Tang Rui's idea was good, and his ideals were also very lofty.

But reality is much harsher!

Zhao Huan disagreed with Tang Rui's idea, but still praised him, saying, "Not bad."

The emperor uttered only two words to express his praise.

However, without explicitly stating whether what he said was right or wrong, Tang Rui remained silent and dared not say more.

Tang Rui's logic is correct: a good business model should certainly be vigorously promoted.

Supermarkets, which are ubiquitous in the 21st century, were indeed novelties in ancient times.

In ancient times, a grain shop was simply a grain shop, and a handicraft shop was a shop that specialized in selling handicrafts.

The supermarket model solved the problem of information isolation for consumers at the point of sale, and also created more professionals working as suppliers.

What may seem like a simple department store is actually a major revolution in commercial history.

It has indeed improved consumption efficiency and changed the business structure.

However, supermarkets are an operation-intensive model that emphasizes execution and management, requiring very high control over the supply side and high management standards within the store.

If you're not careful, you'll lose money.

The imperial court would never do something like this.

The imperial court's massive organizational structure has the advantage of authority, enabling it to control core resources and regulate them fairly.

However, engaging in heavy operational activities in business will definitely lead to significant losses.

In Zhao Huan's view, the imperial trading company only needed to control the supply side and reduce the cost of goods through large-scale supply to lower market prices, which would already be a great achievement.

"If I really opened a thousand supermarkets in Tokyo, why would they sell better than those on East Street?"

Tang Rui hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

He couldn't quite understand what the emperor meant, but he vaguely felt that what the emperor said made sense.

"If it were you, Tang Rui, running a supermarket, there would be no problem. But I can't put you in that position, nor can I let a thousand Tang Ruis run a thousand supermarkets."

“All the staff below you probably don’t have the sense of responsibility, the brains, or the ability to do accounting that you, Tang Rui, do. They might just be collecting their salaries and wasting their days waiting to die.”

"As a result, the supermarket, which had just opened, had an incomplete selection of goods and very poor quality."

"Let the unseen hand of the market decide for itself." Zhao Huan smiled. Tang Rui should understand what he meant, after all, he had written several books in the ten years he had been here.

"Only when individuals invest money will they have the motivation to continue operating. To survive, they must sell popular products; that's the way of the world."

"The imperial court's task is to balance prices, not to sell goods at the front lines."

Tang Rui understood something and said, "Your Majesty's wisdom is as vast as the ocean, and I am far inferior to you."

Zhao Huan was quite satisfied with Tang Rui; at least he wasn't like his father, whose mind was almost completely consumed by free trade.

Humans are really strange creatures.

Zhao Huan's "Economic Theory" does not mention the concept of free trade, but it does mention that there is an invisible hand regulating the market, and then uses Keynesianism to provide a detailed supplementary explanation.

It mainly explains the development patterns and logic of private commerce in the Song Dynasty under the macro-control of the imperial court.

However, a group of scholar-officials in the court automatically downplayed Keynesianism and began to praise Jasper's theory of free trade.

Zhao Huan then realized that this was the idea of ​​the reformists who had tasted the sweetness of the extensive development of the previous decade.

Zhao Huan clearly remembered that in the second year of the Jingkang era, when he proposed the new policies, the court unanimously believed that merchants should not be allowed to run rampant, otherwise the country would be in chaos.

However, in just ten years, the rise of new merchants, the huge annual commercial taxes levied by the imperial court, and the unprecedented prosperity of commerce caused many people in the court to forget their original intentions.

This is actually one of the reasons why Zhao Huan replaced Xu Churen, and the same goes for Tang Ke.

These old-school reformers are already deeply entangled in this mess.

Otherwise, the scandal of businessmen abusing their power and colluding with officials wouldn't have occurred two years ago.

Tang Rui alighted from the emperor's carriage, which then hurriedly departed.

A servant hurriedly rushed to the residence of Ding Qiu, the Vice Minister of Revenue, to deliver a letter.

"But did you see it clearly?"

"Absolutely true."

After the servant left, Ding Qiu fell into deep thought.

Tang Rui is now the Vice Director of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and he is not to be underestimated. Who was in the carriage who let him in and then get out?

There's probably only one person left.

What was the emperor doing at the Tokyo supermarket?

What did they talk about?

During the grand court assembly, such a sensitive time, the emperor actually left the palace.

What the policy direction will be next year is a matter of great concern to countless people.

Yu Yunwen will definitely continue to increase the number of royal trading companies to expand his power. Will the emperor agree?

Ding Qiu packed his things and then went to the Tokyo supermarket to see what kind of things there could make the emperor travel incognito.

To be honest, Ding Qiu, who was in charge of personnel and household registration, wasn't very knowledgeable about economics. He didn't have a deep understanding of Tokyo supermarkets; he just thought they were a novelty.

Zhao Huan returned to the palace. Before he even reached Yanfu Palace, he said as he walked, "Summon Yu Yunwen to see me."

Shao Chengzhang reminded him, "Your Majesty, the grand court assembly will begin in half an hour."

"Half an hour is enough. Quickly bring him to see me."

Shao Chengzhang rushed to the Hall of State Affairs.

At this time, many officials had already gathered in the Hall of State Affairs, waiting for the grand court assembly to begin.

Some were drinking tea, while others were chatting.

Upon seeing Shao Chengzhang arrive, they quickly bowed and greeted him, "Eunuch Shao."

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