I run a training class in Shu Han

Chapter 74 Grandpa's Tea

Zong Yu knelt in the study, looking at the young Han emperor before him, his mind buzzing.

tea?

Endorser?

Gu Yong?

Is there any connection between these?

Liu Shan also felt that he was putting Zong Yu in a difficult position, after all, he was just an envoy.

Moreover, the endorser uses modern vocabulary; how could he possibly know that?

"I misspoke just now, please don't take it to heart, Minister Zong."

Zong Yu knew that Liu Shan would not bring up tea and Gu Yong for no reason, so he said frankly, "If Your Majesty needs anything from me, I will do my best."

Seeing his insistence, Liu Shan revealed his own thoughts.

When Zong Yu learned that Liu Shan wanted to use Gu Yong's influence in Jiangnan to promote Yizhou tea, his eyes showed surprise.

Tea is not as rare as Shu brocade; although it is rare, it is not considered precious.

Moreover, the Jiangdong gentry all own several acres of tea fields, which are enough to be self-sufficient. Why would they need to spend money to buy tea from Yizhou?

After listening, Zong Yu stroked his beard and fell into deep thought.

Just a moment later, Zong Yu's hand stopped in mid-air, and he cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, if it is truly possible to produce tea without bitterness, I am willing to go to Eastern Wu to pay my respects to Gu Yong and share Your Majesty's burdens."

"Really?" Liu Shan was overjoyed upon hearing this, and quickly asked, "How do you intend to persuade Gu Yong?"

Zong Yu smiled.

This wasn't the kind of laugh you give to get it over with; it was a genuine, heartfelt laugh that came from the bottom of your heart.

"Your Majesty, the stability of Jiangnan is the ultimate goal, and this has always been the highest interest of the Jiangdong gentry. As the Prime Minister, Gu Yong represents the entire Jiangdong gentry and needs to solidify their position in Jiangnan."

Liu Shan nodded in agreement.

Before the Battle of Red Cliffs, Gu Yong, as the Left Sima in Sun Quan's staff, persuaded his lord to oppose the alliance with Liu Bei and instead surrender to Cao Cao.

After Liu Bei borrowed Jingzhou and refused to return it, the alliance between Sun Quan and Liu Bei broke down. Sun Quan wanted to launch an attack on Jingzhou, but Gu Yong stopped him.

Gu Yong believed that sending troops at this time would only allow Cao Cao to reap the benefits, and that Liu Bei should be appointed as the governor of Jingzhou to stabilize the Sun-Liu alliance.

Then, by instigating a conflict between Cao Cao and Liu Bei, one can take advantage of the situation and profit from it.

Gu Yong's change in attitude was ultimately about using external forces to gain practical benefits for the local gentry.

Now that Eastern Wu has acquired Jingzhou and Xiangyang, Gu Yong plays an indispensable role.

"Gu Yong and Lu Xun now hold great power, and Lu Su and Lü Meng have passed away. The status of the old Huai and Si troops who followed Sun Ce to conquer the world in the early years will definitely be threatened, and the two sides will naturally compete for power in secret."

"If Your Majesty wishes to promote tea, you must use it to win over the gentry of Jiangdong."

Liu Shan suddenly perked up and asked, "In your opinion, how should we win them over?"

Zong Yu became more and more excited as he spoke, but his voice remained calm and unhurried, clearly indicating that he had a lot to say.

"Your Majesty, Sun Quan has now acquired Jingzhou and formed an alliance with the Han Dynasty. The tripartite balance of power is unbreakable, and this is the inevitable trend of the times."

"Sun Ce's former subordinates wanted to march north to attack Hefei, or march west to Shu to expand their territory and fiefdoms. Only the Jiangdong gentry wanted to protect their Jiangdong base and make peace with our Han Dynasty. This is one advantage."

Liu Shan listened intently, remaining silent for fear of interrupting Zong Yu's train of thought, and simply nodded slightly.

"Gu Yong and other Jiangdong gentry want to safeguard their Jiangdong foundation. They want to seize power and profit from above, and educate the people below. Your Majesty's tea culture is in line with the spirit and identity of Jiangnan literati, and they will surely follow suit. This is a win-win situation."

Liu Shan's heart pounded; Zong Yu's words had hit the nail on the head.

Why is Shu brocade so precious? Because it is exquisitely made, time-consuming and labor-intensive, and can only be produced in limited quantities each year, naturally making it rare and valuable.

The more expensive the item, the more prestigious it appears when worn.

Tea follows the same path; it needs to cultivate a cultural atmosphere to become valuable.

"His Majesty presents this new tea as a state gift to demonstrate the eternal alliance between our two countries. As the Prime Minister, Gu Yong not only receives this state gift but also enhances his status. He will surely accept it gladly. This is a win-win situation for all three."

"With these three advantages, this matter can be accomplished!"

Liu Shan leaned back and scrutinized Zong Yu.

Your idea is excellent!

Packaging new tea as a national gift meant that it could only circulate among the upper class of Dongwu.

Sun Quan accepted it, Gu Yong accepted it, Lu Xun accepted it, how could the other aristocratic families not follow suit?

Furthermore, it links tea with the refined taste of literati, creating the illusion that one's taste is not sophisticated enough if one does not drink tea.

Once tea became a symbol of status for literati, its price naturally soared.

Wonderful, wonderful!

Liu Shan felt that he not only had diplomatic talent, but also a keen business sense.

"Deyan, I wish to entrust this matter to you. Is that alright?"

Zong Yu hesitated.

After all, Liu Shan had never seen or tasted the new tea he mentioned, so he was unsure of its quality.

"This will be considered part of your political achievements next year," Liu Shan added.

Upon hearing this, Zong Yu's hesitation vanished instantly.

Sending an envoy to Eastern Wu was simply his duty, and dealing with the gentry like Gu Yong was a normal diplomatic tactic.

It's perfectly reasonable to give a friend some tea under a legitimate reason, right?

If the gift is well-placed, it can even be considered a political achievement later on, so why not do it?

"I obey your decree!"

Zong Yu gladly accepted.

Liu Shan slapped his thigh and said, "Very well, then I will now promote you to Tea and Horse Envoy, in charge of the tea trade with Eastern Wu. However, Deyan, you will have to wait until the new tea is harvested next year before you can produce new tea."

Zong Yu cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty. On this trip to Eastern Wu, I first made friends with the gentry such as Gu Yong to pave the way for the future. After Your Majesty's new tea is ready, I will present it to Sun Quan and the gentry of Jiangdong, thereby opening up the tea market in Jiangnan."

After hearing this, Liu Shan's worries completely dissipated.

He likes reliable people like that.

He doesn't talk much, but he thinks things through and acts steadily.

"Deyan, I have another brilliant plan for you, what do you think?"

Zong Yu's eyes lit up immediately.

"The people of Eastern Wu were fond of drinking, especially Sun Quan. Back then, he used the excuse of 'a scar and a bowl of wine' to get Zhou Tai completely drunk."

"Gu Yong is not good at drinking. You may use tea instead of wine to assist him. In this way, we can avoid drinking alcohol and still show the demeanor of the gentry. Wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?"

Zong Yu slapped his forehead, almost shouting.

An emperor is still an emperor after all; his ideas are always different from others, and a casual remark can become a classic.

"Your subject will respectfully obey Your Majesty's decree."

When leaving the main hall, Zong Yu's steps were more relaxed and lighter than when he arrived.

As he walked along the palace path, he began to make plans in his mind.

After arriving in Jiangdong, who should I meet first and who should I meet next? What should I say? What gifts should I give? What is Gu Yong's temperament like? What are Lu Xun's likes and dislikes? Which aristocratic families can I win over? Which people should I be wary of?

I thought through each and every matter clearly.

As Liu Shan watched Zong Yu's departing figure, the corners of his mouth slowly curved into a smile.

Although I feel a little sorry for Wei Yao, in this matter, whoever speaks first gets to decide; it's all about money.

Promoting tea to make money is a minor matter; the real important thing is to use tea to win over the Jiangdong gentry and stabilize the Sun-Liu alliance.

Once Zong Yu understood this principle, things became much easier.

He stretched, leaned back in his chair, and looked at the beams on the roof with a smile on his face.

Let's wait until next year.

When the new tea comes out next year, let those gentry gentlemen in Jiangdong taste what real tea is like.

It's Grandpa who made this tea for you.