After saying this, even the chubby orange was moved by his words, and he explained the underlying meaning of the story clearly.
If it were anyone else, he wouldn't have acted this way. Matters concerning the national economy and people's livelihood must be firmly in the hands of the emperor.
Otherwise, why have salt, iron, and other commodities been state-run monopolies throughout history? There are some things that even one's own mother, let alone one's spouse, cannot rest easy about.
Although Sun Miaoqing knew that Da Pangju's words were not exaggerated, she was not truly happy.
She came up with the idea, and her people will also be there to help. She will also provide the key technology, so she will only get 20% in the end.
Even if we consider it as marital property, she should get half!
The more I think about it, the angrier I get, and the angrier I get, the more I want to go crazy. It's okay to suffer a little loss. There are so many benefits in the world, I can't let her have them all.
But why should we suffer such a huge loss?!
Since that's the case, let's expand the operation even further so that the poor can also benefit sooner!
"Your Majesty, how can you do this? I've solved such a huge problem for you, how can you still want 80% of it!"
"Isn't this competing with the people for profit?"
The chubby orange cat asked, puzzled, "How is this me competing with the people for profit?"
"Does Consort Cheng consider herself, or those noble families, to be commoners?"
Sun Miaoqing said, "Why doesn't Your Majesty take a longer-term view? I never said I was going to join forces with someone to reap all the benefits!"
The chubby orange cat looked at her scrutinizingly, its suspicious and slightly disdainful gaze instantly breaking Sun Miaoqing's defenses.
"Your Majesty, why are you looking at me like that? I have never experienced hardship in my life. I like money because I earn it all through my own abilities, and it gives me a sense of accomplishment."
"A person should leave something behind in their lifetime. I am extremely wealthy and honored, and now I am concerned about these things. Firstly, I hope to bring a smile to Your Majesty's face, and secondly, I hope that the people can become prosperous."
"Your Majesty always looks down on me because I am a woman. Who am I working so hard for!"
As she spoke, tears streamed down Sun Miaoqing's face, a mixture of grievance and tears.
If fate hadn't played a trick on me, would you have been able to marry such a treasure trove as me? And as a concubine no less...?
If it weren't for your good-for-nothing children and grandchildren, leading to future wars, foreign invasions, a century of national humiliation, and unbearable suffering for the people.
Why should I worry about these things when I can just enjoy my life?
What will the future look like...?
Big Fat Orange finds it hard to fall asleep whenever it thinks about this.
If one day the Qing dynasty is doomed, the same way they treat the former Ming imperial family will be used against the Aisin Gioro family in the future.
Rationally, he knew that no dynasty in history had ever been invincible. But emotionally, the fat orange cat couldn't accept the destruction of the imperial foundation and the burning of the ancestral temples.
In the past, it was one thing to not know what would happen after one's death, but now that we can glimpse a corner of the future, how can we not plan ahead!
Perhaps it's because of him as a person that he doesn't value him as much anymore, since their interests ultimately converge. From this perspective, they can be considered a couple united in heart and mind.
The chubby orange-haired man said in an extremely frustrated tone, "When have I ever looked down on you? Isn't it you, Consort, who has always looked down on me?"
Sun Miaoqing said, "Your Majesty, you are making baseless accusations! When did I ever say such a thing!"
He didn't say a word, but he said it all in his heart...
Big Fat Orange didn't want to argue with Sun Miaoqing anymore; no matter how much they argued, they wouldn't reach a conclusion.
He has indulged her so many times, so one more time won't make a difference. Hongzhou is more sensible than her, his mother.
Even when he was a prince, his second brother was so favored, but he never experienced anything like this.
"Alright, it's my fault. I didn't appreciate the Consort's good intentions. Is that alright?"
"Of course it's the Emperor's fault!"
Sun Miaoqing said this confidently, then lowered her voice and continued,
"However, I am not an unreasonable person, so I will not hold it against you."
Big Fatty Orange felt so wronged, but in the end, he became the one who didn't understand.
Fortunately, it was just the two of them inside, so they didn't have to worry about any gossip outside.
“Consort Cheng, you just said that my order to have people run the business was competing with the people for profit, and that I should use this opportunity to let the people also benefit.”
"Does this mean that if the imperial court does it, the common people can't benefit? According to you, wool is similar to cotton and can be used to make cloth."
"The Mongol princes are not easy to deal with. If it weren't for the imperial court intervening, they would be lucky to get even a little bit of face from them."
Sun Miaoqing said, "Your Majesty is right, so what I'm thinking is to hang up your signboard first. I imagine the Mongols won't dare to openly oppose you."
"After all the wool is gathered up and processed together, all the dirt and smell on it will be removed."
"Then set up a few more workshops and hire local female workers. Spin some of the wool into yarn, make it into clothing, and sell it."
"The other part of the wool can be made into wool mats or quilts. When the wool supply is larger, ordinary people should be allowed to buy it directly."
“We only do the most basic things and the highest-end business. The shops that your people set up should follow the example of Honey Shop.”
"The money of the middle and lower classes should be left for them to earn themselves. The Emperor's money-making is just a side effect; the important thing is to keep the Mongols in check and to allow as many people as possible to benefit from it."
"That way, once the ban on maritime trade in Southeast Asia is lifted, we can take all our goods out of the country and make as much money as we want. And no matter how much profit we make, it won't harm the people."
"Maybe in a few years, we won't even have to pay land tax anymore. If we need anything, as long as we send out enough ships, we can bring it back ship by ship."
Big Fat Orange watched as Sun Miaoqing got more and more excited, saying things like as long as there were enough ships, anything that was missing could be transported back.
The late emperor was once a pen pal of Louis XIV of France, corresponding with him for decades.
The barbarian tribes aren't fools; would they just stand by and watch silver flow out and their wealth be taken away by others? (Actually, according to the ancients' classification, this place is also considered southern barbarian lands.)
Sun Miaoqing's words were just a fig leaf compared to directly telling him to send people to rob it.
Women are impulsive and act on a whim. National affairs are matters of worship and war; how can we recklessly wage war?
It's still a place far across the ocean, beyond his reach. Besides, even if he were tempted, and brought the matter to the court, the ministers would certainly not agree.
The chubby orange cat said, "The Great Qing is a celestial empire, how could it covet the meager benefits of a small foreign country?"
"The court is only now slightly better off, and many people are still suffering from hunger. It's too early to think about these things."
"Don't say that yet. If those ministers hear it, I'll never have peace and quiet again!"
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