Chapter 43
Bang, bang, bang.
The tightly closed door creaked. After the initial shock and panic, the people inside came to their senses and wanted to go back the same way, but found that the door could not be opened at all.
Liu Ju kindly reminded them, "Don't waste your energy. This is a one-way door, it's mechanical. You can only push it in from the outside, not from the inside. If you want to get out, you'll have to find another way. This room has two doors, one in front and one in back, one for entering and one for exiting."
Ministers: ...Do you think we're stupid? If it can only be opened from the outside, why don't you just stay outside and open it? And why bother looking for another way out? If you don't want us to come out, just say so!
What is there to understand now?
Monster? This isn't a monster, but the prince's doing.
But what kind of ability does the prince have, and what means did he use to create such magical powers?
Everyone was surprised, suspicious, confused, and puzzled.
But then Liu Ju said, "Everyone, be careful. Don't damage anything in the house. If you do, it will be a big problem. These are more valuable than glass and have many uses."
Everyone:!!!
The room was silent. Outside, Liu Che was curious: "What's inside?"
Naturally, one couldn't treat the emperor like a minister. Liu Ju suppressed his smile and replied politely, "It's a mirror."
Liu Che raised his eyebrows. Ji An and others had also seen a lot of ups and downs. If it was just an ordinary mirror, how could it be so out of control? There must be a reason behind it.
Liu Che looked at him and waited for what to say next.
Liu Ju winked mischievously. "It's not the bronze mirror we're used to using nowadays, but a glass mirror. Even if a bronze mirror is polished to perfection, it still has limitations when reflecting things. The image in the mirror, compared to the real thing, appears blurry and chaotic."
"Glass mirrors are different. The images they produce are indistinguishable from the real thing. Even a single strand of hair can be clearly seen. It's like being face to face with another self, vivid and lifelike."
This description stunned Liu Che, Wei Qing and Huo Qubing.
Liu Ju waved his hand, and Qi Yuanniang came forward with a tray in her hand. On the tray was a glass mirror the size of an adult's palm, and the mirror was embedded in exquisite wood carvings.
Liu Che picked up the mirror's handle and suddenly froze. Wei Qing and Huo Qubing, standing nearby, were also stunned, their pupils dilated. This mirror truly was as Liu Ju had described, vivid and lifelike.
Not to mention a single strand of hair, even the pores on the face can be seen if you get closer.
Liu Che touched the mirror and said, "It really feels like glass. Can glass be used as a mirror? Especially this mirror is so mysterious and useful."
"Yes."
Liu Ju took out another simple mirror from the tray. "Look, Father, just apply a layer of silver on the back of the glass to turn it into a mirror."
Liu Che raised his eyebrows: "Silver?"
"Yes. You won't need much silver. And it doesn't have to be silver, anything else will work. Just cover the back to block the light from the glass."
Liu Che rubbed the mirror in his hand and thought.
Huo Qubing was somewhat puzzled: "If it were just this, Commandant Ji An and the Minister of Agriculture would not have reacted in this way."
Indeed. I might be surprised, but I won't be panicked.
"Of course not for a mirror this size, but what if it were the same height and width as a person, or even taller and wider than a person?"
Liu Ju gestured as he spoke, then clapped his hands, and Qi Yuanniang pushed a full-length mirror over.
Liu Che and the other two opened their mouths slightly, and the person in the mirror also opened his mouth slightly.
The three of them opened their eyes wide. This... this was too incredible. It was as if they were face to face, with every gesture being exactly the same.
Before they could think, Liu Ju said, "If you still don't think it's that bad, what if the whole room was filled with mirrors like this, and you could see countless identical versions of yourself the moment you walked in?"
Three people: ???
"What if the mirrors in your room were strategically placed, forming a maze, and every move and every step was followed by a shadow? These identical versions of yourself seemed to follow you forever, making you lose your way, as if you had entered another world, with no escape?"
Three people:!!!
Still... can it be like this?
Qi Yuanniang handed over the parchment that had been prepared long ago. Liu Ju opened it and showed it to the three of them. On it was a simple maze map.
"Father, look, this is a maze. There are countless forks and dead ends, and the traffic is crisscrossed and complex. The only exit is the one marked by the red pen.
"Ordinary mazes are already quite difficult. What if we removed the partition walls and replaced them with mirrors? The mirror and the passage are both transparent. Under the reflection of the mirror, the mirror surface looks like the passage, and the passage looks like the mirror surface.
"There are countless 'selves' interfering with you, and you may even have the illusion of not knowing which one is the real you, and whether you are in the real world or the world in the mirror.
"How do you find a way out in this situation?"
The expressions of the three people changed several times, their pupils flickered, they were surprised and horrified, but also full of curiosity, and a little eager to try.
Liu Ju suggested at the right moment: "Father, would you like to go in and take a look?"
Liu Che, who was already itching to go:...Now that you say so, how can I resist not going!
"Father, please wait."
Liu Ju stood up and pushed the door open a crack. He stuck his head out and looked around furtively. Then he turned around and waved at the three people: "Come on, they should be looking for the exit, not here. We can go in and avoid them."
Three people: ...
Everyone entered and froze in their tracks. The scene inside was exactly as Liu Ju had described, and all they saw were countless identical versions of themselves.
Keep moving forward, like a shadow following you, unable to hide or escape.
So realistic, so smart.
In addition, the maze's complex design makes it difficult to distinguish the authenticity of the mirrors and passages.
Shocking, so shocking.
It was not until this time that Liu Che deeply understood why Liu Ju stopped him and let others enter first, and why he showed him the small mirror, the big mirror, and then the maze map, and explained it carefully.
It is to allow him to be mentally prepared in advance and have a psychological transition.
Even so, he was still shocked. It should be noted that Ji An and the others had entered the place completely clueless, so their reaction seemed understandable.
As soon as the thought flashed through his mind, he heard Ji An and others arguing in front of him.
"I told you this way is a dead end. Look, it's another dead end."
"Hey, what are you doing?"
"You can't smash them. Have you forgotten what His Royal Highness said: these things are priceless, comparable to glass, or even better than glass?"
"How can the prince be so foolish? Isn't he deliberately teasing us?"
"Well, let's get out first. Let's be patient and keep searching. At least we know there's no evil spirit, but rather a trick played by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. If it's a trick, there's no need to overthink it. Let's just find a way out."
"Okay, okay, let's go, go, go."
…
There were also indistinct curses, mutterings and grumblings in between.
The more this happened, the more proud Liu Ju became. "Father, please come with me. I participated in the design of this maze, and I personally experienced it after it was built. I remember the route."
As he spoke, Liu Ju took out the prepared wooden stick prop, held Liu Che's hand with one hand, and carefully explored with the other hand, feeling his way forward according to the route he remembered.
Because they had experience and took the correct route, Liu Ju and his companions did not spend too much time. They even perfectly avoided Ji An and his companions who had taken the wrong path and successfully reached the exit.
There is another shop at the exit, where you can see more mirrors.
Full-length mirrors and dressing mirrors come in all sizes and shapes, with exquisite frames, from the simplest solid wood to carved bronze, and even the most gorgeous ones inlaid with tiny gemstones.
It is so dazzling and has everything that it is overwhelming.
Beyond the mirrored area, there are a variety of glass objects. Besides the common glass bowls and cups, there are also a variety of fruit and vegetable shapes in a variety of colors, including red, yellow, blue, and green.
There are also some small animals, such as cats, dogs and rabbits, which look somewhat different from real animals, but are extremely similar and cute.
There are even long swords, daggers, etc.
The three were shocked again.
"This...this is all made of glass? Glass can actually come in so many colors and shapes?"
Liu Ju raised his head proudly: "Of course!"
Wei Qing examined it carefully: "Isn't it made differently from the way glassware was made in the past?"
Liu Ju's eyes sparkled. "Uncle, you have good taste. Many of these are made using modern techniques, using copper pipes for blowing and kneading."
Wei Qing's expression flickered as he looked at the colorful glassware, a thoughtful expression on his face. "I just saw a few mirrors with frames inlaid with broken gemstones. The texture of those broken gemstones is not similar to ordinary gemstones. They seem more similar to these."
Liu Ju clapped his hands. "Uncle, you're amazing! Those are either gemstones or colored glass. After making these, the leftover scraps wouldn't be wasted. Instead, they're recycled and ground into small pieces, which can be inlaid into the mirror. Isn't the mirror made this way noble, gorgeous, and priceless?"
Liu Che & Wei Qing & Huo Qubing: !!!
It really is glass! Not only that, it’s also “waste recycling”.
You call this trash?
The three of them fell silent at the same time.
Liu Che's eyes grew even darker. He stared at the mirror and glassware before him, recalling the maze, greenhouse, and optical shop he had just walked through.
Are these all things from Fairyland? So this is what Fairyland is like.
As I was daydreaming, someone pulled the corner of my clothes.
Liu Ju said crisply, "Your Majesty, you must be tired after walking around for so long. There's a rest room over there. Let's go take a break and wait for the Minister of Agriculture to come."
Liu Che didn't feel tired, but he readily agreed.
Liu Ju winked at Qi Yuanniang, who naturally understood that this meant she was told to wait for the Minister of Agriculture and others to come out, and to be responsible for receiving and answering their questions.
When I entered the lounge, someone had already served me tea, snacks, drinks and fruits.
While Liu Ju was eating happily, he imagined the ministers' helplessness and frustration in the maze, and he couldn't help laughing as he thought about it.
Liu Che, Wei Qing, and Huo Qubing: ...
Liu Che shook his head helplessly and asked, "What exactly do you want to do by doing so many things?"
Liu Ju blinked: "Father, don't you think I'm extravagant and wasteful?"
Liu Che chuckled and said nothing.
Huo Qubing rolled his eyes, looking as if to say, "What nonsense are you asking?" "If you're just doing this for your own enjoyment, why make such a big fuss?
"Glass windows and greenhouses aside, this maze and mirror exhibit doesn't look like something designed for enjoyment in any way. It's more like..."
It seemed as if he was going to do business. But before he could finish his words, a commotion broke out outside, and Ji An, the Minister of Agriculture, and others filed in, each with a subtle expression.
Several people first bowed in accordance with the etiquette between the monarch and his subjects, then looked at Liu Ju with expressions that were hard to describe. It seemed that they wanted to greet his ancestors, but due to the imperial power they dared not speak, and could only hold it in until their faces flushed.
But Liu Ju still asked in a frivolous way, "What do you think of the mirror maze after experiencing it firsthand? Is it interesting, novel, fun, and exciting?"
Everyone: ...Exciting? That's really exciting! Haha.
"The young men and women of Chang'an love novelty and excitement. When polo first came out, they flocked to it. Now that they know there's something so interesting in the world, do you think they'll be eager to try it out and have a go?"
Everyone was stunned.
Liu Ju's eyes rolled. "If we put up a sign in front of the mirror maze, stating that anyone who wants to enter must pay three hundred or five hundred coins, do you think they would be willing to pay?"
Everyone:!!!
Three or five hundred coins was a big problem for ordinary people, but for the young men of Wuling, who knew countless red silks, they would not care at all and would just throw them away.
Liu Ju narrowed his eyes. "When they've experienced the wonders of the mirror maze and see all sorts of mirrors at the exit, will they be tempted to buy one? It could be a keepsake, a replacement for the bronze mirrors at home, and infinitely more useful."
Of course you would think so!
"When you pass by those lifelike and adorable glass ornaments and accessories, do you want to buy one too?"
The Minister of Agriculture had a thought: "Your Highness, do you want to turn all of this into a business?"
As soon as this was said, the Minister of the Imperial Household continued, "If it's a business, glass windows and greenhouses are fine, as are glasses. But..."
He paused for a moment and looked at Liu Ju. "Your Highness, the glass production is sufficient to fully supply Kaogong and Ruolu, but there is still a lot of surplus?"
What Kaogong Ruolu was talking about was naturally the telescope.
Everyone's eyes flashed and they all looked over.
Liu Ju shook his head: "Not for now."
The expectation in everyone's eyes faded, and just as disappointment was beginning to surface, Liu Ju said, "That's because there's only one kiln factory doing it right now. If there were more, it wouldn't be a problem."
Everyone:!!!
Such an important matter, could you please not pause and finish it in one breath!
You did it on purpose, you did it on purpose, you definitely did it on purpose!
Ji An frowned, "Glass is a military supply. If we use it like this, will others learn its secrets?"
The mystery lies in nature or the telescope.
Liu Ju chuckled and pointed at the window glass. "If I hadn't told you, who among you would have thought that this thing could be used as a telescope? Even if you knew it could be made, how would you know?"
Ji An paused. "That's true. They only know they can do it, but they have no idea how to do it."
With this concern removed, the topic turned back to buying and selling.
Liu Che smiled and said, "You want to do business? When did you care about money?"
People who have everything they need have no concept of money and won’t think about this.
Liu Ju smiled and said, "Your Majesty is wrong. It's not me who should do it. It's the court that should do it."
After hearing this, Liu Che was stunned.
Liu Ju took out the two bamboo slips containing Qi Yuanniang's investigation summary at the right time.
"This is a summary compiled by my subordinates, and it's not exhaustive. But when I tested the eyesight of the royal family and court officials in the palace that day, I found that quite a few had problems, the only difference being the severity. I imagine there are many among the people as well.
"As for this one. Since Emperor Gaozu, every emperor has built a mausoleum, and around each mausoleum a mausoleum town has been established, where many powerful and wealthy people have been relocated to settle.
"My father once issued an order that all families outside Chang'an with wealth exceeding three million yuan be buried in Maoling. Furthermore, Chang'an and its surrounding areas are already home to many descendants of founding heroes and nobles left over from the Warring States period and previous dynasties.
"Therefore, it can be said that in Chang'an and the surrounding mausoleum towns alone, there are countless wealthy families."
Liu Che looked at the bamboo slips, his eyes becoming deep.
Liu Ju continued, "Father, the war with the Xiongnu has been extremely costly. Disasters across the country will require relief from the imperial court. Furthermore, there are the costs of maintaining war horses, daily expenses, court officials' salaries, royal expenses, and so on. Relying solely on taxes and income from salt and iron, I'm afraid neither the national treasury nor the Ministry of Finance can sustain the economy."
The chief agricultural officer pursed his lips and sighed.
The Minister of the Ministry of Finance followed with a sigh.
The two people in charge of finance feel this most deeply.
Liu Ju grinned. "Just because the court is short of money doesn't mean everyone else is short of money. If we ask these wealthy nobles to help the country, I'm afraid they'll pretend to obey, complain, and become dissatisfied, leading to many incidents. This move also seems too authoritarian and lacks righteousness."
"But if you use something like glass as an inducement, they'll be willing to take it out. Not only will they do it quickly and actively, but they'll also be afraid that if they're a step behind, someone else will get there first, and they'll be left with nothing."
Liu Che:!!!
Everyone:!!!
The Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of the Imperial Household rolled their eyes. While the Crown Prince's words were a bit... well, too revealing, the logic was correct. If the glass business took off, not to mention mirrors, even glass windows alone would be enough to attract them.
but……
The Minister of the Imperial Household stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, I just saw that there was a string of words underneath each mirror and glass ornament. Is there a corresponding price?"
Liu Ju nodded: "Yes."
"Your Highness, I've taken a closer look. These items range in price from a few hundred coins to tens of thousands. They may not seem cheap, but compared to the price of colored glaze in the past, they are very little.
"Your Highness, as you know, the lowest price for a colored glass item that has appeared in the past is five thousand coins, and that's even for the worst quality. The workmanship is much cruder than ordinary colored glass, and it's far inferior to what you see outside."
Liu Ju nodded again, "I know. That's because colored glass was a scarce commodity before, and scarcity makes things valuable. So even if the quality wasn't great, it could still be sold at a high price.
"Now that we're expanding our business, we can't stick to the same prices as before. Besides, isn't this all about small profits but quick turnover?"
The Minister of the Ministry of Finance frowned, "Your Highness may not know that although colored glaze seemed expensive in the past, it actually cost a lot to make. The profit from it is not as great as Your Highness thinks."
Liu Ju was stunned, then realized that they were afraid that he had not calculated the cost.
This is also the key to whether this matter can be feasible.
If the cost is too high, the selling price must also be high. Even if you are very rich, the number of units sold may be limited, and the profit will also be limited.
Although Liu Ju's intentions for his country were good, they were like castles in the air, a drop in the bucket, unrealistic, and a waste of manpower and resources.
If the production cost is high but the selling price is low, then it would be a pure loss-making business and should not be done.
“In the past, the high cost was due to insufficient technology, low success rate and serious waste of manpower and material resources.
"Now that we have passed the most difficult research and development stage and found the correct production method, the cost has naturally dropped significantly.
"This is the cost of this time, you can see for yourself."
Liu Ju tossed a scroll of bamboo slips over, thinking to himself, "Qi Yuanniang is a prudent person. She's always had a habit of keeping records." She kept every item clearly documented. It seemed as if she'd anticipated questions and had already prepared the account book for him.
The bamboo slips passed around in everyone's hands, and everyone was shocked.
Liu Che asked everyone's question: "Is this the total cost of everything we saw this time?"
"yes."
"Including the optical shop in the front, the greenhouse in the middle, the mirror maze over here, and all the exhibits outside the lounge?"
"yes."
Liu Che took a deep breath.
The Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of the Ministry of Finance were trembling with fear.
If we compare the cost and the selling price we just saw, the cheapest ones have increased by more than ten times, and many have even increased by hundreds or thousands of times.
Is this called small profits but quick turnover?
Your Highness, you actually call this "small profit"?
The Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of the Ministry of Finance wanted to go up and shake Liu Ju awake. Could you please speak properly? Do you have any misunderstanding about "small profits"?
The two men tried their best to control their excitement. The Minister of Agriculture felt his whole body shaking unconsciously, as if he was about to fall down. Beside him, the Minister of the Ministry of Finance fell to his knees with a thud, and his kneeling was extremely smooth.
"Your Highness, this method is very clever. This matter has great potential. Your Majesty, please leave this matter to me. I will live up to your expectations and handle it properly."
Great Farmer Order: !!!
The Han Dynasty inherited the Qin system and established the Director of Agriculture, who was in charge of the country's granaries, agriculture, and sericulture, and managed the national treasury.
The Shaofu was in charge of taxes on mountains, seas, ponds, and lakes, and was in charge of the imperial family's private treasury. On the surface, each department performed its duties independently, but in reality, due to its vast organization and diverse responsibilities, the departments were often involved and competed with each other.
If the task was given to the Shaofu, wouldn't the proceeds naturally belong to the Shaofu? Then what would his position as the Minister of Agriculture be?
Shaofu Temple Minister, you are really great, why are you so scheming.
The Minister of Agriculture immediately knelt and said, "Your Majesty, glass is a precious treasure of our country. The proceeds are considerable, and they should be handed over to me."
The Minister of the Ministry of Finance was not happy. "Leave it to you? The Ministry of Finance has countless craftsmen under its command, and there are also ready-made glass kilns. Everything is ready. As long as Your Majesty nods, we can proceed. What do you have? What can you use to do it? Your Majesty, this matter should be handed over to the Ministry of Finance."
The Minister of Agriculture was furious and said, "It's great that you have a kiln. Fine, I can give it to you. But the proceeds must go to the state treasury."
The Minister of the Imperial Household instantly exploded: "Why? I, the Imperial Household, did all the work, but you are in charge of all the money. What do you think of us, the Imperial Household?"
"Just the military supplies you made, Kaogong Ruolu, cost you money from the national treasury."
"You also know that everything Kaogong Ruolu manufactures is for military supplies. If they're military supplies, they're for the country. Shouldn't you be the one providing them? Furthermore, military supplies are extremely expensive, and the Ministry of Finance only earns taxes from mountains, seas, and lakes. How can we afford them? Your place is where all the taxes from all over the world are collected."
"In that case, we should also gather all the proceeds from the glass. What's wrong with that?"
…
The two men engaged in a heated argument, neither giving in.
Ministers: ...
In the end, it was Liu Che who stepped in and scolded them, and they finally shut up. But it was only their mouths, as they kept raising their eyebrows and glaring.
Liu Che rubbed his solar plexus, and with a thought, he turned to look at Liu Ju: "You made this thing, and you came up with the idea. Who do you want to give it to?"
Liu Ju was a little surprised: "I have the final say?"
Liu Che glanced at the Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of the Imperial Household, and said with a smile, "It's not impossible."
Grand Minister of Agriculture & Minister of the Imperial Court: !!!
The two of them looked at Liu Ju at the same time, their hearts tense.
Liu Ju's eyes rolled around twice and he howled in his heart.
Oh, such an important matter is decided by him, so he has to set an example.
Liu Ju coughed lightly twice, straightened his back, looked over with a smile, and said meaningfully: "In the mirror maze, I seemed to hear someone say that I was making trouble and deliberately playing tricks on you?"
Liu Che & Wei Qing & Huo Qubing: ???
Grand Minister of Agriculture & Minister of the Imperial Court: !!!
The other ministers subconsciously took a step back.
The Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of the Imperial Household were quick to express their opinions: "I did not do that. I am not your servant. Your Highness is wise and I have no intention of offending you."
"When you saw the glass display cases, windows, and greenhouse terraces at the optical shop earlier, you seemed to have said they were arrogant, extravagant, and wasteful? It was you..."
Liu Ju pointed at the Minister of Agriculture, then at the Minister of the Imperial Household: "Or you?"
"No, it's not me. I swear, I absolutely did not do that."
The Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of the Ministry of Finance waved his hands repeatedly, swore solemnly, and glanced at Ji An.
The meaning was very clear, it was Ji An who said it.
Ji An: ...
Liu Ju sneered, "You didn't say anything because I interrupted you and you didn't have time to speak. Moreover, although only Captain Ji An spoke frankly, you all nodded in agreement. I'm not blind; I saw it!"
The Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of the Ministry of Finance paused.
Wei Qing stood aside, his eyes focused on his nose, his nose focused on his heart. Liu Che covered his mouth with his fist, a hint of a smile in his eyes. Huo Qubing simply turned his head away and chuckled.
Minister of Agriculture & Minister of the Imperial Household: ...
If it were His Majesty, he would at most be unhappy at the time, but the misunderstanding would be resolved later and the matter would be over. But he had to deal with Liu Ju, a child with a big temper, who was difficult to please. But now they had to coax him and not confront him.
You absolutely can't argue with him. If you do, he might get angry, and then the glass issue will have nothing to do with you.
The Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of the Ministry of Finance looked at each other, with lightning flashing in their eyes. They both had the same thought: they must not let the other party take advantage!
The Minister of the Imperial Household frowned, wanting to say, "Your Majesty, are you serious? You're letting a child decide such a big thing. Why don't you just leave it to me?"
Just as he was muttering inwardly, the chief agricultural officer made a decisive move and kowtowed, "I was unaware of Your Highness's earnest intentions and misunderstood you. This is my fault. I hope Your Highness will forgive me."
Shaofu Temple Minister: ???
No, old friend, what's wrong with you? I'm still standing tall and refusing to admit my mistakes, but you're actually kneeling and kowtowing and admitting your mistakes repeatedly. Are you trying to show how knowledgeable and humble you are, and how dishonest I am?
How can you be so scheming!
Danongling: Haha. How dare you call me scheming? Who was the first to kneel down? I didn't react at the time, and now you can beat me to it? You really think I'm a vegetarian. Humph.
The Minister of the Imperial Household gritted his teeth and glared at him fiercely, then turned and said, "Your Highness has brilliant ideas and is wholeheartedly devoted to the country. We, your servants, actually thought that Your Highness was pursuing pleasure. You deserve to be punished. We have made a rash conclusion without investigating the facts. I am guilty. Please punish me."
If you lag behind, your words must be more sincere.
The Minister of the Ministry of Finance placed his hands on his forehead and knelt on the ground in a very humble manner.
Liu Ju...Liu Ju was confused.
Shouldn't you speak righteously, strive to prove your innocence, and make up excuses to refute?
How come everyone kneels down faster than the other, and everyone has a better attitude than the other? What should I say next?
Where are the famous scenes of domineering, quarreling and strong slapping in the face that I expected? What should I do? Can this continue? Can it continue? Can it continue?
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