Queen Ma was sitting on a chair picking up the soles of her shoes. When she saw Zhu Yuanzhang sticking his head out, she immediately understood what kind of trouble her man was encountering.
"Chongba, what happened to you again?"
"I heard that you abolished the Imperial Guard's Mansion and created some kind of Jinyiwei Military Command Department?"
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, and then sat next to Queen Ma, "There is such a thing. Last time I came to the Northern Tour, I found that the local officials were deceiving the superiors and the inferiors, and the officials in the capital even formed cliques for personal gain. They tried their best to hide it from me. I We have to find a way to figure out what they are doing, otherwise our old Zhu family's empire will fall into the hands of others sooner or later."
Empress Ma smiled slowly and said, "Children and grandchildren will have their own blessings. Can you see which dynasty and which generation have a lasting legacy? The landlord's family has not yet fallen into decline. Let's just do things well while we are still alive."
Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand, "Huh, other dynasties can't do it. That's because they don't have the ability. We, Zhu Yuanzhang, want the Ming Dynasty to be named Zhu forever! For thousands of generations and generations to come!"
"No, no, we didn't come to you to talk about Jin Yiwei, but about another matter."
"Sister, take a look at this first."
After speaking, Zhu Yuanzhang handed the account book in his hand to Queen Ma.
"What is this?" Queen Ma put down the sole in her hand, took the account book and started reading.
"This is the account for selling chili peppers...Twenty-four thousand taels...This sale is a loss. Our purchase price is only thirty thousand taels. If I had known better, I shouldn't have handed over these peppers to you and my son. I'll do it myself," Queen Ma muttered.
"Ha ha!"
Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Queen Ma's muttering and found it a little funny.
"Isn't this what you care about the most? In the past, you felt extremely distressed when you lost a few taels or even a few copper coins. How come you can still laugh when you lose six thousand taels?" Queen Ma was a little confused.
"Sister, you got it wrong this time. The number above is not silver, but gold! These three hundred kilograms of peppers were sold for a total of twenty-four thousand taels. If one tael of gold is exchanged for four taels of silver, that is ninety-six thousand taels. For one thousand taels, not only did we not lose money, but excluding agency fees and purchase costs, we actually made more than ten thousand taels!"
Zhu Yuanzhang said proudly.
"Gold? No loss...earned more than 10,000?!" Queen Ma quickly picked up the account book and took a closer look. It was true!
"Ouyang Lun, this kid is not talking nonsense, this thing can really make money!"
"Sister, you have to praise us. If I hadn't taken action, how could we have sold so much! Ouyang Lun just provided something, and we are the biggest contributors." Zhu Yuanzhang muttered.
"I think Ouyang Lun is very capable, Chongba... don't be impulsive and chop him down. Otherwise, if your daughter doesn't have a husband, who will provide you with these chili peppers to make money in the future!" Empress Ma Taking the opportunity to say something nice for Ouyang Lun, she also became confused, "But...these people who buy chili peppers are really rich."
"Sister, you think something is wrong, too!" Zhu Yuanzhang said quickly: "If we really follow the salary, how can these people come up with so much money? We plan to take down all these officials and wealthy businessmen based on this list! Just in time for the Jin Yiwei to stand up Wei! What do you think?"
"Chongba, has the national treasury been tight recently?" Empress Ma did not directly answer Zhu Yuanzhang's question, but asked rhetorically.
"That's not the case. The state treasury is still struggling to maintain itself. We just can't stand these officials greedy for so much money. I give them salaries, houses, and rewards during the holidays. Why are they still not satisfied? There are those rich businessmen who are unkind and never treat the people well for the sake of wealth. I kill them, confiscate their homes, and use the money to subsidize the people. Isn't this better!"
Zhu Yuanzhang said in a deep voice.
"Since the national treasury is not tight, why don't you learn from Ouyang Lun..." Queen Ma said.
"Why imitate him? Apart from being a little smart and decent-looking, that kid is just a coward. He deliberately committed crimes and hid in that nook in Kaiping County. If we had known that that kid was hiding from us on purpose, we would have killed him Cut him down and save trouble!"
"We are not killing him now because he is still of some use. Just watch, sister, we will kill him sooner or later, otherwise we will harm Biao'er and Di'er!" Zhu Yuanzhang muttered.
Empress Ma glared at Zhu Yuanzhang and said, "Chongba, if you want to hear my opinion today, just listen to me. If you don't want to hear it, the door is right there and I won't let you eat."
Zhu Yuanzhang quickly shut up, looked at the door of Kunning Palace, and said with a smile: "Sister, look at what you said, we have been husband and wife for so many years, your opinion is very important to us, if you say... I will never interrupt is you."
"I mean, the reason why Ouyang Lun has developed Kaiping County well is because he can make money, earn money from businessmen and squires. He locks a lot of money in the stock market through the stock exchange, and he can return it at any time. You can cash out on the stock market and get profits.”
"I won't comment on the quality of this stock trading, and it will certainly be difficult to promote it nationwide, but his idea is worthy of our reference. If... we can use chili peppers to control the stocks of princes, nobles, and wealthy businessmen. Wouldn't it be gentler to take the money back than killing someone and ransacking your home?"
After listening to Queen Ma's words, Zhu Yuanzhang fell into deep thought, and it seemed that there was some truth.
"Sister, what do you mean you don't want me to catch any fish?"
Zhu Yuanzhang said.
"It's fishing in a dry lake!" Queen Ma added: "Officials and wealthy businessmen are certainly hateful, but if you kill them all, not only will there be no one to work for you, but this will be a one-time deal, and you will be gone after you copy them."
"If you can use chili peppers to continue to extract money from them, then..."
Before Queen Ma could finish speaking, Zhu Yuanzhang said with a smile: "That's a hen that lays golden eggs!"
Then Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head and said, "No, no, we are incompatible with those wealthy businessmen who are corrupt officials and unkind, how can we let them go!"
Empress Ma continued: "Didn't you say that? Some corrupt officials can be killed later. If the evidence is solid and the crimes are heinous, you should kill them."
"Don't you want to go to Kaiping County to purchase goods again?"
"Yes!" Zhu Yuanzhang nodded without hesitation. In addition to purchasing goods, Zhu Yuanzhang also wanted to live in the emperor's suite, eat grilled fish, and make a two-wheeler...
And if you go to Kaiping County to buy second-hand goods, you don’t have to pay an agency fee of 50,000 yuan. Even if you only buy 300 kilograms, you will have an income of 60,000 yuan, which is close to 70,000 taels of silver!
Zhu Yuanzhang admitted that he was moved!
Going back and forth for two months, I earned 60,000 yuan at a time, which is 360,000 yuan a year. My little treasury was quickly filled.
Time is money, so I have to go to Kaiping County quickly to purchase goods.
Zhu Yuanzhang rubbed his hands and said with a smile: "Sister, when do you have time, will you accompany me to Kaiping County again?"
"If you don't want to go, you can ask Biao'er or Di'er to accompany you."
