Zhutian: Starting from the Space-Time Merchant

Chapter 238 Changsun Wuji
"Shopkeeper."

Two men stepped forward to report, "The price of firewood has gone up again!"

Lin Dao, who had just started learning, frowned. "Another price increase?"

"This economic barometer is rising, highlighting the deteriorating economic environment."

Chai rice, oil, salt, sauce and vinegar tea.

Of the seven necessities of life, firewood is number one.

Firewood is indispensable for cooking and keeping warm in winter.

Even a portion of the government officials' salaries came from firewood.

We need to cook every day, which means we need to burn firewood every day.

People living in air-conditioned rooms today can hardly understand the cold of winter in ancient times.

That kind of cold, where you can freeze to death without firewood!

Firewood ranks first, as it is a strategic material closely related to production and daily life.

The continuous price increases reflect the growing hardship faced by ordinary people.

Buying firewood costs money.

Even before the shop opened, a large number of diners had already gathered outside.

Many passersby are curious and ask why this store is doing so well.

There are always enthusiastic gourmets who will explain things to you.

"This shop uses high-quality ingredients; they use spices directly!"

The newcomers were naturally shocked: "Who can afford this?!"

"The price is indeed expensive, but it's not unaffordable. After all, it has spices and meat in it, so the ingredients are there."

In the early Tang Dynasty, spices were transported from distant India by merchants from the Western Regions using camels.

The price is determined by the standard that the farther the distance, the higher the price.

Spices transported to Chang'an for sale were priced roughly the same as their weight in gold.

An ordinary eatery in the West Market was surprisingly generous with its use of spices and large pieces of meat.

Once the news spread, diners flocked to the area.

Customers took turns entering the store and enjoying their meal.

Lin Dao, the shop owner, sat quietly to the side, listening attentively.

He hired a shill who was provided with free meals every day. He received instructions to bring a bowl of mutton stew to a table and take a seat.

The people at the table were all minor officials from the municipal government.

Despite their low rank and humble position, their information network is always incredibly efficient.

"I don't know what happened."

While eating and drinking, the child complained, "Buying firewood is getting more and more expensive lately."

"We can barely afford firewood at home."

The practice of chatting during meals to show off one's wide range of information sources is an age-old custom.

A minor official nearby chimed in, “The nobles are occupying land and enclosing mountains, so there are fewer places to cut firewood, and the price will naturally rise.”

Some people also said, "The tax for entering the city has increased, so the price will definitely increase as well."

"Not just firewood, but everything else was added."

After some casual conversation, Lin Dao, who had been listening in, roughly understood the ins and outs of the matter.

Li Yuan bestowed too many titles and official positions upon his descendants.

It was indeed an aid when a dynasty was starting out and conquering the world.

But now that the world is beginning to stabilize, these angel investors are starting to demand their returns.

They seized farmland, forests, and rivers without sparing anyone.

You are not allowed to catch fish in the river, nor cut firewood on the mountain.

These are the property of nobles. Anyone who dares to touch them will be arrested and punished by their servants and retainers, and may even be beaten to death on the spot.

Undoubtedly, these factors directly impact the income of ordinary people.

As for municipal taxes, not only municipal taxes, but all kinds of taxes have increased.

The Li Tang dynasty's successive military campaigns were an external factor.

Li Yuan's own extravagant lifestyle, including the construction of palaces and the continuous bestowal of various honors, were the internal factors contributing to this situation.

The country was not yet fully pacified, but in Chang'an, the capital of the Li Tang dynasty, the powerful and wealthy had already entered a period of revelry.

The shill, who had broken the bread in his hand into pieces and thrown it into the bowl while eating the paomo, continued to bring up topics.

"Life is already difficult enough, how can we go on like this?"

"Aren't Your Majesty and the Crown Prince going to do anything about this?"

The lower-ranking officials ate and drank, casually offering their opinions.

"I heard that the father of Consort Zhang has not been caught yet. His Majesty is busy appeasing the beauty and has no time to deal with these matters."

"As for the Crown Prince."

"Recently, I've been busy selecting trusted men to go to Hebei and Shandong to compete with the King of Qin for the position."

"With firewood and rice becoming more expensive, taxes increasing, and people struggling to make ends meet, who cares?"

The low-ranking officials were just the lowest-level bureaucrats and didn't receive much benefit from the imperial court.

Rising prices and declining incomes will also affect their families.

In the marketplace, complaints were endless.

He silently wrote down what he heard in his notebook.

After thinking about it, I added comments and ratings at the end.

A commotion arose outside the store.

Before long, the group entered the shop.

Looking around, the leader clasped his hands in greeting and asked, "May I ask where Master Lin is?"

Lin Dao put away his pen and paper and stood up. "Who are you?"

The newcomer's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly stepped forward to bow, saying, "I am Changsun Wuji."

Looking at the smiling, slightly overweight young man in front of him, Lin Dao nodded and said, "Let's talk inside."

Under the watchful eyes of many diners, Lin Dao led Changsun Wuji to the backyard.

His first question was, "How did you find me?"

Changsun Wuji hurriedly replied, "The Daoist has taken over this shop, and the municipal government has gone to verify it."

Lin Daolai's identity in Chang'an was arranged with the help of Li Erfeng, and his guarantor was also from the Prince of Qin's mansion.

After taking over the shop, the municipal government went to verify the information, and naturally, the Prince Qin's residence also learned of his location.

"I see."

Lin Dao nodded. "What do you want with me?"

Changsun Wuji received the second letter delivered by Yuchi Gong.

From this letter, they learned of Lin Dao's true abilities and Li Erfeng's stern instructions, which is why they hurriedly came to find him.

"The King of Qin has decreed that whatever the Daoist requests, the entire King of Qin's mansion will serve him with utmost diligence!" Lin Dao smiled upon hearing this.

"If I were to kill the Crown Prince, would you help me?"

Changsun Wuji's smiling face suddenly turned strange. "This...this..."

Even if I had those thoughts, I couldn't say them out loud.

It's one thing if the King of Qin is incompetent, but he could just live a peaceful life as a wealthy prince.

The problem is, the King of Qin has the appearance of a ruler!
The entire Tang Dynasty was almost entirely conquered by the Prince of Qin, but in the end, it belonged to the Crown Prince.

Just because the crown prince was born early?
Why! !

Even if the King of Qin himself didn't have this intention, the people in the King of Qin's mansion would push him forward in order to pursue progress.

The King of Qin was not just himself, nor was he his own family.

Rather, it was a vast group comprised of countless people surrounding him.

Everyone is eager to improve.

The crown prince, who was the biggest obstacle, naturally became an obstacle in their eyes.

However, it is clearly not appropriate to bring it up now.

Lin Dao smiled again and said, "Wait a moment, I'll write a letter, and you can help me send it to Li Erfeng."

"Li, Li Erfeng?"

To dare address the King of Qin in such a way, this is...
Before long, Lin Dao took out a letter and handed it to Changsun Wuji.

"Rest assured, Daoist Master."

Changsun Wuji solemnly accepted the letter and bowed again, saying, "I will certainly deliver this letter to the King of Qin."

"By the way," Lin Dao spoke again, "are you aware of the recent price increases in Chang'an?"

Changsun Wuji was stunned for a moment. He really didn't expect Lin Dao to ask this.

"Have heard a little bit."

Lin Dao then asked, "What do you think should be done?"

At this point, someone with low emotional intelligence might say, "This is a matter for the Prefect of the Capital to consider; what does it have to do with me?"

After a moment of contemplation, Changsun Wuji said, "Send documents to all places to dispatch supplies to Chang'an to alleviate the price problem."

This is from the perspective of managing Chang'an City.

The higher-level arrangements are for higher-ranking officials to consider.

Lin Dao smiled and nodded, then asked, "The land of Hebei has just been pacified, but the people's hearts are not at peace. What do you think should be done?"

Someone with low emotional intelligence might say, "This is the Prime Minister's job, what does it have to do with me?"

Changsun Wuji responded by saying, "Implement equal land distribution, reduce taxes, pardon those who follow bandits, station troops to suppress bandits and confiscate armor and crossbows from the people, and select capable ministers and officials to go to Hebei to pacify the people."

Land redistribution has always been a matter of great concern to the people.

Once the land is distributed, the people's minds will settle down.

Reducing or exempting taxes is a way to bestow favors, alleviate the pressure on the people, and win their hearts.

The pardon goes without saying.

The number of people who followed Dou Jiande was far more than several hundred thousand.

If we don't pardon them, are we just going to kill them all?
Historically, the Li Tang dynasty's acts of revenge incurred the wrath of both heaven and man.

The apparent result was that it provoked Liu Heita to rebel again, and the entire Hebei region was almost swept away.

Although the conflict was eventually quelled, the seeds of future trouble were firmly sown.

A century later, this root of the problem was ignited by the An Lushan Rebellion, which caused it to explode violently.

It literally blew the Tang Dynasty from its peak to collapse.

Lin Dao then changed the subject, saying, "I have something I'd like to ask for your help with."

"Please speak frankly, Daoist Master."

“I have heard that there is a coal mine forty miles outside the city, and I would like to buy it.”

"Rest assured, Master, I will take care of it as soon as possible."

"There's more," Lin Dao added, "I want to buy a piece of land in Yanshoufang next door, and I'll need a group of blacksmiths."

Changsun Wuji bowed again and said, "I will take care of it immediately."

Just as he was about to take his leave, Changsun Wuji was stopped by Lin Dao once again.

His face showed no impatience; he waited with a smile.

This mental fortitude and ability make him a natural-born prime minister.

Lin Dao took out a windproof lighter and handed it over, saying, "Nice to meet you, this is just a small token of my appreciation."

"Thank you so much for the gift, Taoist priest!"

Changsun Wuji was very capable, and he also had the reputation of the Prince of Qin's mansion.

Everything went very smoothly.

The land for Yanshoufang was acquired the very next day, and a group of blacksmiths gathered to wait.

"First, build the fence around the shed."

Lin Dao instructed the blacksmiths, "You forge iron sheets, then build a kiln to fire bricks."

"These are the blueprints, take a good look at them."

The blueprints were very simple; they were just barrels wrapped in sheets of sheet metal.

For these blacksmiths, there was no pressure whatsoever.

Amidst the clanging and banging sounds, the blacksmiths began their work.

The iron sheets of varying sizes were crafted piece by piece; the larger ones were used to wrap primary refractory bricks, while the smaller ones were directly wrapped into barrels.

"Taoist Master."

With a troubled expression, Changsun Wuji sought out Lin again and said, "The matter of the coal has encountered some setbacks."

"Tell me."

"That coal mine," Changsun Wuji said, slightly ashamed, "belonged to Yin Defei's father, Yin Ashu."

"Consort Yin has shown much disrespect to His Highness Prince Qin."

It's more than just disrespect; he's a political enemy.

Of course, it wouldn't be sold to the Prince of Qin's residence.

"understood."

Lin Dao nodded. "I will handle this personally."

The letter Lin Dao had written earlier was delivered to Li Erfeng by express messenger.

After receiving it, Li Erfeng opened it solemnly, and there was only one sentence written on it.

What are your thoughts on aristocratic families and powerful clans?

Li Erfeng looked solemn.

"This is the second time the immortal has asked me this question."

"Such importance must indicate that this matter is of great significance!"

(End of this chapter)