POV: PRINCE LIU XIE
LOCATION: THE CRANNIES
TIME: LATE AFTERNOON
You keep a straight face and turned to the people.
"Choose three capable people amongst yourselves. I need to discuss something important with them."
You and Su Min then entered a random empty room. A few hours later Xu Chu, Ming and Shang walk into the room.
"I can understand why you are here Xu Chu but are there no adults willing to decide the fate of the crannies?" You ask gently
"I am the only one who can read and write in the entire crannies." Ming counters with her voice sounding offended.
"And people trust my strategic mind and far sight to get things done" Shang said in a boastful tone.
"In that case, what does the crannies have aside rice?" You ask with a gentle smile
The siblings looked at each other for a while.
"Well aside from rice, the crannies have been known to produce wheat." Ming replies uncertainly
"Is that what you are interested in?"
"Take a look at this map and see if you can tell me what the crannies have." You hand them a detailed map of luoyang.
The three of them pour over the map for a minute. Then Shang exclaims
"Of course..... Why did I not see this before? The thing the crannies have over rice is it's strategic location. This is because no matter where you wish to go to in luoyang you must go through the crannies."
"So does that mean that if we were to establish a inn or tavern here we would attract half the people in luoyang?" Ming asks
Words could not protray the shock in your blood when you heard what Ming asked. You had expected them to stumble over your plan for some time but one look at your map and these foxes have already figured out your plan.
"That is what you plan to do here isn't it?" Ming asks
You simply nod and then turn two different samples of wine into various cups.
"Take a sip of this Xu Chu and tell me what you think truthfully."
Xu Chu being a heavy drinker, gulps the wine into his mouth but the bitter forced him to hold it in his mouth before swallowing. Eventually he swallows it in gulps with a look of extreme seriousness on his face. When he finishes the wine, he smiles brightly, presents his cup to you and asks for another.
I take you like it?" You ask slyly
"This is a real man's drink my prince. Rough, hard and strong enough to stun the throat into submission." He explains enthusiastically
"It is the drink a man take when he wishes to go to work or after a hard day at work."
"And how much would you spend on it?"
"I can see myself spending five gold coins on this. " He answers
"It so much better than the wine the aristocrates normally take."
"And what of this?" You ask as you divide the second simple to all of them.
They all cautiously sip the second sample and swallow it without much difficulty. There was a look of pleasure on their faces before it was replaced by a slight discomfort in the siblings.
"I take it this was made for the aristocrates?" Xu Chu asks
"Why would you think so?"
"The wine is very sweet with a soft hint of alcohol. It very light on the tongue but strong enough to get you drunk if you take enough of it." Xu Chu analysed
"It is the wine of a man who prefers the finer things in life."
The siblings nodded in agreement
"Wait if we are sampling these wines, does that mean you plan to sell them in the new tavern?" Shang asks
"Yes." You reply
"In fact if all goes well, these wines should be the symbols of our tavern."
"Do you really believe they will sell that well?" Ming asks in skepticism
"Have you tasted these things?" Xu Chu counters
"If these do not sell well nothing else will. (He then turned towards me) What do call them anyways?"
"I think I will call the stronger one beer and the lighter one fruit wine." You answer
"Beer, beer, that is a fitting name." Xu Chu says as he pours himself another glass of beer. You all noticed this but no one says anything
"That just means we will have to watch our backs for thieves trying to steal our recipe"
We all turned to Ming when she says this
"What, don't tell me I am the only person who thought about this? If these wines sell the way they should, there will bound to be rats who will stop at nothing to get our recipe. How will you deal with them?"
She gives you an accusing look
"It is actually quite simple if you look at it carefully." Shang says casually
"You do not want the recipe to leak out? Then make sure no one.knows the complete recipe."
"Nice try 'genius', you care to tell me how the people working for us will produce if they do not know the recipe?"
"Why not just share them into groups, have a group do a specific task and then join their efforts without their knowledge." Xu Chu says admist beer
"Like have each of them so focused on a task that they do not knowing the other process of the recipe?" You echo
"That a very smart idea Xu Chu "
The man simply raises his wine glass to you
Okay historically speaking was Xu Chu supposed to be this smart?
You ask yourself.
This made you realize that while you may be the most knowledgeable you are far from being the smartest as some poisonous strategist could still run rings around you.
"That problem solved, I think it brings us back to the issue of price my prince." Shang points out
"While selling it at the price the ant master suggested may make the wine worth it's value, I do not think anyone from the crannies will be able to buy it."
"And who says I will sell it at his suggested price?" You ask casually
"Then how much do you plan to sell it?" Ming queries
"Five silver coins for the beer and seven silver coins for the fruit wine."
You watch with pleasure as the three of them stare at themselves in confusion.
"All due respect my prince, will you able to make a profit if you sell so low?" Su Min who had not said anything since the meeting began, asks
"Given the materials, the production cost the wages of workers and the tax we must pay to my father, we will make huge profits even if sell at one silver per wine bottle."
"So then how will the profit be shared?" Shang asks cautiously
"He is our lord and prince is he not?" Ming queries
"After we procure the materials, finish the production, pay the workers, subtract our pay and pay our taxes. The rest by right belongs to him."
"Are you an aristocrat?" Su Min ask
"Why do you ask?" Ming counters
"You speak like one, you act like one" she clarifies
"You should have been one"
This brought about a tensed atmosphere that continued until Xu Chu broke it.
"So now that the issues about the tavern have been solved, what are going to call it?"
"Free flower." You answer
"Free flower tavern"
No one argued the name and after trashing a few more issues, the trio left me and Su Min alone.
"I never expected that such gems could be found in a place as common as the crannies." Su Min says
"I agree." You concur
"I always knew ant master Xu Chu was strong, I just never knew he was smart as well."
"I was not talking about him." She says and then looks you in the eyes
"The siblings?" You realize
"How do you see them?"
"They can identify an idea or a problem from a single glance and can quickly profer strategic solutions to it." She answers
"The girl seem to understand the workings of an aristocratic Court and together they are able to gain the trust and loyalty of people far older and with more experience than them. In my opinion my prince, I believe that you have either gained some very powerful allys or some very deadly opponents."
"So what do I do?"
"Feed them, train them but if you begin to doubt their loyalty then kill them."
You slowly nod as you consider her words
"Make provisions for me to be allowed to leave the palace iñ the evenings. I want to be able to train them myself."
"You wish to train them yourself?" Su Min asks in surprise
You smile gently as you recall the content of the red letter.
"Yes because they are my generals and together we will shake all of china"