Li Hong, who seemed to be nonchalant and looking around, suddenly smiled and knocked on the table with his chopsticks to signal everyone: "Why are you so nervous? This is Taiyi City. Listen, listen to what these people are talking about."
When they heard Li Hong's words, they were stunned at first, then seeing that Li Hong was listening with great interest, they also began to listen attentively to the conversation of those people in the hall.
I only heard someone at the next table say, "Manager He, you have to help us no matter what. We came here completely in the dark and we rely on our relationship with you."
Another person said in embarrassment: "Oh, no. This time Taiyi City is a gathering of great forces. Not to mention us, there are so many..." The man looked around vigilantly, then deliberately lowered his voice and said: "Many high-ranking officials in Chang'an and Luoyang have sent people to contact my nephew, hoping to see if they can curry favor with Miss Bai. This is difficult."
The topic on the other side is naturally inseparable from these topics: "Sir, didn't you say that you and Miss Bai have met once? Can we get in touch with Miss Bai before others?"
"Don't worry about this matter. This time, whether it's Miss Bai from Taiyi City or the Minister of Revenue, we have people working under them. In two days, when I have time, I will meet them. We will definitely be ahead of others."
"I heard that even the Five Surnames and Seven Families have come. It is said that Dou Yi, the richest man in Chang'an City at that time, also came with his Hu noblewoman Mi Liang. It is said that they are friends with Princess Xincheng. I am afraid that this time Dou Yi will have to get the Ministry of Revenue's permission first."
“…”
I listened attentively for a long time, until Li Hong and his friends finished their meal, and there was a constant stream of people in the hall, still discussing the issue of shares and licenses.
...
...
Li Hong also heard who was the most popular among these merchants. They didn't know any dignitaries, but they also had their own way to get close to the core figures, which was to start from the restricted area of Taiyi City.
Find a breakthrough from the people in charge of each area in Taiyi City, hoping to get in touch with Bai Chun through them.
But after listening to them, it turns out that none of these people really came with any background. They were just real businessmen who were working hard to make a living.
What Li Hong values most this time are them, because he believes that although these people have small industries, they are running their businesses with all their heart. They know how to create and improve, and they know that in the fiercely competitive business world, only by having the courage to innovate can they survive.
As for those merchant spokespersons with official or royal family backgrounds, they do not develop for the sake of development. They do it to please their masters and to make more money.
They will use their background to engage in speculation and profiteering, and after getting what they want easily, they will not think about innovation, but only about how to monopolize and make the existing things bring them greater profits.
Li Hong felt that he had heard enough, so he said to Bai Chun and the others calmly, "Did you hear that? If we want to keep the nearly stagnant Tang economy going, we have to rely on them, not the royal family or high-ranking officials and nobles."
Bai Chun nodded silently. Now he understood why the prince chose to dine in the hall instead of upstairs or in the manor. His purpose was to find out whether these real businessmen were worthy of his support.
"Okay, let's go back. It's almost time. This is all the useful information." Li Hong stood up calmly, and Xia Zhi hurriedly moved the chair away to make it easier for Li Hong to go out.
When the shopkeeper at the door saw Li Hong coming, his calves began to tremble involuntarily again. This was the current crown prince of the Tang Dynasty, and he appeared in front of him alive. This was the blessing he had earned in several lifetimes.
When Li Hong passed by him, he patted the shopkeeper's shoulder in praise and said, "Thank you for your hard work today. It's good."
“Thank you…Yes, thank you very much…” The shopkeeper was so nervous that he spoke incoherently. His legs went weak and he almost fell to the ground.
Li Hong didn't care at all, and he walked out first under the protection of Hua Meng and others. Bai Chun was the last one to walk out, and just as she was at the door, she saw a commoner who passed by her secretly handed a note to her.
The two men passed each other expressionlessly. Bai Chun looked at Li Hong who was chatting and laughing with Xia Zhi and others in front of him, took the time to glance at the note, and then put it into his sleeve pocket.
Although it was late at night, many restaurants, teahouses, etc. were still decorated with lights and crowded with customers, especially the Hu people's tavern. The Hu women danced the Hu Xuan dance flamboyantly. Their unique clothes revealed their snow-white thighs and slender waists, which made many people linger.
Under the illumination of bright palace lanterns on both sides of the streets in Taiyi City, some small vendors were hawking their wares in an orderly manner according to the designated areas, attracting passers-by.
Bai Chun thought about it and quickly walked up to Li Hong and said, "Master, you found the two people you have been looking for for two years."
"Who?" Li Hong looked at Xia Zhi, who was happily holding several strings of Tanghulu, a specialty snack in Taiyi City. He asked in confusion.
"Ming Chongyan and Du Yuanji." Bai Chun took the candied haws from Xia Zhi's hand and handed it to Li Hong who was a little dazed.
"Oh, where are they?" Li Hong asked.
These two people were people he valued very much. Although Ming Chongyan later became an official of the Tang Dynasty, before he became famous, he was a quack like Du Yuanji. Later, he cured his father's headache and started his career as an official.
Li Hong wanted him, firstly because of the "medicinal kitchen", and secondly because he did not want the court to be filled with all kinds of officials. These people were destined not to be important officials in governing the country, but only people who were content with eating and drinking for free.
It is best to get them into your own hands before they become successful, and let them maximize their value in the "medicine room".
"We had just entered Taiyi City not long ago, and we didn't know they were the people we were looking for, but because of Xiao Shoudao and Xiao Shougui, we were able to confirm their identities."
"That's great. Don't alarm them for now. Just monitor their every move carefully." After hearing the news, Li Hong felt itchy in his heart. Whether the "Medicinal Kitchen" can continue to move forward in an all-round way, he still values Ming Chongyan and Du Yuanji very much.
After the group returned to the manor, Li Hong took a rest after taking a quick look at the Chamber of Commerce plan that Bai Chun brought. After all, he had been traveling for a whole day, and his ten-year-old body was already a little sleepy.
It was already noon the next day when Li Hongcai was helped to get up reluctantly by Bailu and Xiaohan. He still had a ponytail behind his head. Now that no one was watching over him, his life was naturally very happy.
He had the final say in everything, and he no longer had to be cautious and nervous like when he was in the Eastern Palace, with two big men who lived just across the wall from the Eastern Palace watching over him. He also didn't have to worry about the little bit of restraint that the Censorate had on him.
After quickly finishing their meal with the help of Xia Zhi, Bai Chun and Xiao Xue, they boarded the carriage that had been waiting at the door for a long time. Their destination this time was naturally the restricted area of Taiyi City.
The restricted area of Taiyi City has tall walls and strict protection, and the restricted area is more like the inner city of Taiyi City. It is close to Taiyi Mountain and built on the mountain. The entire layout cleverly utilizes the entire mountain structure, including some caves, which have been put to great use.
The carriage slowly drove out of Taiyi City and headed towards the foot of Taiyi Mountain. After only half an hour, it had already approached the gate of the restricted area.
There is a huge skull at the door, giving people a sense of warning. Naturally, this is also something that Bai Chun can't wait to tear down, because it is all the result of that gentleman's bad taste.
Moreover, in this restricted area, every area has this skull logo, and it can be seen everywhere. Every time Bai Chun is in a bad mood, he will mistake the skull for Li Hong and curse him in his heart.
The carriage passed smoothly, and the streets inside were as wide as those in Taiyi City, with each area clearly separated.
As the carriage slowly drove in, Li Hong and others first arrived at the glass-making site, where they had been waiting for a long time without complaint.
After Li Hong jumped off the carriage, the two of them hurriedly saluted: "I greet you, sir."
"Get up, you two are much more handsome than before. Haha, come on, take me in to see." Li Hong said nervously.
The entire glass-making area is also very large. After visiting all the processes, Li Hong finally came to the finished product area.
Looking at the neatly arranged glasses on both sides, his expression began to look a little gloomy.
When a truckload of glass was being loaded onto a cart and was ready to be shipped away, Li Hong stopped the carriage and slowly walked to the entrance of the carriage. Under the sunlight, the glass on the carriage reflected a dazzling light.
"Bai Chun, where are these glasses going to be shipped? Who are they for?" Li Hong stared at the glass, but the anger in his tone made the hearts of the people around him tighten.
"Master, these glasses are sent out of the restricted area and shipped to various countries in the Western Regions." Bai Chun felt a little suffocated by Li Hong's silent anger.
"Then can you tell me what's going on with the bubbles on the glass?" Li Hong continued to ask.
The light tone made Bai Chun, Xia Zhi and others feel as if they were the prelude to a coming storm.
Bai Chun found that his hands were soaked with sweat, and his whole body seemed a little stiff. He thought that after so many years, he was no longer afraid of him, but he didn't expect that when this man got angry, he still felt so scared, and even felt like he was suffocating.
"Yes, sir." Bai Chun gritted his teeth and said in a trembling voice, "According to the standards, these glasses are all defective."
"Then why did you still want to ship it out? How many are there in total? Smash them all. Go to the 'medicinal food room'." After saying that, Li Hong left without looking back.
Xia Zhi and the others hurriedly caught up, leaving Bai Chun standing there, still shaking uncontrollably.
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