When Lao Zhu put down the tea cup, everything was still business as usual in the imperial study.
Seeing Han Du looking at him with confusion, Lao Zhu coughed twice in embarrassment.
Just when Han Du was puzzled, there was a sound of footsteps outside. Zheng Handu was curious, who was so famous, and didn't even need to notify when entering Lao Zhu's study?
When Han Du turned around and saw the people coming in, he suddenly felt that it was natural.
He quickly stood up and said, "My lord, Han Du pays homage to the Queen."
"No gifts." Queen Ma, dressed in a rich dress, walked straight past Han Du and said lightly.
"Thank you, empress." Han Du bowed respectfully before sitting on the golden pier again.
Empress Ma calmly sat down next to Lao Zhu, looked at the embarrassed Lao Zhu with a smile, turned back to Han Du and asked directly: "Your Majesty is kind and gives you land to build a workshop. A drop of water is still a blessing." The spring repays the favor, don't you want to repay the Emperor's grace?"
I? How can I repay this? Han Du didn't understand what Queen Ma meant for a moment, and he was immediately at a loss.
After hearing this, Lao Zhu frowned and scolded Empress Ma dissatisfiedly: "Give Han Du the land. I promised him the last time. How can I ask for anything in return?"
I finally understand. You and your wife are singing a double act in front of me. The sad thing is that I still dare not expose your poor acting skills. Han Du covered his nose and smiled bitterly.
For the matter of the briquette workshop, Lao Zhu began to reprimand Queen Ma. If I had not been sensible enough to quickly offer the briquette workshop's stock and cried and begged Lao Zhu to take it, would my head have been lost?
Han Du looked delighted and was about to offer part of his penis to Lao Zhu.
Unexpectedly, Queen Ma was even more anxious than Han Du. She nodded slightly and said, "Just like Coal Mine, give 50% of your stock to me."
It's only 50%, which is not much considering Queen Ma's status.
Han Du smiled and nodded: "Yes."
Queen Ma paused and continued: "Well, you and Biao'er have a close relationship, so you will definitely give him shares, right? You gave Biao'er 40% of the shares in the coal mine last time, and you should do the same in the briquette workshop this time. Will you give Biao'er 40% of the shares? Last time, Biao'er already gave me all the 40% of the coal mine. How about this? I don't have to go back and forth for you. Why don't you just give 90% of the shares? Just give the stock to me."
Good guy, where is the phoenix of Mother Yi Tianxia? This is simply Pixiu with a big mouth.
Han Du was dumbfounded when he heard this, and he first mourned five minutes of silence for Zhu Biao in his heart. Those who contributed money and effort did not expect that Queen Ma would pick the peach in the end. Now it was even more extreme. Zhu Biao hadn't even smelled the smell of the peach before he was about to be picked away by Queen Ma again.
But Han Du didn't dare to say no, and he had no intention of pitying Zhu Biao.
Lao Zhu on the side looked at Queen Ma with wide eyes and asked hesitantly: "Sister, this is not good. Over there..."
"Biao'er has the best food and drink, so what's missing?" Empress Ma sneered, "It's my concubine's life that is hard. This phoenix crown and harem are so worn that the insteps are exposed. I'm still wearing it, but I'm wearing it." I haven’t changed my clothes in three years.”
Although Queen Ma spoke pitifully, Lao Zhu still frowned and remained silent. In fact, Queen Ma's behavior was a bit...confiscating her son's property, which was a bit unpleasant to say.
Seeing Lao Zhu's attitude, Queen Ma suddenly said softly: "This is actually Biao'er's intention. He was thinking about the tight financial situation in the palace and dedicated it to us. Do you think that I, a queen, will really open my mouth to Do you want Biao'er?"
In fact, what Queen Ma was thinking was, if I say he is filial, that is what he is filial to, but not the same. He is the flesh that fell from my body. How dare he say no?
After hearing this, Lao Zhu's expression softened.
"Biao'er also said that the palace's expenses cannot rely solely on the money allocated by the treasury. In the past two years, the treasury has been so empty that it has starved mice to death. How much money can be allocated to the palace? The palace also said that it must have its own Industry is the key." Empress Ma explained with a smile, "I think what Biao'er said is very reasonable and his knowledge is extraordinary."
"How do you say it?" Hearing the girl praise Zhu Biao, Lao Zhu was obviously very pleased. The trace of unhappiness just now disappeared naturally.
Empress Ma smiled and explained: "These are all what Biao'er told me. He said, ask the canal how clean it is so that there is a source of running water. The palace must have a certain industry. Only with industry can there be income. Source, so you don’t have to look at the outer court’s face every time you transfer money.”
"They dare!" Lao Zhu was furious after hearing this. How dare the outer court look down upon the palace? Who is it that wants to die?
Empress Ma was not angry at all, but explained with a relaxed look: "Of course they don't dare to do it now. That's because Your Majesty is the founding emperor of the country and is arbitrary and can easily subdue the entire court. But what about the future? Historically , it is not uncommon for successive dynasties and emperors to arm-wrestle with each other. If that happens, what should our descendants do? Does the emperor think it is better to leave them a palace with rich financial resources? Or is it better to leave them alone without any source of income?"
Looking at Lao Zhu who lowered his head and thought, Queen Ma continued: "Even a small family knows that it is difficult for a clever woman to make a meal without rice. In fact, this principle is applicable everywhere, and it is the same if it is a royal family. Just Let’s take the Emperor as an example. Why was it that at the beginning of the founding of the Ming Dynasty, Ming Dynasty was able to conduct frequent Northern Expeditions to the remaining Yuan Dynasty, but gradually began to lose power over the years? To put it bluntly, wasn’t it because the Emperor was rich at the time? The seizures from the original campaign against the world were still there, and the Emperor waved his hand. There are mountains and seas of money. If he wants to go to the Northern Expedition, the emperor himself will take out the money, and the court will not have to pay a penny. Naturally, the officials will not object. But now? I am afraid it will not be as easy as before for the emperor to continue the northern expedition. We should at least discuss with the officials how much money to ask the court to pay, right?"
Lao Zhu was speechless by Queen Ma, because the truth was what Queen Ma said.
The reason why these people were unable to conquer the remaining Yuan was that Lao Zhu had spent all his money. Yes, the imperial court had to pay for the expedition. However, the imperial court also had insufficient tax revenue, and spent money on more and more places, almost unable to make ends meet every year. Fortunately, there was something like treasure money there to support it, otherwise the imperial court would no longer have the energy to continue conquering the remaining Yuan as early as the eighth year of Hongwu.
Lao Zhu suddenly looked at Han Du and asked, "What did you say?" In Lao Zhu's eyes, Han Du was an expert when it came to money, so he naturally wanted to hear what Han Du had to say.
In fact, when Han Du heard Queen Ma's words, he knew that Zhu Biao must have relayed his words to Queen Ma according to his understanding.
Therefore, Queen Ma said what she just said.
