"Is this a small matter?"
Looking at Li Xiang's leaving back, Li Chengqian didn't know what to say. What exactly does this kid think is a big deal? Today, the heads of all households are here, and you can just make your way here to get familiar with the crowd, but you insist on opening a pawnshop.
In fact, Li Xiang also thought about it. In the next series of actions, he would definitely offend the powerful people in Chang'an City. In this case, it would be better for him not to meet them first. It doesn't matter if it's a day earlier or later. If he becomes familiar with them today, he will shelter Goguryeo spies tomorrow, which will be even more embarrassing.
Li Xiang came out today to do some private business, so he was not wearing bright yellow clothes, but looked like a noble young man. Qian Ping and Zhao Yunhui brought people to guard him nearby. Except for Hu Yi and Hu Er behind him, the others were ten meters away, so they could both protect Li Xiang's safety and not disturb his interest.
"How's the horse purchase going?"
The group talked as they walked. Li Xiang now had three hundred guards, and he planned to equip all of them with war horses. According to the court's regulations, except for 15 of them, the rest could not be equipped, and he had to pay for it himself.
"Your Highness... Young Master, I've been asking around in the market. Really prestigious residences are quite expensive, around three hundred and fifty strings of cash. There are plenty of them in Chang'an."
Zhao Yunhui said a little embarrassedly, of course this was also Li Xiang's order. Li Xiang wanted all his men to use good horses, so the price would definitely not be low.
Li Xiang's guards were all exchanged from the system, and they already had horses when they came out. However, Li Xiang searched the system thoroughly and did not see any place to exchange for war horses, so he had to buy them himself.
"Have someone order two hundred horses. Also, tell the officials' sons and daughters who are coming that each of them must bring two war horses. If they are not famous horses from Dayuan, then they must be grassland horses. If they don't have them, the Imperial City Office will not accept them."
Li Xiang said unhappily, these people under us are not here to idle away our time. If you want to join this yamen, you must make some sacrifices. Although you are all illegitimate children among the major families, every household has no shortage of good horses. If you are reluctant to give us two horses, what kind of service can you do?
Qian Ping immediately started to calculate the accounts. If two hundred war horses were to be purchased, the price could certainly be lowered, but it would cost at least three hundred strings of cash. His Highness made money quickly and spent it quickly, so sixty thousand strings of cash were spent in one go.
The other armors and weapons were provided by the court. It cost twenty strings of coins to exchange a set through the system, but Li Xiang didn't want to exchange them all now. He didn't know what kind of people these people were, and he didn't want to invest too much either. He had to test them for a while. You know, if the armors and weapons exchanged through the system were sold, it would be no problem to sell them for several thousand strings of coins. After all, a sword cost three thousand five hundred strings of coins.
"Master, this is the largest store in Chang'an City. It originally belonged to Li Yuanchang, the King of Han, but now it belongs to us."
Qian Ping said cheerfully that this place is located in the prosperous Chang'an East Market. On the entire street, this shop is the largest in area. Usually, it is divided into three parts. After all, no merchant can rent it all.
"Greetings to... Young Master."
An old man came over and knelt down. He was about to say "Your Highness", but when he saw Li Xiang's attire and remembered that they were on the street, he changed his words abruptly.
This person was Zhou Huairen, the imperial merchant of Empress Changsun and also her chief steward outside the palace. After Empress Changsun passed away, her entire family was registered under the name of the Eastern Palace and was considered a wealthy man in Chang'an City.
If Li Chengqian had not done so, Zhou Huairen could have handed over 1,500 strings of cash every year without affecting his business. However, Li Chengqian's constant demands eventually bankrupted Zhou Huairen.
It is impossible to say that Zhou Huairen did not feel resentment in his heart, but this man's management ability is unparalleled in the world, so Li Xiang sent someone to bring him back.
"I've bought back your family's old house in the east of the city. I won't give you the farm outside the city. I'll keep it for my own benefit. However, I'll pay you the market price for the farm. From now on, you'll be my shopkeeper. I've checked your income for the past five years, and it's about three thousand strings of cash a year. Half goes to the Crown Prince, and the other half stays with your family. From now on, your salary will be one thousand strings of cash a year, and if you perform well, I'll give you another thousand strings of cash at the end of the year."
Li Xiang knew that the other party had resentment, so before talking about serious matters, some things had to be made clear.
Zhou Huairen was still doubting his ears, but Qian Ping quickly brought over the title deed and an agreement, both of which were signed by Li Xiang.
"Your Highness..."
Zhou Huairen felt confused and didn't know what had just happened, but His Highness had already brought his men in.
He had heard these days that the young prince of the Eastern Palace was different, but his whole family was torn apart by Li Chengqian. Now the big house is back and he is paid a thousand strings of cash a year. Is this still the way of doing things in the Eastern Palace?
Qian Ping is still the same Qian Ping. Whenever he saw me before, he only asked for money. How could he ever give me anything?
"Your Highness, please explain clearly. I am already half buried in the ground. I am afraid!"
Zhou Huairen ran into the house and knelt down in front of Li Xiang with a plop, holding the house deed he had just given him in his hand. His heart was pounding, wondering what Li Xiang was up to.
"You old man, what are you afraid of? Didn't I tell you clearly that you're here as the shopkeeper, selling some rare items while also running a pawnshop? How could I let you do anything illegal? This is Chang'an Avenue, and there are so many people watching us."
Li Xiang said this unhappily, and Zhou Huairen agreed. If it was something life-threatening, they would never set up a shop here. The people living around here are all cunning people.
"I wonder what rare thing your Highness is talking about?"
Zhou Huairen felt a little relieved. If it was about selling things and running a store, it would not be difficult for him at all.
"The mirror in Miss Changsun's hand, the knife used by my men, and the Great Tang Heavenly Brew we're selling—these are the only three things we have right now. I wonder if we can set up a stall?"
When Li Xiang mentioned the first item, the old man started to get excited. These three items were all rare and valuable things in Chang'an City. If this shop sold these, not to mention an old shopkeeper like himself, even if a dog was the shopkeeper here, it would make a fortune every day...
