By the time Zhao Hao returned to the palace, more than an hour had passed.
For more than an hour, the always diligent First Emperor did not review a single volume of memorials or say a word to Li Si or Magistrate Zhou.
It can be seen how angry the First Emperor was in his heart.
"My son, I pay my respects to my father. Long live my father! Long live my father!"
Zhao Hao came over sweating profusely, without even breathing, and first gave Ying Zheng a big gift.
"Get flat."
Ying Zheng's tone was soft and calm.
Zhao Hao's heart skipped a beat, secretly thinking something was wrong, and subconsciously looked at Li Si.
But he saw Li Si giving him a look: Be strong.
"Well...."
Zhao Hao twitched the corner of his mouth, not daring to look at Magistrate Zhou anymore, and said cautiously: "Thank you, Father." Then he slowly stood up.
"I heard that your boy has made a fortune?"
Ying Zheng asked the question more casually, as if he was just talking to Zhao Haola.
But the calmness in his tone was like a sign before a storm. Zhao Hao could even detect the blood red in the eyes of the First Emperor.
This is to kill the son to prove the tyrant!
I'll be a good boy!
Zhao Hao swallowed subconsciously and replied nonchalantly: "Father, you are joking, how could I make such a big fortune? I am busy building Zhaoyang Palace for my father every day, and I haven't even had two bites of food yet.
If Brother Ninth hadn't taken pity on Erchen's younger brother and invited him to have a meal at Liuheju, Erchen would have made do with vegetables and corn today. "
"Oh? It's a shame for my good son."
Ying Zheng said words of pity for Zhao Hao, but the cold wind coming out from between his teeth did not diminish at all.
After hearing this, Zhao Hao wiped the non-existent sweat in his heart and said bravely: "It is an honor for me to share my father's worries. I dare not take credit."
"Ah!"
Ying Zheng chuckled and sneered: "But how did I hear that my good son spent a lot of money to buy Liuhe Residence, and threatened that he would pay for all the purchases?"
"Ah? This..."
Zhao Hao was surprised for a moment and secretly thought that nothing could be hidden from the First Emperor. He couldn't help but change his mind and said righteously: "Father, the reason why I bought Liuheju is because someone in the city spread rumors that I have evaded taxes." Cheating on taxes and doing that illegal thing!”
"But Erchen can even buy a Liuhe residence at will, so how can he be short of money? How can he evade and cheat taxes? This is simply slander!"
As he said that, he suddenly turned to look at Li Si: "Dare I ask Li Tingwei, what crime should someone who slanders others be punished for?"
"...."
Li Si was slightly startled and subconsciously looked at Ying Zheng.
Ying Zheng frowned and then looked at Magistrate Zhou.
County Magistrate Zhou was stunned, and then became angry: "Young master, don't use clever words, you are obviously hiding the mine, coveting small profits, and trying to steal the imperial tax revenue!"
"joke!"
Zhao Hao frowned coldly: "The world of Great Qin belongs to my father, and all the money in Great Qin also belongs to my father. I am my father's son, how can I possibly try to seize my own family's things?"
"What about hiding the mine?"
"May I ask Magistrate Zhou, before my father gave me Barren Mountain, had I ever been to Quyi County?"
"this....."
Magistrate Zhou hesitated for a moment, shook his head and said, "Never."
After saying that, he suddenly thought of something: "Even if the young master has never come to Juyi County in person, he might still send someone to investigate!"
"Is there any evidence?"
Zhao Hao asked back.
Magistrate Zhou was speechless.
Because before the incident, he didn't pay attention to those barren mountains at all, and there were even no people around those barren mountains.
The people Zhao Hao sent to investigate all acted quietly.
Of course he can't have evidence.
Seeing that County Magistrate Zhou was speechless, Zhao Hao struck while the iron was hot and said righteously: "Originally, this matter is a private matter of my Ying Qin royal family. Since Magistrate Zhou made trouble in Xianyang and met my father, then I Just say it!"
"Yes, all this is for my father!"
"???"
Ying Zheng’s head was filled with questions.
Li Si and Magistrate Zhou looked stunned and subconsciously looked at Ying Zheng.
But Ying Zheng twisted his eyebrows and said in a cold voice: "What did you say?!"
"Father, we have nothing to hide since things have come to this point. This is 90% profit from coal mining!"
After speaking, Zhao Hao directly held the land deeds of the five mines in his hand and presented them to the First Emperor.
At the same time, I was cursing in my heart.
Play hard with me?
I'm more ruthless than you!
If you punish me with 10% of the profit, can I let go of 90% of the profit?
If you want to die, let's all die together!
When the First Emperor heard that Zhao Hao was throwing the blame on him, the anger in his heart was like a volcano erupting. But later he heard Zhao Hao say that 90% of the profits were his, and he couldn't help but be shocked.
"The 90% profit from the five mines...is...his Majesty's?"
Magistrate Zhou on the side looked at Zhao Hao with an expression of disbelief.
It turned out that the five mines were awarded to Zhao Hao by the First Emperor and belonged to Zhao Hao's private property.
Even if Zhao Hao discovers a coal mine, it will still be Zhao Hao's industry.
But Zhao Hao's concealment of the coal mine gave him a bad feeling: "This guy is dishonest and a little too greedy." '
Can you not be greedy?
Five mines, such huge profits, to bargain with him for a long time and squeeze out tax money is simply unworthy of a human being.
But in other words, if he had known it was a mine in advance, the tax would have been hundreds or even thousands of times higher than it is now.
Therefore, no matter what, he must fight for this benefit.
But something seems wrong with this situation now...
Ninety percent of the profits from those five mines actually belonged to the First Emperor? !
This is crazy?
Isn't it because I fight for this benefit at all costs for the sake of the First Emperor?
Why did the floods wash away the Dragon King Temple and cause an ulterior motive?
It’s so embarrassing!
"Your Majesty, this..."
Magistrate Zhou looked at Ying Zheng with a red face.
Ying Zheng ignored him, smacked his lips, and seemed to have come to his senses. He looked at Zhao Hao with interest: "Are you really going to give me 90% of your profits?"
"If one family does not speak the same language as the other, if my father had not given me the barren hills, I would not have discovered the coal mines!"
After the words fell, Zhao Hao was even more expressive. Chen Baixiang possessed him and flattered him: "My father is wise and mighty, and you deserve to be the emperor of the ages. My admiration for you is like a torrential river, which is endless. The river is overflowing and out of control..."
I wipe it!
Hearing Zhao Hao's words, Li Si and County Magistrate Zhou were instantly confused.
Even Zhao Gao, who was not far away, couldn't help but murmur to himself: "I am not as good as Young Master Hao!"
Isn't this the magical skill that he has been trying to figure out for many years but failed to master? !
How he wished that Zhao Hao had said this by himself.
I never thought flattering could reach such new heights...
As the saying goes, life is like a play, it all depends on acting skills.
During the Warring States Period, few officials flattered the monarch so directly, and Zhao Hao's shameless approach was almost unheard of.
Even if we push it forward for more than a thousand years, in Lao Zhu's dynasty, when he killed officials like a piece of grass, it would be impossible for any official to flatter him like this.
Although the flatterer was his own son, the First Emperor's eyes were filled with sparkle, and his heart was even more shocked and moved.
After a long time, he coughed twice and said with a smile: "I sit in the world, how can I covet your little bit of coal? Since I gave it to you, it belongs to you. Take back your land deed... "
After saying that, he paused and then continued: "Of course, if you want to show me your filial piety, that's a different matter. However, let's forget the 90% profit. The old rule is four or six!"
When Zhao Hao heard this, he felt a little dumbfounded.
Other things can be divided into four or six, but charcoal is of great use to the country. I'm afraid you will regret it in a few days.
It won't be me who suffers then.
With his thoughts turning around, Zhao Hao quickly handed over to Ying Zheng: "To inform my father, coal has many uses. If the imperial court gets involved in the coal business, it will be more conducive to the development of the country!"
After saying that, he said righteously: "My son is the son of the First Emperor. Naturally, it is impossible for me to only care about personal justice and ignore the great justice..."
"oh?"
Ying Zheng raised his eyebrows and looked at Magistrate Zhou.
Magistrate Zhou lowered his head in shame. He smiled secretly in his heart and said calmly: "Then tell me, what is the use of this charcoal?"
Zhao Hao thought for a while and said: "In addition to burning cement, it can also be used for heating, smelting, refining tar, etc."
"this...."
Ying Zheng was surprised. Obviously what Zhao Hao said was beyond his knowledge.
However, according to Zhao Hao, this charcoal is really useful.
After thinking for a moment, he turned to look at Li Si: "What do Li Tingwei think?"
"Your Majesty, if this charcoal really has many wonderful uses as the young master said, then the imperial court should take it seriously and promulgate relevant laws to prohibit private mining of charcoal, and the imperial court will manage, mine and transport it uniformly!" Li Si said sternly.
Zhao Hao looked surprised and thought to himself that this old Li has two brushes! Even the prerequisites for state-owned coal have been thought of.
If the state wants to monopolize the coal business, it must first legislate.
As the saying goes, there is no circle without rules.
If there is no prior legislation, once the wonderful uses of charcoal are discovered by interested people, there will be black coal mines all over the Qin State.
I don’t know how many times mining disasters will happen.
Taking advantage of the fact that coal has not yet been discovered by interested parties, enacting legislation early can prevent problems in the bud to a certain extent.
Seemingly aware of this problem, Ying Zheng nodded in agreement: "Li Aiqing's words make sense!"
After saying that, he turned to look at Zhao Hao and stared at him with piercing eyes: "Tell me the truth, why are you willing to give me 90% of the profit?"
"...."
Zhao Hao rolled his eyes in his heart.
Didn’t you just say four or six points? Now I know that charcoal is very useful, and I have returned to 90% profit. Fortunately, I have seen through you a long time ago, otherwise I might have pointed out your path!
"Reporting to my father, according to Erchen's estimation, the coal reserves of the five mines will take at least a hundred years to be fully mined. During this period, the manpower and material resources required will be countless. With Erchen's ability, it must be It can’t be done!”
"certainly."
As he spoke, he changed the topic and continued: "Father, please don't take the charcoal too seriously. You have to eat it one bite at a time. With the current consumption of our Qin country, there is no need to mine the charcoal on a large scale, as long as it is enough! "
Hearing this, Ying Zheng nodded suddenly and spoke again: "Then who do you think is responsible for mining these five mines?"
"It's up to my father to decide."
Since he knew that it was impossible to take it for himself, Zhao Hao didn't want to worry about it.
Anyway, just sit back and wait for the money.
Ying Zheng pondered for a moment, then turned his attention to County Magistrate Zhou: "Zhou Bing, Quyi County is under your county jurisdiction. Logically speaking, you should be responsible for those five mines, but you are the county magistrate. I’m afraid I don’t have time to do my job..."
"Your Majesty, veteran..."
Magistrate Zhou's heart skipped a beat, and he had a vague feeling of bad premonition.
However, Ying Zheng waved his sleeve and gave an unquestionable order: "Zhao Gao, please pass on my decree to remove Zhou Bing from the post of magistrate of Yi County and transfer him to the Carboniferous Department to take charge of coal mining matters in Yi County. He has a rank of three hundred."
"ah?!"
Magistrate Zhou was shocked.
There was no Carboniferous Department in the Qin Dynasty at all. This Carboniferous Department was obviously a new government office established by the First Emperor.
And his annual salary is only three hundred stone, which is not even as good as the county magistrate.
This is too much of a loss.
What on earth has happened to me?
