken."
"The officials may have other things to do."
Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand, not believing this at all: "Fart, we don't know the officials of our Ming Dynasty yet?"
"Those officials are just like cows. We won't do it. These dogs won't move a step. Let them see and go by themselves. Thinking and doing it is even harder than killing them, otherwise we will be so tired in a day?"
Seeing his father suddenly getting angry for no reason, Zhu Biao could only smile and shake his head.
When Zhu Yuanzhang's anger was almost gone, Zhu Biao said: "The officials of the Ming Dynasty were too deeply influenced by the Yuan Dynasty, and it was difficult to completely eradicate them in a short time. However, a few words Xia Zhibai said to his ministers made him feel deeply in crisis."< br>
“If the court does not allow it, the local government may not dare to do it.”
“The court strictly prohibits officials from doing business, but there must be officials colluding with merchants behind the scenes to oppress the people, prey on the people, and even the DPRK. Many ministers may have been deceived by local officials."
"So after careful consideration, I still thought it was time to give it a try."
"The imperial court should know the specific circumstances of the collusion between officials and businessmen."
"Whether Xia Zhibai ultimately fails or not, the imperial court can take specific measures based on this."
"I want to try Try."
Zhu Yuanzhang frowned, looked at Zhu Biao's determined look, and finally nodded, saying: "Since you want him to try, boss, let's give him another chance. , but we can’t give him too much money.”
“Although it’s a loan.”
"But we are not that generous."
"The maximum I can give is fifty thousand taels, not even a penny more."
"In addition, let him take over a thousand refugees and disaster victims. Our money is not that generous. It's easy to get. We can give it to salt mountains and coal mines, but there are restrictions on the iron needed for steam engines."
"We can give it to anyone with money, but we can't satisfy all iron tools."
“Every three months, we have to look at the account books. If we find any problems, we will shut down at any time.”
Zhu Yuanzhang made many demands in succession.
He couldn't trust Xia Zhibai.
And this is his money.
It's equivalent to taking his money and doing Xia Zhibai's things.
He was a little reluctant.
Zhu Biao smiled bitterly, his father's request was too strict.
Coal mines and salt mines cannot be mined in a short time. It means that they have to sell for a long time. If they cannot be sold later, they will lose their money. Normally, they will expand slowly. scale.
Father, it would be nice for him to arrange for a thousand people as soon as he comes.
Moreover
Based on the situation of the refugees, Xia Zhibai may not be raising a thousand people, but nearly a thousand displaced families. The resettlement and handling of the refugees can easily go wrong. , is also a big expense, and we also need to prepare for mining, various transportation and sales.
Think of this.
Zhu Biao couldn't help but feel his scalp numb.
There are many and complicated things.
My father clearly threw all the refugees who fled to Yingtian Mansion to Xia Zhibai.
"Father, isn't this a bit too much?"
Before Zhu Biao finished speaking, he was interrupted by Zhu Yuanzhang. Zhu Yuanzhang sneered: "Doesn't he have the heart to help the world and save the people? Doesn't he love the people? Let's give him a chance."
"If he even has a thousand If he can't help himself, then he won't say he loves the people anymore."
"He doesn't have the ability at all!"
" The matter is settled.”
"We are waiting for the answer sheet he will give us in three months."
Zhu Biao hesitated, and finally sighed and stopped trying to persuade him.
My father has made up his mind, and it is not something he can change.
At noon.
Xia Zhibai received the news.
Looking at the letter sent by Zhu Biao's messenger, Xia Zhibai also felt his heart sinking.
The money is too little. If Zhu Yuanzhang gives him a new mine that has not been mined before, it will take a lot of time to complete the preliminary survey, debugging the steam engine, etc., but Zhu Yuanzhang is obviously only willing to give himself three Months to prepare.
It’s a lot of pressure.
But it may not be enough.
Xia Zhibai looked at a drawing on the table and couldn't help but smile.
Zhu Yuanzhang deliberately made things difficult for himself.
But little does he know.
The power of steam technology.
Three months, although it is a bit rushed, but as long as he is on the right track, with the help of the energy provided by coal and the powerful extraction capacity of the steam engine, it is enough for him to gain a foothold in the salt production industry.
As for the follow-up.
He could only say two words.
Dumping!
Believe in the power of technology.
But contemporary people know nothing about the power of technology.
He folded the drawing carefully, put it in his sleeve, and went to the Ministry of Industry.
He was going to discuss with the craftsmen from the Ministry of Industry about the construction of the steam pump and how to improve it as much as possible. After all, he was a halfway monk and did not have much manufacturing experience. For specific situations, he still had to listen to the craftsmen's suggestions.
They are the experts in this field.
And technology, the more people involved, the faster it will improve.
He never thought about hiding anything.
At sunset.
Xia Zhibai left the Ministry of Industry with excitement on his face.
The drawing in his hand has changed greatly, with many more details and changes.
The craftsmen of Yingtianfu are indeed the best craftsmen in the world today. Although they did not know the specific usage of the steam engine, they still saw many problems and made many suggestions just by looking at the drawings.
He also promised to manufacture a few units as soon as possible.
Xia Zhibai left the Engineering Department.
He raised his head and looked at the setting sun, but his heart felt hot.
He knows.
The era of large-scale production he wanted has arrived.
(End of this chapter)