King of Han Dynasty of Ming Dynasty

suddenly.

As soon as the words fell.

The eyes of everyone in the hall involuntarily lingered on Zhu Gaoxu and the Japanese delegation.

But he was unusually tactful and didn't say a word.

Look at everything in front of you quietly.

Have a show?

After hearing this, Ashikaga Yoshimochi smiled slightly and nodded to show his approval of Zhu Gaoxu's words.

After all, the launch of snow-white refined salt is the first time in history.

The interests involved were so great that he had ordered people to collect information on this matter before entering the Ming Dynasty.

The introduction of refined salt not only solved the problem of salt shortage for the people of the Ming Dynasty, but also reduced the price of salt in the entire Ming Dynasty by nearly half compared to the previous price. Even so, the entire Ming Dynasty court still made a lot of money, and a large number of Ming Dynasty merchants flocked to it, scrambling frantically for the sales rights of refined salt in various prefectures.

"Your Highness, Prince Han, rest assured."

"Since it is mutually beneficial, it must be mutually beneficial. It will not cause any loss to the Ming Dynasty. Not only that, it can also make the Ming Dynasty earn a lot of money."

In this regard.

The two brothers Zhu Gaoxu and Zhu Gaochi looked at each other, and neither of them took the initiative to respond to the conversation. Instead, they looked at Ashikaga Yoshimochi with great interest, waiting for his next words.

then.

Ashikaga Yoshimochi smiled, his face full of confidence, and continued:

"When our people learned about the appearance of such a magical item in the Celestial Empire, they were all eager to get the snow-white refined salt."

"So our country wants to sign a refined salt supply agreement with China."

"Our country buys refined salt from the imperial court at 70% of the current market price."

"We also promise that any unconsumed refined salt produced in China each year will be imported into our country for use by our citizens."

"The refined salt imported from China, the transportation, and a series of other procedures do not require my country to make any effort. They are all undertaken by our country alone."

"This will not only not affect the quality of life of the Chinese people, but also help the Chinese people to deal with their inventory. Our people can also enjoy a different kind of salt. This is a three-pronged approach."

"It won't have any impact on either party."

"I wonder what the Heavenly Kingdom thinks?"

Sincerity in words and attitude.

His attitude was also extremely humble. In a sense, the demands and suggestions he put forward all took the Ming Dynasty into consideration and safeguarded its interests, while also creating profits for it. There was nothing wrong with him.

Cause.

The six ministers in the palace, who had just been unhappy with the Japanese delegation's proposal to purchase refined salt, could not help but look sideways at this moment, and were inevitably surprised by such words.

I never dreamed that Ashikaga Yoshimochi actually meant this.

The expressions on everyone's faces instantly changed, and they were no longer as hostile to the members of the Japanese delegation as before.

In the eyes of the ministers, this is not mutually beneficial at all!
He can be called a boy who brings wealth.

It requires inventory, has high prices, no need for delivery help, and you have to manage it yourself after shipping out. It is extremely worry-free and you can make money without doing anything.

As a result, the ministers below the stage couldn't help but look at Zhu Gaoxu on the podium, with a hint of heat flashing in their eyes.

Feeling everyone's gazes on him, especially the fiery gazes of the six ministers, Zhu Gaoxu could naturally guess what these people were thinking, and he cursed in his heart.

Really are……

A short-sighted and narrow-minded guy.

He can't help but get jealous for just a little bit of profit.

It's totally ignorant.

He even forgot what he had just discussed in the imperial study about taking action against Japan.

Have these people ever thought about whether the Japanese are really so kind?
You don’t have to worry about anything, you can just lie down and make money.

How can such a good thing happen?

You really think others are fools.

Businessmen pursue profits!

There is also an exchange of interests between countries.

Since Japan has put forward such a request and mode of cooperation, I don’t believe that the Japanese have not conducted a detailed investigation.

As for the present-day Ming Dynasty, the production of refined salt, after a series of improvements, not only meets the annual consumption of the people of the Ming Dynasty, but also has a surplus of no less than several million kilograms every year.

And with the changes of time and technological innovation, this output will only increase, not decrease.

With such a large output, can the people in such a tiny country like Japan consume it?

I'm afraid this must be a joke!

is it possible?
It doesn’t show at all!

And what about the remaining amount?
Where are you going?

And what’s more, Japan is trying so hard.

In this regard, Zhu Gaoxu seriously suspected that these Japanese bastards were trying to act as middlemen and sell refined salt to surrounding areas. It was even possible that these bastards had already established contact with the Portuguese in the west and wanted to make huge profits with the good stuff like Ming Dynasty refined salt.

There may be more to it than that.

Given the Japanese people's insidiousness and cunningness, it is possible that they have other intentions.

There are deeper meanings and ideas.

For example, they could use this to get close to corrupt officials in the Ming Dynasty, and thus obtain the method of purifying refined salt, so as to achieve a permanent solution.

Or it is possible that he is trying to seize the firearms of the Ming Dynasty.

After all, Zhu Gaoxu knew very well the character of some Ming Dynasty officials.

After a brief pause, Zhu Gaoxu raised the corners of his mouth slightly to reveal an intriguing smile. He half-closed his eyes and stared at Ashikaga Yoshimochi for a long time, then nodded and said:

"Well……"

"It sounds good and tempting."

After hearing this, a hint of sarcasm flashed in Ashikaga Yoshimochi's eyes, but he hid it well, and was about to speak.

But just as he was about to press on with his victory and continue speaking.

Zhu Gaoxu, who was sitting on the high platform, waved his hand at him with a smile on his face and said:

"Not urgent……"

"Ashikaga Yoshimochi, it seems you forgot one thing."

"All the rights to sell refined salt in the Ming Dynasty must be purchased with money."

"This is true for merchants in the Ming Dynasty, and it is true for others as well."

"This king must treat everyone equally."

"Otherwise, how will the merchants of the Ming Dynasty view the court and me?"

When Ashikaga Yoshimochi heard this, he was stunned on the spot.

What the hell?
Even after he made such concessions, they still asked him for money, the regional agency fee for the sales rights.

It's so bureaucratic, and everything is about money.

This made Ashikaga Yoshimochi, who thought he was shrewd and well-mannered, almost burst into swearing.

seriously.

Having come into contact with so many people and met so many people, I think I am shameless enough.

Ashikaga Yoshimochi never expected that there would be someone more shameless and shameless than him.

But he had no way to deal with such a shameless and shameless person.

This made Ashikaga Yoshimochi feel extremely aggrieved and he almost suffocated to death.

It’s no wonder that Ashikaga Yoshimochi behaved like this.

This is actually a normal situation. The refined salt of the Ming Dynasty was uniformly allocated by the imperial court to various prefectures and then handed over to salt merchants in various places to sell it.

There is no need for salt merchants at all, just transport it by ourselves.

It greatly saved costs for salt merchants.

And he doesn't need any transportation, he can do it all by himself.

And the price is more expensive than that purchased by salt merchants.

It is precisely because of this that Ashikaga Yoshimochi was so speechless.

After a brief silence, Ashikaga Yoshimochi could no longer hold back and could not sit still, so he quickly spoke:

"Your Highness the Crown Prince... Prince Han..."

"No…no…no."

"This, this, this... our price is higher than others, so we will take care of the transportation ourselves."

“You also have to pay the agency sales rights fee.”

"It also……"

“Will it be possible…” The following words were not directly stated, but we are all smart people.

How could I not understand the implicit meaning of his words?

After hearing this.

Seeing that Ashikaga Yoshimochi looked like he was constipated.

Zhu Gaoxu raised his eyebrows, half-closed his eyes and glanced at him with interest, grinning:

"Oh?"

"Emissary Ashikaga, do you disagree?"

"This is the court's rule, the Heavenly Kingdom's rule."

"And... Envoy Ashikaga, I think you forgot one thing."

"It is not the Ming Dynasty that is begging you to buy our Ming refined salt."

"Besides, we, the Ming Dynasty's refined salt, do not have to worry about sales and channels."

"so……"

"No matter what angle you are standing at, I hope you can put yourself in the right position."

"Remember, it is you who begs Daming, not Daming begging you."

“Don’t get this question reversed and confused.”

"You are not qualified to discuss rules with the Ming Dynasty, nor are you qualified to say anything inappropriate with us."

"I agree... I've waited for discussion, but I don't agree..."

Say it.

Zhu Gaoxu didn't say much.

Leave enough time for Ashikaga Yoshimochi and others to think slowly.

Get a definite answer.

Such conclusive words.

There is no room for negotiation.

It can be said that the Japanese envoys' little thoughts were completely blocked.

In short, whether you agree or not is your own business. If you want me to change the rules, your small country like Japan is not qualified.

In an instant, the atmosphere in the entire hall became extremely strange and solemn.

The members of the Japanese delegation looked at each other and exchanged glances.

They seemed calm, without any emotional fluctuations, but their rapid breathing betrayed their restless thoughts. Everything they said revealed that although the Japanese delegation seemed calm, everyone in it was not calm at all.

"call……"

After a long time.

The Japanese delegation, which had been whispering to each other from time to time, regained their composure.

Ashikaga Yoshimochi straightened his brocade robe, slowly raised his head, and looked at Zhu Gaoxu who was standing on the high platform with a look of confidence in him. He suppressed the anger in his heart, bowed slightly, and said:

"Prince Han..."

"I wonder how much the so-called sales agency fee is?"

"Can you please state it directly?"

Have to admit.

Ashikaga Yoshimochi was indeed an extremely qualified politician, having inherited the true skills of his father Ashikaga Yoshimitsu.

No wonder he was able to handle the mess left behind after Ashikaga Yoshimitsu's death.

The Japanese royal family was still severely suppressed, making it impossible for anyone to shake the Ashikaga family.

Such an unreasonable request, with soft provocation in the words.

Even if I am angry, I can still control my emotions well.

There was nothing wrong with all the actions.

In response, Zhu Gaoxu smiled and did not beat around the bush on the matter, replying:
"not much……"

"Within the limits of what you can bear in your country, Japan."

"Ten million taels of silver!"

Ashikaga Yoshimochi: “???????”

What the hell?
not much?

Ten million taels of silver?
This is not a lot, how much silver is considered a lot?

No, how could you, with just your upper lip and lower lip touching, say such light words.

Ten million taels of silver!

Not to mention Japan, even the Ming Dynasty would have been in turmoil if it hadn't been for the introduction of refined salt, which changed the Ming Dynasty's treasury.

Can you, the Ming Dynasty, produce it?

is it possible?
Just kidding?
Do you really think I don’t know the situation of the Ming Dynasty’s treasury?
In the past, your Ming Dynasty court could not even come up with such a large amount of money, yet you actually asked a tiny country like Japan for so much silver.

Is it reasonable?
Just this sentence.

He had been calm and composed, but he could no longer sit still, and could no longer control his emotions. He flew into a rage, and his words were no longer gentle and courteous. He raised his voice and shouted:

"No no no... Impossible!"

"Ten million taels of silver!"

“Too much.”

"Prince Han, this is not a sincere price at all."

"As far as I know, some time ago."

"The highest price for the right to sell refined salt in various places was only 7 million taels of silver."

"no!"

"We absolutely cannot accept this price."

Having said this, he paused, his expression became slightly gloomy, and he suddenly changed the subject and said:
"Your Majesty..."

"Is this the way the Celestial Empire entertains guests?"

"Hasn't the Celestial Empire always upheld etiquette and considered itself a country of etiquette?"

"Why do you have to bully and humiliate us like this?"

Say it.

Ashikaga Yoshimochi and the rest of the Japanese delegation couldn't help but show disappointment and anger on their faces.

This put him directly into a weak position.

It was as if I had suffered a great injustice.

See this situation.

The six ministers, who had remained silent until now, could no longer sit still and pretended to open their mouths to say something.

See what these people are doing.

Zhu Gaoxu, who was sitting on the high platform, suddenly opened his half-closed eyes and glared fiercely at the six ministers who were about to speak.

As a result, the six ministers who were about to speak had to hold back the words that were about to come out of their mouths.

It can be said that these people were very suffocated. Their old faces unconsciously flushed and they sat aside obediently with embarrassment.

Wait to suppress the restless ministers.

Zhu Gaoxu glanced with interest at the Japanese envoys and others standing below pretending to be serious.

"Bang bang bang..."

He reached out and gently knocked on the table in front of him. A hint of gloom flashed across his face. He slowly stood up with his hands on the armrests of the armchair. His eyes followed the slowly rising figure and unconsciously became sharp. He shouted angrily in a slightly low and hoarse voice:
"A land of etiquette?"

"Hospitality?"

"The Japanese envoy...Ashikaga Yoshimochi."

"I think you have forgotten one thing. We are talking about business now."

“Business is business!”

"What about the state etiquette?"

"Ha ha……"

"Secondly, what gives you the courage to talk about the Ming Dynasty like this, as a small country like Japan?"

"If you dare to talk nonsense like this again."

"Don't blame me..."

(End of this chapter)