"The Grand Tutor is right. As people get older, they tend to prefer softer foods!"
Cao Song also picked up a piece of braised pork, put it in his mouth, and said as he chewed.
The others nodded, their hands still busy, and in just a moment, the plate of braised pork was almost empty.
"What the Grand Minister of Agriculture says is true, but I feel there's something strange about what you're saying. Something just doesn't feel right."
While eating meat, Hu Guang, who was standing to the side, had a thoughtful look on his face.
"What's wrong? Do you think you can be bullied, Mr. Situ?"
Cao Song also looked at Hu Guang with a puzzled expression.
"That's not what I meant. I just feel that what you said about 'taking the soft approach' is a bit off...!"
"Is something wrong?"
Cao Song blinked, but still couldn't understand what it meant.
Hearing their conversation, Liu Hong, who was standing nearby, couldn't help but burst out laughing when he thought of the guy who lived off women.
"Your Majesty, what are you laughing at?"
Cao Song looked at Liu Hong with a puzzled expression.
"No...nothing! I was just laughing at how fast you ate, finishing a plate of meat so quickly!"
"Sigh~ Yeah, you guys eat way too fast!!"
Seeing this, Hu Guang, while speaking, reached out with his chopsticks and snatched the last piece of meat from under Chen Fan's chopsticks, putting it into his own mouth.
"You old bastard, why are you stealing my meat?"
Seeing his flesh being snatched away, Chen Fan glared at Hu Guang with a fierce expression.
"You didn't even pick it up, so how is it yours?"
Hu Guang remained completely unconcerned when questioned by Chen Fan.
"How could you...?"
Seeing Hu Guang's shameless demeanor, Chen Fan felt a surge of frustration.
Seeing the Grand Tutor and Minister of Works acting like old children, Li Ying, Yuan Feng, Dou Wu, and others standing to the side couldn't help but chuckle.
"Grand Tutor, Minister of Works, stop arguing. It's just a plate of braised pork. We can serve it again after you finish eating!"
Liu Hong smiled and shook his head, then turned to look at Jian Shuo beside him.
"Your Majesty and gentlemen, please wait a moment!"
Jian Shuo, who was standing nearby, understood and quickly brought over a plate of braised pork and placed it on the table.
"Your Majesty, I wonder how the palace chefs prepare this braised pork? Why can't my family's chefs make it taste the same?"
Looking at the newly served braised pork, Cao Song picked up a piece, chewed it, and asked a question.
"This... I simply had them add some spices that were brought from the south and the western regions!"
Spices...? Can those be used in cooking?
Cao Song couldn't help but ask, stunned.
The others also cast curious glances at Liu Hong.
In this era, due to different cooking methods, there was no stir-frying, so many spices were mostly used for incense, medicine, food preservation, and soup making.
Furthermore, most spices were very precious in this era, and few people would think of using them in food.
"Of course, for example, black and white pepper from Jiaozhou, cinnamon, bay leaves, cardamom, fennel seeds, scallions, garlic, and so on from Yangzhou, can all be used in cooking!"
Liu Hong nodded and explained in detail to Cao Song and the others the origins and uses of some common spices.
"Oh, I see...!"
Cao Song nodded, then his expression shifted, and he said:
"Doesn't that mean these spices are even more valuable?"
"Yes, that's true, otherwise the food at the Royal Restaurant wouldn't be so expensive!"
Liu Hong smiled and nodded, then looked at Cao Song and said in a deep voice:
"As the Royal Restaurant's business grows, those dishes will definitely spread! At that time, every household will have a demand for them, and the spice market will definitely become even bigger!"
"Yes, Your Majesty is right. When the Silk Road was opened, the main commodity that our Han Dynasty purchased was spices. The spice trade could definitely be a major trading industry!"
Cao Song nodded in agreement. He was also very clear about the profits and market potential inherent in the spice trade.
"Absolutely! The Royal Merchant Guild's transport fleet should immediately organize a caravan to travel to the south and the western regions to purchase spices!"
"Yes, Your Majesty, spices will soon become a necessity for everyone, and we should prepare them as soon as possible!"
When the surrounding officials heard the emperor and others talking about spices, their eyes lit up, and they forgot about their meals, all urging the opening of the spice trade.
Liu Hong put down his chopsticks and laughed, "Yes, and only when we buy their spices can they have money to buy our goods, so we can make more money!"
Cao Song quickly added, "Yes, yes, that's right! In this way, we can achieve true mutual benefit and exchange!"
"That's right. That's why the Royal Transport Fleet must be expanded as soon as possible, otherwise it will be difficult to maintain such a large-scale trade!"
"Indeed, this necessitates the purchase of a large number of horses...!"
"It seems we need to be prepared for this year's border trade!"
As they talked, the conversation drifted back to trade and mutual markets.
Before long, everyone finished lunch in a pleasant mood and drank a cup of fragrant tea.
After a short rest, the officials returned to their original positions, ready to begin discussing the second aspect of the reform: the tax system.
After the incident at lunch, everyone now had a clear idea in their minds.
Chen Fan was the first to speak:
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