Chang'an City has a population of one million and needs a large supply of goods. According to the system of concentrating industrial and commercial shops in fixed areas in previous capital cities, two cities were set up on the east and west sides of Chang'an City in the Tang Dynasty.
The East Market and the West Market are located at the same location on both sides of Zhuque Street. They are symmetrical to the left and right. They are located in the southeast and southwest outside the imperial city and cover roughly the same area.
It is said that the word "buying things" first appeared in the Tang Dynasty, referring to the east and west cities in Chang'an City. In the mouths of Hu merchants and merchants, the east and west cities are collectively called "Tang City". Merchants gathered in these two markets, and the shops were lined with a wide variety of goods, and trade was extremely prosperous. They were the core business districts of Chang'an City, the largest international metropolis in the world at that time, and the CBD of Chang'an City in the Tang Dynasty...
However, there are significant differences between the east and west cities.
Because Dongshi is close to Taiji Palace, Daming Palace, and Xingqing Palace, which are commonly known as the "Three Great Neighborhoods" by the people of the Tang Dynasty, most of the residences of ministers and dignitaries are located east of Zhuque Street. The state residences or Jinzouyuan of the Beijing-based institutions are all located near Dongshi. The Imperial College and candidates from all over the country who are rushing to take exams are also active nearby. Therefore, there are many luxury goods in Dongshi, and rarities from all directions have been accumulated.
The West Market is far away from the "Three Major Neighborhoods" and is surrounded by many civilian residences. The products sold in the market are mostly daily necessities such as clothing, candles, cakes, and medicines. However, in comparison, the West Market, which deals in ordinary commodities, is more prosperous than the East Market. It is the main industrial and commercial district and center of economic activities in Chang'an City, so it is also called the "Golden Market". ?
The West Market is relatively close to Kaiyuanmen, the starting point of the Tang Chang'an Silk Road. There are many foreign businessmen living in the surrounding areas, making it an international trade market. Most of the merchants from Central Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Goryeo, Baekje, Silla, and the Japanese Kingdom lived in the West Market or in some neighborhoods near the West Market. Among them, the largest number of Hu merchants were from Central Asia, Persia, and Dashi.
These Hu merchants brought spices and medicines for sale, and then bought back jewelry, silk fabrics, porcelain, etc. Therefore, there were many shops opened by Hu merchants in the West Market, such as Persian mansions, jewelry stores, warehouses, wine shops, etc.
Among them, the Orchid Wine Shop, where many girls from the Western Regions sing, dance and serve wine, is a place that romantic young people like to patronize. For example, Li Bai's "Youth Journey" has "Wulin Youth Jinshidong" and "Laughing into the Orchid Wine Shop" verse……
To put it simply, the east and west cities are high-end and civilian, with different business directions.
*****
In the early morning, the sky is gray and gloomy, the sun has not yet risen, and last night's severe frost has spread a white layer on the black roof tiles, making it even more chilly.
The East Market was already bustling with traffic and horses, and it was very lively.
Noble families, powerful landowners, and government agencies from all over Guanzhong all sent personnel to Dongshi to purchase goods to prepare for their daily needs.
The area of Dongshi, according to literature records: "The north and south occupy the area of two squares." There are tall walls all around, with two gates on each side, for a total of eight gates. There are entry and exit streets up to 30 feet wide on each side to facilitate commercial transportation and citizens' parking of carriages and horses before entering the market.
The north avenue is close to Chunming Gate, making it easy to access and bustling with people. Especially since it occupies a location near the exit of Dongshi, it is a prime location in Dongshi.
The Changsun family's iron shop is located here.
On the second floor of the two-story shop facing the street, Chang Sun Jun held a cup of hot tea in his hand and looked out the window.
The street in front of us extends directly to the interior of Dongshi City. On both sides of the street, shops are connected, and there are cars and horses, people buying, transporting, delivering goods, and people pulling feet... Pedestrians and merchants are rubbing shoulders, and there is a lot of cheering and hawking. A scene of prosperity and prosperity.
There was a commotion at the door of the first-floor shop at my feet.
"Shopkeeper, you are being unkind. Our family has been cooperating with your eldest grandson's railway company for ten years. During this period, we have never purchased goods from other companies. But now you are giving me the highest price in the entire East Market. You want How will I explain it when I go back?"
A rough voice sounded, with a very dissatisfied tone.
Immediately afterwards, the voice of the shopkeeper came: "Manager Quan, it's not someone who raises the price. We have been friends for these years, and you still don't know who he is? This is already the lowest price in our store. Please ask around if there is anyone else who can compare. This price is low, you take this batch of pig iron for nothing, and you don’t charge a certain penny!”
Manager Quan, who had a rough voice, snorted and said: "Maybe this is the lowest price at your house, but the Zhao family just bought a batch of pig iron from Fangjia's iron shop, and the price is 40% cheaper than here! We are both in Tianshui. The county is doing business, and our Quan family and Zhao family are competitors, and the price difference is 40%. If you ask me to go back, how can I explain to the owner of the family, whether our Quan family still does the pig iron business?"
Changsun Jun frowned slightly.
The Quan family and the Zhao family of Tianshui County are both members of the Guanlong Group. Now the Zhao family has left the Changsun family's iron shop and gone to the Fang family's iron shop to purchase goods. Is this just because the price of pig iron from the Fang family is cheaper than that from the Changsun family? ?
Or maybe this is the attitude of the Zhao family to get closer to the Fang family...
The conversation at the door continued.
The shopkeeper of Tiehang said in a helpless tone: "When our eldest grandson's family does business, we always treat children without bullying. You get what you pay for, don't you know that, Manager Quan?"
Manager Quan sneered: "Don't be fooled by me. You get what you pay for. The pig iron from Fang's house is cheaper than yours and the quality is better than yours! If the owner of the house hadn't told me before he left, I must praise him." Your eldest son's family, do you think I'm still nagging you right now? I went to the Fang family's iron shop a long time ago to buy some goods! It's the same price as the Fang family's pig iron. Can you please tell me, okay, let's Let’s load the car and pay immediately; if not, let’s go to the Fang family’s railway store to purchase the goods. It’s true that our Quan family cares about our friendship with each other, but we can’t ruin our own business, right?”
The shopkeeper of Tiehang was silent for a while and said: "I can't make the decision. Why don't you wait a moment? The young master happens to be in the store. I'll go down and ask for instructions before I get back to you."
The steward hurriedly said: "Then go back quickly and bring a good boy to someone."
"Okay, let's have a cup of hot tea to warm yourself up. I'll be back soon after I go."
Changsun Jun frowned.
Not long after, there was a "dong-dong" sound from the stairs behind him, and the shopkeeper walked up quickly. When he saw Chang Sun Jun, he first saluted, and then said with a sad face: "Sanlang..."
Changsun Jun waved his hand and said, "I have already heard it."
The shopkeeper said angrily: "What the hell is this Fang family doing to keep the price of iron so cheap? Although we can't sell the goods, don't they still lose money?"
Changsun Jun rubbed his forehead, feeling helpless.
It is true that our family cannot sell goods, but it is not necessarily true that the Fang family will lose money...
A long time ago, the Changsun family had learned that the Fang family had improved the iron-making technology under the leadership of Fang Jun, which could significantly reduce the cost of pig iron while greatly improving the quality. The Changsun family was naturally aware of the crisis, and had bribed and wooed the Fang family's iron-making craftsmen, and even sent out spies to find out the inside story, but to no avail.
New iron-making furnaces can be imitated, but the detailed ingredients used in iron-making cannot be imitated...
Only the top craftsmen of the Fang family will have access to that recipe, and those top craftsmen are enslaved servants of various families. The whole family is under the control of the master family. How easy is it to bribe or even instigate rebellion?
However, the price of iron in the Fang family has only remained slightly lower than that of the Changsun family. Many old customers of the Changsun family have not changed their families because of their past friendships. But the Fang family suddenly lowered its prices significantly, which made the customers of the Changsun family dissatisfied...
After all, everyone relies on business to make money and support the entire family with business knowledge. Once the income drops sharply, it will inevitably lead to conflicts within the family.
How much is love worth compared to profit?
And is this drastic price cut a counterattack by Fang Jun?
On the birthday of King Jin, Fang Jun's shouting about Changsun Wuji has already spread throughout Guanzhong. As the legitimate son of the Changsun family, Changsun Jun will naturally not know about it...
After pondering for a moment, Changsun Jun made a decisive decision: "Let's sell it at the same price as the house price."
The shopkeeper couldn't help but persuade: "Sanlang, the Fang family is 40% cheaper than us! If pig iron is sold at this price, I'm afraid..."
I'm afraid I can't stand it!
The current selling price of the Changsun family is less than 20% of the profit, and it is 40% cheaper, which means a loss of 20%! Even if the eldest grandson's family has a great business, if things go on like this, the bottom line will be emptied!
