Inside the Deyang Palace, Liu Hong nodded in satisfaction upon seeing Xi Zhicai immediately understand the wonders of storytelling.

Liu Hong then laughed and said, "Zhi Cai is right, and the benefits of oral storytelling go beyond that!"

You must understand that the common people are illiterate, and their thoughts and thinking are very simple. It is too difficult to make them understand things by relying solely on written language.

However, oral storytelling doesn't have this limitation. People say that reading cultivates manners, and listening to stories is the same!

Ideological education is very important. Liu Hong wanted to establish and guide people's thinking, and storytelling was the most important part of that.

"Your Majesty is right. Educating and guiding the people has always been a difficult problem. This method can not only provide the people with more entertainment."

This will also allow the people to have a clear understanding of the imperial court and the Han Dynasty, preventing them from being misled by those with ulterior motives!

After hearing the emperor's words, Xi Zhicai understood the importance of storytelling and also saw something deeper.

"Haha~, good, Zhicai is right! Only when the people know what the imperial court and the country are, and let them have their own judgment, can we achieve twice the result with half the effort!"

Upon hearing Xi Zhicai's words, Liu Hong couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Throughout history, the power of public opinion has been immense. Most people, lacking a clear understanding of a matter, are easily swayed by others and become pawns in their game.

Therefore, we must keep the direction of public opinion in our own hands.

Xi Zhicai nodded and said in a solemn voice:

"It is easier to control a river than to prevent people from speaking out. The people are like a flood. Managing their thoughts is like controlling water. Only by guiding them can we turn harm into benefit!"

"Yes, Zhicai is right, so how to guide them and where to guide them is entirely up to us!"

Then Liu Hong looked at Xi Zhicai and said in a deep voice:

"Therefore, Zhicai should carefully vet those storytellers, and these people should be placed under the direct jurisdiction of the Military and Political Affairs Department, preferably by those instructors."

The military and political authorities also had to assess and supervise storytellers from the general public; only those who met the requirements were allowed to perform.

"Please rest assured, Your Majesty, I will immediately organize and prepare for this matter upon my return!"

Xi Zhicai nodded in agreement with a serious expression, emphasizing that the importance of public opinion supervision is no less than that of political education.

Subsequently, Liu Hong and Xi Zhicai discussed the future development and general content of storytelling.

These storytellers not only had to tell the people the biographies of famous generals and heroes, but also to tell them some current events and anecdotes and some policies, while subtly adding some political ideas.

An hour later, feeling his throat was a little dry, Liu Hong turned to look at Jian Shuo, who was standing beside him.

"Serve tea!"

"promise!"

Soon, Jian Shuo brought two cups of fragrant tea with two eunuchs.

Upon smelling the aroma of tea, Xi Zhicai's eyes lit up, and he couldn't wait to pick up the teacup and take a sip.

"Your Majesty, this fragrant tea has been in production for over six months now. Why haven't you allowed the Royal Merchants to sell it in large quantities?"

After taking a sip of tea, Xi Zhicai couldn't help but ask with a puzzled look, considering that there were only a small amount of tea leaves circulating in the market these days.

"Alas, this was all the idea of ​​the Grand Minister of Agriculture and Zhao Zhong; it has nothing to do with me!"

Liu Hong smiled and waved his hand, picked up his teacup and took a sip, looking quite pleased with himself.

"What are they planning to do? Hoard and speculate?"

Thinking about the tea that was being sold for 50,000 coins per kilogram on the market, Xi Zhicai felt speechless.

"Hey, this isn't grain, so how can you call it hoarding? It should be called a rare commodity for speculation!"

Liu Hong smiled and waved his hand, not saying much about Cao Song and Zhao Zhong's control over tea prices.

"A rare commodity for speculation?"

Xi Zhicai stared blankly at Liu Hong for a moment.

I don't know who just gave the order to control ticket prices on the grounds of hoarding.

How come it suddenly became a rare commodity when it came to me?

Seeing the emperor's double standards, Xi Zhicai was speechless for a moment!

Liu Hong put down his teacup and said with a laugh:

"The Grand Minister of Agriculture and Zhao Zhong told me that tea is not like necessities such as grain or refined salt! If we want to make money from tea, we need to create a situation where supply cannot meet demand in order to maximize profits!"

"But... that price is too expensive, a full 50,000 coins per pound, not many people can afford it!"

Tea should be affordable for ordinary people! Only then can the teahouse industry develop quickly, and the storytelling industry can flourish as soon as possible!

Xi Zhicai frowned, looking at Liu Hong with a worried expression.

"Zhicai, don't worry, things will get better in time. Just as sports meet tickets can be categorized by grade, tea should naturally be categorized as well!"

Once the prices for high-end tea are determined, low-end tea can then be released to the market!

Liu Hong smiled and truthfully told Xi Zhicai about Cao Song and the others' plan.

"Oh, I see. Then I am relieved!"

Hearing the emperor say this, Xi Zhicai nodded in relief.

"By the way... is Zhicai's tea supply almost finished?"

Seeing that Xi Zhicai suddenly showed interest in tea, Liu Hong couldn't help but smile and look at Xi Zhicai.

"Uh...yes, so you see...?"

Xi Zhicai was stunned for a moment, then looked at Liu Hong somewhat embarrassedly, wondering if he could get some more tea from the emperor to take back.

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