After a night of tenderness, Xiao Ming woke up lazily at noon the next day.
The month of travel had exhausted him, and having been separated from Fei Yuer for a month, they spent ti frolicking and whispering sweet nothings in bed.
Moreover, for Xiao Ming, reports from Pang Yukun and others were one thing, but Fei Yuer’s personal account was another.
“The Confucians have truly beco ‘rats crossing the street’ as Your Highness calls them, with everyone shouting to beat them,” Fei Yuer told Xiao Ming about the changes after the last Confucian disturbance. “However, my father sent a letter from Chang’an, saying that there is much criticism in the court regarding this matter. Officials led by Cui Hao even publicly denounced Your Highness in court for defying Confucian classics and disrespecting Confucianism, even demanding that the Emperor strip Your Highness of the title of two-pearl prince.”
“Hmph, these petty individuals.”
Xiao Ming showed disdain. It was precisely because of these treacherous individuals in court, who only attacked their colleagues, that the court affairs were increasingly neglected.
“What else did Chancellor Fei say?” Xiao Ming asked, as Fei Ji generally wouldn’t write to him unless it was a major matter.
“Father also said that the Emperor suddenly fainted so days ago and has not been as healthy since waking up. He also misses morning court every now and then,” Fei Yuer’s expression grew serious as she spoke.
“If I’m not mistaken, Father Emperor is fifty-nine years old today, right?” Xiao Ming pondered.
Fei Yuer nodded, “Father said the sa in his letter.”
Xiao Ming narrowed his eyes. Fei Ji ntioning this in his letter must have a deeper aning, perhaps he believed that Emperor Xiaowenxuan truly didn’t have many years left to live.
And for Xiao Ming, it was already not easy for Emperor Xiaowenxuan to live to this age. After all, Emperor Wu of Han only lived to sixty-nine, and the average lifespan of emperors in contemporary history was only around thirty-nine.
“Hmm, I understand.”
Xiao Ming frowned. Emperor Xiaowenxuan was currently the balancing point of the Great Yu Empire. He didn’t wish for Emperor Xiaowenxuan to fall so soon, as he didn’t want to lose a stable environnt for developnt.
However, if it truly happened, he could only adapt to the circumstances. Fei Ji ntioning this was rely a reminder to him to be prepared.
After all, the ministers were all aware that Emperor Xiaowenxuan was ill, but perhaps not many knew about his fainting, otherwise, it would have caused a huge stir in the court and among the public.
After so small talk, Xiao Ming and Fei Yuer washed up, dressed, and had a simple al before he headed to the industrial district.
Xiao Ming had given instructions regarding white sugar upon his return to Qingzhou. The sugarcane he had transported back from Ryukyu was also shipped to Qingzhou upon his return, along with the craftsn from the white sugar workshop on Ryukyu Island.
These craftsn would be responsible for helping Xiao Ming establish a white sugar workshop in Qingzhou and train a group of sugar-making craftsn. As for the sulfurous acid needed for refining white sugar, he had also sent soone to inform Lu Tong upon his return.
“Your Highness, we officials have brought the sulfurous acid.” Lu Tong was already waiting for Xiao Ming in the industrial district. In his hand was a glass bottle containing sulfurous acid solution.
The manufacturing process of sulfurous acid is actually very simple: high-temperature calcination of sulfur to obtain sulfur dioxide, which is then passed into water to obtain sulfurous acid. This process was not a problem for Lu Tong and others, as they were already capable of preparing sulfuric acid. Latest content publ??shed on novel★fire
“From now on, your chemistry workshop will be responsible for providing sulfurous acid solution to the white sugar workshop. I hope to see clean white sugar within these two days,” Xiao Ming said.
The significance of white sugar to him was not just about consumption, but more importantly, it would provide another industrial category for Qingzhou, moving him further towards a complete industrial system.
Lu Tong had already learned Xiao Ming’s purpose for the sulfurous acid. He nodded at this point, also very interested in white sugar. In his opinion, this was also a wonderful chemical reaction.
At this ti, the craftsn from Ryukyu, with the cooperation of the craftsn from the machinery departnt, were already producing the equipnt needed for the white sugar workshop, and Chen Wenlong had selected an empty house from the industrial district and handed it over to these craftsn.
After inspecting the preliminary preparations for the white sugar workshop, Xiao Ming had a plan in mind. In his opinion, formal production would take at least seven days.
While he was instructing the craftsn, a sudden clamor ca. Xiao Ming looked towards the source of the sound and saw Li Kaiyuan almost being pushed towards him by rchants. The leading rchants were Cao Zhengyang, Ding Wu, and Dai Zixing.
Upon reaching him, Li Kaiyuan looked helpless. He said, “Your Highness, this official couldn’t help it. I originally intended to co and find Your Highness in a couple of days, as Your Highness needs ti to rest after a long journey. But the rchants of the chamber of comrce are all like ants on a hot pan right now, and this official really couldn’t stop them.”
“What’s going on, why are you all so excited?” Xiao Ming’s eyes swept across the faces of the rchants.
These rchants all looked excited, their mouths agape, revealing their teeth, as if they had encountered a great joyous event.
Cao Zhengyang had now beco the representative of the rchants. He said to Xiao Ming, “Your Highness, it is said that the Qingzhou Navy went south this ti to reclaim Ryukyu, and reached an agreent with the Dutch. From now on, the sea trade routes will belong to Your Highness.”
As Cao Zhengyang spoke, the other rchants all eagerly waited for Xiao Ming to confirm the news.
“As expected of the Cao family, your news is very well-inford. That’s right, I have reclaid Ryukyu, and have stationed troops in Zeelandia. From now on, the coastal routes are under my control.”
As soon as Xiao Ming finished speaking, the rchants suddenly fell silent.
Then, a huge cheer suddenly erupted.
“Your Highness has great talent and strategy, and will surely be rembered in history!”
“This is a great achievent that will benefit generations!”
“Wise, Your Highness!”
“…”
The rchants were all overjoyed beyond asure. They had long coveted mariti trade, and now knowing that the right to mariti trade was in Xiao Ming’s hands, how could they not be excited?
Among them, Cao Zhengyang was the most excited. Ever since the relationship between Prince Chu and the Dutch broke down, the Cao family’s mariti trade plumted. Now, he had finally found an opportunity to revitalize the Cao family.
“Your Highness, does this an that from now on, we can sell goods through mariti trade?” Cao Zhengyang asked expectantly.
“Of course not.” Xiao Ming’s words were like a bucket of cold water poured on the rchants’ heads, but his next sentence gave them hope again, “Only rchants under the unified jurisdiction of the Chamber of Comrce can conduct mariti trade, and all rchant ships engaged in mariti trade must pay taxes. If anyone dares to evade taxes in my enfeoffed territory, they will forever lose the right to mariti trade.”
“Your Highness, paying taxes is a matter of course. We will certainly not engage in fraud,” Ding Wu guaranteed.
“Your Highness, rest assured, we absolutely dare not.”
“…”
The rchants spoke one after another, patting their chests in assurance.
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