The business environment of the Song Dynasty was unique in ancient feudal society, and Bianliang was the most unique.
Bianliang has four rivers, all of which are canals. The Bian River, running from west to southeast, was called the Tongji Canal in ancient times and is a key section of the Grand Canal built during the Sui Dynasty. Its upper reaches connect with the Yellow River in Wuzhi, and its lower reaches connect with the Huai River before leading to the south of the Yangtze River.
The Cai River flowed into Bianjing from the southwest, offering access to present-day southern Henan. The Wuzhang River flowed into Kaifeng from the northwest and out from the northeast, and much of the northern trade flowed through it. Another river, the Jinshui River, served as a link between the other three.
Of the four rivers, the Bian Canal was undoubtedly the busiest for grain transport, known as the lifeline of the Song Dynasty. Jiangnan, the wealthiest region in the world, saw five million dan of rice shipped to Bianjing via the Bian Canal each year, accounting for over 80% of the total.
In addition to basic food supplies, the ships traveling back and forth on the Bian River also carried cloth, tea, salt, metal, feathers, glue, lacquer and other supplies. The people who dealt in these goods were either government officials or merchants.
At this moment, hundreds of boats were competing for the current on the Tongji Canal, driving them into the Hongqiao Wharf. Countless cargo ships were coming and going, workers on the wharf were coming in and out, and the carriages going to and from the warehouse seemed to never stop. The shouts of the boatmen, the cries of the trackers, and the shouts of the merchants rose and fell.
On the shore, the scene unfolds in a different light. Teahouses and restaurants abound, shops line the streets, their signs swaying gently in the breeze. Street vendors of all kinds are everywhere. People relax in teahouses, consult fortune-tellers, and dine in restaurants. Boats gather on the water, and the shore is densely populated, creating a bustling scene.
When the Tian family's merchant ship arrived at Hongqiao Wharf, several wealthy middle-aged men who were drinking tea in the teahouse stood up and watched from afar.
A large wooden arch bridge spans the Bian River, featured in the painting Along the River During the Qingming Festival. Its delicate structure and graceful form, resembling a flying rainbow, gave it the name Hongqiao. The Tian family's merchant ship was anchored near Hongqiao, pulled into position by boat trackers.
Then several merchants dressed in silk and satin slowly got off the boat. The leader was about fifty or sixty years old, thin, and only wore an ordinary black silk long gown, but no one dared to look down on him.
Because he was Tian Chang, the largest tea boss in the Jianghuai region. During a tea trade during the Tianxi period, he transported 200,000 kilograms of tea from Yangzhou to Bianliang, shocking the whole of Tokyo.
Although he was badly treated by Prime Minister Li Di that time, he also became famous because of it. After paying money to save his life, Tian Chang set up a tea company together with 17 large tea merchants in Bianliang and Jianghuai. Tian's Tea Shop has a pivotal position in the entire Bianliang tea trading market.
Now is the season when tea is on the market.
Spring tea is at its best one month after the Waking of Insects, especially before the Qingming Festival. At this time, Tian Chang would purchase tea leaves from Yangzhou, Jianghuai and other places, and then immediately start frying them. After the tea is fried, it would be packed and loaded onto ships and transported to Bianliang.
So the tea is picked from mid-March to early April, then roasted, and then transported for another month. Around mid-May, the fresh tea will arrive at the Bianliang Tea Trading Market.
At this moment, Tian Chang got off the boat leisurely. The housekeeper stayed on the boat and started to communicate with the dock workers below. Most of the guards also stayed on the boat to maintain order. He only took seven or eight guards to the dock steps, preparing to go to Fanlou for a meal first.
As a result, before I even got out on the street, a few people came towards me.
"Brother Tian!"
"oh?"
Tian Chang looked at them and wondered, "Brother Zhou, Brother Wang, Brother Li, Brother Zheng, how come you have the time to come to see me today?"
These wealthy middle-aged men were also the heads of major tea merchants, and they set up a tea company with Tian Chang.
However, there are conflicts of interest among peers. Although they jointly established a tea company to maintain the chaotic order of the tea market, it does not mean that their relationship is very good.
So when he saw them coming towards him, Tian Chang was still quite puzzled.
Everyone looked at each other, and then Zhou Yunsheng from the Zhou Family Tea Shop said, "Something did happen, but Brother Tian probably doesn't know yet. I'll treat you today, and let's go to Fanlou and talk while we eat."
"All right."
Seeing that their expressions were rather serious, Tian Chang realized that something serious might have happened, so he followed them.
Along the way, Tian Chang was wondering what had happened.
The tea market is subject to great fluctuations. Sometimes a new policy from the imperial court, an increase in the prices of daily necessities such as oil, rice, and salt, or a natural disaster in a tea-producing area may affect the price of tea.
The reason Zhou Yunsheng and his team came here was most likely because something big happened this year that affected the price of tea, so they came to him to discuss market pricing.
What Tian Chang didn't expect was that the matter involved had nothing to do with the price of tea.
The group soon arrived at Fanlou. There were seventy-two top-notch restaurants in Bianliang, and Fanlou was the most famous. It was rumored that the Song Dynasty royal family was behind it, so it became the most prosperous restaurant in Bianliang.
Fanlou is enormous, consisting of five buildings: east, west, south, north, and center. Three stories high, five floors facing each other, adorned with pearl curtains and embroidered eaves, illuminated by flickering candles, and with flying bridges and railings, offering both bright and dark connections. The building's undulating heights, interlaced eaves, and interlinked corridors create a magnificent atmosphere.
The tea merchants had already reserved a table at Fanlou. After entering the private room, various delicious dishes were quickly served. Zhou Yunsheng poured Tian Chang a glass of wine. Tian Chang saw his humble attitude and asked in confusion, "What happened?"
"this......"
Everyone looked at each other, and Zhou Yunsheng slowly spoke, "Brother Tian, you may not know this, but the imperial court is going to implement the cash payment system again. Minister Li summoned us to the Taifu Temple to discuss this matter. He said that if we want to obtain tea permits in the future, we must transport more food and fodder to the border."
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