Lao Zhu didn't expect that Liu Ji would explain the role of a businessman in this way, and he was really stunned for a while.

However, Liu Ji did not stop, and continued to talk eloquently: "Not only when they build their workshops, they can provide many people with a way to live, and when their workshops are completed, they can also hire hundreds of people to work for a long time."

"Your Majesty, as long as this workshop can continue to exist, it means that there are hundreds of people who can get a stable income."

"Because of the high-yield grain produced by His Royal Highness, the overall grain price of our Ming Dynasty has been at a relatively low level."

"The so-called grain cheapness hurts the peasants, grain is the foundation of the country, and it is absolutely impossible to do without grain. But too much food is not necessarily a good thing. ”

"And these merchants, just outside of farming, provide us people in the Ming Dynasty with a channel to support themselves with full faith."

"According to His Royal Highness, this is called the employment rate."

Liu Ji explained in detail, and in the process of governing the world before, Zhu Yuanzhang also had experience with these things.

It's just that at the time, I didn't think so deeply.

"Even if these merchants are important, they are only a workshop of a few hundred people, so they don't need you to come in person, right?"

Liu Ji smiled and shook his head: "Your Majesty, it is true that there are only a few hundred people in this workshop now. But in the future, if the business is good, they will also expand. ”

"When the time comes, it will not be impossible for thousands or even tens of thousands of people."

"Shen Wansan has already built seven or eight workshops in our Yanjing City, plus the municipal construction and other projects contracted by him, as well as all kinds of shops."

"He alone employs as many as 20,000 workers."

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned: "So many people are working under a businessman, if he ......"

Liu Ji laughed: "Your Majesty doesn't need to worry, the minister has also asked His Royal Highness about this."

"What do you suppose His Royal Highness said to his ministers?"

Without waiting for Zhu Yuanzhang to speak, Liu Ji took the initiative to say the answer: "His Royal Highness said that there is no need to worry about this."

"Our court, as long as we can ensure that these Ming people can earn from their work and will not be deceived by those illegal profiteers, the people will not let go of a stable life and follow those profiteers to do anything rebellious."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded thoughtfully.

Based on what he saw and heard in Yanjing, the people here lived a prosperous and comfortable life.

Even if he were living in this kind of place, he would not have been fooled by this kid Qiwu back then to join any righteous army.

Liu Ji's words continued: "Your Royal Highness, call this kind of industry that can be called industry, which is something that can enhance the national strength of the Ming Dynasty."

"However, His Royal Highness also said that we can use it for businessmen, and we can even create a better business environment for them, so that they can make more money."

"But at the same time, we have to keep these businessmen under strict control. Because these people can do anything for money. ”

"We can't allow them to make money while also infringing on the interests of the people."

That's why Wechen came here this time. In order to show the attitude of our court. ”

"For what they do, our court fully supports it, and even gives them a lot of convenience in all aspects, so that they can do business better."

"But at the same time, the purpose of the minister's coming out this time is also to warn them."

"What you do, every move, the court is always paying attention to, so don't make any small moves, otherwise don't blame the court for being ruthless."

Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly realized that it was for this reason that Liu Ji, an important minister of the cabinet, would go to respect the nobles and come to meet a lowly businessman.

"That's right." Zhu Yuanzhang remembered a brand new word he heard when they were talking just now.

"What are you talking about, what is the minimum wage?"

At the mention of this, Liu Ji's face suddenly flushed with excitement: "Your Majesty, Chen has always boasted that he is a smart person, but compared with His Royal Highness the King of England, the minister is just a little smart." ”

"This minimum wage standard is also a policy formulated by His Royal Highness."

"Because this year is the first year, the minimum wage standard we have set is actually not particularly high, that is, according to the current general wage, it is reduced by about 20%."

"Any merchant, whether it is a contractor of imperial court construction or a merchant of all kinds who does small business. When they hire people, they must not set wages for these employees below this standard. ”

"If they are found to have withheld the wages of the workers, the court will punish them severely."

"Including but not limited to fines, as well as disqualification from their contracting qualifications, etc."

"Even, if the circumstances are too serious, they will be punished directly."

"Wonderful!" Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but clap his hands in admiration.

is worthy of his younger brother, and he can even think of this way.

If this is the case, naturally there is no need to worry about these businessmen doing evil, but it will make the people full of resentment towards the court.

After all, the imperial court had already dictated what these merchants had to do, and it was naturally their own problem that they did not do things according to the law.

Of course, this is only the ideal situation.

In the process of real implementation, it is inevitable that there will be problems of one kind or another.

However, this requires the imperial court to slowly adjust and try to improve this rule.

Avoid the same type of problems in the future.

After that, Zhu Yuanzhang and Liu Ji almost ran through most of Yanjing City.

Zhu Yuanzhang, who was originally a little dissatisfied with Liu Ji, did praise him more and more at this time.

If all the officials of the Daimyo are like Liu Ji, they are all serious and responsible.

He, the emperor, can sit back and relax from now on, right?

Zhu Yuanzhang's good mood lasted until lunch.

"Your Majesty, for lunch, do you want to go to our Yanjing Yamen's canteen?"

Liu basically didn't want to talk about this matter in the first place.

According to his understanding of Zhu Yuanzhang, if Lao Zhu knew about his situation, he would definitely be depressed again.

When the time comes, these anger will definitely be vented on him again.

But Liu Ji knew that if he didn't say this matter sooner or later, Zhu Yuanzhang would know it sooner or later.

If Zhu Yuanzhang knew by himself, maybe he would be cranky again.

Rather than this, it is better to be honest and honest about what should be said when it is barely controllable now.

"The cafeteria? What kind of place is that, let's go and see. "Although in a literal sense, Lao Zhu can understand what this is a place to do.

But Lao Zhu can't quite understand why there is this canteen.

Under the leadership of Liu Ji, Lao Zhu came to this place known as the canteen.

As soon as I entered, a familiar feeling came over me.

It was a huge room, and on one side of the room, there was a lot of food.

Someone is queuing up to get a meal.

Among these people, there are a few more familiar faces.

They were all some low-level officials that Zhu Yuanzhang had met during his morning meeting today.

This scene of hundreds of people eating together made Zhu Yuanzhang can't help but think of it.

When I was fighting the world before, the soldiers under my command looked like when they lined up to eat.

"What kind of charter is here, we want to give it a try."

Although it looks like a big pot of rice in the army, there seem to be many differences in the details.

Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly became a little eager to try.

"Mr. Chang, please follow the download." When outsiders were present, Liu Ji always called Zhu Yuanzhang Mr. Chang.

Doing things is airtight, and it never seems to leave people with any handle.

The two of them came to the window to eat.

Zhu Yuanzhang saw Liu Ji pick up a wooden dinner plate from the table next to him.

I followed along, and took one in my hand.

"Why is this plate so strangely shaped?"

It is a wooden rectangular plate with four or five depressions of different sizes.

"Your Majesty will find out in a moment." Because it was not an important matter, Liu Ji sold a lawsuit.

After taking the plate, Liu Ji was queuing up like other officials.

Zhu Yuanzhang smiled slightly: "This is also a seven-...... The King's idea, right? ”

Regarding his guess, Zhu Yuanzhang is very sure.

After all, this world can come up with such a person who doesn't have an idea.

There is only his own brother Zhu Han.

"Mr. Chang is really as wise as a torch, in the canteen, no matter how big or small the official position, as long as he comes here to eat, he will always line up to eat in the order of priority, which His Royal Highness has emphasized several times."

"Even for this matter, His Royal Highness punished several officials, which made everyone consciously line up."

said Liu Ji's self-deprecating smile: "Even if it is a minister, even if Liu Song is old-fashioned, he must abide by this rule." ”

"Hahahaha! Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly burst out laughing. At the beginning, when the king of England made this decision, Liu Song's guy must have been one of the most fiercely opposed people, right? ”

Liu Song has an old-fashioned personality, and he naturally takes the rules of those monarchs, ministers, fathers, sons and sons very seriously.

Everyone lined up together, in Liu Song's opinion, wouldn't this be a mess of the gang.

Speaking of this, Liu Ji couldn't help but laugh: "Mr. is right, because of this incident, Liu Song also had a big quarrel with His Royal Highness the British King. ”

As for the result of the quarrel, Liu Ji didn't say anything more.

After all, the current situation in the canteen is completely telling.

There were not a few people in the front row of the two people, but the speed of cooking in the cafeteria was not slow, and soon it was their turn.

When he walked near the window of the cafeteria, Zhu Yuanzhang's habit of picking the door flare up again: "I can't see that your food is not bad." ”

This is an open dining window, far away, Zhu Yuanzhang has already seen most of the dishes on this one clearly.

Not only seasonal vegetables, pork, and chicken are also available.

Moreover, these dishes seem to be made by chefs.

Not only does the food have an enticing aroma, but it also looks very appetizing.

Zhu Yuanzhang can even be sure that many of the officials of the Yingtian Imperial Court may not eat as well as them.

It's not that the officials are poor, or that they're stingy or anything.

After all, it is the Ming Dynasty now, and it is not the present when logistics are developed.

There are many things that you may not be able to buy even if you have money.

They don't eat as much food as the food in this cafeteria, at least.

Liu Ji couldn't help but sigh with emotion: "It's all thanks to His Royal Highness." ”

"This kind of thing also has something to do with Qiwu."

Liu Ji said: "After His Royal Highness came to Yanjing, he not only tendered for many projects, but also brought many capable businessmen. ”

"These businessmen are from all walks of life, and there are all kinds of people, some of them are trafficking in vegetables, and some are trafficking in meat."

"Even because, our Yanjing now takes special care of businessmen."

"Many businessmen simply invest and set up factories here."

"A student of His Royal Highness, Jiang Hurui. Very proficient in raising a piece. ”

"Under his guidance, many villages around Yanjing have begun to breed chickens, ducks, pigs and other livestock on a large scale."

"Although it is still in the initial stage, pigs, cattle and other large livestock have not yet fully matured, but chickens and ducks have begun to be sold in the market."

"This has also led to a rapid decline in the price of chicken and duck meat in Yanjing."

Speaking of this, Liu Ji just couldn't close his mouth with a smile.

"Your Majesty, don't you know that many ordinary people in Yanjing can eat a meal of meat in three or five days. In the past, the minister couldn't even think of it. ”

Because she was so excited, Liu Ji even forgot to call Zhu Yuanzhang's pseudo-identity, but directly addressed His Majesty.

Fortunately, at this time, Liu Ji still maintained the most basic sanity.

His voice was not very loud, plus the officials before and after were also chatting.

Therefore, no one noticed what he called Zhu Yuanzhang.

"Can you eat a meal of meat in a day or two?" Zhu Yuanzhang's mouth was almost closed in surprise.

He is not one of those emperors who doesn't understand anything, as the only one in this land who has gone from a beggar to an emperor.

Zhu Yuanzhang really knows too well what kind of life the real people at the bottom live.

Meat is not something that can be eaten very often, even in the homes of those hunters.

For even if they caught their prey, they would go to the city and exchange it for silver or food.

Unless it is a special case, it will eat its own prey.

This is true even for the hunters who make a living from hunting, not to mention the ordinary people who farm.

At most, it is the New Year's festival that will cut a little meat to improve life.

Or those who, if you don't eat meat, your body will be really empty, physical work.

And even these people are usually reluctant to eat.

But what about the people here in Yanjing?

According to Liu Ji, you can eat a meal of meat in three or five days.

It's been a good day, isn't it?

"You really didn't lie to us?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked in disbelief.