"Your Majesty, the price of cloth in Chang 'an has suddenly changed today. Coarse cloth, fine silk, and silk have all increased by varying degrees!"
In the Sweet Nectar Hall, Zhao Song quietly walked in and spoke respectfully to Li Er.
Li Er frowned and said with displeasure, "Hmm? Have you found out who is hoarding and driving up the price of cloth? "
In this era, the rulers of the upper class did not have much financial awareness. Naturally, there was no such thing as excessive currency devaluation and price inflation. Under normal circumstances, only in times of chaos would prices go out of control. When Li Yuan was in power, he did not lack in controlling the price of goods in the country. Because stable prices were often a symbol of a country's peace and stability, the price of goods in the beginning of the Tang Dynasty was relatively low.
How could Li Er not understand this? He was also very concerned about the price of goods in the country, especially in Chang 'an. So when he heard about the price change in Chang' an City, his brows immediately furrowed.
Zhao Song bowed and said, "Your Majesty, this is not a hoarding of goods by some merchants. Almost all the cloth merchants in Chang 'an City are raising prices at the same time! Yesterday and today, the farmers in the villages outside the city have all entered the city and bought large quantities of coarse cloth. The amount is so large that it makes one speechless. Many of the cloth shops have been swept clean. When the cloth merchants saw this, they collectively raised the price! However, the clothing shop of the Marquis of Yong 'an and the cloth shop of the number one cloth merchant in Chang' an City, Cao Family, did not raise the price! "
"There is such a strange thing? Why would the people buy cloth in large quantities? Li Zexuan, Cao Family? "
Li Er was puzzled. He stood up and paced back and forth with his hands behind his back. Suddenly, he said, "Li Zexuan and the Cao Family formed a Yan Huang Chamber of Commerce a few months ago, right?"
Zhao Song lowered his head and replied, "Yes, Your Majesty!"
Li Er seemed to understand and muttered, "So, the reason why the Cao Family did not raise the price of cloth should be because they were instructed by Li Zexuan? What is this kid doing? Why do I feel like he predicted that the price of cloth in Chang 'an City would soar? This matter must have something to do with him! "
Zhao Song's eyelids twitched. Then, like an old monk in meditation, he remained silent!
After a long while, Li Er ordered, "Investigate why these farmers suddenly bought so much cloth! At the same time, order Liu Dewei, the Chancellor of the Supreme Court, to investigate the peddlers in Chang 'an City who have been maliciously raising the price of cloth! "
"This old servant obeys!"
Zhao Song cupped his fists and left.
…
There was no shortage of well-informed people in Chang 'an, especially for the bigwigs in the imperial court. There were few secrets in Chang' an that they did not know. Today, when the price of cloth in the city skyrocketed, they all received the news one after another. Some even knew that the bulk buyers came from Lantian County, Li Zexuan's fief!
Combined with the fact that only Li Zexuan's and Cao Wendong's shops in Chang 'an City did not raise the price of the cloth, the answer behind the incident was obvious. However, the truth of the matter was really puzzling!
What was Li Zexuan trying to do? Why did he instigate the farmers to buy cloth in large quantities? What would be the use of the cloth he had bought?
The bigwigs in the imperial court could not figure it out!
It was not their fault that they were not well-informed. It was just that the farmers were unusually tight-lipped. The cloth merchants had asked, the servants sent by the courtiers had asked, and the farmers of other farms had asked as well. However, they could not get anything out of them.
Li Zexuan's seemingly simple decision had affected the nerves of many people. The main reason was that Li Zexuan's performance in Chang 'an City over the past six months had been too outstanding. Now, any news about him would attract a lot of attention.
"Xiao Xuan, I heard that the farmers of your farm are all buying cloth everywhere. Are you up to something mysterious recently?"
When it was close to evening, Cheng Yaojin came to Li Zexuan's residence to find him. This old fellow did not beat around the bush. After taking a seat in the main hall of the Li Residence, he asked directly.
Li Zexuan's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. He already knew that the farmers had collectively kept the matter of the greenhouse vegetables a secret. Regarding the farmers' thoughts, he naturally understood. Moreover, he also hoped that his family's farmers would be among the first to enjoy the benefits of the greenhouse vegetables.
However, the relationship between the Li Family and the Cheng Family was not shallow. It could be said that the benefits that the Cheng Family's farmstead enjoyed were basically implemented by Cheng Yaojin imitating Li Zexuan's policies towards the farmers. Now that Cheng Yaojin had personally come to ask about the sudden purchase of cloth, Li Zexuan was somewhat embarrassed. Should he say it or not?
For himself, it did not matter whether he said it or not. However, for the farmers of his family, it was different!
The market in Chang 'an City was not small, but it was not big either. If more people were to share the market, Li Zexuan's farmers would naturally receive less profit.
"Uncle Cheng, to be honest, I have a method of growing vegetables in winter. It requires a lot of oilcloth. I have already passed this method to the farmers of my fief. That's why they have been wantonly buying cloth in Chang 'an City these two days!"
After weighing the pros and cons for a moment, Li Zexuan decided to tell the truth. He believed that Cheng Yaojin knew his limits.
At the very least, he would give the farmers some methods to make money. How could there be enough money in this world? Even if the farmers of the Cheng Family's fief started to build greenhouses, Li Zexuan felt that his own family's profits would definitely not be low!
"What? You can grow vegetables in winter? Xiao Xuan, did I hear wrongly? "
Cheng Yaojin's first reaction was shock. His eyes were as big as copper bells and his face was filled with disbelief!
Li Zexuan nodded and said, "Yes, Uncle Cheng, you didn't hear wrongly! Let me bring you to see something! "
Cheng Yaojin did not understand but he still followed Li Zexuan to the West Courtyard.
Seeing the greenhouses in the West Courtyard that were half the height of a person and with Li Zexuan's explanation, Cheng Yaojin finally accepted the reality of the greenhouses.
"If your greenhouses can really grow vegetables in winter, then the farmers of your fief will make a lot of money this year! Lantian County will probably become one of the top three counties in Chang 'an City! Haha! You little brat, you really treat your family's farmers well! "
Cheng Yaojin stroked his beard and praised.
Li Zexuan smiled and said noncommittally, "Perhaps!"
Cheng Yaojin rubbed his chin and thought for a moment before saying, "Forget it, forget it. I shouldn't have come today! This was supposed to be a benefit for your farmers, but I found out about it. I shouldn't have! Don't worry, I will pretend that I didn't hear anything today! "
Old Cheng was not stupid. He knew when to advance and when to retreat. Although he was jealous of the huge profits from the greenhouses, he would not take advantage of his own family!
…
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