Chapter 478: Money Moves People's Hearts, 2 Silver Dollars
Chapter 478: Money Moves People's Hearts, Tens of Millions of Silver
Lu Yunyi felt a little regretful at this moment, regretting coming to the Governor's Office.
As soon as I arrived here, I was forced to handle military affairs for the entire afternoon, and I was not able to rest until the sun was about to set.
After going through countless paperwork tortures,
Lu Yunyi felt that perhaps going to the Ministry of Works would be a good choice.
There, at least he didn't have to do the work himself, he just had to provide ideas.
In this Governor's Mansion, all I could see were adults.
I am young and I can be seen as a top laborer!
There is a dining hall behind the Central Military Governor's Office, where all the officials and staff eat.
Lu Yunyi also came here with General Lan Yu.
The cafeteria here is similar to the cafeteria that Lu Yunyi remembered.
Square tables were placed in a row, and many officials and clerks sat together in groups of three or five.
The food was good, with about 20 dishes, very rich.
Because it was the afternoon session, some drinks were provided.
Lu Yunyi held the plate and walked around here, thinking that all of them were good.
Slowly, the plate was filled with food, looking spectacular.
However, his plate is not so conspicuous here.
It was because he saw the food plates in front of the two officials were piled up like a mountain.
The two clerks were not very old, and looked to be only eighteen or nineteen years old.
Lu Yunyi had reason to suspect which adult had brought his relatives here.
You little brat are eating me up.
This saying has been circulating for a long time, but if you eat public food, then there will be no such concern.
After the meal, Lu Yunyi naturally sat opposite Lan Yu, with Sun Ke, Marquis of Quanning, next to him.
He was the eldest son of Sun Xingzu, Marquis of Yanshan, and was granted the title of Marquis of Quanning for his meritorious service in the Northern Expedition.
His title of marquis was largely due to his father's contributions.
Although Sun Xingzu was ranked last in the Temple of Meritorious Officials in the second year of Hongwu,
But at the very least, he was still a hero in the founding of the country, and he died in battle during the Northern Expedition in the third year of Hongwu.
Now that his son has made great achievements, it is only natural for him to inherit the title.
In contrast to him is Geng Zhong, the assistant commander of the left army.
After the Northern Expedition, he was promoted to Commander-in-Chief of the Left Army, a first-rank official.
But there is still a long way to go before being granted a title of nobility, it is almost impossible.
Lu Yunyi was thinking while eating, and his speed was a bit slow.
Regardless of whether it was Marquis Quan Ning beside him or the general opposite him, they all ate very quickly. This was a habit developed by military personnel.
Seeing him chewing so slowly, Lan Yu said something for no reason:
"What? Did those quacks in the Imperial Hospital ask you to eat slower?"
Lu Yunyi knew that he had misunderstood, but he did not explain and said bluntly:
“The imperial physician said that I am in very good health, but my Yang energy is too strong and needs to be suppressed.
They also prescribed me a lot of medicines, and they said they were all good herbs.”
"What bullshit! You're frightened into becoming ill even if you're not ill at all." Lan Yu cursed without hiding anything.
Sun Ke, the Marquis of Quanning, nodded repeatedly, looked at Lu Yunyi, and explained to him:
"A few days ago, His Majesty summoned the Imperial Hospital to treat us.
From the beginning to the end, there is no normal person who is intact.
Either there is something wrong here or there needs to be treated.
General, what is your illness?
"The liver fire is too strong." Lan Yu's face darkened a little.
Quan Ning Hou Sun Ke smiled and nodded repeatedly:
"I have a deficiency of kidney yin. I have been practicing hard Qi Kungfu for so many years, but I have hardly ever touched a woman. This is simply nonsense."
Lu Yunyi looked at him in surprise:
"Is there such skill?"
"It's fake. How can there be such skill? I am just holding back my energy to accomplish a merit." Lan Yu muttered and started eating vigorously.
Sun Ke, the Marquis of Quanning, did not take it seriously and said with great interest:
“I got this from the Taoists in Longhu Mountain.
They say that practicing is useful, and I think it is useful, at least it makes me stronger.”
Listening to his chattering, Lan Yu raised his head and said lightly:
"If you don't touch women and exercise every day and eat a lot, it's impossible for you not to be strong."
Sun Ke, Marquis of Quanning, stopped talking and mumbled something inaudible.
Lu Yunyi was stunned, and the more he thought the general's words made sense,
Sex is a knife that scrapes bones, he knows it well!
The three of them fell silent again. After a while, Lan Yu suddenly said:
"I have already given the order to find you some women who are good at bearing children. Try more. You are still young, so there is no need to rush."
Lu Yunyi stopped chewing:
"I, the general, feel very well."
"I've already found the person. I'll keep him in the mansion for now. There are only a few people in Noda's mansion, so it's quite deserted."
Since that's the case, Lu Yunyi didn't refuse:
"Thank you, General. I heard that you spent a large sum of money at Xinchen Trading Company. Is the company safe?"
“Prudence is the reason why Xinchen Commercial Bank can grow so big.
Zhou Song doesn't get involved in the mess of the families. Jinyiwei had approached him before, but he rejected them sternly. "
"So brave?"
Lu Yunyi was a little confused. The Zhou Song he met that day didn't seem like a tough guy.
Lan Yu raised her head slightly and smiled:
"He knows the importance of his business. If the Jinyiwei were involved in his business, no one would be able to hide it.
The consequence was that the business plummeted and years of savings were wiped out.
Because of this incident, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince reprimanded the Royal Guards.
Let them not meddle in the affairs of the people and not harm others."
"I see."
Lu Yunyi then told them about what happened that day when he met Prince Jin and Prince Yan, and the two of them laughed secretly.
Quan Ning Hou Sun Ke smiled:
"Not to mention them, even I couldn't believe it when I heard the news just now.
Now the struggle is so fierce,
It's strange that a soldier like you can become a minister.
But I've seen all the stuff you've been tinkering with, it's great.
Those people in the Ministry of Works are just sitting there doing nothing, they are worse than a soldier like me, they really deserve to be punished."
"It was a fluke."
"Tell us what you have come up with today.
The Ministry of Industry made such a big fuss, but when we asked that kid Guo Zhen, he refused to say anything. "
Quanning Marquis Sun Ke came closer and whispered.
In an instant, Lu Yunyi felt that the adults at the surrounding tables all pricked up their ears, and Lan Yu sitting opposite him also stopped eating.
“It’s a tricycle.”
Lu Yunyi did not hide it, with the abilities of these people.
They will know once the Ministry of Works lifts the ban.
"What is that?" Sun Ke continued to ask.
"It has three wheels, can carry goods, and can be ridden by adults and children.
Transporting grain on the official roads can replace war horses, and it is much faster."
Lan Yu exerted force with her palm suddenly, and the chopsticks in her hand made a squeaking sound.
This was even more true for Quanning Marquis Sun Ke, who just stood there with his mouth wide open.
He did not think about the changes this item would bring, but was worried about the allocation of food and fodder he had been handling:
"Then this grain transportation plan was done in vain?"
Lu Yunyi was stunned. Hey? He just thought of this question.
The war will start early next year, and the food and fodder will be transported to various supply stations, which will start next month.
Sun Ke suddenly widened his eyes and stared at Lu Yunyi:
"You kid, I haven't slept for the past two days.
The reason is that you changed the battle plan. It’s fine if you just changed the amount of food and fodder, but now you have to change the mobilization of horses and carriages too?”
"Uh"
Lu Yunyi hesitated for a while. As a soldier, he also hated this matter.
"Don't worry, Marquis Quanning, this thing is still in the research and development stage.
It’s easy to get on the road, but considering the impact, it may not be used so quickly.”
After he reminded him, Sun Ke realized the impact of this thing.
"Fuck, aren't Li Jinglong's good days coming to an end?"
He said something for no reason, and his expression was extremely strange. Lan Yu's expression also became strange.
The sound of carriages and horses is naturally mysterious in the eyes of ordinary people.
But for these big shots, it is not a secret, especially this kind of business that makes a lot of money every day.
Lu Yunyi didn't expect him to say that. He hesitated for a moment and then spoke:
"The Ministry of Industry means that although this device is being developed, it must first be used by the military.
There is still a lot of room for research, and we have to wait until the cost and technology are fully mature before investing in the public.
Of course, you have to take it slow, otherwise there will be trouble."
Lan Yu looked solemn and nodded:
"Qin Kui is quite sensible. If we rashly send things to the common people, they will be taken advantage of by those with ulterior motives. It is better to wait until the fight is over."
A chill filled the air, and Lu Yunyi's pupils shrank slightly, and he understood what he meant.
Heavy objects like tricycles could not be introduced into the private sector until the 23rd year of Hongwu.
By then, the imperial court will have cleared away all obstacles, and no one will use this as an excuse to cause trouble!
Quan Ning Hou Sun Ke's face also became solemn, and he nodded slightly:
"Perhaps, we should wait for the sweet potato,
As long as the people have hope, they will not be taken advantage of and rebel.”
Lu Yunyi suddenly felt that he had underestimated these soldiers.
Not only were they good at fighting, they also had a clear understanding of the situation at court.
"Have you reached a conclusion on how to build the Ministry of Industry's workshop?"
Quanning Marquis Sun Ke looked at Lu Yunyi with a hint of curiosity in his eyes.
Lu Yunyi thought for a moment and replied:
"It should be built by the imperial court itself, and handed over to merchants. Lord Qin from the Ministry of Works is worried."
Sun Ke nodded, a trace of pity flashed in his eyes:
"Someone in my family has set his sights on this business and came to ask me about it. He also took out an account book. Whether it's making or selling, it's making a fortune every day."
At this time, Lan Yu finished the last bite of rice on the plate.
He took the handkerchief beside him, wiped his mouth, and said lightly:
"This material will be used by the army first, and the Ministry of Industry will not set up a workshop.
The workshops of the Governor's Office should supervise the production, and merchants cannot be allowed to control it."
Sun Ke nodded:
“That’s true, but there are so many people in the court who are watching and hoping to get a piece of the pie.
If the imperial court built it itself, wouldn't it be too stressful?
Even the military will not become monolithic.”
Lan Yu's face remained the same, and his voice remained unchanged:
"There will always be pressure. Duke Ying will be back in a few days. Together, we can handle it."
The two of them were talking to each other.
Lu Yunyi lowered his head and ate silently, never interrupting.
He knows better than anyone how big a business bicycles and tricycles are.
The population of the Ming Dynasty is in the billions. Even if one can only do business with 10% of them, that would amount to tens of millions of taels of silver.
Who wouldn’t be tempted by so much money?
The court was not a monolithic entity, and the same was true for the military.
Some dukes and marquises have been important figures for decades and have rich family assets.
But there are still some new rich who have little money and want to save some silver.
Thinking of this, Lu Yunyi sighed quietly.
"What's wrong?" Sun Ke noticed his action, and Lan Yu also looked over at him.
Lu Yunyi shook his head and smiled bitterly: "Wine makes people popular, and money makes people's hearts move."
"Isn't this nonsense? You are not interested in money?" Quanning Marquis Sun Ke curled his lips.
Lan Yu suddenly laughed, looked at Lu Yunyi meaningfully, and said in a strange tone:
"Maybe. I'm really not interested."
Lu Yunyi smiled helplessly: "I don't even have any offspring, there are only three or four people in my family, what's the use of money?"
After hearing this, the smiles on their faces faded, revealing a bit of sadness.
Having no children is indeed a big deal.
Lu Yunyi smiled and changed the subject:
"When things get to the extreme, the money comes naturally, and this money is nothing."
"You kid, you're just bragging!"
A strong voice came from next door. Lu Yunyi looked over and found that it was the commander-in-chief of the Left Army, Geng Zhong.
He came over with a plate and sat next to Lan Yu:
“Do you know how big a business this is?
"It's tens of millions of taels! The court only has a surplus of a few million taels a year. If the goods sell well, they can support the court for several years!"
“You’re good at fighting, and you made the stuff.
But don't brag. Tens of millions of taels of silver can be easily deducted from a few fingers, which is hundreds of thousands of taels. Aren't you tempted?"
Geng Zhong had a loud voice to begin with, and he became more and more excited as he spoke.
He was filled with regret for the money slipping away, which attracted the attention of others.
"Keep your voice down!" Lan Yu scolded.
Geng Zhong then lowered his head and used his food to silence his mouth.
Until this moment, Lu Yunyi finally had time to speak and sighed:
"General, my Lords, this amount of money is really nothing.
If you want to earn money, there are better ways to earn more money more easily.”
Ok?
shhhhh--
Countless eyes were cast over me,
The adults who had been pretending not to hear all looked over and some could no longer sit still.
If someone else said this, they would definitely think it was nonsense.
But Lu Yunyi did too many shocking things.
He said he could give it a listen.
“Tell me, tell me!!”
Geng Zhong didn't even have time to eat, so he leaned over.
He is a member of the founding generation and sees things very clearly.
I guess I will never become a lord in this lifetime.
When I was alive, it was fine, and my family was prosperous.
If they die, they will be reduced to their original form in an instant, and they will be no match for the noble families.
So he thought of saving more money, at least to keep his family from starving.
After Geng Zhong spoke, several deputy governors beside him could no longer sit still and came over.
For a moment, the cafeteria was filled with the clattering of benches.
Seeing more and more people gathering around, a gleam of light flashed in Lu Yunyi's eyes.
He also didn't expect that there were so many people in the Governor's Office who were so straightforward about money!
"Go away, why are you in such a hurry?"
Lan Yu saw a large group of men standing by the table in front of him. He waved his hand impatiently.
Only then did the group of people not push forward.
Lan Yu stood up and looked at Lu Yunyi, "Follow me."
Lu Yunyi looked at the food in his hand blankly, and after thinking it over again and again, he stood up.
"You guys too."
Lan Yu's voice came, and the dead silent cafeteria finally regained its hustle and bustle.
One after another, they followed over and asked questions like how to do business.
The many officials present looked at them with envy, wondering when they could participate in such a big event and make some money.
Soon, the group arrived at the largest conference room in the Central Military Governor's Office.
There is a huge sand table in the center, surrounded by square tables, which should be the place where battle plans are made.
Arriving here, Lu Yunyi looked around.
There are many people I don't know, but I can call their names.
Most of them were deputy governors, an official of the second rank, and each of them was a big shot.
At this moment, they were all staring at Lu Yunyi with wide eyes and full of passion. Those who didn’t know would think he was some peerless beauty.
Lan Yu looked at Lu Yunyi and raised his chin towards him:
"Tell me about it."
"General, is this okay?" Lu Yunyi hesitated.
"Just say what you're told to say. Why are you wasting time? Hurry up, our family is running out of money."
The commander-in-chief of the left army, Geng Zhong, looked very anxious and kept scratching his head.
Many people echoed:
"Yes, yes. Tell me now."
"Cough cough."
Lu Yunyi cleared his throat and met the eager eyes:
"While we are on break, let me tell you about it. Please enjoy yourselves."
A group of elderly officials from the Governor's Office nodded their heads repeatedly, very honestly.
Taking a deep breath, Lu Yunyi spoke in a deep voice:
"Before I talk about the specific method, I would like to tell the adults present here a truth."
"what?"
“Where the people are, there the money is!”
(End of this chapter)