back to ancient times to be emperor

Chapter 595 The Empress Dowager Summons
When the imperial meal came in, it was placed on a small table made of red sandalwood.This couch is where Lu Chengqi rests for lunch on weekdays, and with a small table, it is a place to entertain guests.You can drink tea with guests on it, or play a game of Go, or have a long talk...Of course, if you put food on it at this moment, it becomes a dining table.

Apart from Zhou Zhiruo, not many people were lucky enough to be able to sit on Lu Chengqi's couch.Among the civil and military schools of the Manchu Dynasty, there were only a few people who received this honor.Even Xu Chongguang, the chief assistant of the cabinet, can only be given a seat, but not the treatment of sitting on the couch.

This couch is made of red sandalwood, the whole body is painted with black lacquer, the shape is simple, elegant and solemn.The tooth plate is made into a pot door shape, and the flower buds are turned out at both ends.There is a ridge line on the top of the dental plate to the legs and feet, and the shoulders hang upside down, which makes the dental plate and the legs and feet a seamless one. The ingenuity is full of craftsmanship.And under the couch legs, there are treads, which bear lotus leaf-shaped feet.The back legs of the couch are straight down, without decoration, and the front and back are different.The couch has a reasonable structure, moderate proportions, smooth curves, vivid and powerful, and appropriate decoration.The edge of the couch is made of a plain ice tray, with a soft drawer, and the lower teeth of the waist are puffed out, plain and undecorated, and the two ends are dug into arcs to meet the three curved legs.The three-curved legs have natural twists and turns, and the horseshoes are everted, making the whole curve smooth and soft.The foot of the couch is in the shape of three curved legs. Three curved legs are not a rare system. However, to achieve the balance between publicity and restraint, and the unity of robustness and elegance, it must be the work of famous masters.If famous masters were here, they would definitely be able to tell at a glance that this is a high-quality couch from the Jin Dynasty. Looking at the color of the red sandalwood, one would know that it has experienced the precipitation of time.

After dismissing the maids, Lu Chengqi and Zhou Zhiruo took off their shoes and got on the couch to have lunch.

Lu Chengqi asked suddenly: "How is the management of Huangzhuang, how much money can there be in circulation now?" He also heard that Zhou Zhiruo said that he wanted to use the money from Huangzhuang to feed back the national treasury, so he asked this question.On weekdays, he doesn't ask how much money Zhou Zhiruo earns.Huangzhuang is an industry under the name of the royal family. It is equivalent to a state-owned enterprise in later generations.

It never occurred to her that in the hands of Zhou Zhiruo, a Huangzhuang that was almost out of business would actually come back to life, and even expand its scale repeatedly.At this moment, when Zhou Zhiruo said "about ten million guan", Lu Chengqi almost choked: "What?! So many!!!"

The national treasury is only 700 million guan, but the money in Huangzhuang is only [-] million guan, that is, [-] million guan.This... This is simply a rich country!
Lu Chengqi was happy for a while, but suddenly thought of something, and then his face darkened again.Seeing him like this, Zhou Zhiruo asked cautiously, "Your Majesty, but the concubine did not do well?"

"Hey!" Lu Chengqi shook his head and said, "It's not that Zi Tong did a bad job, but that it was too good, beyond my expectation. Zi Tong is really a business genius. In just two years, there are Such benefits. It’s just that Huangzhuang has grown bigger, but it’s not beautiful..."

Zhou Zhiruo asked puzzledly: "It's not beautiful to make Huangzhuang bigger? What's the reason for this!"

Lu Chengqi explained patiently: "Huangzhuang is big, and the industry it does must be the leader. If all the money is made, the people should resent it. Giving benefits to the people is the original intention of my development of Huangzhuang If the common people feel that Huangzhuang is an obstacle, then there is no need for Huangzhuang to exist."

After hearing this, Zhou Zhiruo thought about it for a while, and it was indeed the truth.Take maritime trade as an example, the merchant ships of the imperial court are guaranteed, even if they capsize in the face of strong winds and waves at sea, they can still make profits.Huangzhuang is too fair in doing things, and it can compensate for losses. Why are traders not tempted?It's just that other sea trade fleets will be squeezed out.The price had to be lowered, even lower than that of Huangzhuang, in order to barely keep a bite of food.After Lu Chengqi's reminder, Zhou Zhiruo suddenly woke up: "Your Majesty means that Huangzhuang can't be too domineering?"

Lu Chengqi said: "That's right, what Huangzhuang wants to do is something that the common people want to do but are unable to do. For example, opening a cotton spinning mill, building roads, etc. These are all big projects, and non-private funds can pry them into action. .As for Haimao, we can increase the price so that the rest of the merchants can have food to win over their hearts. Of course, the speed must be controlled, and the leader of Haimao must still be Huangzhuang."

Zhou Zhiruo is worthy of being a business genius, and she understands everything: "Your Majesty's meaning, the concubine probably understands. In other words, the price of Huangzhuang should be raised, so that the merchants who follow in can make money?"

"It's almost like this. The quality of Huangzhuang must be the best, but the price must be the most expensive. You get what you pay for. This rule cannot be broken." Lu Chengqi thought of the four big families in the late Republic of China, who were crazily amassing money. It made the people miserable, and finally led to the loss of the country.If you have money, it is the last word that everyone earns it. If you earn it all, you will not be far from death.

Zhou Zhiruo kept it in her heart silently, and ate the food slowly.Lu Chengqi took her food with pity, and said: "Zitong, you helped Huangzhuang with one hand, and it was hard work. I know a thing or two. You picked out all the rice moths that were in Huangzhuang, and managed them with your heart. Today's Huangzhuang is the only one. But I am the Son of Heaven, I can't just take care of myself, I still have thousands of people, if they..."

"Your majesty's difficulties are understood by all my concubines." Zhou Zhiruo smiled, "It's good that way, there are not so many things to do in Huangzhuang, and my concubines can relax a bit..."

Lu Chengqi didn't know what to say, with such a reasonable wife, what more could a husband ask for?Changing the subject, he said, "Let's not talk about that, I haven't been to the orphanage for quite a while, what's going on there?"

When talking about the orphanage, Zhou Zhiruo's eyebrows brightened: "Those children have all been educated. There are orphanages under the name of Huangzhuang in every state capital, and they have invited Mr. to teach. The orphanages in Chang'an City are newly entered. A group of orphans are all top-notch from the prefectures. The concubine thought to himself, if they are well trained, His Majesty will have many capable helpers in the future. Not to mention capable ministers and generals, they all come from here!"

Lu Chengqi also had this thought in the beginning, he laughed loudly and said: "The one who knows me is Zi Tong!"

After the laughter, Lu Chengqi paused and said, "You don't need to force them, let them do whatever they want. Dashun is so big and has so many opportunities, it's good to let them break out of their own world."

Zhou Zhiruo had long regarded these children as her own, if it wasn't for Lu Chengqi, she would have been reluctant to let them do so.Hearing what Lu Chengqi said, he felt happy and didn't say much.Lu Chengqi's words are enough, and how to arrange it in the future is all her business.

The two ate, talked and laughed, half an hour gradually passed before they barely finished eating.

When the palace lady came in to tidy up the little table, Gao Hao also came in hurriedly, and said beside Lu Chengqi, "I want to report to Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has something to call for His Majesty..."

Startled, Lu Chengqi looked at Zhou Zhiruo, waved his hand and said, "I see, you go down!"

(End of this chapter)