After having had enough wine and food, the Queen left the imperial study room with satisfaction after getting Liu Dashao's promise of ten full-length mirrors. Mobile version https:m.
"Outsiders all say that this young master is Liu Papi. They have no idea how kind-hearted this young master is compared to the real Papi." Watching the empress leave in a dignified manner, Liu Mingzhi said to himself while suppressing his words.
Isn't that the way it is? A bullock that was just killed has come to honor you even before the night has passed. It's better for you to eat my food and still have to extort my money.
As the saying goes, when an emperor is angry, he bleeds and floats in the oars; when an ordinary man is angry, he eats one meal and then another. Confucius said: "You are right to say you are tired."
Young Master Liu could only endure it in frustration.
After the queen left, Li Zheng took off his thick cotton clothes and put on a light robe. Now the temperature in the imperial study can be said to be like spring all year round. Young Master Liu felt that his back was wet with sweat.
It was so obvious that I felt uncomfortable all over.
Prince Li Baiyu also kept twisting and twisting. I guess the situation was not much better than that of Young Master Liu, but he did not dare to take off his robe. The only disadvantage was that he would lose his manners before the king.
Li Zheng moved his body a few times: "The robe is still light. Liu Aiqing, you have done a big thing for me."
"I am willing to sacrifice my life and blood for Your Majesty. Your Majesty is my guiding light on the road of life, shining in the direction of my progress."
The prince could only pretend to look to the side. He really couldn't stand the expression of Young Master Liu patting the horse like a dog. We are all human beings. How can you be so shameless?
Although Li Zheng was very pleased with Young Master Liu's shamelessness, he still pretended to reprimand Young Master Liu: "Liu Aiqing, pay attention to your words and deeds. If you stand in the court one day and still talk like this, Xia Aiqing will have to read your book to seduce the king's heart.
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"Yes, I obey the order, but even Master Xia and his ten subordinates are unswerving because this is what I mean."
"Okay, okay, the prince is here now. Let's talk about the ten million taels of silver. I'm still waiting for you to issue a military order."
Afraid that Young Master Liu would be bald and talkative again, and that his flattery would be unreasonable, Li Zheng had no choice but to interrupt Young Master Liu's flattery.
Prince Li Baiyu also looked at Liu Mingzhi seriously. After eating and drinking, it was time to talk about business. Ten million taels of silver was not a small amount for anyone. If he could really earn one for the national treasury,
With tens of millions of taels of silver, my position will be more secure.
The prince has positioned himself very well. The money he says is his own, but actually belongs to his father. If he really takes these ten million taels of silver as his own, his position will be over.
When talking about business, Liu Mingzhi also straightened his expression: "Your Majesty, the land of the capital is now in a severe cold season. The weather is already so cold before it snows. When the snow melts, it will definitely be freezing. As far as I know, now
The price of charcoal in the capital has been stuck for a long time, even three liters a day, one tael of silver, two taels of silver. If the weather continues to be cold, it is not impossible that the price of charcoal will rise to the price of five taels of silver. I am definitely not being alarmist.
Your Majesty should understand what I mean."
Li Zheng nodded solemnly: "What you said is true. Now the price of charcoal is rising steadily, and even the palace expenses are being saved again and again. We know what the situation is like among the people."
"Your Majesty, your Majesty, I understand that the price of charcoal in the capital today is beyond the reach of ordinary people. Even ordinary wealthy families are frugal and live frugally. Moreover, charcoal burns very quickly and cannot be maintained for a long time before the temperature in the room changes.
It's getting cold, so I came here this time to cooperate on a business with His Highness the Crown Prince."
Li Zheng frowned, his eyes wandering between Young Master Liu and the Crown Prince: "Liu Aiqing, do you know what you are talking about? The Tian family cannot compete with the people for profit, and you actually want to cooperate with the Crown Prince on business matters?"
"Your Majesty, of course I know what I'm talking about, but Your Majesty, it's ten million taels."
Li Zheng pondered for a while: "The ten million taels of silver you mentioned are the bonuses for doing business with the prince?"
"Of course it is. Your Majesty knows clearly that even if I have some family property, I cannot give away tens of millions of silver assets at will. Not only is it bitterly cold in the capital, but the weather in the thirty-six prefectures in the north is not far behind that of the capital.
, Yingzhou and Suzhou are adjacent to the grassland border, and it is extremely cold. They cannot afford luxury items like charcoal, but they can afford things like briquettes developed by the ministers."
"How much does it cost to make briquettes? How much does it cost to build briquettes? Can you clearly calculate it?"
"I have made precise calculations. The benefits are astronomical. The people of the thirty-six prefectures in the North are enough to make me a lot of money. Moreover, this business is a partnership between me and the Marquis of Guan Nei. He has now
The acquisition of all the mines in the capital is enough to maintain the supply of briquettes before the thaw this year. Your Highness the Crown Prince does not have to do anything and will make a 30% profit. What do you think, Your Majesty?"
Li Zheng stood up and walked to the coal stove. He squatted on the ground and groped for a few piles of coal briquettes: "I want to pull the prince into your chariot for 30% of the ganli. The prince's human shield is worth 30% of the ganli? Liu Aiqing would have to take it.
Don’t you think that the prince of a country is too worthless?"
"Your Majesty, 30% is a lot of profit. I and the Marquis of Guannei have spent more than one million taels of silver on purchasing the mines. Making briquettes and building coal stoves require a lot of capital. Duke Jingguo and Duke Wu each
We also need to divide 20% of the ganli, plus the 30% from His Highness the Crown Prince, so that I and the Marquis of Guannei can make some money. The third-level ganli will be nearly ten million taels. I will collect a total of ten million taels of silver and give it to His Highness, which is quite a lot.
Oh, Your Majesty, my heart is bleeding!"
"Oh? It turns out that Wan Aiqing and Yun Aiqing are also involved in this business. It just so happens that both of them are practicing bathing in the mansion. If you have nothing to do, why not call them together to discuss it? They will definitely be happy to do so.
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Li Zheng smiled playfully and looked at Young Master Liu who looked as sad and angry as if he had been cut into pieces.
"Uh!" Young Master Liu smiled bitterly: "Your Majesty, the two princes are already old. It would take a lot of effort to summon them together. It's freezing outside, so let's forget it."
"It doesn't matter. I can send a carriage to pick up the two beauties and prepare a charcoal basin for them to keep warm. It won't delay much."
Prince Li Baiyu also raised his lips slightly: "Father, I am willing to take the lead and personally welcome the two adults."
Li Zheng glanced at the prince with satisfaction. He was indeed his own son, and his cooperation was perfect.
He sighed helplessly. It's not easy to fool him. It looks like he's about to bleed heavily: "What do you mean by your majesty? Please tell me clearly. I am all ears."
Li Zheng gently walked back to his original position and sat on the dragon chair: "You said it yourself, the interests are overwhelming. You must know that in a place like the capital, people who are obsessed with interests are indispensable. Once things get big, don't talk about the prince.
Even I can't stop him. The prince was pushed out of the table by you and Guannei Hou to block the gun. It's not appropriate for 30% of the time to be beneficial to the situation and reason. Let's not talk about how much risk the prince has to bear. Even if it is the remonstrance of the censors, I
It's also a headache. Just like what you said to me at Erlong Mountain that day, in business, no matter how much effort you put in, how much money you can get, the prince's name is more valuable than the two of you, Liu Aiqing, what do you think?"
Young Master Liu looked at Li Zheng with a complicated expression. How could he be the dignified leader of the country? He was clearly a philistine businessman, and he was also the kind of ruthless person who would eat people without spitting out their bones.
"How much do you think it will be, Your Majesty?"
"Seventy percent, the prince will cooperate with you at the risk of competing with the people."
Young Master Liu felt suffocated for a while, feeling that a mouthful of old blood was about to spurt out, and he wanted to spit it in the emperor's face. You'll probably kill me.