Chapter 78 The Frightened Minister of the Household
Zhuge Qingshan sighed: "Master Yan is right, the simpler the expectations, the more difficult they are to achieve."
"Unless the grain output is tripled and the treasury tax revenue is increased five times...otherwise, your expectations will never be achieved." Yan Lanfeng said in conclusion.
As the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Yan Lanfeng had done accounts, and he also wanted to perfectly solve the world's food problem.
Just to solve the problem of preventing people from going hungry at any time... we need to increase food production three times and increase national treasury tax revenue five times!
Because in a country, not only the people need to eat.
Infrastructure construction is needed, it is necessary to raise the army and train troops, to research and build ordnance, to maintain mountains and rivers, to build city defense services...
If you break it down, if you want the world to be peaceful and the people to be full...it will take more than ten times more!
The current situation can only be said to be barely maintained. It is the same in all countries. The cries of the common people are basically not heard by people above.
"That's why Mr. Yan made false accounts. I hope Your Majesty will feel that the country has no money left and will be less extravagant and wasteful." Zhuge Qingshan nodded, understanding Yan Lanfeng's difficulties more.
So, Zhuge Qingshan decided to reveal something.
"The grain seeds provided by the Young Master are indeed very good. In two or three years, the grain output can be more than tripled."
"Is it really so magical?" Yan Lanfeng was overjoyed. He thought His Majesty was an excuse before. He knew about this, but he didn't know the true yield of the new grains.
Zhuge Qingshan smiled and said: "So, do you know why His Majesty supports the Young Master and will resolutely implement the matters of the Musket Bureau?"
"If that's the case, I'm afraid your majesty will seriously consider the young master's request..."
"The young master is setting up a stall here today. He doesn't care about his dignity as an official, and doesn't care about the ridicule of everyone, saying that he is competing for profits with the people... I think he is here for the Ministry of Household Affairs, Mr. Yan?"
Zhuge Qingshan is indeed the number one minister. He has excellent eyesight and can see through everything at a glance.
Yan Lanfeng was still a little unsure: "Huh?"
"Young master, why do you insist on setting up a stall beside the Qinhuai River, next to the teaching workshop?" Zhuge Qingshan asked.
"Thank you, Mr. Chief Assistant. I will treat you to a drink another day."
Yan Lanfeng was also a very smart man, so he immediately resigned and took his servants to drive after Fang Jue's carriage.
"Invite me to drink?" Zhuge Qingshan looked at Yan Lanfeng's carriage and couldn't help but shake his head, "You tough guy, when have you ever really invited me?"
"Father, you have never interacted with courtiers, why do you suddenly seem to hit it off with Mr. Yan from the Ministry of Household Affairs?" Zhuge Yong waited until Yan Lanfeng left before he dared to come over and ask for advice.
The cabinet was talking to the boss of the Ministry of Household Affairs. Who knows whether it involved state secrets or not? Even Zhuge Yong knew how to avoid suspicion.
"That's because you know that as the chief minister of the cabinet, my father is in charge of the cabinet and the six ministries, and he has all the power. Naturally, he has to pretend to be at odds with the ministers with real power, otherwise he will worry about His Majesty's overthinking."
"That's right." Zhuge Yong has been taught how to protect himself wisely since he was a child, so he felt that his father was a bit presumptuous.
Zhuge Qingshan's true color:
"But my father never imagined that Yan Lanfeng would have such courage and dare to show His Majesty the false accounts of the Ministry of Revenue and the Treasury... He has the world in his heart and is willing to take responsibility. He really has the style of a national scholar."
Before this incident, Zhuge Qingshan had always thought that the national treasury was really poor, and he admired Yan Lanfeng for always finding money and food at critical moments to turn the tide...
Who knew that guy could act so boldly?
"What?" Zhuge Yong was also shocked, "Then he has committed the crime of deceiving the emperor?"
When Zhuge Qingshan heard this, he laughed.
The crime of deceiving the emperor?
Throughout the civil and military dynasties, there were really not many people who had not committed this crime.
It's just that some people deceive others, while some people are open-minded.
…
There are many cases of starry night visits in the history of celebrities, which look very romantic.
But when it did happen, the person involved was very helpless, because the night should be the time to rest.
After Fang Jue came back, he originally planned to sleep, but he felt that even if Yan Lanfeng was to come, it would be tomorrow.
Who would have thought that this old man would be so informal and chase after the carriage?
"Master, do you see me?" Fang Fu asked.
"See...invite him to enjoy the moon in the courtyard and drink tea." Fang Jue replied.
Fang Fu: "Is it rude to entertain guests in the courtyard?"
"He, Yan Lanfeng, is not afraid of being rude, so what should I be afraid of?"
Fang Fu sneered, knowing that the young master wanted to antagonize Shangshu Yan, so he went down to report it.
After a while, tables and chairs were set up in the courtyard of the main house, and some fruit plates were brought up, all of which were seasonal fruits from Fangjiazhuang.
Yan Lanfeng sat down and was shocked because he had never seen most of them.
Except for grapes and watermelons, I don't recognize anyone else.
"Master Yan is here at starry night. Do you have something important to do?" Fang Jue said jokingly.
Yan Lanfeng naturally heard the complaint and said: "Young master, please forgive me. I am really in a hurry, so I can't help but disturb you."
"It's okay. We all know that you, Shangshu Yan, have always had a fiery temper. It seems that I will have to get used to it in the future."
"How dare you, how dare you, it won't be so late next time." Yan Lanfeng begged for mercy, smiling bitterly.
Fang Jue poured tea for him, pushed a cup of tea in front of him, and said:
"Master Yan, are you here for the fireworks?"
"Young Master is really doing it for the Ministry of Household Affairs?" Yan Lanfeng was a little moved.
Dianyi on the side listened helplessly.
Rushing is not a business, young master, why are you talking like this? Aren't you losing the initiative now?
How to negotiate the price?
But Fang Jue didn't care, he didn't do it to make money in the first place.
If you really want to make money, you will be able to earn enough in Emperor Zun Pavilion for several lifetimes.
"Please teach me, young master!" Yan Lanfeng bowed his hands and bowed.
Fang Jue waved his hand: "You're welcome, sir. I originally wanted to hand over this fireworks business to the Ministry of Household Affairs, so as to create a source of wealth for Xia Guo."
"Young master has great righteousness!"
Yan Lanfeng immediately started planning and said: "Young Master has entered the game with a secret recipe. Our household department can provide labor and raw materials, and we have all the sales channels!"
Fang Jue nodded, that was the original plan.
The Ministry of Household Affairs has state-owned businesses: salt, iron, tea, porcelain, and silk.
The business channel is spread all over the country, and even sells to six countries.
Although the markets in each country and the output in Xia are small and cannot drive much of the economy, there is a ready market at least.
"Oh?" Fang Jue smiled and asked deliberately, "How much profit is the Ministry of Revenue willing to give me?"
"this……"
Yan Lanfeng hesitated: "How about 40%?"
Forty percent?
Fang Jue didn't think it was less, but smiled and said: "Shang Shu Yan, you are a little underestimating the profits of these fireworks."
"Give me 40% of the profit, I'm afraid you will cry out when the time comes."
"Ah?" Yan Lanfeng was greatly surprised. He also felt a little embarrassed because the Ministry of Revenue had taken a big advantage.
He was also quite perceptive and immediately asked, "May I ask, Master, how much did the fireworks sold today cost in total?"
Fang Jue stretched out two fingers.
Yan Lanfeng was overjoyed: "Two hundred taels?"
He knew that at least a thousand taels were sold tonight.
If the capital is only two hundred taels, you will make a lot of money. This business is very profitable!
Forty percent is indeed a bit much...
Yan Papi immediately said: "If that's the case, the Ministry of Finance will have to look down upon it and can only give Mr. 30% profit."
"hehe."
Fang Jue shook his head: "I only want 10% profit."
"What!?" Yan Lanfeng was overjoyed, "Young Master is so indifferent to fame and wealth, it makes my subordinates feel ashamed!"
Blow it up quickly, lest he regret it!
"I'd like to give you a drink!"
With that said, Yan Lanfeng replaced the wine with tea and drank it all in one gulp.
To show his sincerity, he drank all the tea leaves without spitting them out.
Fang Jue smiled, shook his head, raised his glass, and drank it all.
"The capital is only 20%. This kind of business is really rare!"
Apart from salt, porcelain and silk, there is no such easy business in Xia!
Fang Jue corrected him: "Yan Shangshu, it's not two hundred taels, it's two taels."
"Two...two taels?"
Yan Lanfeng stared, stood up suddenly, and stared at Fang Jue:
"Sir... Young Master, you said that the fireworks sold by the Qinhuai River tonight only cost two taels?"
"More than that, it's more if you include labor, but the raw materials are really less than two taels." Fang Jue shrugged.
Yan Lanfeng's eyes almost popped out of his head, and he seemed unable to speak.
Only then did he realize that his jaw was dislocated, and he quickly shouted: "Dianyi!"
In the darkness, Dian Yi flew out, held Yan Lanfeng's chin with one hand, and closed it suddenly.
Yan Lanfeng almost bit his tongue and broke into a cold sweat before gradually calming down.
Dianyi retreated to the dark place, and Yan Lanfeng held his hands in his hands: "Thank you very much."
Yan Lanfeng sat down again, but felt that his crotch was wet.
It was when he got up that he accidentally knocked his own cup of tea.
It's just that at this moment, Yan Lanfeng didn't care about the minister's demeanor. He leaned against the table like a curious baby and leaned towards Fang Jue: