But the turmoil about the knighthood is far from over.
At the banquet, Zhu Yuanzhang only revealed the total number of knights to be ennobled and the ownership of Xu Da, but he did not mention the others.
In the next few days, Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao were very busy.
Zhu Yuanzhang was busy summoning the heroes and nobles to talk alone and do ideological work.
Compared with the simple and crude way of being knighted in the previous life, it was announced directly.
Apparently, Zhu Yuanzhang, who had read the history of the Ming Dynasty and evolved, became more comfortable with his job as emperor.
Zhu Biao was busy with another errand assigned to him by Zhu Yuanzhang, establishing the first trading house under the jurisdiction of the Ming Dynasty National Commercial Guild, whose full name was Royal Steel Trading Company.
This trading house was proposed by Zhu Biao, and Zhu Yuanzhang decided to establish it after repeated consideration.
As the name suggests, the trading house is state-owned and its main business is steel smelting.
In the original early years of the Ming Dynasty, steel smelting was basically controlled by the government and used to make soldiers, armor, swords and guns. However, as the wars became less and less, by the fifteenth year of Hongwu, the amount of pig iron in stock had already increased to a huge amount.
Amount remaining.
Zhu Yuanzhang even closed down many large state-owned iron smelting plants and opened the mines to private businessmen, charging only one-fifteenth of the tax.
To be honest, Zhu Biao disagreed with this operation.
Steel, like grain and salt, is a country's lifeline industry. The development of this industry involves almost every aspect of the national economy and people's livelihood. If a country wants to develop, the output of steel must increase, and the majority must be in the hands of the country.
This is why Zhu Biao established the Royal Steel Trading Company.
He had already obtained five high-quality iron mines from Zhu Yuanzhang to build this steel trading house.
If the commercial bank operates well in the future, he is ready to continue to expand its scale.
He has also chosen the specific candidate to run the steel firm.
"Boss Shen, don't be nervous. I'm not my father, and I don't have that much prejudice against businessmen."
"On the contrary, I think businessmen can promote a country's economy to a certain extent!" Zhu Biao saw the fat old man opposite him sitting on the chair with his butt half pulled up and not daring to sit down, so he couldn't help comforting him with a smile on his face.
"It is my honor that His Highness the Crown Prince likes me. If you need me for anything, just give me your instructions. I will certainly not have any complaints."
As Shen Wansan spoke, he knelt on the ground again and said with fear.
He was originally from Suzhou Prefecture, and it is definitely not an exaggeration to describe his family as having a fortune. However, as soon as this man had more money, he wanted to pursue something else.
Lao Shen has no other hobbies, and his only wish in life is to live an official life.
When Zhang Shicheng was powerful, he supported Zhang Shicheng's Zhou regime and helped with money and effort.
Lao Zhang was an honest man, and he was indeed given an official title and a statue.
After Zhu Yuanzhang defeated Zhang Shicheng and established the capital in Nanjing, he repeated his old tricks and took a lot of money to help the then impoverished Lao Zhu build two-thirds of the Nanjing city wall.
At the same time, he also tried his best to make friends with the civil and military officials under Lao Zhu's command.
When Lao Zhu was a child, he was almost cheated to death by profiteers. He originally had a strong opinion against businessmen, but now he sees that you, good old boy, are colluding with government and businessmen to oppress the people!
I felt unhappy instantly.
After he finished building the city wall, Lao Zhu found an excuse to put him in jail and even planned to kill his whole family...
If it hadn't been for the persuasion of his wife, Empress Ma, Shen Wansan would have gone to see the King of Hell by now.
Originally, this old guy was going to be sent to the frontier, but now he was asked to come over by Zhu Biao.
Shen Wansan personally experienced the volatility of politics, which almost scared the old man to death. Now he is naturally very docile.
"Get up and talk!" Zhu Biao waved helplessly. The little eunuch next to him understood and ran over to pull the fifty-year-old Shen up.
"I invited you here this time because I want you to help me!"
Zhu Biaoyan returned to his duties and preached: "This is the planning document I asked someone to write for the Royal Iron and Steel Company. I am a layman in business, so can you please give me some detailed advice?"
Shen Wansan took Zhu Biao's plan tremblingly and read it carefully.
Although he doesn’t understand steelmaking, he understands business!
After just two glances, he keenly sensed the huge business opportunities.
"Reporting to His Highness the Crown Prince, if it is true as stated in the book that there is a new steel-making method that can double the efficiency of the current steel-making method, then there will be no problem."
"More than twice!"
Zhu Biao shook his head. After more than two hundred years of development, ironmaking and steelmaking technology in the Ming Dynasty have made great progress. The first is the enlargement and optimization of blast furnaces. This alone can increase efficiency by 30%.
Secondly, the fuel is changed from charcoal and coal to coke, which increases the efficiency by another 30%.
There is also the general application of the duplex method. One set of processes directly smelts mature iron from pig iron and then refines it into steel, which greatly optimizes the complicated steps of steelmaking.
There is also the use of solvents.
It can be said that in the early days of iron-making, steel-making technology has developed vigorously and wildly for more than two hundred years, and the entire system has been optimized, far exceeding the current level.
Some of these technologies have even been used into modern times.
"What kind of iron products does His Royal Highness establish this steel company to produce?"
"Is it a farm tool or... a weapon?" Shen Wansan asked cautiously.
He was frightened by Zhu Yuanzhang, and he was already a bit like a warrior. Such a steel chamber with a court background and the support of the prince behind the scenes was very sensitive at first glance. He was really afraid of being involved in a larger political whirlpool.
"Just don't worry!"
"Our steel shop only produces agricultural tools, iron pots, sewing needles and other iron products for civilian use. We won't touch guns or artillery. It's all a matter for the military affairs department." Zhu Biao said with a smile.
Of course, this is only the early stage. When this steel business reaches a certain scale, or when new technologies are obtained in the next different world, even Zhu Biao himself will not know what will be produced by then.
"Then I can rest assured. I am at the mercy of His Highness the Crown Prince." Shen Wansan breathed a long sigh of relief, and he didn't ask any questions for the rest.
After all, what could be wrong with a trading company that has the endorsement of the imperial court and the support of the prince?
"I still have to clarify some issues with you in advance!"
"The mines, workers, technology, and start-up capital of this steel company are all provided by the imperial court. You are only responsible for selecting the site to set up the factory, management and production. I will not interfere in this aspect. At the same time, if there are any difficulties or problems during the operation, you will also You can come to me and I will send someone to solve it for you."
"I only have one request: to expand the scale as much as possible and improve the output and efficiency of iron and steelmaking."
"If there is a worker who can optimize the steps of iron-making and steel-making, please report it to me and I will receive a heavy reward."
Zhu Biao pondered for a moment after saying this, and then said: "I won't give you any salary for starting work. Five percent of the annual net profit is yours. What do you think?"
This 5% is not a share, but something similar to a performance bonus. It seems like a lot, but in fact it can only be regarded as a blank check for the steel company that is currently just an empty shell.
Of course, the future achievements of this trading firm with a royal background are limitless. Coupled with Shen Wansan's business skills and experience, it is even more likely that it will become a super giant across the country.
But this ratio can be changed in the future.
Even a smart person like Shen Wansan would not be unable to figure this out.
But even so, Lao Shen was still very happy.
the reason is simple.
First, he actually doesn't have much interest in silver anymore.
Secondly, being at the helm of such a steel trading house would be of great benefit to himself and his family. After all, he had a serious imperial business background.
In the future, he may even use this background to get rid of his identity as a businessman and officially enter an official career.
