Ci Jinzhi

As soon as Emperor Xingyuan said these words, all the officials looked at Xin You.

It was actually made by Xin Daizhao!

 The Minister of Rites had a complicated mood: It was Xin You who instigated it again!

After appreciating the reactions of the ministers, Emperor Xingyuan looked calm, but he could not hide his show off: "Didn't I ask you earlier if there was a way to get the Xiling war horse without marrying the princess? In the end, no one came up with an idea. . Today Xin Daizhao brought me this sugar and proposed to exchange the sugar for war horses."

Upon hearing this, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue couldn't help but ask: "How complicated is it to make this sugar? What is the output and cost? I would like to remind you that if it is just an equal exchange, we have many things for exchange in Daxia. If the cost of this sugar It’s high and the yield is low, so there’s absolutely no need to trade it for anything.”

 This kind of sweet delicacy has not been tasted by Daxia people, so it is not a loss for Xi Ling.

 Other ministers nodded after hearing this.

What Yu Shangshu said is true. I tasted this white sugar today. The sugar I had before was just tasteless. It is not worthwhile to exchange it.

Emperor Xingyuan did not answer what Shangshu of the Ministry of Finance said, but asked a question: "What do you think is the appropriate price for a pound of sugar?"

 “I think I can sell it for one tael of silver!”

“One tael? Even if such good candy is sold for two taels, some people will buy it.”

“Indeed, once such a rare thing comes out, there will be people competing for two taels of silver and one catty.”

 …

Emperor Xingyuan was in a good mood as he listened to the discussions among his ministers.

Four kilograms of brown sugar produce one kilogram of white sugar, and two kilograms of sugar of similar quality to white sugar. This is not cost-free, it is a negative cost!

Seeing Emperor Xingyuan’s enthusiastic eyes, Xin You had to remind him: “Your Majesty, the output of sugar cane in our country is certain.”

 At present, the technology for making white sugar has not been released, so it is indeed a waste of money. But brown sugar is made from sugar cane, and the production of brown sugar is limited by the production of sugar cane and is not endless.

 This is just like the population growth problem caused by the New Deal mentioned before. Moderate population growth is of great benefit to a country, but the food output of the fields is certain. Once the population growth exceeds the support of the fields, it will be a disaster.

 The solution is to either reduce the population or increase food production. This is why she readily agreed to go overseas to look for high-yielding crops.

 The New Deal and the opening of the sea are inseparable, one after the other. When she persuaded him to implement the New Deal, the relaxation of the sea ban was natural.

Emperor Xingyuan calmed down and said, "Then exchange fifteen pounds of sugar for a Xiling war horse. Let's negotiate based on this bottom line."

 The Minister of Household Affairs couldn't help but ask about the cost of sugar.

Emperor Xingyuan glanced at the ministers who had their ears pricked up, and said calmly: "The cost is not high. The main reason is that the technology of making sugar is relatively complicated. In short, it is very cost-effective to exchange sugar for war horses. The cost of building a sugar mill and mass-producing sugar is just From my internal funds."

 The internal funds are the emperor's small treasury and are not under the control of the Ministry of Household Affairs, so that the secret of sugar production can be kept longer.

 The Minister of Household Affairs was very happy when he heard that he didn’t have to pay for it.

“In this case, the Xiling envoy who returns tomorrow can bring a message directly to King Xiling.”

“It’s best to ask them to bring some sugar to King Xiling to taste before we can talk.”

 …

The ministers made suggestions one after another, and Emperor Xingyuan smiled and nodded: "That's what I have in mind."

 His eyes went back and forth between the Minister of the Ministry of Finance and the Minister of the Ministry of Rites, and finally landed on the Book of the Minister of the Ministry of Education.

"Yu Shangshu, today you have to talk to Prince Baori in your own name. Seeing that he is not interested in sugar, you can also guess the attitude of King Xiling."

Diplomatic matters originally belonged to the Ministry of Rites, but Emperor Xingyuan did not think that the somewhat pedantic Minister of Rites could do a good job in this matter. It's better to be old than good, but when it comes to money, it's like getting chicken blood. The Minister of Hubu was happy to deceive Prince Baori, but he looked embarrassed: "I don't know enough about sugar—"

Xin You said: "I can work with Yu Shangshu to communicate with Prince Baori."

Emperor Xingyuan refused without hesitation: "No need. There is no need to tell them more about cost and technology. The main thing is the exchange amount of sugar and war horses. I have also said the bottom line. And then there is what we can come up with in two months." Amount of sugar.”

 Speaking of this, Emperor Xingyuan looked at Xin You.

Since Xin You entered the palace with sugar, he had already made a plan in his mind and immediately said: "If everything goes well, I can make ten thousand catties."

All the ministers were a little disappointed after calculation: there were not many horses that could be exchanged.

Xin You took in everyone's expressions and continued: "White sugar is not as good as grain. Xi Ling cannot eat too much at one time, but we can sell the rest in Daxia, and the money earned can be used to buy war horses. It is a special fund. Furthermore, , Xiling’s demand for sugar may not be much each time, but the sugar will always be used up. This is a long-term business..."

The girl spoke at a moderate speed and her voice was like falling beads. She talked so eloquently that even people who were dissatisfied with her would not notice it.

When she finished speaking, Emperor Xingyuan laughed loudly: "Okay, it's better for Xin Daizhao to think carefully." At this point, he did not forget to remind: "It's better to have Shangshu come forward to discuss matters with Prince Baori."

Xinyou responded with a yes.

 Huchbu Shangshu brought a small bottle of sugar to see Prince Baori.

Most of the envoys from Xiling will go back tomorrow. Prince Baori did not wander around anymore, but stayed in the guest house and wrote a letter to King Xiling.

 Being entrusted with the important task of being an envoy, the relationship between the two brothers is still very good. Prince Bao Ri felt that it was necessary to talk to his brother about what he had left behind, so as to prevent him from getting angry.

 At this time, the servants sent word that the Minister of Hubu of Daxia was looking for him.

 Prince Baori thought for a while and got an impression in his mind.

 In the past few days since arriving in Daxia, he has carefully written down demerits for those high-ranking officials.

 “Your envoy has disturbed me.”

Prince Baori hurriedly said: "Xiao Wang is a guest, and it is Xiao Wang who is disturbing us."

After exchanging pleasantries, the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance mysteriously took out a thumb-thin vial from his sleeve.

Prince Bao Ri was puzzled and couldn't help but sigh: Daxia is different, look at how delicate this small bottle is.

"Our Majesty has a loving father's heart and is not willing to marry his beloved daughter far away. However, it is very sad to think that your envoy came all the way and returned empty-handed." Shangshu pointed to the small porcelain vase, "This is our great envoy." Xia's unique sweet delicacy, called white sugar, has never been among the people. I would like to invite your envoy to taste it today."

Prince Bao Ri looked at the small porcelain bottle and twitched his mouth slightly. He thought that this small bottle that could not be found even if it fell to the ground contained the candy that he was invited to taste?

Tsk, is Daxia too "generous", or is it really so precious?

“Then let’s have a try, little king.” Prince Baori took the small porcelain bottle, opened the cork and poured it into his hand.

 Snow-like sugar was sprinkled on the palm of his hand, which shocked Prince Baori: "Is this sugar?"

They, Xiling Club, purchased sugar from Daxia through border trade. He had eaten both red and white sugar, but he had never seen anything like this.

I heard that Daxia has a special product called arsenic...

 Prince Bao Ri's thoughts wandered away for a moment, he dipped his finger in sugar and put it in his mouth.

 (End of this chapter)