In the capital city, where the forces are intertwined and the people are so diverse, it is difficult to have any secrets.
Therefore, what happened in the morning was soon known to everyone in the capital.
Whether it is the Qiu Wei fraud case in the three provinces or the bet between Zhao Junchen, the Minister of Household Affairs, and Prince Zhu Heyu, they have attracted countless attention and curiosity.
Of course, people pay more attention to the bet between Zhao Junchen and Zhu Heyu than the San Sheng Qiu Wei fraud case. Although the former is far more serious than the latter, people in the capital have a unique arrogance. San Sheng Qiu
Although the imperial fraud case had a great impact, it took place in a remote place after all. Although the bet between Zhao Junchen and Zhu Heyu was nothing more than a trivial matter in the temple, it took place in the center of the capital after all.
What's more, whether it is Zhao Junchen, the Minister of Household Affairs, or Prince Zhu Heyu, they are all big shots. How can they be compared to a few candidates who go around complaining?
For a time, both the government and the public focused their attention on Zhao Junchen. Everyone wanted to see how Zhao Junchen could use "proper means" to increase the revenue of 200,000 taels of silver for the Ministry of Household Affairs within a month.
This is no easy task.
Will Zhao Junchen be promoted to Minister of Household Affairs? Or will he be convicted of "deceiving the emperor"? Everyone is waiting to see.
However, to the great disappointment of the "audiences" with different thoughts, Zhao Junchen seemed not to care about this bet that was related to his future destiny. In the next three days, he went to court and worked as usual,
When I returned home, it was as if nothing had happened.
The only thing worth mentioning is that in these three days, Zhao Junchen bought the largest rouge workshop and soap locust workshop in the capital. However, using rouge and soap locust to increase the income of the household department by 200,000 taels? Unless Zhao Junchen is crazy.
, otherwise it is simply impossible.
At least, in the minds of the world, this kind of thing is simply impossible.
However, the truth is often hidden in illusions. Few people have noticed that in the past three days, the best rouge craftsmen and saponin craftsmen in the capital have resigned from their old employers, either with a firm attitude or being dismissed.
Unfortunately, for a while, the supply of rouge and soap locust in the capital was out of stock.
………
Three days later.
On this day, after the morning court, Zhao Junchen neither went to work at the Ministry of Rites nor returned home. Instead, he came to Xicheng in a sedan chair.
When he arrived at his destination, Zhao Junchen got off the sedan, looked up, and saw in front of him a large courtyard with three entrances and three exits connected from east to west. There was a sign hanging on the courtyard - "Yue Rongfang".
This name was chosen by Zhao Junchen himself and comes from the meaning of "a woman's appearance pleases her".
It is now a property under Zhao Junchen's name.
As soon as Zhao Junchen got off the sedan, he saw Xu Qingyan walking out of the yard quickly to greet him, looking quite tired.
"Master, you are here."
Zhao Junchen nodded, patted Xu Qingyan's shoulder and said, "Thank you for your hard work these past three days."
Xu Qingyan said matter-of-factly: "For the sake of the young master, you should work harder."
Hearing what Xu Qingyan said, Zhao Junchen couldn't help but feel warm in his heart.
To be honest, this Xu Qingyan is by no means a good person. He has done countless bad and immoral things over the years, and his abilities are limited. However, he is extremely loyal to Zhao Junchen and considers everything for Zhao Junchen. He is the only person Zhao Junchen trusts now.
people.
He was used to having Xu Qingyan always by his side, but he hadn't been able to see him for the past three days. To be honest, Zhao Junchen was really not used to it.
While Zhao Junchen was sighing with emotion, Xu Qingyan led Zhao Junchen towards the yard and explained to Zhao Junchen: "According to your instructions, young master, I have all the largest rouge workshops and soap locust workshops in the capital."
They have been plated and gathered here. Rouge and saponin are easy to make and the tools are not complicated, so two courtyards are enough. Now the east courtyard is the rouge workshop and the west courtyard is the saponin workshop."
Zhao Junchen nodded and asked, "Have all the craftsmen been invited?"
Xu Qingyan nodded in agreement and said: "We have all been invited here. There are quite a few foolish and loyal people who have wasted a lot of my efforts. But fortunately everything went well. Now the best rouge craftsmen and saponin craftsmen in the capital are all here."
They are concentrated in our Yuerongfang. However, they are still studying your formulas, Master, and have not started work yet."
Seeing Xu Qingyan frowning, Zhao Junchen smiled and said: "It's a good thing to study the method first. If they start work hastily, I will be worried about them. The manufacturing process of these two things is not complicated, so there is no need to worry."
Unlike later generations, there was little talk of job-hopping in this era. The rouge craftsmen and saponin craftsmen Xu Qingyan hired were all long-term workers of a century-old brand. Their ancestors had worked for the same employer for generations. Not only was the employer valued, but they themselves were also valued.
They are very loyal to their boss, so it is extremely difficult to lure them over.
However, Zhao Junchen did not ask Xu Qingyan about his methods of poaching, whether it was force or inducement. At this time, Zhao Junchen only wanted results.
After pondering for a moment, Zhao Junchen said: "Take me to see those soap locust craftsmen first. I have something to say to them."
Xu Qingyan nodded and said, "Master, they are in the west courtyard."
………
After arriving at the West Courtyard, Zhao Junchen saw more than a dozen soapberry craftsmen, all of different ages, old and young. They were all the best soapberry craftsmen in the capital.
Some of these saponinus craftsmen looked excited, and some had sad expressions, presumably due to Xu Qingyan's different methods of poaching. However, their behavior at this time was the same, and they were all studying the soap making recipe Zhao Junchen gave them.
The attitude is quite serious, and occasionally they will discuss something with each other.
Seeing the seriousness of these people, Zhao Junchen nodded with satisfaction.
"Master Zhao is here, please welcome him quickly!"
Following Xu Qingyan's shout, the soapberry craftsmen noticed the arrival of Zhao Junchen one after another. When they saw the official robe on Zhao Junchen, they all looked panicked and quickly knelt down to salute.
"Everyone, get up." While Zhao Junchen was talking, he found a chair and sat down. After everyone got up, he saw that the craftsmen looked panic-stricken. Zhao Junchen said slowly: "From today on, I am your boss.
Well, I know that many of you are unwilling to work here. It doesn’t matter. Loyalty is a good character. I don’t blame you. I just hope that you can keep this kind of character here. As for your original employer
, I have already given them enough compensation. From now on, you no longer owe them anything, as long as you serve me loyally."
Hearing what Zhao Junchen said, the craftsmen were scattered here and there, but many of them were still in low spirits.
Of course, there are also many people who are looking forward to it.
Zhao Junchen smiled slightly and continued: "Since you work for me, I will never treat you badly. From today on, all of you will have three times the original salary. You will be rewarded for your merits and punished for your mistakes.
, is also my principle of doing things. From now on, you can freely mix and match, and work in groups of three or five people to make fragrant pancreas carefully according to the recipe I gave you. The group that is made first will be divided into three groups.
The reward is five hundred taels of silver. If you make it well, I may even promote you to become an official. This is a rare opportunity, so you must seize it."
Hearing what Zhao Junchen said, all the craftsmen looked much more excited. Three times the wages, a reward of five hundred taels of silver, and becoming an official were more important than loyalty.
"Thank you, sir. I will do my best."
The craftsmen had not received corresponding training, so their answers at this time were not neat and seemed a bit messy, but their voices were loud and their spirits were much better than before.
"That's good."
Zhao Junchen smiled and nodded without any further delay. After a few words of advice, he took Xu Qingyan to the east courtyard to talk to the rouge craftsmen.
In fact, there is not much difference between the manufacturing process of pancreas and soap locust. They are both based on pig pancreas. The most important change is just to change the processing method of pig pancreas and replace the soybean powder with plant ash. These craftsmen are skilled in craftsmanship.
It is not difficult to produce it in a short time.
The reason why Zhao Junchen opened another perfume workshop was just as a double insurance just in case.
After finding the rouge craftsmen, Zhao Junchen said again the words he had just said to the soapberry craftsmen, and then he stopped delaying and prepared to go home.
Before leaving, Zhao Junchen warned Xu Qingyan again: "Send some trustworthy people here to keep an eye on them. Those recipes can make us a lot of money, but we can't reveal the information."
Hearing what Zhao Junchen said, Xu Qingyan's expression became serious, and he nodded and said: "Don't worry, young master, I will send someone to keep an eye on this place."
Zhao Junchen nodded and smiled and said, "I can rest assured that you will do the work."
………
For the next ten days or so, Zhao Junchen went to court, went to work, and went home as usual, as if he had completely forgotten about the bet.
However, I occasionally go to Yuerongfang to see the production progress of soap and perfume.
Naturally, what Zhao Junchen did could not be hidden from the eyes of interested people. Today, people already know that Zhao Junchen is really planning on Rouge Soap!
Many people think that Zhao Junchen is crazy and wants to use saponins and rouge to increase the income of the household department by 200,000 taels. How is this possible?
During this period, all civil and military officials in the court looked at Zhao Junchen with weird looks. Prince Zhu Heyu even ridiculed Zhao Junchen several times. Even Emperor Deqing couldn't bear his temper and summoned him several times.
Zhao Junchen asked about the progress and assurance, but Zhao Junchen looked indifferent and often answered with just one sentence.
"Just wait and see."
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ps: Return to the normal update speed. There were few updates in the past two days. I'm really sorry.