Han Du sighed in frustration and got straight to the point, "What price does the Rubber Emperor want to sell it for?"
Lao Zhu picked up the tea cup unhurriedly, looked at Han Du as if he was sure of victory, and took a sip. "Isn't this urgent? This thing has never appeared before, and I sent an army to buy it tens of thousands of miles away. I have to think carefully about how much it should be sold for."
What to think about? Aren't you just ready to sell it at a price? Do you think that with the weakness of holding the rubber, you can control me?
Of course, a steam engine is really useless without this thing. If it were any other Handu, I wouldn't mind it at all, but if there is no rubber, I really can't find a replacement.
Not wanting to control himself, Lao Zhu was also daydreaming.
Han Du thought for a moment, a smile appeared on his face again, and he nodded sincerely, "Yes, I really have to have this rubber. If the steam engine does not have this thing, it will be no different from a tuberculosis ghost."
Lao Zhu squinted his eyes and smiled with satisfaction. "It's good that you know. If that's the case, then I'll discuss the price with you again."
"Your Majesty, please wait." Han Du raised his hand to stop Lao Zhu.
Lao Zhu was not in a hurry and immediately smiled: "Oh? What else do you want to say?"
At this time, Han Du smiled and continued: "Rubber is indeed only in the hands of the emperor now, but the emperor should not forget that Jiang Ming took the saplings to Nanyang to plant them. If the emperor sells them too expensively, , Nachen would rather wait a few years. It won’t be too late until the rubber trees from Southeast Asia grow.”
Lao Zhu glanced at Han Du, who was swearing, and said: "The rubber in Nanyang belongs to me too."
I have seen shameless people, but I have never seen such shameless people as Lao Zhu. I obviously promised that everyone would plant it together, but now I want to go back on my word.
"There is no way." Han Du shook his head deliberately and sighed: "If the emperor insists on doing this, then I have nothing to say."
Seeing Lao Zhu's somewhat proud look, Han Du changed his tone: "But Your Majesty, there are a lot of things like rubber on the other side of the sea. Instead of being blackmailed by the Emperor here, I might as well go and get them myself."
Lao Zhu's face suddenly turned bad. He couldn't even hold the tea cup in his hand and put it down angrily.
"You went to get it yourself? It's tens of thousands of miles away. Did you go there?"
Han Du shook his head: "Your Majesty has misunderstood. I don't even need to go there in person. I only need to spread the news that a piece of cloth on the opposite side can be exchanged for gold of equal weight, and countless merchants will sail to the opposite side tomorrow. By then, , Chen only needs to pay a suitable price, and they will naturally be able to bring the rubber back to Chen.”
"In comparison, this is much more cost-effective than buying it from the emperor."
Lao Zhu had no choice but to soften his tone. Hehe laughed, "I didn't say I wouldn't give you rubber, but your steam engine is too expensive. So, I will give you the rubber, but your steam engine should be sold to me cheaper."
Lao Zhu's abacus was very good. He knew that a steam engine did not use much rubber. Even if he sells rubber more expensive than gold, Han Du can't spend much money.
Rather than doing this, it would be better to use this opportunity to negotiate terms with Han Du. As long as the price can be cut by 10% or 20%, the profit will be far more than selling directly to Handu.
Since he has had more contact with Han Du, Lao Zhu has become more understanding.
When it comes to negotiating prices, Han Du is full of bitterness. Anyone who negotiates prices with me is my enemy. "Your Majesty, I only spent 5,000 guan when I bought the gantry crane. Each gantry crane has to be sold for 5,000 guan. I spent a full 100,000 guan to build this steam engine. I sold it to the emperor for 10,000 guan. Really? It was sold at a loss.”
Lao Zhu frowned: "Really? In that case, I will give you one hundred thousand yuan. You can give me this steam engine."
"Breaking, smashing, and looting? Your Majesty?" Han Du burst into tears.
Look at what Lao Zhu said, how majestic it is. "I'll give you one hundred thousand guan and give me the steam engine." This is really no different from smashing, smashing, and robbing.
Lao Zhu couldn't help it, and suddenly turned red. He scolded: "What are you talking about? Didn't I give you money?"
Seeing that Lao Zhu had not given up, Han Du was immediately worried that he really wanted to snatch the steam engine away, so he simply said with a sudden heart: "That's not what the emperor said. When the academy officials offered the reward in the academy, no one was optimistic about it. Even Doesn’t the emperor think that the hundred thousand guans of this minister have been wasted?”
A trace of embarrassment appeared on Lao Zhu's face, and he quickly covered it with his hands. Indeed, he was not optimistic about Han Du at first. He only thought that Han Du was throwing money into the water without even hearing a sound.
"But now it's not easy, I won the bet. But the emperor wants to buy the steam engine for 100,000 yuan. Does the emperor think it is possible?" Han Du explained with a pleading tone.
Lao Zhu also felt that one hundred thousand dollars was indeed a bit low, so he picked up the tea cup and said casually: "Then how much do you want? Make an offer."
"If it's less than 10 million yuan, we won't sell it!"
Just as Lao Zhu drank the tea, he spit it out all at once.
He frowned and looked at Han Du, "Are you crazy, or am I crazy? Do you really dare to make an offer for 10 million yuan? What are you doing with so much money, are you rebelling?"
Damn, Lao Zhu was really shameless for money, and even threatened himself with rebellion.
However, Han Du was not afraid. He smiled and said, "I would never dare to have such delusional thoughts. It's just that this hundred thousand yuan was taken from An Qing. I need to give her an explanation."
No matter how awesome you Lao Zhu is, you have no scruples reaching out to grab your own things. You go and rob Anqing if you can, but I reach out to rob my daughter's things. It's not nice to hear these words spread out.
Lao Zhu didn't expect that Han Du would do something like this, so he glared at him fiercely. Seeing that scaring didn't work, Lao Zhu returned to the previous topic, "Three thousand guan for one, I will buy ten."
"This is impossible." Han Du refused without thinking.
Are you kidding me, three thousand guans... At this price, Handu could still make a profit, but the profit was not very impressive. I invested 100,000 guan, and if I only sold one for 3,000 guan, would I be able to get my capital back in a matter of months and years?
"Four thousand guan, I don't care how much you sell it to others, it's the price you give it to me anyway." Of course Lao Zhu understood that the steam engine is a good thing, and it is indispensable if you want to make a divine thunder gun.
Han Du glanced at Lao Zhu speechlessly. He wanted to sell the steam engine to others, but could such a thing be sold to others? At least, Handu was not prepared to sell this thing to the private sector until the needs of the court were met or a newer steam engine was built.
"Your Majesty, the steam engine is related to the manufacture of divine thunder guns. Do you dare to sell it to the private sector?" Han Du stared at Lao Zhu with a keen eye.
Lao Zhu immediately reacted. It was his own fault just now. When he thought of the gantry crane being sold to Fu Yong by Han Du, he took it for granted that the steam engine could also be sold.
After being reminded by Han Du, Lao Zhu suddenly smiled awkwardly. "Then five thousand strings, no more."
Han Du was even more aggrieved when he heard this, "Your Majesty, I spent one hundred thousand guan just to make the steam engine, and you only gave me a price of 5,000 guan for each one, and you only bought ten of them. This is only 50,000 guan in total, and I didn't even pay the cost." I can’t sell it back.”
Lao Zhu suddenly laughed twice, "You are willing to offer a reward, what does it have to do with me? So you insist on selling one unit for ten thousand yuan, do you just want to sell the capital back from me?"
Lao Zhu suddenly felt that he had not just spent 100,000 yuan to buy all the steam engine technology from Han Du.
"No, absolutely not, this price..." Han Du shook his head like a rattle.
Lao Zhu stared, leaned forward, and said solemnly: "It's just five thousand guan, not a penny more."
"Your Majesty, aren't you buying and selling by force?" Han Du was very reluctant.
Lao Zhu didn't care about him and said with a smile: "Didn't I give you the rubber? If you don't have the rubber. Even if you want to make money, you don't know how long you have to wait. Even if you send it immediately It will take more than a year for people to go to the other side. If you agree now, you can still get back some of the money. If you don't agree, then you can wait more than a year and bring the rubber back by yourself before selling it. .”
Han Du sighed helplessly and raised his eyes to look at Lao Zhu. It was awesome to have key resources in hand. Han Du could have sworn that if it weren't for Lao Zhu holding the rubber in his hand, he would never have sold it to him at this price.
"The Emperor is really... very aware of the shortcomings of his generals."
Now that he had made up his mind, Han Du no longer hesitated, bowed and said: "As the emperor said, I will sell it for five thousand guans per set!"
When Lao Zhu heard Han Du's tone soften, he immediately understood that Han Du had softened. When Han Du finished speaking, Lao Zhu suddenly burst into laughter, "You are also a dignified Marquis of the Kingdom, and you are so petty when you do things. It's just such a small thing, and you still have nothing to do with me."
Han Du couldn't bear to see Lao Zhu being so obedient when he got an advantage, so he glanced at him and said, "I don't want to do that either, but I have to support my family. I, a marquis, only earns 800 shi of rice per year, but he is often deducted a few bucks for this." A few stones, a few stones, and more than half of Lumi will be removed in a year."
While Han Du was talking, his eyes never left Lao Zhu's face. His lumi was taken away by Lao Zhu. Han Du likes to sleep in and is often absent during the meal. On weekdays, no one dared to say anything about him in the yamen, but in the morning, the people from the Ministry of Rites were rude to Han Du.
Whenever Han Du was late once, the people from the Ministry of Rites would take the trouble to complain to the emperor. Every time, Lao Zhu was forced to give Han Du a slight punishment. How to punish him?
Lao Zhu was really reluctant to deal with Han Du, so he could only make a fuss about his salary. Han Du's annual lumi is deducted every year because of this, and very little is left.
Fortunately, Han Du didn't rely on this salary to eat, otherwise he would really starve to death.
Lao Zhu snorted twice and reprimanded dissatisfiedly: "It's not because you're too lazy, it's because I'm being lenient. Otherwise, it would be easy for me to send people to beat you. Otherwise, next time I will I won’t deduct your lumi, but how about playing with the board instead?”
"Then... let's deduct the rice." Han Du smiled awkwardly and quickly avoided Lao Zhu's eyes.
"Humph..." Lao Zhu glanced sideways at Han Du. Seeing that Han Du was still standing where he was, he couldn't help but asked in confusion: "Do you have anything else?"
Han Du bowed slightly, looked at Lao Zhu without changing his eyes, and explained: "I still have something good in the academy, and I would like to invite the emperor to see it."
"Oh? What is so amazing and makes you so mysterious?" Lao Zhu narrowed his eyes slightly.
Han Du smiled reservedly and said, "A kind of spinning machine was made in the academy."
Lao Zhu frowned when he heard this, and then quickly opened it again. There is nothing unusual about things like spinning machines. According to Han Du's nature, they should not be mentioned as much now.
But Lao Zhu glanced at Han Du and saw the proud look on his face. He smiled and asked, "What? What's so different about your spinning machine?"
Han Du immediately raised his head and smiled, without explaining too much to Lao Zhu, wanting to remain mysterious.
Lao Zhu understood immediately when he saw it, and did not insist on letting Han Du say it. He said slowly: "Okay, I have time to go back and see, but not now."
"In that case, I will wait in the academy for the emperor and the empress to come." Han Du bowed and replied with a smile.
When Lao Zhu heard this, he raised his head in surprise and looked at Han Du: "What are you kidding about? Why do you want the queen to go too?"
Han Du chuckled and replied with an ulterior motive: "Well, the scenery of the academy is pretty good now, so the emperor can take his wife to relax."
Lao Zhu did not expose Han Du's little thoughts. He looked at Han Du jokingly and took the lead in agreeing, "Okay, the queen and I will go back then."
...
After Han Du returned, he immediately went to the academy to urge Sun Xian to build the steam engine as soon as possible.
Sun Xian lived up to Han Du's high expectations. In less than ten days, he built a new steam engine.
On this day, the main entrance of the academy opened wide.
Early in the morning, a group of soldiers arrived as promised. The academy was placed on tight alert both inside and outside.
Xue Xiang, Han Du, Mr. Jin and others, as well as all the teachers and students of the academy, were waiting at the gate.
At 3 o'clock in the morning, Lao Zhu's Minghuang Yuhu drove slowly to the entrance of the academy.
Lao Zhu got off the bus first, then turned around and held out his hand to lead Queen Ma down.
Empress Ma looked up at the large characters on the plaque on the gate of the academy, and the next moment she glanced at the famous three hundred questions stone tablet in the academy, with a smile on her face.
Seeing this, Xue Xiang quickly led everyone forward and knelt down.
"Your Majesty, Xue Xiang, pays homage to the Emperor, and pays homage to the Queen~"
Lao Zhu held Queen Ma's hand, stepped forward, and said calmly: "Get up."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you, Queen~"
Xue Xiang led everyone to stand up. Except for Xue Xiang, Han Du, and Mr. Jin, everyone else consciously stepped aside.
Empress Ma looked at Xue Xiang with a smile and said, "You are really old and strong now. Is the food in this academy so nourishing?"
Xue Xiang laughed happily when he heard this, "Your Majesty, you are too flattering. I just stay with these students all day long, and I feel young."
Empress Ma glanced at the academy students standing on both sides, nodded secretly, and praised: "They are indeed all outstanding students, and the academy is indeed worthy of its reputation."
"Your Majesty, you are so flattered." Xue Xiang's face glowed with joy.
I remember when he was an official, how could he have the honor he has now? After Xue Xiang came to the academy, he suddenly felt that the sky was high and the sky was vast. It turned out that there were such meaningful things in the world that he needed to do. Compared with the past life of an official, the life in the academy is a real enjoyment for him.
Queen Ma's eyes fell on Mr. Jin again, "May I ask if it's Mr. Jin?"
Mr. Jin quickly stepped forward, bowed his hands to Queen Ma and said, "I don't dare to call you empress like this. I am just a wilderness man obsessed with arithmetic."
Empress Ma said with a smile: "Mr. Jin was once the best in arithmetic in the world, and he deserves to be called Mr. Jin."
"The number one person in arithmetic in the world is Bachelor Han, and I would never dare to take that position." Mr. Jin corrected Queen Ma, but there was no embarrassment in his tone. Instead, he smiled heartily.
Finally, Queen Ma's eyes fell on Han Du, then she looked up at everything around her and felt: "When you said you wanted to set up an academy, I thought you were joking. I didn't expect that it has only been ten years, and you are really The academy was built."
When Han Du heard this, he bowed his hands and said modestly: "Students all over the world are eagerly waiting for it, but I just happened to be at the right time." In front of Lao Zhu, Han Du did not take the credit for establishing the academy.
Lao Zhu took a step closer to Han Du, patted him on the shoulder and said, "I've made it difficult for you these past few years."
From the beginning of the construction of the academy to the present, Lao Zhu has not spent a penny, and it has all been supported independently by Han Du. Although the Han family has a lot of property, including glass and horse racing, the academy spends hundreds of thousands of dollars every year. In the past ten years, millions of dollars have been poured into the academy.
Even after Han Du transferred the glass industry to the academy, Han Du supported the academy in disguise by offering rewards. I am afraid that the academy will be short of money, causing the teachers to lose their salaries and the students to have no food to eat.
And the judge of this academy is still Lao Zhu. This is equivalent to Lao Zhu owning the entire academy without doing anything or spending a penny.
Lao Zhu saw everything Han Du had done. That’s why I said this sentence just now.
Han Du immediately smiled, nodded and said: "The Emperor is serious. The ones who are really working hard for the academy are Mr. Xue and others."
Lao Zhu nodded with satisfaction, indicating that he knew all this in his heart. But the point of coming here today is not to reward Xue Xiang and others, so he said:
"Didn't you say you wanted to let me see your precious spinning machine? Where is it? Take me to see it."
"Your Majesty, please come this way." Han Du quickly moved out of the way and bowed to signal Lao Zhu.
Knowing that Lao Zhu was coming to see the spinning machine, Han Du had already arranged for someone to start the steam engine first and taught a weaver woman how to operate the spinning machine. After a while, it was up to her to show Lao Zhu the power of the spinning machine.
7017k
