Red Mansion, Ningfu Scholarly Family

Chapter 128 Baoyu was seduced.

……

"emperor."

Wen Ting stood up and said seriously: "Master Jia developed honeycomb coal, which is a great contribution to the country. He is truly a role model for us."

As he spoke, he changed the subject and looked out the window worriedly, "It is already mid-October, and making honeycomb coal cannot be delayed. Lord Jia, please hand over the honeycomb coal formula to the Ministry of Industry as soon as possible and speed up production to ensure that the people of Kyoto can spend the winter safely."

It is reasonable for the Ministry of Industry to manufacture honeycomb coal.

Minister of Personnel Liu Yizhi echoed, "What Elder Wen said makes sense. The sooner honeycomb coal is made, the sooner the people can get enough food and clothing. Lord Jia won't hide anything, right?"

Jia Jing smiled slightly.

"of course not."

"The secret recipe of honeycomb briquettes can be given to the Ministry of Industry."

Wen Ting was stunned for a moment.

Jia Jing actually agreed so readily?

He doesn't believe it!

Unreasonable!

really.

Jia Jing then said, "The secret recipe must not only be given to the Ministry of Industry, but also to the Imperial Household, and must be announced to the world. All merchants and workshops can produce, manufacture and sell honeycomb coal."

For a moment, everyone didn't understand why Jia Jing was crazy.

Such a lucrative business, are you crazy?
Even the emperor didn't understand.

He had just been thinking that he must get the Imperial Household to take over the business of making honeycomb coal to fill his inner treasury.

As a result, Jia Jing showed his selflessness.

Could it be that he was so happy that he lost his mind because I conferred him the title of Prince's Guardian?

Just when everyone was puzzled, Jia Jing said, "There is only one thing. Anyone who produces and sells honeycomb coal needs to pay one-tenth of the honeycomb coal production and sales tax to the court."

The emperor was delighted when he heard this.

He finally understood Jia Jing's good intentions.

You are worthy of being my right-hand minister!

But he didn't feel happy for long, as a large group of people jumped out.

"No!"

"The tax rate is one in thirty, which is the ancestral rule!"

"This is competing with the people for profit!"

"I impeach Dongge Grand Secretary Jia Jing for not following the ancestral system, making up excuses, and arbitrarily changing the commercial tax. He deserves death!"

For a time, voices of impeachment were heard one after another.

Wen Ting smiled coldly.

What is the production and sales tax on honeycomb briquettes? It is just a change of name for the commercial tax.

This is the first step in using honeycomb coal to launch commercial tax reform!
Will there be a sales tax on salt production, tea production, or silk production in the future?

For the sake of the people of the world, for the sake of the country and the people, they, the Qingliu, will never sit idly by!
half an hour.

When everyone was tired of shouting, they finally stopped.

Jia Jing then explained slowly: "I have already said that this has nothing to do with commercial taxes. It is the production and sales tax of honeycomb coal. If you feel that the tax is too high and you cannot afford it, you can completely choose not to do it. Everything is voluntary."

The Emperor said, "Lord Jia, your words make sense. I think one-tenth of the production and sales tax is acceptable. The Imperial Household Department will accept it."

Wen Ting hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, please think twice!"

"This action must not set a precedent! Otherwise it will shake the foundation of the country and make the country unstable!"

Minister of Personnel Liu Yizhi said: "Your Majesty, please think twice."

Li Minzhi, the Minister of Rites, said: "Your Majesty, please think twice."

"Your Majesty, please think twice."

A large group of people stood up in the hall, looking ready to die.

But this time the emperor’s attitude was very tough.

"This is the business of the inner court, and has nothing to do with commercial taxes. You don't need to worry about it. I'm dismissing the court!"

"Lord Jia, please stay."

The young eunuch shouted: "Retreat!"

The court officials retreated reluctantly.

His sharp eyes stared at Jia Jing, as if he wanted to tear him into pieces.

"When treacherous officials are in power, the people suffer."

"Lord Wen, do we want to die in protest?"

Wen Ting waved his hand calmly, confident: "Now is not the time. After all, he made the honeycomb briquettes. It would be unreasonable for us to make a last-ditch appeal."

"We'll talk about it later when he does something else!"

Everyone hurriedly said, "Master Wen is right."

……

Making money is never the ultimate goal.

It is simply an indispensable means to success.

There was a light snowfall in Kyoto at the end of October, and many wealthy and powerful families turned on their incense burners and warm rooms for heating.

Most families still use the original charcoal for heating, and only a few have begun to try using officially produced honeycomb coal.

Jia Rong was not worried at all about this.

Because there is not enough charcoal in Kyoto this year.

If you don't want to freeze, you can only choose honeycomb briquettes.

Especially for people living around Kyoto, where could they afford expensive charcoal? Cheap honeycomb briquettes were definitely their first choice.

Once you have tasted the benefits of honeycomb briquettes, you can’t live without them.

"We feel that this year's honeycomb coal will definitely sell well. What do you think, Master Rong?" Dai Quan's godson Dai Zhonghou said with a smile.

Jia Rong said confidently, "Not only this year, but for many years to come, honeycomb coal will be irreplaceable."

Of course, the retired emperor would not treat his meritorious ministers unfairly. While he operated the inner court openly, he secretly gave Ningguo Mansion a 10% stake.

By tying their interests together with the royal family, it can only be said that the Ningguo Mansion made a fortune this time.

Jia Jing naturally would not forget that this was the credit of his eldest grandson, so he directly gave the 10% share to Jia Rong.

"With Master Rong's words, we feel relieved. We will go back and order the palace to speed up production." Dai Zhonghou looked impatient.

"Don't worry, sir."

Jia Rong called out to Dai Zhonghou.

"What else do you want, young master?"

Jia Rong laughed and said, "The Ministry of Internal Affairs has suddenly added honeycomb coal production. Are they short of manpower?"

Dai Zhonghou sighed, "We are short of manpower. We are desperately short of manpower. We have temporarily transferred personnel from the Ministry of Industry. This is just for Kyoto. The emperor means that all the two capitals and 13 provinces in the country must use honeycomb coal. Godfather has temporarily gathered 13 eunuch prosecutors to be assigned to various places to manage the production and sales of honeycomb coal."

Then, Dai Zhonghou understood and said with a smile: "Does the eldest master have any talents to recommend to our inner court?" Jia Rong smiled and said: "I have a friend whose family is also an imperial merchant. He is now in charge of the inner court's treasury. He can't help with production, but he can help with sales."

Dai Zhonghou smiled and said, "You are too polite, young master. I couldn't ask for more."

With Dai Zhonghou's help, Jia Rong easily helped the Xue family win honeycomb coal sales quotas in several provinces.

As we all know, production doesn't actually make much money, sales are the king. Even if you have to pay a 10% tax, people will still flock to it.

Although the officials in the court cursed openly, they had already contacted their own merchants secretly, or quietly found connections, or bought quotas with money, and joined the ranks of buying, selling honeycomb coal.

……

Rongguo Mansion, Lixiangyuan.

Xue Baochai was wearing a honey-colored cotton-padded jacket made of Su fabric, a half-worn light yellow brocade skirt, and deerskin boots. She walked into the house on the thin layer of snow on the bluestone road.

Aunt Xue hurried forward and pulled Baochai to her side: "My child, why did you come here in such a cold weather? You don't even have a cloak with you."

Baochai smiled and said, "I came here when I had nothing to do."

"What about brother?"

Aunt Xue said, "He's still sleeping in there. He's been eating and sleeping all the time. He's gained a lot of weight."

"The other day the Ministry of Justice sent a document ordering your brother to go to the northwest."

Baochai nodded: "I know."

She had already learned about it from Jia Rong.

That place is close to the Western Regions, and trade between the two places is quite prosperous. Although it is far inferior to Nanjing and Kyoto, it is much better than the bitterly cold Northeast and the miasma-ridden Qiongzhou.

"After your brother left, it was just the two of us, mother and I," Aunt Xue said, her eyes moist again.

Baochai advised: "Don't be sad, mother. This is the best result. Without Brother Rong's help, Brother might have already..."

"Don't be ashamed."

Aunt Xue gently poked Baochai on the forehead and said with a smile, "You have lowered your generation."

Of course, she was willing in her heart.

What does seniority matter?
Baochai blushed: "I just followed Sister Baoqin's call, after all..."

Aunt Xue smiled and said, "I understand."

"Mom supports you!"

"Rong'er is a filial child, and his family background is good. If there is a result in the future, not only will you be rich and prosperous, but your brother may also benefit from it and be released."

Aunt Xue knew very well that with Jia Jing's status, saving Xue Pan was just a matter of words. The reason she didn't say anything was because they were not close enough.

Baochai lowered her head and stammered, "Don't talk nonsense, Mom. I only call you that because I am grateful to Brother Rong for saving you."

"Given Brother Rong's family background and status, Grandpa will definitely find him a suitable match."

Aunt Xue smiled and said, "That may not be the case."

"I heard that there is a family named Qin out there, and they dare to apply for a small official position in the East Palace. After all, we are relatives."

"also……"

"The Dongfu family is large and powerful, but the population is small. Rong Ge'er is the only child left. The master may consider marrying a few more wives for Rong Ge'er."

"As long as I give birth to a son, I won't have to worry about not being able to gain a foothold in the Duke's Mansion."

Baochai:"……"

Mom, are you serious?!
The two chatted for a while, and Aunt Xue suddenly said, "I was planning to go see your aunt today. Do you want to go?"

"I'll go take a look too."

"Your aunt has a hard time too, so try to be nice to her when speaking to her," Aunt Xue advised.

Baochai nodded: "I know."

Small Buddhist temple in the backyard.

Because of Jia Baoyu's repeated requests, although Grandmother Jia did not give money to build a new Buddhist temple for Lady Wang, she took it to heart. She arranged all the necessary food and incense burners for heating, and even gave Lady Wang two maids to serve her.

Mrs. Wang only thought that it was her brother who forced the Jia family to do so, so she became even happier and was just waiting for the day when Wang Ziteng would return to Beijing and suppress the Jia family, and Jia Jing, Jia Mu and others would personally invite her out of the small Buddhist temple so that she could be proud of herself.

At this time, Mrs. Wang was sitting on a cushion in the inner room, worshiping Buddha and praying for her brother Wang Ziteng.

"May the Buddha bless my brother Wang Ziteng to rise to higher positions, become a noble and a prime minister, and bring honor to our family."

"May the Buddha bless my son Baoyu to pass the imperial examination and inherit the family business, surpassing the Ning Mansion."

"Aunt, Miss Bao is here." Jin Chuan'er's voice sounded from outside.

Mrs. Wang immediately stopped worshipping Buddha and went to the outer room.

Sure enough, Aunt Xue came with Baochai.

"aunt."

Baochai bowed obediently after entering the room.

"My son."

Mrs. Wang hurriedly took Baochai's hand and said with a smile, "It's so cold, it's hard for you to come to see me. Have you played with your brother Bao recently?"

Baochai smiled and said, "I heard that Brother Bao has been studying in the school recently, and I dare not disturb him."

Mrs. Wang smiled and said, "Yes!"

"Baoyu has been studying very hard recently. A few days ago, I told him to take a break because it was snowing, but he refused."

Aunt Xue smiled and said, "Don't worry, sister. Baoyu will definitely win the first prize in the imperial examination."

Mrs. Wang laughed and said, "If that really happens, I would be happy even if I died immediately."

Aunt Xue said with a smile, "Sister, you still have a long way to go to enjoy your life. Why are you trying to scare people with words like death?"

As they were talking, Baoyu came in from outside.

"Mrs."

"aunt."

"Sister Bao."

Baoyu bowed to everyone one by one.

Mrs. Wang quickly hugged Baoyu and stroked him, saying with a smile, "Why did you come back so early today?"

Baoyu lied, "It's cold today, so the teacher asked us to come back early."

In fact...

It is said that since Baoyu returned to school, he had vowed to study hard for two days. However, he soon became bored with the teacher's endless talk about economics and his mind turned to other things.

As the saying goes: A dragon gives birth to nine sons, each of them is different.

Studying in the Jia family school was not only free, but also provided with food and tea, so all the relatives and other branches who were of the right age came.

With so many people, there will inevitably be a mix of good and bad people, including a few low-class characters.

The three teachers were all elderly men and could not take care of Baoyu at once, so he was soon seduced.

Today Baoyu went to the toilet with Lianxiang and played at the same time. Unexpectedly, they were seen by other students and told the teacher.

The teacher was furious!
Drive him back.

……

(End of this chapter)