Chapter 262.

Zhu Zhu boarded up his face and resumed his sternness, saying, “That wine, you sold it?”

Zhang Anshi said, “Yes, sold.”

Saying this, Zhang Anshi picked up an account book and sent it to Zhu Di’s face before he added; “This is the account, as well as future revenues, the minister’s projections, the wine alone, the annual revenue that can be given to the merchant bank, is ten million taels of grain silver up and down, and still the supply is not enough to meet the demand.”

“So many?” Zhu was surprised, “There are so many people in the world who want to drink this wine?”

“Sometimes wine doesn’t necessarily have to be brought to drink.” Zhang Anshi laughed and said.

Chu: “……”

Obviously, Zhu Di could not yet savor the meaning in Zhang Anshi’s words.

Zhang Anshi then patiently explained: “your majesty can still remember, when the ice Jing charcoal respect, at least since the recorded, from the Song dynasty to the birth of the flower and stone program, and then evolved to the Yuan dynasty so far ice Jing charcoal respect, this world can be said to be a gift into the wind. Such a situation, has been repeatedly prohibited, as your majesty said at the beginning, even Taizu Gao Emperor, it is difficult to prohibit.”

“I was just thinking, since this is difficult to ban, then why …… don’t we seek to benefit from it? Your Majesty, we can think differently, i.e., use new thinking to cope with this old problem.”

Zhu Di lowered his head and continued to look at the account book, the more he looked at it, the more he was moved, and said under his breath, “Keep talking, keep talking, don’t stop.”

Zhang Anshi said, “That’s why I’m thinking, I have no way to help Your Majesty ban ice respect and charcoal respect, but it’s always possible to make money from it.”

After a pause, Zhang Anshi continued; “Since we want to earn money, then we have to choose one thing, let’s call it …… gift tickets for now.”

Gift certificates?

Zhu Di sometimes hated to saw through Zhang Anshi’s brain, wanting to see inside, in the end, are filled with what.

Looking at Zhu Di’s glowing eyes, Zhang Anshi smiled and said, “Yes, we can take the essence of a gift and dissect it. What is a gift? Although on top of this gift, there are many honorable words, but its essence, is the exchange of benefits! The root of the problem is still in this word profit.”

“Usually when we speak of the word profit we think of gold and silver, and it is true that what this gold and silver represents is profit, so why don’t we take one thing and replace it with gold and silver?”

Zhu Di looked at Zhang Anshi thoughtfully and subconsciously said, “What you say makes sense, but how difficult it is to replace gold and silver in the world.”

This makes Zhu Di can not help but think of the treasure money, treasure money to his hands when the time, almost on has been playing collapse.

Just thinking about this, Zhu Di’s stomach was full of resentment.

Zhang Anshi said, “The reason why gold and silver also have value, on the one hand is rare. And this aspect of rarity is good, as long as the merchant bank side can control the source, the rarity of this item or not, it is not the merchant bank’s decision.”

Zhu said, “And?”

“And then there’s the fact that it has to be worth something.”

Zhu said, “This wine, if you dare to sell it for ten taels of silver, is valuable?”

“Your Majesty, the essence of value, does not lie in whether it really exists value or not, just as in ancient times, people think that shells have value, so take the shells to use as currency to trade with people, until later, smelting and casting process maturity, gold, silver and copper gradually replaced the status of shells. Whether the liquor has value, it is necessary to let people think, it is worth the price in the end.”

Zhu was like a studious student at this point, and continued to ask, “And how do you make people think it’s worth the price?”

Zhang Anshi then said directly, “Let the one who holds the power of speech, own it!”

Chu: “……”

This is actually not a complicated issue, at least Zhu Di can understand! What Zhu Di doesn’t understand is that it’s okay to enter the motherfucker?

Zhang Anshi continued with a smile, “When many dignitaries, and many merchants and merchants own it and are able to seek benefits from it, naturally there will be no need for Your Majesty and my ministers to trumpet its value.”

Speaking here, Zhang Anshi pondered for a moment before adding, “It’s like, people who own a lot of land will constantly proclaim how valuable it is. Pork vendors, will brag about the benefits of this eating pork in general.”

Zhu nodded, it was much easier to understand such a statement.

Zhang Anshi said: “And the biggest problem here lies in how to stuff the wine into the hands of these eh dignitaries. Of course, it’s not impossible for the merchant bank to take things slowly, there are always ways, publicity can be done, and it can be promoted slowly. But I was thinking that this effect is too slow, so I did a …… thing.”

No need to Zhang Anshi said out, Zhu Di took over: “You summoned that brocade guards, around the inventory!”

Zhang Anshi nodded his head and smiled, “Yes, the inventory around is to stop those who send ice and charcoal honors from moving around, so that their gold and silver can’t be sent out, teaching them to be anxious.”

Zhu nodded, “Finally, I’ll have to send you this wine.”

Zhang Anshi continued to analyze, “Sending wine is something they have no choice but to do. But this wine, must also have to meet the conditions of delivery, for example, it is unique, this unique is the most important. This is followed by its high value, the advantage of high value lies in the fact that only a few boxes, you can go to the door, but also more convenient.”

“In addition, there is the most important thing is that its value at a glance, such as the minister pricing five two or ten two, this thing is sent, the person who accepts the gift, the heart immediately has a number, a moment to know …… each other the weight of the gift.”

Zhu Di couldn’t help but lose his smile, “That’s true, as soon as you say how much wine, I will immediately be able to calculate roughly how much silver it can be worth, so there’s still this kind of name here.”

Zhang Anshi said, ”Of course, to reach this point, it is actually still not enough. Because …… although everyone has this wine, and even a lot of merchants and traders suspected of buying and selling it, have also profited from this wine. Therefore, everyone will brag about the value of this wine, but it is not easy to maintain its value.”

Zhu then added curiously, “And what should be done?”

“In the early days, while I sold the wine out, I secretly let people make a high-priced recovery. Five taels were sold out, but I let some merchants, at five taels and three coins of silver, make a big purchase.”

Upon hearing this, Zhu Di said in disbelief, “Wouldn’t this be a big loss?”

Zhang Anshi hemmed and hawed, “No loss, no loss. Your Majesty, in fact, even though the recovery was carried out, there aren’t many bottles of this recovered wine.”

Zhu was surprised, “What is the reason for this?”

Zhang Anshi cheerfully said, ”Your Majesty, when you know that a thing, it is increasing in price, are you still willing to sell it? It’s like, many of the people, to death, refuse to sell their land. Don’t look at the farmers honestly, but they firmly believe in one thing, that is …… land will always be more and more expensive in the long run. Thus, in the countryside, anyone who sells land, whether or not he sells it at a high price, will be rebuked as a loser by his neighbors and people of the same clan.”

With a look of realization, Zhu nodded his head and said, ”You have a point.

Zhang Anshi continued, ”That’s why this is the only way to maintain the value. Those who originally received the gift should have quickly resold the wine, causing it to be everywhere on the market, and I’m afraid that it wouldn’t take long for the price of the wine to plummet. But because this wine started to rise on the market, the people who originally received the wine, on the contrary, were in no hurry to sell it, in their minds, anyway, this wine can be exchanged for money at any time, and the future selling price, it’s hard to say, plus the minister’s side has controlled the production, so people are even more reluctant to sell it.”

Zhu Di cried and laughed, “You guy, you’ve kind of got them in the palm of your hand.”

Zhang Anshi said: ”People, always tend to avoid harm. Of course, also the benefits of this liquor, liquor is easy to preserve, and …… then again, the longer this liquor is preserved, the higher the value in people’s minds. The so-called ten years of good wine, a hundred years of good wine, is such a meaning. I’m only afraid that many people, nowadays, are desperately digging wine cellars to hide wine!”

“In this way, the vast majority of the wine, will be in the cellars of the dignitaries, naturally, there is no need to worry that there is too much wine on the market, and the price of this liquor will fall. And the minister will then control the production at the source, since then, this matter of using liquor as a gift will soon become popular, and the revenue of this liquor, will be guaranteed.”

“I learned this trick from the Tang Dynasty, when it was fashionable for dignitaries to store expensive spices. During the Tang Dynasty, especially in the late Tang Dynasty, most of the things obtained from the plagiarism were one warehouse after another of spices, which were all worth a lot of money. This is because the spice is also easy to save, the value is very high, and with the spice instead of gold and silver, can also avoid people’s ears. Just spice this thing, after all, is a foreign thing, we store this, cheap is only trafficking spice hu merchant. But this palace imperial brew, but for his majesty has a real benefit, and so on, the dignitaries and nobles home a steady stream of gold and silver, are flowing into his majesty’s hands.”

When Zhu Di heard this, he rejoiced and said, “You are right, you are right, they get the wine, I get the silver, but ……”

At this time, Zhu Di but frowned again: “I am the emperor after all, this is dry, it is only their exploitation of the people’s income, transferred to the body of me, the world is my, I really can not bear to.”

Zhang Anshi said, “Your Majesty, since this money is inevitably going to flow into their pockets, why can’t Your Majesty take it? If Your Majesty truly loves the people, then you can take this silver and benefit the people of the world! It is better than flowing into their hands and letting them squander it.”

“The so-called lesser of two evils is really just that.”

Zhu Di, however, said thoughtfully, “How can we benefit the world?”

“Build ships, settle the people of the world, and then in the future, using the model battalion as a sample, create an elite army and horse, and with the lowest cost, open up the frontier for his majesty, and these opened up frontiers can be used to settle the people, and on top of that, to build up such an army and horse, it will be necessary to expand the production of iron and steel and a large number of workshops, and these all require silver.”

In this world, there are only two ways to make people better off, one is to take advantage of others, and the other is to rob the Zhu family and the squires.

There are only so many resources, and something has to be eliminated to make one’s days a little richer.

But obviously, Zhang Anshi from birth, tied to the royal family, can not tell Zhu Di, I see that we eat more, or not, to come from up and down ……

Then, in front of Zhang Anshi, in fact, from the very beginning, there is only one way to go, and this road has been traveled by many people, and it works.

And Zhang Anshi’s words were, in a way, just what Zhu Di wanted.

Zhu Di narrowed his eyes and said, “How is the Model Battalion now?”

“Everything is fine except for the expense.”

Zhu Di said, “This model battalion is indeed an example of the world’s military horses.”

Speaking of this, Zhu Di is very heartfelt, so he said, “After some time, you on a charter to, this thing, I and you properly together.”

Zhang Anshi, however, suddenly said, “I have another matter.”

Zhu said, “Say it.”

Zhang Anshi said: ”Now that we are going down to the Western Ocean, together with the development of the merchant houses overseas, and the resettlement of all the feudal lords, we have already come to a conclusion. In the future, it is necessary to build harbors and many ships. I was thinking, this matter, has become more and more important, can be said to be urgent, how about in this six departments, and then set up a maritime department, how? If we can do so, both for the merchant houses, and shipbuilding, and various ports, and even for the feudal lords stationed overseas, can be managed.”

Zhu Di, however, frowned and said, “Do you think the hundred officials are willing to agree?”

Zhang Anshi dryly smiled, “This …… minister is not good to say.”

Zhu Di paused and said, “I will think about it again.”

With that, he looked down and continued to look at this account of the drinks, and couldn’t help but feel another pang of warmth.

Now, I am considered to be rich.

And Zhu Di’s temperament, this is not willing to be lonely kind, his mind, there have been countless thoughts come and go.

After pondering for a long time, Zhu Di said, “That 50,000 food households you added there, you choose yourself.”

“Ah ……” Zhang Anshi froze, this was a bit unexpected.

Zhu Di said: “I have said, you have made a merit, I will not be less than your benefits, you want to eat where, I have all allowed.”

After a pause, Zhu added, “Except for the capital.”

Zhang Anshi thumped his heart.

I know that it is good to get credit for something, but this was a surprise!

Fifty thousand households, not a small number, if he is selected in any of the affluent places, it is close to half of the House of several counties of taxes, it is in the hands of the Zhang family, generations …… can eat.

Zhang Anshi pondered for a long time and said, “I hope …… to feed on people …… exiled for minor offenses.”

The words out, Zhu Di was shocked, he would have done a good job of Jiangxi or Jiangsu and Zhejiang to throw out a few counties got.

After all, Zhang Anshi earned him really too much, and the credit is big, if it is not heavily rewarded, it really can’t be said.

But where did he think that Zhang Anshi’s request would be so simple?

Every year, the court has a large number of exiled people, some of them are captured stragglers, there are some theft or other crimes exiled people, and in general, the court exiled places, either let them go to the border towns garrison, either to go to the Qiongzhou or Guangxi, Guizhou and other places, to enrich the population there.

Zhang Anshi, however, wanted these people!

You know, most of these people, most of them don’t have a skill, but if they do, they don’t commit crimes, and most of them are poor, so they can’t mooch off of them.

Zhu Di heard, took a deep breath, looked at Zhang Anshi also looks a little different, said: “Hey, if everyone is like Zhang Qing this, regardless of personal gains and losses, only for the court to share the worry, the world where there will still be what internal and external problems?”

Zhang Anshi made the worst choice, naturally, making Zhu Di quite touched.

Zhu Di still felt that this is not good, so he said, “I can give you Ningbo House, or Ji’an House population ……”

Zhang Anshi, however, shook his head and said, “Your Majesty, I think …… having these prisoners will be enough. Of course, there is also a need for some smiths, and some other craftsmen, the number …… is around five thousand.”

Zhu Di looked at Zhang Anshi’s very serious appearance, so he didn’t object anymore, and he couldn’t cover the color of approval on his face.

He nodded, “Granted, all granted. Just these people, how do you intend to place them?”

Zhang Anshi said, “Didn’t Your Majesty say that Eunuch Zheng he found an island southeast of Java? That place is remote, so why don’t you let me place the people there.”

Zhu frowned up as he immediately remembered something and then said, “You mean, where the rat with the bag is?”

Zhang Anshi said, “Yes, yes, yes, there it is.”

Zhu frowned, “That place is so remote that it’s not even as good as Java.”

Zhang Anshi said, “I, a person, have no quarrel with the world ……”

As soon as he heard the words with the world, Zhu Di’s face involuntarily twitched.

Zhang Anshi continued, “There, place some stragglers, in the future …… when I am old, or my children and grandchildren grow up, at least there is a place to go. I originally also wanted to go to Annan, after all, before, His Majesty in Annan gave me a piece of cognac, but I think, this Annan land, after all, or my brother Zhu Gaoxu do governor, he is in Annan, blood, how to occupy his land for nothing? Why don’t we go to that island and keep kangaroos company?”

Zhu heard it and couldn’t help but sigh.

He really felt that Zhang Anshi had lost money.

Let’s not talk about other places, but let’s just say that the place where we had our food, Annan, was also considered fertile and productive, and at least it was densely populated.

But that one island, but is completely another model, is said to be very barren, and do not know how big this island, the local natives are very rare, and more primitive, as for the products, that is even less pathetic.

It’s such a shithole that said dog would hate it.

But on the contrary, Zhang Anshi is inclined to go here, which is clear, is the hope not to compete with Zhu Gaoxu for Annan, even a small state capital of Annan, can not afford to take away.

Zhang Anshi, this guy, usually see him do bad things, can be said to be bad as oil, but the heart is still very good.

Zhang Anshi heart is thinking, that place, the reason why barren, there are a variety of reasons, because early and the continent isolated, on the one hand, can not be external civilization dissemination and exchange, which is just as in the continent, a civilization discovered the cultivation, then very soon, this method will be spread throughout Europe to every corner of Asia, but this place, but there is almost no civilization dissemination of the means of low level of technology.

In addition, there is no animal husbandry, no domesticated cattle and horses, which leads to, more low productivity, but also unable to carry more people, most of the local natives are still in the primitive tribal period, the population is sparse, but also unable to produce social division of labor and cooperation, and then evolved into civilization.

But this place, once the start of foreign exchanges, with a large number of immigrants into, and these people bring better crops, and domesticated cattle and horses, then …… this more than seven million square kilometers, more than the whole of the Ming Guanzhi two Beijing eighteen provinces is also a vast land, completely is the country of heaven.

Large resources of coal, iron ore, and copper, as well as gold and silver minerals.

Plenty of grassland, enough to develop animal husbandry.

There are also countless good fields to grow wheat as well as other crops.

Plus it is surrounded by the sea in many places, which can be used as a natural harbor.

As for its remote location, but once the world’s civilization center in Daming, then the geographical location, is also considered unique, after all, from Java and Luzon is very close to the future as long as the development of the sea trade, it is enough to be and Daming, Annam, Java, Sumatra, Tianzhu and other places, trade links.

This place, Zhang family if early first to stand, not dare to say is the future of the king of the foundation, but at least also enough children and grandchildren to enjoy the rich and famous.

Of course, all of this presupposes that Zhang Anshi can be recognized by the Great Ming, and at the same time, can keep the place under control.

Zhang Anshi is now afraid that Zhu Di will not agree to it, so very seriously added: “I have decided, to go to this place, the name of this place, I have thought about it, it is called Nanzhou, I do not know what your majesty thinks?”

Zhu Di sighed: “Well, well, this is both your meaning, then …… will be the southern state as a food household, I seal the Zhang family in that place, children and grandchildren, forever town southern state. Your previous food households in Annan, there are also tens of thousands of households, right, plus these 50,000 exiled prisoners as well as artisans, I will give you all of them.”

Zhang Anshi finally breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, held his joy, and said with a grateful face, “I thank Your Majesty for your grace, Your Majesty …… should we award an iron coupon better?”

Zhu Di was very atmospheric: “You want a few, all for you, Dan Shu iron coupons, I have plenty.”

Zhang Anshi suddenly felt that this Danshu Iron Coupon, it seems that it is also not safe.

But think about it, right now will not be picked peach, but also rely on their own charm, this place …… want to let people free from coveting, on the one hand, need to court care of him, but now think of …… at least before his nephew Zhu Zhanqi that kid avalanche, he was can ensure, absolutely safe.

Nephew Juniper, you have to fight for your life, try to live 500 years.

On top of that, I’m afraid I have to maintain good relations with Java, Annam, and Luzon, which are close to this southern state.

To this King Ning, King Zhao, and Zhu Gaoxu, all to be very good raw enlistment!

Very well, turn around and repair the book to them, catch up on old times, talk about jianghu love and recall the feelings of the year.

Zhu Di thought about it, or feel a few points owed, touchingly said: “Zhang Qing this is really too generous, I thought Zhang Qing to lionize it, today only to teach me to see you also have a high wind side of the side, I’m not as good as those sons.”

This is from the bottom of my heart, think of the two sons who want to take over the throne, and then look at others Zhang Anshi.

Hey ……

Zhang Anshi heart in fact also some shame, but think carefully, that the southern state, now really is a barren land, I Zhang Anshi why ever fooled what?

So he said, “I am of a foreign name, and I am already ashamed to be honored by Your Majesty’s grace with the addition of a household and a cognac, so how can I dare to expect anything else?”

Zhu Di said, “After a few days, wait for the decree, oh, and …… that Tartar Alutai, and the leader of the Woodlawn Ha Department, will be entering the capital in the next few days, I feel …… that their ministry to stay in Liaodong, ultimately upsetting, but also under the The decree ordered them to surrender their weapons and war horses and move south.”

Zhu Di this two people are not assured, after all, there is the Woodland Harbor Department of the previous warning, apparently not willing to let the tiger return to the mountain again.

Zhu Di seems to think of something at this time, and said: “I yesterday and issued a decree, ordered the world all the feudal kings to come to the capital for an audience. On the one hand, these people are mostly my brothers and nephews. On the other hand, now the King of Ning and the King of Zhao have gone overseas to take up vassalage, but these vassal kings, however, are still waiting and watching.”

“I am old, the Prince’s nature and too lenient, if I have a day, but what misfortune, only afraid that this will have to be delayed, or while I am still in the prime of life, early to think of a way to let the feudal lords to make a decision early.”

Zhang Anshi said, “Your Majesty must live a long life, why do you need to say such things?”

Zhang Anshi, however, also knew that Zhu Di already wanted to make a quick cut.

Those brothers and nephews, aren’t they still hesitant, then by all means find a way to force these guys overseas.

My son, and the war hero, King Ning, have all gone, and you still want to stay in Daming and enjoy yourselves? Do you really think I’m easy to talk to?

Zhu Di smiled and said, “The kings come to the capital, then let the crown prince and you are responsible for hospitality, they are mostly my brothers, not to be neglected.”

After a pause, Zhu Di said, “I am not Jianwen.”

Zhang Anshi was speechless and couldn’t help but spit out in his heart, isn’t this asking the horse to run and not eat grass at the same time?

To force people to go overseas, but also to appear that it is not forced, but that they have volunteered, so that the world can watch a good show of brotherhood and friendship.

Your Majesty, how true.

Zhang Anshi immediately felt a lot of pressure, and he could already imagine now what kind of rowdy scene it would be.

But Zhu Di gave the order, what could he, Zhang Anshi, do?

Zhang Anshi could only obediently say, “I will do my best to assist His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and teach the kings to feel at home.”

Zhu Di smiled with satisfaction and said, “This is very good, especially …… King Zhou ……”

Zhou Wang Zhu straight, is Zhu Di’s brother, a mother born, and Zhu Di is the oldest four, he is the oldest five, because of this, so the relationship is more intimate.

Zhu Di obviously wanted to settle these matters peacefully, so he put extra emphasis on the fact that he was not the Jianwen Emperor.

But how to drive people overseas is a great test of kung fu.

Zhang Anshi actually doesn’t want to do this errand. What does your Zhu family’s business have to do with me?

But after all, …… his brother-in-law Prince presided over this matter, Zhang Anshi knew that he could not stay out of it.

He made a bow and responded, “I understand.”

Zhu Di nodded happily and said, “Do a good job, I trust the Crown Prince and Zhang Qing.”