Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

After the court session, several Grand Secretaries returned to their offices to work.

Seated at his desk, Zhang Dongxiang, the most hot-tempered of them, couldn't help but ask first: "Lord Li, do you think His Majesty has changed his temperament after this trip?"

"He was so generous with money today!"

"And why is he suddenly concerned about the streets in the city? Doesn't His Majesty already know what the city is like?"

Li Yansong, head down, reviewed the newly submitted memorials: "Perhaps, but it's not a bad thing that His Majesty is willing to spend money. However, the Imperial Treasury is not a long-term solution. What are we to do when the national treasury's annual income can't cover its expenses?"

"Look! Here comes another disaster report, asking for more silver."

"Alas, I have a headache. I get dizzy just looking at these things now. I'm afraid I'll have to retire in a few years."

Zheng Qiao, upon hearing this, chuckled: "Lord Li, you can't say such things carelessly. You are a pillar of the nation. The Grand Secretariat can't do without you."

"Isn't His Majesty drinking that 'Man's Treasure'? Should I ask His Majesty for some for you?"

Upon the mention of 'Man's Treasure,' Zhang Dongxiang perked up: "This tea is quite interesting. Why don't we send someone to buy some more from the city?"

"Who knows, after drinking it, Lord Li might regain his vigor and take another wife!"

"Hahahaha!" Laughter filled the office.

Li Yansong waved his hand with a smile:

"Dongxiang, don't make fun of this old man."

"I'm old! I'm old, and my strength is failing. I'll be content if it can refresh my mind."

"Why not send someone to check it out now! This tea is called 'Da Pin Tian Xian Tea,' so it must have miraculous effects! I'm quite curious!"

"Liu Er! Go outside and see if there are any tea houses selling this 'Da Pin Tian Xian Tea.' If you find one, remember to bring some back for us."

Liu Er, the junior official on duty at the door of the office, responded and hurried out.

................

An hour later, Liu Er ran back, panting.

"Lord Li! Lord Li! I found it! I found that tea shop."

The eyes of the people in the office focused on Liu Er.

Li Yansong said happily: "Good! Did you buy it? How much is it? I'll pay you."

Liu Er bent over, panting heavily: "No... I didn't buy it."

"I didn't bring enough silver. I couldn't afford it."

"Oh dear, look at you! You're so rash! You didn't even bring enough money to buy tea! Go again later!" Zhang Dongxiang was extremely disappointed.

Liu Er said aggrievedly: "It's not that I didn't bring enough money, it's just that the 'Da Pin Tian Xian Tea' is outrageously expensive!"

"I only brought ten taels of silver, thinking it would be enough to buy some tea for you gentlemen, but I didn't expect... that 'Da Pin Tian Xian Tea' actually sells for fifty taels of silver per tael!"

"And there's a purchase limit now, only one can per person!"

"What! It's that expensive!" Zhang Dongxiang stood up abruptly, a look of disbelief on his face, then quickly walked to Liu Er and asked eagerly: "Does anyone buy such expensive tea?"

Liu Er smiled wryly: "Yes! There are plenty of people buying it! Many are stewards and family members from the households of princes and ministers."

"I heard it's the Emperor's favorite tea, and it has miraculous effects when you drink it. I could still buy it when I went, but now I'm afraid you can't buy it even if you have money..."

"According to the shop assistant, the production of Tian Xian Tea is extremely small, so the amount released each day is also very small, only a mere four catties! Most of it is bought by the palace, and it could be out of stock at any time."

"Now, as soon as you leave the tea shop, the price of the tea skyrockets. Many of the ministers' family members are scrambling at the door. When I left, the price had already increased to sixty taels!"

Everyone in the office had a surprised expression. They didn't expect these colleagues to be so quick!

They pounced on and grabbed any good thing like a swarm of bees.

Zhang Dongxiang paced back and forth in the office, disappointed: "It seems this thing is indeed extraordinary! It's a pity I didn't act sooner! Too late to regret!"

Li Yansong was the calmest: "Dongxiang, don't worry. Even if this tea is special, it can't have an effect after just one sip. It's probably because His Majesty is drinking it, and with His Majesty's endorsement, everyone is naturally willing to believe it."

"Liu Er, I'll give you fifty taels. Go buy a can tomorrow morning and bring it back. I and the other gentlemen will taste this tea together!"

"Yes!"

......

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Good news!"

Guo Tianyang entered the Qianqing Palace with a look of joy on his face to congratulate Emperor Jing.

Emperor Jing, who was originally sitting at his desk reviewing memorials, slowly raised his head and said: "What is it? Why are you shouting?"

Guo Tianyang said happily: "Your Majesty, Da Pin Tian Xian Tea is sold out! Only four catties were sold today, earning a total of 2000 taels of silver!"

"We still have sixteen catties in our hands. If we sell them all, we can earn 8000 taels!"

"Thanks to this old servant still remembering what Magistrate Fang said about 'hunger marketing,' we only released four catties. If we didn't limit it, I'm afraid we could have sold all the tea in one day."

"To make a net profit of eight thousand taels in less than half a day! There is no better business in the world!"

"Your Majesty, should we raise the price tomorrow? At this rate, I'm afraid eighty taels will soon be snapped up!"

Emperor Jing stared blankly out of the Qianqing Palace, lost in thought.

Then he suddenly burst out laughing: "Hahaha! Good! As expected, he is a genius! I didn't misjudge him. This Fang Zheng is indeed extraordinary!!"

"I didn't expect that I could earn back eight thousand taels as soon as I spent ten thousand taels of silver. And this is just the beginning..."

"As for raising the price, we must not raise it! I remember Fang Zheng said that once the price is set, it cannot be easily changed, as it can easily damage the brand image."

"If the price increases sharply, secretly find people to raise the price and peddle it everywhere, oh, that's called a 'scalper party'!"

"Go! Find some reliable people to be scalpers, the higher the price they sell, the better!"

Emperor Jing began to get excited, and his heart was already imagining a wealthy Imperial Treasury, with countless riches beckoning him!

"Your Majesty! There are only a dozen catties of tea left, it won't last long. I will immediately arrange for people to go to Taoyuan County to purchase more!"

"No!" Emperor Jing waved his hand to interrupt Guo Tianyang: "I will go myself in a few days!"

"Ah? Go again?" Guo Tianyang was dumbfounded. A country cannot be without its ruler for a day. His Majesty could actually run to Taoyuan County twice for Fang Zheng!

"Go! Fang Zheng is as good as a prophet. Think about it, aren't these situations that are currently happening very similar to some of the cases he described at the dinner table?"

"I want to see if Fang Zheng still has other abilities to turn rotten things into miraculous things!"

"You prepare these few days! After the inspector of Hengjiang Prefecture arrives, I will go to Taoyuan County again!"

......