Ming Dynasty: I risked my life to teach the prince, the emperor begged me not to die

Chapter 178: Immoral Things

After hearing what Emperor Hongzhi said, all the elders of the six ministries of the cabinet fell into deep thought.

The Minister of Revenue was the first to step forward. As the chief financial officer of the Ming Dynasty, he was concerned about financial issues.

However, I heard that the imperial court only needs to pay for the cost of the post station site, transportation tools and manpower, and there will be no problem with the Ministry of Revenue.

The Ministry of Revenue is naturally happy to pay such a small amount of initial investment cost in exchange for a smooth development for ten years.

Liu Jian was an experienced man who was good at planning for the country. He asked Emperor Hongzhi, "Your Majesty, the cooperation between Shuntian Express and the imperial court is a loss for the other party from any angle."

“Is it that the imperial court is using coercion and bribery to compete with the people for profits?”

Liu Jian had to make these things clear, otherwise the court would end up bearing such a bad reputation, which would be a dereliction of duty for them as officials.

Emperor Hongzhi said: "This matter will not be coerced or bribed. Only if the other party is willing can this cooperation be achieved."

"I'm just asking you guys to see if you have any questions."

The ministers of the six ministries of the cabinet thought about it for a long time, but they still could not think of any conspiracy involved. Finally, everyone agreed that if this cooperation could be achieved, it would be of great benefit to the court.

Emperor Hongzhi nodded secretly.

After the six ministries of the cabinet left, Mou Bin had been waiting outside for a long time.

"I pay my respects to His Majesty."

Emperor Hongzhi hummed and said, "Have you found out?"

Mou Bin glanced at Emperor Hongzhi, and then said cautiously: "We have found out that the boss behind Shuntian Express is Chen Ce."

To be honest, he was quite shocked when he found out about Chen Ce.

This name seems to be appearing more and more frequently lately.

Emperor Hongzhi was also stunned. Why was it him again?
Shuntian Press was his property, so Emperor Hongzhi did not say anything, after all, he was working with Houzhao.

But what's going on with Shuntian Express?

Judging from Houzhao's tone, he seemed unaware that it was Chen Ce's property.

Could it be that he really knew Hou Zhao’s identity?

Otherwise, why would he seek cooperation with the court through Houzhao?
If it was someone else's property and they wanted to cooperate with the imperial court, Emperor Hongzhi would agree without hesitation.

But Chen Ce had to think twice.

What is this person's purpose? What does he want to do?
Emperor Hongzhi couldn't figure him out. Although this cooperation seemed to be beneficial to the court, why did Emperor Hongzhi feel something was wrong?

You never know when you will fall into his trap again, and when you realize it later it will be too late!

"Understood, let's go down."

Emperor Hongzhi waved his hand, frowned and said to Huai En: "Go to the East Palace and tell Hou Zhao to talk to the other party!"

He wanted to see what Chen Ce was going to do.

This kid's purpose was definitely not that simple, at least that's what Emperor Hongzhi thought.

Needless to say, the so-called solution of the Kaizhong system for the court must be part of his unknown plan. He would never be kind enough to solve any problems for the court.

There must be a purpose.

Emperor Hongzhi wanted to see what Chen Ce was planning to do!
……

"Little brother, have you reached an agreement over there?"

"I have negotiated for you with the court. They agreed!"

In Huaihua Hutong, Zhu Houzhao said excitedly to Chen Ce.

Zhu Houzhao was also very happy that he was able to solve the problem of Kaizhong's collapse.

Chen Ce nodded and said to Zhu Houzhao with a smile: "I have also reached an agreement on this side, and I have brought the people to you." Chen Ce went to call Liu Hong, and then, with Zhu Houzhao's introduction, asked Liu Hong to go to the Ministry of Revenue to sign a cooperation agreement between the court and Shuntian Express.

Zhu Houzhao asked Chen Ce curiously, "Little brother, what's next? How do we solve the problem of excessive salt supply?"

The first two steps of Chen Ce's layout have been completed.

Now is the most critical step and also the final step.

Completely solve the problem of salt permits that have been piling up in the hands of merchants.

He glanced at Zhu Houzhao and said slowly, "Transfer the risk."

Zhu Houzhao was confused. What did this mean? What risk was being transferred?
Chen Ce said: "After the Kaizhong system was replaced by express delivery, the merchants who previously held salt permits completely lost their interest entanglement with the court."

If before, they still had the capital to not go to Kaizhong to threaten the court to exchange for salt permits, now they have lost this capital!

"This will make it even more difficult for them to exchange their salt permits for salt."

Zhu Houzhao nodded, this was easy to understand.

"Keep this news secret for now and don't release it to the public."

"Then the court has to do a crucial thing!"

Zhu Houzhao asked hurriedly: "What's the matter?"

Chen Ce narrowed his eyes and said, "Send the false impression that the imperial salt fields are short of salt!"

At this moment, Chen Ce was like a wise man holding a feather fan and a royal robe, controlling the world with chess. Every move he made was on his chessboard!
Zhu Houzhao thought for a moment and said, "Those powerful people and big businessmen will find out. If we keep it secret, at most we can only keep it from the common people."

What every big businessman and powerful person must be most concerned about is the adjustment of national policies.

They will learn about every policy adjustment of the country in advance through various channels so as to avoid risks.

However, this is exactly the effect Chen Ce wants!
He asked Zhu Houzhao: "If you were a big businessman or a rich man, what would you do?"

Zhu Houzhao said: "I will definitely find a way to get rid of the salt in my hands!"

Chen Ce nodded and said, "Yes, we need to deal with it. How should we deal with it? Who is willing to take over?"

Zhu Houzhao was silent for a while, then suddenly his eyes widened: "Ordinary people! They don't know the policy."

"But can they eat all these salt decoctions? Each of these salt decoctions is very valuable!"

Chen Ce sneered, "At this time, those who claim to be smart will sell the salt permits at a discount, which is better than letting them rot in their hands."

"It doesn't matter if you lose a little. At least you can get some money back. If you keep it in your hands, you may not be able to get any money back in the future."

But the common people don't know that from their perspective, salt permits have always been good things equivalent to gold and silver! If the rich and powerful sell them at a discount, the common people will definitely buy them.

If you don’t buy it, then the discount is not big enough!

This is what Chen Ce called risk transfer. Big merchants and gentry passed the risks to the common people!
Of course, to achieve this goal, an invisible hand is needed to add fuel to the fire.

How to add fuel to the fire?

This is what Chen Ce had just said to Zhu Houzhao, to create the illusion that the court was also short of salt and that production was in short supply.

Naturally, these things can only send signals to the big gentry and big merchants.

They considered themselves to be "smart" and would certainly speed up the sale of the salt permits in their hands at that time.

Because it is just difficult to exchange salt with salt permits, but it is not yet impossible to exchange. Once they smell the signs that they may not be able to exchange salt in the future, will they still hold a piece of waste paper in their hands?

At that time, they would definitely try every possible means to sell their salt permits at a low price.

No, no!
Zhu Houzhao shook his head desperately and said to Chen Ce: "This is not right! This is to let the people of the entire Ming Dynasty share the risk of the salt permits!"

"Little brother, this is too immoral! You can't do it!"

(End of this chapter)