Steel Dynasty - Chapter 496

[Chapter 496: Fanatic Businessman]

After a night of tenderness, Xiao Ming slept lazily until noon the next day.

The pain of running around for a month made him quite tired, and he and Fei Yue’er were separated for a month. They were playing and playing in bed and talking about each other.

Moreover, for Xiao Ming, the report by Pang Yukun and others was one thing, but Fei Yueer’s personal account was another matter.

“Now the Confucian scholars have really become what His Highness calls a street rat. Everyone shouts that they should be beaten.” Fei Yue’er told Xiao Ming about the changes after the last time the Confucian scholars made trouble, “But my father sent a letter from Chang’an, saying that the DPRK is against This incident was quite controversial, and the officials headed by Cui Hao even scolded His Highness in the court for violating Confucian classics and disrespecting Confucianism, and even asked the Emperor to remove His Highness from the title of Prince Erzhu. “

“Huh, these young people.”

Xiao Ming had a look of disdain on his face. It was precisely because of these pickpocketing people in the government who could only criticize their colleagues that the government was becoming increasingly desolate.

“What else did Fei Zhongshu say?” Xiao Ming asked. Generally, Feiji would not write to him unless there was something important.

“Dad also said that the emperor suddenly fainted and fell to the ground a few days ago. When he woke up, his body was not as good as before, and he was absent from the morning court every now and then.” Speaking of this, Fei Yue’er’s expression became serious.

“If I’m not wrong, my father must be in his fifties today.” Xiao Ming said thoughtfully.

Fei Yue’er nodded, “Daddy said so in the letter.”

Xiao Ming’s eyes narrowed. Fiji’s mention of this matter in the letter must have deep meaning. Perhaps in his opinion, Xiao Wenxuan really didn’t have much chance this time. The new year is coming.

For Xiao Ming, it is no longer easy for Xiao Wenxuan to live to this age. After all, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was only sixty-nine years old, and the average life span of emperors in contemporary history was only about thirty-nine years old.

“Well, I understand.”

Xiao Ming frowned. Now Xiao Wenxuan is the support point of balance in the Chongqing Kingdom. He does not want Xiao Wenxuan to fall so soon. After all, he does not want to lose a stable development environment.

But if something really happens, he can only use troops to cover it up. Fiji’s mention of this matter now is nothing more than a reminder to him and let him be prepared.

After all, the ministers knew that Xiao Wenxuan was ill, but not many people might know about Xiao Wenxuan’s passing, otherwise it would inevitably cause shock to the government and the public.

After chatting for a while, Xiao Ming and Fei Yueer washed and dressed and had a simple meal before he went to the workshop area.

Regarding the white sugar matter, Xiao Ming gave the order when he returned to Qingzhou. This time, the sugar cane he trafficked back from Ryukyu was also transported to Qingzhou when he came back. At the same time, there were also people from the white sugar workshop on Ryukyu Island. Craftsman.

These craftsmen will be responsible for helping Xiao Ming establish a white sugar workshop in Qingzhou and train a group of sugar craftsmen. He also sent someone to inform Lu Tong about the sulfurous acid used to purify white sugar when he returned.

“Your Highness, our subordinates have brought sulfurous acid.” Lu Tong in the workshop area was already waiting for Xiao Ming. He was holding a glass bottle in his hand, which contained sulfurous acid solution.

The manufacturing process of sulfurous acid is actually very simple. However, calcining sulfur at high temperature to obtain sulfur dioxide and passing it into water to obtain sulfurous acid is not a problem for Lu Tong and others. After all, they have been able to prepare sulfuric acid.

“From now on, your chemical workshop will be responsible for providing sulfurous acid solution to the white sugar workshop. I hope to see clean white sugar in the next two days.” Xiao Ming said.

The significance of white sugar to him is not only for eating, but more importantly, it will provide Qingzhou with an industrial classification, allowing him to take a further step towards the entire industrial system.

Lu Tong had already learned about Xiao Ming’s purpose of asking for sulfurous acid. At this time, he nodded. He was also very interested in the white sugar. In his opinion, this was also a wonderful chemical reaction.

At this time, the craftsmen from Ryukyu had already produced the equipment needed for the white sugar workshop with the cooperation of the craftsmen from the equipment department, and Chen Wenlong selected one of the vacant houses in the workshop area and gave it to these craftsmen.

After inspecting the preparatory work of the white sugar workshop, Xiao Ming made some calculations in his mind. In his opinion, formal production would take at least seven days.

While he was instructing the craftsmen, suddenly a noisy voice came. Xiao Ming looked at the source of the voice and saw Li Kaiyuan almost being pushed towards him by the merchants. The merchants walking in the front were Cao Zhengyang and Ding Wu. , Dai Zixing and three others.

When he got closer, Li Kaiyuan looked helpless and said: “Your Highness, I have no choice but to do it. I originally thought of coming to see Your Highness in two days. After all, Your Highness needs time to recuperate after traveling long distances, but the merchants of the Chamber of Commerce are now one after another. They are all like ants on a hot pot. I can’t stop it.”

“What’s going on? You are all so excited.” Xiao Ming’s eyes swept over the businessman’s face.

Each of these businessmen looked excited, with their mouths open and teeth exposed, as if they had encountered a great event.

Cao Zhengyang has now become the representative of the merchants. He said to Xiao Ming: “Your Highness, it is said that the Qingzhou Navy went south to regain the Ryukyus and reached an agreement with the Dutch. From now on, this maritime trade route belongs to your Highness.”

In Cao Zhengyang While speaking, the other businessmen were all waiting expectantly for Xiao Ming to confirm the news.

“As expected of the Cao family, you are very well informed. Yes, I have recovered Ryukyu and stationed troops in Relanja City. From now on, all coastal routes are under my control.”

As soon as Xiao Ming finished speaking, There was a sudden silence among the merchants.

Then huge cheers suddenly broke out.

“Your Highness has great talent and great strategy, and his name will go down

in history after all.” “This is a great achievement that will benefit the future.”

“You are so wise, Your Highness.”

“…”

The merchants were all excited. They had long been coveted for maritime trade, and now they have to How can I not be excited knowing that the power of maritime trade is in Xiao Ming’s hands.

The most excited person among them is Cao Zhengyang. Since the relationship between the King of Chu and the Dutch collapsed, the Cao family’s maritime trade has plummeted. Now he finally found an opportunity to revitalize the Cao family.

“Your Highness, so we can sell goods by sea from now on?” Cao Zhengyang said expectantly.

“Of course not.” Xiao Ming’s words were like pouring cold water on the heads of the merchants, but his next words gave the merchants hope, “Only merchants under the unified jurisdiction of the Chamber of Commerce can conduct maritime trade, and any Merchant ships engaged in maritime trade must pay taxes. Anyone who dares to evade taxes in this king’s fiefdom will lose the right to maritime trade forever. “

Your Highness, paying taxes is a matter of course, and we will definitely not cheat,” Ding Wu promised. road.

“Don’t worry, Your Highness, we will never dare.”

“…”

The merchants said something to each other, patting their chests and making promises.

(End of chapter)