In business, it is common to ask for profit.
Zhu Yunwen looked at the back-and-forth exchange between the two sides with a smile in his eyes. No matter what result they came up with, the interests of the royal family were guaranteed.
The Ministry of Household Affairs and the Ministry of War obviously couldn't argue with the two kings and were in a weak position. This seemingly simple scene actually contains many economic issues.
For example, on the issue of seller's market and buyer's market, it is obvious that it is a seller's market at this time.
Both the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Household Affairs are aware of the benefits of medical gauze and alcohol, and know that demand exceeds supply, so they are ready to purchase them completely. At this time, the two kings are in the dominant position. Whatever price they want to set, that is the price. They have strong enough bargaining power.
Another example is the problem of information asymmetry.
As the seller, the second king opened his mouth and said the cost was seven cents. However, as the buyer, the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War knew nothing about the real cost, and did not seriously think about how much the cost would be. They only thought that although the price was high, But it seems to make sense.
Later generations of businessmen relied on this trick to use hunger marketing and false propaganda, and I heard that they made a lot of money. Although Zhu Zhi and Zhu Geng did not know Adam Smith and had not read "The Theory of Rich Countries", they knew a simple truth:
The goods are in my hands!
I have the final say on the price.
Seeing that the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War could no longer persuade the two kings and were about to settle the deal with a box of nine coins, Xie Jin put down the tea cup, looked at the two kings seriously, and said: "Seven coins, at most seven coins."
Zhu Geng quit and said, "Mr. Xie Ge, seven dollars is just our cost. If so, how can the two governments maintain their livelihood?"
Xie Jin shook his head and said: "The cost stated by King Liao may be seven cents, but the two kings also need to know that it costs seven cents to develop, but once the scale is expanded and daily output increases, the cost will be diluted. Wait for half a year After that, the cost could not be said to be four qian or three qian, but the household department purchased it for 7 qian, which was already beneficial to the two kings."
Zhu Geng looked at Zhu Zhi with some embarrassment. Zhu Zhi lowered his head, considered it, and said, "The minimum is eight cents."
Jie Jin still wanted to argue. At this time, Zhu Yunwen knocked on the table, and everyone looked over.
"In my opinion, medical gauze and alcohol can not only be used for soldiers, but can also be used to equip six ministries and provincial government offices. In other words, this purchase is a group purchase by many ministries of the imperial court. Since it is a group purchase, the quantity must be large. Why not give a discount to the two kings? Some?"
Zhu Zhi grimaced, looked at Jie Jin, and sighed: "Since the emperor has spoken, I will take this step back. If the Ministry of Household Affairs is willing to sign the two hundred thousand box contract, then let's pay seven cents."
Ru Yun, Huang Zicheng and others looked overjoyed. They discussed it and decided that purchasing 200,000 boxes was simply not enough. The Beijing camp needed at least 50,000 wooden boxes on a regular basis, and transporting 150,000 boxes to the frontier was simply not enough.
Besides, these are consumables. If you don’t buy them today, they will be enough for this year.
Once consumed, it needs to be replenished.
Two hundred thousand boxes is far from enough.
"Let's do it this way. The Ministry of War purchases three hundred thousand boxes at seven cents per box. Every ten thousand boxes will be delivered once. After the transaction of three hundred thousand boxes is completed, subsequent purchases will be negotiated separately. Can that be done?"
Ru Ru said seriously.
Zhu Zhi and Zhu Zhi nodded in agreement.
Under the witness of Zhu Yunwen, the two kings signed a purchase contract with the Ministry of War, and the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Cabinet also signed it as a guarantee.
Everyone is very satisfied with this result.
After the two kings and others left, Xie Jin and Zhu Yunwen discussed how to deal with the lands of the two kings. Zhu Yunwen's idea was very simple. Real estate production is taxed according to the One Whip Law.
Xie Jin readily agreed, and then said: "Your Majesty, the whip method has encountered a lot of resistance in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Yan Qiliang reported that the lower class gentry resisted and refused to cooperate. They couldn't even figure out who owned the land, and it was difficult to measure the land. If we continue, please let the court make up its mind."
Zhu Yunwen looked at the setting sun and said: "If no one claims the land, it is an ownerless land. Since it is an ownerless land, then it should be distributed to those who have no land or little land. Tell Yan Qiliang and the Yamen of Jiangsu and Zhejiang Governors, Notify all prefectures and counties to set a time limit. If anyone can't find out or handle the matter clearly, all officials, from the lowest to the chief envoy, will take off their official uniforms and be responsible for clearing the land in the future."
Xie Jin was happy. Under such high pressure, why worry about not being able to get things done?
Those people studied hard for decades and managed to get ahead and get an official job. If they were beaten down, they would be dead. Compared with the little benefits given by the noble squire family, retaining the official position is the most important.
Xie Jin walked with Zhu Yunwen in the palace, and settled many things while talking and laughing.
Zhu Yunwen admired Xie Jin very much.
Xie Jin is a talented prime minister. He is straightforward, insightful, and far-sighted. He is a good prime minister.
No wonder Zhu Di sighed in history, "The world cannot live without me for a day, but I cannot live without Jie Jin for a day."
Zhu Yunwen only used the four words "good businessman", and Xie Jin took all his thoughts into consideration, cooperated step by step, and finally took away the fiefdoms of the two kings and gave them the status of royal merchants, thus preventing the two kings from doing business in the future. Criticized and impeached.
"Your Majesty, how will we arrange the arrival of King Yan in Beijing?"
Xie Jin asked.
Zhu Yunwen thought for a while and said: "The great talent of King Yan is related to the future military system and cannot be neglected. Please go there on my behalf and join the Governor's Office of the Fifth Army to welcome Zhu Di into the city at noon tomorrow."
Xie Jin cupped his hands and said, "I accept the order."
Seeing that it was already dusk, Zhu Yunwen said to Xie Jin, "Get ready to go early."
Xie Jin saluted and left the palace.
Kunning Palace.
When Ma Enhui saw Zhu Yunwen coming, she stepped forward with a smile and was helped up by Zhu Yunwen before she even saluted.
"Is the Queen in a good mood?"
Zhu Yunwen couldn't help but smile when he saw Ma Enhui's crooked eyebrows.
Ma Enhui pointed to the abacus on the side and said: "Your Majesty, I have just calculated that the Ministry of War's purchase amounted to 300,000 boxes, and it is still seven coins per box. If you calculate like this, we can get 210,000 taels of silver." , I never imagined that this little piece of gauze and alcohol could be so profitable."
Zhu Yunwen looked at Ma Enhui helplessly, as if there were never any costs in her account book.
"Queen, for these two hundred and one thousand taels of silver, you need to pay a tax of fourteen thousand taels..."
"What? What does the Ministry of Households charge for food? Two hundred and one hundred thousand, so they charge 14,000 taels of tax money? Isn't it just a tax of 15,000 taels? Our Commercial Law, it is clearly a tax of 30,000 taels of silver, but only 7,000 taels of silver!" Such evil deeds require the emperor to make decisions for his concubines!"
Ma Enhui felt aggrieved. She lost seven thousand taels of silver out of thin air. How could she not feel distressed?
Zhu Yunwen spread his hands and said with insufficient confidence: "Queen, I am the one who did this evil act..."
Ma Enhui's eyes widened and she looked at Zhu Yunwen in disbelief. Zhu Yunwen nodded.
It's over.
Kunning Palace won't let you sleep.
Zhu Yunwen was speechless to the sky. Sure enough, capitalists are not easy to mess with...
Zhu Yunwen, who had nowhere to go, had a meal in the imperial dining room and chatted with the eunuchs and maids in the imperial dining room until midnight. It wasn't until a strong wind blew at night that he walked to Kunning Palace.
When passing by Chengqian Palace, Zhu Yunwen stopped.
When Shuangxi saw Zhu Yunwen looking in the direction of Chengqian Palace, he asked, "Your Majesty, would you like to show off to Chengqian Palace?"
Zhu Yun squinted his eyes and asked, "I remember that Chengqian Palace weaved day and night, never stopping."
Shuangxi nodded with a smile and said, "Back to the emperor, it's like this. Luo Cairen divided the manpower into three groups and worked day and night."
Zhu Yunwen frowned, pointed in the direction of Chengqian Palace, and said, "Listen, there is no other sound except the wind."
Shuangxi listened carefully and found that there was indeed no sound of weaving.
"No, something happened!"
Zhu Yunwen suddenly felt uneasy and rushed to Chengqian Palace.
