Chang'an City has a population of one million and needs a large supply of goods. According to the system of concentrating industrial and commercial shops in fixed areas in previous capital cities, Chang'an City in the Tang Dynasty established two cities on the east and west sides of Waiguozhong.
The East Market and the West Market are located at the same location on both sides of Zhuque Street. They are symmetrical to the left and right. They are located in the southeast and southwest outside the Imperial City and cover roughly the same area.
It is said that the word "buying things" first appeared in the Tang Dynasty, referring to the east and west cities in Chang'an City. In the mouths of Hu merchants and merchants, the east and west cities were collectively called "Tang City". This Merchants gathered in the two markets, and the shops were lined with a wide variety of goods. The trade was extremely prosperous. They were the core business district of Chang'an City, the largest international metropolis at that time, and the CBD of Chang'an City in the Tang Dynasty...
However, there are significant differences between the east and west cities.
Due to its close proximity to the Taiji Palace, Daming Palace, and Xingqing Palace, which were commonly known as the "Three Great Neighborhoods" by the people of the Tang Dynasty, Dongshi City was located east of Zhuque Street, where most of the residences of ministers and dignitaries were located. The state residences or Jinzouyuan of the institutions stationed in Beijing are all located near Dongshi. The Imperial College and candidates from all over the country who are rushing to take exams are also active nearby. Therefore, there are many luxury goods in Dongshi, and rare treasures from all over the world have been accumulated.
The West Market is far away from the "Three Major Neighborhoods" and is surrounded by many civilian residences. The products sold in the market are mostly daily necessities such as clothing, candles, cakes, and medicines. However, in comparison, the West Market, which sells ordinary commodities, is more commercial than the East Market. It is more prosperous and is the main industrial and commercial district and economic activity center of Chang'an City, so it is also called the "Golden City".?
The West Market is relatively close to the starting point of the Tang Chang'an Silk Road. There are many foreign businessmen living in the surrounding areas, making it an international trade market. People from Central Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Korea, Baekje, Silla, Japan, etc. Most of the local businessmen live in the West Market or in some neighborhoods near the West Market, especially those from Central Asia and Persia, where the largest number of Hu merchants live.
These Hu merchants brought spices, sold medicines, and bought back jewelry, silk fabrics, porcelain, etc. Therefore, there were many shops opened by Hu merchants in the West Market, such as Persian mansions, jewelry stores, warehouses, wine shops, etc.
Many orchid wine shops where girls from the Western Regions sing, dance and serve wine are places that romantic young people like to patronize. For example, Li Bai's "Youth Journey" has "Wulin Youth Jinshidong" and "Laughing into the Orchid Wine Shop" verse……
To put it simply, the east and west cities are one high-end and the other civilian, with different business directions.
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In the early morning, the sky was gray and gloomy, the sun had not yet risen, and the severe frost from last night spread a white layer on the black roof tiles, making it even more chilly.
The East Market was already bustling with traffic and horses, and it was very lively.
Aristocratic families, powerful landowners, and government agencies from all over Guanzhong all sent personnel to Dongshi to purchase goods to prepare for their daily needs.
According to literature records, the area of Dongshi is "two squares in the north and south". It is surrounded by tall walls, with two gates on each side, for a total of eight gates.
There are entry and exit streets up to 30 feet wide on each side to facilitate commercial transportation and citizens' parking of vehicles and horses before entering the market.
The north avenue is close to Chunming Gate, making it easy to access and bustling with people. Especially the location near the exit of Dongshi is a prime location in Dongshi.
The Changsun family's iron shop is located here.
On the second floor of the two-story shop facing the street, Chang Sun Jun held a cup of hot tea in his hand and looked out the window.
The street in front of us extends directly to the interior of Dongshi. There are shops on both sides of the street. There are cars and horses, people buying, transporting, delivering goods, and people pulling feet... Pedestrians and merchants are rubbing shoulders, and people are cheering and hawking. It's great.
A scene of prosperity and prosperity.
There was a commotion at the door of the first-floor shop at my feet.
"Shopkeeper, you are being unkind. Our family has been cooperating with your eldest grandson's railway company for ten years. During this period, we have never purchased goods from other companies. But now you are offering me the highest price in the entire East Market. You are willing to give me the highest price.
How will I explain it when I go back?"
A rough voice sounded, with a very dissatisfied tone.
Then the voice of the shopkeeper came: "Manager Quan, it's not so-and-so who raises the price. We have been friends for many years, and you still don't know who he is? This is already the lowest price in our store. Please ask around if there is anyone else who can compare with him."
This price is low, you take this batch of pig iron for nothing, and you don’t charge a certain penny!”
Manager Quan with the rough voice snorted and said: "Maybe this is the lowest price at your house, but the Zhao family just bought a batch of pig iron from Fang's iron shop, and the price is 40% cheaper than here! We are both in Tianshui.
The county is doing business, and our Quan family and Zhao family are competitors, and the price difference is 40%. If you ask me to go back, how can I explain to the owner of the family, whether our Quan family can continue the pig iron business?"
Changsun Jun frowned slightly.
The Quan family and the Zhao family of Tianshui County are both members of the Guanlong Group. Now the Zhao family has left the Changsun family's iron shop and gone to the Fang family's iron shop to purchase goods. Is this just because the pig iron price of the Fang family is cheaper than that of the Changsun family?
?
Or maybe this is the attitude of the Zhao family to get closer to the Fang family...
The conversation at the door continues.
The shopkeeper of Tiehang said in a helpless tone: "When our eldest grandson's family does business, we have always been a child without bullying. You get what you pay for, don't you know that, Manager Quan?"
Manager Quan sneered: "Don't be fooled by me. You get what you pay for. The pig iron from Fang's house is cheaper than yours and the quality is better than yours! If the owner of the house hadn't told me before he left, I must praise him."
Your eldest son's family, do you think I'm still nagging you right now? I went to the Fang family's iron shop a long time ago to buy some goods! It's the same price as the Fang family's pig iron, can you tell me, okay, let's
Let’s load the car and pay immediately; if not, let’s go to the Fang family’s railway store to purchase the goods. It’s true that our Quan family cares about our friendship with each other, but we can’t ruin our own business, right?”
The shopkeeper of Tiehang was silent for a while and said: "I can't make the decision. Why don't you wait a moment? The young master happens to be in the store. I'll go down and ask for instructions before I get back to you."
The steward said quickly: "Then go back quickly and bring a good boy to someone."
"Okay, let's have a cup of hot tea to warm yourself up. I'll be back soon after I go."
Changsun Jun frowned tightly.
Not long after, there was a "dong-dong" sound from the stairs behind him, and the shopkeeper walked up quickly. When he saw Chang Sun Jun, he first saluted, and then said with a sad face: "Sanlang..."
Changsun Jun waved his hand and said: "I have already heard it."
The shopkeeper said angrily: "What the hell is this Fang family doing to keep the price of iron so low? Although we can't sell the goods, don't they still lose money?"
Changsun Jun rubbed his forehead, feeling helpless.
It is true that our family cannot sell goods, but it is not necessarily true that the Fang family will lose money...
A long time ago, the Changsun family had learned that the Fang family had improved the iron-making technology under the leadership of Fang Jun, which could greatly reduce the cost of pig iron and greatly improve the quality. The Changsun family was naturally aware of the crisis, and had
They bribed and wooed the Fang family's iron smelting craftsmen, and even sent out agents to find out the inside story, but to no avail.
The new iron-making furnace can be imitated, but the detailed ingredients used in iron-making cannot be imitated...
Only the top craftsmen of the Fang family will have access to that recipe, and those top craftsmen are enslaved servants of various families. The whole family is under the control of the master family. How easy is it to bribe or even instigate rebellion?
It's just that the Fang family's iron price has only remained slightly lower than that of the Changsun family. Many old customers of the Changsun family have not changed their families because of their past friendship. However, the Fang family's sudden price reduction has made the customers of the Changsun family dissatisfied. …
After all, everyone relies on business to make money and support the entire family through business. Once the income drops sharply, it will inevitably lead to conflicts within the family.
How much is love worth compared to profit?
Is this drastic price cut a counterattack by Fang Jun?
On the birthday of King Jin, Fang Jun's shouting about Changsun Wuji has already spread throughout Guanzhong. As the legitimate son of the Changsun family, Changsun Jun will naturally not know about it...
After pondering for a moment, Changsun Jun made a decisive decision: "Let's sell it at the same price as the house price."
The shopkeeper couldn't help but persuade: "Sanlang, the Fang family is 40% cheaper than us! If pig iron is sold at this price, I'm afraid..."
I'm afraid I can't stand it!
The current selling price of the Changsun Family is only less than 20% of the profit, and it is 40% cheaper, which means a loss of 20%! Even if the Changsun Family has a great business, in the long run, the bottom line will be emptied!