bullyxtreme Chapter 516 You old Deng are getting less and less bound by boundaries!
Chapter 516 You old Deng are getting less and less bound by boundaries!
The famous philanthropist Liu has proven through his actions that the comprador's principle is that buying is worse than manufacturing.
After all, the cost of research and development is too high and the risks are too great.
As for sacrificing one's conscience and the interests of the nation and its people?
It doesn't matter.
Compradors never care about such superficial things.
They don't even care about long-term benefits; they focus more on the present.
This was true of Liu, the comprador, and also of the merchants from the vassal states of the Ming Dynasty.
The only difference is that Liu, the comprador, was kneeling down to lick the boots of the US, while the paradise on earth in the hearts of these merchants from vassal states was the Ming Dynasty.
After a moment's thought, Yang Shaofeng smiled and said, "Father-in-law, I've heard of two theories. Would you be interested in hearing them?"
Emperor Zhu responded with an "Oh," and then asked, "What theory?"
Yang Shaofeng said, "One is that it's better to buy than to build, and better to rent than to buy."
“Take these merchants from vassal states who are buying toilets as an example—instead of spending money to study how to fire porcelain, it is more economical to come directly to the Ming Dynasty to buy ready-made porcelain.”
Emperor Zhu frowned slightly, then grunted and said, "What about the other theory?"
Yang Shaofeng said, "Another theory is that no matter how much money is spent researching methods for firing porcelain, the money still ends up in the pot. It goes from one pocket to another without being lost. But if you spend money to buy ready-made items, no matter how cheap they are, the money goes into someone else's pocket."
The Emperor Zhu's already slightly furrowed brows furrowed even more deeply.
"The second theory is correct."
"But very few people are willing to choose the second theory."
"Moreover, not everyone has the courage and confidence to choose the second theory."
After taking a few steps forward, Emperor Zhu suddenly stopped, let out a long sigh, and said, "I understand what you mean."
The Emperor Zhu smiled slightly and said, "These merchants from vassal states do have some use."
Seeing the merchants making money off the common people disgusted Emperor Zhu, who even wished he could skin all the merchants alive to vent his anger.
However, Emperor Zhu was quite pleased to use the merchants of the vassal states to make money for the Ming Dynasty's national treasury.
Make money, not shabby.
Yang Shaofeng casually remarked, "It's not just merchants from vassal states that are useful; our Ming Dynasty merchants are even more useful."
Emperor Zhu was slightly taken aback and asked, "What is it for?"
Yang Shaofeng said, "I have heard that when Tang Sanzang was on his pilgrimage, he passed through a country called Gaochang. By the time he finished his pilgrimage, Gaochang had become like the Tang Dynasty."
"I have also heard that during the Han Dynasty, if a Han envoy died in a vassal state, the Han army would immediately punish the guilty and bring peace to the people."
"I'm thinking, if Tang Sanzang can go on his pilgrimage to obtain the scriptures, these merchants can also go out and do business."
"If the Han envoy could sleep with the Queen Mother of Annam, then the Ming merchants might as well go out and have some fun too."
"..."
Yang Shaofeng kept talking, but he didn't notice that Emperor Zhu's face was getting darker and darker.
Finally, unable to bear it any longer, Emperor Zhu slapped Yang Shaofeng on the back of the head: "You bastard! How dare you bring these things up?"
Damn it!
You old Deng, you're becoming less and less bound by boundaries, aren't you?
You just kicked my butt, and now you're slapping the back of my head. Do you think I'm as easy to bully as Zhu Biao?
The thought of Zhu Biao made Yang Shaofeng even more annoyed.
While you're enjoying yourself in Jinling, I, your brother-in-law, am taking a beating for you in Dengzhou.
It is simply a rebellion against Tiangang!
After a moment's thought, Yang Shaofeng whispered to Emperor Zhu, "Father-in-law, I've heard that His Highness the Crown Prince intends to have all the prefectures and counties of the Ming Dynasty begin planting trees and building roads?"
Emperor Zhu glanced at Yang Shaofeng and said sarcastically, "Wasn't this something you two had agreed on? What are you trying to do now?"
Yang Shaofeng showed no embarrassment at being exposed on the spot. Instead, he smiled and said, "I didn't mean anything by it. I just thought that since His Highness the Crown Prince wants all the prefectures and counties to start planting trees and building roads, these merchants should make good use of it."
Upon hearing Yang Shaofeng's words, Emperor Zhu couldn't help but roll his eyes.
We know this bastard is trying to swindle Biao'er again.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have inexplicably been associated with the title "Your Highness the Crown Prince."
But what we really want to know is how this scoundrel plans to swindle those merchants.
Emperor Zhu snorted and asked, "Tell me, how do you plan to swindle Biao'er this time? Or rather, how do you plan to swindle those merchants this time?"
Yang Shaofeng immediately cried out in protest: "I am innocent! Who in the martial world doesn't know that I have always been kind to others? How could I have ever wronged His Highness the Crown Prince?"
Seeing that Emperor Zhu only sneered and curled his lips, Yang Shaofeng was too lazy to pretend anymore and directly changed his expression: "When we were discussing road construction and tree planting with His Highness the Crown Prince, His Highness even thought about having other prefectures and counties replicate the workshops in Ningyang County."
Emperor Zhu nodded and said, "And then?"
Yang Shaofeng said, "If we want to do what Ningyang County did, and have all these workshops managed by the government, I'm afraid it would give officials the opportunity to make money off of themselves."
"Why not have the officials of each prefecture and county organize local merchants to set up workshops?"
"As long as the number of workshops increases and the output can exceed the demand for road repair and tree planting, competition will arise among merchants."
"In the end, the government and the people will be the ones who benefit."
"Of course, this matter is a bit complicated, and it would be best if the Duke of Han and the Earl of Chengyi could help His Highness the Crown Prince figure it out."
"What does my father-in-law think?"
Emperor Zhu nodded unconsciously.
It's a good thing to let the merchants fight each other.
This will not only reduce the cost of road construction and tree planting, but also give people another way to earn money in the workshops.
It's like killing two birds with one stone.
In addition, given the red line for arable land that this scoundrel proposed earlier, the workshops will not affect the food security of the Ming Dynasty.
But then Emperor Zhu felt something was amiss.
Biao'er, Li Shanchang, and Liu Bowen were troubled by the affairs of the workshops in various prefectures and counties.
Even we emperors can't help but have our worries.
Officials from various provincial administration commissions, prefectures, states, and counties also had to get busy.
Even merchants from different prefectures and counties would start fighting each other.
Only this scoundrel is idle and doing nothing in Dengzhou Prefecture?
Emperor Zhu snorted coldly and suddenly turned to look at Yang Shaofeng.
"Didn't Fifth Brother say he needed some strong liquor?"
"I'll leave this matter to you. I'm sure you know what to do."
"As long as it doesn't affect the people, if you can produce enough strong liquor, you can sell it to others."
"Just like we said before, as long as you don't harm the people, you can do whatever you want with Ningyang County and Dengzhou Prefecture."
Seeing the troubled and resistant expression on Yang Shaofeng's face, Emperor Zhu waved his hand and laughed, "It's settled then!"
Yang Shaofeng reluctantly cupped his hands in greeting, but inwardly he was overjoyed.
This old man still wants to arrange a job for me?
What a pity, you only arranged something lonely!