Daming: I asked you to supervise the country, Daming is all crazy?

Chapter 43 Zhu Zhanji: The Ministry of Household Affairs can't handle this matter! ! !

"A new way to make table salt?"

Zhu Gaochi was holding up a bowl of tea when he heard that his hands trembled, and the tea immediately spilled all over his body.

The maids serving at the side were startled, and immediately knelt down with a "plop":

"Prince forgive me!"

Zhu Gaochi patted the water stains on his body, and seeing several maids in attendance kneeling, he immediately waved his hands with a gentle smile:
"I was not careful, no problem, no problem, get up!"

"The prince is magnanimous!"

The maids breathed a sigh of relief when they heard the words, and immediately stood up.

Seeing this, Zhu Gaochi waved his hands and said, "You all go down first!"

"Here!"

Zhu Gaochi tidied up his clothes, waited until the maids had all retreated, then looked at Xia Yuanji, and asked with some doubts:

"May Shangshu Xia please speak bluntly, this kid Zhanji really came up with a new way of making salt this time?"

No wonder Zhu Gaochi was suspicious. Since ancient times, there have been no small things about salt and iron, each of which is related to the lifeline of the court, let alone a new way of making salt?
Doesn't this mean that there may be an additional source of salt from now on?
Xia Yuanji nodded, and when he was about to say something, Zhu Zhanji also came in from the outside.

Glancing at Xia Yuanji, Zhu Zhanji smiled slightly, then looked at Zhu Gaochi with a smile and said hello: "Father, are you looking for me?"

"You boy!"

Seeing that Zhu Zhanji was smiling and not serious, Zhu Gaochi felt helpless, pointed at Xia Yuanji, and said:
"I just heard from Xia Shangshu that you discovered a new way to make salt. Is this true?"

When Zhu Zhanji heard the words, he knew that his guess just now was correct. It was indeed Xia Yuanji who got the salt out.

So he looked at Xia Yuanji with a smile and asked, "Old man Xia, did you get something out?"

Xia Yuanji was not angry when Zhu Zhanji called himself "Old Man Xia", which he actually thought was quite kind.

And every time Zhu Zhanji called him Xia Shangshu, Mr. Xia, he definitely had no good intentions.

Nodding, Xia Yuanji took out two fist-sized ceramic pots from his arms, handed them to Zhu Zhanji, and said with a smile:

"Prince and grandson please see!"

Zhu Zhanji took the ceramic jars, handed one of them to Zhu Gaochi, then took one and opened the seal, and poured it into his other hand.

Following the movement, a stream of fine white powder was immediately poured into his hand.

Looking at the salt that was exactly the same as in his memory, Zhu Zhanji smiled a little, then nodded and said: "Yes, that's it, after a while, I will teach you a way to make iodized salt! "

"Iodized salt?"

Xia Yuanji didn't know, so Zhu Zhanji didn't explain much.

Iodized salt is actually not very useful for the south, especially the coastal areas are not too iodine deficient, but it is still very useful for the north.

It's just that nearly 70.00% of the population of Ming Dynasty is distributed in the south, and the sea salt in the south naturally contains iodine.

Moreover, iodized salt is mainly for some big neck diseases, so in the short term, there is no need to be too urgent.

Zhu Zhanji plans to get out iodized salt after a while, when the things in his hands are almost busy, and the salt matter has stabilized, then he will get out iodized salt and popularize the benefits of consuming iodized salt.

Xia Yuanji wanted to ask, but he couldn't help but see Zhu Zhanji.

At this time, Zhu Gaochi looked at the snow-white fine salt in his hand with a little surprise, and squeezed some with his hands and put it in his mouth to taste it carefully.

If the maids who were serving just now saw this move, they would probably be stunned.

After all, the crown prince is the heir apparent, and if he eats something of unknown origin, if something goes wrong, it will be a catastrophe for the court ladies who serve the crown prince.

Fortunately, only Zhu Zhanji and Xia Yuanji were present in this scene.

Xia Yuanji was confident, but Zhu Zhanji didn't expect this.

After Zhu Gaochi tasted the table salt, he nodded with satisfaction and said: "This salt is good, with pure taste and pure color, even if it is better than the best tribute salt in the palace, where is this salt produced? ?”

Xia Yuanji's eyes were a little strange when he heard the words, he paused for a moment and said: "Back to the prince, this salt is made of salt stones that I took from a salt mountain near Yingtian Mansion according to the method my grandson said yesterday!"

"Salt stone?"

When Zhu Gaochi heard this for the first time, he was still a little confused. He didn't know much about salt production, he only knew about several major salt producing areas in Daming.

But there didn't seem to be any near Yingtianfu, so when Xia Yuanji mentioned Yingtianfu, his first thought was that he had discovered a new salt field.

Seeing Zhu Gaochi like this, Xia Yuanji knew that Zhu Gaochi should not understand what salt stone is, and he didn't want to understand the key point, so he explained:

"His Royal Highness, salt stone is a kind of stone made of poisonous salt. There are many such stones in Daming."

Zhu Gaochi: "..."

Zhu Gaochi is not stupid, Xia Yuanji naturally understood what Xia Yuanji meant when he said this.

He opened his mouth, he couldn't believe it, he looked at the salt in his hand, then at Xia Yuanji:
"This... this salt..."

Zhu Zhanji saw that his stupid father was a little stupid again, a little helpless, and couldn't help interjecting: "Hey, dad, what surprised you is that he turned some poisonous salt into table salt!"

"You child!"

Zhu Gaochi was mocked a little by Zhu Zhanji, interrupted, and finally cleared his mind, knowing that he was in front of his ministers, he could not lose his dignity, coughed, and then looked at Xia Yuanji, still holding With a bit of disbelief, he said:
"Xia Shangshu, is this salt really made from those poisonous salts?"

Zhu Gaochi still knows about poisonous salt. This kind of salt is found in many places, but it contains too many toxins, so it cannot be eaten.

Even people who can't afford salt can't choose to eat these poisonous salts.

Because it is no different from eating poison directly.

But if there was a way to turn poisonous salt into table salt, this...

Thinking of this, Zhu Gaochi couldn't help but jump violently in his heart.

Xia Yuanji could understand Zhu Gaochi's expression very well. When he just got out this kind of salt, he was actually no better than Zhu Gaochi.

Seeing Zhu Gaochi asking him, he cupped his hands, nodded seriously and said: "Back to the prince, this salt is made by the poisonous salt that I personally selected according to the method His Highness Taisun said, and there is absolutely no falsehood! "

"it is good!"

When Zhu Gaochi heard Xia Yuanji's affirmation, his chubby face showed joy, and soon thought of something, and then continued to ask: "How is the cost compared to other salts?"

This price is also the key, if the cost is too high, then the benefits for Daming will be greatly discounted.

Xia Yuanji also knew this, and said with a smile: "His Royal Highness, this salt requires only a brine. Compared with other table salts, although there are more processes, the cost is not much different. A catty of salt is only three Four pennies will do."

Zhu Gaochi was shocked again when he heard this, and asked with a blank face: "Three or four pennies?"

In fact, he also knew that the cost of salt was low. The reason why salt was sold so expensive was, on the one hand, the financial needs of the Ming Dynasty.

But the table salt in front of him is several grades better than the best tribute salt in the palace.

The tribute salt is not the ordinary table salt. The price of ordinary salt is about 120 Wen per catty, which is about two renminbi in silver.

But tribute salt is more than twice as expensive, and a catty of tribute salt costs at least two silver.

Xia Yuanji nodded: "It is indeed the cost of three or four pennies!"

Seeing this, Zhu Gaochi was overjoyed and said with a smile: "Happy event, happy event, great happy event!"

Xia Yuanji also laughed and said: "What His Royal Highness said is indeed true. With this method, my Ming Dynasty will definitely be able to raise the salt tax to a level comparable to that of the Song Dynasty. At that time, we only need to raise the price of new salt and salt. Greatly increased treasury revenue."

Both of them were in a good mood, and they were already discussing the price of the new salt.

The more Zhu Zhanji listened, the more something went wrong.

He was the one who came up with the method of salt, but in the end, it seemed that he wanted to throw him aside.

Seeing that Xia Yuanji had already proposed to price the new salt at about [-] Wen a catty.

Zhu Zhanji couldn't sit still anymore.

Glancing at Xia Yuanji and Zhu Gaochi who were having a happy conversation, he interrupted them directly:
"I don't agree with what you said!"

As soon as Zhu Zhanji opened his mouth, Xia Yuanji and Zhu Gaochi looked over together. Zhu Gaochi thought that Zhu Zhanji didn't know the importance of this matter, and said seriously:
"Zhanji, don't mess around. The new salt has something to do with Daming's finances, so don't be negligent. Once this salt is released, it will not only improve Daming's finances. On the other hand, if there is a comparison, it will inevitably reduce the price of other salts, making more Many people eat salt, so how can we not agree to such a thing that has the best of both worlds?"

Zhu Zhanji rolled his eyes when he heard the words, glanced at Xia Yuanji and his silly father, and said with contempt: "I think you are picking up sesame seeds and losing watermelon!"

Zhu Gaochi: "..."

Xia Yuanji: "..."

After Zhu Zhanji said this, the two looked at each other for a while. Xia Yuanji had a thicker skin. Hearing the words, he cupped his hands at Zhu Zhanji and said, "I wish to hear His Royal Highness speak clearly!"

Zhu Zhanji glanced at Xia Yuanji, and said directly: "I plan to set the price of this new salt at fifty yuan a catty!"

"Your Highness, Grandson, no!"

As soon as Zhu Zhanji finished speaking, Xia Yuanji immediately shook his head and objected:
"His Royal Highness, do you know how much a catty of ordinary table salt is now?"

Before Zhu Zhanji could answer, Xia Yuanji raised a finger and said, "120 coins, even the cheapest table salt costs [-] coins. Isn't it useless for His Highness to price such high-quality table salt at [-] coins?" Profitable? It will also affect other salt sales!"

"Old man Xia, I still think you have a bit of a business mind!"

Hearing Xia Yuanji's words, Zhu Zhanji was a little contemptuous, and asked after a pause, "Let me ask you two questions. How much is the salt tax revenue of Ming Dynasty now?"

Xia Yuanji's old face turned dark when he heard Zhu Zhanji's words. What do you mean he has a business mind?
But after hearing Zhu Zhanji's words, he was still a little unconvinced, and said, "At present, the salt tax in Ming Dynasty is about 1000 million taels a year!"

Zhu Zhanji nodded when he heard the words, which was not far from the number he thought.

He continued to ask: "If you follow your method and have new salt, how much will the salt tax be for a year?"

Hearing this, Xia Yuanji suddenly became a little proud, and without thinking about it, he said: "Return to His Royal Highness, the minister is sure to increase the salt tax to 2000 million taels!"

"Only 2000 taels?"

Zhu Zhanji curled his lips, glanced at Xia Yuanji, and then said lightly: "I said I am sure that your household department will make at least 4000 million yuan a year from new salt, how about it?"

"4000 million taels? Do you really mean what Taisun said?"

Xia Yuanji's breath stagnates.

What kind of number is this?
4000 taels!

Daming's entire fiscal revenue probably won't be able to be achieved in a year, right?

If Ji Gang's house hadn't been raided a few days ago, it would be impossible for the entire household department to spend so much money!
Xia Yuanji took a deep breath, suppressed the restlessness in his heart, then got up and cupped his hands and said: "His Royal Highness, please speak clearly!"

Zhu Zhanji smiled slightly when he heard the words, and said with a kind expression on his face: "Master Xia, this involves another cooperation between me and the Ministry of Households. In the future, the previous salt will not be produced again. I plan to let the households The Ministry arranges people to produce new salt with all their strength, but it must ensure that the production method of the new salt is not leaked, and I am in charge of having people sell the new salt. The Ministry of Households will account for [-]% of the profits, I will account for [-]%, and the remaining [-]% will belong to the emperor!"

"No!"

Xia Yuanji shook his head without even thinking about it when he heard the words: "The household department must take [-]% of the profit!"

Zhu Zhanji rolled his eyes and said: "Old man Xia, let me tell you the truth, [-]% profit, your household department can't grasp it!"

Zhu Zhanji actually felt a little distressed.

But the interests involved in salt are too huge,
Not to mention far away, even those ministers and noble families in the court, including those vassal kings, how many have nothing to do with it?

If Zhu Zhanji wants to touch this cake, he will inevitably make many people rebound.

After all, he is not the emperor now, but just a grandson of the supervisor.

Even if he wasn't afraid of those people, once things got worse, Zhu Di would definitely make trouble for him.

This is why he gave Zhu Di [-]% of the benefits.

To put it bluntly, it is to bribe Zhu Di!
Forty percent of the benefits, with Zhu Di's temperament of a war madman, absolutely cannot be refused.

As long as the [-]% profit can satisfy Zhu Di, even if those forces want to counterattack, they can only go to Zhu Di.

After all, Zhu Di is the biggest beneficiary here, and looking for Zhu Di...

It's not that Zhu Zhanji looks down on these people, even if he gives these people ten guts, Zhu Zhanji is worried whether these people have the courage to face the butcher's knife of the war madman!

After all, for Zhu Di, those who oppose him making money are opposing his Northern Expedition.

And anyone who opposes his Northern Expedition is definitely a thorn in his side, a thorn in his flesh!
When the time comes, his imperial grandfather will definitely not hesitate to kill a few people to help the Northern Expedition!
My own stupid father is the best witness.

If it wasn't for his stupid father's opposition to the Northern Expedition, Zhu Zhanji would not have the opportunity to sit in the position of supervisor now!

　Thanks to Potato Beef Brisket Rice, Antian Corpse, and the shadow of QQ Reading, the three big guys for their rewards, and thanks for the support of the three big guys, the author is very grateful! ! !

　　
　
(End of this chapter)