Even in this era when the industry is still immature, the cost is still low.
Because it is unprecedented, it is naturally precious when it comes out of the blue.
"I think the material is similar to colored glaze." Xiao Ping, an expert on silicon, remembered that he had seen a lot, and even though he didn't recognize glass, he could still recognize it.
"Similar, but different, not the same kind."
Fang Jue said: "The material this mirror is made of is called glass, and glass is made of sand..."
Gravel?
Seeing that the young master's words ended here, both of them understood.
Using gravel as raw material, the cost is naturally extremely low.
"But can the production process and technology be used to mass-produce this product?" Yan Lanfeng asked the key question.
Fang Jue shook his head: "With the existing means, it is impossible, but it can be taught to craftsmen."
"This product is expensive when you first see it, and it is of excellent quality. Once it goes on sale, I am afraid it will be sold out."
"Even if the price is higher."
Fang Jue had no doubt about this.
In the history of the earth, during the years when glass was first introduced, it was also praised in the sky.
This is something that has been proven by the market and is reliable.
And consistent with the early fireworks, Fang Jue took out this thing with no intention of exploiting the common people... He was just pointing at the rich people in the world.
To make money, you have to make money from capitalists. This is called robbing the rich and giving to the poor.
"Young Master, this thing... I'm afraid it will sell better than fireworks." Yan Lanfeng pondered.
Fireworks are just consumables. Although they can be shown off, they only last for a moment.
But if anyone has this novel thing, put it in the most conspicuous place...and invite relatives and friends to watch it together.
That would be great.
After Fang Jue's influence during this period, Yan Lanfeng had already set his sights on those wealthy families.
The Ministry of Finance used to make money, but the methods were too old. Although there were commercial activities, they were only things that everyone needed, such as salt, iron, tea, etc.
Unless these things are exported, it is difficult to sell them at a high price, and we have to worry about people's spending power.
But fireworks glass is obviously a high-end product aimed at rich people, and you don’t have to worry about whether the people below can afford it.
Let’s take money out of the pockets of rich people first.
In the future, when the industry matures and rich people buy it, the cost will be reduced and prices will be selectively reduced.
At that time, we can provide special products to wealthy people so that they can continue to spend money willingly.
This kind of routine has been used since ancient times. It's not that smart people can't see it, but they also have needs... so it's really a consensual relationship between you and me.
…
After coming out of the East Palace, the carriage was driven by Wang Feng. After Wang Feng got off the carriage after leaving the palace, Dianyi took the two people in the car back to Fangjiazhuang.
For most of the time on the carriage, Yan Lanfeng enthusiastically asked Fang Jue for advice.
"Young Master, what you just said is really enlightening and enlightening to me. It is better than ten years of reading!"
Yan Lanfeng was sincerely impressed. He felt that Fang Jue's business skills were indeed a genius.
Fang Jue said modestly: "These are all methods used by the ancients. They are just picking up people's wisdom. They are not clever."
"Young Master is too humble," Yan Lanfeng said seriously, "Everyone reads the books of sages, how many of them can compare with Zhuge's chief minister?"
Fang Jue chuckled, that's true.
"You're just a young master. Why don't you suggest that your majesty take this glass into state ownership?" Yan Lanfeng rolled his eyes and said.
Fang Jue glanced sideways at the guy, who rubbed his hands in embarrassment.
"Shang Shu Yan, the current technology and craftsmanship of glass is still difficult to produce in large quantities, so we only make high-quality products at the moment."
Fang Juedao: "With such a small output, there is no need to care whether it is state-owned or not."
"Then... Young Master wants to run his own business?" Yan Lanfeng teased and reminded, "If a high-ranking member of the imperial court goes into business in person, are you afraid he will be criticized?"
This is the swallow skin.
If you want my business, why are you still trying to fool me here?
"Master Yan, do you want this business?" Fang Jue said with a smile.
"Uh, haha..." Yan Lanfeng rubbed his hands, feeling a little embarrassed.
As the Minister of Household Affairs, he is under great pressure. In such a large country, money has to be spent everywhere, and he is the first responsible person.
So I think about increasing revenue and reducing expenditure all day long. Otherwise, how could I be so bold as to make false accounts to show to the emperor?
"Young Master, the household department is poor..." Yan Lanfeng said miserably.
Fang Jue almost laughed out loud.
The Minister of Household Affairs who is in charge of the national treasury is calling me poor in front of me?
You are indeed worthy of being Yan Pa Skin. You are really thick-skinned.
"Starting from next year, the tax revenue of the Ministry of Household Affairs will increase by leaps and bounds, and will double from the year after next." Fang Jue said confidently.
"That's because I have some new food from the young master. I have this little confidence, but it can't meet the emergency."
Yan Lanfeng cried and cried: "It's about to get colder now. When winter comes, universities will definitely be affected by snow disasters every year... What will the Ministry of Household Affairs do if they don't have money to provide disaster relief?"
As he said that, he started wiping away his tears.
That's called a voice with both emotion and emotion.
Fang Jue looked at him with a smile.
I'll just watch you perform.
Let me see how loud you can cry and how long you can cry.
"Young master, you don't know something...Last year Jiangnan Road was covered with heavy snow for more than two months, and thousands of people died of starvation and freezing..."
"Early spring this year, Qinzhou North was also hit by a disaster. Without a drop of rain, it would be impossible to farm..."
"Just when the young master came to Beijing, another locust plague broke out in Dengzhou, Yingzhou and other places. It is estimated that there will be no survivors after the autumn, and we will have to wait for the government to provide disaster relief."
Yan Lanfeng said bitterly: "I really want to take my people and raid the homes of those grain merchants, but this won't work. It's not a long-term solution."
"The household department is too difficult. Your Majesty also wants to expand the army. This year there will be a musketry bureau... How much food and how much money do the soldiers of the Thousand Household Battalion have to eat..."
Yan Lanfeng wiped his nose and tears on Fang Jue's shoulders.
"Okay, okay..."
Fang Jue smiled and pushed the guy away and said, "The Ministry of Revenue can open its own factory to manufacture and sell this glass, okay?"
"Really?" Yan Lanfeng swept away his depression, his face glowed red, and there were crystal tears in his eyes.
Fang Jue found it funny. If he didn't want to hand it over to the Ministry of Household Affairs, why would he expose this thing in front of the emperor?
"But Fangjiazhuang also manages this thing." Fang Jue said.
"Ah?" Yan Lanfeng was a little surprised, but also a little annoyed, "Young Master, aren't you afraid of being said to be competing with the people for profit?"
Fang Jue smiled and said, "Okay, Master Yan."
"It is not a good thing for one company to dominate. Products need competition, otherwise the quality will get worse and worse, and they will not want to make progress."
Monopoly is not possible.
Once it is state-owned, it will inevitably form a monopoly.
Salt and iron are national assets and must be monopolized by the state. Fireworks are too dangerous and it is best to be controlled by the state.
But glass is different. This is something that is born to be a good product.
"Competition?" Yan Lanfeng seemed to understand, but he realized something and began to think.
After a while, Yan Lanfeng said: "Young Master, I roughly understand what you mean. You are afraid that the state will slack off, but if it is privately owned, it will irritate the Ministry of Household Affairs."
"If these government officials knew that what they were doing was worse than being privately owned, wouldn't they feel ashamed?" Fang Jue said.
Yan Lanfeng thought thoughtfully: "Young Master, what you mean is that in the future, treasures must be managed in this way of competition between state-owned and private companies?"
"Don't worry, the boss still belongs to the Ministry of Finance."
Fang Jue said with a smile: "I only make high-quality goods and deliver bulk goods to you, so I will definitely earn much more than me... and I also pay taxes, so the household department will make a steady profit."
"Pay taxes?" Yan Lanfeng suddenly smiled when he heard this.
He chuckled a little shyly and said, "I thought that the young master didn't plan to pay taxes..."
Although officials doing business have been criticized, it has always existed.
Yan Lanfeng knew that 80% of the officials in the capital had businesses, but they were not directly in his name.
Some people name them in the name of their parents or brothers, and some find an unrelated businessman to support them...
Those people don’t pay taxes!
It's not that the Ministry of Revenue doesn't want to collect this tax, but the intertwined interest network of officials is too large and complex for the Ministry of Revenue to offend.
There are even officials from the Ministry of Revenue who are also involved.
"Then when will this glass factory open?" Yan Lanfeng asked impatiently, "It's best to sell a batch before the weather gets cold, so that we can meet various winter expenses."
The Ministry of Accounts is definitely not short of this little money.
Fang Jue knew that this Shangshu Yan had always had a short temper.
Making money is even more so.
Yan Lanfeng was often criticized and impeached for this, but he could always get money, so the emperor relied on trust and didn't care at all about those malicious attacks.