"You made money before the project even started?" Zhu Han became more and more interested: "Tell me what happened." Liu Shenhong told Zhu Han about Yang Fengnian in a straight-forward manner.
To put it bluntly, it’s not a big deal. Zhu Han asked the people below to inform the craftsmen before they could start work, and they would naturally be organized to learn how to use cement.
It is naturally impossible for a big businessman like Shen Wansan to do these things himself. However, many of those ordinary small businessmen and bosses do it themselves.
Zhang Fengnian, Liu Jiyang and Shen Xiong almost all took the workers there themselves. After a day or two of short-term training, they learned how to use cement and immediately started working non-stop.
This is the biggest difference between businessmen and officials. For officials, unless it is a particularly urgent matter, efficiency will never increase.
What businessmen pursue is efficiency. The faster the efficiency, the faster they make money. As for officials, although they get credit for doing things well, they also bear a lot of responsibility if they do something wrong.
Therefore, many officials have similar attitudes towards their errands. They should have the greatest credit and the least responsibility. It is best that the benefits should go to themselves and the responsibilities should be given to others.
Doing things with this attitude is naturally all kinds of wrangling. It's no wonder that Liu Shenhong was able to do things quickly. This time, he also thoroughly saw the mobility of these businessmen.
Even when they walked, it was as if their feet were on fire and they would not stop for a second. Zhang Fengnian and the others had only been working for two days, and this guy, together with a craftsman he hired, invented a formula that used coal ash as a cement addition.
Zhu Han sincerely admired that there are smart people in any era.
"He developed concrete so quickly. What a talent!"
"By the way, how about the strength of the formula they developed?"
"Although I encourage them to innovate to save costs, there must be no problems with quality." Liu Shenhong's expression became very strange: "There is some news about this matter from Jin Yiwei. It is said that they were the first to study it. The formula seems to be a little stronger than the original cement.”
"But later, for some unknown reason, Zhang Fengnian studied for half a month and finally lowered the intensity to a level slightly higher than our acceptance standard." At this time, Zhu Han was even more interested in this guy named Zhang Fengnian. Interested.
Originally, Zhu Han only regarded him as an ordinary businessman who had good luck but lost his luck. However, this businessman named Zhang Fengnian had a much longer-term vision than he imagined.
Seeing Liu Shenhong's disdainful look, Zhu Han laughed: "I don't think you think highly of that Zhang Fengnian?"
"My lord, this guy is simply greedy. Although this guy is a smart man and can invent a new secret recipe for cement, his character is not good." Looking at Liu Shenhong's upright face, Zhu Han couldn't help laughing.
I have to say that people in this era are really simple and cute sometimes.
"Your Majesty, am I right? This guy obviously has better things but doesn't use them. He insists on substituting them as good ones. He is indeed an unscrupulous person." After thinking about it, Liu Shenhong simply said all his thoughts. out.
"Your Majesty, not only people like Zhang Fengnian, but other businessmen have also come up with ways to save costs. Rather than letting these profiteers make money, it is better for the court to raise the price of contracting these projects."
"We can save at least tens of millions of taels of silver. If this money is given to the court, it can do a lot for the people." Zhu Han nodded Liu Shenhong with some disappointment: "You... say you are not smart enough. You can do everything very well. Last time you dealt with the craftsmen from the Yanjing Ministry of Industry, I just gave you some hints, and you were able to complete the task perfectly."
"But when you are smart, why are you so stupid?" Liu Shenhong frowned unconvinced: "Your Majesty, did I say something wrong? Those profiteers are almost lawless now. If we don't care, they will definitely do it in the future. There will be big trouble." Zhu Han sighed helplessly. After all, he was the one who brought them out, and sometimes he still had to tell them how to do things.
"You have to remember that our court officials should not only consider interests when doing anything, but also have a long-term view."
"Now that you feel that businessmen are making more money, you immediately want to increase the price of their contracted projects."
"Even if you saved the court 18 million taels of silver this time, have you ever considered what the businessmen would think if the court's decrees were erratic and this happened again next time?"
"It is said that standing up a tree is a matter of trust. If Shang Yang did not respect credibility, how could he have strengthened the Qin Dynasty later?" Liu Shenhong sweated coldly and hurriedly knelt down on one knee: "I know I was wrong, please punish me."
"Get up. After all, this is your first time to do something. You can't cover everything. It's inevitable to make mistakes." Zhu Han looked at Liu Shenhong with a half-smile: "But, it's just this once, and it won't be the same next time." Liu Shenhong swore: " Prince, please rest assured, I will never take the same measures again, otherwise I will be struck by thunder and death."
"It's just..." After swearing, Liu Shenhong changed the topic: "These guys are passing off inferior products. Is it possible that the court just watches and ignores them?" Good guy, this is obviously still unconvinced.
Zhu Han patiently explained: "Why bother? Our court has already given standards, and they have fulfilled the requirements according to the standards. How can it be regarded as shoddy?"
"This... this..." Liu Shenhong was speechless for a moment. Liu Shenhong didn't seem to fully understand the powerful relationship here.
Zhu Han had no intention of continuing. If Liu Shenhong just couldn't figure it out, then his achievements would stop there.
"As for whether the imperial court will suffer losses, I don't know. What do you have to worry about?"
“In the last bidding conference, the projects we released were simply a drop in the bucket.”
"Those businessmen have tasted the benefits before, and next time they will work hard to continue contracting these projects."
"The reason why I want to conduct a small-scale bidding is not only to test the waters, but also to facilitate them. They can increase prices more safely in the future."... Liu Shenhong's head was buzzing.
Before, I was still feeling complacent that I had cheated the Ministry of Industry. But compared to his own prince, his little cleverness is nothing.
Although I don't understand what the prince means by getting the volume, I can make a rough guess based on Zhu Han's words.
In short, these businessmen were clearly tricked by their own princes. But not only would they not feel that Zhu Han was cheating them, but they would also be grateful to their prince.
"That's right." Zhu Han suddenly remembered something: "You just said that Zhang Fengnian and the others made money before the project was completed. Did they sell the formula? How much did it cost and to whom? Already?"
"The buyer hasn't decided yet, but I guess it's either Shen Wansan or Zhou Gushan. The two of them have already paid more than 200,000 taels of silver for this recipe." Zhu Han nodded slightly: "It turns out it's the two of them. Guy, you still have some vision. But... they can't buy this formula." After saying that, Zhu Han stood up from the chair: "Send someone to tell Zhang Fengnian to come and see me."
"Um..." Liu Shenhong hesitated for a moment: "Your Majesty, didn't you say that our court serves the people? Now Shen Wansan and the others are asking for prices in Jufeng Tower. Wouldn't it be bad if we interfered? Okay?" Zhu Han was annoyed and kicked Liu Shenhong on the butt: "When did I say that the imperial court is going to get this cement formula?"
"Stop talking nonsense, drive to Jufeng Tower immediately and intercept Yang Fengnian and others before they can complete the deal."
"I praised them for being smart, but these guys started doing stupid things again. How could such an important thing be sold so cheaply?" Yanjing, Jufeng Tower.
Of all the restaurants in Yanjing City, which one has the best food? I'm afraid it's hard to tell the difference.
After all, everyone has their own favorite taste. But if there is any restaurant in Yanjing that has the most grandeur, it must be Jufenglou.
This restaurant covers nearly an acre of land alone. It is a three-story building consisting of five buildings in the southeast, northwest, and middle.
Even Zhu Han was a little surprised when he saw it for the first time. This scale is not much compared to the five-star hotels of later generations.
Because of this, almost all wealthy businessmen will visit this place whenever they want to eat out.
There is a saying circulating in Yanjing circles. Coming to Jufenglou for dinner may not mean how noble you are, but it definitely proves that you are rich.
Today's Jufeng Tower is completely different from the bustle of the past. Everyone stretched their necks and looked at the three tables of guests at the top of the restaurant.
On the left is the famous current richest man in the Ming Dynasty, Shen Wansan. On the right is Zhou Gushan, who may surpass Shen Wansan at any time and become the richest man.
Between the two of them, he is the man of the hour in Yanjing City in the past half month. Zhang Fengnian developed a new cement formula.
It was also him who made all the guests in Jufeng Tower not even bother to eat. Of course, Zhang Fengnian was only the cause of why things turned out like this, and what really shocked people.
It's still a fight between two equally rich men.
"Zhou Gushan! Are you determined to go against me? You are a sea trader, why do you need cement formula?" Zhou Gushan held the wine glass and looked askance at people: "I said Shen Wansan, our Zhou family makes If Haimao's work is true, can't we build houses? Don't forget, we also contracted the project in Yanjing, so we will naturally need this thing."
"If you want it, just bid directly. If you can't afford it, just shut up. Mother-in-law acts like a pussy." As soon as he said this, many people almost laughed.
Ridiculing the richest man in Ming Dynasty for having no money. If these words did not come from Zhou Gushan's mouth, he would definitely be sprayed to death.
"Okay! Okay! Okay!" Shen Wansan gritted his molar teeth: "You are richer, right? I will pay you three hundred thousand taels of silver. If you have the ability, you can raise the price." After hearing this number, the people around Yang Fengnian Liu Jiyang and Shen Xiong couldn't help but tremble.
Even if the money is divided among three people, each of them can still get one hundred thousand taels. You know, not too long ago.
The three of them are still racking their brains to earn hundreds of taels of silver. hiss! There was a gasp of air in Jufeng Tower.
Those who can eat here must at least have a small family fortune. But I always feel that compared to people like Shen Wan Sanzhou Gushan, they are basically poor people.
Although they also know that the cement formula is very valuable. But the problem is, they have also calculated it before.
The money saved by this new formula is not as much as imagined. Ten kilograms of cement can save a few pennies.
Calculating it this way, if Shen Wansan really wants to spend 300,000 taels to buy cement accessories. It would take hundreds of thousands of kilograms to just barely recover the money, right?
The most important thing is that although Zhang Fengnian has a secret recipe, other craftsmen are not stupid. Others can also come up with ways to save costs. Even if their formula is not as good as theirs, it is still barely enough.
I really can't understand why Shen Wansan charged such a high price for this formula. Shen Wansan raised his eyebrows at Zhou Gushan: "I've finished bidding. If you have the ability, you can increase the price." Unexpectedly, Zhou Gushan clenched his fists at Shen Wansan in a joking manner: "He is worthy of being the richest man in the Ming Dynasty. I surrender, this recipe is yours." Damn it!
Shen Wansan suddenly realized that he seemed to have been tricked by Zhou Gushan. As the richest man in the Ming Dynasty, the way Shen Wansan and others think about problems is naturally different from ordinary businessmen.
Buying the formula for three hundred thousand taels was a bit of a loss, but it was within Shen Wansan's acceptance range.
He also understood, don't look at Zhou Gushan as if he had tricked you. In fact, this guy was also unhappy about not getting the formula.
This cannot change the fact that Shen Wansan was cheated. After all, it was originally planned to take one hundred thousand taels, and even gritted its teeth to win 200,000 taels or 250,000 taels.
As a result, Zhou Gushan was so excited that he asked for 300,000 taels.
"Process, concession! I, Shen Wansan, can't thank you enough for what happened today, and I will definitely pay you back in the future." Shen Wansan said with a smile on his face, biting his molars and thanking you.
Many people who ate at Jufenglou felt envious and jealous in their hearts. It's nice to have money. Three hundred thousand taels of silver were spent on a useless cement formula without blinking an eye.
They know that they, Shen Wansan and Zhou Gushan are not on the same level.
They may need hundreds of thousands of kilograms of cement for a long time. But whether it is Shen Wansan or Zhou Gushan, just by contracting the project in Yanjing, they may have to spend 7788 yuan, and the rest is pure profit.
Shen Wansan, who had successfully bid, slowly walked up to Zhang Fengnian and said, "It's hard to prepare such a large amount of money. Please be patient. I've sent someone to pick it up." Then he looked at Yang Fengnian with a stern look: "How are you doing? , are you interested in helping me?"
