The palace dinner was a banquet, but few people came to eat it. This is an opportunity to get close to glory, an opportunity to soar to the sky for yourself and your family, and an opportunity to make friends with a group of courtiers. There are not many opportunities for this kind of thing, at least there are not many opportunities to sit and eat with the Manchu Dynasty civil and military forces and His Majesty himself. So a lot of people are rubbing their fists and don't want to miss this opportunity.

But Liu Hao and Xiao Shiyi Lang seemed to be stepping on the field, and they were eating the whole time. Xiao Shiyi Lang had no intention of pursuing a career, and he came to the palace because Liu Hao said that there would be something wonderful tonight, and he came to see the excitement. As for Liu Hao, if you don't hurry up and eat now, how can you have a chance to eat after a series of actions?

Li Longji's toast and the speeches of several important ministers came to an end. Now it is the time for the envoys of various countries to give gifts.

Xiao Shiyi Lang asked in a low voice, "What treasure will they offer?" ”

Liu Hao shook his head: "Maybe it's a novelty, but it's definitely not something precious." The idea of these people is to empty the gloves of the white wolf, take some worthless things, add a lot of beautiful words, and then cry about the hardships of the country and the price paid for maintaining the Tang Dynasty, and get a lot of rewards from His Majesty. It can be said that every time I have a major celebration in Datang, they are the most profitable people. ”

Xiao Shiyi Lang frowned: "Then Your Majesty will give it?" ”

Liu Hao smiled: "If you don't give it, you have to give it." Your Majesty needs these prestige to maintain the deterrent power of the Tang Dynasty, do you think that the majesty of a great power depends entirely on military strength? ”

Xiao Shiyi Lang pouted: "Trouble!" It's better to do business, losing is losing and making money, and there are not so many twists and turns. ”

Liu Hao asked him: "If you hoard a batch of grain, a total of 10,000 buckets." Start with 3 dollars per bucket and sell it at 5 dollars per bucket. Later, in a disaster year, you start at the price of 6 yuan per bucket and start at the price of 8 yuan per bucket. In the end, the price of grain stabilized at 10 cents per bucket. Did you make a profit or lose money? ”

As soon as he finished speaking, several nearby officials who heard it all lowered their heads and pondered the question. Although it sounds simple, when you think about it, it's not that simple. Xiao Shiyi Lang also fell into deep thought, and then he said to Liu Hao: "You won't pay for it, right?" Isn't it always a low price to start at a high price? How can it be lost? ”

Several other officials also looked up at Liu Hao when they heard this, and they couldn't figure out why Liu Hao could ask this.

Liu Hao took a bite of the dish and put it in his mouth and chewed it full: "For a businessman, the money that can be earned but not earned by himself is a loss." If this 10,000 buckets of grain starts with 3 yuan and 10 yuan, this is making money, and the rest is not profitable. ”

Xiao Shiyilang's mouth opened wide, he never expected this to be the result. Several other officials also looked unconvinced, Liu Hao's algorithm is absolutely wrong, how can it be calculated like this?

Liu Hao smiled and said: "Businessmen, in order to chase profits, start at the lowest price, and shoot at the highest price, this is the nature of businessmen, and it is also the driving force for them to spur themselves forward. In fact, a successful businessman is no longer pursuing a simple amount of money, but maximizing the benefits for himself. These benefits include money, but also fame. In addition, they care about the gains and losses of each business, so that they can have their own experience and views on the business and continue. ”

"When I talk about this problem, I just think about it from the perspective of the merchant. If it were an official, he would definitely end up having his house raided. Emperors of all dynasties did not like people who raised prices, and if you were an official to participate in it, it would definitely annoy Your Majesty. Everyone wants to get rich, but the country is difficult to wealth, don't touch it. No matter who it is, it will definitely not end well in the end. ”

Xiao Shiyi Lang nodded: "Zhicai rest assured, my brother's money is enough to spend, and I will never do such a thing." Besides, our Chamber of Commerce has always been in charge of you, how to do this kind of thing. ”

At this time, the atmosphere has begun to liven, and the young officials are getting up to toast to those who can talk, this is considered a break in the middle, and after the envoys give gifts, it will be time for the prince later. Among the people in the clan, Li Hong is the calmest one, from time to time he takes two mouthfuls of food, takes a sip of sour plum soup, and then chats with Li Ju and other good princes next to him. Following Liu Hao these days, Li Hong's biggest change is that he has become calm.

Li Hong was also a taciturn person in the past, but he was dumbfounded at that time, and he didn't have the demeanor that a prince should have. Now Li Hong is more introverted, calm, and subtle, like an unsheathed sword, which gives people pressure in silence. In the past, Li Hong and the people in the clan liked to complain, but now Li Hong is more like an elder, quietly listening to a few royal brothers talking about interesting things about Chang'an, and occasionally interjecting to comment on one or two sentences, but there are definitely not many words. Even when they laugh, they rarely laugh, just smile.

Walking in the streets and alleys of Luoyang, Li Hong's mood has been trained. He knew what was most important about being a prince. If you want to be respected by others, you have to respect everyone. But social distancing must be maintained, after all, he is a prince, and the royal face cannot be lost. This change in him fell in Li Yi's eyes, and the old general's eyes were all smiling. There is no way, due to Liu Hao's existence, Li Hong's current position is basically stable, and the relationship between the two more than ten years ago makes the old general feel close for no reason.

It was time for the prince to send a congratulatory gift, and Li Hong generously asked his royal brothers to come first.

Li Mao was the first to go up, and what he gave Li Longji was a sailboat made of gold and various precious jade. When the gift was brought up, Li Mao was happy, he glanced at Li Hong with his eyes, thinking that Li Hong definitely didn't spend as much as himself, and Li Hong was rich? He shook his head and smiled wryly.

When Li Longji saw this gift, he immediately praised it. Concubine Wu Hui, who was sitting next to Li Longji, also had a light on her face, seeing her son being praised, she couldn't help but want to mention the prince, but thinking that Li Mao had just been reprimanded by Li Longji two days ago, Concubine Wu Hui wisely chose to shut up.

Li Mao got off to a good start, and the rest of the princes were not polite.

Valuable gifts were brought to the stage, receiving the admiration of the courtiers and the praise of Li Longji. Li Longji's sons are definitely not bad looking, and they all have a royal demeanor in their gestures. In addition, they were all wearing bright yellow costumes tonight, and almost every prince was affirmed and encouraged by Li Longji.

Liu Hao watched the appearance of these princes with interest, and he was waiting for Li Hong's surprise in the end.

Tonight's Li Hong is wearing a black dress inlaid with gold thread, looking calmer than other princes, and his outfit is particularly eye-catching among a group of princes. Coupled with Li Hong's expression, all the ministers were thinking about what kind of gift Li Hong gave at the end. With Liu Hao as the backstage, what expensive gifts can't be bought?

Li Hong came to the stage with empty hands. This not only makes people curious, but also attracts a lot of ridicule. Is this a desire to cry poor?

Li Longji looked at this son who had changed a lot, with a bit of approval in his eyes. Li Hong's general experience in Luoyang He also knows that this change in him makes Li Longji very happy, this smart son when he was a child, although he was a little bookish when he grew up, but now he has changed a lot. And the most important thing is that Li Hong has never shown royal arrogance, and has always been a humble person. This is very commendable, at least in the entire clan, Li Hong is such a temper.

Li Hong came to the front of the steps and knelt on the ground: "Erchen wishes my father and the emperor blessings like the East China Sea, and longevity is better than Nanshan!" ”

Li Longji waved his hand: "Get up and speak." ”

At this time, Concubine Wu Hui interjected and said, "I don't know what Prince Li Hong's birthday gift is, it won't be empty-handed and want to fool the past, right?" ”

Everyone below stopped talking, and those who were not optimistic about Li Hong were all full of sneers, waiting for Li Hong to make a fool of himself.

Li Hongshi smiled and did not speak.

He took out a squarely folded piece of paper from his arms: "Father, this is the floor plan of Luoyang City drawn by the sons and daughters based on the data measured by my engineers when they were building roads in Luoyang, please take a look at it!" ”

Colliers stepped down from the stage in two steps, took the drawings in Li Hong's hands with both hands, and then sent them to Li Longji.

Li Longji opened it and looked at it carefully, the joy on his face became stronger and stronger. He never expected Li Hong's picture to be so exquisite, not only is there a mark on every street in each square, but also an explanation of the length of the road and the size of the square, it can be said that with this picture alone, the eldest sister in Luoyang will not get lost.

Li Longji closed the picture, then solemnly stuffed it into his arms, and said with relief: "My son has a heart, I like it very much!" ”

At this time, the ministers were not calm, they couldn't figure out what Li Hong had painted to make Li Longji so happy.

Li Hong did not leave, but continued: "The father has a big birthday, and the child has no money to buy gifts for his father. Now please allow the child to sing a song to his father to express the child's congratulations. ”

The people in the audience immediately boiled. What the? Sing? On the emperor's birthday, as a prince, he didn't give gifts to sing, is this treating himself as a singer?

At this time, the whole auditorium was filled with sarcastic laughter. Li Longji frowned, raised his hand and said, "You sing, I heard that you have been secretly practicing for the past few days, and I am also very curious about what kind of song it is." ”

Li Hong recruited a little eunuch to bring his guitar.

He stood in front of Li Longji with his guitar in his arms, without any fancy words, and when everyone quieted down, Li Hong began to play and sing:

Always asking for you but never saying thank you,

It wasn't until I grew up that I understood that it wasn't easy for you.

Every time I leave, I pretend to be relaxed,

He smiled and said go back, turning around and wetting his eyes with tears.

I want to be the same as before, holding your warm palm,

But you're not by my side, so I'll take you to your health.

Time slows down, don't let you get old anymore,

I'm willing to use me to change your years.

Dad, who is strong in his life, what can I do for you,

Let's take it with trivial concern.

Thank you for everything you do, hold up our home with both hands,

Always do everything you can to give me the best.

Am I your pride? Are you still worried about me?

Your child, grow up!

……

(Note: The Tang Dynasty already called parents by such names as father and mother.) ）

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