NOVGO.NET Chapter 859 - 20: Your Highness Prince Han, Just How Many Skills Are You Hiding?
Chapter 859: Chapter 20: Your Highness Prince Han, Just How Many Skills Are You Hiding?
Glass and mirrors are too popular, the business is very booming. No, the word "booming" is not enough to describe it; "unprecedented" is more suitable. Fortunately, the Liang family is already an Imperial Merchant, backed by the court; otherwise, the glass and mirror business of the Liang family would definitely not be secure.
The noble families have seen how prosperous the glass and mirror business is and naturally want a share. They initially didn’t plan to cooperate with the Liang family, wanting to run the glass and mirror business themselves, but their people couldn’t produce glass. They sought out the best porcelain masters in Great Zhou, but no matter how the porcelain masters experimented, they just couldn’t produce glass.
Mercury mirror substitutes, however, are easy to make. Both the noble families and the merchants have developed them. Now, various styles of mercury mirror substitutes are appearing among the populace. What started as a rare item has become something found in every household, just like copper mirrors used to be.
Because mercury mirror substitutes became common items, their price dropped very quickly. Now, they are priced the same as copper mirrors. However, the price of glass has never dropped.
As for the glass formula, the noble families and merchants have tried every means to obtain it, but it’s a secret shared between Prince Han and the Liang family, and it cannot be easily acquired. Moreover, currently all glass is made in Swamp Prefecture; it is not produced elsewhere.
Although glass is very popular and many people have reserved it, Zhao Yao does not plan to produce glass on a large scale. If glass becomes as common as porcelain, it will become cheap. Therefore, Zhao Yao established a "hunger marketing" strategy.
The Emperor and the Minister of Revenue, who is the future Minister of Revenue, are displeased with Zhao Yao not submitting the glass formula to the court.
After the court session ended, the Minister of Revenue went to see the Emperor.
"Your Majesty, could you please talk to Prince Han again, allow the court to engage in the glass business?" If the court were to engage in the glass business, a lot of money would definitely flow into the national treasury.
The Emperor glared at the Minister of Revenue, replying irritably: "Do you think I haven’t talked to him?" He’s not a fool; he knows how profitable glass is.
"Why is Prince Han so stingy this time around?" The Minister of Revenue was puzzled why Prince Han, who is usually generous, is so miserly about glass this time. Previously, Prince Han handed over new tea, new salt, cement, and green bricks, as well as red bricks to the court. "Your Majesty, did you somehow offend Prince Han?"
Seeing the Minister of Revenue’s doubtful expression, the Emperor was too annoyed to respond.
Looking at the Emperor’s silent demeanor, the Minister of Revenue assumed he guessed right, and earnestly advised the Emperor: "Your Majesty, why would you, an elder, be petty with Prince Han? As you can see, glass is profitable. For the sake of money, just appease Prince Han."
The Emperor laughed, angry: "When did I ever offend that brat?"
"Huh?" The Minister of Revenue looked skeptical, "Did you really not offend Prince Han?"
The Emperor shouted irritably: "No, I didn’t."
"Then why won’t Prince Han submit the glass formula to the court?" Just with the Emperor’s temperament, he surely must have offended Prince Han; otherwise Prince Han wouldn’t withhold the glass formula.
The Emperor glared at the Minister of Revenue for doubting him: "That brat said he wants to run the glass business himself."
"Your Majesty, the court must engage in the glass business, it’s all money." The Minister of Revenue wanted to personally go to Lingnan and discuss the glass business with Prince Han. "Ever since building the canal and roads, the bottom of the national treasury is nearly empty. If the court engages in the glass business, there will be no worry about funds for building the canal and roads."
"Is the national treasury nearly empty?" The Emperor had a look of disbelief.
The Minister of Revenue replied calmly: "Yes, the expenditure on building canals and roads is like water, the bottom of the national treasury is indeed nearly empty, so please persuade Prince Han again."
"Go talk to that brat yourself, see if he believes you." The Emperor did not believe a word about the treasury being nearly empty. This guy loves to exaggerate; clearly, the national treasury is still very wealthy.
"Your Majesty, why not discuss with Prince Han whether the court can collaborate with him in the glass business?" The Minister of Revenue suggested, "Even a quarter share would do?"
"You talk to him yourself."
"Can I, as a Minister, discuss this with Prince Han?" Ministers are not allowed to privately contact Vassal Kings. If it were permissible, the Minister of Revenue would have long written to Zhao Yao far away in Lingnan.