We have fought to the Arctic Circle, and you want me to inherit the throne?

Chapter 176: Father and son quarrel, eye-opening

Li Che looked at Wang Xi helplessly.

He had known this problem would arise.

It was politically correct for the ancients to emphasize agriculture and suppress commerce, and they regarded merchants who did not participate in production as a disaster.

But if we want to start the industrial revolution, we must develop business.

Developing industry alone without a matching ideological and institutional foundation is nothing more than empty talk and is bound to fail.

Wang Xi was less than fifty years old and in the prime of his life, but his ideas were rather conservative.

In contrast, his son Wang Chongjian was more radical in his thinking: "Father, what you said is wrong. Our land is rich in products, but the people are suffering. It is all because the trade routes are not open."

"Since ancient times, the Central Plains dynasties have used trade as an important means to appease the barbarians outside the Great Wall. This shows the importance of commerce to the lands outside the Great Wall."

Wang Xi never expected that the first person to speak out against him would be his own son. He was so angry that he blew his beard:

"Who is your father? In the court, one must address his position!"

Wang Chongjian also had a stubborn temper and said with a stiff neck: "Yes, Wang Cizheng."

"you!"

Before Wang Xi could speak, Wang Chongjian continued speaking with saliva flying:

"I think we can mint copper coins to buy grain, cloth, and salt from the interior. We can also use caravans to sell specialties from outside the Great Wall to the interior, thereby earning more money."

"This way, the people of Fengguo will have another way out. In the event of a natural disaster, they will not be left without food."

Li Che nodded with a smile and asked encouragingly, "What specialty products do you think we should sell?"

Wang Chongjian scratched his head. "Nuts, medicinal herbs, deer antlers, and other things from outside the Great Wall are also quite popular inside the Great Wall. I'm sure they won't have trouble selling them."

Wang Xi sneered, "How much can those things sell for? They'll make the people want to get something for nothing. It's not worth it!"

"Wang Cizheng's words are wrong. Although the money is not much, it at least ensures communication between the inside and outside of the pass, and also provides an additional way to obtain food."

"You little brat, so childish!"

"you......"

Wang Chongjian wanted to curse, but considering that cursing was actually cursing himself, he held back.

So a strange scene appeared in the lobby: a father and a son were both officials in the court, and they were passionately arguing with each other, neither of them giving in.

Huo Duanxiao looked at this scene, and his eyes gradually became strange.

Zhuge Zhe, who was standing beside him, noticed this and whispered, "Don't be surprised, Your Highness likes to open up the channels for public opinion. This is called 'freedom of speech'. As long as it is for the good of the country, everyone can speak freely."

Huo Duanxiao nodded: "Thank you, Ziyuan, for telling me."

This situation was somewhat unexpected for Huo Duanxiao.

The father is the leader of the son, and the king is the leader of the ministers.

This scene would definitely not be seen in the Daqing court.

"Okay, okay." Li Che spoke to stop the two.

Unexpectedly, the father and son were so engrossed in the argument that they didn't hear what Li Che said.

There was no way, Li Che could only look at Wang Yongnian behind the hall.

Wang Yongnian's expression suddenly became serious, and he shouted loudly: "Silence!"

"It's unbecoming to make such a commotion in the lobby! Anyone who disregards discipline again will be held accountable!"

The two of them then quieted down, glared at each other, and stopped talking.

Li Che nodded to Wang Yongnian, then looked at Wang Xi and said softly, "Wang Qing, do you think the profit from trading is too low and the cost outweighs the gain? That's why you refused?"

"exactly."

"Then if I said I could offer products with ten or even a hundred times the profit, would you still object?"

Wang Xi was stunned. "With such huge profits, I naturally have no objection. However, I cannot believe it. Where in the world can such a huge profit exist?"

Li Che smiled and said, "Don't worry about it. I have my own way."

Wang Xi suddenly thought of something and said quickly, "Your Highness, are you going to sell the gunpowder? Absolutely not!"

Upon hearing this, the others turned their eyes to Li Che.

Several officials from the Gongzheng Institute swallowed their saliva and prepared to lash out.

Everyone has seen the power of gunpowder. This thing is a magical object that can change the situation of war. It must never be sold to anyone, not even to His Majesty!

They are all ready. If His Highness really intends to sell gunpowder, they will die in protest!

Someone glanced at the pillar nearby, thinking about the hardness of his head and the pillar, looking eager to give it a try.

Seeing this, Li Che immediately understood what they were going to do, after all, that was how he had traveled through time.

To prevent someone from getting killed, he quickly said, "It's not gunpowder, it's not even a necessity of life."

"This prince wants to make money, but I won't make money from my father, let alone the people."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and turned their eyes away from the pillar.

Only Huo Duanxiao looked confused and whispered to Zhuge Zhe beside him: "What is this gunpowder?"

"This is the foundation of my life and my country, so I cannot tell you." Zhuge Zhe said, "You should ask His Highness privately."

Huo Duanxiao became even more curious after hearing this.

The morning meeting was noisy and lasted for an hour before they reluctantly agreed on a preliminary direction.

The issue of trade will be put on hold for now until Li Che takes out the lucrative item.

However, no one opposed the coinage, after all, it would benefit the country in every way.

But there are restrictions on coin minting. No matter how generous Emperor Qing is, he cannot allow Li Che to mint money indefinitely.

After the morning meeting, Huo Duanxiao hurriedly found Li Che and asked about the gunpowder.

"Oh, you're asking about gunpowder. I forgot to tell you." Li Che suddenly realized, "It's hard to explain this thing. You have to see it with your own eyes. I'm going to the Gongzheng Institute now. Zhengze, can you come with me?"

Huo Duanxiao had no objection, and the two of them went together to the Gongzheng Office.

Li Che's purpose of going to Gongzhengsuo was naturally to find craftsmen to make the so-called "profitable things".

A quarter of an hour later.

In the Gongzheng Institute, an old craftsman with gray hair looked puzzled:

"Glass?"

Then he shook his head and said, "Your Highness, I have never heard of glass, but I have learned how to make colored glaze."

Colored glaze is not glass, but their main components are the same, both are silicon dioxide.

For example, it’s like the difference between toilet paper and A4 paper. Although they are the same type of items, they have different uses.

Craftsmen in Daqing had long mastered the technology of making colored glaze, but it was expensive and considered a luxury.

Li Che shook his head: "Crystal is used to make colored glaze, but the glass I'm talking about is different. It uses sand."

"Sand?" The old craftsman's eyes widened. "Isn't this... a way to turn stone into gold?"