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

Zhu Yuanzhang's rough fingers stroked the shiny copper pipes of the steam engine, and he didn't even notice the scalding heat that burned his fingertips red. The roar of machinery echoed in the factory, and thirty textile machines were running on their own without anyone operating them, and snow-white cotton cloth poured out from the end of the machines like water.

"How much can weave in this hour?" The old emperor's throat tightened.

Ouyang Lun brushed off the flying catkins and said, "It's worth fifty embroiderers from Zhuji working all day."

Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly turned around and grabbed Ouyang Lun's shoulders with both hands, so hard that his son-in-law frowned. "Good son-in-law!" The old emperor's eyes were frighteningly bright, "I wish I had this treasure too."

"Your Majesty, be careful with your words." Ouyang Lun broke free lightly, "This machine is very delicate and needs to be maintained with the lubricating oil produced in Luzon."

"Buy! Let's buy ten barrels!" Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand and suddenly lowered his voice and leaned closer, "Well, good son-in-law, we haven't had wine together for a long time."

Ouyang Lun raised his eyebrows: "I remember that you came to the clan residence three days ago to have a big meal."

"That doesn't count!" Zhu Yuanzhang pulled him out, "We'll treat you this time!" The old emperor was incredibly strong, and Ouyang Lun staggered and almost stepped on the corner of his robe.

"Your Majesty, I don't have any Maotai for you to drink."

"We have it!" Zhu Yuanzhang patted his waist mysteriously, "I have three jars of Bamboo Leaf Green that the Goryeo envoy sent me the other day! Although it's not as good as your Maotai, it's still drinkable! Drink as much as you want!"

"The chefs in the clan house are all resting at this hour," Ouyang Lun continued.

"It's easy if there's no food!" Zhu Yuanzhang had already dragged people to the front of the carriage, "Let's go to Tianshang Renjian! We'll treat you!"

Ouyang Lun stopped and said, "Heaven on Earth? Last time you said you would treat me, but it ended up being on my account for three months without being paid. The people below come to me to sign the bills every month. My goodness, it's at least 100,000 taels a month. When I asked, it turned out that most of it was signed by you, the Emperor!"

"Princess Anqing almost got angry with me because of this. It's like I'm running to heaven on earth every day!"

"Ahem." Zhu Yuanzhang coughed awkwardly twice, "Well, your mother-in-law is in charge of our money now, so it's not convenient sometimes."

"You really gave me money this time!" Zhu Yuanzhang was so anxious that he took out a wrinkled purse from his boot. "Look! This is the private money I brought with me!"

Under the moonlight, a few silver coins could be seen from the mouth of the purse. Ouyang Lun suppressed his smile and said, "How about I treat you to some plain noodles?"

"Who are you looking down on?" Zhu Yuanzhang stuffed the people into the carriage without saying anything, turned around and shouted to the Jinyiwei: "Go to Tianshang Renjian! Ask for the best private room! Just say that the emperor is the emperor, ahem, just say that Master Zhu has reserved the place!"

When the carriage passed the Qinhuai River, Zhu Yuanzhang was still immersed in the shock of the steam engine. He suddenly lifted the curtain and said: "Lun'er, what do you think of this machine if it is used to make arrow shafts?"

"Theoretically, yes." Ouyang Lun looked at the river, "But I suggest that we improve the fire gun first."

Zhu Yuanzhang's pupils suddenly contracted.

The gilded sign of Tianshang Renjian was particularly eye-catching in the night. The shopkeeper saw two distinguished guests visiting late at night and hurriedly led them to the "Lingxiao Pavilion" on the top floor overlooking the river. As soon as Zhu Yuanzhang entered the door, he shouted: "Bring ten of your most expensive dishes! No bear paws, too greasy!"

Ouyang Lun sat down leisurely: "Why is Boss Zhu so generous today?"

"When have we ever been stingy?" Zhu Yuanzhang glared, and suddenly lowered his voice, "Well, about the steam engine."

Just then, the waiter brought some chilled bayberries. Ouyang Lun picked one up and tasted it carefully, but he didn't say anything. Zhu Yuanzhang was so anxious that he stamped his feet under the table.

"I heard that Zhu's opened three more branches last month?" Ouyang Lun suddenly asked.

"Ah? Yes." Zhu Yuanzhang responded absentmindedly, and suddenly grabbed Ouyang Lun's wrist, "Good son-in-law, let's not beat around the bush, that machine..."

“One hundred thousand per unit.”

"One hundred thousand per unit?" Zhu Yuanzhang's wine glass was suspended in the air, and the amber wine was swaying slightly under the candlelight. "Are you trying to trick us?"

Ouyang Lun took a piece of braised pork with chopsticks and chewed it slowly before speaking: "Your Majesty, this steam engine will use 3,000 kilograms of copper, and the craftsmen will have to be hired from Europe at a high price, not to mention the shipping fee-"

"Don't give me that!" Zhu Yuanzhang put down his wine glass heavily. "We have asked the Ministry of Industry. How much does it cost to build a waterwheel?"

"Waterwheel?" Ouyang Lun chuckled. "Then you can continue to use the waterwheel. However," he lowered his voice, "Zhu's current cost of each piece of cloth is two taels of silver, but with the steam engine it only costs eight cents."

Zhu Yuanzhang's beard trembled. He counted on his fingers and calculated that if Zhuji produced 50,000 pieces of cloth per month,
"Two hundred and fifty thousand taels!" The old emperor slammed the table, making the plates and cups jingle. "Can you save that much every month?"

Ouyang Lun smiled but said nothing, pouring himself a glass of wine. Outside the window, there were many pleasure boats on the Qinhuai River, and the sound of stringed instruments could be heard faintly, making the room even quieter.

"Puff——" Zhu Yuanzhang spurted out all the bamboo leaf green that he had just taken in his mouth, "How much?!"

Ouyang Lun wiped his face calmly: "Installation and training are included, and three years of after-sales service are also provided."

Zhu Yuanzhang's chopsticks snapped in two. "Are you trying to rob me?" The old emperor's forehead was throbbing with veins. "How much does it cost for the Ministry of Works to build a warship?"

"How many years can a warship be used?" Ouyang Lun asked back, "This steam engine can be passed down for three generations if it is properly maintained." He suddenly lowered his voice, "Besides, the Ministry of War is currently bidding..."

Zhu Yuanzhang's ears immediately pricked up: "Tell me in detail!"

"I heard that they are going to replace 200,000 sets of new military uniforms." Ouyang Lun filled his father-in-law's glass with wine. "If we use traditional looms, I'm afraid it will take three years to complete."

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes rolled around, and suddenly he took out a small notebook from his arms, licked the brush and started to count the accounts.

"Based on a daily output of 1,000 pieces." Zhu Yuanzhang poked a hole in the paper with his pen tip. "If the cost is reduced by 40%, the gross profit will be..." The old emperor suddenly took a breath of cold air. "Can it be recovered in one year?!"

Ouyang Lun smiled without saying anything, picked up a piece of crystal braised pork and chewed it slowly.

"Well." Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly put on a flattering smile, "Good son-in-law, let's have a discussion."

“No need to talk about installments.”

Zhu Yuanzhang was choked, and after a while he said: "How about using the land of the imperial farm as collateral? There is a peach forest in the western suburbs of Yingtian."

"What does a minister need a peach forest for?"

"Raise chickens?" Zhu Yuanzhang himself thought it was outrageous, and suddenly slammed the table, "How about this! We can use the overseas trade quota from the treasury to exchange!"

Ouyang Lun finally raised his eyes: "How much?"

“One year. No, half a year of exclusive rights to the Nanyang spices franchise!”

"Three months." Ouyang Lun put down his chopsticks, "plus the right to use the wharf in Hangzhou Bay." Zhu Yuanzhang's face changed several times, and suddenly he lowered his voice: "Let me tell you a secret. The remnants of the Northern Yuan Dynasty have a horse farm in Liaodong."

Ouyang Lun raised his eyebrows: "The emperor wants his son-in-law to smuggle war horses?"

"Bah! We are talking about horse hair!" Zhu Yuanzhang rubbed his hands anxiously, "horse hair! I heard that your flying weaving technology requires special wool materials?"

"do not want!"

"Then what conditions do you want!?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked helplessly.

Ouyang Lun suddenly smiled: "I have a suggestion - technology investment."

"What?"

"To put it simply," Ouyang Lun took out a gilded abacus from his bosom and started typing, "I, the son-in-law, will provide the machinery and technology, and will own 30% of Zhu's shares; the emperor will provide the existing workshop and sales channels, and will own 70%. The profits will be divided proportionally."

Zhu Yuanzhang's brows knitted into knots: "You want to divide our Zhuji?"

"It's cooperation." Ouyang Lun corrected, "Besides." He lowered his voice, "You can't accept the order of 200,000 sets of military uniforms from the Ministry of War without the color-changing fabric from your son-in-law, right?"

The old emperor's expression suddenly became interesting.

Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly grabbed Ouyang Lun's hand and said, "Good son-in-law! Help me this time!" The old emperor's palms were sweaty. "We'll do as you say about the steam engine!"

Ouyang Lun smiled: "Words are not enough."

"Bring me paper and pen!" Zhu Yuanzhang yelled, shaking the entire building. "Let's sign a document now!"

When the shopkeeper trembled and brought the pen and ink, the old emperor was already drunk and his handwriting was crooked like a worm. Ouyang Lun took the contract with the ink still wet and blew on it gently: "Your Majesty, it's a pleasure to work with you."

The old emperor was stunned for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter, tears streaming down his face. He raised his glass and said, "Good son-in-law! Let me toast you!"

Outside the window, the melodious sound of the pipa came from the pleasure boat on the Qinhuai River. Ouyang Lun looked at the words "30% of the technology investment" on the contract, and his mouth curled up slightly. The roar of the steam engine seemed to have echoed on the land of Daming.

The two looked at each other for a moment, and suddenly laughed at the same time. Wang Zhong was confused until Zhu Yuanzhang patted him on the shoulder and said, "Go, ask the shopkeeper to serve another table of delicious food! Today we must not go home until we are drunk with our good son-in-law!"

After three rounds of drinking, Zhu Yuanzhang was already drunk, but he still grabbed Ouyang Lun's sleeve and said, "Lun'er, why didn't we meet someone like you when we were conquering the world?"

Ouyang Lun supported the shaky old emperor and said, "Your Majesty, thank you for your praise. I am just a son-in-law."

"Don't be so pretentious!" Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly said seriously, "Tell me the truth - can that steam engine really make the Ming Dynasty dominate the world?"

Ouyang Lun looked out the window, and saw the lights on the Qinhuai River like stars: "It's more than just clothing the world. If it's used in farm tools, one man can plow a hundred acres of land; if it's used in mines, it can mine 10,000 tons of coal a day." He turned his head and looked directly at Zhu Yuanzhang, "Your Majesty, this is the real 'changing customs'."

A glimmer of clarity flashed across Zhu Yuanzhang's cloudy eyes, and his face showed anticipation, "Hey, with your machine, our Zhuji Clothing Shop can also make a lot of money!"

Zhu Yuanzhang seemed to have already seen the future of making a fortune!
A ray of clarity flashed across Zhu Yuanzhang's cloudy eyes, and anticipation appeared on his face, "Hey, with your machine, our Zhuji Clothing Shop can also make a lot of money!" The old emperor's fingers tapped out a cheerful rhythm on the table, as if he could already hear the sound of silver money clinking into his pocket.

Ouyang Lun slowly put down the wine glass, and the porcelain touched the mahogany tabletop, making a crisp "click" sound. "Your Majesty," he said with a faint smile on his face, "As the second largest shareholder of Zhuji Clothing Shop, I have to remind you..."

"Hmm?" Zhu Yuanzhang picked up a piece of shad, the fish meat was as white as newly woven cotton cloth.

"I think it's very difficult to make a lot of money with this machine." Ouyang Lun suddenly stopped smiling. "It can even be said that-"

"Impossible!" These three words pierced the heat on the wine table like an ice cone.

"Plop" - the shad between Zhu Yuanzhang's chopsticks fell back onto the plate, and the oil splashed on the front of his robe. "What?!" The old emperor's voice suddenly rose, startling the nightingale on the willow branch outside the window and flying away.

Ouyang Lun poured a glass of wine slowly and said, "The reason is very simple." He drew a circle on the table with the wine, "You don't have your own source of cotton."

Zhu Yuanzhang stared with his eyes wide open, like a fish that had been caught ashore.

"No matter how good the steam engine is," Ouyang Lun tapped the table with his fingertips, "it is just a tool to turn cotton into cloth. What you earn is always just the processing fee." He suddenly lowered his voice, "If the price of cotton in Songjiang rises by 30%..."

Zhu Yuanzhang's pupils suddenly contracted. He suddenly remembered Wang Hongru's report last month - due to the flood in northern Jiangsu, cotton prices have risen for seven consecutive days.

"Then what should we do?" The old emperor's voice suddenly lost its confidence, and his fingers unconsciously stroked the broken jade belt around his waist.

Ouyang Lun kept silent, picking up a piece of ham. Under the candlelight, the texture of the ham looked like furrows in a cotton field.

"Lun'er!" Zhu Yuanzhang rubbed his hands anxiously, "Speak now!"

Seeing that Ouyang Lun still didn't answer, the old emperor suddenly grabbed the wine pot and tremblingly filled his son-in-law's cup. The amber wine swayed in the cup, reflecting the sweat on his forehead. "Sir." Zhu Yuanzhang's address made Zhu Yunwen look up in surprise, "Please teach me."

Ouyang Lun's eyes flashed with a smile. He took the wine glass but didn't rush to drink it. Instead, he asked, "Your Majesty, do you know why my son-in-law's Nike company has never been short of raw materials?"

Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head, with wine stains still on his beard.

"Because..." Ouyang Lun took out a scroll of silk from his sleeve and slowly unfolded it. "I bought 30,000 acres of cotton fields in Luzon and built five cotton ginning mills in Java." His fingertips ran over the scattered marks on the map. "Last year, I signed a ten-year contract with cotton farmers in Tianzhu through Ryukyu merchants."

Zhu Yuanzhang's breathing became heavy. The red dots on the map connected together, like a huge spider web.

"Whoever controls the cotton fields," Ouyang Lun suddenly clenched his fists, "will have a stranglehold on the textile industry."

The room was so quiet that one could hear the crackling of candle flames. Zhu Yuanzhang stared at the map and suddenly realized that the red dots were distributed around the major ports.

"You kid," the old emperor's voice trembled, "have you been planning for shipping?"

Ouyang Lun smiled but did not answer, he just pushed the map towards Zhu Yuanzhang. The old emperor's greedy eyes swept over every mark, and suddenly stopped somewhere in Liaodong - there was a small horse head mark drawn there.

"This is."

"Beiyuan Horse Farm." Ouyang Lun said softly, "Their war horses need cotton cloth to wrap their hooves."

Zhu Yuanzhang raised his head suddenly, his eyes gleaming with brilliance: "So you want horse hair is fake, but you want to open up the trade route?"

Zhu Yuanzhang learned more from tonight's news than he had in the past few decades. Watching Ouyang Lun constantly coming up with new strategies, Zhu Yuanzhang felt like a rookie in front of Ouyang Lun. (End of this chapter)