See you in the picture!
Sure enough, Zhu Biao's guess was correct. The queen mother was really trying to distract him from the limestone. Moreover, the lion opened its mouth wide and was about to eat all of his charcoal mines.
Zhu Biao wanted to refuse, but he didn't dare to say it directly. He knew that since it was the queen who opened Chrysostom, it would be impossible for him not to bleed. I can only say tactfully: "Mother, my expenses have been quite high recently. How about I give you 10%, which will be regarded as my filial piety to you?"
The smile on Queen Ma's face did not diminish, but her words were filled with cold air: "I heard that Han Du got 10%. So in your heart, do the Queen Mother and Han Du have the same position? It really makes the Queen Mother sad, It’s in vain that your mother raised you up since you were a child. At that time, your father was away fighting in the north and south every day, and I took care of you at home, worrying you all day long, and even put you to sleep at night~”
"Stop, stop, please tell me, Queen Mother, how much do you want? Let me tell you first, it's impossible to do it all. You have to leave some for me. There are a lot of mouths in the East Palace waiting for me to feed you? "
Seeing this, Queen Ma stopped beating around the bush with Zhu Biao and said straightforwardly: "Give 30% to the queen, and keep 10% for yourself."
Zhu Biao suddenly felt a burst of heartache and asked Empress Ma with a mournful face: "Mother, do you think my son is just like Han Du in your heart?"
Zhu Biao counterattacked and returned what Empress Ma had just said to her.
However, Zhu Biao still miscalculated. After all, he was too young and not as well-informed as Queen Ma.
Empress Ma chuckled lightly and said, "What do you think?"
When Zhu Biao heard this, his tone was stagnant and he looked at Queen Ma dumbfounded. Is this still his kind and dignified queen mother? Zhu Biao couldn't say a word, turned around and left angrily.
When Zhu Biao left, Queen Ma turned around and returned to the palace.
Lao Zhu had finished his meal and was wiping his hands with a cloth. When he saw Queen Ma coming back, he casually asked, "Sister, what are you and Biao'er talking about outside for so long?"
Empress Ma smiled sweetly: "Biao'er is filial and offered to give me shares in the charcoal mine. I didn't want it, but he insisted on giving it to me. In this world, parents have always given money to their children. How can there be any reason for children to give money to their parents? ? My concubine chatted with him outside for a while and then stayed for a while. "
After hearing this, Lao Zhu felt that the family was so harmonious. A smile appeared on his face and he said casually: "Since Biao'er wants to give it to you, then you should keep it. You have pulled him so big and let him It is also appropriate to show some filial piety. As parents, we have worked hard all our lives, and we should also enjoy their filial piety. Hahaha~"
Queen Ma smiled and nodded in agreement.
The next day, Zhu Biao summoned Han Du to the East Palace.
"I have asked my father for instructions. My father believes that the price of stone carbon is lower and the people can make some profits. Twenty coins and one hundred catties, you can sell it at this price."
"How much?" Han Du was so shocked by Zhu Biao's words that he didn't even use the honorific title for Zhu Biao.
However, Zhu Biao was kind-hearted and he was very familiar with Han Du, so he didn't care.
"Twenty cents and one hundred catties. This is the price set by my father. You can sell it at this price."
Han Du smiled bitterly after hearing this. He didn't care much and quickly waved his hand to stop it: "Your Highness Mingjian, you must not sell it at this price."
Zhu Biao gave Han Du a strange look, "Is this Han Du really like what my father said, that when it comes to making money, he immediately becomes greedy?"
Zhu Biao coughed twice, calmed down, and said calmly: "Just sell it at this price. After all, it is the price set by the emperor. After all, it can benefit the people. It doesn't matter if we make less. "
The implication of Zhu Biao's words is very simple. The price was set by the emperor in order to benefit the people. Handu, please stop insisting. If you make less money, just make less money, just think of it as losing money and avoiding disaster.
Han Du's bitter smile grew even stronger after hearing this, and sighed: "The emperor wants the people to benefit, and I naturally support it, but... alas~ Your Highness should go to see the emperor with me."
"Is there any problem?" Zhu Biao asked confusedly when he saw Han Du's expression was wrong.
But Han Du had no intention of explaining to Zhu Biao now. He shook his head without saying anything. It's not that Han Du didn't want to explain to Zhu Biao. In fact, even if he explained it to Zhu Biao here, he would have to explain it again when he went to Lao Zhu.
Therefore, it is better to wait until Lao Zhu comes and explain everything together.
Seeing Han Du's solemn expression, Zhu Biao knew that the matter might be serious, so he did not hesitate and immediately took Han Du to see his father.
In the Fengtian Hall, Lao Zhu, who was sitting high on the dragon chair, saw the prince and Han Du coming hand in hand. After thinking about it for a moment, his face darkened.
"My lord, Han Du, pays homage to the emperor."
"Get up, come to my place together, what do you want?" Lao Zhu's voice was low.
Han Du, who stood up in front of the emperor, felt his heart tighten for a moment.
Zhu Biao said nothing and turned his attention to Han Du.
Han Du instantly felt a stinging sensation on his skin. Without raising his eyes, he knew that Lao Zhu had followed Zhu Biao's gaze and looked at him.
"I am going to report to the Emperor." Han Du said bravely. Although Han Du knew that whatever he said at this time would be inappropriate, he had to say it.
"Say!" Lao Zhu looked grim. The short word came out, but it seemed to carry the cold wind between the teeth.
"Your Majesty, the price of coal mines must not be too low." After Han Du said this, he suddenly felt the pressure on his body suddenly increase.
I just heard Lao Zhu say calmly: "Haha, I want to seek some benefits for the people. Unexpectedly, when it comes to your Handu, it will become your fault?"
There are countless mistakes, and the emperor must not be wrong.
When Han Du heard that Lao Zhu said the wrong two words, his heart suddenly tightened. He was afraid that the butcher knife above his head would fall, so he quickly explained: "Your Majesty, please calm down. Please listen to what I have to say before making a decision."
At this time, Zhu Biao also spoke out to help Han Du, "Father, Han Du is not so arrogant and rude, can you please listen to what he said before punishing him?"
Although Zhu Biao was helping Han Du, in fact, Zhu Biao had already scolded Han Du in his heart. Han Du, don’t you know that your father Qiangang is arbitrary? At this time, I still don’t know how to calm my father down, so why are I talking about this?
"Let's talk!" Lao Zhu put down the Zhu Pi in his hand and leaned back.
Han Du had no choice but to bite the bullet and said again: "Your Majesty clearly shows that the Emperor's kind deeds that benefit the people are deeply moved by me. But~"
The most fearful thing when speaking is a but, but there is often something opposite to the original intention behind it.
However, Han Du had to explain clearly to Lao Zhu: "However, there is a problem, I have to report to the emperor. There are 130,000 households in the capital. In the past, there was no charcoal, and they all relied on charcoal for support. I don't know. Is this true?"
After hearing this, Lao Zhu felt a little relieved from the anger in his chest. He thought about it and nodded: "Of course it is."
Seeing that Lao Zhu could still listen and give advice, Han Du became more courageous, "Your Majesty, the capital has 130,000 households and requires a huge amount of charcoal every year. According to my estimation, the entire capital relies on charcoal." The number of people who are alive from the charcoal business is at least tens of thousands."
Lao Zhu nodded and agreed that Han Du's guess was reasonable. If there were not tens of thousands of people from hundreds of thousands of households in the capital engaged in the charcoal business, it would be impossible to support the entire capital's charcoal demand.
Han Du continued: "I dare not say how many households these tens of thousands of people are related to, but the livelihood of these people is already a big trouble. If the coal is sold at the price of twenty cents per hundred catties, it will inevitably This will lead to the direct sale of charcoal in the capital. In this way, the livelihood of tens of thousands of people will immediately become a huge social problem."
When Han Du said this, he looked up at Lao Zhu with red eyes, "Your Majesty, if the livelihood of tens of thousands of people is cut off in an instant, people will die."
Snap!
The imperial pen in Lao Zhu's hand suddenly fell on the imperial desk, and the cinnabar on the tip of the pen instantly dyed a large area of the imperial desk red.
Zhu Yuanzhang was able to fight his way from a commoner to become the Ming Emperor. His grasp of people's hearts is naturally no worse than Han Du's. Therefore, Lao Zhu instantly understood that what Han Du said was true.
Tens of thousands of people lost their livelihoods all at once, and it was impossible not to die.
Zhu Biao was also sweating profusely while listening. Now he finally understood why Han Du didn't tell him the reason directly. That's because, even if Han Du told him, he couldn't be the master. For a matter like this that affects the lives of tens of thousands of people, it is still up to the father to make the decision.
"You, you~" Lao Zhu pointed at Han Du with trembling hands.
Han Du immediately bowed down and said, "Please give me a clear warning, Your Majesty."
"Then what do you think should be done?" Old Zhu waved his dragon robe and roared in anger.
Han Du raised his head, Ling Ran was not afraid, "I am reporting to the Emperor that the price of charcoal should be compared with the government secretary who promised that charcoal and charcoal coexist. With the current price of 300 to 350 jin of charcoal in the capital, the price of charcoal The price should be between 120 and 130 coins, which is more reasonable. In this way, although the price of charcoal is lower than that of charcoal, charcoal will not be completely replaced by charcoal. Those who were engaged in charcoal manufacturing in the past, Although the income of the sellers will be affected to a certain extent, it will not mean that they will have no income at all. At least, it will allow them to barely make a living without causing a big mess."
After saying that, Han Du lay on the ground and did not dare to get up, waiting for Lao Zhu's decision.
Lao Zhu was greatly shocked after hearing Han Du's words.
He obviously wanted to benefit the people, but why did he end up extorting their lives? Anger surged in Lao Zhu's chest, and he was not convinced.
But at the same time, Lao Zhu also had to admit that what Han Du said was reasonable.
If the charcoal was sold at the price he originally set, the scene described by Han Du would definitely occur.
