Zhu Biao was the eldest son of Zhu Yuanzhang. The reason why Zhu Yuanzhang trusted and valued him so much was not only because of his identity as the eldest son, but also because he had accompanied Old Zhu through hardships.
Like Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Biao had experienced the hardships of the lower class.
From a beggar to an emperor, Zhu Yuanzhang achieved the greatest class leap of this era.
However, deep down, he still had the consciousness of a farmer. He could not bear to see corrupt officials bully honest people.
As the eldest son who had accompanied Zhu Yuanzhang all the way, Zhu Biao had deeply experienced the sufferings of the people and knew his father's expectations of him. Therefore, he was determined to be a good emperor who worked for the well-being of the Ming people.
The refined salt in front of him was one of the best benefits that Zhu Biao wanted.
In this era, the coarse salt used by ordinary people was not even willing to be crushed. They would soak a bowl of water in advance and pour the water into the pot when needed to enhance the taste.
Moreover, a bowl of water might need to be used a few times.
Because he couldn't bear to put too many dishes in his cooking, there weren't many dishes for a meal.
As for draining the oil?
When the dishes were about to be cooked, he would carefully add one or two drops of vegetable oil. Then, he would be considered a well-off family. Who would dare to be so extravagant if it wasn't during the New Year?
This was the Ming Dynasty at the beginning of Hongwu.
Although the Han Dynasty, which had just been reborn from the flames of war, was full of vitality, it was an indisputable fact that the livelihood of the common people was difficult.
Whether it was the Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang or the Crown Prince Zhu Biao, both father and son worked hard day and night to focus on political affairs in order to get rid of the current situation.
Zhu Biao looked at Zhu Su with fanaticism."Little Five, did you do this?"
"Yes, yes." For the first time, Zhu Su found his elder brother's eyes so aggressive.
It made people's anus tighten.
"How's the production?" Zhu Biao asked the most crucial question.
"Production?" Zhu Su rubbed his nose. If he did the key process himself, he could probably afford the entire salt production of Ming Dynasty.
"How much do you want? How much do you have?" Zhu Su said uncertainly.
After unlocking the Claw Shadow Legion, it should be about the same.
"Clang!" The sound of the tables and chairs being dragged was a bit harsh. Zhu Biao stood up and looked at Zhu Su excitedly,""Really? Little Five, think carefully before you speak."
"It should be possible, but it will take time.”Zhu Su thought for a while. As long as he could rely on salt to complete the initial primitive accumulation, he could guarantee it.
"Good!" Zhu Biao was overjoyed and wanted to continue, but he stopped after thinking for a while. He wrapped the salt on the table and walked to Zhu Su from behind the desk. He patted Zhu Su's shoulder and said,""Follow me to see Imperial Father."
Thus, Zhu Yuanzhang, who had just finished his lunch break and was reading memorials in the royal study, saw Zhu Biao, who had a rare look of ecstasy, and the little brat, who looked unwilling, after half an incense stick of time.
That's right, in Old Zhu's eyes, the little bastard was referring to Zhu Su and Zhu Wudi.
Zhu Biao only made a gesture, and the palace servants who were originally standing in the royal study left the room in an orderly manner.
Zhu Yuanzhang did not stop him.
" Father..." Zhu Biao didn't hesitate. After the palace servants left, he directly explained his intentions to Zhu Yuanzhang.
"…Little Five said that in time, all the people of our Ming Dynasty will be able to eat this kind of refined salt!”After Zhu Biao finished speaking, he carefully placed the oilpaper bag in front of Zhu Yuanzhang.
The white salt was spread out in front of Zhu Yuanzhang, so Zhu Yuanzhang also stretched out his finger…
"Xiaotu…Five! He is really my Saint Child! Can you really make the people of Ming eat such salt?!”Zhu Yuanzhang's face was flushed red with excitement. His eyes were shining as he looked at Zhu Su with incomparable joy.
"If there's something wrong, Saint Child. If there's nothing wrong, you brat, ha?”It was as if it was one of Zhu Su's innate talents.
Zhu Yuanzhang was a little embarrassed, but for the first time, he did not get angry.
"Little Five!" Zhu Biao slapped the back of Zhu Su's head."Big Brother brought you to see Imperial Father because Big Brother can't make the decision to buy salt anymore. Only Imperial Father can agree.”
"Oh, that's true!" Zhu Su nodded to his elder brother in a daze. Then, a flattering smile appeared on the handsome young man's face.
Zhu Su picked up the teacup from the table beside him and handed it to Zhu Yuanzhang. When Zhu Yuanzhang took the teacup with a straight face, Zhu Su had already started to massage Zhu Yuanzhang's shoulders and back.
"Imperial Father, drink more. This salt is very salty. You tasted too much just now and your throat must be sore. How is it? "Father, you worry about the state affairs all day long. It's been hard on you…" Zhu Su was talkative, and no one in the Zhu family could beat him.
Zhu Biao, who had already sat to the side, looked at Zhu Su's smooth and smooth fawning process with both amusement and admiration. The book said that if you want to achieve great things, you should not be bothered by trifles. Fifth Brother had done it.
"Alright!" Zhu Yuanzhang slammed his teacup on the table." Come over here and stand properly. Tell me, what do you plan to do?"”
"Father, it's like this. I plan to process the coarse salt into fine salt and sell it to the imperial court. The imperial court will then sell it to the people. What do you think?" Zhu Su was full of anticipation.
Zhu Yuanzhang pondered for a moment and looked at Zhu Su.""Can't you just offer up the method of making salt? Whatever reward he wanted, his father had agreed to it.”
Zhu Su rolled his eyes."It's meaningless for you to be like this."
Before Zhu Yuanzhang could say anything, Zhu Biao, who was worried that his brother would anger his father, stood up in advance."You brat, I didn't take your things for free. Didn't Father say that any reward is fine?”
"No…Dad, don't talk.”For the first time, Zhu Su asked the Emperor's father and the Crown Prince to shut up.""Also, big brother, don't be in a hurry to find fault with me. Listen to me first.”
"Father, I know you're anxious, but don't be anxious. Let me explain my reasoning before you make a decision.”Zhu Su found a chair and sat down under Old Zhu's gaze. Then, he said slowly,""First, let's assume that if I hand over the method of making fine salt. I think it won't be long before the method of making salt will be leaked no matter how secretive the imperial court is. At that time, there will be a large number of private salt competing with official salt in various places, and we will be in great trouble.
Because most of the smuggled salt was produced and sold nearby, it was difficult for the imperial court to compete with them in terms of transportation costs. The price of private salt was definitely lower than that of official salt. In addition to the reduction in transportation costs, it did not have to pay taxes.
Secondly, the huge profits brought by the illegal salt would result in collusion between officials and merchants, which would create a greater obstacle for the court to crack down on illegal salt, thus further increasing the cost of selling official salt to the court.
Third, the emergence of illegal salt would directly affect the production of official salt.
This was because the market was very particular about the relationship between supply and demand. The private salt has squeezed the official salt market, so the production of official salt will definitely decrease. Whether you like it or not, we are destined to passively give up the market.
In the end, it was very likely that everyone would be stuck in a situation where the price of salt would remain high for a long time, and the court would expend a large amount of manpower and resources for this, but it would not be a good thing.
In the end, he might not earn any money from the imperial court and even get himself into trouble for nothing.”
Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao, who had been stunned by Zhu Su's words, fell into deep thought.
After a long while, he said," Then…Little Five…What do you think we should do?”With Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao's knowledge, they knew that Zhu Su's words were not without reason.
Moreover, Zhu Su was very vague in some parts. To put it bluntly, it was the weakness of human nature. Corrupted officials would kill them endlessly.
"Give me a piece of land. It's best if you give me the equipment that I bought in the suburbs. I'll use it as a production base. "Then, Father or Big Brother, you can come out and organize people to buy coarse salt and smash it to sell to me. I buy them at the price of one tael of silver and sell the fine salt I make to the imperial court at ten taels of silver per catty. Oh right, Father, if you take a tenth of the tax, then when you settle the bill, it will be calculated at nine taels per catty.”
As soon as Zhu Su finished speaking, Zhu Yuanzhang slammed the table.""Brat, you're an Armadillo, why are you selling it at such a high price?!”
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