"Well, that's a good thing."

"No matter what, the imperial court wants to save the market, and cannot let the market that has finally developed just stop."

"Now that you have made a plan, let's do it. It's almost November now, and we don't have much time. It's not good to delay it for a long time."

"You guys go ahead and do it."

As Zhu Youxiao said, he also started to think about it. Since a promotional feast was going to be held, could he also participate?

After having this idea, Zhu Youxiao was really interested. He hadn't done carpentry work for a long time. This was a special skill that he couldn't forget. Do you want to try making a batch of things?

Zhu Youxiao's carpentry skills can be said to be at the pinnacle. He has unconstrained ideas, meticulous thoughts, and a pair of skillful hands, which allow him to create many tricks on beds, tables, chairs, houses, etc.

Now that his cabinet ministers are planning to use promotions to stimulate the market, he really wants to design something more and spread it.

After Zhang Haogu and the others left, Zhu Youxiao immediately called Wang Tiqian and Wei Zhongxian, his two personal generals, to discuss: "The cabinet plans to stimulate the market and promote consumption. I think this idea is a good one, and I plan to do something." , and see the effect.”

"Don't they say that the world likes the good things coming out of the palace? I haven't done anything for a long time. What do you think I can design?"

Listening to Zhu Youxiao's question, Wang Tiqian and Eunuch Wei looked at each other, knowing that their prince wanted to resume his old business again, so he took matters into his own hands.

Yes, if the emperor has this intention, the servants will have to share the worries of the king and father.

Eunuch Wei thought for a while and said: "Your Majesty, my servant is thinking about it. Nowadays, folk merchants can make a lot of things. There are all kinds of folk styles such as tables, chairs and benches. Although their workmanship is far different from yours, Your Majesty." , but I can’t stand the fact that those things are huge and cheap.”

"So I think, first of all, it depends on whether it is sold to ordinary people or to the rich."

Zhu Youxiao nodded: "Wei Banban is right, continue."

Eunuch Wei bowed and said: "The common people have money, but they are used to living a hard life. They save money every one of them. When they choose things, they usually choose cheap, durable and expensive ones. We can't afford it. Therefore, if we sell it to ordinary people, we have to make something sophisticated and durable, and the materials should not be too good, otherwise the price will be too low and the palace will lose money."

"If it is sold to wealthy merchants and gentry, then the emperor can give full play to his own strength, design ingeniously, and use good materials. Even if the products are sold at a sky-high price, those wealthy merchants and gentry will rush for them."

"That's the truth." Zhu Youxiao really doesn't plan to sell it to ordinary people. If he wants to sell it, then sell it to the rich. How much money do ordinary people have? Only by selling to those rich can they make money.

Having made up his mind, Zhu Youxiao stood up and said, "Let's go and think about something."

Zhu Youxiao took Wang Tiqian and Wei Zhongxian to seek development for his carpentry business, while Zhang Haogu took Lu Xiangsheng, Qian Qianyi, and Cui Chengxiu back to the cabinet.

"Your Majesty has agreed, so we have to make preparations. After all, the court can afford to wait, but those small and medium-sized merchants cannot afford to wait," Zhang Haogu said.

Qian Qianyi looked at Lu Xiangsheng: "Mr. Lu, how much money can the Ministry of Household Affairs allocate?"

Lu Xiangsheng thought about it in his mind and said: "After the imperial navy defeated the Dutch, they seized a lot of warships and firearms, as well as a large amount of gold, silver and jewelry. Counting the compensation from the Dutch, there are five hundred

Ten thousand taels of silver."

"And the Nanyang Development Company also obtained a large number of firearms, gold and silver vessels, jewelry, a pile of silk, tea, spices, tobacco, and many other interesting things from the South and West in its colonies in Batavia, Palembang and other places.

"

"There are many of these things that are easy to sell. Gold, silver, utensils, jewelry, and jewelry can all be priced directly. These items cost about five million taels of silver."

"Converted into treasure banknotes, it would be a base of 100 billion."

Qian Qianyi said suspiciously: "Xiang Lu, the compensation given by the Dutch before was three million taels of silver. How come they only got five million taels of silver after they ransacked their house?"

Is the money too little?

Merchants from Shanxi have copied more than 100 million yuan. Qian Qianyi has also seen mountains of gold and silver. The Dutch in Southeast Asia have dominated the sea routes. How little money has been spent in more than a hundred years?

Lu Xiangsheng was helpless: "They have to transport things from this colony, such as large quantities of gold, silver, silk, spices, etc., to the west every few months. What is left behind are gold, silver, utensils, jewelry, and the like."

"It would be nice to be able to seize these silks, spices, tea leaves, tobacco leaves and other things. What's more, they also have a lot of Western goodies, such as Southeast Asian and Western artworks. These things won't be sold at high prices for a while."

"What's more, the most valuable thing in Nanyang is the colony itself. I can be satisfied with the hundreds of billions of treasures I have now."

When Qian Qianyi heard that this was the truth, he said: "Yes, at least there is still a base of 100 billion, which is not bad, to stimulate the market."

Lu Xiangsheng quickly put an end to Qian Qianyi's random thoughts: "Prime Minister Qian! Stop it! It's not 100 billion, but 30 billion."

With that said, Lu Xiangsheng settled the account for Qian Qianyi: "Previously, the navy went to sea to engage in a sea battle with the Dutch. A total of two to three hundred warships from both sides fought against each other. The navy also lost a lot of warships and personnel. Shen

The warships at sea need to replenish their firearms, the fallen soldiers need to be compensated, plus the repairs of the returning warships, firearms maintenance, and the replenishment of gunpowder and shells, these zero and zero total will require 17.5 billion."

"There are also year-end rewards and welfare subsidies for the New Army soldiers, especially those who guard the borders of Liaonan, Gansu, Shaanxi, grasslands, and Jiaozhi. These 150,000 soldiers guard the border, and their year-end rewards are double those of the Zhili in the north and south.

Including welfare, wine, meat, cloth, etc., this is 30 billion, and the soldiers of the North and South Zhili, another 280 trillion is needed."

"The total amount of zero and zero is 75.5 billion. The Ministry of Accounts did not retain any of these funds, and all the rest was allocated. The Ministry of Accounts alone still advanced 5.5 billion, which is

Only then can we raise 30 billion to stimulate the market."

Zhang Haogu looked at Lu Xiangsheng: "Mr. Lu, we know that it is difficult to be in charge of the Ministry of Household Affairs. But this is the first time for the imperial court to do this kind of activity. Whether it is to mobilize the enthusiasm of businessmen or encourage people to buy things, it requires a sum of money.

As for the bottom line, the 30 billion is still a bit short. Can we allocate another amount from the Treasury of the Ministry of Household Affairs?"

Qian Qianyi also said quickly: "Yes, Mr. Lu, the Ministry of Revenue will allocate more."

Lu Xiangsheng was a little helpless: "We are all keeping an eye on the Ministry of Accounts, but all the deposits are for emergencies. A little from this, a little from that, and they are paid here and there, but there is not much for emergencies."

Zhang Haogu pondered for a moment and said: "This event is sponsored by the imperial court. It is always a good thing to have more money on hand, and it will be easier to do things. Merchants' discounts and promotions are mainly used to stimulate the market, and these merchants cannot be allowed to lose money.

, otherwise who will do business in the future?”

"What I mean is that this time it is going to be big, it is going to be a big event, it is going to be known to everyone, it is going to be very popular, so that the people of the Ming Dynasty, as well as the businessmen and tourists from foreign countries know that the imperial court is going to give discounts, and it is going to be very popular.

Give benefits to everyone."

"If you do it well this time, you can do it every year in the future. Then it will not be the court spending money to give subsidies to businessmen, but businessmen spending money to pay tickets to the court. When doing business, some people do small business, and some people do small business.

People are engaged in big business, but the imperial court does not engage in these businesses. The imperial court operates a market, and the entire stall belongs to the imperial court. If the money is distributed, won’t the meat also rot in the pot? "

"In this way, the Ministry of household affairs will allocate another 20 billion to make up 50 billion. As for the two tens of billions, I will borrow it from the Ministry of household affairs and return it to the Ministry of household affairs later."

Lu Xiangsheng said: "Yuanfu, you said so, then the Ministry of Revenue will raise another 20 billion."

After settling down, Zhang Haogu continued: "Cui Shilang."

Cui Chengxiu was listening to the conversation of these big guys. Each sum of money started at tens of billions. Cui Chengxiu was also very excited when he heard this. He felt that sitting in this cabinet, he was an old cabinet minister.

Is this what it feels like to be in charge of the cabinet and govern the world?

Is this what it feels like when talking about national events?

Just as he was thinking about how he would govern the Ming Dynasty after joining the cabinet, and would be known as Prime Minister Cui and Elder Cui Ge, Zhang Haogu's words brought Cui Chengxiu back to his senses.

Hearing Zhang Haogu calling him, Cui Chengxiu stood up quickly: "Yuan Fu."

Zhang Haogu waved his hand and motioned Cui Chengxiu to sit down: "After Cui Shilang returned, he called representatives from the north and south chambers of commerce to discuss this matter. If the market is shut down for a day, not only the merchants, but also the court will suffer losses. This matter

It needs to be solved cleanly and neatly.”

Cui Chengxiu asked: "Yuanfu, when is this day?"

Zhang Haogu pondered for a moment and said: "The earlier the better, it's almost November, we have discussed it early and prepared it early."

Cui Chengxiu asked again: "When is the date when the court will hold the event? Businessmen should prepare early."

Zhang Haogu calculated the current situation of the Ming Dynasty and concluded that it would definitely not be possible to last for one day. Many common people, merchants, and gentry would not be able to travel in one day. In addition, publicity is still needed, so it would have to last for at least several days.

After making up his mind, Zhang Haogu said: "Let's take November 11th. Starting from November 11th, it will last for seven days. This time, the court will give a sample to the merchants and let them see what this business can do."

How to do."

"It's done this time. Wait until December and let those big businessmen come too."

After the cabinet was decided, Cui Chengxiu immediately got busy. This matter was sponsored by the imperial court, and he, Cui Chengxiu, was the main person in charge. Once it was done, it would be his commercial yamen's political achievements, and there was no room for sloppiness.

Prime Minister Zhang has mentioned that in the future he will definitely upgrade the commercial yamen and tax yamen into ministries. By then, the Ming Dynasty will no longer have the existing six ministries, but will have a more precise division of power and responsibilities, at least a dozen ministries.

, then the chance of joining the cabinet will be high, Master Cui still wants to join the cabinet.

The regulations were finalized here, Lu Xiangsheng approved a note to allocate funds from the Ministry of Household Affairs, Qian Qianyi also went to discuss with the big businessmen, and Zhang Haogu wanted to outline a detailed plan to submit to Zhu Youxiao.

This is not something that can be accomplished just by talking to the cabinet. The Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Rites, and the Shuntian Prefecture Yamen all have to be involved.

Soon, Zhang Haogu, Lu Xiangsheng, Qian Qianyi, Zhang Ruitu, Li Mengchen, the prefect of Shuntian Prefecture, as well as ministers from the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Rites, Cui Chengxiu from the Commercial Yamen, etc. all gathered in the lobby of the Ministry of Revenue for a meeting.

The first and second ministers of the cabinet gathered together to discuss how to deal with this situation.

Regarding issues such as money, the ministers of the Ministry of Household Affairs and their subordinate doctors were discussing, and how to handle this event, the ministers and doctors of the Ministry of Etiquette were also discussing.

Cui Chengxiu of the Commercial Office reported on the discussions with representatives of the large and small chambers of commerce, while Shuntianfu was responsible for local selection, order maintenance, etc.

This matter is very big, and the political achievements are very obvious. Every department has its contribution, and you don't have to worry about others taking your credit, so everyone is busy and enthusiastic.

Zhang Haogu watched Shuntian Prefect Li Mengchen and his subordinates gesticulating and arguing on the map for a long time, and then finally made a final decision and handed it over.

"Yuanfu, Cifu, Lu Xiang, Qian Xiang, this is the address chosen by Shuntian Mansion."

Taking a look at the map, Zhang Haogu frowned slightly, and Qian Qianyi also frowned slightly. As the two people who knew the power of merchants best, they didn't have any doubts about the location chosen by Shuntian Mansion. After all, the location chosen by Shuntian Mansion was indeed a good one.

Location, but the place is too small.

Qian Qianyi knew that there were some things that Zhang Haogu was not comfortable saying, so he said: "Prefect Li, there are hundreds of chambers of commerce and tens of thousands of businessmen in the Zhili area alone. The merchants, common people, gentry, and students who come and go will

How many are there, have you calculated them?"

“Can this street handle this amount of foot traffic?”

Li Mengchen was stunned for a moment, then he saw Qian Qianyi swiping his hand in the north and south directions: "Starting from Yongding Gate to Zhengyang Gate, plus Guangning Gate to Zhengyang Gate, these two roads are left open.

The second time is for the imperial court to provide benefits to the people. Don't be petty and generous, so that the people and foreign envoys and merchants can see what it means to be noble."
To be continued...