flstandardbreds Chapter 174 5 Imperial Edict
Chapter 174 5 Imperial Edict
Tao family.
As the end of the year approaches, the shopkeepers of all the Tao family shops are checking their accounts at the Tao family today.
"Master, we sold less tea this year than last year. The prices of green teas on the market are not good right now. Except for the West Lake Longjing tea from Lin'an Prefecture, which is quite good, the others are not very good.
If this continues, our tea garden will probably not be able to make ends meet next year."
Patriarch Tao looked at the door:
"No rush, the Marquis has just sent me a message. He should be here soon.
It’s okay that tea is not selling well, luckily we have invested in cotton.
Once the cotton is sold, it will be a good business."
The head of the Tao family calculated the inventory in the cotton mill warehouse in his mind and felt that the biggest decision he made this year was to follow Shen Tang.
Besides, didn’t Shen Tang also say that the emperor had already agreed to let them become royal merchants of cotton?
"Master, what will happen if this quilt and jacket are sold?"
"Don't say such depressing words!"
As they were discussing, they heard a servant come to report that Shen Tang was running towards Tao's house.
At the gate of the Tao family, Shen Tang, wearing expensive marquis' clothes, stood at the gate of the Tao family, instantly attracting a lot of people's attention.
"The imperial edict arrives——"
"Master, Master, the imperial edict has arrived!!!"
The head of the Tao family was even more stunned when he heard the servant's loud voice.
What? Imperial decree!
Several shopkeepers hurriedly pushed the head of the Tao family to the door of the Tao residence.
There were even more people gathered at the door of Tao's house.
The location of the Tao family is where all the merchants in Qingshan Town gather.
It can be said that many businesses live in this area.
Shen Tang was holding a bright yellow imperial edict in his hand, and everyone around him stared at him in amazement.
This is the imperial edict. Shen Tang came to the Tao family to announce the edict?
Could the Tao family have done something wrong? Shen Tang’s expression doesn’t suggest that they have done something wrong. Besides, aren’t the Tao family and Shen Tang doing business together?
If it's not a crime, then it's a reward.
The other onlookers understood instantly, and many pairs of eyes stared at the imperial edict in Shen Tang's hand.
What happened to the Tao family?
The main door of the Tao family opened, and Shen Tang walked into the Tao family holding the imperial edict high.
All the members of the Tao family knelt in the entire yard, and there was not even enough room for them to kneel. It was a huge crowd.
Shen Tang couldn't help but be amazed, he was indeed a big merchant.
"Tao Nansong received the order—"
"By the providence of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims: The wealthy Tao family of Qingshan Town is a righteous merchant, and is granted the title of Imperial Merchant. Tao Nansong is granted the title of a servant and is jointly in charge of the cotton industry of Great Qi with the Marquis of Ning'an."
The head of the Tao family knelt on the ground and was afraid to get up.
Even more shocked than Liu before.
Will the Tao family become the royal merchant in the cotton industry in the future?
And he was actually appointed as the attendant?
The head of the Tao family felt dizzy. How come he was rewarded?
"Mr. Tao, congratulations."
The bright yellow imperial edict was embroidered with an exquisite five-clawed dragon. The silky and slightly cool touch made the head of the Tao family react.
"Long live my emperor."
The head of the Tao family took the imperial edict with tears in his eyes.
Looking at Shen Tang, he was so excited that he couldn't speak.
Mrs. Tao behind her was even more shocked. Her husband was a servant?
Sheren was a sixth-rank official in Da Qi. Except for some specific official positions, such as Zhongshu Sheren, other general Sheren were wealthy and idle people who were rewarded by the court for their contributions to Da Qi.
There is no specific official position, but there is a certain social status.
However, such rewards are rare, especially for merchants.
"I still have to go to the other two houses to announce my decree, so I won't stay for now."
Shen Tang patted Patriarch Tao’s shoulder.
The head of the Tao family understood immediately, and he was afraid that the other Wu and Liu families would also receive the same rewards.
"My Lord, go and do your work."
Shen Tang quickly left the Tao family and went to the next one.
As soon as Shen Tang left, the Tao family erupted in excitement.
"Congratulations, Sheren! Congratulations, Sheren!"
"I greet you, Master Sheren!"
......
The head of the Tao family was so overjoyed that he stood there and opened the imperial edict to read it over and over again.
"Hahahahaha."
Unable to suppress the joy in his heart any longer, Patriarch Tao laughed out loud.
"Go and inform all branches of the Tao family that I will open the ancestral hall in three days!"
Such a happy event must naturally be told to our ancestors.
Shen Tang rode his horse to the Wu family.
The Wu and Liu families are located very close to each other.
As expected, the expressions of the people from the Wu and Liu families were similar to those of the Tao family.
Today was an extremely important day for them, so Shen Tang naturally did not stay long, but he made an appointment with them to discuss things tomorrow.
Everyone also understood that Shen Tang’s matter might be extremely important, and they all agreed.
But Shen Tang knew that the three families must have had a sleepless night that night.
Sure enough, that night, the head of the Tao family lit a lamp and read the imperial edict with Mrs. Tao all night.
The head of the Wu family fell asleep holding the imperial edict.
The head of the Liu family cried all night in the ancestral hall holding the imperial edict.
When Shen Tang met them the next day, although they were not in good condition, they were still in very good spirits.
After Shen Tang visited these families, the news that he brought five imperial edicts back to Jiangnan spread.
Originally, everyone thought there were only four imperial edicts, but after hearing the servants in Shen Tang's house say that Shen Tang had already issued all the imperial edicts, they realized that Shen Tang had brought five imperial edicts.
Moreover, Shen Tang is no longer a county marquis, but a Ning'an marquis!
The most jealous people in Qingshan Town, apart from the merchants, are mostly the women in the city.
Shen Tang, a woman, earned an imperial decree for the Liu family!
Even the storyteller didn't dare to think so.
-
Zhou family.
Zhou Zhenxiong fell into a trance after hearing that Shen Tang took people to the Tao family to announce the decree.
The Tao family must not be being punished, they must be receiving a reward!
I heard from the servants that the Tao family has now become the imperial merchant, and the head of the Tao family has become a sixth-rank official.
The Tao family is no longer a lowly merchant!
And the Zhou family could have obtained all of this without any effort.
Zhou Zhenxiong just felt dizzy and could no longer hear anything else.
This incident did not only happen in the Zhou family.
The group of merchants who were originally invited by Shen Tang to participate were so regretful that they even wanted to jump into the Qingshui River.
This incredible wealth was right in front of them, but they didn't take it.
From now on, they will never dare to underestimate Shen Tang again!
"Hurry, hurry, go prepare some generous gifts!"
"Let's go, let's hurry to the Ning'an Marquis's residence!"
......
Although it is too late to mend the fold, it is still necessary to give it a try.
Shen Tang met with the heads of the three families at a restaurant.
In the restaurant, the three family heads had bloodshot eyes and thick, obvious dark circles.
But they all tacitly kept silent.
They congratulated each other as soon as they met. When Shen Tang arrived, they had already exchanged several rounds of warm greetings and congratulations.
"Shen Tang is here, so let me congratulate the three of you first.
But Shen Tang has some bad news to bring to the three servants."