Chapter 98: When the granaries are full, people are happy; when the poor are well clothed, their children are well cared for.
“Is this frosting?”

"No, this isn't frosting!"

"What exactly is this?"

"I've never seen sugar so crystal clear!"

"And this salt is so white!"

It was at this moment that Chang Mao's voice, mixed with incredible surprise, penetrated the air and was clearly audible.

Inside the side room, Chang Mao's eyes were fixed on the crystal clear piece of candy on the table that looked like a work of art.

There was also refined salt as white as snow, and his eyes flashed with an unprecedented shock!
"Don't make a fuss. There are plenty of these in Taiyuan."

Zhu Gang waved his hand nonchalantly.

"You can try it, sir."

Gu Xiuqi stood up slightly, looked at Chang Mao and smiled softly: "After all, when His Highness first took it out, Jin Yu and Ming Qian were also greatly shocked."

"Why call him Young Master? Since he is the brother of the Third Brother, then he is my Chang Mao's brother."

In response, Chang Mao first waved his hand, then carefully reached out his hand, picked up a tiny piece of candy as if it were a rare treasure, and slowly put it into his mouth.

Suddenly, a sweet taste spreads in the mouth, releasing a touch of sweetness, like a mountain spring, pure and distinct.

Especially the sweetness, without any strange smell other than sweetness.

And it is so sweet, far better than any sugar I have ever tasted!

This made Chang Mao stunned on the spot, unable to come back to his senses for a long time.

“It’s sweet and delicious, without any off-flavors. Even the finest icing sugar and brown sugar can’t compare to this taste.”

After a long time, Chang Mao came back to his senses. He felt a little unsatisfied, but he still resisted the urge to take another piece.

"This is the rock sugar I extracted from the raw sugar."

Zhu Gang looked at Chang Mao, who looked like a country bumpkin, and a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, but there was a hint of mockery in this smile.

"Rock sugar. It's really as good as its name."

Chang Mao nodded and smiled when he heard this: "This rock sugar is crystal clear, like jade, like ice, and sweet. It is not an exaggeration to call it the best."

"You haven't seen white sugar yet. I'll send a guard to give you some after we get back home."

In response, Gu Xiuqi looked at Chang Mao again and said with a smile: "The taste is not inferior to rock sugar."

"Then I must try it."

After saying this, Chang Mao's eyes lit up again and he smiled.

"And this salt is also as white as snow, without any impurities. I'm afraid it's a rare and high-quality refined salt even in the imperial palace."

Afterwards, Chang Mao turned his gaze to the refined salt, then picked up a small handful, feeling the fine grains, and exclaimed in admiration from the bottom of his heart.

"Taste it."

Faced with Chang Mao's admiration, Zhu Gang didn't care at all. Instead, he pointed at the refined salt and asked Chang Mao to taste it.

"So choking and salty!"

As soon as Zhu Gang finished speaking, Chang Mao impatiently grabbed a pinch of fine salt and quickly put it into his mouth. Suddenly, the expression on his face twisted in an instant.

"Third brother, I am a little impressed by you."

Chang Mao quickly took the teacup beside him, drank it all in one gulp, then looked at Zhu Gang and gave him a thumbs up.

"how?"

Zhu Gang raised his eyebrows.

"Such a high-quality refined salt does not contain a trace of bitterness, only a strong salty taste in the mouth."

"If this is sold, it will definitely cause a sensation."

Chang Mao's eyes flashed with emotion, and then he looked at Zhu Gang and said seriously: "Of course, it has to be refined salt of this quality."

"That's natural."

Zhu Gang nodded slightly.

"So is this salt and sugar business profitable?"

After a pause, Zhu Gang looked at Chang Mao with a smile again.

"As long as the control is good and the formula is not leaked, it will definitely be very profitable."

Chang Mao did not hesitate at all and nodded, saying, "We can even monopolize the salt and sugar market, but..."

"what?"

Looking at the hesitation on Chang Mao's face, Zhu Gang's eyes showed a hint of curiosity.

"Is it expensive to refine salt and sugar?"

"If it's too big, it can only be circulated among the gentry and wealthy merchants, but it can also make me a lot of money."

Seeing Zhu Gang asking, Chang Mao thought for a moment before speaking.

“Except for the complicated process, the cost is extremely low.”

Upon hearing this, Zhu Gang waved his hand.

"If that's the case, Third Brother, we can even control the market price so that it can circulate among the people and allow them to eat refined salt and refined sugar at a low price."

A hint of joy suddenly flashed in Chang Mao's eyes.

"Oh, Master Chang still considers the people?"

Facing Chang Mao's joy, Zhu Gang smiled jokingly.

"I'm thinking about you and your brother-in-law."

"After all, think about it, if we can let the people eat low-priced refined salt and sugar, what a great achievement that would be."

"Then is the prosperous Ming Dynasty that you and your brother-in-law are looking forward to still far away?"

"From now on, the people of the Ming Dynasty can afford refined salt and sugar. In my opinion, this achievement is far greater than that of the Han and Tang dynasties!"

"Then shouldn't we sing praises to the merits of the Ming Dynasty and the achievements of you two brothers?"

Chang Mao grabbed Zhu Gang's hand and said excitedly.

"Your Highness made refined salt and sugar with the original intention of making them affordable for the common people, so the prices are not high."

"Just to reduce the impact, they are only sold in Taiyuan, and the price is far lower than the market price."

Zhu Gang looked at the extremely excited Chang Mao, just smiled and said nothing, but Gu Xiuqi on the side could not help but speak.

There was a flash of respect for Zhu Gang in his eyes.

He cares about the people and serves the country and the people. This is the King of Jin of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Gang!

He is also the only wise leader in Gu Xiuqi's heart!
"The implementation of Taiyuan's decrees is nothing more than the iron-blooded hand of Your Highness."

"But Your Highness loves the people from the bottom of his heart."

"Shanxi merchants are no longer as they used to be. They are exploiting the people and driving up grain prices. Kill them!"

"The price of salt is too high and the people cannot afford it. Your Highness works day and night to make salt for the people and sells it at a very low price."

"Your Highness never considers anything that is beneficial to the people. Whatever he does, as long as it is worthy of the conscience of heaven and earth, it is enough."

Zhong Boxian also looked at Zhu Gang, with a complex light flashing in his eyes.

Since ancient times, scholars have actually understood that once the royal power is in hand, it should be used to pave the way.

As for a prosperous age, as long as the people are not starving to death and have enough food and clothing, it can be called a prosperous age.

But most of them cannot escape from keeping the people ignorant in order to ensure the supremacy of power.

Just keep the people ignorant or easily manipulated so that they can be easily managed and controlled.

And this is the method used by emperors of all dynasties.

It is like reducing people's independent thinking ability and critical spirit by restricting education, spreading false information, instilling fixed ideas, etc., making them easier to be ruled.

This includes the Ming Dynasty.

To put it bluntly, it is to consolidate the dynasty's rule and prevent the people from rebelling!

But Zhu Gang was different. Everything he did was done with the people in mind.

Just like in Taiyuan, Zhu Gang never restricted people from reading.

He even personally issued an order to waive tuition fees for the children of the people, and supervised the construction of schools so that all children could have access to education.

Let them no longer be ignorant and do not have to be poor peasants from generation to generation, struggling for food and clothing.

Let’s put it this way, in Taiyuan, doors are left unlocked at night, and people do not pick up things on the road. The people are no longer oppressed by corrupt officials, and they are smiling for the first time in a long time since the chaotic times.

Even the people spontaneously built a temple for the King of Jin and sang praises of his merits, although Zhu Gang issued an order to forbid it.

But the people still set up a shrine for Zhu Gang in their homes and prayed for him.

There is even poetry to prove it:
The spring breeze is warm in Taiyuan Prefecture, and peach blossoms are flying around the royal court.

The King of Jin’s grace was so great that all the people praised his virtues.

The bridges cross the rivers and the water flows in all directions; the roads are wide and smooth.

When the granaries are full, people are happy. When the poor are well clothed, the children are well fed. When the poor are poor, a kind heart shines like the sun. In times of disaster, people are always busy distributing porridge.

The academy flourished and the literary style flourished, with children reciting scriptures aloud.

"Brother Maoer, I don't need this achievement. All I want is to be worthy of my conscience."

"So I only want the silver. As for the merits, give them to your brother-in-law."

"He is the prince. He needs this achievement more than I do."

Zhu Gang turned his head to look at Chang Mao, and seemed to notice the worry in Chang Mao's eyes. He reached out and took Chang Mao's arm, and said with a smile: "You don't have to worry, because I have never thought of competing with him."

As soon as the words were spoken, the whole room fell silent!

Such a great achievement was passed on to the Crown Prince Zhu Biao.

What courage this requires!

This is an achievement that will go down in history and can earn you a chance to compete for the title of crown prince!

Zhu Gang is so free and easy!

Gu Xiuqi and Zhong Boxian were even more silent, but their fists were unconsciously clenched.

Even in the other room, there was a state of suddenness.

Zhu Biao's eyes even turned red.

"I'll talk to my brother-in-law first."

Chang Mao shook his head.

He cannot make the decision, which is unfair to Zhu Gang.

"Brother Maoer, this matter has come from my mouth and ends here."

"No need to mention it to the prince, just go ahead and do it."

Zhu Gang waved his hand and smiled, "After all, given our eldest brother's temperament, he would never agree to this. I know this."

"and you."

Chang Mao looked at Zhu Gang hesitantly, wanting to say something.

"Unless you want to create the Xuanwu Gate of the Ming Dynasty yourself..."

Zhu Gang didn't finish his words, he just looked at Chang Mao deeply and shook his head.

"Ah."

In response, Chang Mao nodded slightly.

Things had already been said to this point, and Chang Mao naturally understood what Zhu Gang meant.

"Mingqian, Jinyu."

"Not long after I entered Taiyuan, you followed me."

"Jin Yu handles internal affairs for me and manages Taiyuan. He is very organized and a great talent for the country."

"Mingqian followed me on horseback across the grasslands, offering advice and suggestions, and he was always successful. He is a talented person in the world."

"So it's not too much to say that we are close friends and brothers in life and death, right?"

Seeing this, Zhu Gang looked at Gu Xiuqi and Zhong Boxian again and asked softly.

"It is Jin Yu (Ming Qian)'s honor to be able to travel with His Highness!"

Gu Xiuqi and Zhong Boxian nodded in unison.

"Are you still willing to walk with me in the future?"

Zhu Gang still asked back.

"Life and death follow each other."

The two great men stood up at the same time and kowtowed to Zhu Gang.

"The world of the Ming Dynasty is not the Tang Dynasty of the past."

"The succession of Ming Dynasty must not be a fratricide."

"Besides me, the prince also understands this."

"So if I really want that position, the prince will give it to me without hesitation."

"But I can't."

Zhu Gang slowly stood up, then stretched out his hand to help Gu Xiuqi and Zhong Boxian up, and said with a smile: "Because in my opinion, power comes from the people and should be used for the people, so throughout its life, it is not as good as family affection for me."

"So since I took the throne of King Jin, I have understood what I want."

"The whole world, the Central Plains, is just a small corner."

"The end of the world, have you not even glimpsed it yet?"

"So, my wish is to expand the territory and create a new world for eternity."

"It is also to preserve this brotherhood and set a good example for future generations of the Ming Dynasty."

"Brothers should not fight with each other, but aim to conquer the world, ride horses and sing, and fight thousands of times."

After that, Zhu Gang held Gu Xiuqi and Zhong Boxian's shoulders and said, "Then where in this world is not the Central Plains? Where is not the Ming Dynasty? Why do we have to fight for the orthodoxy of the world?"

Although the words were light, their sharpness lingered on Liang for a long time.

"Regardless of life or death, I will use all my life's knowledge to help Your Highness achieve his ambitions!"

Gu Xiuqi and Zhong Boxuan looked at each other, and seeing the complicated expressions in each other's eyes, they spoke in unison again.

"it is good."

"Get the wine."

There was a heroic look in Zhu Gang's eyes as he waved his hand.

The waitress serving in the side room hurriedly poured wine for them.

By the way, the maids in this room, including the beautiful lady beside them, all knew the identities of Zhu Gang and Chang Mao, and only served them.

Therefore, they would naturally keep their mouths shut about today's conversation and would not dare to reveal even a little bit.

"I never make promises lightly, but a promise is worth a thousand gold."

"In the future, I will establish my kingdom overseas and establish a vassal state. I am willing to work with you and receive your honor."

Zhu Gang picked up the wine cup and drank it all in one gulp.

"it is good."

Gu Xiuqi and Zhong Boxuan were shocked, and they raised their wine glasses at the same time and drank them all.

Of course, they understand what it means to confer a title upon me.

But they understood Zhu Gang's character better, which was that once he said something, he would never take it back.

Therefore, only by dying effectively can the relationship between the ruler and his subject be fulfilled.

"Is it too late for me to kneel down now?"

At this moment, an untimely voice sounded.

"No."

Zhu Gang turned his head and glanced at Chang Mao unhappily, saying, "But you can wait until you die, and the boss will posthumously confer a title on you."

"Uh-huh."

In response, Chang Mao laughed dryly and waved his hand, saying, "Don't curse me. I want to live two more years."

"Let's go."

In another box, Zhu Yuanzhang sighed lightly, suppressed the urge to rush into Zhu Gang's room, and waved his hand.

"Uh-huh."

Chang Yuchun, Xu Da and others also nodded.

How can I have the mood for a massage now?
And I heard so many secrets.

These little brats, don’t they know how to keep their voices down?

Aren’t you afraid that walls have ears?
But think about it, apart from them, they should be the only ones on the top floor at this time.

"Boss, you have to explain this to us when we get back."

After saying this, Zhu Yuanzhang glared at Zhu Biao again and was the first to step out of the room.

"Just because the Third Brother is so righteous, I will take the blame!"

In response to this, Zhu Biao's face showed a bitter smile again, but he clenched his fists and thought to himself.

Since he can't escape the beating anyway, let him, as the elder brother, take it!
"By the way, when we get back to the palace, have someone summon the third brother to the palace. Don't both of you think of running away."

At the door, Zhu Yuanzhang paused slightly, then turned around and looked at Zhu Biao with a smile.

And this smile immediately made Zhu Biao shiver.

(End of this chapter)