Chapter 11: Raising the Grain Price. The Madness of the Four Major Grain Merchants

"No less than 150 wen per dou?"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was stunned.

Old Lin's beard trembled, and he almost pulled all the beard from his chin. His wrinkled old face was filled with shock.

The other three major grain merchants' family heads also looked at Gao Yang in astonishment.

For a moment, the entire county yamen was silent.

Everyone was stunned.

They even forgot to speak.

Because Gao Yang's words were completely beyond their expectations.

Du Jiang had originally been prepared to see how Gao Yang would handle these difficult grain merchants and get them to lower the price by a few wen.

As a result, Gao Yang had no intention of lowering the price at all. Instead, he directly raised the grain price.

And in one breath, from the current price of 100 wen per dou, which many ordinary people could not afford, it directly soared to 150 wen per dou.

He even forbade these merchants from selling grain at a low price!

What was Gao Yang trying to do? Was he going to starve all the people of Linjiang City to death?

Du Jiang was full of anger, but the four major grain merchants were here. Gao Yang had already taken over all matters, big and small, in Linjiang City.

Even if he had extreme dissatisfaction, he could not question Gao Yang in front of the four major grain merchants.

Otherwise, it would be a major crime of disrespecting the superior.

Shangguan Wan'er was also startled, her beautiful eyes full of confusion.

Didn't they come to Linjiang City to lower the grain price?

And from the previous probing, Gao Yang should clearly know in his heart that this was an assessment from the empress.

It even concerned the entire Duke of Dingguo's Mansion.

Instead of thinking about how to lower the grain price, why did Gao Yang raise it?

And such a terrifying number!

Shangguan Wan'er couldn't figure it out at all.

She had followed the empress in governing for two months and had seen too many officials, sinister ones, malicious ones, and upright and impartial ones.

But it was the first time she had seen an official like Gao Yang who didn't follow the usual path.

Old Lin was shocked, his eyes showing incredulity, "Supervisory Censor Gao, perhaps I'm old and my ears aren't good. What did you just say? You want us to sell grain no less than 150 wen per dou?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the eyes of the other three family heads all looked at Gao Yang in unison.

Gao Yang's fingers tapped slowly on the table. He smiled faintly, "Is the meaning of what I said difficult to understand?"

"At the price of 150 wen per dou. Whoever dares to sell grain below this price and is found out by me, their head won't be guaranteed!"

"Did you all hear clearly this time?"

Seeing Gao Yang's affirmation again, even though these people were deep and shrewd, they couldn't help but show smiles on their faces.

Never would they have expected that the situation would take a sudden turn. Gao Yang summoned them here and had no intention of lowering the price.

Instead, he was going to increase the price for them, and it was an incredible price!

A full 150 wen per dou!

This terrifying number would bring astronomical profits behind it.

Moreover, everyone in the entire Linjiang City knew that most of the grain was controlled by their four families.

The grain price had soared more than double to 100 wen per dou.

This made them suffer a lot of criticism.

But this time, it was a hard requirement from the county yamen that they must sell grain above 150 wen per dou. Then it wouldn't be their fault to bear the criticism!

They could make a lot of money and not bear the criticism themselves. Old Lin wished he could laugh out loud.

He had lived most of his life. How could there be such a good thing in this world?

But the more ecstatic he was, the calmer he became.

Old Lin's old eyes burst out with a sharp light. He couldn't help but say, "Supervisory Censor, will this matter be posted in a public notice?"

With Old Lin's words, the heads of the Qian, Han, and Zhao families all looked at Gao Yang.

Their eyes also shone with sharp light.

Posting a public notice and announcing it throughout the city would be final and definite. Otherwise, if Gao Yang changed his mind, they would be the ones who would suffer.

Everyone present was shrewd. How could they not be cautious?

Gao Yang looked at Old Lin with deep eyes and nodded, "After this meal, the public notice that the grain price cannot be sold below 150 wen per dou will be posted on every street in Linjiang City."

Old Lin looked at the other three families, and they were completely relieved in their hearts.

Today, an immense fortune has descended upon their four families. If they don't grasp this opportunity well, they would simply be ashamed of the century-old foundation laid down by their ancestors.

Next, during the meal, except for Gao Yang who ate heartily, others hardly touched their chopsticks.

But some flattery, from Old Lin and the three family heads, was simply endless like a torrential river.

Soon, the four major grain merchants left together.

"Old Lin, what's the intention of this new supervisory censor? Instead of ordering us to lower the grain price, he raised the grain price to 150 wen per dou. Could there be a problem?"

Outside the county yamen.

The head of the Qian family couldn't help but say.

Old Lin let out a cold snort, "I've lived half my life. I've seen all kinds of situations. I've never seen a case where the soaring grain price could drop again!"

"Regardless of what this Supervisory Censor Gao has in mind, it has nothing to do with us. At present, it's best to make a huge profit while we have this great opportunity."

"Such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. As long as we grasp it, our families won't have to worry for a hundred years. And no matter how chaotic Linjiang City becomes, it has nothing to do with us because we are following the order of the county yamen!"

"An immense fortune is right in front of us. If you are still hesitant, you are truly extremely muddle-headed!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the head of the Qian family quickly apologized, "Old Lin, please don't be angry. It's just that I've lived half my life and have never seen such a good thing. That's why I'm a little worried."

"But as Old Lin said, this is truly an immense fortune."

"My Qian family will follow Old Lin's lead!"

The heads of the Zhao and Han families also said one after another, "The four major families in Linjiang City will advance and retreat together. Old Lin, whatever you want to do next, we will surely follow."

When Old Lin heard the words of several people, his deep gaze looked at the pedestrians on the streets of Linjiang City. His old eyes burst out with endless greed.

"Quickly sweep all the grain on the market in Linjiang City at the price of 100 wen per dou before the county yamen's public notice is posted!"

"Then wait for the grain price to soar. Once the county yamen's public notice is issued, the grain price will definitely not only be 150 wen per dou. In times of chaos, the price of grain has no limit. If the people can't survive, no matter how high the grain price is, they will have to sell everything to buy it!"

Old Lin's voice carried a chill.

Let alone 150 wen per dou for the grain price, even if it breaks through 100 wen per dou in Linjiang City, there will be starving people everywhere, and thousands and tens of thousands of people will starve to death!

Not to mention 150 wen per dou or even higher. In just ten days or half a month, it will be a true purgatory on earth.

But whether it was Old Lin or the other three major grain merchants, they all had expressionless faces, and all they had in their eyes was greed!

What does the life and death of the common people have to do with them?

In such chaotic times, for them, seizing the opportunity to make a fortune during the national disaster is the kingly way!

In Linjiang City, the grain price will become an incredibly soaring increase!

"..."

Inside the county yamen.

Du Jiang looked at Gao Yang in disbelief, "Supervisory Censor Gao, are you really going to post the public notice that the grain price cannot be sold below 150 wen per dou throughout the entire Linjiang City?"

Du Jiang was full of anger. He thought Gao Yang must be crazy.

It was fine to say that to the four major grain merchants, but he was actually going to post a public notice throughout the entire Linjiang City.

Once the public notice was issued, there would be no turning back!

Even when this public notice was issued, the Linjiang County Yamen would become the target of public criticism. The angry saliva of the people could drown them!

Not to mention, wasn't their goal to lower the grain price?

Why did Gao Yang raise the grain price, and it was such a sky-high price!

It was after a long while that Gao Yang slowly looked at Du Jiang, "Lord Du, do as I say."

"Other things are not what you should ask."

Gao Yang's gaze was cold.

Du Jiang trembled all over, his eyes fixedly staring at Gao Yang. His heart ached. The empress had a brilliant reputation, but why did she send such a boastful person here.

Did he know what the concept of a grain price of 150 wen per dou was?

Why don't they eat minced meat!

This was exactly why don't they eat minced meat!

The only phrase left in Du Jiang's mind was this. How could the children of the big shots born with a silver spoon in their mouths in Chang'an City know the hardships of ordinary people?

This was a disaster for Linjiang City and even more a disaster for countless people!

But Du Jiang still wanted to make an effort. Therefore, as the parent official of hundreds of thousands of people in Linjiang City, he had to be worthy of the official hat on his head!

He asked word by word, "My lord, do you know the consequences of doing this?"

"Once the public notice is issued, within ten days or half a month, Linjiang City will definitely be a purgatory on earth. Countless people will starve to death, and even wives and children will be separated. It's not impossible for people to exchange children for food!"

Du Jiang gritted his teeth and knelt on one knee, "This official has been in office since birth and is over thirty-six years old. I have a proud backbone and have never begged anyone. But today, this official begs my lord to take back the order. At a grain price of 150 wen per dou, except for the merchants, ordinary people can't afford it!"

Gao Yang looked at Du Jiang, and his eyes didn't fluctuate at all.

He knew that Du Jiang was a parent official dedicated to the people. After returning to the capital this time, he would also recommend Du Jiang for promotion.

But to lower the grain price in Linjiang City, it must be done as he said.

"There may be someone listening on the other side of the wall."Before having absolute certainty, his intention must not be revealed!

He could only give Du Jiang a hint, "Lord Du, to lower the grain price, you don't necessarily have to desperately suppress the grain price. You should know that the stronger the spring is suppressed, the more terrifying the rebound will be!"

"After seven days, everything will be fine!"

"This young master won't joke with his life."

After saying that, Gao Yang directly left the county yamen.

After having enough food and drink, he still had serious business to do.

In today's Great Qian, it wasn't only Linjiang City that was hit by heavy rain. All sixteen cities in Guangyang County suffered from major disasters.

It was just that the disaster in Linjiang City was the most severe.

A single movement affects the whole situation. It is doomed that countless people will be displaced.

Lowering the grain price is only one aspect.

The most important thing now is to enable the people to survive and even make money under the major disaster!

How should he do it?

Gao Yang stood at the entrance of the inner courtyard of the yamen, looking outside, lost in thought.

Behind him, Du Jiang was so angry that he trembled all over.

He couldn't understand!

He, Du Jiang, had been in office for twelve years and had seen too many tactics. He had never heard of a method to lower the grain price by raising it!

This was an arrogant and ignorant lunatic.

He would surely pay a heavy price!

Before Du Jiang could come to his senses, only Gao Yang's voice sounded.

"Lord Du, take this official to have a look around. I see that this yamen is in disrepair. In a few days, when the grain price drops, it can be renovated."

When Du Jiang heard this, his eyes changed drastically.

The people could no longer survive, but Gao Yang still wanted to renovate the yamen on a large scale?

What was the difference between this and oppressing the people?

But before he could speak, Gao Yang took Luobu and walked out of the yamen first.

"Lord Shangguan, are you really going to stand by and watch the people of Linjiang City suffer?" Du Jiang placed his last hope on Shangguan Wan'er.

Shangguan Wan'er was a favorite of the empress. As long as Shangguan Wan'er made a move, all this could still be stopped!

Shangguan Wan'er stared in the direction where Gao Yang left. Her stunning face showed hesitation.

If it were anyone else, she, Shangguan Wan'er, would definitely stop them.

But this person was Gao Yang. His monkey show in the Golden Luan Hall didn't follow the usual rules at all.

Was Gao Yang a playboy?

Judging from the past, Gao Yang, the grandson of the Duke of Dingguo, was not only a playboy but also a complete scoundrel.

But his performance was definitely not that of a fool.

He should be very clear about the awkward situation faced by the Duke of Dingguo.

A determined look flashed across Shangguan Wan'er's stunning face, "The empress has ordered that all matters, big and small, in Linjiang City be handled by Young Master Gao!"

"But if the situation is urgent and uncontrollable, I will step in to stop it!"

After saying that, Shangguan Wan'er also strode away.

After hearing these words, Du Jiang said painfully, "I'm afraid it will be too late by then!"

"This matter must be informed to His Majesty as quickly as possible. If he continues to act so recklessly, hundreds of thousands of people in Linjiang City will be doomed!"

Du Jiang's eyes were firm and he shouted outside, "Bring my writing brush and ink. This official wants to submit a memorial overnight and send it with 800-li urgent speed to impeach this official!"