I support the army through farming and business.

Chapter 193 Relocation
The news that the tofu workshop would buy soybeans and potatoes at wheat prices caused an instant sensation in Wuwei and spread like wildfire throughout Lanzhou.

This instantly brought joy and excitement to the people who had been worried and resentful about the delayed planting.

What is their purpose in growing wheat? Isn't it to sell it for a good price so they can buy oil, salt, and cloth shoes for their families?

As for eating it, it's enough to have it once a year during the Spring Festival; eating it every day is a luxury reserved for the wealthy.

Moreover, wheat is so difficult to cultivate. Every summer, we have to carry water to irrigate it, and by the end of the day, our backs are about to break. Even so, the yield is far lower than that of soybeans.

Nowadays, tofu shops buy soybeans at wheat prices, so who would bother to grow wheat? Even if they had planted wheat seedlings before, they would have to pull them up overnight and plant soybeans!

As for what potatoes are, the people don't care. After all, growing soybeans has already provided them with enough to eat and wear for a year, no, for several years. So, setting aside a few acres of land to grow potatoes is not out of the question.

Some thrifty people even considered clearing land overnight.

After all, the princess said it was only for this year, and once it was gone, it would be gone forever.

Tang Zhao, who had been fleeced, sneezed violently in a series of sneezes, feeling dizzy and lightheaded as he looked at the account books.

“Miss, I’ve done the calculations. If we really buy soybeans and potatoes at the price of wheat, the tofu shop will need…” Chunfeng’s fingers were practically clicking on the abacus. “It will need nearly 700,000 taels of silver.”

Tang Zhao:. . . .

Tang Zhao clutched her chest and collapsed onto the chaise longue.

Qiu Yu's voice trembled, "Girl, let's run."

Tang Zhao asked listlessly, "Where did you run off to?"

Qiu Yu was speechless, and then felt even more heartbroken. The world was so vast, yet there was nowhere for her daughter to find refuge.

"Stop talking nonsense. Instead of wasting your time, think carefully about how to earn 700,000 taels of silver in five months."

Qiu Yu felt like crying. Let alone 700,000, she couldn't even earn 70 taels.

"How is the Zhong family's rice wine?" Tang Zhao asked. "And the flower dew, did it increase the oil yield of the flower petals?"

"Following the recipe of Plum Blossom Immortal Wine, the Zhong family has developed dozens of different kinds of fermented wine, including Osmanthus, Chrysanthemum, Peony, Bamboo Leaf, and Pine Needle wines, ranging from low-alcohol beverages to high-alcohol spirits."

Chunfeng relayed a message from Master Zhong: "The head of the Zhong family requests that the young lady bestow a name upon him."

Tang Zhao waved her hand, she had no time or inclination for such things.
"Let the Zhong family choose a name themselves," Tang Zhao suggested. "Choose a name that sounds nice, is easy to remember, and is easy to pronounce."

Chunfeng was in a dilemma; the Zhong family didn't have that kind of education.

"Hold a wine appreciation banquet, invite talented poets from Jiangnan to taste the wine and name it," and sell some wine along the way.

Chunfeng noted, "The oil yield of Hualufang has indeed increased, but," Chunfeng glanced cautiously at Tang Zhao, "there are no more flowers."

The northwest is windy and sandy, and delicate flowers are not suitable for survival here. There are already very few flowers, and after this period of picking, you can hardly see a single blooming wildflower among the branches on the Wuwei mountain.

Tang Zhao sighed, "Summon the manager of Hua Lu Fang."

Dongmei went down to deliver the message, and that evening the manager of Hualufang came back to report.

Tang Zhao dispensed with the formalities and asked, "What is the oil yield of the Flower Dew Workshop?"

Qian Yuzhi bowed her head respectfully and said, "Ten catties of petals can produce one drop of essential oil."

The autumn rain made my teeth ache.

“Princess, although the yield is low, the color and aroma of the essential oil are excellent,” Qian Yuzhi explained with courage. “I will dilute the extracted essential oil with alcohol and water according to the method you taught me to make perfume. The fragrance is rich and long-lasting.”

Tang Zhao glanced at Qiu Yu, "You did a good job."

The autumn rain hung sullenly. Qian Yuzhi felt a sense of relief, but then she immediately worried, "All the flowers picked by Hualufang are used up."

In the Northwest, there are few flowers, and harvesting them is difficult. Not only are labor costs high, but accidents are also prone to occur. There was an incident where a hired woman almost fell down a hillside.

Tang Zhao stroked the golden seal in his hand. "What do you think?"

After hesitating for a moment, Qian Yuzhi finally gritted her teeth and said what had been lingering in her heart for a long time: "This servant believes that Hualufang should be moved to Jiangnan."

Once the words were spoken, there was no going back, so Qian Yuzhi blurted out her plan in one breath.

"Firstly, there are many flowers in Jiangnan, blooming all year round, covering the mountains and fields, with abundant flower resources. Secondly, there are many people in Jiangnan, so hiring labor is cheap, which can save costs. Thirdly, there are many wealthy people in Jiangnan who are particular about their appearance and would probably be willing to spend money to buy flower dew, which can also save on the cost of transporting flower dew."

Therefore, for Hualufang, relocating to Jiangnan would be extremely beneficial.

Tang Zhao countered, "But?"

"But the northwest of Jiangnan is too far away, and southerners are prone to bullying newcomers, so it will not be easy for Hualufang to gain a foothold."

“The powerful families of Jiangnan are deeply intertwined, and every merchant household has the support of a powerful family behind them,” Tang Zhao narrowed her eyes. “I am far away in the Northwest, and my influence is beyond my reach.”

Qian Yuzhi was startled; she had never thought of these things.

In that case, wouldn't it be impossible for Hualufang to relocate to Jiangnan?
Tang Zhao asked with a smile, "Would you be willing to go to Jiangnan to handle this matter?"

Qian Yuzhi snapped out of her reverie and stood up in shock. "This servant, this servant..."

"It's alright if you don't want to go, I won't force you."

Qian Yuzhi knelt on the ground, "This servant is willing to go!"

With an opportunity to make a name for herself right in front of her, how could she let it slip by?
"This servant will do everything in her power to ensure that Hua Lu Fang takes root in Jiangnan."

"Alright!" Tang Zhao helped her up personally. "I will clear away any obstacles for you in advance, and I will do my best to help you with any troubles you encounter later."

"But you must understand that I am far away and cannot consider everything. There are some difficulties that you must solve personally."

"This servant will certainly not disappoint the princess's expectations!"

"Go ahead, you can choose any of the people from Hua Lu Fang. You can also speak freely about any of my subordinates that you like."

"Thank you, Your Highness!" Qian Yuzhi said without any hesitation. "This servant would like to borrow a few guards to protect the safety of the Flower Dew Shop and its workers."

Tang Zhao readily agreed, "Dongmei, take her to find Wu Jiayi."

The two men withdrew, and Tang Zhao walked around the room twice. "Prepare the brush and ink."

Qiu Yu quickly prepared everything.

Tang Zhao sat at his desk, picked up his pen, and his thoughts flowed freely. He ordered the court officials to send the letter by fast horse to the Prince Xuan's residence and deliver it to the Crown Prince's wife.

Qiu Yu packed the envelope and ran out in a flash.

Inside the Xuan Prince's residence, Madam Ming received a letter from Tang Zhao. She handed her son to the wet nurse and quickly read the letter herself.

At the Flower Dew Shop, Ming pondered that if the flower dew produced truly had the effects his younger siblings described, it would indeed be a great business opportunity.

Without the slightest hesitation, Ming wrote a letter and sent it, along with Tang Zhao's letter, to the prefect of Jiangnan at top speed.

After reading his daughter's letter, Master Ming was very confident in the flower dew she mentioned. He immediately replied with a letter of agreement and sent someone to arrange a shop in a prime location and a manor covering several hundred acres, waiting for the flower dew shop to arrive.

At the same time, at the gate of Wuwei City, a convoy of carriages and horses was slowly driving out, heading south.