The History of the Empress of the Shang Dynasty

Chapter 303
Su Nuo complained for a while, although Xiao Shiheng didn't fully understand it, he vaguely felt that what Su Nuo said was quite reasonable.

With so much investment in the early stage, it is certain that they will not be able to earn back in a short while. Presumably, Su Nuo will not have much money, otherwise why would he ask him to invest money?

"Okay, okay, you are poor, but, young master, I am even poorer! I blame the old man in my family. I didn't have much money, but I donated it to the imperial court to buy iron ore!"

Xiao Shiheng looked aggrieved, his old man didn't have a lot of salary, and the family didn't dare to support many servants, but now he is doing well, he is probably not as good as the son of the county magistrate below.

How can he be so poor when he thinks of him as the dignified young master of the Xiao Mansion!

"What, the imperial court wants to buy iron ore? Why?"

Su Nuo was shocked. He has never forgotten the iron mine in his hand, so he is naturally a little sensitive when he hears about the iron mine.

"Hey, you don't know that the biggest weakness of my Tianqi Kingdom is that there is only one iron mine, but my country is so big, how can that one iron mine meet the demand for iron?"

Xiao Shiheng actually sighed, and his appearance became serious, but he looked a bit worried. Those who didn't know really thought that he was a good young man who worried about the country and the people.

"I know this. Isn't the old Hou Ye responsible for the development and use of the iron mine, including the weapon workshop? Guarding such a golden mountain, how can your Xiao mansion be poor?"

Seeing Xiao Shiheng like this, Su Nuo knew that he was really poor, but he still couldn't figure it out.

"It's Jinshan, but it belongs to the country, not my Xiaofu. The old man of my family just got an extra salary, and he has to support such a big family, and he has no other source of money."

"Oh."

Su Nuo clicked his tongue, feeling like he had become stupid, why couldn't he guess this.

He knows that the iron mine belongs to the state, so the old Hou Ye is at best a general manager of a state-owned enterprise, and he is paid a dead salary, but the old Hou Ye is a loyal royalist, so it is naturally impossible to use his power to embezzle and profit from it What.

"Okay, then what do you mean when you say that Lord Hou donated all his money to buy iron ore?"

The topic returned.

"Isn't it because the iron mine is about to be dug out? I heard from the old man that it has bottomed out. Recently, the mainland has been in turmoil. Southern Xinjiang has frequently harassed our borders. The old man said that sooner or later there will be a big war with Southern Xinjiang."

"And our soldiers' weapons and equipment are relatively old, and the number is not large. The King of Zhennan has expressed his feelings many times."

After all, it was the young master of the Xiao family who knew these things very well, and Xiao Shiheng didn't shy away from it, and said it to Su Nuo without reservation.

"So, His Majesty the Emperor has approved it? However, manufacturing weapons in large quantities may require a lot of iron ore. If they are bought from other countries, it will really require a lot of money."

Iron ore is so expensive, so the price is naturally very expensive, and other countries also know that Tianqi is short of iron, so it is impossible to sell it to you at a par price.

"Isn't it? That's why His Majesty is also having a headache. After the battle with Beidi, our treasury has been empty. However, we can't let too many people know about it, especially the common people, for fear of causing panic."

Only then did Xiao Shiheng remember to look around, and became cautious.

Su Nuo chuckled lightly and rolled his eyes: I've already said the words, are you careful?
"You are quite at ease with me. Should I thank you or thank you?"

(End of this chapter)