Did the guest, after tasting the dishes at our establishment, consider patronizing us again for future banquets?
Fang Er asked.
Certainly!
Fang Xuanling nodded heavily.
Please, Lord Fang, try my Drunken Immortal Brew as well.
Fang Er casually poured Fang Xuanling a small cup of wine.
The cup was specially purchased to be small, holding only about five qian of liquid.
Fang Xuanling accepted the cup with curiosity, having never drunk from such a small vessel before.
He poured the wine directly into his mouth. The fiery sensation instantly filled his entire oral cavity. As the liquid went down, it felt like a trail of flames entering his stomach, and beads of sweat immediately appeared on his forehead.
Savoring the aroma of the wine, Fang Xuanling set down the cup, exhaled a puff of alcoholic breath, and then said, "Good wine!"
Seeing this, the others also poured themselves a cup and began to taste.
The reactions were the same, and the words were identical.
Du Ruhui: Good wine!
Qin Qiong: Truly good wine!
Cheng Yaojin and Yuchi Gong (father and son) remained silent, merely smiling at the other three.
Lord Fang, since you have sampled both the wine and dishes, are the prices acceptable: ten taels of silver for this entire table of dishes, and six taels of silver for a five-jin jar of Drunken Immortal Brew?
Fang Er gestured for everyone to sit, then continued his inquiry.
These prices are not expensive and are acceptable.
Fang Xuanling replied.
Then, before Lord Fang had tried these wines and dishes, would you find these prices acceptable: ten taels of silver per table of dishes, and six taels of silver per jar of wine?
Fang Er stated his intention.
Precisely. Offering discounts to let people sample the fare. Once they discover the taste is unlike anything they've had before, and is also so delicious, they will accept even higher prices.
Excellent! I must say, young sir, your thinking is truly brilliant!
Fang Xuanling finally understood why Fang Er would engage in a business that was losing money. This was a long-term strategy to capture a big prize.
With the matter clarified, everyone began to eat and drink heartily, their faces glistening with oil.
Downstairs, it was also quite lively. Since the dishes on the tables were prepared in advance, there was no need for Zhuzi and the others to run back and forth serving food. However, simply fulfilling requests for wine from one table and then another had them nearly breaking their legs.
"Waiter, hurry up with the wine! Bring a couple more jars of this excellent brew! I'm taking it back for my brothers to try later!"
"Exactly, exactly! Why is it so slow? I'm almost out of wine here, why hasn't it arrived yet?"
"Hey, I say, are you guys not drinking the wine at your table? If you're not drinking it, how about giving it to me?"
"What are you all shouting about? Aren't these delicious dishes enough to shut you up?"
They were all shouting with their faces and necks flushed red in the first-floor hall.
The dishes were sold by the table, with most people pooling money to buy a table to try.
This was likely the first instance of "sharing tables" in history.
Initially, some people were resistant. However, without sharing, the five taels of silver per table was indeed a bit much. Although each dish looked appetizing and smelled incredibly inviting, who knew if it would taste good?
Thus, a few people gathered together, discussing pooling their money to buy a table and try it.
With the first group leading the way, others followed suit. Consequently, all forty tables on the first floor were quickly sold out.
It had to be said that the location of the shop was excellent. It was on a main thoroughfare in Chang'an, bustling with wealthy merchants and powerful officials. Few who could afford to dine out were truly short of money; those who were truly struggling ate at roadside stalls.
Within half an hour, some people were already inquiring about delivery. Upon hearing the prices quoted by Zhuzi, no one haggled. A banquet of this scale for ten taels of silver was a minor matter.
What exactly was on this table?
It was actually quite simple: eight meat dishes, eight vegetable dishes, four soups, plus a basin of rice and a plate of steamed buns. Fang Er had calculated the cost himself; even at five taels of silver, there was still profit to be made. After all, as they say, all businesses eventually lead back to selling food.
The wine was even more so. Wine that cost tens of copper coins per jin, when distilled, yielded profits tens of times over.
Witnessing the booming business, Xiao Qing and Zhuzi were inwardly overjoyed.
Just then, a troop of soldiers entered, moving hurriedly through the crowd on the first floor, seemingly searching for someone. Zhuzi quickly went to meet them. "Sirs, whom are you looking for?"
"Are you from this establishment? Have you seen General Cheng and General Yuchi come by?"
A leading soldier asked Zhuzi.
"Yes, yes, they are on the second floor. Please follow me, sirs."
Zhuzi quickly led them upstairs.
Cheng Yaojin, somewhat tipsy from the drinks, saw Zhuzi bring in soldiers and squinted at the soldier. "Who are you?"
The soldier took a look, confirmed it was General Cheng, and then glanced at the others at the table. "Good heavens! All these distinguished figures are here!"
He replied respectfully, "I am Zhou Tong, a corporal of the Xuanwu Guard. I am here on the Emperor's verbal order to summon you all to discuss military matters."
Upon hearing it was Emperor Li Er's command, the men quickly rose. Qin Qiong said to Fang Er, "Young sir, the wine and dishes were excellent. We shall trouble you again another day. We must depart as we are summoned by imperial order."
Fang Er had also reached his limit and was contemplating how to escape further drinking. He was delighted they were leaving now.
He quickly said, "Imperial orders are paramount. Please hasten to the palace, everyone."
With that, he stood up and escorted them downstairs.
As Yuchi Jingde left, he was carrying two jars, saying he wanted to give them to Li Er to try, which left Fang Er speechless.
They ate and drank for free, and then took leftovers to go. This man was not only dark-skinned but also dark-hearted!
He thought about it and decided to let it go, as they were shareholders anyway!
Within the imperial palace, in the Eastern Palace.
Li Er looked at the military intelligence report in his hands, his brows furrowed into a knot, his expression so grim it seemed he could wring water from it.
Li Jing, Gao Shilian, Li Ji, and other ministers stood below, all looking crestfallen.
"Report! Your Majesty, General Cheng, General Yuchi, General Qin, Lord Fang, and Lord Du have arrived."
An Eastern Palace guard entered to announce them.
"Summon them!"
Li Er responded.
"Summon General Cheng, General Yuchi, General Qin, Lord Fang, and Lord Du to audience!"
The guard retreated to the doorway and shouted outside.
Cheng Yaojin and the others straightened their attire, entered the Eastern Palace hall, and bowed to Li Er.
Li Er gestured, handed the military report in his hand to the eunuch beside him, and then said, "This is intelligence gathered by Li Ji's men. Jieli is indeed preparing to attack our Great Tang. Please take a look and share your opinions."
The eunuch took the military report and walked before them, handing it to Qin Qiong, who stood at the front.
Qin Qiong took the military report and was greatly alarmed.
The report was stained with blood and bore only a single, crooked line of text: "Jieli, with the eight tribes, over one hundred thousand strong, will march south imminently!"
Over one hundred thousand!
Yet, Chang'an currently had fewer than ten thousand combat-ready troops!
No wonder the Emperor's expression was unhappy the moment they entered the hall, and all the ministers looked so grim!