I am the prince of the Ming Dynasty, I don't give up

Chapter 191 Reign: Xianfeng?
"Good! What a fair and upright way!" Zhu Houzhao praised excitedly, "Let's do it this way. In the past, court officials always used big principles to pressure me. I want to see who dares to use big principles to pressure me on the issue of lowering the price of salt."

Zhu Houzhao also figured it out and no longer worried about making money from the salt industry. Compared with the money earned from the salt industry, the political benefits he would gain were undoubtedly the greatest. If this matter was accomplished, it would undoubtedly greatly strengthen his authority and win the hearts of the people of the world.

Moreover, the beneficiaries also include the military households of the Ming Dynasty, which will undoubtedly help him seize the military power of the Ming Dynasty.

Moreover, the salt tax collected in a year will be much higher than it is now, which is already very satisfactory.

Besides, the salt industry is only a small part of the Ming Royal Group's business, and there are other industries that can make money.

"Good brother! Good brother! You have only been in Beijing for a short time, but you have solved my urgent problem and helped me achieve such a great political achievement. You have made a great contribution! I don’t know how to thank you." Zhu Houzhao hugged Zhu Houxuan’s shoulders affectionately.

"How can you say that I gave my brother a gift of political achievements?" Zhu Houxuan pretended to be surprised and said, "It was my brother who helped me take over the Changlu Salt Field. The money to build the salt field was borrowed from the kings of the world by my brother using his own name and reputation. I just did some hard work in it, so I dare not take credit for it."

"Hahahaha!" Zhu Houzhao laughed even louder after hearing this.

"You," Zhu Houzhao pointed at Zhu Houxuan and said seriously, "I understand your painstaking efforts and I will remember your love in my heart."

"Brother, do you think this is the end?" Zhu Houxuan said with a smile.

"Isn't this over yet?" Zhu Houzhao asked in disbelief.

"Of course it's not over yet. I just talked about the first and second steps." Zhu Houxuan said calmly.

"Tell me quickly!" Zhu Houzhao quickly asked Zhu Houxun to sit down, and then diligently filled his teacup with water.

Zhu Houxuan found a small box from the desk, handed it to Zhu Houzhao, and said, "Try this."

Zhu Houzhao opened the box and saw that it was filled with snow-white, tiny grains of salt. Although he didn't understand what Zhu Houxuan meant, he still reached out, dipped a little and put it in his mouth.

"This salt doesn't taste bitter at all, and it's much saltier than the coarse salt just now. This is the salt for people to eat." Zhu Houzhao said after tasting it.

He suddenly understood Zhu Houxuan's intention, "Could this also be the salt produced in our salt field?"

"Yes, this is called refined salt, also known as refined salt, which is salt extracted from coarse salt," Zhu Houxuan replied.

Although this salt is called refined salt, it is far from the standard of edible salt in later generations, but it is good enough in this era.

"How much does this salt cost?" Zhu Houzhao has begun to grasp the crux of the problem.

"Making this kind of salt now requires a lot of manpower, so the cost is relatively high, about 5 coins per kilogram. However, we will continue to improve the process of making refined salt and further reduce the cost price of refined salt."

"Five cents." Zhu Houzhao thought quickly, and looked at Zhu Houxuan fiercely, "Do you want to use refined salt instead of coarse salt?"

Zhu Houzhao has completely followed Zhu Houxun's thinking. The cost of 5 wen per jin, even if it is shipped at 10 wen per jin, is much lower than the previous price of crude salt, and the people of Ming Dynasty can fully afford it. "That's right! My brother said that crude salt is not the salt that people should eat. The price of refined salt is now several times that of crude salt. Only the rich can afford it. When the Royal Group controls more and more salt fields, we will make this refined salt fly into the homes of ordinary people. This is our third step plan in the salt industry," Zhu Houxun said with a sharp look.

"Great!" Zhu Houzhao clapped his hands and sighed. This was equivalent to making two political achievements in the salt industry. First, he lowered the price of salt so that people all over the world could afford salt. Then he spread and improved the salt-making technology so that ordinary people could also afford the refined salt that was originally only affordable by wealthy families. Without the bitter taste, it would undoubtedly greatly improve the happiness of the people of the Ming Dynasty.

This is undoubtedly an unprecedented event, and it will become a reality under the rule of Emperor Zhengde.

Zhu Houzhao sighed: "If this is accomplished, it will definitely be recorded in history books, and the people of the world will also build a shrine for us. If we continue like this, why do I suddenly feel like we are in a prosperous era?"

Although Zhu Houzhao has always been pursuing achievements in military affairs, it does not mean that he does not want achievements in civil affairs. He is not the kind of emperor who would give up.

Zhu Houxuan smiled but said nothing.

When Zhu Houzhao saw his expression, he immediately sat up straight and asked in surprise, "You haven't finished your plan yet, have you?"

"Almost there! There is only one last step left." Zhu Houxuan shrugged.

"Then hurry up and tell me!"

"After the Royal Group takes control of the salt fields across the country, the salt produced will soon be able to meet the needs of the people of the Ming Dynasty. However, the people in the vassal states of our Ming Dynasty are still eating expensive and low-quality salt. As the emperor of the Ming Dynasty, you will definitely not bear to see the people in the vassal states suffer like this. You will definitely sell the Ming Dynasty's high-quality and low-priced salt to the vassal states, so that all the vassal states of the Ming Dynasty can enjoy your kindness."

"This is my fourth and final plan. Now I have finished talking about all my plans." Zhu Houxuan spread his hands and said.

In fact, salt has become an industrial product at this point. Since it is an industrial product that can be produced cheaply, it can be dumped on vassal states.

In any case, the salt-making technology of the vassal states cannot compare with that of the Ming Dynasty. The Ming Dynasty's salt industry also has economies of scale, which can further reduce costs.

After hearing the entire plan, Zhu Houzhao felt dazed. To be honest, this was the most grand, comprehensive and thorough plan he had ever heard of.

This plan can be said to have both appearance and substance. It takes into account both economic and political interests and makes full use of everything that can be used in the salt industry.

In particular, the fourth step of exporting salt was a stroke of genius. This not only brought economic benefits, but also increased the Ming Dynasty's political influence in various vassal states, and also made him particularly proud.

At this time, the Ming Dynasty had already established a tributary system throughout Asia and had a large number of vassal states. A large part of the reason why the Ming Dynasty had so many vassal states was for the sake of face. Having more vassal states could demonstrate that the Ming Dynasty was the Celestial Empire.

Zhu Houxuan's thoughts diverged with the four-step plan. The more he thought about it, the more excited he became. Then, as if he had thought of something, he slammed the table and said, "I suddenly remembered something. When I ascended the throne, the cabinet helped me draft several reign titles for me to choose from. At that time, I casually chose Zhengde. If I had known that I would have a capable brother like you who could make such great achievements in the salt industry, I would have chosen another reign title."

"What year number?" Zhu Houxuan asked curiously. It was the first time he heard of this.

"Xianfeng!"

(End of this chapter)