(Two-in-One Chapter)
"Oh? Marquis, if you have any orders, I will do my best to cooperate with you! "
Yunshan Residence.
Hearing that Li Zexuan wanted to start a tea business and needed everyone's help, Zheng Yinhong's expression changed. He quickly cupped his hands and said.
"We are also willing to lend Marquis a helping hand!"
Cao Wendong and the others also cupped their hands and said.
Li Zexuan nodded and said, "Good! With everyone's help, this Marquis has even more confidence in doing this tea business! First, we have to solve the problem of the source of the tea. The weather in the north is dry and not suitable for tea trees to grow, so the tea leaves must be picked from the south! "
Speaking of this, Li Zexuan looked at Zheng Yinhong and said, "I sent the tea leaves to the palace yesterday. After His Majesty tasted it, he liked it very much and decided to list the Immortal Tea as a tribute tea. So, in the future, the tea leaves that the palace needs will be collected in the Jiangnan area!"
"Tribute tea?"
Everyone was shocked and their hearts were in turmoil. However, Zheng Yinhong's expression changed and he said, "Marquis, the Immortal Tea being listed as a tribute tea shows that its quality is unparalleled in the world. But once it is listed as a tribute tea, it should not be sold casually among the people!"
Hearing this, everyone came to their senses. Cao Wendong nodded and said, "Marquis, what Manor Head Zheng said is reasonable! Once the Immortal Tea is listed as a tribute tea, how can the people enjoy it casually? "
Li Zexuan waved his hand and said with a smile, "You can't say that. His Majesty loves the people like his children and likes to enjoy with them. Besides, we can make a batch of top-grade Immortal Tea and supply it to the palace. As for the lower-grade ones, we can sell them to the people. When the time comes, the Immortal Tea will borrow the reputation of the tribute tea and sell it to the people!"
In the Tang Dynasty, there were no strict restrictions on the tributes to the palace. Every place only needed to deliver the tributes to the court on time. It did not mean that once something was listed as a tribute, it could not be sold among the people. For example, cucumbers had always been a tribute before the Tang Dynasty and during the Tang Dynasty, but could the people not eat it? Obviously not. As long as you have the money, you can definitely buy it!
As for the imperial tribute tea, there had never been a precedent before. Zheng Yinhong and the others were only worried because they wanted to be absolutely sure!
"Marquis's move is brilliant. However, can this Immortal Tea also be divided into three, six, and nine grades?"
Feng Zhihua stroked his beard and asked doubtfully.
The tea leaves they used to drink were all crushed tea leaves mixed with seasonings. How could there be any concept of grading tea leaves?
Li Zexuan smiled and said, "Of course, tea leaves can be divided into different grades. Generally speaking, for fresh tea leaves, the shorter the buds and leaves, the more tender they are, and the smaller the angle between the buds and leaves, the better the quality of the tea leaves! Therefore, top-grade fresh tea leaves must have a bud and a leaf that have just bloomed. The angle of the bud and leaf should be small, the bud should be longer than the leaf, the bud and leaf should be uniform and fat, and the bud and leaf should not be more than an inch long.
In addition, the stir-frying method should also be particular. In my opinion, after stir-frying, the tea leaves should be flat and smooth, delicate and sharp, tender and green, uniform and heavy, and the bud peak should be visible. In this way, the top-grade fresh tea leaves, coupled with the top-grade stir-frying method, will naturally become the top-grade Immortal Tea!
Using this top-grade Immortal Tea as a tribute and selling the slightly inferior ones will not only save the Emperor's face, but also let the world taste the delicious Immortal Tea. It can be said to be killing two birds with one stone! "
Hearing this, everyone nodded and thought that this plan was very appropriate!
Zheng Yinhong was even more convinced. He cupped his hands and said, "Marquis's research and attainments in the Way of Tea can be said to be a master of a generation. I used to think that I had done a lot of research in the Way of Tea, but after listening to Marquis's words today, I realized that I was just a frog at the bottom of a well!"
"Eh? Heightslord Zheng, you don't have to say that. In fact, I learned these things from my master. They are not my own skills! "
Li Zexuan smiled and then said, "Heightslord Zheng, I want to build a tea garden in the Jiangnan area, but I have been in Chang 'an for many years and have no time to manage the tea garden, so …"
"As long as Marquis trusts me, I am willing to manage the tea garden for Marquis!"
As soon as Li Zexuan finished his words, Zheng Yinhong immediately said.
Cao Wendong and the others were silent at this moment. Although they had business dealings with the south, they were not southerners after all. They were not like Zheng Yinhong, who had a large foundation and a wide network in the south. They wanted to help Li Zexuan build a tea garden in the south, but they did not have the ability to do so!
Li Zexuan smiled and said, "I appreciate Heightslord Zheng's kindness! It's not that I don't trust you, but I will feel sorry for troubling Heightslord Zheng! Therefore, I want to open a tea garden with Heightslord Zheng, specializing in picking and frying Immortal Tea. I am also willing to share the frying method of the Immortal Tea. Together, we can build the largest, most famous, and best tea garden! "
As soon as he said that, everyone was shocked!
No one expected that Li Zexuan would be willing to share the frying method of the Immortal Tea. It should be known that with the reputation of the tribute tea and the excellent taste and taste of the Immortal Tea, as long as Li Zexuan solved the problem of the source of the tea leaves, he could rely on the tea leaves to make endless wealth! After all, in the whole Tang Empire, no tea merchant could produce tea leaves that could compete with the Immortal Tea. Naturally, there was no way to compete with Li Zexuan!
Zheng Yinhong was well known in the Jiangnan market. He was not a person who had not seen the world. But at this moment, he could not help but be moved. He quickly bowed and said, "How can I open a tea garden with you, Marquis? If Marquis needs anything, I am willing to help Marquis with all my strength. I dare not covet Marquis's frying method! "
Zheng Yinhong was indeed a person who had seen a big scene. In the face of huge benefits, he still kept his heart at the critical moment. He was not stupid. Although he was a powerful businessman in Jiangnan, Li Zexuan was a noble Marquis. If he wanted to kill him, it would be as easy as killing an ant. After all, the social hierarchy of scholars, farmers, businessmen, and businessmen was not a joke. Therefore, he thought quickly and seriously considered it, but still rejected this tempting proposal!
Li Zexuan couldn't help but nod in his heart when he saw this. After that, he looked at Zheng Yinhong with a spurious smile and said, "Manor Lord Zheng, you're a businessman. We're talking about business right now. Fairness is the most important thing in business. Helping me build a tea garden for free isn't the way to do business!
You should know that I am not short of money, and I don't like to use my power to oppress others. So, if you are willing to help, I will give you 40% of the shares. In the future, you will get 40% of the profits of the tea garden. If you are not willing to help, it doesn't matter. I will find someone else! "
In the face of Li Zexuan's generous offer, everyone present felt a rush of excitement. Cao Wendong and the others all looked at Zheng Yinhong enviously.
Zheng Yinhong frowned and did not speak. From his frown and serious expression, one could see that he was struggling fiercely in his heart. After a long silence, Zheng Yinhong finally opened his mouth. He bowed to Li Zexuan and said,
"Marquis is upright and righteous, benevolent and kind. This Zheng admires you greatly! Since Marquis treats me with sincerity, I, Zheng Yinhong, swear here today that I will do my best to manage the tea garden for Marquis for generations to come. If there is any betrayal, I am willing to let the men of my Zheng family be slaves and the women be prostitutes for generations! "
He understood that after obtaining Li Zexuan's secret method of frying tea, he had to be loyal to Li Zexuan and make Li Zexuan completely believe in him. Therefore, he made such a heavy oath!
Everyone was moved. Li Zexuan's expression also couldn't help but change slightly. It should be known that the ancient people attached great importance to oaths. No one dared to casually swear, and no one would be like Zheng Yinhong, directly swearing on their descendants!
Li Zexuan hurriedly helped Zheng Yinhong up and said, "Master Zheng, you don't have to do this. The Zheng family has been doing business in Jiangnan for generations and is very trustworthy. Who doesn't know Master Zheng's trustworthiness? Who doesn't believe you? "
To be honest, there were two main reasons why he shared the secret method of frying tea so easily. First, his method of frying tea was actually not difficult to learn. Once the Immortal Tea was launched, all the tea merchants in the world would definitely be able to figure out his method of frying tea within a year. Instead of keeping the secret method of frying tea a secret, it was better to monopolize all the high-quality tea gardens in Jiangnan while the tea market was still blank. In this way, Zheng Yinhong, the local snake, would definitely be inseparable.
Second, Li Zexuan actually didn't plan to do the tea business at first. At most, he wanted to make a small batch of tea for himself and for the people around him to drink. Moreover, he was now devoted to promoting the basic technology of the Tang Empire and didn't want to spend time making money from the tea business. He didn't lack money! However, Li Er listed the Immortal Tea as a tribute tea and let him be responsible for the tea supply of the palace. Since he decided yesterday to be a "bootlicker", he could only "bootlicker" to the end. Since he didn't have time, he could only "delegate" to Zheng Yinhong and the others.
Anyway, he was confident that with his current status, Zheng Yinhong wouldn't dare to betray him. He believed that Zheng Yinhong was a smart person.
Now that Zheng Yinhong had made such a solemn vow, he was even more certain that his judgment was correct.
Cao Wendong, who was at the side, also nodded at this moment and said, "The Zheng family is famous in Jiangnan. They are the most trustworthy in the business world. This is indeed known by everyone."
Zheng Yinhong looked at Cao Wendong gratefully, then clasped his hands at Li Zexuan and said, "Marquis is so sincere, but I can't refuse. I can only take 30% of the shares of the Immortal Tea Garden. If Marquis is unwilling, then I can only accept it! However, I have a presumptuous request, and I hope that Marquis can agree to it. "
"Oh? Owner Zheng, please speak! "
Li Zexuan's expression changed slightly, and he was a little curious.
Zheng Yinhong said in a low voice, "I know that Marquis has established the Yan Huang Chamber of Commerce, and I have always been fascinated. I wonder if Marquis can let me join the Yan Huang Chamber of Commerce?"
10% of the shares of the Immortal Tea Garden in exchange for a membership in the Yan Huang Chamber of Commerce. In the long run, he was still losing out. After all, the future potential of the Immortal Tea Garden was limitless. However, the reason why he made this suggestion was mainly because he felt that 40% of the shares of the Immortal Tea Garden was too hot. Giving out 10% in exchange for a membership in the Yan Huang Chamber of Commerce would not only protect himself, but also open up a path for the Zheng family.
Li Zexuan pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "I have no objections, but I have an idea. I will give you 10% of the shares of the Immortal Tea Garden. Boss Cao, Boss Lin, Boss Feng, you all can discuss and give 10% of the original shares of the Yan Huang Chamber of Commerce to Owner Zheng. As a reward, this 10% of the shares of the Immortal Tea Garden will be divided equally according to the corresponding ratio. How about it?"
Back then, the first batch of members of the Yan Huang Chamber of Commerce was determined through an auction. The shares that each person held were determined according to the ratio of the money that they paid. And the amount of goods that they received from the workshop in the future was directly related to the shares that they held in the chamber of commerce.
To put it simply, Li Zexuan was now using the 10% of the shares of the Immortal Tea Garden that Zheng Yinhong gave up to exchange for 10% of the shares of the Yan Huang Chamber of Commerce with Cao Wendong and the rest. In any case, he would definitely not lose out in this exchange. He still held 60% of the shares of the Immortal Tea Garden!
Cao Wendong and the rest looked at each other and nodded. They all said, "We are willing to follow Marquis's arrangements!"
They were not stupid. The goods that Zheng Yinhong received from the Strange Taste Pavilion workshop were to be shipped to Jiangnan to be sold. It did not clash with their business at all! On the contrary, with 10% of the shares of the Immortal Tea Garden, they would be able to get involved in the tea business. And originally, they would not have been able to get the shares of the Immortal Tea Garden, because with their connections, they would not be able to help Li Zexuan set up the Immortal Tea Garden. But now that Li Zexuan had given them the opportunity, how could they not seize it?
Li Zexuan nodded his head in satisfaction and said, "In this way, everyone is happy! In a while, I will mark a few of the best locations for the Immortal Tea Garden on the map. When the time comes, Manor Head Zheng can help to set up the Immortal Tea Garden in these places. As for the cost of setting up the Immortal Tea Garden, we will share it! "
Zheng Yinhong clasped his hands and said, "Yes! Marquis! "
Li Zexuan smiled, then raised his teacup and said, "Come, everyone, let's use tea as wine to celebrate the addition of a new member to our Flaming Yellow Chamber of Commerce today!"
...
After settling the matters of the Immortal Tea Garden, Zheng Yinhong took the map that Li Zexuan had given him and set off for Jiangnan in the afternoon. In Chang 'an City, he left Zheng Qianjun to look after the team.
On the map that Li Zexuan had given him, the best locations for the Immortal Tea Garden were marked. These locations were almost all places that produced Longjing tea in his previous life, such as Lion Peak Mountain, Longjing Mountain, Chessboard Mountain, Shang Tianzhu, Wengjia Mountain, Waxberry Ridge, Manjuelong, White Crane Peak, and dozens of other mountain peaks. Li Zexuan wanted to use the memory of his previous life to quickly monopolize the production areas of these high-quality tea leaves. Even if someone later found a way to make high-quality tea, the quality of the tea leaves would be far inferior to the Immortal Tea!
Of course, other than the task of setting up the Immortal Tea Garden, Zheng Yinhong's top priority in returning to Jiangnan this time was to go to the existing tea mountains and send people to pick a batch of fresh tea leaves as soon as possible to make tribute tea. As for the Immortal Tea Garden, it was estimated that they would have to wait until next year to produce tea. After all, they still had to transplant the tea trees!
...
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
