bookbashuk Chapter 633 The Ming Dynasty Princes' Frenzied Shopping Spree!
Chapter 633 The Ming Dynasty Princes' Frenzied Shopping Spree!
Li Banghua stepped forward half a step, his voice loud and clear, carrying the decisiveness characteristic of a soldier:
"Your Majesty, Your Highnesses! The soldiers the court has prepared for you this time are all carefully selected from the Beijing Garrison, the Nine Border Garrisons, Liaodong, Xuanda and other garrisons! Every one of them is a veteran who has fought against the Jurchens, quelled bandits, seen real battles, and had blood on their hands! They are skilled in archery and horsemanship, proficient in firearms, knowledgeable in battle formations, and obey orders without question! They are far superior to ordinary garrison soldiers!"
Zhu Cilang picked up the conversation and said with a smile:
"Listen to this, everyone. Soldiers like these are the most precious treasures in the country. Now, the imperial court is really going all out to send them overseas to make their mark. So..."
He changed the subject, his smile unchanged, but his tone became matter-of-fact.
"The price is naturally a bit high. However, you get what you pay for, and it's excellent value for money. My uncles are all worldly-wise and should know the pros and cons."
After the opening remarks, the atmosphere was already set, with both the "family affection" as a foundation and the "high-quality products" as a highlight.
Next, it's time to reveal the price and prepare for the shock.
"Minister Ni."
Zhu Cilang gestured.
"Let me read aloud the key articles of this charter to all the princes, so that you uncles will have a clear understanding of it."
"The minister obeys the order."
Ni Yuanlu, holding another booklet, walked to the center of the hall, cleared her throat, and began to read aloud, item by item, in a steady and clear voice, loud enough for everyone in the hall to hear:
"Firstly, regarding the immigrant population, all Ming citizens, regardless of age, who voluntarily accompany the prince to sea must pay the court a 'settlement fee for leaving the country'—fifty taels of silver."
"Fifty taels?"
A chorus of low gasps and whispers immediately filled the hall.
How much does a strong man earn in a year?
This price is enough to make many small landowners gasp in astonishment.
The expressions of the princes immediately turned sour.
Ni Yuanlu seemed not to hear and continued reading:
"Secondly, the soldiers' expenses are calculated in parts: First, a recruitment risk deposit of one hundred taels per person. This is a fee paid by the court to guarantee their loyalty and reliability. If a soldier does not return within five years, the court can deduct fifty taels from this deposit to provide relief to his family. Second, a resettlement allowance of one hundred taels per person, which will be paid to the soldier's family in a lump sum before the soldier's departure. Third, a monthly salary of two taels per month, based on the standards of elite border troops, which will be paid directly by the hiring prince. The court can also pay on his behalf, taking a 10% handling fee."
This time, even several princes couldn't sit still.
Before even boarding the ship, a soldier has to hand over two hundred taels of silver! And then he has to pay two taels of silver a month as a salary! This is outrageous! The buzzing in the hall grew even louder.
"quiet!"
The eunuch in charge of ceremonies shouted in a shrill voice.
The hall quieted down a bit, but the princes could no longer hide their dissatisfaction and heartache.
Ni Yuanlu remained expressionless and continued:
"Thirdly, military equipment: old-style matchlock guns, five taels each; active-duty flintlock guns, fifty taels each, plus ten lead bullets; knives, spears, bows, crossbows, armor, etc., all have prices, see the regulations for details. The latest breech-loading rifled guns are national treasures and will not be sold for the time being."
"Fifty taels for a flintlock rifle?"
Prince Lu, Zhu Yihai, was rather impatient and couldn't help but exclaim softly.
"This...this price is way too expensive!"
Ni Yuanlu pretended not to hear and read out something even more astonishing:
"Fourth, special equipment. Hot air balloons are used for reconnaissance and observation, costing 1,000 taels each. The Divine Iron Fortress is a divine weapon for attacking cities and capturing strongholds, costing 100,000 taels each."
"One hundred thousand taels?"
This time, even the most composed King of Chu couldn't hold back any longer. He put down his teacup, looked at Zhu Cilang on the steps, and although his voice was still relatively restrained, it clearly carried displeasure:
"Your Majesty! This...this price is...is it a bit too high? Although our family's 'contributed' assets have been accounted for by the court, such purchases may...leave us strapped for cash and make it difficult to continue!"
Once he took the lead, the other princes followed suit, and complaints arose everywhere.
"Yes, Your Majesty, two hundred taels of silver per soldier, plus a monthly salary, this..."
"Fifty taels for a gun? Is this gun made of gold or something?"
"One hundred thousand taels of silver from the Divine Iron Fortress?! This...this is simply..."
There was a moment of chaos inside the hall.
Hong Chengchou and Li Banghua remained expressionless, simply standing quietly.
Zhu Cilang was not angry. He simply looked calmly at the Prince of Chu and then slowly swept his gaze over the other princes. His gaze was not sharp, but it carried an invisible pressure that gradually quieted down the noise in the hall.
"Does the King of Chu think it's expensive?"
Zhu Cilang's voice rang out, not loud, but exceptionally clear, drowning out the last bit of noise.
He leaned forward slightly, looking at the King of Chu and everyone else, his tone no longer joking, but rather carrying a calm, almost cold, analytical quality:
"Uncle King of Chu, let me ask you this: You led your family and subordinates to a wild and untamed land thousands of miles across the ocean, where there may be tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands, of fearless natives familiar with the terrain; there may be European barbarians who have already established themselves there with their powerful ships and cannons; there may be poisonous insects and ferocious beasts, and miasma roaming everywhere. When you have not yet established a firm foothold and are surrounded by powerful enemies, how will you protect your life and build your empire?"
Without waiting for an answer, he answered his own question:
"What we rely on is our capable soldiers and excellent weapons!"
He pointed at Li Banghua:
"Just now, Minister Li said that what we have prepared for you are battle-hardened elites. I can tell you further that a Ming soldier who can skillfully operate cannons, fight in formation, and obey orders without question, equipped with excellent flintlock muskets and armor, is more than capable of dealing with ten or even more brutes overseas! If they form a battle formation and are commanded by a good general, it is no exaggeration to say that a few hundred elite soldiers can defeat a rabble of thousands!"
His voice echoed in the hall, carrying an undeniable confidence:
"Uncle King of Chu, do you think two hundred taels for a soldier is too expensive? Let me tell you, these two hundred taels are not buying a person, but buying his military strength to conquer cities and clear obstacles for you overseas! They are buying the years, or even decades, of training time that you can save! They are buying the opportunity and guarantee that you can quickly gain a foothold and open up new opportunities in the wilderness!"
He softened his tone slightly, but his gaze remained sharp:
"This price wasn't decided on a whim by me. It was carefully calculated by the court based on the cost of training a qualified soldier, the value he could create, and the enormous risks of overseas expansion. It buys you time, victory, and the very foundation for your survival and even prosperity overseas!" The hall fell silent.
The princes were stunned by the emperor's blunt and cruel analysis of values.
They suddenly realized that this was not an ordinary transaction; it was the purchase of "arms insurance" and "survival certificates" for a journey to the unknown world.
The price is high, but what the emperor said... seems to be true.
Without strong troops and advanced weaponry, going overseas is tantamount to suicide.
Seeing the princes' ever-changing expressions, Zhu Cilang knew that the time was almost right; it was time to add the final touches and offer a "solution."
His face regained that gentle, "family-like" smile, and his tone became more relaxed:
"Of course, I also know that although my uncles are wealthy, their current 'contribution points' may not be enough to acquire so many weapons and ships all at once."
He paused, then presented the most crucial condition:
"However, they are all members of the Zhu family, and they can't be written with the same character 'Zhu' in their names. Do you think I would really force my uncles to their deaths? Not enough money... that's easy to say."
He gestured to Ni Yuanlu.
Ni Yuanlu understood and said loudly:
"His Majesty has decreed that, out of consideration for the imperial relatives, the princes may, if their 'contribution value' is insufficient, enter into a contract to make up the shortfall. The outstanding amount can be offset by special products from the princes' future fiefdoms. Such products include gold and silver from South America, furs and timber from North America, spices and pearls from Southeast Asia, and cotton and gems from India. The court will purchase them at fair market prices."
Zhu Cilang added, his tone seductive:
"Not only that, once you have established yourselves overseas, the imperial court will continue to do business with you in the long term. The court will buy your local specialties at market prices; and it will sell the Central Plains goods you need at fair prices. We can continue our business as usual and visit our relatives as usual. Wouldn't that be a win-win situation?"
Credit! Debt settlement with future specialty products! Long-term trade!
These conditions, once presented, were like a lifeline injected into a nearly dried-up pond. The princes' initial hesitation and pain were quickly replaced by a new calculation—they could take the goods first and pay later, and the payment could be made using local products "abundant" overseas?
This is simply... a windfall!
Although the "fair market price" and "affordable price" certainly contained some calculations by the imperial court, compared to the current predicament of not being able to come up with the money, this was undoubtedly the only way out, and it sounded promising.
However, Zhu Cilang's "promotion" was not over yet.
As if just remembering something, he added the last sentence:
"Oh, right, what Minister Ni mentioned earlier about the Divine Iron Fortress..."
He paused deliberately, and seeing that all the princes' ears had perked up, he slowly said:
"This thing is made of wood and iron, and is extremely sturdy. It contains several cannons and has wheels underneath, so it can move slowly. When used to attack the mountain strongholds of the natives or the stone fortresses of the Western barbarians, it's like... smashing an egg with a hammer, leaving a dent with every hit. When defending a city, it's like a mobile fortress, inspiring awe in all who behold it."
He glanced at the sudden gleam in the princes' eyes and smiled slightly:
"However, this thing is complex in its craftsmanship, uses exquisite materials, and is quite expensive, so... production is limited. At present, the Ministry of Works can only produce a dozen or twenty. If you uncles are interested, you should hurry up. After all, in the overseas wilderness, having such a thing in hand is like having a pillar of stability and a crucial weapon for the founding of the nation!"
"Limited quantity, first come, first served"—these eight words, like the most powerful promotional spell, instantly ignited the last hesitations and calculations in the hearts of the princes.
After a brief period of silence, an explosive buying frenzy ensued.
"Your Majesty! I... I'll allocate three thousand soldiers! No, five thousand! Three thousand flintlock muskets! Warships... twenty large ones, please! And reserve three of those Divine Machine Iron Fortresses for me!"
The wealthy and powerful King of Chu was the first to stand up and speak urgently, as if afraid that if he spoke too late, it would be too late.
"Your Majesty! I want it too! Three thousand soldiers! Two thousand flintlock muskets! One Divine Machine Iron Fortress... no, two of them!"
King Zhou was not to be outdone.
"Your Majesty, my share..."
The Kings of Shu, Lu, and Dai also rushed to announce their numbers. The weaker princes also crowded forward, desperately trying to purchase as many core troops and basic equipment as possible within their quotas. If they couldn't afford the Divine Machine Iron Fortress, they would at least get a hot air balloon to make a show of it.
Inside the Wenhua Hall, it was like a bustling marketplace.
The princes surrounded Ni Yuanlu, Li Banghua, and officials from the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War, haggling and calculating their quotas, and signing preliminary agreements.
The beautifully bound price list was being flipped through so many times it made a rustling sound.
Zhu Cilang picked up his teacup again, sipping it leisurely. Looking at the "hot" scene below, the smile on his lips deepened.
Hong Chengchou stood to one side and whispered:
"Your Majesty is wise. By offering high profits, supplementing them with the convenience of credit and trade, and further stimulating them with limited quantities of rare goods, the greed of the people is completely under control."
The "buying frenzy" lasted for nearly an hour.
As everything gradually settled down, the clerks from the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of War compiled a thick stack of preliminary contracts and submitted them. The result made Ni Yuanlu and Li Banghua, who were already mentally prepared, twitch involuntarily.
Preliminary calculations show that the "contribution value" consumed by all the princes' planned "procurement" of troops, equipment, ships and other supplies not only depleted their assets valued at over 130 million taels of silver, but also exceeded their quota due to the competition to purchase "luxury goods" such as high-priced warships and Shenji Iron Fortresses, as well as the widespread over-ordering of troops!
Final result: The princes not only squandered their "contributed" family fortunes, but also owed the imperial court more than 12 million taels of silver!
And this is only the down payment and part of the equipment cost.
They signed "promise notes for future special products" worth tens of millions of taels of silver and signed a draft long-term trade agreement with the imperial court.
Looking at the mountain of contracts and IOUs, Zhu Cilang whispered to Hong Chengchou, Ni Yuanlu, and Li Banghua beside him, his voice so soft that only they could hear it:
"Do you see that? This is what I meant by turning waste into treasure. It not only solved their burden and solved their problems, but also made the court...profit."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the princes who were excited and thrilled about their successful "buying spree," yet also subtly uneasy about the enormous debt they would be burdened with. A cold smile curled at the corner of his lips:
"As for their debts... we're not worried. The Ming Dynasty's warships recognize nautical charts and their creditors. The imperial court is guaranteed to profit from this deal."
After the meeting, the princes left the Wenhua Hall with complicated expressions, clutching the newly signed contracts.
Some were excitedly planning how to pack their bags and recruit immigrants after returning home; others had already begun to secretly calculate how much gold and silver they would need to mine and how many furs they would need to collect after arriving in their fiefdoms in order to repay the debts owed to the court and maintain the "preferential" trade with the court.
A "big business deal" that was outwardly based on family ties but inwardly driven by naked self-interest has come to a temporary end.
The Ming Empire, through a meticulously designed price list, successfully packaged its biggest domestic burden—the imperial clan—and its most troublesome problem—arrogant and unruly soldiers—into a vanguard for overseas expansion, thereby pre-emptively securing enormous future profits. (End of Chapter)