Daming: Start with an Altar of Luck

Chapter 41 Old Zhu Wants Money (For Collection)
It was getting late, and Zhu Biao returned to the East Palace after having dinner with Empress Ma and Lao Zhu in Kunning Palace.

On the way back to the East Palace, Zhu Biao suddenly remembered Zhu Xi who had been beaten by him two days ago, and immediately went to Zhu Xi's residence.

"Second brother, if I knew you could rest for so many days, I should have let my elder brother beat me up that day, so I wouldn't have to go to class."

"Hey, then why didn't you come out and take the beating for me? Hmph, if it wasn't for the elder brother's pleading, I would have been beaten to death by the emperor that day. Fortunately, the elder brother beat me up first."

Before Zhu Biao approached, he heard the voice of Zhu Xing and Zhu Xing coming from the room. Hearing the conversation between the two, he couldn't help but shook his head and smiled.

"Cough cough~"

Zhu Biao coughed twice and pushed open the door directly into the house.

"Didn't you say that no one would disturb you? Hey, why are you here, big brother?" Zhu Xi sternly shouted with displeasure on his face, and when he saw that it was Zhu Biao, he immediately put on a smiling face and pretended to be Get out of bed.

"Okay, let's lie down, it's fine if you don't resent big brother for being too hard that day." Zhu Biao looked at his two brothers in front of him.

"No, no, if it wasn't for Eldest Brother, I am afraid that my third brother and I would be beaten to death by the emperor. How could I resent Elder Brother, and it would be too late to be grateful." Zhu Xi quickly explained.

In Zhu Xi's heart, he still respects his elder brother. After all, Zhu Biao has been taking care of himself since he was a child. If you are good, how can you hate Zhu Biao.

"I've met elder brother." Zhu Yan also hurriedly greeted him at the side.

"Third brother, how is your studies recently?" Zhu Biao also looked at his third brother Zhu Yan with a smile on his face. As for the meaning of this smile, it is worth asking.

"It's okay, it's okay. Since the last time, my fourth brother and I have been diligently studying with the masters every day." Zhu Yan said hastily. Zhu Biao suddenly became interested in testing himself.

"Well, learn from the masters well. In the future, you will all be the princes of Daming, and you will guard the side for Daming and father. Don't be careless!"

"Understood, brother." Zhu Biao quickly agreed, as long as he didn't take the exam, Zhu Biao could say whatever he wanted, and even Zhu Biao felt that it would be fine if Zhu Biao beat him up so that he could miss two days of class.

"Okay, since you have nothing to do, I will go back first, and I will ask Wang Yong to send you some supplements later, and hurry up and go back to the big Ben hall for class."

"Understood brother X2." Zhu Chen and Zhu Chen replied in unison.

Seeing that the two were about to get up to see him off, Zhu Biao waved his hand directly and took Wang Yong back to his East Palace.
-
In the Wenhua Palace, after Li Shanchang and other important officials retreated, only Zhu Biao and Lao Zhu were left.

"Biao'er, what happened to the cement matter?" Old Zhu asked without raising his head.

"My father, the transaction has been completed with the Ministry of Household Affairs, and the cement has been continuously transported from Jurong to Yingtianfu by water. Counting the time, the first batch of cement will be transported to the dock today." Zhu Biao made up his mind. Time, I think it should be almost today.

"Well, that's fine. After the cement arrives, the construction department will start construction immediately. By the way, you didn't lose too much in this transaction with the household department, right?" Lao Zhu put down the memorial in his hand and looked up. Zhu Biao.

Lao Zhu also has a headache. The Ming Dynasty is full of waste, and there is not much money and food. Otherwise, Lao Zhu would not need the Ministry of Households to liquidate it. It doesn’t matter if he just gives more money with a wave of his hand. !

"It's okay, I only earned about 4 taels!" Zhu Biao pretended to be indifferent and said the silver taels he earned from it lightly.

"What, those people in the household department are all idiots?" Old Zhu was angry. He asked the household department to come forward to save some money. How could Zhu Biao make so much money? Could it be that there is some daring person in the household department? only?
"The people in the household department are not stupid, but they have never seen cement before, and they don't know how much cement costs. At the same time, I bought the lime mines closest to Yingtian in advance, so the cost is extremely low. At the same time, we Daming’s business tax is also low, and I only paid 600 taels of business tax for earning so much, tsk tsk.”

Zhu Biao couldn't help sighing that the early Ming Dynasty seemed dangerous, but in fact, as long as he didn't step into the court, did some small business quietly, and cleared up the relationship between the upper and lower levels after he became rich, life was actually quite easy.

"Thirty tax one! This is a situation that even later generations do not have." Zhu Biao had to guess how much money the guy who customized the tax received from the merchants at that time, and how much money was received from the civil and military people who knew the way.

In fact, it is right to think about it. After all, the court is full of civil and military officials, not to mention military generals.

Think about what their life was like before, and you can understand why there is such a fucking policy of "emphasizing agriculture and suppressing business". Low, which seems reasonable, is actually very unreasonable.

"Business tax is not low anymore. Thirty tax is one, and the ministers in the court say that it is not low. The low business tax shows that the court does not value business. If the business tax is too high, doesn't it prove that the court attaches great importance to businessmen?" Lao Zhu continued. Said with a blank face.

"Father, my son, I would like to ask you a question. Since the Ming Dynasty emphasized agriculture, you also feel sorry for the people. Why did the people with the least income in the Ming Dynasty have to bear most of the taxes of the imperial court, while the gentry and businessmen could not pay taxes, or pay extremely high taxes?" Less taxes?" Zhu Biao asked back.

"Well, one is that the imperial court is short of food, and the high agricultural tax also shows that the imperial court attaches great importance to farmers. As for how much money can merchants make?" Lao Zhu was at a loss when asked by Zhu Biao.

"Father, did I earn less from the cement business with the Ministry of Households this time? Since the imperial court valued the common people, why didn't they reduce taxes for the common people, or lower the agricultural tax? Why did the Song Dynasty have a prosperous economy?"

"What else does the Song Dynasty have besides being rich?" Seeing that Zhu Biao mentioned the Song Dynasty, Lao Zhu looked down on the Song Dynasty who only knew about paying tribute.

"Since my father thinks that the merchants have no money, I will prepare a batch of good things another day. Let's see if they have any money." Zhu Biao felt that the little silver he earned was not enough for Lao Zhu to see the truth clearly. Just prepare some good things another day, and hold a 'Daming Auction' to let Lao Zhu see whether those gentry, businessmen, and ministers have money.

"Okay, then let's wait and see if they have any money. If the policy is really wrong, we will kill those who give us advice." Lao Zhu said indifferently, after all, taxation is a national policy. After how many people have corrected it, how can it be wrong to say that it is wrong.

"By the way, Biao'er, you don't need that much money in your East Palace, do you?" Old Zhu looked at Zhu Biao with a smile.

"I gave half of my father's money to my mother. The rest of the science and technology bureau still needs to research new artillery, and the science and technology bureau also needs to produce textile machines. The wood is a big expense. Father, don't think about it. If you want it, Go to my mother and ask for it!" Zhu Biao had expected that after he told Lao Zhu how much cement he made, Lao Zhu would definitely have an idea.

"Hey, you bastard, I gave half of it to your mother, why don't you give some to your father too." Lao Zhu raised the memorial in his hand as if he was about to throw it away.

"Father, I will go back first if I have nothing to do, there is still something to do in the East Palace." Zhu Biao didn't want to drag Lao Zhu any further, so as to save Lao Zhu from having to pay half of the money.

　Ask for collection, ask for monthly ticket
　　
　
(End of this chapter)