Chapter 159 Risking It All
"Another consideration is that we can't use recycled scrap iron. Wrought iron re-forged from scrap iron is simply unusable for armor and weapons. Minister Qin should be able to prove this."
When he said this, Zhu Chong looked at Qin Kui. Qin Kui nodded repeatedly in shock. He didn't expect that Zhu Chong remembered the iron-making process in such detail. It seemed that he had really put in a lot of effort.
Lao Zhu didn't expect that there would be such high loss in the process of turning pig iron into wrought iron, but what he didn't expect was yet to come.
"Father, you witnessed the forging process firsthand, so you should know that after five rounds of hammering, ten pounds of pig iron is reduced to only three pounds of wrought iron. This process cost five hundred coins for labor and materials, not counting labor and fuel costs."
"Wrought iron that has been forged five times is only entry-level military iron. It requires higher-standard refined iron or hundred-fold tempered steel. I can responsibly tell you that the barrel used to make the bird cannon alone consumes at least six pounds of five-fired wrought iron."
"And you don't really think that every steelmaking furnace here can produce steel, do you? Ask Minister Qin. Even the most skilled craftsman, with his full concentration, can't guarantee that nothing he makes will go wrong!"
After hearing Zhu Chong's calculation, Old Zhu felt dizzy. Although he knew how to count, he didn't understand such complicated twists and turns, especially when it involved more complicated consumption issues.
But at this time, Old Zhu was determined to kill his son. He would not feel at ease if he didn't.
"Then your price is too expensive. One guan of money is one jin. Even if the Ministry of Industry buys the steel, it will have to be reforged. This trip back and forth wastes both time and money. Could you lower the price a little bit?"
Hearing what Old Zhu said, he was trying to lower his price, so Zhu Chong immediately refused to do it. If he had known earlier, he would have insisted on the price and refused to budge.
"Father, your way of doing business is unheard of. You should remove me from my position as the treasure banknote supervisor and take back my title of prince. I can't do this job anymore."
"At your price, there's no need to run the furnace anymore. I might as well just close it down. Whoever wants to do it can do it. I can't afford the job anyway."
Zhu Chong just put on a gangster face and said, "Who cares? I'm not going to do this anymore."
When Old Zhu saw this, he frowned deeply, but he couldn't get angry. He wondered in his heart, was it really because the pressure was too severe? His second son had already lowered the price to the lowest, but he was still squeezing him, so he gave up?
"Remove another hundred coins. Even if you really lose money, let us bear the burden first. We will replenish it from our private treasury!"
Old Zhu's true intentions were revealed. He gave Zhu Chong no room for bargaining and just wanted to smooth things over and set the price.
"Then please Your Majesty send me to the Heavenly Prison." Zhu Chong is also a bachelor, and everyone knows how to act arrogantly. It's okay if I don't want to serve you. You can kill me or cut me into pieces as you like!
Seeing that Zhu Chong didn't say anything, he pulled off his official hat and threw it at Zhu's feet, and then began to take off his official uniform. Zhu was immediately numb.
He is really desperate and even said that he will go to the Heavenly Prison?
"Your Majesty, one tael of silver for one pound is fine. I am willing to buy it!" Qin Kui saw that the situation was not good. If the deal went wrong, he might not be able to get even one pound of steel.
He knew Zhu Chong's character. Seeing that things had already fallen out, how could he just sit back and do nothing? After all, if something really happened, his entire family would be executed!
Old Zhu did not expect that Zhu Chong would just give up his post and even dare to throw his official hat in front of him. He was shocked for a moment.
After the shock subsided, Lao Zhu took several deep breaths before suppressing the urge to kill the little bastard in front of him with his own hands.
At this time, all the ministers turned their backs and pretended that they had not seen or heard anything. After all, this was a private matter of the Zhu family.
And strictly speaking, Old Zhu is indeed not kind. Shouldn't a normal person support his son when he makes such a good thing? Why does Old Zhu even try to lower the price of his son? What's more, Zhu Chong does not seem to be making any money.
"One tael of silver for one catty, that's one tael of silver for one catty!" Old Zhu said angrily and turned away. In this round of competition with Zhu Chong, Old Zhu was completely defeated.
Seeing Lao Zhu leaving angrily, Zhu Chong knew that he must have offended Lao Zhu, but he didn't care at all.
Compared to the number of times his predecessor had offended Old Zhu, this was nothing. One more time was no big deal.
Turning around, Zhu Chong bared his cold white teeth at Qin Kui, "Minister Qin, I'm sure you've heard what the emperor said. One hundred thousand catties of steel, one hundred thousand strings of cash. We'll exchange the cash for the steel. Don't even think about taking delivery without seeing the money!"
"Yes, yes, I will prepare it right away. Your Highness, rest assured that you will not lose a single penny of the 100,000 strings of cash."
Qin Kui breathed a sigh of relief at this time, quickly bowed to Zhu Chong, and then hurried away.
As soon as Zhu Yuanzhang and Qin Kui left, all the civil and military officials accompanying the emperor also dispersed. When all the people had left, Zhu Chong waved his hand and the Baochao Tizhusi closed the door, not letting anyone in.
"Zhang Quan, is there enough money left in our company's account to pay five strings of cash to all of us?" Zhu Chong stared at Zhang Quan and spit out a number.
Hearing Zhu Chong's words, Zhang Quan's expression froze, but he quickly opened the account book he carried with him and finally nodded vigorously.
"Okay, gather all the people and give everyone in our company five taels of silver as hard work compensation. Over at the steel workshop, all the craftsmen will get double that, ten taels of silver. Cash only, no banknotes!"
Hearing Zhu Chong's words, the craftsmen and officials present were immediately excited. Everyone knew that Zhu Chong was trying to win people's hearts!
"Sir, will our people at the coal mine also be paid?" Zhang Quan hesitated for a moment, but still asked another question.
"Of course I will. As long as our people are at the coal mine, we will give them five taels each, no one less." Zhu Chong took the risk.
Next, he was going to do something big, so of course he had to pay the craftsmen first before he could talk and do anything.
He believed that the emperor would not have hungry soldiers, and only when the people below were full would they have the strength to do things.
"Long live the Lord..." After getting the exact statement, the Baochao Tizhusi instantly boiled over.
Fortunately, the craftsmen were located far away from the outside, and no sound from inside the Baochao Tizhusi could be heard from outside.
Otherwise, based on the words "Long live the lord", Zhu Chong might really have to go on a day trip to the Heavenly Prison!
But Zhu Chong doesn't care about those things now. As long as he is happy, that's all that matters.
After what happened today, Zhu Chong also realized that he could not rely on Old Zhu. He could only speed up his plan as soon as possible and achieve his goal as soon as possible to achieve true freedom.
This Yingtian Prefecture is not a place for him to stay for long...
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