The Crown Prince of Shu was in a bad mood, so he took his two confidants for a stroll on the street. When they wandered to a tea house, they finally saw more people, so they wanted to go in and sit.
When I walked to the door, I bumped into a woman, who was also leading a man and a woman to the teahouse behind her. This woman was in her thirties. She was not a peerless beauty, but she had an amazing figure. People passing by couldn't help but look at her. Behind her,
Although the girl was plain in appearance, she had a bookish air about her. However, the young man could not tell the difference between male and female at first glance, with an indifferent expression and a leisurely expression. Among the three, this man was obviously the prettiest. There were many people at the door of the teahouse, and they all looked curiously.
Tong Buye looked at the young man opposite, then at their prince, and smiled quietly. The prince turned back and glanced at her. Mingduan said: "She laughed at the shortness of the uncle."
Tong Buye hurriedly said: "No! I was wondering who is more handsome, the uncle or that young man."
The leading woman on the opposite side stopped and asked with a smile: "Who is good-looking?"
Tong Buye tilted his head and looked at the two of them again, and said with sincerity, "This young master of yours is a little prettier."
The girl opposite covered her mouth and smiled: "Good taste."
The young man glanced at her: "Shopkeeper, it's time for tea."
The shopkeeper nodded towards the prince and led his two men in first. The girl whispered: "Shopkeeper, shouldn't I let others go first?"
The shopkeeper said: "As the saying goes, ladies come first. There are many women here, so of course they let us."
Tong Buye was stunned and whispered: "Your Majesty, is there such a saying?"
"Yes." The prince looked at the backs of the three of them thoughtfully, "The saying from the south came from the West."
The waiters in the teahouse had already greeted them. The three of them entered and saw the three people in front of them going upstairs, so they also walked upstairs. When they reached the second floor, the three people were walking towards a table by the window. The prince pointed at them.
Pointing to the room next to them, the six people met again and nodded to each other.
Not long after I sat down, I heard the girl at the next table say: "I can't imagine the Shu Kingdom's depression was so sudden."
The shopkeeper said: "This is just the beginning. The Shu Kingdom has entered the market economy for several years, and the whole country has already adapted to it. Suddenly, the capitalists withdraw their capital on a large scale. The court has no experience and will not be able to deal with it, and the economy will inevitably collapse."
The girl said: "Just like the state of Qi."
"No," the shopkeeper said, "Qi has always been a small-scale peasant economy, and it is slowly declining. Shu is like suffering from a sudden illness, which can happen as quickly as half a year, or as slowly as a year. Prices are soaring, unemployment is jumping, banditry is increasing in vain, and the lower class is
The common people migrated in large numbers because they could no longer survive. The nobles had a surplus of wealth, and these things would not affect their lives too quickly, so they were not easily aware of how serious the problem was. By the time they realized it, it was already too late.
It is easy to move from frugality to luxury, but it is difficult to move from luxury to frugality. This applies to everyone." She looked at the tea guests in the teahouse and said, "Although these people are all drinking tea, most of them have worries on their brows. I remember when I came to Chengdu in the past, the house was full.
They are all satisfied."
The girl said: "What about our business?"
The shopkeeper said with a smile: "It has nothing to do with us. The treasury of the Shu Kingdom is full of money, and we have always done a lot of business, and there will be more."
The young man asked: "Why?"
"There are numerous bandits, and the consumption of military supplies will naturally increase." The shopkeeper said, "There is smoke everywhere in Shu. Otherwise, why would I come here in person?" The three of them looked at each other and smiled.
Ming Duan thought for a moment, then cupped his hands and said, "The shopkeeper is here to invite you." The shopkeeper also returned the greeting. Ming Duan said, "I accidentally overheard what the shopkeeper said below. I dare to ask the shopkeeper, although Chengdu's streets are a little deserted now.
, prices are still stable, why do the shopkeepers think prices in Shu will skyrocket?"
The shopkeeper said: "The capital has just been withdrawn, and the previously produced products are still waiting for sale in the warehouse, so they cannot be displayed. When a large number of factories and shops close their doors, there will naturally be a shortage of goods in the market. Can prices not skyrocket?"
Ming Duan said: "What if the government does not allow merchants to raise prices?"
The shopkeeper said: "Does this gentleman know why the capital of Shu Kingdom withdrew so abruptly?"
Ming Duan said: "Because of the HSBC incident, they are afraid of being asked for money by the court."
"No. In some cases, others will only think that HSBC is unlucky." The shopkeeper said, "Capital is born to pursue profits. What they fear most is not making donations to the court, but the government's interference in the economy in violation of market rules. For example, what you just said,
Merchants are not allowed to raise prices. It should be noted that as there are fewer local products in Shu, merchants have to go to other countries to purchase goods, which increases the cost a lot. If workers and clerks do not move to other countries with their employers, they will not be able to find new jobs, and there will be more bandits. Banditry
Frequent incidents have increased the cost of hiring escorts and the risk of robbery. If the government does not allow the price to be raised, the business will not be able to continue. If it cannot continue, it will close down and go to other countries to do business. The cycle continues."
Ming Duan nodded unconsciously: "What the shopkeeper said makes sense. The shopkeeper just said that the Shu court has no experience and will not be able to deal with it. I think the shopkeeper is an expert. Please tell me how to deal with such a situation?"
The shopkeeper said with a smile: "I can't comment on this."
Ming Duan simply walked over, cupped his hands and said: "To be honest, Wansheng's brother works as a guest in the house of a nobleman, and even the house Wansheng's family lives in is temporarily rented by the nobleman. Wansheng's brother is worried day and night, and Wansheng is also very worried.
.Ask the shopkeeper for advice."
Coincidentally, the shopkeeper's seat was not far away from the prince. He glanced at her and said, "I'm just talking casually. Sir, listen casually. Don't take it seriously."
"The shopkeeper is just chatting."
The shopkeeper then asked Ming Duan to sit down and have a sip of tea: "In other countries, there is no other way except complete reform. However, the Supreme King of Shu is old and his ideas are old and cannot be changed. Although the prince is wise, he is a grandson.
, can only stare. However, the Shu Kingdom has been plundering outside all year round, and the national treasury is full. Now only the imperial court pays to go to other countries to buy rice, flour, cloth and other items, and then sell them to the people at low prices. They also negotiated with the Chamber of Commerce and promised that the imperial court would not interfere in the market.
.But the imperial court must not have a condescending face, otherwise people will not believe it. If there are enough talents, they can also send officials and merchants to set up factories. These can barely solve the urgent need and cure the symptoms."
Ming Duan thought: "What about treating the root cause?"
The shopkeeper simply said: "Join the Federation." Ming Duan smiled bitterly.
The girl said: "In fact, the reform is also possible."
The young man said: "Reform is useless. The Chu and Lu countries all followed the Yan State's reforms, and they will decline sooner or later. You see, since the rise of Shanghai, the Lu country has declined a lot."
Mingduan asked puzzledly: "Why is this?"
The shopkeeper said: "After all, they did not copy all the new laws of the Federation, such as the abolition of slavery and the land tax. Without changing the land tax, the land will always be in the hands of the big families. When the slave tenants run away, the farmland will be barren. The ten previous states of Chu have all gone to other countries.
Just buy rice. When the railway is built, the gap will get wider and wider."
The girl held her chin and said, "Shopkeeper, according to what you said, the crux is still the population."
"Um."
"Then the Shu Kingdom has a way." The girl said, "Don't they have a colony? Wouldn't it be nice to go to the colony and get people to come back and work on the land?"
The shopkeeper glanced at her: "The Kingdom of Shu will soon be destroyed."
Ming Duan asked quickly: "Why?"
The shopkeeper said: "All the colonies in the Shu Kingdom believe in the Taoist Cult. This religion is very exclusive, and children learn it from an early age, and it is ingrained in their hearts. The Taoist priest Jia Cong can tolerate Buddhism and Western Nestorianism, but the Taoist Cult is the most unacceptable.
If this religion is introduced in our court, he will be the first to send troops to attack." The prince and Tong Buye at the next table looked at each other.
Ming Duan said: "Just don't allow them to believe it."
The shopkeeper said: "It's difficult."
Ming Duan chuckled and said: "It's not difficult. There are many taboos in the Taoist Cult. Just break them one by one."
The shopkeeper said: "Anyway, I just want to remind you. If the Shu Kingdom wants to use Dashi Christians, they must change their religion. Otherwise, the Yan army will only destroy Shu in one day and night."
Ming Duan hummed: "Although the Yan army is strong, are our Shu army vegetarians?" The shopkeeper raised his eyebrows indifferently and said nothing.
The prince said leisurely at the next table: "Could it be that Red Bones only sold the best firearms to Yan State and not to others? Isn't that so bad, shopkeeper Wu." Ming Duan and Tong Buye gasped together.
The shopkeeper raised his head and glanced at the Crown Prince: "This uncle is so lively and clever. My real surname is Wu."
The prince smiled and said: "The female shopkeeper who is responsible for military supplies is as majestic as a mountain. Only Wu Xiaoxi in Red Bones can be remembered."
"Young master, you are so complimentary." This person was indeed Wu Xiaoxi. Hearing the prince's praise, he couldn't help but smile. "Yan Guo didn't sell me all the firearms."
The prince's brows moved: "They did make firearms."
Wu Xiaoxi said: "Yan Qiang Yan Cannon Yan Lei has long been stronger than the Western ones, and now it is the main supplier of Red Bones. Western goods have only been sold to maritime merchants, escort agencies, Qi State and a few small countries in recent years." She sighed.
, "Qi State no longer wants Western goods."
The girl said: "Isn't it good for them to buy Yan products?"
Wu Xiaoxi said: "The cost of Western goods is low, so we can make a lot of money!"
The girl chuckled: "With such financial resources, the shopkeeper still cares about those two small coins?"
Wu Xiaoxi said sternly: "Business people never think that profits are too high." She glanced at the prince again and said to Ming Duan, "But the Kingdom of Shu still has to abolish slavery, or the guerrillas will help you abolish it. After all, it is such a big place.
, conquering prefectures and counties one by one, it will be completed in less than three years or two years."
The prince nodded and murmured: "I am not short of money, people, or firearms. I can afford them." He sighed softly and motioned for Ming Duan to return to his seat.
The people at the two tables then had tea separately. The prince's table didn't talk much, but Wu Xiaoxi's table chatted non-stop. At first, Wu Xiaoxi talked about the customs and customs of various places, and then the man named Axi talked non-stop about North America.
Wu Xiaoxi smiled and said, "It sounds like you are going."
Axi said: "Isn't my sister here? She sent me letters and many photos."
The girl asked: "Speaking of which, your sister has been away for more than a year. How do you feel?"
Axi said: "We're going to get engaged soon."
"Pfft, cough, cough, cough..." the girl choked, and after a while she patted her chest and said, "An engagement? So soon?"
"Someone is chasing her, and they are chasing her hard. She has never been pursued by a man like that in her life. She is also handsome."
"Um...who is that?"
"I didn't ask," Axi said, "I probably forgot about it."
Wu Xiaoxi said: "The environment has changed so much that people feel like they have been reborn. Axi, you really want to go. I want to keep you."
"I won't do it," Ah Xi said casually, "I will leave next year. The shopkeeper remembers to promise me a bonus."
Wu Xiaoxi hummed: "Your great-uncle is so rich that he could rival the country, but he still misses my two small coins."
Axi said confidently: "Didn't those two small coins come from my own hard-earned money? My man is a nerd, and raising him is very expensive."
"That's all!" Wu Xiaoxi waved his hand, "It's as if such a big project needs to be supported by family members." Axi snorted. The three of them had Huizi tea again, paid and left.
Looking at their backs, both Ming Duan and the Crown Prince were thoughtful. Tong Buye said first, "That Axi is a boy, right?"
Ming Duan said: "Although he was born with a female appearance, he is definitely a man."
"He just said he wanted to support his man." Tong Buye blinked, "Your Majesty, this young master is really good-looking, can you snatch him over?"
The prince said calmly: "A gentleman does not win people's love." Mingduan coughed twice and gave Tong Buye a warning look. Tong Buye shrank his neck. The prince rubbed his temples, "Shopkeeper Wu is right, no matter what happens, abolition of slaves
It's going to be abolished. My grandfather should understand in his heart, but he just can't live with his face."
Ming Duan said: "That's easy to handle. Find a smart-talking person he trusts to persuade him. Just think that the old man is soft-hearted and has been persuaded, so he will go downhill."
The prince said sadly: "No one he believes in supports the abolition of slavery." His eyes unconsciously glanced downstairs.
Wu Xiaoxi and three other people were leaving the teahouse when they met a person head-on. The person said "Ouch" and was quite surprised. The prince sounded familiar, but he couldn't see the person's face. He only saw him standing next to the girl who was following Wu Xiaoxi.
After saying a few words and saluting in front of the building, the girl left with her companion. The man entered the teahouse.
Not long after, footsteps were heard on the stairs, and the waiter led the man downstairs up. The prince took one look and recognized him immediately. This man was Qiu Xingzheng, the son of Qiu Liang. He was originally a craftsman in Qin State, so he specially transferred him.
He came back to work and had just arrived in Chengdu. Qiu Xingzheng came upstairs and chose a table in the corner to sit down by himself. After waiting for a long time, seeing that he didn't seem to be inviting someone, the prince went out of his way to call him over. Qiu Xingzheng was listening.
After understanding what Ming Duan said, I followed his fingers and saw the prince looking at him with a smile. He quickly stood up and followed Ming Duan.
The prince smiled and asked him to sit down. They all knew each other. The prince asked: "Brother Qiu, you were talking to a girl in front of the building just now. Who is she?"
Qiu Xingzheng clapped his hands and said, "This girl is a strange person! Prince, I want to force her to come to Shu to be an official." The prince raised his eyebrows. Qiu Xingzheng said excitedly, "That girl with eyebrows was originally a prostitute in the Qin Kingdom, but later I found out that she was a prostitute in the Qin Kingdom.
She is the niece of Lord Ding, the imperial censor. She went to Hualou because she was a member of the inner guard. In the past two years, she was promoted to the commander of the inner guard."
Ming Duan asked hurriedly: "But Master Dingmei?"
"Exactly!" Qiu Xingzheng said, "It's a pity that not long after taking office, Qin State joined the Federation and all officials were redeployed. She is the first official to be unable to retain her position. I also asked that she left Qin State to relax elsewhere.
, I never thought that I would do business with a merchant." He gave a thumbs up and said, "He is such a rare talent, it is a pity to do business."
The prince and others looked at each other for a few times. Ming Duan sighed: "I'm afraid we can't win over the boss."