Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 841: Chapter 11: Truly Worthy of Prince Han (Part 2)

"We cannot wait until after the New Year; it will be New Year before long, and across regions, there is a tradition of using salt for preserving various dishes. Every year at this time, the salt merchants take the opportunity to raise salt prices and make a hefty profit." In the capital, being beneath the Emperor’s feet, those salt merchants dare not increase salt prices before the New Year. Of course, on regular days, they also dare not casually raise salt prices for the capital, or their lives would be forfeit. However, salt prices in other places are a different matter.

Though it is still some time before the New Year, the salt merchants of Qilu cannot wait to increase prices. By the year’s end, it is feared that the salt merchants of Qilu will raise prices even higher.

Prime Minister He believes that the salt merchants over in Qilu cannot be allowed to act rampantly; the salt prices there must be suppressed so the people can have a proper New Year.

"Your Majesty, Prince Han has already produced new salt; surely the Prince has plenty of new salt. Please send people immediately to deliver the new salt to Qilu and bring down the salt prices there." Prime Minister He thought this must be done quickly since Swamp Prefecture is far from Qilu.

Grandmaster Liu agreed with Prime Minister He’s reasoning and promptly echoed, "Your Majesty, you should directly dispatch the water corps to Swamp Prefecture to load new salt, then transport it by sea directly to Qilu."

Prime Minister He found Grandmaster Liu’s proposal excellent and concurred, "Your Majesty, this matter is urgent; please send people to Swamp Prefecture immediately."

"Your Majesty, Prime Minister He and Grandmaster Liu are correct; the salt prices in Qilu must be suppressed as soon as possible."

The Emperor felt that Prime Minister He’s words were quite right and called over to Sun Kui standing at the door: "Go and summon Yan Huarong for me."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Shortly after, Yan Huarong appeared in the Imperial Study.

Yan Huarong was reassigned from Lingnan Camp several years ago, and was later sent to the land of Shu. It was only over the past two years that he was recalled to the capital.

"Your Majesty, you have summoned me."

The Emperor did not beat around the bush; he first told him about Zhao Yao’s new salt production and then instructed him to prepare for a journey to Swamp Prefecture within two days.

Yan Huarong suppressed his inner shock and accepted the order before leaving.

The reason the Emperor sent Yan Huarong to Swamp Prefecture was firstly because he used to be stationed at Lingnan Camp and is familiar with matters there. Secondly, Yan Huarong is skilled in naval warfare, making him suitable to lead a fleet to Swamp Prefecture to load salt and then escort it to Qilu.

After Yan Huarong left, shortly thereafter Song Weikang entered.

The Emperor sent Song Weikang ahead to Qilu to intimidate those salt merchants. Thus, when Yan Huarong arrives with new salt in Qilu, the salt merchants there would not dare to act rashly.

After receiving his orders, Song Weikang went to assemble troops, preparing to depart for Qilu the next day.

When Song Weikang and his men departed, the Minister of Agriculture approached the Emperor with a flattering smile: "Your Majesty, please command Prince Han to send some new salt back to the capital, and then reward us with a tasting of the new salt."

Prime Minister He did not expect the Minister of Agriculture to be so bold, but he admired it.

He immediately supported the Minister of Agriculture: "Your Majesty, I believe the Minister of Agriculture’s proposal is excellent."

Grandmaster Liu said, "I also believe it is very good."

The Emperor knew their motives all too well and pointed at them with a laugh and a curse: "You are simply being greedy."

"Your Majesty, Prince Han wrote in a secret memorial that the taste of the new salt is very good, better than all the salt we currently have. We are truly curious about the taste of the new salt." The Minister of Agriculture smiled flatteringly to the Emperor, "Your Majesty, don’t you want to taste it?"

"I understand, I will have Xiao Shi send some new salt back, and then reward you with a portion."

Hearing this, the Minister of Agriculture and others were overjoyed, expressing gratitude to the Emperor: "Thank you for your great benevolence."

"However, the fact that Xiao Shi made new salt must be kept secret for now; this cannot be disclosed to anyone." The Emperor dropped his previous joviality and became very stern, "Before the new salt can be produced elsewhere, this matter must not be leaked, or others might sabotage its manufacturing."

Prime Minister He and others understood: "Your Majesty, rest assured, we will not leak a word."

The Emperor had great trust in Grandmaster Liu and the other three.

"Your Majesty, Great Zhou has many coastal prefectures, you could send people to produce new salt now."

"You select some trustworthy individuals and let me see them, then I will dispatch them when the time comes." The Emperor asked the Minister of Agriculture, "Do you think setting the price of new salt at four hundred cash per stone is expensive?"

The Minister of Agriculture quickly replied, "Not expensive, not at all expensive; Prince Han has the nation’s interests at heart, caring for the people is why he has priced the new salt so cheaply."

"Do you think pricing the new salt at four hundred cash per stone is cheap?"

"Certainly cheap; although I have yet to see the new salt or taste it, I trust Prince Han, so four hundred cash per stone for new salt is really not expensive." Currently, the salt we consume is priced at a minimum of three hundred cash per stone, but often sells for four or five hundred cash per stone. If the price is unstable, it can sometimes sell for seven to eight hundred per stone. "Your Majesty, I guessed that when Prince Han went to Lingnan, he would definitely produce something new to benefit the people, but I did not expect him to make new salt. Prince Han has truly surprised me." With Prince Han producing new salt, the court will once again have considerable income, and this income will be extremely large.

Thinking of how the national treasury would receive a substantial influx, the Minister of Agriculture felt great joy. Prince Han is truly a living Bodhisattva, he can have a happy New Year this year.

Prime Minister He considered Prince Han’s talents and felt that he could not have produced only new salt upon going to Lingnan.

"Your Majesty, has Prince Han produced other things as well?" Earlier I was focused on the new salt in the secret memorial and forgot to look at the rest of the content.

"Lao Her, you hit the nail on the head, Xiao Shi has indeed made other good things."

Upon hearing this, the Minister of Agriculture quickly asked, "Your Majesty, what other good things has Prince Han made?"

This time the Emperor did not tease the three ministers but proudly stated, "Xiao Shi mentioned he is producing cement and glass, as well as Xuan paper, which is better than the current paper."

These three things were unheard of by Prime Minister He and the others.

"Your Majesty, what are these three things?"

"Xiao Shi said that cement can be used for road construction, building houses, and wall masonry. He also mentioned that cement is very sturdy and impenetrable."

Upon hearing the term "impenetrable," the three ministers were shocked.

"Glass is glaze, but more transparent and beautiful than glaze."

More beautiful than glaze?

How beautiful must that be.

"As for Xuan paper, he says it is the best paper in the world, as thin as a cicada’s wing and spotless white."

Upon hearing this, the Minister of Agriculture was shocked: "Your Majesty, these are truly valuable items!"

Prime Minister He exclaimed, "No wonder it’s Prince Han!"

Grandmaster Liu also called out, "Prince Han truly is astonishingly talented!"