Volume One, Chapter 14: The Sky-High Price of Grain

After hearing Zhang Yan’s words, the three heads of the prominent families exchanged glances, each seeing a flicker of hesitation in the others’ eyes. Yet, this hesitation was short-lived. The Zhao family head chuckled softly and spoke, “Of course. Rest assured, Inspector, the three of us will return immediately to make preparations.”

With that, the three clan leaders clasped their fists and left the county office, leaving the untouched dishes on the table behind.

Once outside, the heads of the Li and Han families looked puzzled and said, “Brother Zhao, I sense something fishy about this matter.”

Zhao chuckled knowingly. “Of course there is. But I suspect this Inspector is here to polish his reputation in Jiangcheng. At his age, he needs some achievements desperately and doesn’t mind spending whatever silver it takes. As long as the relief effort succeeds, that’s enough. Just wait and see—tomorrow he’ll distribute these grains to the common folk.”

Seeing Zhao’s cunning demeanor, the other two immediately showed admiration. “Brother Zhao sees through it all. Let you handle the first batch then.”

The three leaders smiled at one another, each envisioning the fortune they might make.

Inside the county office, the food remained untouched on the table.

Zhang Yan ate heartily while asking, “Why aren’t you eating?”

Xu Mu and Shen Qiuxue had no intention of touching the food, their eyes shadowed with worry.

“Sir, not to mention misappropriating tax funds is a grave crime, even if it’s for buying grain to aid the people, ten thousand taels won’t be enough,” Xu Mu sighed and finally voiced his concern.

Zhang looked up, took a bite of his chicken leg, and smiled. “Who said I intend to distribute this grain as relief?”

Xu Mu: ???

Shen Qiuxue: ???

Seeing their puzzled expressions, Zhang Yan continued, “This amount of grain is but a drop in the ocean for all of Jiangcheng. What I want goes far beyond this.”

Finishing the last bite, Zhang Yan chuckled. “Therefore, Xu, list all the grain in the county office at a price of two hundred wen per dou, limit the daily sales, and announce to all Jiangcheng residents that the price will rise every day.”

A hush fell over the courtyard, broken only by Xu Mu’s sharp intake of breath.

Thinking he must have misheard, Xu stammered, “Inspector Zhang, did you say… two hundred wen per dou?”

Zhang took a sip of wine, swallowed the last piece of chicken, and said, “Did you not hear me clearly? I said all the grain in the county office will be priced at two hundred wen per dou.”

With a sudden motion, Xu Mu stood up, trembling with anger as he pointed at Zhang. “Inspector Zhang, do you know what this exorbitant price means? The common people cannot afford such grain. Within half a month, Jiangcheng will be strewn with starving corpses—a living hell on earth!”

“Inspector Zhang, you’d better explain yourself.”

Beside him, Shen Qiuxue’s gaze turned icy as she spoke coldly.

They had thought Zhang would stabilize the situation with this grain and consider lowering prices afterward, but instead he was taking a path even harsher than the three major grain merchants.

Zhang Yan smiled confidently, patting Xu Mu’s shoulder. “I have my plans. Just follow my orders, and I guarantee the grain price will fall within half a month.”

“Oh, and Shen, how many imperial troops did you bring to protect me this time?” Zhang looked at Shen Qiuxue and grinned.

Shen furrowed her brows, scoffing coldly, her hand resting on her sword’s hilt. “Thirty troops. But protecting you, Inspector Zhang, hardly seems necessary.”

Her anger was clear.

Zhang paid no mind, grinning all the more. “Thirty troops are enough. I want them disguised as commoners to buy the county’s grain, but the grain can only be sold to the three major grain merchants—not to other commoners.”

This was crucial, for the three merchants had long roots in Jiangcheng and were familiar with the county clerks. But the imperial soldiers from Wucheng, disguised as civilians, would be unrecognizable to them.

Raising grain prices but refusing to sell to the people—“Inspector Zhang, do you want Jiangcheng to become a hellscape of corpses?” Xu Mu ground his teeth.

This scion from Wucheng knew nothing; the disaster was urgent, yet he planned to profiteer alongside the grain merchants. It was utterly absurd.

Zhang reached out to pat Xu Mu’s shoulder again but was avoided.

Unfazed, Zhang said, “As long as I remain Inspector, you must obey my orders. Remember, I do not joke with my life.”

He then stroked Xiao Huan’s delicate chin like a kitten and smiled. “Come, Xiao Huan, follow me back to my chambers.”

“Master~” Xiao Huan shyly called out, trailing behind him.

As Zhang walked away, Xu Mu turned to Shen Qiuxue, knowing she was a close aide to Jiang Zhiwan and might have some recourse.

“Shen, are we just going to let him run wild like this?”

Shen withdrew her hand from her sword and averted her gaze from Zhang’s retreating figure. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she said, “He’s right—for now, before things become irreversible, he is the Inspector of Jiangcheng. Follow his orders.”

Clenching his teeth, Xu pounded the table in frustration. “Very well, but I must report and impeach this office!”

“Clerk, dispatch this memorial with utmost urgency—eight hundred li express—to Wucheng.”

...

Xia City, county office.

Xiao Changqing stood with his hands behind his back, exuding an air of aloof detachment.

Beside him was a middle-aged man wearing a sycophantic smile—the county magistrate of Xia City.

“Lord Xiao, as per your instructions, the grain price in Xia City has been lowered to ninety-three wen per dou,” the magistrate said with a chuckle.

Xiao cast a glance at the magistrate. He knew full well that the magistrate was colluding with the grain merchants. Even if the price were lowered to eighty-three or seventy-three wen, they’d still profit handsomely.

But for now, lacking evidence of official-business collusion, he was simply leveraging the Xiao family’s influence to forcibly reduce grain prices.

“Any news from Jiangcheng?” Xiao nodded.

The magistrate chuckled. “Reports say the county office there has raised grain prices to two hundred wen per dou—a world apart from your ninety-three wen, Lord Xiao.”

Though he had anticipated it, Xiao was momentarily taken aback by the figure.

Then he laughed heartily.

He always knew Zhang Yan was all show, a mere wax figure, no match for him, the top scholar of the imperial exams.

Just wait—once the grain prices are stabilized, Xiao Changqing will rise steadily and secure his place in history.

As for Zhang Yan? Merely a stepping stone on his path to fame.