Chapter 668 The power of merchants is gradually enriching
The wind is brisk and the snowflakes are falling.
When Su Lu came out of Xiao Mansion, it was already getting late, and the lanterns hanging on the gatehouse were swaying in the cold wind and snowflakes, illuminating the square inch of land in front of the door.
Lu Zhan directed the guards to pull the carriage over and wanted to invite Su Lu to get on board.
Su Lu waved his hand and refused:
"I'm going to take a walk on the long street. The carriage will go back to the palace first. I haven't walked on the long street for a long time. The capital has changed so much that I can hardly recognize it."
Restaurants and restaurants are scattered on both sides of the long street. High-hanging lanterns illuminate the nearby streets and half of the sky.
Even though it is a snowy winter day, there are still endless crowds of people on the streets and in front of restaurants.
There was already a thick layer of snow, and the sound of crunching could be heard as we walked on the road.
Lu Zhan gave a few instructions, then turned around and chased after him with a few guards. The prince was going to patrol the capital at night, so he naturally had to be on guard and not let anything happen to the prince's safety.
The sounds of banquets and banquets came from the restaurant beside the road, and the sounds of generous toasts came one after another, giving this cold winter night a layer of warmth.
Su Lu asked Lu Zhan next to him and said:
"I remember that although the capital city was lively in the past, there were not so many restaurants, and there were not so many people in the restaurants."
Lu Zhan nodded in response:
"Yes, in the past ten years or so, the capital has become as prosperous as this. This is all due to you, Your Majesty."
The guards nearby also said in unison:
"Yes, it's all thanks to the prince. The stone rail line was opened, but many people made money."
"The sea route has been opened. I heard that the ships from Fuxiang and Hengtaichang have all gone to Intermálaga, shipping out a ship full of porcelain and silk, and returning a ship full of gold and silver."
The guards said, their tone full of envy.
Su Lu felt a sense of relief in his heart. He opened the stone rail line and opened the sea route, not just to promote commercial development, make the country rich and powerful, and make the people live a healthy life. The current scene is exactly what he wants.
"Why, have you seen with your own eyes the ship full of gold and silver?"
Su Lu asked and patted the snowflakes on his body.
The business of merchants is essential, but it should not be excessive, otherwise it will inhibit agriculture and industry and have an adverse impact on the country. Just like the saying that the ship is full of gold and silver, it is naturally forbidden.
There is no problem if you make money secretly, but if your ship is full of gold and silver, you will naturally be charged.
The guard who spoke just now blushed and said excitedly:
"Really, Your Majesty, there is a boy in our village who works as a boss at Lai Fuxiang. He has seen with his own eyes the ship full of gold and silver."
Gao Dabao was also shouting next to him:
"My eldest son left the army and went to Laifuxiang to work as a captain on a seagoing ship. He went to Malaga several times and told me when he came back that Shopkeeper Su was not doing business, he was using the ship to make money.
.”
Su Lu frowned when he heard this. The Ministry of Rites didn't pay much attention to such news. Didn't Qian Qianyi know what kind of trend such rumors would create among the people?
At that time, people all over the country will go to sea trade, no one is willing to farm, the Ministry of Household Affairs will not be able to collect food, and the Ministry of War will not be able to recruit sergeants. Qian Qianyi, the Minister, should be dismissed from his post.
"Prince"
In the snow ahead, a startled sound suddenly sounded.
Su Lu looked up and saw Qian Qianyi and Dong Chengzheng, wrapped like cotton balls, walking towards him. Behind them, a few guards followed scatteredly. When they saw Su Lu, they walked a few steps quickly and arrived at Su Lu.
before.
Su Lu waved his hand, stopped the two of them from saluting, and asked:
"Mr. Qian, Mr. Dong, why are you interested in walking around in the middle of the night?"
Qian Qianyi was stopped from saluting, and he was smiling. When he heard Su Lu's question, his face began to look sad.
"To be honest, Your Majesty, the businessmen in the capital are very prosperous, which has had a lot of influence on both the court officials and the students in the schools. Officials have resigned one after another to engage in business, and students have dropped out of school and sailed away. This trend really worries me."
Dong Cheng was also saying next to him:
"The army is also quite unstable. Many captains have left the army and become martial arts masters in trading houses, just to make more money. If this trend continues, the source of our Han army will be in danger.
ah."
"Qian Shangshu and I have been visiting various places in Beijing these days, but our knowledge is limited and our vision is short-sighted, and we can't find a solution to the problem."
Qian Qianyi pinched his beard, and the lantern light from the restaurant shone on his face, which looked quite gloomy.
"I am so ignorant that I really can't find a way to remedy it. I don't understand why I can even throw away the books of saints and sages just for those stupid things."
Su Lu pointed at the restaurant and said with a smile:
"In that case, let's go in and have a meal to see why this restaurant's business is so good."
Lu Zhan walked a few steps quickly, climbed up the steps, grabbed the bartender, and gave a few instructions in a low voice.
The bartender was also a clever guy. He could tell by looking at the three people's attire that they were not simple. With great care, he led the three of them to the second floor seating area and ordered them to bring hot soup and tea.
"We have the fine wine Yu Lou Chun from Chu Di and the seafood double-headed abalone from Qi Di. I don't know what the three gentlemen want to use. Please give me your order and I will tell the chef to arrange it."
Su Lu smiled and asked:
"Nowadays, sea trade is popular. Waiter, your restaurant is so big, but do you have any food from overseas?"
When the waiter heard this, he shook his head like a rattle and said with a smile:
"So that this gentleman knows that overseas is a barbarian land, and there is some gold and silver, but the food is not as rich as our Han country. You can try fresh fruits and the like, but food is not enough."
Next to him, Qian Qianyi laughed and cursed and said:
"Just sleep well, kid. Go and bring some of your specialty dishes. By the way, I'll also arrange a table for my companions to eat. Just come here."
The waiter agreed and went happily.
Su Lu looked at the second floor. The hall on the second floor was not big. There were only six round tables, three of which were surrounded by customers. On the other hand, the lobby on the first floor was full of guests eating wine and fist-fighting. It was a lively scene.
Looking back, Su Lu smiled and said to Qian Qianyi:
"The business of this restaurant is indeed good, and the profit must be considerable. I don't know that your monthly salary of Qian Shangshu is comparable to the profit of this restaurant in a day."
Qian Qianyi raised his eyebrows when he heard this, and his voice was full of determination:
"Your Majesty, you are kidding me. If the profit of this small restaurant with only a few dozen tables can match my salary, then my salary is too low."
"Money comes and goes. Call the restaurant manager and ask him how much he earns per month. Is it higher than my salary, Qian Qianyi?"
At the table of guards and entourage, Qian Lai, Qian Qianyi's entourage, stood up. Qian Lai looked at Qian Qianyi with embarrassment on his face:
"Let's not ask, sir, how much surplus someone has has has nothing to do with us."
"It's better not to ask."
The money has made the lack of care a lot worse.
Qian Qianyi suddenly had a bad feeling in his heart...
