Chapter Thirty-Five: Strong Liquor Can Disinfect

"Grandfather Emperor, this liquor does more than just warm the body!" Zhu Xiongying said, crossing his arms as he walked over to Old Zhu.

Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned for a moment, then seemed to realize, "Oh! Right! It also satisfies a craving, haha!"

However, the little fellow held up a finger and shook it in the air. "No, Grandfather Emperor, your grandson can brew an even stronger liquor, one that can be used to disinfect the wounds of our soldiers!"

"Dis... disinfect?" Zhu Yuanzhang found this new term very unfamiliar.

"That's right!" The little boy nodded and continued, "On the battlefield, blades have no eyes, and it is inevitable that soldiers will get hurt. If not treated properly, wounds easily become inflamed and fester!"

At these words, generals like Lan Yu and Xu Da nodded repeatedly. Such occurrences were common in the military and hardly strange to them.

"If we use high-proof spirits for disinfection, it can help wounds heal as quickly as possible and prevent them from festering!"

Ancient medicine was not advanced; they did not understand what bacteria were, let alone the concept of disinfection. They only knew that once a wound festered, it was difficult to heal, and it could even become life-threatening.

"Really?" Zhu Yuanzhang stood up abruptly. The eyes of the other officials were also fixed on Zhu Xiongying. If this were true, the wounded soldiers on the battlefield would be saved!

"When has your grandson ever told a lie?" The little fellow nodded with conviction.

"Wonderful, wonderful! Heaven bless our Great Ming!" Zhu Yuanzhang was so excited that his beard and hair trembled.

"Your Highness the Grand Heir, if strong liquor truly has this effect, our Great Ming will reduce casualties by half!"

"Indeed! Some soldiers are not that heavily wounded, yet they die because their wounds fester!"

"Your Highness the Grand Heir, next time we campaign against the Jurchen, this strong liquor will certainly play a crucial role!"

"Yes, indeed!" The civil and military officials all became excited.

"My dear grandson, let's follow the old rules. You teach the brewing technique to your grandfather, and when there are profits later, I'll give you ten percent. How about that?" Knowing the many benefits of the strong liquor, Zhu Yuanzhang bargained with the little fellow, his face wreathed in smiles.

"Grandfather Emperor, I may be young, but I'm not stupid!" However, the little fellow crossed his arms, completely unimpressed by the proposal.

"What? Didn't we cooperate this way last time?" Zhu Yuanzhang was puzzled. It was this kid who had proposed it before; why was he disagreeing now?

"Grandfather Emperor, last time it was table salt, a monopoly controlled by the Imperial Court, and private sales were prohibited among the populace!"

"And then?"

"This time it is liquor! That is different! Any workshop among the people can brew it; why would they have to buy from the Imperial family?"

Since ancient times, monopoly money has been the easiest to earn. Even if refined salt was sold at a low price, every person needed it every day. That was a steady, endless stream of income! But not everyone drinks liquor, and it is certainly not a necessity. If he only got ten percent, how much money would that really be?

"Then how does my eldest grandson want to divide it?"

"I want to open my own brewery!" This way, he could naturally buy property and complete his system tasks. At the same time, he could use the brewery as an excuse to leave the palace and play often. He did not want to spend his whole life locked up in this square-shaped Imperial palace. He would be bored to death!

"You want to open a brewery...?" Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head repeatedly. "No, our Great Ming has just been established, and there are still many remnants of the former Yuan dynasty active everywhere. It is simply too dangerous!"

"Grandfather Emperor, I don't have the words 'Imperial Grandson' written on my face; who could recognize me? Besides, if you are worried, why not just have a few Imperial Guards follow me for protection?"

Once Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, it made sense. He could find a few trusted Imperial Guards to protect him while also learning the brewing method. Then he could just bring the boy back!

"Fine! I agree!"

"Thank you, Grandfather Emperor!" Zhu Xiongying quickly bowed in thanks, fearing the old man would change his mind. "Don't worry, Grandfather Emperor, the liquor used by our Imperial family will be sold at cost!"

"Hahaha! Good!" Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and laughed.

As soon as this was settled, Xu Da leaned in close to the little fellow. His old face was crinkled like a chrysanthemum. "Grand Heir... er, no... my dear son-in-law! Haha! I heard that building a brewery requires a lot of money! If you are short on funds, I have some here; feel free to use it!"

The two families had only just reached a verbal agreement, and the traditional rites had not even begun, yet Xu Da was already shamelessly calling him "dear son-in-law."

Zhu Xiongying thought for a moment and guessed his intention. Earlier, when he had bet against Li Shanchang in the court, Old Zhu had revealed that he had one million taels. Opening a brewery wouldn't take anywhere near that much money. The old man was offering to lend it to him? It was clearly a hidden agenda!

"Is my father-in-law looking to buy shares?"

"Shares?" Xu Da had clearly never heard the term.

"It means to be a partner!" If he didn't have that in mind, why would this old man come running to offer him money?

"Haha, well... if it's possible, that would be best! If not, just sell me more liquor later!" Xu Da hadn't actually thought about a partnership at first; he just wanted to buy some cheap liquor. After tasting this, the stuff he used to drink was truly horse piss!

"Of course! I'll give you a ten percent stake, Father-in-law!" Zhu Xiongying agreed without a second thought.

Xu Da’s status in the court and the military was unparalleled, and no one in Yingtian Prefecture dared to offend him. Once the distilled liquor went on sale, it would surely dominate the market and cause other breweries to lose business. Stepping on someone else's toes would inevitably invite schemes. But with Xu Da as a stakeholder, once word got out, no one would dare to touch him! It was like having a protective umbrella.

"Your Highness the Grand Heir, what ten percent are you talking about?" Just as the two were whispering, Lan Yu and Li Shanchang also crowded over.

"Ah... nothing!"

"I promised to go into partnership with my father-in-law to open a brewery, and I'll give him ten percent of the future profits!"

The two answered almost simultaneously, but their responses were vastly different. Xu Da, fearing the other old men would find out, had tried to hide it, but Zhu Xiongying had laid everything out. The more powerful backers he had, the better!

"We can be partners too?" Several of the old men became interested.

"Your Highness the Grand Heir, I also have some family wealth; could I join as a partner?" Feng Sheng asked with bright eyes.

"Your Highness, we can consider it a case of 'making friends through fighting.' Given that I even shaved my beard for you, could you give me a ten percent stake too?" Li Shanchang stroked his smooth chin, trying to get close.

"Your Highness, I've even changed my title to Duke of Yiguo; could you give me a ten percent stake as well?" Tang He, still thinking about the strong liquor, was determined to get in on it.

As for Lan Yu and Chang Mao, they played the emotional card by mentioning the little fellow's mother.

"Fine! I'll give each of you a ten percent stake. We'll all make money together!" Zhu Xiongying waved his chubby little hand, agreeing very generously. By winning them over, he would not only have people to speak for him in court, but his brewery would also stand much firmer in Yingtian Prefecture!