Ming Dynasty: Domination of the World from the Imperial Examination

Chapter 85: A top scholar who has lost his edge is a good top scholar!

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded.

He closed his eyes slightly, as if thinking of something, and said in a cold voice: "Remember to arrange some people to go into the two mines opened by Xia Zhibai."

"We have given Xia Zhibai too many things. We have people, money, and officials from the Ministry of Industry. Thousands of people are enough to cause a civil uprising."

He was always worried about Xia Zhibai.

Zhu Biao smiled and said, "Father, I have already made arrangements. Xia Zhibai is still an official of the Imperial Academy. Although he has not been given a clear position, he was not really relieved of his post as an official of the Imperial Academy at that time. Therefore, I directly sent a few clerks over."

"The specific situation of Xia Zhibai's two mines is now under my control."

"Father, don't worry."

Hear the words.

Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned for a moment, then looked at Zhu Biao with a loving smile on his face. Then he was a little proud and praised: "Boss, you are smart. Why didn't we think of doing this? No matter what Xia Zhibai is like, he is still an official of the Ming Dynasty. Isn't it reasonable for us to arrange someone?"

"Why can't we think of it so clearly?"

Zhu Biao said, "Father is just busy with government affairs and doesn't care much about this matter. If Father cared about it, how could I have the chance to help? Moreover, Xia Zhibai's incident was caused by me, so I would naturally pay more attention to it."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded happily.

He was very satisfied that the boss could take these into consideration.

"Ha!" Zhu Yuanzhang smiled and said coldly: "The blood of our Zhu family is not just about means but also about brains!"

"If he plays tricks on us, why would we be afraid?"

"It's just that the son doesn't feel bad about selling his grandfather's land, but Xia Zhibai took our money and showed off his power, wasting so much grain." Zhu Yuanzhang felt a little bad about the money and grain he had lent out.

Zhu Biao said helplessly: "Father, this is borrowed."

"It belongs to Xia Zhibai now."

Zhu Yuanzhang glared at him and said, "But it was taken from us."

"never mind."

"Let's not talk about this shit anymore."

"How's that steam-engine business of his getting on?"

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes straightened, this was what he cared about most.

Zhu Biao pondered for a moment and said slowly, "After two months of constant efforts, the steam engines have been replaced several times. In total, it cost thousands of taels, and tons of pig iron. Such a huge expense makes even your son feel a little distressed."

Zhu Biao looked painful.

He continued: "But the effect is quite good."

"It is said that the latest steam engine can extract brine from deeper depths, and its efficiency is higher than that of manpower, but I don't know how much higher it is."

"However, compared to the initial situation where the labor was far less than that of humans, it has been greatly improved. However, from the news sent back from time to time by those clerks, these machines seem to be wearing out a lot. They need to be repaired every now and then, and the lead pads in them need to be replaced. Xia Zhibai spends a lot of money on these machines every month."

"In just these two months, Xia Zhibai has spent more than 30,000 silver coins."

Zhu Biao told Zhu Yuanzhang in detail all the news he knew.

Upon hearing that more than 30,000 silver coins had been spent in two months, Zhu Yuanzhang frowned and a look of pain appeared on his face.

All this was spent on his money.

He now regrets having agreed to it.

This is a complete waste of time.

Zhu Yuanzhang asked, "It's been two months. Has he sold all the salt?"

"What's the price?"

"How much money and grain have been collected?"

Zhu Yuanzhang still didn't give up completely. He knew that the initial investment was necessary. As long as there was benefit, or at least a return on investment, it would mean that Xia Zhibai's investment was not completely in vain, and he had made some progress.

It's just how much you earn.

Zhu Biao smiled bitterly and shook his head, saying, "Father, Xia Zhibai's salt has not been officially sold to this day, but he has been actively promoting it in the city, saying that it will be sold in the next few days and the price will be extremely affordable."

"But from what I have heard, many salt merchants in Yingtian Prefecture are also on high alert and have brought a lot of salt here."

"Prepare to fight against Xia Zhibai."

"Xia Zhibai's move has affected the interests of many salt merchants. If they really start selling, the situation will not be too optimistic."

He doesn't understand business.

But from the news I heard, it basically indicated that Xia Zhibai would be in a difficult situation.

The businessman is mercenary.

How could I give up the benefits I have obtained?
Moreover, the fact that the emperor only gave Xia Zhibai three months had already spread, so how could the merchants not take advantage of it?
As long as Xia Zhibai fails to survive the next month and makes a profit, it basically means that his approach is not working.

Father will also take back everything he lent to Xia Zhibai.

There is not much time left for Xia Zhibai to prove himself.

He won't interfere either.

in business.

He still understands this truth.

Since Xia Zhibai is determined to go down the path of "doing business", he should go on his own. How can he rely on the power of the court everywhere?
The court was not opened for him.

Zhu Yuanzhang snorted coldly, full of disgust and disdain for these merchants who were "adding insult to injury".

He doesn't like businessmen.

I especially hate the mercenary behavior of businessmen in the stock market.

Seeking profit only.

If it weren't for the fact that there were many commodity transactions in the Ming Dynasty and the need for merchants, he would have wanted to demote all the merchants into slaves.

Zhu Biao seemed to have thought of something, and added with a smile: "Although he has not officially sold salt recently, the news has spread. Many people in Yingtian Prefecture are curious about Xia Zhibai."

"But most people don't care about the quality of the salt. Instead, they are curious about why this top scholar would degenerate."

"Many people feel sorry for him." "But most people just want to see him laugh."

Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head.

He was not interested in the news.

There is still one month left before Xia Zhibai has to give an account.

He can afford to wait.

His only hope now is that Xia Zhibai can recognize the situation as soon as possible.

Use less of the money he gave him so that he can get some of it back later. If Xia Zhibai continues to spend lavishly in this month, after a month, even if he takes over the coal mine and salt mine and hands them over to other people to operate, it will take a long time to receive the 50,000 taels.

This is fifty thousand taels of silver.

Real money.

Such a lot of money.

Just like that, he was humiliated by Xia Zhibai.

He really felt pain.

But he would not suffer the loss in vain. Xia Zhibai borrowed the money and spent it, but if he could not pay it back after a year, he would find a way to let Xia Zhibai make up for it. Apart from other things, the reduction in potato production and the cultivation of high-yield rice could all offset the interest and principal.

How could he do business that would lose money?

Zhu Yuanzhang stroked his beard and denied it flatly: "I only asked him to hand in the account books in three months, but I didn't ask him to give up the business. Don't slander me, I didn't mean that."

"If his financial strength cannot support the continuation of the business, we will take it back. We always keep our word."

"We are not those landlords and gentry who think of taking things by force."

"We don't do that kind of thing."

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand to express his attitude.

Zhu Biao smiled bitterly.

Isn't that what it means?

At the rate Xia Zhibai was spending money, if there was no profit from selling salt, he would not be able to last more than three months. By then, he would have no money and would have to give up. But if his father had not said those words, Xia Zhibai might not have been so radical.

At least it won't fail so quickly and so completely.

Zhu Biao didn’t have too many thoughts. It was a good thing to let Xia Zhibai fail.

Otherwise, he always has an arrogant attitude.

Through this business failure, Xia Zhibai's arrogance can be suppressed and he can wake up and know that the world is not what he thinks, and that he can do whatever he wants just because he is full of passion.

Governing the world is not that easy.

Having talent is a good thing.

But it is wrong to be unrestrained by your talent.

Zhu Biao smiled faintly and said calmly, "Don't worry, Father. I know what to do. I will not help Xia Zhibai, nor will I take it back in advance. I will wait until Xia Zhibai can no longer bear it and begs for mercy."

"And I am happy to see the current situation."

"Thanks to Xia Zhibai's disruption, the price of salt in Yingtian Prefecture should drop to a certain extent in the next half month, which will also benefit the people."

"Why not, my son?"

"In fact, I hope Xia Zhibai can fight these salt merchants for a longer time, so that the people can benefit more."

"As the saying goes, when the snipe and the clam quarrel, the fisherman gains."

"In the next month, Xia Zhibai will fight with the salt merchants of Yingtian Prefecture. The biggest beneficiaries are the people that Xia Zhibai cares about the most."

"Xia Zhibai is the top scholar of the Ming Dynasty after all, so the court can also gain a lot of support from the people."

"I understand this principle."

Zhu Biao already had an idea of ​​what would happen next in Yingtian Prefecture.

He was happy to see it.

The court collected the salt permit money very early.

Although the salt tax will be reduced due to the price reduction, the salt tax itself is 1 in 20, so collecting less salt tax in Yingtian Prefecture is not a big deal. What's more, Xia Zhibai will also collect extra 'salt permits' and 'salt taxes' that he should not have.

Overall, the court's revenue from salt will be a little more than before.

He had already settled the account.

In Zhu Biao's view, what happened next in Yingtian Prefecture was just an internal fight among the "salt merchants", and he just had to watch the show quietly from the sidelines.

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded.

He didn't really like to ask about Xia Zhibai's affairs.

Now that Zhu Biao had thought it through, he was completely relieved.

Zhu Yuanzhang picked up another baked potato, tore off the peeling skin, poured a layer of dipping sauce on it, and without caring about the heat on his hands, he blew a few deep breaths on it and put it straight into his mouth. Although it was hot, his face was still full of enjoyment.

These potatoes are delicious when roasted.

Zhu Yuanzhang ate several in a row until he was full. Then he clapped his hands in satisfaction, got up and left contentedly.

He can't take too much time off.

All matters, big or small, in the court had to be reviewed and handled by him.

After Zhu Biao ate another one, he distributed the rest to the attendants around him and turned away.

He also has a lot of political affairs to deal with every day.

The outcome of Xia Zhibai's matter was determined from the very beginning. How could one person shake the already established salt industry?

However, after experiencing failure and losing his edge, Xia Zhibai is the top scholar that the Ming Dynasty wants.

He can wait and he can afford to wait.

(End of this chapter)