"Do you think that my internal funds are your family's cornucopia, and that you can take out six to seven hundred thousand taels at a moment's notice?"
If these words were put between other monarchs and ministers, the ministers would probably be scared to death, but Gao Pragmatic was obviously not afraid. He was indeed rich, but his money came from innocent sources, and Zhu Yijun also knew it. , and based on their current relationship, there is no need to worry that Zhu Yijun will think about slaughtering sheep.
So Gao Pragmatic laughed loudly and said: "The emperor wants to treat Prince Lu favorably, and he also said that he has no money, so it seems that this money will force the Ministry of Revenue to admit defeat?"
Zhu Yijun felt that he was in the wrong and said angrily: "I'm sorry! Pragmatism, I'll tell you the truth. You actually know that I just took charge this year, and the two palaces are still keeping a close eye on me, especially my mother, who has always doted on Yi." "Liu, if I, the imperial brother, are stingy on this matter, I'm afraid something will go wrong."
Gao pragmatic curled his lips slightly and asked, "So?"
"So?" Zhu Yijun raised his eyebrows and said: "So there is nothing we can do about this matter. First, spend more money to make the Queen Mother happy. When the country of Yixi leaves the capital, the Queen Mother will slowly stop caring about things, and then Let’s talk again.”
Gao pragmatically spread his hands: "What about the household department? The household department has been in bad luck this year. First there were floods in the south of the Yangtze River, and then floods and wind disasters occurred in Liaodong. It took hundreds of thousands of taels to barely settle the situation, and I brought it back here. With so many heads of Mongolian Tatars, the Ministry of War couldn't come up with the money, and the Ministry of Household Affairs had no choice but to put in another sum. Now that Prince Lu is getting married, Prince Lu's palace alone will cost nearly 700,000 taels. What do you think of the household? Can you take it out?"
Zhu Yijun sighed and said with an ugly face: "I don't want to, but I can't help it! Before, you said that Huangzhuang is prone to bad things. I listened to you and cut Huangzhuang by almost half last year. This forced Beijing to Zhongxungui also handed over some land, and these lands have been handed over to the Ministry of Household Affairs. Now the matter with King Lu is imminent. If they don't help me, where will I get the money?"
Gao pragmatic smiled and said: "I am willing to lend money to the emperor."
Zhu Yijun was stunned for a moment: "You lend me money?" Then he immediately shook his head: "What kind of idea is this? There is no reason for an emperor to borrow money from his ministers. It's impossible."
"The emperor and his ministers belong to the emperor, but doesn't the emperor hear that friends have the righteousness to make money and help people in emergencies instead of helping the poor?" Gao pragmatically said: "It is good that the emperor is rich all over the world, but now it is urgently needed and it is difficult to raise money for a while. Although I am a minister, after all, How can I turn a blind eye and listen but not hear, having been classmates with the Emperor for ten years? Is the Emperor afraid that I will give you loan sharks?"
Zhu Yijun was amused by his last sentence and scolded with a smile: "Give me usury? How dare you say that!"
However, Gao Pangshi had already talked to this extent. Zhu Yijun really thought about it carefully before saying: "Speaking of the royal family's gold and silver, it's not that small. Even if I borrowed this money, I can't afford to pay it back." Things are really unprecedented and always sound a little weird.,”
Gao pragmatic didn't answer immediately. Zhu Yijun paused for a moment, then continued to frown and said: "Also, now that the palace is half short, I'm afraid I won't have enough internal funds in the future. You can lend me this money." , I really can’t calculate how many years it will take to pay it back.”
Gao pragmatic answered this time, with a very calm tone, and said: "Does your Majesty still remember my plan for the imperial examination?"
Zhu Yijun was stunned and nodded: "Of course I remember that the biggest problem in the world today is poverty: poor officials will lead to poverty, poor people will lead to thieves, poor military will lead to trouble, and poor countries will make them weak. I remember it very clearly, and I can even recite it backwards."
Gao pragmatic bowed slightly to express his gratitude, and then said: "I said in this article: In ancient times, when talking about poverty, the first word is not frugal. It is believed that frugality will make you rich, and wealth will make you safe. I don't think so."
Zhu Yijun nodded thoughtfully.
Gao pragmatic said again: "Since ancient times, people who are good at managing money have mostly praised frugality. I am not good at being frugal, but like to spend money." He pointed to the White Jade Tower where he was, and said: "This White Jade Tower is a clear proof. Although this White Jade Tower is not as good as Lu." The palace is expensive, but it costs hundreds of thousands of taels, and it is just a separate courtyard for me."
Zhu Yijun couldn't help but feel a little envious and sighed: "You are really rich, but you can also really make money."
Gao Pragmatic clapped his hands and praised: "Your Majesty, what you said is right to the point. I am willing to spend money, but only if I can make money."
Zhu Yijun nodded.
Unexpectedly, Gao Pragmatic added: "But the Emperor may not have thought carefully about why I don't like to save money like some people, but just spend it when I earn it."
Zhu Yijun also felt strange and asked: "Yes, why?"
"Because money is meaningful only when it is spent." Gao pragmatically said: "Putting gold and silver in it, you can neither eat nor wear it. What's the use? Are you just looking at it and having fun?"
This conflicted a lot with Zhu Yijun's values, but it seemed to make sense, so Zhu Yijun just frowned, but did not speak immediately, but fell into thinking.
Gao Pragmatic continued: "Besides, the purpose of spending money is sometimes to make more money."
"Are you spending money to make more money?" Zhu Yijun was stunned for a moment, then hesitantly said: "If you want to say that you spend money to open a mine and set up a factory, I can understand that it is to make more money, but you are building this White Jade Tower. What does it have to do with making money?”
"It's a big relationship." Gao Pragmatic smiled mysteriously and said, "What does the Emperor think of this White Jade Tower?"
"Well, it seems pretty good." Zhu Yijun was relatively honest and did not deliberately belittle him.
Gao Pragmatic said calmly: "This building is made of masonry and cement, with steel bars inside as beams. Even without any maintenance, it can be used for at least a hundred years."
Zhu Yijun was shocked: "Really? You don't need to take care of anything or replace it, and it can be used for a hundred years?"
Isn’t it so strange? Many palaces in the West have been preserved to later generations. Many of them were only slightly maintained or decorated and renovated over the past few decades. Ancient buildings that were hundreds of years old have disappeared.
"So you see, Chen repaired the White Jade Tower and found a new construction method. This method can be vigorously promoted in the next time. Currently, in the Ming Dynasty, only Chen's Jinghua Infrastructure has mastered this construction method. Isn't this right? A way to make huge profits?"
Zhu Yijun was stunned for a long time and said in shock: "So when you built the White Jade Tower, it was actually, in your words, an advertisement?"
Gao Pingshi smiled and said, "Do you now know why I invited so many officials and nobles here today?"
"I know, I know." Zhu Yijun nodded repeatedly, and suddenly he was stunned: "Then I am here today, wouldn't it?"
"Uh, I don't plan to give the emperor any endorsement fees." Gao pragmatically said hurriedly: "At most, we can borrow money without charging interest."
Zhu Yijun rolled his eyes and said angrily: "I'm not that snobby." After a pause, he added: "However, your advertisement is still a bit expensive, hundreds of thousands of taels."
Gao pragmatically spread his hands: "You have to calculate this account more carefully: the stones used to build the White Jade Tower are all Fangshan white marble. Such a large amount of white marble materials can support many masons and many porters, right? And it's necessary." Use cement. The cement is produced by Jinghua itself, but it is also bought with money. In this way, it can feed a group of people. It also needs steel bars, decoration, and various masons, carpenters, and gardeners. They can all make money from the minister. "
Zhu Yijun said inexplicably: "But you are spending money."
"Yes, but they still have to spend the money they make. They are not allowed to patronize the various businesses of Jinghua Trading Company in the capital? Although they may not spend all their money in Jinghua, it can make business more prosperous, and as long as business is more prosperous , it’s a good thing for me, Jinghua, not to mention it’s also a good thing for Ming Dynasty.”
Zhu Yijun finally understood this truth, and he suddenly said: "That is to say, you spent these hundreds of thousands, driving a series of industries under your name to make money from it, and after they make money, they still have to spend it out, so you get it back. Quite a few, and also mastered new technologies?"
Gao pragmatic smiled and said: "Yes, you see, as long as everyone is willing to spend money, the White Jade Building will be built, they will also make money, supplement their household income, and I will take back a large part, and they can continue to spend money. You know what's going on here What are the two most critical points?”
Zhu Yijun hesitated and said: "I seem to feel something strange, but I don't know what to say for the moment."
Gao Pragmatic smiled and said: "These two points are: creation and circulation."
"Oh!" Zhu Yijun suddenly understood, nodded, and asked: "So what do you mean by this?"
"If you want to build Prince Lu's Mansion, then build it, but the creation and circulation here will not be affected by the emperor and his ministers for the time being. It is better to turn your attention to other places. For example, Liaodong can also create and circulate."
"I thought about it, you have to create something before it can be circulated, right?" Zhu Yijun blinked: "What can be created in the Yuanmasi area of Liaodong that can be circulated?"
Gao Pingshi smiled and said: "There is a business that is sure to make a profit without losing any money. Would your Majesty want to know about it?"
"Stop being so pretentious and tell me quickly!" Zhu Yijun's appetite was whetted and he urged.
Gao Pragmatic laughed and said: "Salt."
Zhu Yijun was stunned when he heard this: "You mean sea salt?" He said hesitantly: "But Guan Yan has a quota for salt production, and there has been almost no profit in recent years."
"The problem with official salt lies in the official camp, which is the same as the firearms produced by the previous Bureau of War and Ordnance were unusable." Gao Pragmatic raised his eyebrows slightly and said: "Since the official camp can't do it, the private sector can. For example, The emperor and his ministers will cooperate to open and operate new salt fields."
Zhu Yijun was stunned for a moment, and suddenly remembered an important event: "The salt currently used in Liaodong is from the Changlu Saltworks. If you open a saltworks in Liaodong, you are only afraid of the first assistant."
Gao Pragmatic spread his hands: "Then let's sell it elsewhere."
"Where else?" Zhu Yijun said in astonishment: "But the use of salt is customary everywhere. You will offend people wherever you sell it."
Gao pragmatic shook his head and said: "That's not necessarily true. For example, if we sell to North Korea, Jurchens or even Chahar, who will it be in the way?"
Zhu Yijun was shocked. He looked around and saw that the people around him were still far away. Then he lowered his voice and said, "What nonsense are you talking about? It's just North Korea and Jurchens. How can you sell Chahar?"
Gao pragmatic blinked: "Sell salt to Chahar, can Tumen use salt to start a war with Ming Dynasty?"
"Well, that's not possible, but not trading with Chahar is the Ming Dynasty's ancestral system." Zhu Yijun was still very nervous.
"This ancestral system was created to restrict Chahar, but I did this to poison Chahar. Besides, it has more uses than just this." 11
