"Cao!!!"

"That's sloppy!"

Seeing Xia Yuanji not even turning his head, Zhu Zhanji's face turned dark immediately.

Based on his knowledge of this old product, if he really found out the refined salt, it would be dozens of times harder for him to bargain than before he figured out the method.

"Grandson, this..."

Zhou Chen on the side looked at Zhu Zhanji. He couldn't understand why he said "Cao?" at this time.

By the way, what is this "Cao"?

"Cao is a kind of grass, you can call it Cao Cao grass!"

Seeing Zhou Chen's expression of seeking knowledge, Zhu Zhanji rolled his eyes and explained casually.

Zhou Chen: "..."

I feel like you are lying to me, but why does it seem to be true?

Is there really a "Cao Cao grass"?

What does this have to do with Cao Cao?

Zhou Chen's head was buzzing.

However, he didn't dwell on this issue. He was still very curious about what Zhu Zhanji wrote on the piece of paper given to Xia Yuanji.

Looking at Xia Yuanji's attitude, he knew that this matter couldn't be simple.

When Xia Yuanji went out, he looked at Zhu Zhanji and asked:

"What His Highness Taisun just gave Xia Shangshu is the method of turning poisonous salt into table salt?"

Toxic salt is actually mineral salt. Most of the current table salt is sea salt and some well salt.

The methods used are quite primitive methods of boiling salt. Well salt boils brine, and sea salt boils sea water.

According to the color of salt, it is divided into five types: blue, yellow, white, black and purple.

Among them, green salt is the best salt, yellow salt is the second best, and black salt and purple salt are poisonous.

Mineral salt also belongs to this type of poisonous salt and is generally not eaten by humans. At most, it is fed to livestock in small amounts.

But it is this type of poisonous salt that is the most abundant.

If it is possible to turn poisonous salt into table salt, it will surely greatly increase the Ming Dynasty's salt tax revenue.

You must know that Emperor Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang was able to conquer from the south to the north, and the salt tax played a large part in this.

Even now, the salt tax is the most important fiscal revenue of the Ming Dynasty, accounting for almost half of the entire fiscal revenue of the Ming Dynasty.

Zhou Chen was a little regretful. Just now the emperor's grandson asked him to try this method.

It's just that after Xia Yuanji got this thing, he put it directly into his arms. Even if he wanted to see it, there was nothing he could do. After all, he, a lowly fifth-rank man, would not dare to snatch something from a minister.

Zhu Zhanji was still very fond of Zhou Chen. When he heard him ask, he nodded and said: "Not only the method of turning poisonous salt into table salt, but also the method of turning some bad salt into the best table salt."

After Zhou Chen heard Zhu Zhanji's confirmation, his face showed excitement and he said:

"Your Majesty Taisun, our salt tax in the Ming Dynasty is now eighty-nine percent less than in the Song Dynasty. In fact, most of it has been replaced by private salt. Coupled with layer upon layer of exploitation, only one-tenth of the number can enter the national treasury. However,

This alone has accounted for most of the tax revenue of our Ming Dynasty. If His Highness Taisun has a way to turn poisonous salt into high-quality table salt, as long as this method is not spread to the outside world, he will definitely be able to use this high-quality table salt to suppress all private salt and bad salt.

By then, the Ming Dynasty’s taxes will inevitably increase dramatically!”

"Well, at the same price, how about using high-quality salt to drive out bad salt? This is a good idea!"

Zhu Zhanji nodded when he heard Zhou Chen's analysis. This idea was similar to his, and said: "But this matter is not urgent. We will wait until Xia Shangshu has verified it!"

After Zhu Zhanji finished speaking, he took out another token from his arms, handed it to Zhou Chen and said:

"The East Palace has an imperial palace in Yingtian Mansion. It covers an area of ​​about 3,000 hectares. I plan to build a wool textile factory here. This is the token of the Eastern Palace. Take this token and go directly to the imperial palace.

Zhuang takes it over and then conducts an on-site inspection. It is best to choose a place close to the water source. After you have selected it, let me know!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Chen took the token handed over by Little Nose and said respectfully.

After Zhu Zhanji told him some land requirements for establishing a textile factory, he left Zhou Chen to go about his business.

Huangzhuang is not a small place, almost a county. It is impossible for Zhu Zhanji to go to every place in person.

So I plan to let Zhou Chen go to the stepping points first. This can be regarded as a test for Zhou Chen!

After Zhou Chen left, Zhu Zhanji processed a few more coupons handed over by Sanyang.

Seeing that it was already noon, Zhu Zhanji had eaten the lunch delivered by the imperial kitchen.

Little Nose walked up to Zhu Zhanji and said, "Your Highness, Jinyiwei Commander Zhang Mao wants to see you!"

Zhu Zhanji was drinking tea. Hearing this, he immediately nodded and said, "Let him in!"

Not long after, Zhu Zhanji saw Zhang Mao in Feiyu uniform walking in!

Seeing Zhu Zhanji and Zhang Mao looking respectful, they bowed and said:

"The last general Zhang Mao meets His Highness Taisun!"

"Well, get up!" Zhu Zhanji looked at Zhang Mao, whom he hadn't seen for two days, and said with a smile: "I've also heard about your performance in Jinyiwei these two days. It's very good. The emperor has reported it."

According to the decree, I will be in charge of everything about the Jin Yiwei for the time being. If nothing happens, maybe you can officially become the commander of the Jin Yiwei after the Emperor's Northern Expedition is over!"

Zhang Mao's face lit up with joy when he heard this, and he immediately said: "I will thank my grandson for cultivating me!"

Seeing him like this, Zhu Zhanji smiled and shook his head and said, "It's useless for me to cultivate you. You must have this ability, otherwise even if I let you sit in this position, someone will drag you down."

Go down, after all, the people staring at Jin Yiwei are not just one or two people!"

Zhang Mao nodded thoughtfully after hearing this, and immediately understood what Zhu Zhanji meant.

After all, the power of Jinyiwei is very huge. It is impossible to sit in the position of commander without certain abilities.

Not to mention far away, the current Jin Yiwei is under the control of Zhao Wang Zhu Gaosui.

Anyone with a discerning eye knows that King Zhao Zhu Gaosui is a true party member of the King of Han, and the King of Han has never dealt with the prince.

He has clearly surrendered to his grandson. If he were sitting in the position of commander of the Jinyi Guards and Zhao Wang Zhu Gaosui did nothing, he would not be able to believe it anyway!

Seeing that he understood, Zhu Zhanji said nothing more. After all, some things can only be understood.

Then he asked: "By the way, you must have something to do here this time, right?"

Hearing this, Zhang Mao took out a folder from his arms, handed it to Zhu Zhanji and said: "Great Sun, these are some of the official positions that have been vacant after the last two days of purging Ji Gang's followers and removing them from Jin Yiwei.

List.”

"Among them, there are two commanders, two governors, five people from the fourteenth department, eight people from the thousand households, 24 people from the one hundred households, 49 people from the hundred households, seventy people from the general banner, and 70 people from the small

There are one hundred and fifty people under the banner, please have your grandson take a look."

Zhu Zhanji took the folder and did not look at it immediately. Instead, he asked first: "Have you given it to the emperor?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Mao immediately said: "It has been sent, and the message sent back said that everything is decided by the grandson!"

Zhu Zhanji was stunned for a moment when he heard this, a little confused, and subconsciously asked: "Let me make the decision?"

Zhang Mao nodded: "That is indeed what the decree says, otherwise the general would not dare to send the list to His Highness Taisun!"

"Tsk tsk!"

Zhu Zhanji smacked his lips, feeling that Lao Zhu definitely had no good intentions and allowed himself to insert people into Jinyiwei openly?

If it were his stupid father, he would have believed it. This unscrupulous grandpa would have to deal with it!

After thinking about it, he asked: "Where is my third uncle? He didn't send any news back?"

When Zhang Mao heard Zhu Zhanji talking about Han Wang Zhu Gaosui, the expression on his face suddenly became strange. He paused and then said: "I heard that His Highness King Zhao has been arranged by the emperor to raise horses!"

"Pfft!"

After hearing Zhang Mao's words, Zhu Zhanji couldn't hold it back any longer. The sip of tea he had just taken into his mouth spurted out.

Then he choked and coughed twice, and then asked with a look of disbelief: "You said that the emperor arranged for my second uncle to become Butima Wen?"

Tsk, isn’t the official position of raising horses the title of Bi Ma Wen? Bi Ma Wen avoids horse plague!

The dignified King of Han actually went to be a bute Ma Wen, which means that this matter has not been spread to Yingtian. Otherwise, Zhu Zhanji estimates that the hottest topic in Yingtian Mansion's fireworks tonight will definitely be this.

Don't underestimate the level of gossip in these places in ancient times. It's not without reason that many organizations like to place hidden stakes in these places.

There are definitely many people going in and out of these places every day, including officials from various ministries!

Zhang Mao was not surprised to see Zhu Zhanji's appearance. In fact, he was almost like this when he first received the news.

After all, the emperor actually liked King Zhao's son very much, otherwise he would not have given the Royal Guards to King Zhao to control.

But just like this, King Zhao was punished to be Bi Mawen, which was a bit unexpected.

After all, Bi Mawen is an official, but everyone knows that he is really just a horse breeder. Except for a few military horses, he is not qualified to manage other people!

Zhang Mao nodded and explained: "His Royal Highness King Zhao should have been restrained by Ji Gang's involvement. After all, His Highness King Zhao had been controlling the Jin Yiwei before. If such a big thing happens, His Highness King Zhao cannot be alone!"

Zhu Zhanji was stunned when he heard this, and then he was a little disappointed and said: "If you put it this way, my second uncle is a bit advantageous!"
To be continued...