Chapter 196 The Ministry of Revenue is Really Poor
Niu Baijin stood up respectfully: "What is it? Your Majesty, just give me your orders!"
"Recently, the Textile Bureau reported to me that their promotion of jacquard machines is too slow."
"They have few staff and limited space. They can't recruit so many new people in a short time."
"In addition to jacquard machines, the Textile Bureau has developed a new type of textile machine. This also urgently needs to be manufactured in large quantities and promoted nationwide." "
So, I want your Ministry of Industry to be responsible for the manufacture of jacquard machines and textile machines."
Xia Miaoyuan's eyes sparkled, [Emperor father, this is a good idea! Let the Ministry of Industry manufacture textile machines specifically, and the efficiency of national promotion can be greatly improved. Niu Baijin's eyes suddenly widened like bells :
"No way, Your Majesty, I am the Minister of Works, the Ministry of Works. How can I go to make looms?"
Xia Zhengqi's face tightened: "Your Ministry of Works is in charge of construction. Building houses and bridges is manufacturing, and making jacquard machines and looms is also manufacturing. Why not?!"
All the civil and military officials in the hall were stunned.
What is their Emperor Mingxi thinking again? !
Niu Baijin suddenly felt like he was eating bitter herbs. Since when did Emperor Mingxi become so unreasonable.
"But Your Majesty, my Ministry of Works..."
Xia Zhengqi glared at Niu Baijin fiercely: "Why? Want to disobey the order?"
"I dare not! That's not what I mean! Your Majesty, please don't misunderstand me!" Niu Baijin knelt down in panic.
"You have three months to build 50,000 jacquard machines and 50,000 looms!" Xia Zhengqi's tone was very firm and unquestionable.
Niu Baijin's legs trembled: "Ah! Three months?! That's 100,000 machines in total?"
"What? Any opinions?! If you have any opinions, I can change someone to be in charge of the Ministry of Industry." Xia Zhengqi said coldly.
"No opinions, no opinions! I obey your order!" Niu Baijin was already crying, and a layer of cold sweat instantly seeped out on his forehead.
[Hahaha! The emperor daddy is so domineering! Now Lord Niu has no time to mess around with the matter of Concubine Manxian. ]
Xia Zhengqi lowered his head, and the corners of his mouth rose wildly.
Hahaha, I was praised by my daughter. I am such a wise and brave emperor!
After quickly sorting out his emotions, Xia Zhengqi said solemnly: "Lord Zhao of the Ministry of Revenue, I have already calculated that the cost of a loom, including labor and materials, is two taels of silver. Add in the construction of the workshop, and it will be calculated as one hundred thousand taels."
"Just withdraw three hundred thousand taels of silver to Lord Niu for the construction of the workshop and the manufacture of the loom."
Lord Zhao felt his body go limp, and he trembled and said: "Your Majesty, the money of the Ministry of Revenue did not come from the wind! The Ministry of Revenue is poor!"
Niu Baijin looked at Lord Zhao of the Ministry of Revenue with an aggrieved look on his face: "Your Majesty calculated three hundred thousand, and our Ministry of Works is already very nervous."
"If we want to quickly gather enough workers, it is definitely not enough to recruit them in the capital alone. We must go to several nearby provinces to recruit workers. At that time, we will be responsible for the food and accommodation of the workers."
"Building dormitories and cooking for the workers every day all require money."
Xia Zhengqi curled his lips with satisfaction.
Haha, good, I'm really resourceful. I took the initiative to propose a grant of 300,000 taels of silver. Niu Baijin's attention immediately shifted to Lord Zhao.
"You also heard that I didn't count the money. 300,000 taels of silver is already the minimum." Xia Zhengqi looked at Lord Zhao of the Ministry of Revenue.
Lord Zhao wanted to cry but had no tears: "Your Majesty, this year, the money spent just on epidemic relief is like running water. If we continue to spend like this, we won't be able to make ends meet!"
Xia Miaoyuan sat next to Emperor Mingxi and counted on his fingers, [1.8 million taels for military pay for soldiers at the border, 500,000 taels for disaster relief due to the heavy snow in northern Henan, 100,000 taels for the empress dowager's birthday banquet, 700,000 taels for New Year's Eve and palace purchases. ]
[And the epidemic, a total of nearly 1 million taels was spent. The Ministry of Revenue has indeed spent a lot of money. ]
[But the promotion of jacquard machines and new weaving machines is also very important. These two things can bring about a leap forward in Daxia's textile industry and greatly improve the level and output of textiles. 】
【By then, our Great Xia will sell silk and satin to countries all over the world, and we will earn so much money. 】
After hearing this, Xia Zhengqi became more determined to build 100,000 looms within three months.
"Lord Zhao, don't cry about being poor. We must build looms. The Ministry of Revenue should allocate funds as soon as possible!" Lord
Zhao's eyes suddenly turned red, and tears burst out: "The Ministry of Revenue is poor, Your Majesty, you can't force our Ministry of Revenue like this!"
"Oh, you cry so miserably!"
"It's so pitiful, the dignified Minister of Revenue was forced into this by the Emperor in the hall."
"Seeing Lord Zhao crying so miserably, it seems that the Ministry of Revenue is really poor, not pretending to be poor."
Civil and military officials talked about it.
Xia Miaoyuan frowned and thought hard, [What should I do? I have to get the job done even though I have no money.]
Suddenly, her brows relaxed and a light flashed in her eyes, [I got it! Why not sell the loom!]
"Daddy, sell the loom! Make the loom and sell it for silver!" Xia Miaoyuan tugged at Xia Zhengqi's sleeve and whispered.
Xia Zhengqi looked at his daughter lovingly, his face full of surprise.
His precious daughter is really a fairy who can come up with such an idea.
[The cost of the loom is two taels of silver. If it is distributed free of charge to weavers in various places according to the original plan, then this cost will not be recovered. But if the loom is sold to weavers, it can be recovered. 】
【There is no need to increase the price, just sell it to the weavers at the cost price. 】
【If it is a poor area, the weavers can't afford the money, let the weavers sign a contract, first give the weaving machine to the weavers, and when the weavers weave cloth and make money, they can pay back the money in installments. 】
Xia Zhengqi nodded silently.
Okay, let's do as Miao'er said.
"Lord Zhao, don't cry, I have a new idea." Xia Zhengqi comforted him in a gentle voice.
Lord Zhao wiped his tears and his mood stabilized a little.
"Since the Ministry of Revenue is not wealthy, we should not distribute looms to weavers for free. We can just sell them to weavers at cost price. Poor areas are allowed to use them by paying in advance."
[Dad is very smart. I only reminded him once and he understood it immediately.] Xia Miaoyuan felt relieved.
Xia Zhengqi laughed secretly in his heart, Silly Miao'er, it's all because I heard your voice.
"This is a good idea!"
"Your Majesty is wise!"
"I didn't expect our emperor to be so good at economics."
The officials in the palace were in commotion again, praising Xia Zhengqi's idea.
Xia Zhengqi said gently: "In this way, the Ministry of Revenue can first allocate 200,000 yuan, and the 100,000 looms can be divided into two batches. The Ministry of Industry will first use 200,000 yuan to build a workshop, build the first batch, and promote it first. When the capital is returned, the second batch will be built."
"I will change the deadline from three months to six months." "
Your Majesty is wise!" Lord Zhao and Lord Niu said in unison.
[The problem of the paper machine has been solved. But the problem of the Ministry of Revenue having no money still exists! ] Xia Miaoyuan felt a headache when he thought of this problem.
She looked at the new Minister of Revenue, Lord Zhao, [Alas, this Minister of Revenue that Daddy has promoted is not corrupt and is devoted to the country, but unfortunately he only knows how to save money and not how to increase it. ]
[The assistant ministers under him are also all good at saving money. ]
[If the Ministry of Revenue can have someone with a smart mind and good at making money to partner with Lord Zhao, it would be perfect. ]
[There is such a person in the book, but...]