Seeing these two unworthy brothers taking turns crying about poverty, Zhu Biao was also dumbfounded. "Dad finally has a lot of money, so why are you two so worried about me?"
"You don't have to tell me, I won't get involved in this matter, as long as you can persuade dad."
"But don't think about using me, your eldest brother, as a spearman."
After Zhu Biao finished speaking, he left immediately, not giving the two younger brothers a chance to continue messing around. Zhu Su and Zhu Di looked at each other, with a hint of something bad going on in their eyes.
It’s over, the eldest brother doesn’t want to participate!
This shows that it will definitely be even more difficult to get money out of the tiger’s mouth this time!
The eldest brother Zhu Biao is the destined prince, and his father has always loved him the most. When I was a kid, if I wanted something to eat or something to play, if I asked Lao Zhu directly, I might get scolded, but if I turned around and asked my elder brother, who would then go to my father, everything would basically get done.
But if the eldest brother shakes his head first, even if he musters up the courage to ask his father, he will usually end up with a bloody scolding.
The two brothers couldn't help but feel anxious and went to see Lao Zhu. Sure enough, after explaining the matter, they received Lao Zhu's dragon roar:
"What? You actually want ten million taels?"
"Are you two the princes of the Ming Dynasty, or the kings of the mountains?"
"Two prodigal children, have they stolen from us? What kind of expenses can they swallow up tens of millions of taels of silver in one go?"
Zhu Su's whole head was buzzing from his yelling. He shook his head and finally calmed down. He said aggrievedly: "Didn't I tell you before that we need to mass-produce steel, build ships, and build guns."
"There is also the purchase of wool from the grassland tribes, and the construction of the Imperial College. Everything requires money. By the way, I also want to open a newspaper..."
"Didn't you say before that when the imperial court gets rich, you will fully support Ming Dynasty's basic scientific undertakings?"
"Don't worry. These investments are only temporary after all. As long as there is progress in basic science, in a blink of an eye, I can make this money continue to make money and earn you gold and silver!"
Zhu Su looked proud. When it comes to making money, he, as a time traveler, is truly worthy of all the natives in the world.
Lao Zhu was speechless for a moment. Deep down in his heart, he was still an old farmer and felt that things grown in the ground were more reliable. The money you get from doing business is all floating wealth, the flowers in the mirror and the moon in the water.
When you finally have a surplus, you should dig a cellar and bury the money in the ground to prepare for emergencies. Any money you use to make money is not doing your job properly.
I don’t know when, but it was all in vain.
However, he also knew that steel, shipbuilding, gun building, etc. were all urgent matters for the court. After struggling for a long time, he finally said: "It's just about making steel and cannons. Why do we need to run a newspaper?"
"What use can that thing have? It's not just a fabrication to deceive you and me, right?"
Zhu Susheng laughed angrily at this stingy little old man. "Newspapers can guide public opinion and make the people of the world unite as one and act as an arm to guide them. What use do you think it has?"
"The technology of steel-making and cannon-making is not yet mature, and it may take some time to improve the national power of the Ming Dynasty. But the newspaper office can have immediate results. You have also seen the power of those scholars. Zheng Shili wrote a joint letter, You have almost been labeled a tyrant in the annals of history. Isn't it because the so-called public opinion is all in the hands of the scholars?"
"With newspapers, the court can guide the public opinion of the people and even scholars by promoting the popularity of newspapers. It can also explain policies in newspapers and transmit them to others. When the people know the policies of the court and encounter corruption and exploitation, what will they do? Are you still going to sit back and wait for death? A newspaper is much more useful for discussion than a imperial edict. After all, the imperial edict is so heavy that the common people may not be able to understand it, but there is a lot of interesting news in the newspaper. People like to join in the fun, so they will definitely gather Get up and listen to what was said last time.”
"Dad, I also think the newspaper office is extremely important." Prince Zhu Biao also said. "As for why the literati of the Song Dynasty were able to 'share the world with the emperor', it was because they controlled the world's public opinion and often used the power of public opinion to intimidate the emperor."
"The Ming Dynasty has unified the world and cannot be compared to the weak Song Dynasty. This sharp tool of public opinion and public opinion must not be allowed to be in the hands of others."
"Haier suggested that in addition to supporting the establishment of newspapers in the Imperial College, newspapers, operas, books, scripts and other things should also be brought under the supervision of the Ministry of Rites. In order to guide public opinion and public opinion in a legitimate and legitimate manner, the people and the imperial court can make common progress. retreat."
"Well..." Lao Zhu frowned and thought. "Boss, you are right. It seems that this newspaper office really cannot be streamlined..."
"How about we take a moment to make steel, guns, etc.?" Lao Zhu said with some pain. "Our inner treasury finally has some spare money. How can we spend so much money like this?"
"If there is another natural or man-made disaster next year, what will the court do to resist it?"
"And we also want to leave a solid family fortune to our descendants!"
"Family wealth is earned, not saved." Zhu Su said seductively. "Furthermore, Dad, commercial tax has been successfully implemented. As the Ming Dynasty becomes more stable and business gradually prospers, the amount of commercial tax will only get higher and higher."
"A group of newly appointed officials from the Taxation Department are sharpening their knives, preparing to completely overpower the Transfer Department. Are you still worried that the court will not be able to make ends meet in the future?"
"Let me put it this way, I guarantee you. As long as there are no problems with the Taxation Department, Ming Dynasty's annual income will only get higher year by year!"
"Perhaps in a few years, commercial tax will be fully implemented, and you won't have to levy agricultural tax. You can directly use commercial tax to revitalize the entire Ming Dynasty."
No agricultural tax! These words made Lao Zhu's heart beat with excitement. If he could avoid collecting agricultural taxes from farmers, then he, as an emperor, would be on par with the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors of ancient times. Even after killing all the corrupt officials, no one dared to say anything wrong about him, the Hongwu Emperor.
After all, under Hongwu’s rule, agricultural taxes were not collected! For the people who are digging for food in the fields, this is simply a good thing that comes from heaven. If this can be achieved, even if Li Zicheng, Zhang Xianzhong and Nurhachi are all born in advance, they will not be able to make even a small splash!
However, due to his background and knowledge, the old farmer Zhu Yuanzhang instinctively felt that relying solely on commercial taxes was unreliable. After all, in his mind, things like merchants and commerce are inseparable from frivolity and greed. Placing the country's future on commercial taxation seems unreliable no matter how you think about it.
The crops growing in the land and the money buried in the cellar make people feel at ease!
Lao Zhu was hesitating whether to allocate all the money to Zhu Su to start his own business, but unexpectedly, Queen Ma, who was listening quietly on the side, became impatient.
The domineering empress pulled Zhu Su over and rolled her eyes at Lao Zhu:
"Xiao Wu'er, don't worry about your tough dad."
"He's used to being picky, but now that he's the emperor, he's actually going back on his word with his own son."
"It's okay. If he doesn't give it to you, mother will give it to you. How much do you need in total to start those businesses?"
"Mom is here to help you raise funds!"
(End of chapter)
