Prince Li You of the Great Tang Dynasty begs the noble families to their deaths!

Yuan Qi pointed to a burlap sack next to her, which was about the same size as the gift box and should contain the gift inside.

Li Tai knelt opposite Yuan Qi, took the burlap sack, unfolded it, and saw that it contained white powder.

"What is this?"

"Your Highness, this is salt."

"Salt? How can there be white salt?"

Li Tai pinched a small amount from the bag, put it in his mouth, and his eyes lit up immediately: "It really is salt! How come this white salt has no astringent taste at all? It's even better than the blue salt that Tibet offered as tribute."

Yuan Qi cupped her hands and said, "Does Your Highness know that a new Rural Benefit Bank has recently opened in the streets of Chang'an?"

Li Tai said, "I just returned from the border, how would I know these things? And what does a bank do?"

"It's a counter service that does lending business, but this new counter service is very different from the others. They offer quite low interest rates, which attracts many people. They also do deposit and withdrawal business, and they have opened branches all over the country to support withdrawals in different places. They don't call them branches, but branches."

Li Tai scratched his head: "Sir, I don't understand a single word you're saying."

Yuan Qi laughed and said, "Let alone Your Highness, I was completely baffled when I first heard about it."

Then, Yuan Qi explained the relevant inside story to the Crown Prince in detail.

"I understand. This method is indeed novel and can certainly help merchants. However... how much money would it cost to open branches in so many places across the country?"

"Your Highness may not know this, but the owner of Huinong Bank is surnamed Wei, who is a wealthy merchant in the Luoyang area. The wealth of such merchants has accumulated over the years and is far beyond that of ordinary merchants. Moreover, I have heard that many merchants in Luoyang have invested money in Huinong Bank after hearing that it is profitable, which is why they have been able to open so many stores."

Li Tai nodded and picked up the salt bag on the table: "Sir, this white salt..."

"I just wanted to join in the fun, so I went to this bank and deposited five thousand strings of cash. Later, I was so busy with other things that I completely forgot about it. Yesterday, the steward of the manor sent someone over and said that Huinong Bank is giving each customer who deposits more than five thousand strings of cash a New Year's gift box, which contains this kind of white salt."

As she spoke, Yuan Qi stood up and picked up the other boxes.

"Huinong Bank sent a total of four gift boxes. In addition to white salt, they also contained a box of high-quality charcoal, a box of new rice, and a jar of sesame oil. Your Highness, please take a look at this one as well."

Li Tai took it; it was a note, made of rattan paper, on which was clearly written: "Home-style stir-fried eggplant: Take three eggplants, chop them into thin strips, stir the eggplant strips with white salt to draw out the juice, rinse and squeeze dry. Separately, chop some scallions, add two tablespoons of sesame oil to a pan, heat until smoking, add the scallions and stir-fry until fragrant and flavorful, then add the dried eggplant strips, stir-fry quickly over high heat until slightly cooked, then add water, season with salt, and adding sugar syrup is even better. Simmer over low heat until soft and tender, and you'll have a delicious meal."

"Sir, this...this is..."

"In Huimin Bank's terms, this is called a recipe."

"Quickly, quickly have the kitchen bring out eggplants and cook them accordingly. I'm getting hungry just looking at them."

Li Tai has loved to eat since he was a child, which is why he has a wide and chubby figure.

As a gourmet, he also enjoys researching how food is prepared.

However, Li Tai had never heard of such a method of stir-frying with oil as described on the note before, and he was determined to try it out to see how it worked.

Seeing Li Tai's anxious look, Yuan Qi laughed: "Your Highness, don't be impatient. I made it exactly the same way, and it was indeed delicious."

"Where is it? Quickly, bring it over and have a taste!"

"Uh... I've already eaten it all..."

It seems that Li Tai will have to wait a while longer to enjoy the delicious food.

While waiting, Li Tai spoke with Yuan Qi about the emperor's teachings to him.

"Sir, is it true, as my father said, that our Great Tang Dynasty and the various barbarian tribes of the grasslands can only clash with weapons, and cannot coexist peacefully?"

"I'm afraid that's the only way. The customs of the two sides are different, making communication difficult. Moreover, in my opinion, the northern barbarians see our Central Plains as plump sheep. As long as the shepherd is not around, they will rush up to tear and fight for them. This is true throughout the historical records."

Li Tai sighed and said, "It seems that Father Emperor was right. The groveling and obsequiousness of Khan Jieli and Ashina Simo before Father Emperor is merely a facade. In secret, they probably still look down on the soldiers and people of our Great Tang."

Yuan Qi said, "With axes and halberds at their feet, what can they do if they don't submit? To be able to remain in this state is already an immense favor for them. You must know that our Emperor is a man who values ​​his reputation highly, and he is willing to give these barbarian kings face. They know in their hearts what to do."

"Sir, in your opinion, how long will it take for our Great Tang Dynasty to suppress the northern border with the establishment of the Yanran Protectorate?"

"That's hard to say. If the court remains peaceful and nothing major happens, thirty years should be no problem. There are many conflicts among the various tribes of the grasslands. If we can incite them to fight each other, the peace of our Great Tang's northern border can be extended for another twenty years. As for what will happen after fifty years, no one can say for sure."

Yuan Qi's words reminded Li Tai of the desolate scene of rivers of blood and fields of bones on the grasslands.

The northern nomadic peoples were indeed not as united as the Han people.

The inability to unite as one is precisely the root cause of many tragedies.

After a while, the stir-fried eggplant was finally served.

The aroma was enticing, and the texture was soft and chewy. Li Tai savored it carefully, finding it to be the most delicious thing in the world.

With the gift boxes sent by Huimin Bank, the wealthy people all over Chang'an who had deposited more than 5,000 strings of cash in the bank tasted the same wonderful feeling as Li Tai.

This is not only a way to give back to customers, but also a successful product promotion.

After increasing the production of salt and cooking oil, Yin Shaokang will need to start preparing to expand sales channels.

Meanwhile, inside the palace, Yuan Qi wasn't the only one to receive the gift box; several wealthy eunuchs also received them.

Besides these people, there was also a concubine who had been confined in the Yongxiang Palace for three years who received a gift box, and it was a deluxe version of the gift box.

Consort Yin gently stroked the four-colored gift box filled with firewood, rice, oil, and salt, her face full of smiles.

Since learning that her son was still alive, Consort Yin had hope for the future, and her days in the Yongxiang Palace were not so unbearable.

Along with the four-colored gift box, the good news of Li Youcheng's marriage was also delivered.

His daughter-in-law's name was Yan Jiu, and she and You'er got along very well.

While overjoyed, Consort Yin also secretly wished the couple well.

Of the rice, oil, and salt obtained from the gift box, Consort Yin kept a little for herself and distributed the rest to the other imprisoned concubines.

Not everyone gets to have a hopeful holiday season.

The inventor of this four-color gift box, Consort Yin's nephew, Yin Shaokang, the head of Huimin Bank, is currently rushing to Boling, Hebei.