Volume One, Chapter 13: One Hundred and Fifty Wen?

“Return all the landlord’s money in full, and split the rest seventy-thirty.”

As Zhang Yan finished speaking, Shen Qiuxue felt as though she had grasped something, yet at the same time, it slipped through her fingers.

“Why only seventy?” Shen Qiuxue furrowed her brow and asked.

Zhang Yan waved his hand dismissively and said casually, “Seventy belongs to them. For us to get thirty, we have to play nice.”

“...”

At the Zhao residence, in the main hall.

The heads of the Zhao, Li, and Han families were drinking and chatting leisurely.

Among the three major grain merchants, the Zhao family head was the eldest and most experienced, naturally making him the leader of the trio.

“Brother Zhao, our servants just brought word that the new Censor wants to invite the three of us to dinner,” said the Li family head with a chuckle.

The other two heads smiled upon hearing this.

Censor? If they were truly afraid, they wouldn’t have kept raising grain prices.

“Gentlemen, let me be clear upfront. This stockpiling of grain has nearly drained the coffers of all three families. We must make a hefty profit.”

“If anyone gets scared by this new Censor and lowers their prices, don’t blame the other two families for showing no mercy.”

The Zhao family head smiled, but his tone was tinged with coldness.

The Li and Han heads chuckled and immediately responded, “Brother Zhao, you speak wisely. We will surely follow your lead.”

Hearing this, the Zhao head relaxed.

This surge in grain prices was an opportunity—an excellent chance to change their fortunes as grain merchants.

If seized, they could become a prestigious family for generations to come.

“But this new Censor doesn’t know the details yet. Let’s lower the price by three wen as a courtesy.”

The Zhao head held up three fingers and said.

The other two nodded in agreement.

“Let’s go. Change into some shabby clothes and come with me to the feast!”

The Zhao head stood and declared.

“Brother Zhao is truly thoughtful,” the two family heads remarked, glancing at their own fine clothes and realizing the intention.

They were going to pretend to be poor.

...

At the county office courtyard.

The table was laden with dishes, though in this year of calamity, the food was noticeably lacking in meat.

When the three family heads arrived, their eyes immediately caught sight of Zhang Yan sitting at the head of the table, and they were surprised.

This Censor was so young?

Zhang Yan saw the three family heads and greeted them warmly. “Please, sit down—no need for formalities. I invited you all here today because I’m new and wanted to discuss the grain prices with you.”

Here it comes!

The three heads’ expressions turned serious. Zhao bowed slightly and said resignedly, “Censor, you may not know, but it seems the grain price in Jiangcheng has soared to a staggering one hundred wen per dou. It looks like we’re profiteering from the disaster, but the truth is, with years of natural calamities, we cannot bear to see the people go hungry. We distribute porridge daily.”

“However, our grain stores are nearly empty, so we had no choice but to raise prices. You can see from our worn clothes that we are not wealthy.”

Zhang Yan looked over at the three, noting their tattered garments, which hardly suggested newfound riches.

But nearby, Xu Mu’s hands trembled with anger—he knew very well the true wealth of these families and how untrue their claims of hardship were.

If looks could kill, Xu Mu would have already torn them apart.

Zhang Yan merely chuckled and gestured, “Please, take your seats.”

Even admitting to no grain reserves, these profiteering merchants were untouchable.

Thankfully, Zhang Yan didn’t expect any mercy from them.

Shen Qiuxue’s hand had unknowingly grasped the sword hilt. After several deep breaths, she barely calmed herself.

If not for Jiang Zhiwan forbidding her from intervening, she would have drawn her sword and taken these men down.

Sensing the deadly intent, the Zhao head immediately raised three fingers and said, “In that case, Censor, we are willing to reduce the price by three wen, lowering it to ninety-seven wen per dou.”

“Not bad, Censor. At worst, it’s a loss for us. Li family will follow suit!”

“Han family as well!”

Zhang Yan smiled at the three but said nothing.

A loss?

Although lowering the price by three wen seemed like a loss of nearly ten thousand taels of silver, even if they dropped it by thirty wen, these three major grain merchants would still profit.

The Zhao head looked uneasy. Zhang Yan’s silence, and the others’ watching him quietly, made him wonder if three wen was too little.

Moreover, Shen Qiuxue’s killing intent was unmistakable, and her grip tightened visibly on the sword hilt.

A flicker of conflict passed over his face. Gritting his teeth, he said, “Censor, we are willing to lower it by another two wen—ninety-five wen per dou!”

Ninety-five wen—a full five wen less—was tantamount to a loss for these merchants.

After all, earning less was essentially losing.

Next to him, Xu Mu’s expression brightened considerably. So Zhang Yan intended to use his position as Censor to pressure the three grain merchants.

A five wen drop on day one was indeed a good start.

Even Shen Qiuxue’s face relaxed, and she loosened her grip on the sword.

Feeling the killing intent vanish, the Zhao head finally breathed easier. He truly feared being forcibly taken by Zhang Yan.

However, Zhang Yan’s next words made everyone present think they had misheard.

“Gentlemen, I believe you misunderstood me. Today, I have called you here to purchase ten thousand taels of grain at a price of one hundred fifty wen per dou.”

One hundred fifty wen per dou?

The three heads exchanged glances, wondering if they had heard correctly.

Even the three families combined would need considerable time to push grain prices that high.

They understood the limits of the people’s endurance; moderation was necessary.

Yet now Zhang Yan intended to buy grain at one hundred fifty wen per dou? They were poised to make a fortune.

“Censor, is this true?” the Zhao head asked earnestly.

Zhang Yan’s eyes curved slightly, knowing the bait had been taken.

“Of course it is. But this first batch is only ten thousand taels. How you divide it among yourselves is your business.”

Hearing this, the three heads beamed with joy. Though unsure of Zhang Yan’s motives, this silver offered on a silver platter was too good to refuse.

Zhao also caught the key point in Zhang Yan’s words. “Censor, do you mean one hundred fifty wen is not the only batch?”

“Exactly. I will purchase your grain in installments. However, I have one condition,” Zhang Yan smiled and said.

“Please, Censor, do tell.”

At this, the three heads grew noticeably more respectful.

Zhang Yan lifted his wine cup, took a sip, and said, “It’s simple: your grain can only be sold to the county office. Selling it elsewhere is forbidden. Anyone who disobeys will be executed.”