Uncle Lai in the Red Chamber

Chapter 109: Just a chess piece

The next day!

State-owned division east face value room.

"Governor Huang and Governor Zhang, you two will prepare the plan for the new factory as soon as possible and hand it over to Governor Xiao to estimate the construction and operating costs of the glass factory."

"Governor Xiao, the initial 3 taels of funds raised will be allocated shares at 30%, and the remaining [-]% of the shares will be subscribed for [-] taels. Anyone who comes to the company to subscribe will only register."

The state treasury and the royal inner treasury have already allocated 20% of the shares. The allotment ratio of the early R&D funds has been cleared by the court. The remaining private subscriptions are only [-]% of the shares. The scale of the new factory is not as large as that of the R&D workshop. Calculating the land, construction and other costs, at least It also costs [-] taels.

The remaining costs include recruitment and training, etc. 30 taels is a relatively compromise figure. Of course, if a bidding model is adopted, the price may exceed this price, but that is completely market behavior, and those who have subscribed to the equity will not accept it. Favor.

The glass industry does not exist among the private sector, so there is no such thing as competing with the public for profits. This time, private workshops will not participate in the equity subscription. It is for the court bosses to share the cake, which is also the emperor's intention.

Things are rare and valuable, whether it is equity or glass, if everyone has a share, there will be no sense of superiority.

Furthermore, glass is a luxury product. Expanding the scale will inevitably lead to falling prices and will not increase much income.

Moreover, glass is more fragile than porcelain. Although the quality of Xiyi's glass is inferior to that of the state-owned company, it is still there after all.

Therefore, it is impossible to earn foreign exchange from exports, so excessive production capacity is actually harmful rather than helpful.

"Governor Chen! Implement the recruitment of labor as soon as possible and let them enter the glass development workshop in batches to gain experience!"

Another reason for the reluctance to rashly expand production is manpower.

Although a few more glass factories only require an increase of several thousand people, which may not seem to have a big impact, but they will also be followed by upstream and downstream industries such as sales, transportation, and processing, all of which add up to tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of people. .

The entire Daxia Dynasty had a population of hundreds of millions. These people seemed to have little influence, but this was just a glass industry.

Industrialization is an inevitable trend. If the Great Xia Dynasty does not develop industry, what happened to the Great Xia in the future will be a repeat of the previous Qing Dynasty.

Industrial development is one aspect. It is even more important to strike a good balance between workers and farmers. Otherwise, a large number of laborers will come from the fields to the factories, and the food and clothing of the people will become a problem in the future.

In ancient times, there were no means of increasing food production such as chemical fertilizers, mechanization, and irrigation systems. Agriculture could only rely on human and animal power.

In fact, the industrialization of Xiyi also faced this problem. Their solution was overseas colonization and the slave trade.

It's not that the Daxia Dynasty couldn't follow suit, but it just lost the opportunity.

Lai Shangrong's idea was a two-pronged approach. On the one hand, he exchanged luxury goods such as silk and porcelain for food through overseas trade, and at the same time, he slowly used animal power to reduce the agricultural population.

Of course, it was still early to talk about these. He also planned to slowly instill these views into the emperor in future secrets.

As for the effect, he can only do his best and obey fate. In the final analysis, although he has ambitions, he has never thought of doing anything for it, or even sacrificing his life for righteousness.

…………

Golden Palace.

It is not as solemn as in the past, and there is even a lot of whispering.

Emperor Zhenglong was very satisfied with the performance of the ministers in the audience.

"Ahem!" He coughed slightly: "If you are interested in subscribing for shares in the glass factory, you can go to the State-Owned Affairs Department and ask later! Let's discuss Lai Shangrong's reward!"

Chen Yiwen, the left minister of the Ministry of Personnel, said: "The state-owned department still lacks a doctor in charge. This time he has made great achievements in developing glass. Wei Chen proposed to appoint him as the doctor in charge!"

Chai Qing, the right servant of the Ministry of Personnel, said hurriedly: "That's a bad statement! This boy has relatively little qualifications, and he is only a fellow Jinshi. He may be criticized if he is promoted too quickly!" "In ancient times, there was a tree standing at the south gate, and thousands of gold were bought for horse bones. Merits were not rewarded. Disappointment for good..."

"What Shilang Chen said is wrong! How can official positions in the imperial court be measured by money..."

"To pursue his own affairs in his position, he is in the State-Owned Department and does well in the affairs of the department, which is a contribution to the country. Besides, [-]% of the revenue from this glass belongs to the national treasury. How come it is measured in money? Your words make the Ministry of Household Affairs How can you be so unfaithful?"

"How can this matter be confused? The Ministry of Household Taxation is a matter of national origin, and the State-owned Department is a matter of commerce!"

The two ministers of the Ministry of official affairs started fighting in front of the palace, and there was no room for anyone else to interrupt.

After a long while, Emperor Zhenglong looked at Zhao Changhe, the Minister of Civil Affairs, who was in the audience, and said leisurely: "What do Zhao Aiqing think?"

Zhao Shangshu said: "I think the two ministers have their own reasons. The state-owned department really lacks a chief minister, and Lai Lai deserves to be rewarded for his meritorious service!"

As soon as he said this, Chai Qing looked at him in shock.

"Oh?" Emperor Zhenglong looked at Zhao Shangshu with interest and said, "Then Aiqing also agrees to promote Lai Shangrong to be the head doctor?"

"Your Majesty, your Majesty! Master Lai really deserves a reward, but he was born with the same Jinshi background and has only been able to serve as an official for half a year. If he is promoted again, how will those second-rank Jinshis deal with themselves? Wei Chen thought it would be better to give him a fifth-grade cavalry captain! Of course! Now that the State-owned Department has added another business, he is just a director and is not suitable to take charge of the affairs of the department anymore. It is better to choose another mature and prudent person to manage it!"

King Zhongshun immediately said: "Your Majesty, you can't! Mr. Lai has just developed glass, and he should be entrusted with important tasks. There is no reason to assign someone to control it!"

King Beijing came out and said: "Your Majesty's words are wrong. The yamen have always performed their own duties without any control. The chief is still young and has little experience. He needs the guidance of an experienced and prudent person."

Emperor Zhenglong hesitated and said, "Then who should be sent there according to what Zhao Aiqing said?"

"This... I will wait until I go back to discuss a suitable candidate before reporting to the emperor!"

Chen Yiwen hurriedly said: "I have a suitable candidate here. Qin Ke, a doctor in the Construction Department of the Ministry of Industry, is mature and prudent and familiar with construction affairs. Why not send him to the State Construction Department!"

King Beijing and Zhao Changhe looked at each other and hesitated for a moment.

Upon seeing this, Emperor Zhenglong immediately made the decision: "Okay! Then let Mei Gong take his place as doctor!"

"Retreat!"

Emperor Zhenglong left the Jinluan Hall and returned to the imperial study.

After a while, King Zhongshun and Chen Yiwen came together under the guidance of a eunuch.

"Brother Huang, this move is indeed brilliant!"

"Hmph! I'm just throwing a fish bait. Since they are interested in the profit of glass, what can I do to give them some sweetness for the time being? I don't believe it. My father knows that they have been greedy for the money to build the imperial mausoleum, so why not protect them? !”

Chen Yiwen said: "Your Majesty! There won't be any surprises in this matter, right?"

"Mei Gong acted prudently and dared to report to me even if he was not sure. However, the Camp and Maintenance Department is monolithic and Qin Ye is on top to check and balance him. He was afraid of alerting the enemy and could not let go!"

After a pause, he then said: "Take this opportunity to transfer some lower-level personnel from the Camp, Repair and Cleaning Department to the State-owned Department. I will ask Qining to cooperate with you and use this opportunity to select some qualified candidates to join the camp." Secretary, in cooperation with Mei Gong, must make this case a solid case!"

"Yes! Your Majesty!"

…………

(End of this chapter)