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

Hearing Zhu Yuanzhang's teasing words, Ouyang Lun was not angry, and said calmly: "Your Majesty, the Emperor, I am here to report on the taxation of the Ministry of Revenue. If Your Majesty and the Emperor do not want to hear it, I can withdraw immediately! I will not disturb you anymore!"

After saying that, Ouyang Lun prepared to turn around and leave.

When Zhu Yuanzhang heard the word "taxation", his eyes lit up. When he saw Ouyang Lun was about to leave, Zhu Yuanzhang became anxious!

However, Zhu Yuanzhang felt a little embarrassed, so he quickly winked at his son Zhu Biao. Zhu Biao immediately understood what Zhu Yuanzhang meant and immediately caught up with Ouyang Lun.

"Brother-in-law!"

"Brother-in-law, don't be in a hurry!"

Zhu Biao held Ouyang Lun and said with a smile: "My father and I have no other intentions!"

"We are so happy that you took the initiative to come to us to discuss something! How could we not want to listen!"

"Right, Father!"

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded. "Biao'er is right. I was just joking with you. Who told you not to come to our Taile Palace more often? Tell me yourself. How long has our Taile Palace been built? How many times have you been here?"

Hearing Zhu Yuanzhang's words, Ouyang Lun rolled his eyes and said, "Your Majesty, I was just joking with you just now. I didn't really want to leave."

Forehead.
When Zhu Yuanzhang heard Ouyang Lun's words, his face suddenly froze.

However, Ouyang Lun seemed to have not noticed the change in Zhu Yuanzhang's expression, and continued: "This time you begged me to say this."

"Oh, by the way, Your Majesty, you just said that I seldom come to the Taile Palace. There is nothing I can do about it. I am really too busy!"

Forehead.
Zhu Yuanzhang's face looked gloomy again.

Seeing this, Zhu Biao knew that if he didn't speak up, the father-in-law and son-in-law would definitely fight on the spot.

"Father, brother-in-law, we finally get together. Let's not talk about unhappy things. Let's talk about something happy, okay?"

Zhu Biao then said to the eunuchs, palace maids, and guards around him, "All of you step back first. I have important matters to discuss with the emperor and his wife. No one of you is allowed to intrude!"

"Yes!"

Under the leadership of Xiao Lizi and Wang Zhong, the surrounding eunuchs and guards retreated one after another.

Soon, only Ouyang Lun, Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao were left at the scene.

"Brother-in-law, you came to see our father today. I'm afraid there is something important?" Zhu Biao asked hurriedly.

He knew very well that Ouyang Lun was the kind of person who would not come to them unless there was something important, and he would rarely take the initiative to look for them, so he must have something important to tell them today.

"I have already evacuated the others. If you have anything to say, just tell me."

Zhu Yuanzhang rolled his eyes at Ouyang Lun, then snorted, "What can he do? I think you are here just to piss me off!"

Ouyang Lun was not at all flustered by Zhu Yuanzhang's ridicule, and he said directly: "I just went to the Ministry of Revenue to learn about this year's tax situation. From the statistical results, our Ming Dynasty's tax revenue this year has indeed increased compared to last year, but the exact increase is not clear at the moment."

Taxes continue to increase!

Upon hearing the news, Zhu Yuanzhang and his son Zhu Biao both smiled at the same time.

"Haha, we know that the tax revenue of our Ming Dynasty will definitely not be bad this year!" Zhu Yuanzhang said with a smile.

"Brother-in-law, if the Ministry of Revenue has sorted out all the tax data, please send a copy to me and my father as soon as possible so that we can check it as soon as possible!"

Zhu Biao forced himself to suppress the joy in his heart and pretended to be calm.

"Of course, I will inform you of the information from the Ministry of Revenue as soon as possible!" Ouyang Lun nodded. In fact, even if Zhu Biao didn't say it, after the Ministry of Revenue finished collecting and sorting the taxes, Ouyang Lun would let the people in the Ministry of Revenue report the tax situation to Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao as soon as possible.

Otherwise, this father and son would continue to bother him, which would make him very annoyed.

"I have another matter to ask. According to the custom, the Ming court will give a year-end gift to all civil and military officials as well as outstanding citizens. I wonder if Your Majesty and the Emperor have any suggestions for this year's gift!"

"This thing is in great demand. Not only will the imperial court send it out, but many ordinary people will also buy it on their own initiative. You have to place an order in advance. If you are late, you will miss the best sales time and lose a lot of market share. Without the market, this income will be reduced."

Ouyang Lun said it quite directly.

In fact, the gifts given to officials and outstanding people every year are not a big deal. At most, they will not exceed 10,000 pieces, and they will not cost much money. However, people have the habit of following trends. Things distributed by the court are naturally good things, which will lead many people to buy the same ones!

In the past, at least hundreds of thousands of sets could be sold every year. Even if one set only made ten taels of silver, there would still be millions of net profits. Moreover, all this silver would not be counted as the court's income, but as the royal family's income!
Part of it will be allocated into the emperor's treasury, part of it will be given to the harem, part of it will be given to the Children and Women's Foundation, and part of it will be deposited into the royal fund!
Hearing Ouyang Lun's words, Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao were suddenly awakened.

Another year is about to pass.

Of course, Zhu Yuanzhang cared more about the profits brought by this gift. This was really his money, and he didn't want to waste it!

However, Zhu Yuanzhang thought of another thing. In the past few years, this matter has been handled by Empress Ma, but now Empress Ma's health is getting worse and worse, so naturally these things can't be handled.

Thinking of this, Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but look at Ouyang Lun!
Obviously, he also guessed the reason why Ouyang Lun came to ask him. It was obviously because Queen Ma was no longer able to handle related matters, so Ouyang Lun took the initiative to ask.

You didn't directly propose to replace Queen Ma. You are sensible.

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes softened when he looked at Ouyang Lun, and he said, "Ouyang Lun, you were the one who proposed this matter in the beginning. Now my sister is in poor health and can't handle these things. Just put forward your suggestion!"

"Let's just discuss this between the three of us!"

"Yes, brother-in-law, you have a lot of ideas. In previous years, you and the Queen Mother discussed this matter. My father and I don't know much about it, but you can't reduce the profit! I still have to rely on this little money to live!" Zhu Biao said hurriedly.

Zhu Biao didn’t know much about the operation of the year-end bonus, but he knew that the year-end bonus had a great influence among civil and military officials and the people. Every year’s prize would become a hot topic of discussion among officials and the people!

"Ouyang Lun, you probably already have an idea, tell me now!"

Zhu Yuanzhang urged directly. Ouyang Lun thought for a moment, then said, "Your Majesty, I am planning to make health products, ginseng water, health pills, etc."

“Health supplements?!”

Hearing these three unfamiliar words, Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao were both stunned, their eyes full of confusion.

"Brother-in-law, what is this health product? It sounds like a medicine?" Zhu Biao asked hurriedly.

"Yes, it is a medicinal elixir! But to be more precise, it is something between medicinal food and elixir, and it mainly protects and strengthens the human body!"

Ouyang Lun began to explain.

"It's almost the same as medicine. Will people like this thing? If they don't accept it, not only will we not make any money, we may even lose money!" Zhu Yuanzhang frowned.

This time even Zhu Biao was not optimistic. "Brother-in-law, how about we think about it again? Giving medicine to people during the New Year doesn't give people a good feeling! I don't think it will work."

Ouyang Lun had long anticipated the reactions of Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao, so after listening to the words of the father and son, Zhu Biao seemed quite calm.

"Your Majesty, Retired Emperor, it seems that you haven't changed your mind yet!"

"The Ministry of Revenue has recently conducted some statistics. After these years of development, not only has the court's income been growing, but the people's income has been growing as well! They have long since moved from just thinking about having enough food to enjoying a certain amount of life. In addition to eating, drinking and having fun, they pay more attention to their health! This is why people now prefer to live in places where there are medical clinics!"

"What does this person fear the most? Of course, getting sick. It doesn't matter if you don't get sick, but if you really get sick, it will definitely be fatal!"

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, do you think what I said is reasonable?"

Ouyang Lun asked with a smile.

"Your Majesty, I think what my brother-in-law said is right. Although the people can afford to eat now, they dare not get sick. Not only is illness painful, but it is also very expensive! Some people do not seek treatment when they are sick and end up dying of the disease." Zhu Biao frowned.

"You have some point, but what does this have to do with your plan to make health products?" Zhu Yuanzhang nodded reluctantly.

"Of course it is related, it is very related!" Ouyang Lun said immediately: "These health products such as ginseng water and health pills are all developed by many old Chinese medicine practitioners in my medical school. They are very beneficial to the human body. They are all real ingredients. Long-term use can completely strengthen the human body and reduce the risk of illness!"

“Better to take precautions!”

"What do you think? Which common people don't want such good things? And this can also be a good choice as a gift. What we are giving is not medicine, but health!"

"Health is something that money can't buy!"

Um! ? ?
When Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao, father and son, heard Ouyang Lun's explanation, their eyes suddenly lit up.

"What you are giving me is not medicine, but health!" Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly realized, "This is amazing! If the people hear what you said, they will probably rush to buy your health product!"

"Brother-in-law, do you have the finished product of this health product? I want to buy some?!" Zhu Biao asked directly.

Hearing Zhu Biao's words, Ouyang Lun asked in confusion: "Your Majesty, don't you usually have enough medicinal food? Why do you want these?"

"Brother-in-law, didn't you just say that these health products can improve the body? So I want to buy some for my father and mother, especially my mother, her health is getting worse day by day, I am worried about her!"

Zhu Biao stated his reasons.

Zhu Yuanzhang was somewhat moved upon hearing this, but Ouyang Lun smiled bitterly, "Your Majesty, perhaps you have not really understood what I mean. This health product I made can indeed improve people's health, but it is useless for the Queen Mother."

"Why?!" Zhu Biao asked puzzledly.

"Ouyang Lun, are you following the lead of those quacks and selling fake medicine?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked with a gloomy face.

"Your Majesty, who do you think I am, Ouyang Lun? How could I do such a conscienceless thing?" Ouyang Lun said unhappily, "This health product is not a medicine, and it cannot replace medicine. It can indeed improve a person's physical fitness, but it is not omnipotent!"

"Take the Queen Mother for example. Tell me for yourself. Ever since her health started to deteriorate, have you given her enough tonics?!"

In response to Ouyang Lun's question, Zhu Yuanzhang and his son Zhu Biao did not answer.

Of course, they used the best medicine for Queen Ma.

"I know this even if you don't tell me. You even asked my old Chinese doctor from the medical school to see the Queen Mother and he prescribed a lot of medicine for her!"

"To be honest, the Queen Mother is not lacking in nutrition or tonics. She is simply in poor health. My health products are only for ordinary people because their bodies are already lacking in nutrition. They will naturally work after taking them. The Queen Mother often takes tonics, and the effects of the skin care products are not enough!"

"Do you understand now?!"

After hearing Ouyang Lun's explanation, Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao, father and son, finally understood!
"Brother-in-law, do you mean that this health product is useless for people like us who take supplements frequently?!" Zhu Biao asked again.

"That's right! The body's absorption of nutrients is limited. You already have overnutrition on a normal basis. Taking health supplements will have a counterproductive effect, commonly known as over-supplementation!" Ouyang Lun explained one by one.

"This health product was originally intended for ordinary people. We will try to make it as effective as possible while keeping the price affordable for ordinary people. To put it bluntly, this is actually a plan to improve the physical fitness of the entire population. In addition to health products, the court also plans to launch health exercises, national fitness exercises, sports competitions, and more!"

"The purpose of doing this is to improve the physical fitness of the people. Only with a good body can one do things better, right?"

"I see! I understand!" Zhu Biao nodded repeatedly, and then said affirmatively: "Brother-in-law, I think your idea is very good, I fully support you!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Ouyang Lun saluted Zhu Biao, then looked at Zhu Yuanzhang, "Grand Emperor, what about you?"

Facing Ouyang Lun's question, Zhu Yuanzhang obviously hadn't thought it through yet, and asked in a deep voice: "Ouyang Lun, do you guarantee that the people will welcome this?"

"In order to verify the feasibility of this health product, I had someone try it on a small scale in Northern Zhili. The response was quite good, and the final effect is expected to be similar."

Ouyang Lun said truthfully.

"In that case, let's do as you say, but we must ensure profits!" Zhu Yuanzhang urged. (End of this chapter)