After all, the factory had just started operating, and Li Yu didn't ask for much production capacity.
Especially for high-end radios, he was not in a hurry to avoid attracting too much attention.
As for MSG, etc., it is more because Li Yu wants to make some money to do charity.
Although it is an inconspicuous little thing, industries related to daily necessities, food, housing and transportation were actually quite profitable during the late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China.
Isn’t table salt just a typical example?
If industrialization continues to deepen in a few years, the price of salt will continue to fall. In later generations, ordinary people will no longer feel the price of salt, and they will never hear the term salt tax again.
However, if you look at the data, the salt tax has always been a very important pillar tax in the feudal dynasty. Even in the year of the fall of the Qing Dynasty, the salt tax still accounted for a terrifying quarter of the fiscal revenue.
Since the feudal court regarded salt as a key tax area, the price of salt would naturally not be too low.
Konoe Akiyuki is a talented student in Toa Doubun Academy and is also involved in economics. She said: "Sir, you will greatly damage the interests of our factory."
She is now considered a senior leader of the factory, and she was very concerned about efficiency issues when the company first started.
But you are right, because the purpose of a company's survival is to make profits.
But Li Yu thought a little more. He smiled and said, "Don't worry, development will not be delayed, because there are other industry supports."
Konoe Akiyuki said: "If we go to relieve the victims after making money, wouldn't we be doing charity?"
Li Yu laughed: "I just want to do charity."
Konoe Aki couldn't understand: "If this continues, I won't be able to become a big businessman."
Li Yu spread his hands: "Wealth and honor are in the sky, it's impossible to say."
He glanced at Xu Shichang next to him and said to him quickly: "Don't worry, Mr. Xu, not a penny will be lost in taxes. I only control the profits."
Xu Shichang said: "I admire the Emperor's great mind."
Konoe Aki asked anxiously: "Sir, I know you are very talented, but do you not understand economics?"
Li Yu opened his mouth, thought for a while and then said, "It's true that he only has a partial understanding."
Konoe Akiyuki said: "There are already so many related books in the West, haven't you studied them?"
Li Yu spread his hands: "How can I have so much time?"
"Anyway, it's wrong of you to do this." Konoe Akiyuki sighed, I really didn't know what was going on in Li Yu's mind.
Li Yu didn't care: "There won't be any problems. Workers' salaries, the court's taxes, and the development of enterprises will not be delayed. I just don't want to make much money in these industries."
"It's wrong not to want to make money!" Konoe Akiyuki said loudly.
Li Yu said: "I have already said that I just don't want to make money in MSG and other industries, but it's not that I don't really make money."
"That's not okay!" Konoe Akiyuki said, "They are all companies! And according to the agreement, I am involved in the management of MSG, instant noodles, etc. You can't let me see all the hard-earned money being thrown away to refugees!"
Li Yu laughed again and patted her shoulder: "Then you must do a good job!"
Konoe Akiyuki did not understand the meaning of Li Yu's words, and said helplessly: "Sir, it seems that I must give you some tutoring on economics in the future!"
Li Yu said: "It's not necessary."
Konoe Akiyuki said firmly: "Yes! Very yes!"
Li Yu said nothing more and let her go.
He turned around and picked up a few large bags of MSG produced during the trial production, and handed them to Xu Shichang, "Mr. Xu, you can take them to your colleagues when you get back, and we can go over the details together."
Xu Shichang has heard about this magical thing that can "improve freshness", and he can't wait to give it to his room to try.
Li Yu can also use this to promote more.
After spending a day in the factory, they then went to Tianjin to find salt merchants and check out the school situation.
Lu Bicheng's uncle Yan Fengsheng used to be a salt transport envoy in Tianjin.
As long as it has something to do with "salt", you don't have to think about it at all, the oil and water will not be small.
In Tianjin, many famous families have been born based on salt over the years.
Those who came to greet Li Yu were Yan Fansun and Zhang Boling.
The two of them cupped their hands and said, "Brother Shucai, you are well."
Li Yu said: "You two welcome me again."
Yan Fansun said: "It's all as it should be."
Li Yuxian asked about the school: "Brother Fan Sun said last time that we can recruit students after the new year. How is it?"
Yan Fansun said: "Notices have been posted, and information about our Nankai School enrollment has been released."
Li Yu smiled and said: "From now on, we will be brothers' schools."
Zhang Boling said: "We still have to rely on the reputation of the emperor's master."
Li Yu said: "Sir, you are joking. When it comes to education, how can I dare to compare with you two?"
Yan Fansun also laughed: "The Imperial Master is so humble!"
Li Yu added: "By the way, I will go to the United States again soon to participate in the World Expo held in St. Louis. At the same time, St. Louis will also host the Olympic Games. Are you interested, Brother Boling?"
"Olympic Games!" Zhang Boling perked up as soon as she heard these words, "But are we qualified to participate now?"
Li Yu said: "If you try hard, you should be able to do it."
Zhang Boling said: "It happened so suddenly, I'm afraid I won't have time to select the athletes, but I really want to go there and take a look."
Li Yu said: "Pick a few that run fast or have good endurance. The important thing is to participate, not to ask for medals."
The second Paris Olympics in 1900 and the third St. Louis Olympics in the United States in 1904 were actually quite unsuccessful.
Both Olympic Games were held together with the World Expo that year.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the status of the World Expo far exceeded that of the newly created Olympic Games.
Therefore, the Olympic Games that year basically became a vassal of the World Expo.
The St. Louis government spent most of its energy on the exposition. As for the Olympics, it didn't even build a special stadium.
What’s even more funny is that they have been studying how to make the Games more ridiculous in terms of the format of the Olympic Games, just to facilitate the promotion of World Expo products.
As for the citizens of St. Louis and visitors from all over, they also focused their interest on the exposition. There are only a few spectators at the Olympic Games. Even for the most exciting track and field events, the number of spectators is only 2,000.
This World Expo has more than 100,000 visitors every day.
It's a world of difference.
Only 12 countries participated in the 1904 Olympic Games, and the total number of foreign athletes was less than 100.
Therefore, American athletes "showed off their prowess" in this Olympics, and many events included only American athletes.
What's even more ridiculous is that in order to match the longer duration of the World Expo, this Olympic Games has also been extended to 5 months, which is protracted.
Zhang Boling really liked the Olympics. After thinking about it, he said, "I will immediately put notices in several major newspapers tomorrow!"
Li Yu smiled and said: "Don't be too nervous, just treat it as gaining experience."
Li Yu once again mentioned that he wanted to meet the salt merchant so that he could buy more salt.
Yan Fan and Sun Yat-sen have been in Jinmen for a long time, so they naturally know each other. His in-laws are also salt merchants.
Yan Fansun asked: "Why does the emperor need so much salt?"
Li Yu said frankly: "Make some pickle dumplings and give them to the refugees in Beijing and Tianjin."
"Pickles! Pimples!?" Yan Fansun and Zhang Boling were very surprised. The span was too big. Just a moment ago, they were the Olympic Games and the new school, and they suddenly became pickles.
Li Yu said: "Although I know that I can't save many people with my own strength, I still feel uncomfortable just looking at them, so I want to help as much as I can."
Yan Fansun and Zhang Boling clasped their fists and said, "Sir, you are so righteous!"
Yan Fansun continued: "But I still have a question, why not just distribute salt? Wouldn't that be more convenient?"
Li Yu said: "Since they are already refugees, how can they still make a fire to cook? So for them, the best way to replenish their salt is to eat a bite of pickle dumplings every day."
Thinking about this kind of scene makes people feel cold. Yan Fansun sighed: "After all, we have too much to do."
Then Yan Fansun recommended someone: "If I say the most charitable person among the Jinmen salt merchants, it should be an old friend of mine, Wang Yisun."
His name is somewhat similar to Yan Fansun.
Yan Fansun continued: "Wang Yisun is from Shanxi. As you know, Shanxi people know how to do business since they were born in their mother's womb. Within a few years of coming to Tianjin, not only did they have salt, they even opened a bank."
Li Yu said with a smile: "Shanxi people's business skills are indeed as good as those of making vinegar."
Later, there was an even more powerful Shanxi businessman, Kong Xiangxi, whom Li Yu had already met in the United States.
Zhang Boling added: "Don't forget there is Fenjiu."
Yan Fansun took Li Yu to find businessman Wang Yisun.
As soon as I entered his salt factory, I saw several square salt bricks, crystal white.
These are the best tribute salts to be presented to the court. A piece weighs 7.5 kilograms, and nearly a thousand yuan has to be handed over every year.
It’s just money in vain!
The life of salt merchants has always been extremely luxurious. Yongzheng, who advocated frugality, criticized the salt merchants' lavish spending many times.
In addition, salt is an industry supervised by the imperial court, so the salt merchants' business is very good, and their lives are even better than those of the silk merchants in Jiangnan.
Wang Yisun was extremely excited when he saw the arrival of the emperor's master: "You are a well-known person. I, a merchant, am not worthy of having you personally visit me."
Li Yu said: "Easy to say, easy to say. I also want Shopkeeper Wang to participate in the good deeds of accumulating merit."
Yan Fansun told Li Yu's plan to rescue refugees, and Wang Yisun was very moved: "Back then, I invited Brother Fan Sun and Boling to teach in our library, and I was deeply influenced by them. Now the Imperial Master's Institute If you make a request, I dare not disobey it."
Li Yu said with a smile: "Actually, for you guys, it's just a drop in the bucket, and I won't pay a penny, at least I won't let you lose money."
Li Yu knew that the profit from salt was quite large, but the cost was actually not high.
Especially since Changlu Salt Farm in Tianjin adopted the sun-dried salt process, the output and quality have been greatly improved.
Wang Yisun said: "Not only this, but I also intend to fund the schools of the Imperial Master and Brother Fan Sun."
There was also an unexpected gain, Li Yu said: "Thank you so much!"
After Wang Yisun saw Li Yu, he actually started chatting, took him to his house, and said: "Master Emperor, all the children in my family receive new education. I also hired British teachers to teach English and Germans to teach German; There are subjects like math, physics, chemistry, etc., all with teachers.”
Wang Yisun showed Li Yu some scientific instruments he purchased.
It is really courageous to be able to achieve this level of Xinxue Education.
It's just his approach that only very wealthy people can afford.
Li Yu didn't expect things to go so smoothly, so he invited them to have lunch.
The next day, Fu Zengxiang from Beiyang came again to send a message to Li Yu, saying that he was going to the Beiyang Army.
Li Yu guessed that it was related to the Russo-Japanese War.
Sure enough, when he came to Beiyang, Yuan Shikai asked him to quickly teach the people of the Beiyang Military Preparation Crash Course.
It is still a surveying and mapping class where elites gather.
However, this time not only "veteran students" such as Wu Peifu and Sun Chuanfang were attending the class, Beiyang school supervisor Duan Qirui also ordered Zhang Xun, Cao Kun and other supervisors to also attend the class.
The content of the story is naturally related to radio.
Fortunately, what they need to learn is mainly application, and they don't even need to talk about circuit principles, so it's not complicated.
Even though it was so simple, Zhang Xun was still confused and complained, "Grandma, why do you care so much about the war!"
Duan Qirui coughed outside the room, and Zhang Xuncai sat upright again and listened carefully to the lecture.
However, he seemed to have an attack of hemorrhoids. After a while, he felt uncomfortable sitting there swaying from side to side.
Li Yu asked: "Zhang Guandai, do you have any questions?"
Zhang Xun said: "The question, ah, the question...the question is when will get out of class end?"
Cao Kun on the side laughed loudly: "Zhang Guandai, are you feeling uncomfortable again?"
Zhang Xun said: "No way! Don't talk nonsense!"
Cao Kun refused to give up: "Zhang Guandai, don't you have a good drinking capacity? How come you only drank half a catty of wine yesterday and you are like this? I hear your ghostly crying and wolf howling every time I get up at night."
Zhang Xun blushed: "Cao Guandai, when did you care about me so much?"
Li Yu knew that Zhang Xun's hemorrhoids were indeed serious. With the medical level of the early 20th century, the pain he endured must have been much greater.
So Li Yu suppressed his laughter and said seriously: "Zhang Guandai, why don't you go and see the doctor in the camp first?"
Zhang Xun grinned: "The Imperial Master is still reasonable! Thank you!"
After saying that, he covered his butt and ran away.
These old guys must not understand, so Wu Peifu and Sun Chuanfang in their own surveying and mapping class are very serious.
Wu Peifu still looked like a "study committee member", and his notes were well-written. Li Yu took a glance at it and felt that he should have studied and researched before he came.
After finishing speaking, Duan Qirui called Li Yu and Wu Peifu to Yuan Shikai's office.
Duan Qirui said: "It is enough for other people to learn this level. You can explain the rest to Student Wu alone."
Li Yu asked: "Is there a mission?"
Wu Peifu said: "Yes!"
Li Yu guessed in his mind: "Going to Liaoning?"
Wu Peifu didn't dare to reply. Tang Shaoyi said: "It doesn't matter. Brother Shucai is one of our own."
Wu Peifu then continued: "Student Wu Peifu was ordered as a spy to enter the Russian-occupied areas to gather intelligence."
It was just as Li Yu thought, otherwise he wouldn't be so anxious to improve his radio knowledge.
Li Yu said: "I understand, then you must recite the code table I gave you."
Wu Peifu said: "Thank you teacher for reminding me!"
After hearing these big warlords call them "teacher" many times, Li Yu finally got used to it.
(End of chapter)
