"How is it? You can talk to me now, right? Don't worry, I won't ask for too much.”
Zhu Di saw that he looked a little depressed and smiled."The cigarettes you sell are five taels each. I will sell you the immortal leaves and let you make them into cigarettes first. Then, I will send someone to count the quantity. You only need to give me two taels for each cigarette, so that you can earn three taels.”
Zhu Gaochen rolled his eyes.
This was a way to make him pay protection fees!
It had to be said that the old master was too shrewd!
He knew that if he sold the raw material Immortal Leaf in bundles, he would definitely not be able to get any profit.
Therefore, he had euphemistically said that he would first get Zhu Gaochen to make cigarettes, then send someone to count the quantity and collect the money!
Moreover, it was charged according to the quantity of each bottle!
This was like selling rice. He sold it bag by bag at a fixed price, but if he sold it grain by grain, he would make a fortune.
"This is definitely not possible. Although you are the emperor, we are talking about business. Business is business. You charge me two taels of silver for a cigarette.”
Zhu Gaochen waved his hand and refused. Even if the other party was the Emperor, there was no room for discussion.
Zhu Di was amused by his words and laughed out loud."Alright, then let's talk about business. If you think it's unreasonable, we can talk about it!”
In fact, Zhu Di had no choice. The national treasury was empty now. He needed money to build the Yongle Grand Ceremony, the canal, and the Forbidden City.
Sending troops to attack the Wala, Wuliangha, and Tartars who often harassed the border also required money.
It could be said that both internal and external problems needed money to solve.
Zhu Gaochen had created a violent cigarette industry, so he had no choice but to rip him off.
Although the cigarette shop was only set up in Yingtian Prefecture, Zhu Di knew that with Zhu Gaochen's intelligence, he would definitely spread the cigarette to all the Dao Prefectures.
At that time, the money collected from the cigarettes could be used to fill the national treasury.
Seeing that Zhu Gaochen was silent, Zhu Di urged,""So, have you thought it through?"
Zhu Gaochen pondered for a moment and said,""Two taels per cigarette is too much. I can consider twenty coins!”
"Twenty coins? Aren't you afraid that you'll die from having too much money?"
Zhu Di was so angry that he laughed. He scolded with a smile,"Brat, I think I'm already ruthless enough. Now I realize that you're the most ruthless!”
"How can I? We're talking about business. Let's make this clear first. You can't use your status to pressure me!”Zhu Gaochen chuckled, afraid that he would use his status as the emperor to suppress him, so he quickly reminded him.
After all, if Zhu Di used his identity as the emperor to force him to pay, he would not be able to do anything to him.
"How about this? Give me a reason, or rather, give me a favor, and I'll agree to your request. I'll only charge you thirty wen for each cigarette.”
Zhu Di said with a smile.
Zhu Di's condition made Zhu Gaochen fall into deep thought.
There was indeed no valid reason for Zhu Di to compromise now, but if it was really a favor,
After thinking for a while, Zhu Gaochen suddenly thought of an acquaintance.
Thinking of this, Zhu Gaochen smiled mysteriously. He looked at Zhu Di and said with a smile,""Father, don't you lack talents to compile the Yongle Grand Ceremony? I can recommend a top scholar to you.”
"Is that so? You go to places with fireworks every day, how can you meet talents?”When Zhu Di heard this, he was a little surprised.
"Look at what you're saying, that scholar isn't a playboy? It just so happens that that kind of place is full of talents."
Zhu Gaochen laughed and said,""The person I know is called Yu Qian. Let him participate in the compilation of the Yongle Grand Ceremony. I guarantee that he will not disappoint you.”
"Since King Nan recommended it, I will give it a try.”
As Zhu Di spoke, he turned to look at the old eunuch, Little Snot, who was waiting outside the hall and ordered,""Send a few Jinyiwei to follow you outside the palace and summon Yu Qian to see Zhen!”
"Yes." Little Snot accepted the order and quickly left the palace with a few Brocade Guards to look for Yu Qian.
"Yu Qian 'er, don't worry about this bro being disloyal.”
Zhu Gaochen stood silently at the side and thought to himself.
Anyway, Yu Qian was going to enter the official career in the future. Perhaps it was a good thing to be two years ahead of schedule?
At this moment, Yu Qian, who was selling books on the north street of Yingtian Prefecture, did not know that he had already been sold by Zhu Gaochen.
The price was that Zhu Di only charged 30 wens for each cigarette.
Soon, the eunuch brought the Brocade Guard to find Yu Qian, who was selling books at a stall. After explaining the purpose of his visit, the latter was dumbfounded.
Without waiting for Yu Qian to react, the Brocade Guard carried him directly to the Imperial Palace.
It was not until Yu Qian was escorted to the door of the Shangshu room that the Jinyiwei released him.
Yu Qian stood at the door of the Minister's Office, his face blank. He was just a commoner, why would the Emperor summon him?
Although he was puzzled.
But now that he was already in the Imperial Palace's Minister's Office, it was difficult for him to back down. He could only grit his teeth and walk in.
"It's you!"
As soon as Yu Qian walked in, the first thing he saw was Zhu Gaochen in a tight black robe.
Seeing the other party's surprised expression, Zhu Gaochen shouted with a dark face,""Kneel when you see the Emperor!"
This was not the time to joke around.
After being reminded by Zhu Gaochen, Yu Qian's gaze fell on Zhu Di. He immediately knelt on the ground and said with a trembling voice,""I, Yu Qian, pay my respects to the Emperor of Ming Dynasty.”
"Get up." Zhu Di replied indifferently.
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。