Chapter 307 The strange desire to win and lose

According to records, cotton originated in the Mesopotamian Valley and gradually spread to Central Asia during the Spring and Autumn Period. There are already records about cotton in the Tang Dynasty.

However, in the beginning, cotton was generally used for viewing rather than for keeping warm.

Starting from the Song Dynasty, cotton spinning technology was gradually introduced to the Central Plains, and the use of quilts began to become popular.

As the saying goes, quilts are warm, and cats and you both want to know. Even a noble like Li Su praised the warmth of quilts.

"Otherwise, how can it be called a groundbreaking thing?" Li Xiang casually tapped the table with his hands. "In the fields of the countryside, if you just find a few ridges of idle land and plant cotton, you can have enough for your own use. The winter is not too difficult to endure, and you don't have to spend a lot of money to buy it."

"Also, I have asked people to promote cotton planting on the peninsula, and Liu Rengui is fully responsible for this matter." Li Xiang said again: "Within ten years, basic cold-resistant cotton products should be popularized in the north of the Tang Dynasty."

"The entire peninsula is equivalent to the Guannei Road." Li Su was amazed and said, "Xiang'er, you are really extravagant. You actually use such a large area to grow cotton."

"It is better to grow cotton, and allocate food from outside. In this way, if anyone wants to rebel again, they will have to consider whether they have enough food." Li Xiang said with a smile.

Li Shu nodded in understanding and asked, "What if the Tang officials in charge of allocating grain enrich themselves, buy cotton at a lower price, and make a profit from the difference?"

"Aunt, don't worry about that." Li Xiang crossed his legs. "When I set up the Inspection Office, it is my duty to supervise local officials. Every year when we purchase cotton, there will naturally be inspection officers going to the countryside to conduct an investigation."

"What if the inspector is also colluding with local officials responsible for purchasing cotton?" Li Shu's eyes flashed.

"If I were here, this problem wouldn't have happened. But it's hard to say what will happen in the future. Anyway, we'll just have to wait for the peninsula to rebel because they can't get enough food." Li Xiang spread his hands. "If my descendants can't do a good job, it's not my fault. They are useless. As the saying goes, children will have their own blessings. Don't be a slave to them. That's the truth."

"You little elephant." Li Shu stretched out his finger and poked Li Xiang on the forehead.

"I think there is nothing wrong with my idea. There is no policy in this world that will never change. Only by combining it with the actual situation and constantly updating it can we ensure the vitality of the policy."

At this point, Li Xiang sighed and said, "If the descendants don't live up to expectations, even if you leave him a prosperous empire, he will ruin it within a dozen years—"

"Why don't you just mention Yang Guang's name?" Li Shu rolled his eyes at Li Xiang.

"Yang Guang is such a loser, mentioning him makes me dirty." Li Xiang spread his hands and said, "If Sima Zhong was in his position, the Sui Dynasty would probably still be in power now."

Li Shu wanted to retort, but was sadly surprised to find that there was nothing wrong with what Li Xiang said.

Given the situation of the Sui Dynasty, even if Hu Hai were to build it, he might not be able to destroy it - it can only be said that Guangshen does have some strength.

Li Xiang has never been the kind of person who likes to waste time. He does not have the sense of responsibility that Lao Zhu has. Anyway, as long as he does a good job in his current job, it will be fine.

Li Su did not dare to respond to Li Xiang's words just now, so he could only change the subject: "The various workshops have already produced nearly ten thousand sets of quilts, which will be sold in the shops in Chang'an in the next few days. As for the pricing, I want to raise the price first and sell these exquisitely crafted quilts to the dignitaries in Chang'an City. What do you think, Xiang'er?"

"That's a good idea." Li Xiang said with a smile, "We can't just bear the high cost of this quilt, right? We buy cotton at 20 cents a pound, so we have to sell it at a high price. Auntie will decide the price."

"But I have a little idea. People are just looking for practicality anyway, and they don't care whether the quilt looks exquisite. Why not make it into three grades? The first grade is made with exquisite workmanship, and the target group is the dignitaries in Chang'an City; the second grade is more mediocre in workmanship, to distinguish it from the first grade, not luxurious, but with a little class. The target group of this second grade quilt is the people in Chang'an City who have some money; the third grade quilt can be made casually, and the price is cheaper. This part is aimed at ordinary people. What do you think, aunt?"

"I think so too." Li Su nodded and said, "But my opinion is that there should be some restrictions on the first-class quilts. Only officials with a rank of seventh rank or above in Chang'an can buy them. What do you think, Xiang'er?"

"I understand. My aunt just won't cheat the poor." Li Xiang looked at Li Su in surprise. He had known for a long time that his aunt had a good business acumen, but he didn't expect her to be so advanced.

"There are so many families in Chang'an City. These nearly 10,000 quilts may not be able to meet their needs." Li Shu said again: "But there is no need to rush. Let's make second- and third-grade quilts first and instill the impression that the first-grade quilts are in short supply in the minds of Chang'an people."

Wow, this is hunger marketing, right?

Li Xiang thought to himself, you are really self-taught. Will your surname be Lei in your next life?
"Aunt is really wise." Li Xiang gave her a thumbs up and praised her. Then he said, "But I have another suggestion. How about putting a brand on this first-class quilt and calling it 'Product of the Tang Dynasty Royal Weaving Bureau'?"

"The Imperial Weaving Bureau of the Tang Dynasty?" Li Shu was stunned: "I have never heard of this organization..."

"Look, now it's here, isn't it?" Li Xiang snorted, "I'll carve a seal out of a carrot for your nephew. If this organization doesn't have one, he'll have to have one!"

"That's right." Li Su looked Li Xiang up and down, nodded and said, "You are now the crown prince. Even your father-in-law has been bewitched by you. A mere Royal Weaving Bureau should be easy to take over, right?"

"Look at what you are saying? You make it sound like my nephew is someone like Daji or Baosi." Li Xiang rolled his eyes.

Li Shu smiled, and then said to Li Xiang: "Now Youzhou has gradually entered the right track of development under your planning. Two months ago, when I sent people to Youzhou to buy, the people who came back told me that Wuqing's development is not inferior to Dengzhou, and even has the potential to surpass it. The seafood transported to Chang'an by water is not much less than that of Dengzhou. Now the price of salted fish in Chang'an has stabilized. I am thinking whether we should expand the trade route appropriately, such as to the Western Regions?"

"It's not impossible. Aren't there many Hu merchants in Chang'an City? Haven't they ever come to you to discuss this matter?" Li Xiang asked, looking up.

"Some time ago, quite a few merchants came to ask about the price of these seafood. I gave them a low price, just adding two cents on the basis of the transportation cost and the purchase cost. They seemed quite interested and wanted to transport these things to the Western Regions for sale." Li Shu said with a smile: "I heard from those merchants that the Western Regions is inland and there is no sea around it, so it is naturally isolated from seafood. So I think selling seafood to the Western Regions is a good way."

"It's just that there weren't enough goods in Chang'an City a while ago, so this matter has been delayed until now. I will be counting on the people from Youzhou and Dengzhou to come back soon, so I plan to discuss this matter with you. What do you think?"

"If we can sell these seafood to these Hu merchants on the basis of satisfying the Tang Dynasty, then I naturally have no objection." Li Xiang thought for a while, and then said: "After all, the price of seafood cannot be too low. If the supply exceeds the demand, it will definitely lead to a drop in the price of seafood. At that time, not only will the fishermen's harvest be reduced, but the interests of people in the entire industry chain will also be damaged."

This is true, after all, the livelihood of millions of canal workers depends on...

"Don't worry, Xiang'er." Li Su responded, "After a few days, when the people transporting goods from Youzhou and Dengzhou come back, I will take out some and sell it to the Hu merchants."

"Aunt, I'm at ease with you." Li Xiang suddenly remembered the gifts he had prepared for Li Shu and the others, so he turned around and said to Fu Bao, "Fu Bao, go back to Wude Hall and get the gifts I prepared for the aunts. I have nothing to do for a while, so I can visit every household."

"Yes, Your Highness." Fubao responded and left.

Seeing Fubao leaving, Li Shu suddenly narrowed his eyes and said, "Xiang'er, if your aunt hadn't come here, would you have forgotten the gift you brought me?"

"How could that be possible? I just happened to remember it." Li Xiang smiled and said, "I was planning to visit the aunts tomorrow, but since you are here today, I'd better go early and eat it all today."

"All cooked in one spoon?" Li Su raised his eyebrows: "You little elephant, what do you think I am? A sea cucumber?" "Not a sea cucumber, but a faceless one." Li Xiang joked: "Aunt is a faceless one, so she must be... well, a cunning fox."

Li Su took a deep breath and decided not to bother with this brat.

If he really had to fight against this brat, Li Shu felt that he would have to live at least ten years less...

After a while, Fubao returned to Jingzhao Prefecture with pearls and other gifts taken from the Wude Hall.

"This is pearl." Li Xiang almost blurted out "xx pearl". He opened the big box and introduced the whitening effect of pearl to Li Su.

Li Shu, who was still a little emotional, had forgotten all about it after hearing Li Xiang's introduction.

Which woman can resist making herself more beautiful? Even Li Su doesn't want to become old and ugly.

"This is a good stuff..." Li Shu patted the big box with satisfaction. The weight made Li Shu very happy.

As expected, Xiang'er still cares about me the most. Look at how sincere he is. Then look at others...

Thinking of this, Li Su stretched his head to look at the other boxes.

Except for Li Lizhi's box which was the same as hers, no one else's box was as big as hers.

This strange desire to win...

"Aunt, I am very satisfied with this gift." Li Shu smiled and rubbed Li Xiang's head with his hand. Then he felt that it was not bad, so he rubbed it again.

While she was rubbing him, she was still thinking in her heart that she should touch Li Xiang more while he is the crown prince now, but she can't touch him randomly after he ascends the throne and becomes the emperor.

That's extremely disrespectful.

"As long as Aunt is satisfied." Li Xiang said with a smile: "In addition, there are some supplements in the box, especially the sea cucumber. Eating more is good for your health."

"Really?" Li Shu opened the small box and saw the ugly-looking sea cucumber. He raised his head suspiciously: "Is this thing... a tonic? It's so ugly. Do you think I, your aunt, would..."

This is already a very euphemistic statement, after all, sea cucumbers are really ugly...

"Beauty." Li Xiang said concisely.

"Will you refuse to eat such delicious food?" Li Shu quickly finished his words.

In this world, as long as an animal is associated with two words, humans can eat it into a rare species.

One is to strengthen sexual function, the other is to beautify, and it is applicable everywhere.

Just like why truffles are so expensive, it’s because Napoleon ate one and got a son.

Nahuang personally promotes the products, so I just want to ask you if it’s helpful or not.

"Xiang'er is so thoughtful." The more Li Shu looked at the black thing, the cuter it seemed to him.

What a fickle woman... Li Xiang complained in his heart, and then said: "If the cooks in my aunt's house don't know how to cook, let them come to Jingzhao Prefecture to learn... In addition, this sea cucumber, my nephew plans to develop this business, and I need my aunt to take care of it."

"I understand." Li Su gave him a look that showed he understood immediately.

Isn't it just about bringing goods? Li Shu has a very good candidate.

Yes, it’s Li Lizhi.

As the woman with the highest status in the circle of noble ladies in the Tang Dynasty today, Li Lizhi is... a walking billboard.

After all, Empress Changsun has passed away now. As the daughter of Empress Changsun and the most beloved princess of Li Shimin, Li Lizhi naturally became the top 1 in the circle of noble ladies.

Her personal experience is more effective than anything else.

After chatting with Li Xiang for a while, Li Su had the gifts carried away and left Jingzhao Prefecture with a happy smile on his face.

When he came, he had nothing in his hands, and when he left, his hands were full and his hands were leveled.

After Li Shu left, Li Xiang went to visit his aunts with gifts.

The first one is naturally Princess Changle Li Lizhi. As a good helper who works with Li Su to support Li Xiang in the rear, the gift Li Xiang prepared for her is of the same standard as that for Li Su.

In fact, even if she didn't accept any gifts, Li Lizhi would be very happy to see her nephew coming to visit her. What's more, this nephew was very sensible and brought so many gifts to make her proud.

After hearing about the effects of these gifts, Li Lizhi became even happier and repeatedly praised her nephew Li Xiang for his filial piety.

He originally planned to sit for a while and then leave, but unable to refuse Li Lizhi's hospitality, Li Xiang had to have lunch at the Duke of Zhao's mansion.

After leaving the Mansion of Duke Zhao, Li Xiang rushed to the Mansion of Duke Song, which was the home of his teacher Xiao Yu.

At the same time, it is also the home of his eldest aunt Princess Xiangcheng and her husband, Captain Xiao Rui.

Just as Li Xiang was traveling between the various prefectures in Chang'an, Pei Xingjian's fleet also quietly arrived in Luoyang.

(End of this chapter)