Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

After a small disturbance, the court session returned to normal.

Once the court session ended, Guo Tianyang squinted and approached Fang Zheng with a secretive expression.

"Brother, His Majesty summons you to the Imperial Study."

"Oh, thank you, Brother Guo!" Fang Zheng, as if possessed, took out a silver note and stuffed it into Guo Tianyang's sleeve.

Guo Tianyang nodded with satisfaction and whispered, "He may ask about tea."

"Alright."

Watching Fang Zheng's departing figure, Guo Tianyang couldn't help but feel a little depressed.

This kid, apart from being a bit sharp-tongued, is very understanding, but why is he so clueless sometimes?

Does he really need me to personally ask him to become my godson?

......

Upon entering the Imperial Study, Emperor Jing had already prepared a seat inside.

As soon as he saw Fang Zheng arrive, he said directly, "No need to be formal, sit down."

Seeing this, Fang Zheng's mood improved. It seemed like there wouldn't be any trouble today.

Emperor Jing, while reviewing the memorials, said without looking up, "Tell me, how did you beat Zhang Chang?"

"......."

"Your Majesty, what are you talking about?" Fang Zheng became vigilant. Could it be that he sent someone to follow me?

Emperor Jing chuckled, "Heh, do you think I don't know what kind of person you, Fang Zheng, are? A mere quarrel? Anyone who quarrels with you will not have a good ending!"

Fang Zheng chuckled awkwardly... It seemed like the big boss was going to protect me.

"Your subject is ashamed. We just had a simple exchange... I didn't go too hard on him. After the fight, I even invited him to take a bath."

Emperor Jing slowly raised his head and pointed at Fang Zheng with his brush, "Zhang Chang is the son of the Minister of Revenue, you do know that, right?"

"The capital is different from Taoyuan County. Don't be reckless in the future. You're always so noisy, you don't look like a minister at all!"

Seeing the big boss's concern, Fang Zheng smiled shyly, "Your Majesty, what important matter did you call me here for?"

Emperor Jing's expression turned serious, "The tea... isn't selling!"

"Although the batch of tea from Taoyuan County last time sold well, the subsequent tea sales have been declining day by day."

"In the last two days, it has become difficult to sell, and similar products have appeared on the market."

"So, I want to ask you how to solve this problem."

Hearing this, Fang Zheng wasn't surprised. After all, those things were originally inferior products.

Everyone was just trying something new, following the trend. Moreover, Emperor Jing set the price so high, no one with money would want to be a sucker every day.

"Your Majesty, these are all normal circumstances."

"The quality of the 'Great Grade Celestial Tea' is not top-notch, and the variety is limited, and the price is too high."

"Solving this problem isn't difficult. Just import some other varieties of tea from Taoyuan County, segment the market, and reposition them."

"Tea can be divided into longevity tea, beauty tea, weight-gain tea, aphrodisiac tea... and so on."

"The packaging must be exquisite, preferably with a 'buying the casket and returning the pearl' effect. Include a short story to introduce the tea's long history."

"The counters in the store should also be categorized and carefully planned. For example, it's best to find some elderly people with a scholarly air to promote longevity tea, and more beautiful women to sell beauty tea..."

"For aphrodisiac tea, you can find someone like Eunuch Guo, who tells everyone that he's 'good to go' again! Just imagine, which man can resist such temptation?"

Recently, that old thing Guo Tianyang has been looking at Fang Zheng with strange eyes. He remembers it!

Hearing him tease Guo Tianyang, Emperor Jing originally wanted to laugh, but he immediately put on a straight face, "Speak properly!"

"Uh......"

"Secondly, the current sales model of selling only at counters is too rough."

"It's better to sign long-term cooperation agreements with other restaurants or brothels, supplying them in large quantities at prices lower than the retail price, and let them promote it on the market."

"The most important thing is pricing! Please forgive me for speaking frankly, but the price of the tea Your Majesty is selling is too high!"

"You have to harvest the chives wave after wave. If you dig up all the soil, it will be counterproductive!"

Emperor Jing looked at Fang Zheng with a strange expression, "But the things in your Taoyuan County aren't cheap at all?"

Fang Zheng said awkwardly, "The model in the capital is different from that in Taoyuan County. Taoyuan County uses a tourist attraction model."

"Tourist attraction model?"

"That's right. Originally, very few outsiders come to Taoyuan County, and the merchants who come to purchase goods have no choice but to purchase them from Taoyuan County, so... hehe!"

Emperor Jing smiled wryly, "What if I entrust the sales of tea to you?"

Fang Zheng quickly shook his head, "No, no, no, I can't do it. I'm already a bit overwhelmed teaching the Crown Prince. My head hurts when I get out of bed now. If I also have to manage the tea business, I'm afraid... it will be counterproductive."

Just kidding, get the goods from Taoyuan County and earn the same money while doing two jobs? When would Master Fang suffer such a loss!?

"I'll give you 10% of the profits."

"I'll do it!"

Fang Zheng blurted out without thinking, but regretted it immediately.

Emperor Jing stared at Fang Zheng and said, "You are the first person who can bargain with me. Do you know why I favor you so much?"

This sounded awkward, and Fang Zheng's expression was a little unnatural, "Because I can make money?"

Emperor Jing slowly said, "That's right. Last year, the national treasury revenue was more than 22 million taels, and you alone can help me earn more than 100,000 taels with one idea. What I value is your ability."

"Now the national treasury is empty, and it's difficult to move forward. We lack both food and money, and I have a headache."

Fang Zheng nodded and said, "Actually, in the end, it's still a lack of food. If there is sufficient food, a large amount of manpower can be released, and wealth will be created and circulated accordingly."

"Hmm? Interesting. I've seen your ability to make money, but what about... producing grain? Do you have any methods?"

Emperor Jing's eyes were filled with hope, hoping to hear the answer he wanted from Fang Zheng.

But he was quickly disappointed.

"I have no way."

Fang Zheng was also very helpless. The people of Jing Country had never even heard of potatoes, sweet potatoes, or corn. He had also sent people out to inquire and search for them.

As a result, he gained nothing. The hope was so slim that Fang Zheng didn't want to waste manpower and money on it, so he had to stop the search.

In the end, he could only send specialists in Taoyuan County to breed the existing main crops, but the scale was too small and the progress was not great.

However, some efficient farming tools were produced, but in this era where human labor was extremely cheap, these tools seemed insignificant in the overall situation.

Emperor Jing waved his hand regretfully, "Forget it, it's also difficult for you. This kind of thing can't be solved by one person after all."

"Alright, let's end here today. The Crown Prince is still waiting for you."

As soon as Emperor Jing finished speaking, Guo Tianyang rushed in hastily.

Covered in sweat, his face filled with panic, "Your Majesty! Imperial Physician Hu said that the Fifth Princess is dying, please go and see her!"

......