Ming Dynasty: I am truly not the Emperor of Longevity

There are no technical bottlenecks in the production of tin amalgam glass mirrors, and the first batch of mirrors will be produced soon. These things were sold for exorbitant prices by Venetian merchants in Europe.

Bone china may take a little longer, but not too long.

The craftsmen hired from Jingdezhen are all experienced masters. Once they break through the barrier of adding nearly half ox bone powder to the porcelain clay, it shouldn't take too long to produce the finished product.

Compared to porcelain from the Ming Dynasty, bone china is definitely considered a high-end product.

Lu Chen also doesn't plan to mass-produce this item; instead, he intends to pursue a high-end, boutique approach, similar to glass mirrors and crystal glassware.

A small portion was given to the Xie family for sale domestically through their channels, while the majority was transported directly to Japan and Malacca by the Lin family's fleet for sale.

The Xie family has been an agent for Shuangyu Haishang Group for many years and has established a mature distribution channel within the Ming Dynasty.

Having already formed a partnership with Xie Pi and Xie Gen at Fei Dun Garden, it is now even more important to bring the Xie family onto my side to achieve a closer ties of interests.

Glass mirrors and bone china, two highly profitable products, are limited in quantity, and the Lin family's fleet cannot take only these items when it goes to sea.

In the 16th century, the major commodities exported overseas by the Ming Dynasty were silk, porcelain, and tea. The Xie family had the channels and connections to organize the supply of these goods.

Having the Xie family acquire these items would not affect the existing vested interests.

The overseas goods brought back by the fleet could be distributed to various parts of the Ming Dynasty through the Xie family, from which the Xie family could also get a considerable share.

In business, it's not a good habit to hoard profits. Even if you're a powerful vassal, you still need to share the spoils.

In another dimension, the Xie family dared to default on payments owed to Shuangyu Haishang Group, and even threatened to report them to the authorities when confronted with demands for payment.

But Lu Chen believed that they would never, and dared not, default on payments to the Prince of Ying's Mansion!

. . .

"Your humble servant Yan Shifan, Junior Minister of the Imperial Seal Office, pays his respects to Your Highness Prince Ying."

Yan Shifan knelt down and bowed deeply to Lu Chen.

Less than a month after returning to Chengtian Prefecture, Yan Shifan came to pay his respects.

Lu Chen was quite interested in this renowned young Grand Secretary and arranged to meet him in the study of the West Third Courtyard.

Yan Shifan's trip to Huguang was on the orders of his father, Yan Song, the Minister of Rites, to oversee the selection of a concubine for the Prince of Ying.

Lu Chen knew very well that this matter was not originally Yan Shifan's responsibility; the Ministry of Rites had plenty of people who could be sent.

Yan Shifan's personal visit was clearly an attempt by Yan Song and his son to establish a relationship with him.

"Yang Ban, bring Yan Shaoqing a stool."

After giving instructions to Yang Bingzhong, Lu Chen looked at Yan Shifan.

"Your father, Grand Minister Weizhong, is deeply trusted by His Majesty and is truly a pillar of our Great Ming Dynasty."

Yan Shaoqing is exceptionally intelligent and capable of assisting Duke Weizhong; he is relied upon as a strategist, and I have long heard of him.

"Thank you for offering me a seat, Your Highness."

Yan Shifan immediately knelt down.

"My father was deeply indebted to the country and could not repay it even with his life. He often taught me to be anxious and worried day and night, and to be loyal to Your Majesty."

"This humble official is of mediocre talent, and I am truly humbled by Your Highness's inquiry."

As he bowed down, Yan Shifan's mind was racing.

It's not surprising that His Highness Prince Ying knows something about his father, after all, his father is the Minister of Rites, a high-ranking official of the second rank.

But it is very strange that His Highness claims to have heard of his own intelligence and knows that he can assist his father.

Although he was the son of a high-ranking official, he was not good at studying and failed to even pass the county-level imperial examination. He only managed to get a student status at the Imperial Academy through his father's influence.

He entered officialdom as a student of the Imperial Academy and served as an assistant official in Shuntian Prefecture for several years.

Having not come from the orthodox path of the imperial examinations, his future prospects in officialdom were originally very limited.

During this southern tour, Xia Yan, as the chief minister, adhered to conventional etiquette and repeatedly opposed His Majesty's wishes, while his father tried his best to understand His Majesty's intentions and comply with His Majesty's will, thus winning His Majesty's favor.

After returning to the capital, His Majesty issued a special imperial edict promoting me to the rank of Junior Minister of the Imperial Seal Office, a fifth-rank official. This was actually a reward for my father, not an affirmation of my abilities.

I do consider myself intelligent and quick-witted, and in recent years I have been my father’s de facto advisor, often offering him suggestions.

But the outside world should not be aware of these things.