Daming: At the start of the showdown, Lao Zhu was stunned

Chapter 490 Old Farmer Zhu Yuanzhang
Seeing these two younger brothers who were not sons of man crying poor one after another, Zhu Biao couldn't laugh or cry. "Father finally got a little more money, so why are you two thinking about it?"

"You don't have to tell me, I don't want to get involved in this matter, as long as you can talk to dad."

"But don't think about using me, your eldest brother, as a spearman."

After Zhu Biao finished speaking, he left immediately, not giving the two younger brothers a chance to continue messing around.Zhu Su and Zhu Di looked at each other, and there was a sense that something was wrong in their eyes.

After the end, the eldest brother didn't want to join the war!

This shows that it will definitely be even more difficult to get money out of the tiger’s mouth this time!
Eldest brother Zhu Biao is the chosen prince, and his father has always loved him the most.When I was young, if I wanted something to eat and want to play, I might be scolded if I asked Lao Zhu directly, but if I turned around and asked my elder brother, and my elder brother asked my father again, things could basically be done.

But if the elder brother shook his head first, even if he summoned up the courage to beg his father, he would usually end up being scolded bloody.

The two brothers couldn't help feeling anxious, and anxiously went to see Lao Zhu. Sure enough, after talking about the matter, they received Lao Zhu's dragon roar:
"What? You actually want 1000 million taels?"

"Are you two the Prince of Daming, or the King of the Mountain?"

"The two prodigal children, have you snatched us? What kind of expense can you swallow tens of millions of taels of silver at once?"

Zhu Su's whole head was buzzing from his yelling, he shook his head, managed to calm down a bit, and said aggrievedly: "Didn't I tell you before that we want to mass-produce steel, build ships, and build guns."

"There is also the purchase of wool from the grassland tribes, and the construction of the Imperial College. Everything needs money. By the way, the boy also wants to open a newspaper office..."

"Didn't you say before that when the court has money, it will fully support Ming's basic science?"

"Don't worry. These investments are only temporary after all. As long as the basic science improves, in a blink of an eye, this money can continue to generate money, earning gold and silver for you!"

Zhu Su looked proud.When it comes to making money, he is really worthy of all the natives in this world as a time traveler.

Old Zhu was at a loss for words for a while, deep down in his heart, he was actually an old farmer, and he felt that things grown in the field were safe.The money obtained from doing business is all floating wealth, flowers in the mirror, and moons in the water.

After finally having a surplus, it is time to dig a cellar and bury the silver in the ground in case of a rainy day.Taking out any money to make money is not doing business properly.

I don’t know when, but it was all in vain.

However, he also knew that steel, shipbuilding, and gun-making were all urgent matters for the imperial court.After struggling for a long time, he finally said, "It's all about making steel and making cannons, why do you need a newspaper?"

"What's the use of that thing? Don't make it up to fool you and me, right?"

Zhu Susheng laughed angrily at this stingy little old man. "Newspapers can guide public opinion and make the people of the world unite as one and act as an arm to guide them. What use do you think it has?"

"The technology of steel-making and cannon-making is not yet mature, and it may take some time to improve the national power of the Ming Dynasty. But the newspaper office can have immediate results. You have also seen the power of those scholars. Zheng Shili wrote a joint letter, You have almost been labeled a tyrant in the annals of history. Isn't it because the so-called public opinion is all in the hands of the scholars?"

"With the newspaper, the imperial court can guide the public opinion of the people and even scholars by promoting the popularity of the newspaper. It can also explain the policy in the newspaper, so that it can be uploaded and distributed. The common people know the policy of the imperial court, and when they encounter corrupt officials. Still waiting to die? A newspaper is much more useful than a big edict. After all, the people may not understand the big edict, but there are many interesting news in the newspaper. Get up and listen to what people said last time."

"Father, I also think the newspaper is extremely important." Prince Zhu Biao also said. "As for why the literati in the Song Dynasty were able to 'share the world with the emperor', it was because they had mastered the public opinion of the world and used the power of public opinion to coerce the emperor at every turn."

"My Ming Dynasty ruled the world, and it is by no means weaker than the Song Dynasty. This sharp weapon of public opinion and public opinion must not be allowed to be in the hands of others."

"Haier suggested that in addition to supporting Guozijian to establish a newspaper office, it is also necessary to bring newspapers, operas, books, scripts and other things into the supervision of the Ministry of Rites. Guide public opinion and public opinion in a legitimate way, so that the people and the court can advance together. retreat."

"Hmm..." Lao Zhu frowned and thought. "Boss, you are right. It seems that this newspaper office really cannot be streamlined..."

"Steel making, gun making, etc., why don't you wait for a while?" Lao Zhu said with some pain. "Our internal treasury has finally got some spare money. How can we be so extravagant."

"In case there is another natural or man-made disaster next year, how can the imperial court resist it?"

"And we also want to leave a solid family fortune for our descendants!"

"Family business is earned, not saved." Zhu Su said in a persuasive way. "Father, the commercial tax has been successfully implemented now. As the Ming Dynasty becomes more stable and the business gradually prospers, the commercial tax will only increase."

"A group of newly appointed officials from the Taxation Department are sharpening their knives, preparing to completely overpower the Transfer Department. Are you still worried that the court will not be able to make ends meet in the future?"

"Let's put it this way, I assure you. As long as there are no problems with the tax department, Daming's annual income will only increase year by year in the future!"

"Perhaps in a few years, commercial tax will be fully implemented, and you won't have to levy agricultural tax. You can directly use commercial tax to revitalize the entire Ming Dynasty."

No agricultural tax!Old Zhu's heart skipped a beat when he said this.If he could avoid collecting agricultural taxes from farmers, then he, the emperor, would probably stand shoulder to shoulder with the ancient Three Emperors and Five Emperors.Even after killing all the big corrupt officials, no one dared to say that he, Emperor Hongwu, was wrong.

After all, under Hongwu’s rule, agricultural taxes were not collected!For the people who are digging for food in the fields, this is simply a good thing that comes from heaven.If this can be achieved, even if Li Zicheng, Zhang Xianzhong and Nurhachi are all born in advance, they will not be able to make even a small splash!
However, due to his background and knowledge, the old farmer Zhu Yuanzhang instinctively felt that it was unreliable to rely solely on commercial taxes.After all, in his heart, merchants and businesses are inseparable from frivolity and greed.Placing the future of the country on commercial taxation is unreliable no matter how you think about it.

The crops growing in the land and the silver buried in the cellar make people feel at ease!
Old Zhu was hesitating whether to allocate all the funds to Zhu Su to start a business, but unexpectedly, Empress Ma who was listening quietly at the side became impatient.

The domineering empress pulled Zhu Su over and rolled her eyes at Lao Zhu:
"Xiao Wu'er, don't worry about your iron cock."

"He is used to digging and searching, and now that he is the emperor, he has turned back on his own son."

"It's okay, if he doesn't give it to you, mother will give it to you. How much do you need to start those businesses?"

"Mother is here to raise money for you!"

(End of this chapter)