Kunning Palace.
When Han Jingyun heard the female officer's report, he almost jumped in anger. Although she had no debt from beginning to end, she felt that she had suffered a loss when she sold the cotton cloth for five hundred cents.
But she had to take this loss if she didn't want to. The backlog of cotton in her hand had been sold out long ago. Now it was too late to rely solely on the output of the weaving workshop. She could only watch Han Du and others make a lot of money.
“What’s the price of cotton now?”
"Back to the empress, it was raised to four guan at the beginning. Although no one bought it at the beginning, within two days those merchants were like crazy vying for cotton cloth. Now, it has been raised to 5 guan... ....”
The female officer's voice became softer and quieter, until it finally sounded like a faint moan.
Five goals! This price is almost close to the highest price point.
When Han Jingyun thought about the cotton cloths she had sold twice, it was as if she saw her elder brother snatching the gold mountain from her hands alive.
Stomping her feet, she ran to find the emperor to make the decision for her.
...
Han Du directed Fu Yong and Chang Hao to get rid of all the inventory as soon as possible, and he ran to the palace non-stop to ask for an audience with Zhu Biao.
After bowing and being seated, Han Du said straight to the point: "Your Majesty, please quickly issue an order to restrict the trading of futures contracts."
"What?" Zhu Biao was stunned.
He knew about the futures contract, but he didn't know how to restrict it.
Han Du quickly said: "Your Majesty's futures contract trading will cause sharp price fluctuations and harm the people. Please put some restrictions on it, Your Majesty."
Zhu Biao frowned, paused and then said: "Since this thing is so harmful, we might as well ban it by decree."
Zhu Biao has not yet realized the value of futures contracts. In his opinion, since this thing is harmful to the people, it is natural to completely eradicate it.
"Uh!" Han Du's face twitched unnaturally.
"What? What I said is wrong?" Zhu Biao was slightly stunned.
Han Du had no choice but to take a deep breath and explain: "Your Majesty, futures contract trading is not without its merits."
"Oh? This is just a way of buying and selling. What use can it be? Without it, wouldn't it be the same business?" Zhu Biao was a little confused.
"Your Majesty, it's like this." Han Du said eloquently, "As far as planting cotton is concerned, people still plant cotton in the corners of fields or in wastelands, right?"
Zhu Biao nodded slightly. He had seen the secret records played by the officials below, and he knew something about the lives of the people, but he didn't know anything about it.
Moreover, he also liked to read the various local customs and customs recorded by officials, so he still remembered it.
"Obviously, growing cotton is more profitable than growing rice, potatoes, potatoes, corn, etc. Why don't people grow cotton in fertile fields?" Han Du asked lightly.
"Growing cotton in fertile land? Isn't this...too luxurious?" Zhu Biao subconsciously resisted this approach.
Han Du immediately felt deeply that he had a long way to go to change Zhu Biao's concept. "This is not a question of luxury or not, it is more profitable to grow cotton on an acre of land. People should choose to grow cotton. After all, this is the only way for people to gain income." It will be bigger.”
"Why is this happening?" Zhu Biao also understood and felt that there was indeed something unreasonable.
Han Du patiently explained: "The reason is very simple. It is simply that the people are afraid of being hungry. Even if they know that growing food is not as profitable as cotton, they will choose to grow food in order to avoid being hungry again."
"But what does this have to do with futures trading?" Zhu Biao wondered.
Han Du smiled slightly, paused and said: "As long as futures trading continues, there will inevitably be merchants who choose to reach a contract with the people in order to stabilize the price of a commodity. Take cotton, for example, the demand has always been high, but the people grow it. The enthusiasm is not high.”
"In order to make profits from cotton, businessmen can agree on the purchase price with the people in advance and pay the people a certain deposit to encourage the people to grow cotton. After the cotton is picked, they can buy it at the agreed price."
"In this way, cotton planting is guaranteed, and people's willingness to plant will inevitably increase."
"So that's it..." Zhu Biao was shocked in his heart, "Can you still do this?"
The more he thought about it, the more excited he became. He couldn't help but clapped his hands and said: "Cotton production is not only related to the weaving of cotton cloth, but also related to the production of treasure banknotes and gunpowder. If there is endless cotton..."
Zhu Biao's eyes lit up when he thought of the endless fire dragon cannons.
Han Du quickly interrupted his thoughts, "Your Majesty, calm down! It is impossible for the people to grow cotton instead of food."
"Oh?????????????????????????????????? gave them protection, or is this the case?" Zhu Biao was puzzled.
Han Du nodded, "The feeling of starvation is still fresh in our memory. This cannot be completely changed in just a few years. We can only try to change it slowly."
"Yes." Zhu Biao nodded in agreement, "Then you should make a memorial recently and write down all your thoughts."
"Yes, I will retire."
...
When Han Jingyun came to Qianqing Palace, he happened to see Han Du walking away from behind.
She was surprised by Han Du's speed, which caught her off guard. He quickly pinched his thigh hard, his eyes suddenly turned red, with tears lingering in them, and he walked into Qianqing Palace.
"The Queen is here~"
Zhu Biao raised his head when he asked and saw Han Jingyun walking in. Zhu Biao was relieved and Zhu Pi got up and stepped forward.
"If you don't take me with you in the harem, why are you here?"
After seeing Han Jingyun's expression clearly, he suddenly asked: "What's wrong with you? Who made you feel wronged?"
Han Jingyun shook his head slightly and did not answer. Instead, he asked: "Your Majesty, why did eldest brother come to the palace to find you?"
】
Seeing that Han Jingyun didn't say anything, Zhu Biao didn't ask any more questions, just assuming that the matter was not serious.
Then he took a breath and explained: "Oh, it's just about the Shibo Division..."
"Your Majesty, can you tell me?" Han Jingyun was slightly surprised.
Of course, Zhu Biao would not hide it from her. He sat her down and explained the matter in detail.
After listening to this, Han Jingyun felt filled with anger. She was just about to file a lawsuit against her eldest brother, but she didn't expect that his eldest brother would go one step ahead and stop him from wantonly raising and lowering prices.
"By the way, what do you want to see me for?" Seeing Han Jingyun's silence, Zhu Biao couldn't help but ask.
Han Jingyun came back to his senses, his face twitched, and he gritted his teeth and said: "No... no, I just came to see the emperor. After all, the imperial doctor told the emperor not to be too tired."
Mentioning this, Zhu Biao sighed absently: "I don't want to, but the Ming Dynasty is so huge. If I am not diligent in political affairs, how can I control the world?"
Han Jingyun lowered his head, paused and said, "Can't the cabinet also help the emperor?"
When it comes to the cabinet, Zhu Biao is even more silent. When Han Du was the first assistant, he was much more relaxed than now. Since Han Du was deposed, he felt that his affairs had doubled.
"Your Majesty, can't you let the eldest brother join the cabinet again?" Han Jingyun didn't want Zhu Biao to be so tired.
Zhu Biao turned around and smiled slightly, "It's not that I don't want to, but I'm afraid your elder brother doesn't want to."
Since Han Du was dismissed from all official positions, according to common sense, now that the fourth child has gone to America, Han Du should also ask him to return to the cabinet.
But for such a long time, Han Du never mentioned this matter again.
This made it difficult for Zhu Biao to speak. He couldn't let him, the emperor, issue an order to reinstate Han Duguan first, right? Wouldn't that make it seem like he couldn't live without Han Du?
"Besides, you are the queen. If Han Du serves as the first assistant again, it may not be a good thing for the government."
Han Jingyun also knew this, so she sighed helplessly and said with some worry: "But the emperor's dragon body..."
"It doesn't matter, it's just a matter of life and death..." Zhu Biao grabbed her hand, shook his head slightly, and said with a smile: "Anyway, Yun Ye is now an adult. It's time to make him the prince in a few days." Let him take charge of the government."
A few days later, the emperor issued an order to make Zhu Yunye the prince and open the East Palace.
...
Days and months fly by, and three years have passed.
Yu Qian has changed tremendously in three years, from a childish boy to a vibrant young man.
And he lived up to Han Du's expectations and completed the mathematics, physics and chemistry in the academy in just three years. He also passed the imperial examination and became a high school scholar, and now he is a gentleman in the academy.
According to Han Du, studying is a process of learning from the outside in, and teaching is a process of learning from the inside out. Both processes are essential.
Inside the machinery workshop.
Han Du was accompanied by Sun Xian and a large group of his disciples, who were conducting final tests on a locomotive.
Over the years, Handu has undergone countless modifications, reducing the locomotive's weight, increasing drag force, safety, etc. to almost the extreme under current conditions.
Finally, this thing has been transformed from experimental to practical value.
"Teacher, is this done?" Yu Qian saw Han Du getting off the front of the car and quickly put on a cotton handkerchief.
Han Du was wearing a short shirt, and his hands were full of black ash. He took the cotton handkerchief and wiped it on his face without hesitation, wiping away the sweat.
"This is all we can do now. You still need to study for future improvements."
"Sir, when can we try it?" Sun Xian also jumped down from above, feeling full of accomplishment.
With his own hands, he modified this thing from crude and rough to so simple and exquisite, as if he was watching his own child grow from a stumbling step to an adult bit by bit.
Han Du returned the cotton handkerchief to Yu Qian and waved his hand casually: "No need to try, we have tried countless times, there will be no problem. You can hang up the carriage, I will help."
"OK."
In three years, hundreds of thousands of people were employed, and it took three years to finally repair the railway track from the capital to Shanghai County. During this period, the money Han Du spent far exceeded the hundred dollars he initially estimated, but reached an astonishing five hundred dollars.
When Zhu Biao heard that so much money had been spent, he once advised Han Du to give up. Stop the loss in time and there is no need to fill up the entire Zhenguo Palace.
But when his father and mother passed away one after another, and Han Du was depressed, he made up his mind to build this railway track even if he lost all his money.
