At the beginning of the new year, there seems to be signs of unrest at the border, and the land is also facing the beginning of farming. As the emperor, Zhao Zhen, many things require his personal nod to pass and implement them.
After discussing with his ministers in Longtu Pavilion for more than an hour, he decided on some general policies for some matters, and then returned to Zichen Palace with a tired face.
"Bring the official tea." Zhang Mao, who was following him, said with a wink.
At that moment, a little Huangmen, who was also Zhang Maoze's godson, brought the tea up and placed it on the dragon table as instructed.
There were still some memorials that needed to be reviewed on the Long Table. While Renzong Zhao Zhen continued to look through them, he reached for the teacup and took a sip.
At first, when the tea came into his mouth, Renzong Zhao Zhen seemed to have no reaction, but in the next breath he smacked his lips, and then, wondering about something, he picked up the tea cup and took another sip, and then took a third and fourth sip.
..
"What's going on? Why does the tea taste so fragrant today?" Seeing the bottom of a cup of tea, revealing the tea roots that were obviously different from usual, Renzong Zhao Zhen asked with a puzzled look on his face.
.
"Guan Jian, how does this tea taste? Does it have a fragrant aftertaste?" Zhang Mao came forward and observed the changes in Zhao Zhen's face.
Before that, Zhang Maoze naturally drank the tea first and felt very good, so he dared to bring the tea to Zhao Zhen. Don't think that because he seemed to have a good relationship with Su He, he really dared to do so.
Everything is decided by oneself.
People who can serve the emperor should never do anything without caution, because they may be punished or even lose their heads for a trivial matter at any time.
"Yes, the taste is different from before, and the texture is much better." Zhao Zhen said this. Then he thought of something and asked, "No, why didn't I feel this way when I drank tea before? Where did this tea come from?
Coming?"
Seeing that Zhao Zhen was suspicious, Zhang Maoze dared to hide it, so he immediately told the story that the tea was sent by Tongzhilang Su Shi. "The official, Tongzhilang also said, in order to thank the gift
For the official’s kindness, he will also give the official’s family a big gift.”
"A great gift?" Zhao Zhen couldn't help but smile after hearing this. He is the emperor, and everything in the world belongs to him, so why is there such a thing as a great gift?
But since Su Shi said this, he was a little curious and said: "Okay, then let's announce his appearance."
"Yes." Su Maoze immediately agreed, turned around, and began to sing and drink, "Your Majesty has a decree, and I wish you to have an audience with Nao Tong."
The shouts spread out from the Zichen Palace. After hearing this, the small yellow door outside the door trotted up to Su Shi with a wink and pushed the wooden chair into the palace.
"Your Majesty, Naoto Tong Su Shi, bows to your Majesty. Long live your Majesty. Long live your Majesty."
Sitting on the wooden chair, it was obvious that he could not kowtow, but every time Su Shi emphasized the sound of the word "kowtow" very hard.
"Okay, you have a leg problem, so you don't need to salute." Zhao Zhen, who was on top of the dragon case, said with a smile. No matter what, he blamed Su Shi for curing King Jing's physical illness.
Zhongjiu was very grateful and naturally felt a sense of closeness to Su Shi.
Su Shi raised his head and first glanced at the top of Zhao Zhen's head. After seeing a patch of purple, he knew that the other person had a good opinion of him, and he relaxed.
Giving gifts also depends on the timing. If the person to whom the gift is given is in a bad mood and is angry, then it is better to do nothing at this time, otherwise the flattery will probably hit the horse's leg, which is really not worth the gain.
Already.
"Tong Zhilang, just now Zhang Zhongguan said that you want to give me a gift, but I don't know where the gift comes from?" Renzong Zhao Zhen said in an indifferent tone. Obviously he did not take these words seriously in his heart.
"Your Majesty, I dare you to ask how the tea you just imported was like?" Su Shi did not answer what the gift was, but began to guide the other party.
"The tea is good, with a refreshing fragrance and endless aftertaste." Zhao Zhen said truthfully.
"Guan family, this is a great gift from me to the official family. This tea is not boiled tea or steamed tea in the traditional sense, but brick tea made using other techniques. It can be brewed directly with boiling water for drinking. It is simple, convenient and tastes great.
better..."
Wow, Su Shi started to praise his tea. At the end of the sentence, Su Shi also said: "Guan family, this tea is not from our Song Dynasty, but from foreign merchants."
Purchased, this thing can be said to be quite precious. Once it appears on the market, the price will definitely be much higher than Song Dynasty tea. I am not talented, I accepted the tea agent, and now I am willing to give 20% of the profit to the official family.
, to repay the emperor’s great kindness.”
When talking about the latter part, Su Shi had a stern look on his face, with a hint of gratitude, giving the impression that a scholar would die for knowing what he is doing.
"Brought by foreign traders?" Renzong Zhao Zhen looked puzzled. All along, he knew that Song tea, silk and porcelain would be bought by foreign traders, and then sent to far away places to be sold at high prices. But
This is the first time I heard that the tea in the hands of foreign merchants is better than Song tea, and they still need to buy it back.
"Yes, according to what Yishang Qian Bao said, that's exactly the case." Su Shi nodded heavily and said seriously: "I also asked about it. It seems that they purchased Song tea first and then refined it.
and changes, and this is how we got the current tea bricks. Oh, the foreign merchant also said that the workmanship of tea bricks is extremely complicated, and it takes a pound of Song Dynasty tea to extract one or two tea bricks."
"What? Such a waste?" Renzong Zhao Zhen also looked stunned after hearing this, as if it was a bit incredible.
Su Shi wanted this kind of effect. Since he wanted to sell goods, of course he had to boast about his goods first, otherwise, no one would buy them.
"Yes, Your Majesty. I have also asked the foreign merchants how they made tea bricks. However, this is their way of making a fortune, so naturally they will not be spread easily. Your Majesty, I am incompetent." At the end of the sentence, Su
Shi still lowered his head with a depressed look, as if he was incompetent for not accomplishing this task.
On the other hand, Renzong Zhao Zhen did not mean to blame him. On the contrary, he said understandingly, "Even if you are the foundation of your life, how can you show it to others so easily? Tongzhilang, you are a bit arrogant."
"Yes, I know I was wrong." Su Shi quickly and proactively admitted his mistake.
Speaking of which, the Song Dynasty was different from other dynasties, and the emperors of the Song Dynasty were also different from the emperors of other dynasties. They were not afraid of businessmen becoming bigger, and even encouraged business. Because in comparison, they were more worried about whether their imperial power was stable.
, As for businessmen's emphasis on profit, this is a matter of course. Not only did they understand it, but the emperors of the Song Dynasty rarely did anything to compete with the people for profit.
"Oh, what's wrong with Tongzhiro? You also want me to drink more good tea. You are so loyal." Zhao Zhen laughed, and he was obviously in a better mood at this moment.
Seeing that Renzong was in a good mood, Su Shi immediately struck while the iron was hot and said: "Your Majesty, I am not talented, so I am willing to pay 30% of the tea tax and 20% of the profits from the tea bricks. I know that in the world, there is no royal land.
But I saw that Your Majesty didn’t even have the money to build the palace, so I couldn’t sleep day and night. I’d like to ask Your Majesty, for the sake of your health and the health of the prince, please allow Your Majesty to agree to what I’m telling you.”
He was clearly giving a gift to someone else, but he still acted like he was asking for it. This can only be done to the current emperor.
Speaking of which, Renzong was diligent and did not indulge in extravagance.
In order to collect New Year coins and silk cloth, the concubines in the harem repeatedly cut down on expenses. Even Renzong Zhao Zhen himself had to endure it again and again when he wanted to eat mutton at night.
From this point of view alone, Renzong was a good man who could lead by example, but he was also a poor man.
The salary of officials in the Song Dynasty was extremely high, at least compared to other dynasties, it was many times higher. This allowed the ministers to eat and drink every day, while the ruler of the world had to cut back on food and clothing.
From this aspect, the emperor Renzong was not very successful.
A truly good emperor not only wants his subjects to eat well, but also wants to eat well himself, so that he can have a better body and make more contributions to the country.
This is exactly what Su Shi thought. He also wanted the emperor to be rich, so that his health would be better, and the Song Dynasty under his rule would get better and better, and perhaps the demise of the Northern Song Dynasty a few decades later in history would not happen.
.
Not to mention, once Zhao Zhen accepts the 20% kindness, Su Shi will have the biggest backer when he starts doing business. In this case, if others want to target him or even suppress him, they will have to
It becomes much more difficult.
It is said that it is good to enjoy the shade under the big tree.
In the Manchu Dynasty, Su Shi only knew Renzong Zhao Zhen now, and he had a good opinion of himself. Even so, of course he had to find a way to hold him tight first.
What Su Shi said was sincere, and when Zhao Zhen heard it, he was moved.
Zhao Zhen has not had a good rest since Su Shi left the test report before he left the day before yesterday. When he learned that the place where he lived was filled with chronic poisons, his first thought was to knock down the palace and rebuild it.
But this is just a thought. If you really want to do it, how much real money will be needed?
Where does this money come from?
If Renzong and Zhao Zhen really want to use the treasury, I am afraid that even the officials will not be able to pass it. They will definitely say that they like luxury and use many ancient allusions to educate themselves. If so, not only will he fail to achieve his goal, but he will also
Lost face.
But if money is not paid from the national treasury, how can the reconstruction of the palace be supported by internal funds alone?
Is this a headache? Su Shi came to the door and gave him such a big gift. At this moment, Zhao Zhen had a deep feeling that this minister was thinking about himself and his own good. This chapter has been completed!