The Prodigal Son of Zhenguan

"Drought hit Guanzhong, and the crops in the fields were completely gone. In the past few months, the people had to flee the famine. How could there be no impact? The price of grain is rising everywhere. Even if the court transported grain here, it has nothing to do with us." The shopkeeper explained, "The caravans travel all over the country, and this is all cost. If the price doesn't go up, then our business will lose money."

The shopkeeper is so miserable about this year's tea sales.

Anyway, the price increase is already decided.

"Sir, it's not that I'm in a hurry to make this deal. We have been old customers for two years. Since the tea shop opened, you have ordered tea from us a lot. Let me tell you, the price has gone up this year, and the quantity may not be enough, because after all, the shop is open for business, and the quality must be guaranteed."

The customer heard it and thought it made sense.

"Then please write down 30 gift boxes for me first, and I will come back in an hour." The customer said, "The price has risen so much. I am just a buyer, so I dare not make the decision."

"Okay, then I will write it down for you first and keep some so that you will not be out of stock when you get the goods. If you don't want it, you can send a letter in an hour. It's not a big deal." The shopkeeper smiled and greeted the customer.

The reactions of people who came into the shop today were similar.

Tea is not cheap, but when it was time to give gifts during the Mid-Autumn Festival, they found that the price had risen so much.

The shopkeeper explained patiently.

How can you be a shopkeeper if you don't have patience when opening a business.

The news of the price increase of tea spread quickly.

Because it was not just this tea shop that increased the price, but three or four tea shops in Chang'an City increased the price in the same way, and even the things in the teahouse increased the price.

"They are all industries under the Jingyang Palace. It's normal for the prices to rise together."

"I heard that the price rose this year because of drought, reduced production, and poor transportation."

"No, no, no, I think there are other reasons. Have you forgotten how many people were killed on the streets in Chang'an City several months ago? Their crime was murder? Assassination of royal relatives, Chang'an City is peaceful, which royal relative was assassinated? It must be the Jingyang King who left Chang'an City."

"If you ask me, I guess it was the Jingyang King who was pissed off by those jealous people."

"Brother, you are so smart. What you said makes sense."

The people who gathered in the teahouse to chat were talking about these things quietly.

"The tea shop has its own caravan, so even if transportation is difficult, the price won't go up so much."

"But it's hard to say. The price of grain has gone up, so isn't it normal for tea to go up? Look, the price of grain in Guanzhong has skyrocketed this year."

"Does the court not care about the price of grain?"

"How can it? It can't be controlled. Don't you think about it? In a disaster year, who are the people who have grain? They are old aristocratic families. Can the emperor control the aristocratic families?"

"Alas, ordinary people have suffered. Fortunately, the court opened the treasury. Otherwise, who knows how many people would starve to death. At the beginning, the Ministry of Revenue issued official documents for begging for food."

There is no shortage of literati in the teahouse, talking about government affairs, current affairs, and occasionally poetry and songs.

But obviously, when talking about these things, the voices were much lowered.

And when talking about poetry and songs, they held their heads high and chests puffed out, like a proud rooster.

Everyone who went to the tea shop to order tea also passed the news of the price increase to their respective masters.

"It's not surprising that the price of tea increased during the Mid-Autumn Festival. It's worth your special trip back. How much has it increased?"

"The lowest price has increased by 20%. This year's tea gift box has even increased by 50%." The housekeeper stretched out a hand and gestured while speaking.

As a housekeeper of a wealthy family, he has seen all kinds of storms.

But I have never seen a tea gift box increase in price so much at once.

Chang'an City, Zheng's House.

Zheng Detong put down the teacup in his hand.

"Let the price increase, it's not a big deal, go."

"Yes." The housekeeper responded.

Zheng Rentai walked out from the side and bowed.

"Father."

Zheng Detong nodded: "Sit down."

"Yes." Zheng Rentai walked to the side and sat on a chair.

"What do you think about the price increase of tea?" Zheng Detong asked.

"There are some reasons that are spread outside, but not all of them." Zheng Rentai said: "I think it's because the King of Jingyang is holding a grudge."

Zheng Detong smiled.

"Yes, this prince is holding a grudge, Rentai, remember, no matter what, this King of Jingyang cannot be his enemy. You have the merit of following the dragon,To live a peaceful life and follow His Majesty, our Zheng family will still stand firm in the Tang Dynasty. Some people are greedy and will bring greater disasters to their families sooner or later. "

"In today's era, a new emperor appoints new ministers. If you want to continue to make your family glorious, you must also look at what kind of emperor the one sitting above is. Otherwise, if you just think that your family is powerful, has many people, and controls a lot of power, you can use this to compete with the upper level. If you have a crooked mind, you are not far from a disaster. "

"Father is right. "Zheng Rentai nodded in agreement.

He had participated in the Jinyang uprising since he was sixteen years old and joined the Qin Wang at that time. In the ninth year of Wude, he followed the Qin Wang and participated in the Xuanwu Gate incident. He knew the temperament of the current Majesty the best.

What his father said was the way of survival in the Zhenguan Dynasty.

"There is no doubt that our family is loyal to His Majesty. Anyone with a discerning eye knows that the tea trade has its own people in the palace. The King of Jingyang is a person that His Majesty relies on outside the palace. Anyone who dares to reach out will not end up better than Wade Yun." Zheng Detong said: "You have made a lot of contributions. In recent years, just do your job peacefully and don't stand out. You are still young, and there will be many places where you can stand out in the future. We are not in a hurry."

"Yes. "Zheng Rentai responded respectfully.

"The tea matter is nothing more than spending more money. Money and material possessions are nothing and should not be taken to heart."

"Besides, after this year, who knows what the situation will be like."

Zheng Detong said calmly.

Before Xuanwu Gate, the Zheng family of Xingyang had already supported the King of Qin.

Therefore, Zheng Detong asked his son to follow Li Shimin wholeheartedly.

It's not a gamble, but it must succeed.

When Li Jiancheng agreed to move south, the family began to alienate him.

The Zheng family's main home is in the north.

Move south? What's the big deal?

Hand over the north to the Turks? Dig up their own roots?