Regarding the sales of salt, Li Xiang had calculated earlier that no matter how high the price of salt was, many people could afford it at 500 coins per catty.
In addition, our food quality is better, so more people are willing to spend money. According to Li Xiang's estimate, only 2% of the people in the country can afford it. Now there are nearly 20 million people in the country, so 2% is 400,000 people.
According to the minimum standard of one kilogram per person per year, 400,000 kilograms can be sold. Of course, it is not ruled out that some of the people are overweight, and there were no other condiments in that era, so 500,000 kilograms should be no problem.
"Only 250,000 strings of cash?"
The abacus beads next to Li Chengqian kept ringing, and finally the money was calculated out. However, Li Chengqian's face was full of disappointment. If it was only such a small amount of money, it would probably be difficult to attract his attention. Li Xiang's here sells some high-profit products, which he really doesn't like.
"Father, please don't look down on us. Although the initial money isn't much, after a year of operation, we can produce a batch of salt with inferior materials and slowly make it down from 500 coins. We can also make a better batch and make it up from 500 coins. Wouldn't that form a vertical industry? In two years at most, I guarantee that salt sales can reach one million coins."
You can't do anything too conspicuous, especially when your own strength is not enough. Although Li Chengqian and his grandfather also have their own prestige in the Tang Dynasty, compared with the major families and salt merchants across the country, they are indeed slightly inferior.
"Is this what you call slow cutting without pain?"
Li Chengqian remembered a sentence his son often said.
"We've just started to occupy the high-end market, so the major families won't see us as an enemy. They don't have any products in the high-end market, so there's no way they can compete with us. Just like with the liquor, they can let us develop freely. But in half a year, we'll be able to launch new products. By then, our brand will be well-known, so they won't have to worry about not buying our products."
Li Xiang said confidently that people from all over the country can buy better goods with the same money, and they are not fools, so how could they not come to support it?
"But won't they still deal with us then?"
Thinking of the terrifying strength of the major families, Li Chengqian felt a little uneasy. He was a little worried about Li Xiang's safety. The major families did things without any scruples. Back then, his leg...
"Maybe they didn't have the heart to deal with me at that time. Maybe they were exhausted from internal fighting, or their internal funding chain was broken and they couldn't even handle their own affairs. I was lucky enough not to cause trouble for them. Could I just wait for them to come to me?"
Li Xiang said very confidently, with a big pit on the grassland and the salt incident, the two combined punches would cause the major families to lose half their lives even if they did not die. Would they still be able to retaliate at that time?
"That depends on what your grandfather decides."
Although Li Chengqian didn't understand what was going on, since his son was so confident, Li Chengqian chose to believe him.
"Tonight will tell. If you don't believe me, just listen."
Li Xiang pointed outside the door and said, and sure enough, someone ran in hurriedly. Li Chengqian didn't wait for the person outside to open the door. When he opened it, he saw that it was the eunuch chief Qian Ping. What kind of person could make him so panicked? Could it be the emperor himself?
"Why are you panicking? You're the manager after all. How can you do things like this?"
In front of others, Li Chengqian was able to keep a stern face and still have the dignity of a prince. Li Xiang found it funny to see his father's expression change so quickly, but he was also curious about who came tonight. Could it be that the emperor's grandfather came to the East Palace?
"Your Highness, the Prime Minister is here."
Qian Ping said breathlessly that it was not a big deal for the Prime Minister to visit the East Palace in the past.
But the Prime Minister has not entered the Eastern Palace for ten years since Li Chengqian started making trouble.
"The Prime Minister is here, what about me? Hurry up and change my clothes."
The status of the prime minister in the Tang Dynasty was very high, so when Li Chengqian heard that the prime minister was coming, he first looked at his clothes. It was okay to wear such clothes to meet his son, but if he were to meet the prime minister, this outfit might be a bit too casual.
"Your Highness, the Crown Prince, the Prime Minister..."
Qian Ping stood there without moving. As soon as Li Chengqian saw his embarrassed expression, he understood what was going on. Fang Xuanling came to the East Palace not to find him, but to find Li Xiang. Come to think of it, it made sense. It was his fault for being incompetent. The Prime Minister's time was so precious, how could he possibly come to find him?
"Father, please be patient. I'll be back soon and discuss this with you later."
In order to ease Li Chengqian's embarrassment, Li Xiang could only walk out quickly. Looking at the reception hall in front, Li Chengqian's eyes were filled with mixed feelings. If he had not acted foolishly back then, perhaps his son would not have to take charge of the family. Now he should have studied hard, but now the entire Eastern Palace was under the pressure of his son. Li Chengqian couldn't tell how he felt.
"Your Majesty, Prime Minister..."
Li Xiang walked in quickly from outside, bowing as he walked. Fang Xuanling just stood up and bowed. As the prime minister of the Tang Dynasty, Fang Xuanling used this courtesy even when facing Li Chengqian.
"Your Highness, the tea here is truly fragrant. I've never had it before. I wonder what it's made of?"
Tea in the Tang Dynasty was almost the same as Chinese medicine. Li Xiang planned to launch tea in the future, but he himself could not drink such Chinese medicine, so he made a small batch and kept it at home for himself to drink.
"This item is extremely valuable, and I don't have much here. But I will pack a small package for the Prime Minister later. It's not that I'm stingy, but I don't have much myself. As for how it was made, please forgive me, Prime Minister."
Originally, I wanted to keep it secret, but since Fang Xuanling had already tasted it, Li Xiang had to start creating a sense of mystery. The prime minister of a country came to me in person to ask for an investigation, and I only gave him a small bag of two taels. You can imagine how precious this tea is.
"Then I would like to thank you, Your Highness. I came here late this night not for this tea, but for the salt permit, which is also a gift for Your Highness..."