Daming: I can’t kill such a greedy prince-in-law?

Chapter 404 Ouyang Lun is reliable (please subscribe!!)
After being worried by Empress Ma, Zhu Yuanzhang smiled awkwardly, "Sister, didn't you say that the shares held by my wife are our own? Of course I want to know how much money this guy Ouyang Lun made behind my back! Besides, Don’t you want to? After all, you got 60% of the shares!”

"I don't want to." Queen Ma shook her head, "I trust this kid Ouyang. When the time comes, he will naturally tell us everything clearly."

"Besides, I only said that my wife holds shares, but I didn't say that my wife's shares are yours!"

"All the money earned by Guoli Trading Co., Ltd. will be invested in the Women and Children's Fund. Chongba, you are not allowed to have any ideas about them!"

"Okay, okay, we don't want this money." Zhu Yuanzhang pouted, "You can continue to indulge your son-in-law. We have to remind you that Ouyang Lun is at the forefront now. We admit that this kid is smart. He is also capable, but after all, he is still young, and some things are not thoughtful enough. If we don't check him, he might be plotted in the end! "

"Although we are the emperor and he is our son-in-law, we still say the same thing. If he really violates the laws of the Ming Dynasty, all I can do is let him wipe his neck and commit suicide in front of the ancestral hall, leaving his body intact!"

After hearing Zhu Yuanzhang's words, Queen Ma also frowned.

"Chongba, what you said makes sense. I almost didn't ask about it. If someone really wants to plot against Ouyang, this won't work! I have to protect my son-in-law!" Empress Ma glanced at Zhu Yuanzhang and suddenly smiled, " Chongba, since you have said this, you have probably already thought of a way. We are an old married couple and you are being hidden. If you have any way, just tell me. "

"Hehe, sister, you still know us well. The reason why we came to you today is to discuss it with you. Call that boy Ouyang Lun, and let's interrogate him carefully to prevent this boy from going astray!" Zhu Yuanzhang smiled. said.

"I'm the reason why you came to me suddenly. It turned out to be this idea." Queen Ma suddenly understood, then nodded, "You might as well call Ouyang to ask."

Hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang laughed angrily, "You are not honest in front of the queen, for the sake of the Ming Dynasty? According to what you said, do I still have to thank you?"

"If your majesty really wants to thank you, my son-in-law can still accept it." Ouyang Lun nodded.

"Forehead"

"Ouyang Lun, I ask you, what's the matter with the crazy gift boxes sold outside? I asked you to be in charge of the Ministry of Revenue and the Clan's Mansion, but you didn't do it. Instead, you tried every means to do business and make money. Are you? Did my words fall on deaf ears?”

"And the reason why my son-in-law did this was entirely for the sake of the Ming Dynasty!"

"Bastard!" Zhu Yuanzhang was extremely angry, "Are you deliberately not understanding what I said?!"

"Your Majesty, please listen to my son-in-law's sophistry. Oh no, it's an explanation."

"It's not that Ouyang Lun is too cunning, like a loach. If I call him, he will do everything possible to avoid it, but it's different if you call him, he will definitely come when you call him!"

"My son-in-law, Ouyang Lun, pays homage to Your Majesty and the Queen!"

Seeing Zhu Yuanzhang, Ouyang Lun was obviously stunned, but his expression soon returned to normal.

The palace maid glanced at Queen Ma, and after getting approval from the latter's eyes, she quickly went to the Zongren Mansion to call for someone.

"But why didn't you summon Ouyang yourself and why did you insist on calling me?"

Zhu Yuanzhang asked loudly.

"Yes."

After saying that, Zhu Yuanzhang hurriedly said to the maids of Kunning Palace: "Why are you still standing there? Go to the clan mansion and call for help! Remember, don't tell that guy Ouyang Lun that I'm here too. "

puff--

It didn't take long.

Ouyang Lun was led by the palace maid to Kunning Palace.

"I'm asking you why you want to use public affairs for personal gain?! If you don't explain clearly today, I will definitely bring you to justice!"

Hearing this, Queen Ma chuckled.

Hearing Zhu Yuanzhang's words, Ouyang Lun seemed quite calm, "Your Majesty, I really don't blame my son-in-law for this!"

"Your Majesty, the thing is like this. This year is the first year of the implementation of the first five-year plan. Under the leadership with you as the core, all parts of Ming Dynasty are booming. This is inseparable from your command and also from Without the full efforts of officials at all levels, many officials would be working on the front line almost all year round, which would be quite hard.”

"But our officials in the Ming Dynasty have relatively few benefits. Apart from the normal salary, they have no other income. This gift box is given to them. This can win people's hearts. They will definitely work harder tomorrow! This is very important for the development of the Ming Dynasty. Is it beneficial?"

After hearing Ouyang Lun's serious explanation, Zhu Yuanzhang's expression gradually softened.

"Then why didn't you do it in my name, but in the name of the Queen? And you didn't discuss it with me before doing it?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked in a deep voice: "Does your kid have other ideas?"

"Your Majesty is wronged!" Ouyang Lun shook his head and denied, "You have been too harsh on Ming officials over the years. Everyone is afraid of you. If you send gift boxes in your name, not only will it not make the officials grateful, but it will scare them."

"But it's different in the name of the Queen. Everyone knows that the Queen is benevolent and generous. If they knew that these gifts were given by the Queen, the officials would never think wildly. Instead, they would be proud of it, thus achieving the purpose of motivating officials. ”

"Besides, what difference does it make if this gift box is in your name or in the name of the Queen?"

"You are so eloquent, let me explain it for now." Zhu Yuanzhang continued to ask: "Then I ask you how much money did you make from these gift boxes?"

"It's not too much. So far, I have probably earned an additional income of tens of millions." Ouyang Lun said with a smile: "Your Majesty, gift-giving is a science and it is also a big market. If it is managed well, , it can create tax revenue, provide jobs, and digest many products for Ming Dynasty every year. It can be said that it serves multiple purposes with one stone!”

"As income in these areas increases, we can lower tax standards and pass benefits to the people. If the people live well, our annual income will increase again."

Tens of millions?
Tsk tsk, it’s another business worth tens of millions. Now, except for the business worth less than 10 million, you don’t want to talk about it, right?

"I have another question. Your gift boxes come in many price ranges. It is said that the most expensive gift box can cost tens of thousands of taels. Is it all filled with gold?"

Zhu Yuanzhang asked all the doubts in his heart.

"Of course it's not gold. The things inside are indeed precious. Of course, they are not really worth tens of thousands of taels. Otherwise we wouldn't make any money. What we buy are mainly gift boxes. We also provide recycling services for high-end gift boxes to ensure purchase. People’s interests!”

Ouyang Lun explained. "Selling boxes?" Zhu Yuanzhang seemed to understand, and continued to ask: "What about the cheap gift boxes? It is said that they cost less than one tael of silver. How can you keep the cost low and still make money?"

"Back to Your Majesty, this question is also very simple. As long as the scale is large enough, the cost can be easily diluted. Assume that a normal gift box costs five taels of silver, but because I purchase and produce it on a large scale, it is easy to reduce the cost to It’s less than one tael of silver, and my own trading company is doing all the purchasing and production of raw materials, so the consumption in the process will be very small.”

"Therefore, gift boxes of the same quality cannot be as cheap as mine, and gift boxes with low prices are not as good as mine."

After listening to Ouyang Lun's words, Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma suddenly realized.

Relying on large-scale operations to reduce costs, it’s no wonder that gift boxes have been popular for so long. Except for the Ming Dynasty Guoli Trading Co., no one can launch gift boxes anymore. Even people like these can’t do it!

Zhu Yuanzhang once thought that Ouyang Lun was using his power for personal gain and threatened others not to interfere in the gift box business.

"Your Majesty, increasing business activities can bring a lot of tax revenue to the Ming Dynasty. Although the money earned by Guoli Trading Company has been invested in the women's and children's fund, the taxes that should be paid to the court are still a lot. Not only Guoli Trading Company Paying taxes will also encourage other state-owned enterprises and private enterprises to pay taxes!”

Ouyang Lun said with a smile.

Hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang felt beautiful in his heart. He had been watching Ouyang Lun selling gift boxes behind his back and making a lot of money, but now he figured out that although Ouyang Lun made the gift box, the one who benefited was Empress Ma, Anqing and imperial taxation.

Although there is no Zhu Yuanzhang, he is the biggest indirect beneficiary.

The daughter-in-law makes a lot of money, the daughter makes a small amount of money, and the tax revenue of the family increases again.

Thinking about it this way, it seems that Ouyang Lun is not so hateful.

Zhu Yuanzhang even wanted to tell Ouyang Lun that if more state-owned enterprises like Guoli Trading Co., Ltd. were opened, one state-owned enterprise could increase tax revenue by millions. Ten of them would be tens of millions! And that doesn’t include profits!
As for official positions, isn’t there a civil service system? Not afraid at all!
Thinking of this, Zhu Yuanzhang planned to praise Ouyang Lun, but after thinking about it, Zhu Yuanzhang still did not say anything.

After all, what he said at the beginning was too high-pitched, and now he immediately praised him, his attitude changed too quickly, which undermined the emperor's majesty.

So, forget about compliments, just stop scolding me.

Zhu Yuanzhang knew Ouyang Lun very well. If he praised him a few words, he might cause some big trouble for him next time.

"Ouyang Lun, I want to ask you, did you make any profit from selling gift boxes this time? To put it bluntly, did you accept any corruption or bribery?"

"I have to remind you that you are now the Minister of Household Affairs in the Ming Dynasty and an important minister! Countless pairs of eyes are staring at you. If you have done something wrong, tell it now. I and the Queen can still save you. If we wait until later When things happen, no one can save you!"

Zhu Yuanzhang asked in a deep voice.

A pair of tiger eyes stared at Ouyang Lun, as if trying to see something through Ouyang Lun.

"Your Majesty, please don't talk nonsense about this!"

"My husband-in-law is not that kind of person! My husband-in-law's life is in vain, he walks on thin ice, and he will never be a corrupt official!"

Ouyang Lun raised his head and held his chest out with a righteous look on his face.

Seeing Ouyang Lun like this, Zhu Yuanzhang sneered, and even Queen Ma looked at Ouyang Lun with a playful expression.

You, Ouyang Lun, are still innocent and walking on thin ice? ?
Do you want me to take a look at my little notebook? Your Ouyang Lun's guilt has been recorded in most of my notebook, and I can't even record it anymore.

Don't you blush when you say this?
Simply shameless!
Ouyang Lun raised his head and saw the expressions of Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma, and was speechless. "Your Majesty, empress, behind closed doors, we have known each other for so many years. Others don't know who I, Ouyang Lun, are." Don’t you know yet?”

"You don't believe me. This is really chilling."

"Your Majesty, you just asked me whether my son-in-law has committed corruption. Haha, the Queen holds 60% of the shares of this Guoli Trading Company, and I, Jia Anqing, hold 4%. All the money earned by the trading company has been transferred to the women and children's fund account. From beginning to end This money is not in my hands, how can I embezzle it?”

"Hmph, you kid has so many conspiracies and tricks. Isn't it easy to embezzle money?" Zhu Yuanzhang said coldly.

"Your Majesty, you just don't believe my son-in-law." Ouyang Lun looked disappointed. "Since my son-in-law has nothing to explain, you might as well ask Ji Gang to put me in a prison."

"You think I don't dare?!" Zhu Yuanzhang said in a deep voice.

"Chongba!" Queen Ma said, "Since Ouyang has said there is no corruption, how can you not believe it? If you have doubts, provide evidence. Only in this way can you convince the public."

"If you really put Ouyang in jail today, and tomorrow morning people will ask why, how will you answer?"

"We are the emperor, do we need a reason to arrest him?! Huh!" Zhu Yuanzhang said firmly, but then immediately waved his hand, "That's all, for the sake of the queen interceding for you, I can not pursue you for the time being, but if it happens in the future If Jin Yiwei finds out that you are guilty of corruption, I will not forgive you lightly!"

"Ouyang, I support you in this matter, just do it boldly." Empress Ma also said: "By the way, what else do you have in mind about the National Gift Trading Company? You can't keep selling gift boxes, right?"

"The Queen is wise!"

Ouyang Lun continued: "The National Gift Trading Company will naturally not only sell gift boxes, but will also deal in various gifts, such as high-end liquor, high-end dried fruits, high-end tea, tobacco, etc.! On the one hand, it is specially supplied to the palace, senior officials, nobles, and clans. , while selling to the outside world.”

"During the New Year and holidays, the state gift merchant society will prepare gifts for officials to let them know that the court cares about them."

Hearing this, Queen Ma nodded, "It's a good idea. If you need me to step in, just say it."

"Thank you, Queen, for your concern. If there is need, my son-in-law will definitely come and ask for help." Ouyang Lun said with a smile.

"Yes, I can rest assured that you are doing the work." Queen Ma looked at Ouyang Lun with soft eyes. In her eyes, Ouyang Lun was sensible and considerate. Over the years, Ouyang Lun often provided some new ways to play, such as mahjong, square dancing and many other sports. , and also helped her organize the Women and Children Protection Association, giving her the ability to help women and children all over the world, which was completely independent of the court.

Therefore, in Empress Ma's heart, Ouyang Lun is synonymous with the word "reliable".

"If Your Majesty and the Queen have nothing else to do, I will leave first. All the ladies and Ping An at home are waiting for my son-in-law to go back for dinner!"

(End of this chapter)