Chapter 17 Don’t seek the best, but seek the most expensive!
With the arrival of the autumn harvest season, the face of Zheng Shuqing, the governor of Kuizhou, was also full of sadness.
As the saying goes, the year is afraid of the Mid-Autumn Festival and the moon is half-done. Once the autumn harvest is over, it means that the year is coming to an end. Next year, the Lantern Festival will be right next to the New Year. It can be said that it is about to turn around. Now is the last moment.
However, Zheng Shuqing still can't see where the hope is!
Apart from Jiangguan, there really isn't much going on in Kuizhou. All economic development is brought about by traveling merchants. The proportion of the local permanent population with acres of land (registered by the government) is not even close to that of Fang Chongyong in his previous life.
Bi, even at this time, Shu is counting backwards.
"Big Mac" Qinghe County in Hebei Province has fifty times as many registered households as Kuizhou!
But in contrast, due to the prosperity of tourism in Kuizhou, a large number of "customers" without land have gathered in Fucheng, which has also led to the abnormal prosperity of the brewing industry. From Qumichun in Yunyang to Wuchun in Fucheng.
It can be said that Xiachun has no shortage of good wine since ancient times.
Fan Chengda of the Song Dynasty wrote a poem: The wine in Yun'an is strong and the rice is cheap, but every family supports it to make people intoxicated. What he is talking about is the fine wine here in Kuizhou, which is not only low-priced, but also extremely cost-effective.
From this perspective, Zheng Shuqing's concerns are not groundless: Kuizhou's fine wine does not meet the aesthetic taste of Chang'an nobles. Precisely because of its high cost performance, it has no market competitiveness among the aristocratic class and can only be known as a "local specialty".
If Du Fu hadn't taken refuge in Kuizhou when he was in despair, he would never have tasted rice wine like Qumichun in Kuizhou in Chang'an.
In other words, although the liquor industry in Kuizhou is prosperous, apart from brewing a little at home for drinking, selling the rest to wine shops to make some small money, or brewing some wine to entertain merchants, this is all. The local bully who runs rampant in the local area will not be able to go to Chang'an after all.
The big stage.
Wine that cannot be sold in Chang'an has no commercial value. There are also local wines in other places, which are equally good and cheap. Kuizhou wine has no possibility of being sold in places other than Chang'an, Luoyang and other places. As for where the large amount of grain required for winemaking comes from, of course it comes from Shu! It is very convenient to buy it from passing merchants. This is one of the reasons why Kuizhou does not produce grain but has a developed wine industry.<
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Therefore, the raw materials for brewing are easy to obtain, the mountain spring water is of good quality, and the wine is of high quality (not top-notch), which are the advantages of Kuizhou's wine industry; its reputation is not well-known in the elite circles of Chang'an, and it is far from Guanzhong and cannot rely on quantity to go down the lower-class route.
Disadvantages of the wine industry.
Moreover, due to the restrictions on water transportation in the Tang Dynasty, it was unrealistic to sell wine on a large scale and would also encounter resistance.
In the study room of the Lotus Pond Villa, Fang Chongyong broke these apart and gave them to Zheng Shuqing for analysis. The government office had already begun to purchase the new grain after this year's autumn harvest at a low price to prepare raw materials for wine making.
It's just that ideals are one thing, and reality is another. Making wine is not difficult, the difficult thing is how to sell it in Chang'an!
"So, Kuizhou's wine is not famous enough?"
After listening to Fang Chongyong's analysis, Zheng Shuqing frowned and asked as if talking to himself.
He himself comes from Chang'an and comes from a family of officials. Naturally, he has no shortage of good things and is well-informed.
The biggest problem with Kuizhou’s wine is not the taste, but the color! It’s the quality!
In the Tang Dynasty, wine without special color could not be included in the aristocratic recipes! Naturally, it was at the bottom of the wine contempt chain.
Wine as red as blood, fermented rice wine as yellow as amber, and Sanler wine as blue as a lake, all have their own characteristics. If you take out a pot of rice wine with a light milky white color and serve it to the table, you will be embarrassed to tell the guests
Say hello!
From the appearance point of view, it is inferior by three points! I have already lost it before I even started tasting it!
The rich and powerful in Chang'an have flamboyant personalities, live in dreams, and pursue luxury. The Qumi Chun and Wuxia Chun that Kuizhou offers at no cost are not their cup of tea!
"Actually, just looking at the color, Kuizhou wine has no advantage at all. It's not easy to become famous in a short time. How do you want to make money by making wine?"
Zheng Shuqing couldn't help but sigh. Just buy the grain. Anyway, it's not difficult to sell it. You can still make a little money by selling it in winter.
"In addition, the raw materials for making wine are too easy to obtain, which will also make people feel that the quality is low and that it is not worthy of elegance."
He continued to make another cut.
The principle that rare things are more valuable applies everywhere. If the raw materials for making wine are easy to obtain (including water) and the aging time is short, then people will naturally think that the quality is average. Now it is only a few months before the Lantern Festival next year.
These few months of "aging" are intended to deceive those Chang'an dignitaries who drink wine as water.
Still a little too naive!
Fang Chongyong's previous routine of "tariff restructuring and calibrating canals" really amazed Zheng Shuqing, and it can even be said to be "turning decay into magic". However, it is obvious that Fang Chongyong, who does not know how to drink at all, will find it difficult to achieve success in the area of drinks.
Come in different ways.
"Your Majesty, actually, we can use red lotus rice to make wine."
Fang Zhongyong said with certainty.
He has been working as a salted fish since the summer, reading and practicing calligraphy every day. It seems that he is living a very leisurely life, but in fact, he has been collecting all kinds of information and preparing a killer move!
Now, when the sword is unsheathed, who can compete with it?
"Honglian rice wine making?"
Zheng Shuqing was stunned, not understanding Fang Chongyong's train of thought at all.
Tasty rice may not be suitable for making wine, and vice versa. The ingredients used in making wine sometimes have nothing to do with whether it tastes good or not.
Sorghum is so unpalatable, but the flavor of sorghum wine is completely opposite. This is why it is unique among wines.
Red lotus rice is indeed delicious, but it may not be suitable for making wine, and no one does it!
Such precious rice is a royal tribute, and only the family who receives it from Li Longji will be able to eat it. Even if there are "floating" parts on the road, those who get the "road-opening rice" dare not show it off publicly, let alone
Perhaps a precious tribute such as red lotus rice was used to brew it privately.
There is no demand, and we are reluctant to part with the materials, and there are a lot of ready-made good wines. The wine made by Hongliandao in Chang'an is really damn good!
"Are you kidding? Where does this red lotus rice come from?"
Zheng Shuqing spread his hands and looked at Fang Chongyong in surprise and asked.
"Your Majesty, I have a question for you."
"Please speak."
"Gu Kuang's official document should be among some people in Chang'an. It's not a secret."
Fang Chongyong suddenly mentioned this, which was a bit beyond Zheng Shuqing's expectation.
"If, I mean, if someone is spreading news in Chang'an now, saying that the red lotus rice produced as a tribute from Kuizhou has been used in large quantities to make wine, wouldn't it be consistent with Gu Kuang's official document?"
Fang Chongyong said with a smile.
It seems, seems, maybe...that is indeed the case.
Zheng Shuqing nodded slightly. Rumors that can be verified are easy to ferment. Gu Kuang's official document was not encrypted. It passed through many inns along the way and passed through the hands of many officials before finally reaching the desk of the Minister of Household Affairs.
!
Anyone on this line may spread the news. If someone is willing to add fuel to the flames, it will not be difficult to make everyone in Chang'an City aware.
Half of the red lotus rice was destroyed due to the "mountain fire", so whether this half was really destroyed, or... it just disappeared from the court's account books, who knows?
Throughout the ages, people who watch the excitement have always been fond of conspiracy theories!
People who have taken the "road-opening rice" will not talk about it, let alone clarify it, while those who have not taken it will regard it as a talking point before tea and after dinner! Finally, it is rumored that these red lotus rice are used to make wine.
The final version! It also covers up the crimes committed by some people along the way!
Everyone will be looking forward to: Damn it, what is the taste of the wine brewed from that red lotus rice that is as expensive as gold?
Therefore, there is indeed no red lotus rice used to make wine in Kuizhou, but the dignitaries in Chang'an can believe that a batch of red lotus rice was intercepted in Kuizhou and used to make wine!
As long as they think there is, it means there is no. People who know the inside story will not come out to expose it, let alone point to their noses and say: There is no red lotus rice in Kuizhou, and there is a lot of it in my pocket.
As for Li Longji, if he wants to get an extra 100,000 yuan, even if he knows the inside story, will he still hold accountable the right-hand man who helps him make money?
Wanting to understand this relationship, Zheng Shuqing rubbed his hands excitedly and asked: "It seems so, but... the mouths of the nobles in Chang'an are difficult to serve. Ordinary Wuxia spring is difficult for the nobles to discern!"<
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"That's natural, but I still have a killer move here. I'll start brewing it now, and it will be ready before the Lantern Festival next year. We'll transport the wine to Chang'an, exchange it for money in Chang'an, and pay it directly as taxes!"
Full of confidence, Fang Chongyong took out a small cloth bag from behind and placed it on the table. He untied the bag and found grains of red rice inside.
"Red Lotus Rice!"
Zheng Shuqing stood up suddenly and was stunned. He took the red japonica rice in his hand and inspected it carefully, but he noticed something was wrong.
"It is rumored that red lotus rice is as transparent as ruby. This kind of... is not very similar."
As Zheng Shuqing spoke, he put the red japonica rice back and shook his head slightly.
"In your opinion, if red lotus rice is used to make wine, what color should it be?"
Fang Chongyong asked in a deep voice.
"The color is red and transparent, lighter than wine, but bright and clear..."
Zheng Shuqing closed his eyes, shook his head, and said with a face full of intoxication.
You really understand the tone that the rich and powerful like!
Fang Chongyong couldn't help but complained in his heart.
Having had enough chatting, he bowed to Zheng Shuqing and said, "I will follow you to Fengxian Tower. I have already arranged it. If you don't say anything, you will be a blockbuster. Your journey back to Chang'an will start from today."
Power!"
Fang Chongyong raised his arms and shouted loudly.
However, Zheng Shuqing couldn't bring himself to cheer up. He waved his hands feebly, stood up and followed Fang Zhongyong. The two entered the city from the north of the government office, and everyone who saw them on the road saluted them cordially. Seeing this scene, Zheng Shuqing still felt a little proud.
of.
When he came outside the door of Fengxian Tower, he saw Fang Laique holding a chicken leg and gnawing on it. Fang Chongyong's face darkened and he yelled in displeasure: "Why did you eat it again?"
"Well, it's like this. The shopkeeper of Fengxian Tower is very enthusiastic and gave me a lot of food..."
Fang Laique said nonchalantly, seeming a little embarrassed, which made Fang Zhongyong frown.
"Is everything done?"
Fang Chongyong asked with a tigerish face, as long as Fang Laique dared to say no, he would immediately serve him in his own way!
"Okay, okay, the young master of Fengxian Tower has come all the way from Chang'an."
Fang Laique leaned into Fang Chongyong's ear and whispered.
"Okay!"
Fang Chongyong walked over and said to Zheng Shuqing: "It's settled. Please let me go to the top floor of Fengxian Tower to discuss important matters!"
Seeing that he spoke solemnly, Zheng Shuqing nodded calmly. When the group arrived at the top floor, they saw a young man dressed in ordinary clothes, like a farmer, who had been waiting for a long time.
"I, Wang Defu, have met the envoy. My father, Wang Yuanbao, is doing business in Chang'an."
Wang Yuanbao?
Zheng Shuqing was stunned for a moment, then nodded very reservedly, and sat down opposite Wang Defu with Fang Chongyong.
Wang Yuanbao was the richest man in Chang'an, and most likely the richest man in the Tang Dynasty. He made his fortune by trafficking in colored glaze. Zheng Shuqing also heard about this.
Fang Chongyong leaned into Zheng Shuqing's ear and whispered: "When I saw Fengxian Tower using glazed tiles, I knew that his family must be owned by Wang Yuanbao. Where can an ordinary businessman buy glazed tiles to build a house?"
It is only human nature to build a house with factory-priced bricks and tiles.
"Today, I just want to talk about this Honglianchun wine on behalf of the envoy."
Fang Chongyong made an invitation gesture and said, Fang Laique quickly opened the lid of a jar of wine, and then filled the porcelain bowls in front of Zheng Shuqing and Wang Defu with wine.
Just as Zheng Shuqing expected, the wine was bright red and clear, and it looked like something extraordinary.
"Please taste it!"
Fang Chongyong stood up and said to the two of them.
This wine smells mellow, but is slightly sweet in the mouth. It tastes soft and refreshing, with a slight bitter taste, and has a long aftertaste after drinking. The aroma and taste of this wine are very unique. Zheng Shuqing is not someone who has never tasted good wine, but he was stunned.
There is no other wine that tastes similar to this wine.
"This is Honglianchun brewed with red lotus rice."
Fang Chongyong solemnly introduced.
Wang Defu smiled and nodded, and his smile seemed to have profound meaning; Zheng Shuqing also smiled and nodded, which was sincere.
"My father will find a way to sell Honglianchun in Chang'an and settle the accounts in Chang'an. We don't ask about the brewing process. May I ask what price Lang Jun wants to set?"
The price of wine in Chang'an is actually very fixed. It's not that each wine has a price, but the wine is "categorized". Different grades of wine also have different prices.
A dou (small dou, two liters) of wine used by ordinary people at home costs a hundred Wen.
The wine consumed by the families of bureaucrats and wealthy people is worth a thousand coins (consistently).
As for the wine used for the banquets of the powerful class, the price is hard to say. It can be a bucket of 10,000 yuan, or it can be 100,000 yuan, it all depends on the degree of scarcity.
"Red lotus rice is a tribute. One stone of rice produces one dou of wine. One dou is twenty-five guan. That's just the cost! We sell it to your shop for twenty-five guan per dou. For the rest, you can sell it as much as you want.
.
Honglianchun is no better than ordinary wine. It does not harm the body and can strengthen the body. It is most suitable for noble people to drink. This jar of wine is given to the young master. The young master is a well-informed person. Is what he said true?
Yes, after drinking this jar, you will have your own conclusion."
"How many fights do you have? If not, I will take them all."
After thinking for a long time, Wang Defu raised his head and asked.
"Not much, just a bar worth more than 100,000 yuan. It will be delivered to Chang'an before the Lantern Festival next year."
"It's too much. With such a large amount, I can't make the decision. I have to go back to Chang'an to discuss it with my father first."
Wang Defu bowed his hands and said.
Zheng Shuqing and Fang Chongyong looked at each other. Fang Chongyong shook his head slightly, indicating to Zheng Shuqing not to be excited and to stay calm.
"In this case, I and the envoy will take leave first. We will decide when the richest man Wang will meet us."
Fang Chongyong saluted respectfully, then pulled Zheng Shuqing out of Fengxian Tower.