Volume One, Chapter 18: All Under Heaven Stir for Profit

Inside the county government office, Xu Mu paced anxiously, his face etched with worry.

Although he already knew Zhang Yan’s plan, three days had passed, and all he could see was soaring grain prices, while the three major grain merchants remained motionless.

Xu Mu was growing desperate.

“Lord Zhang, the grain price has already reached five hundred wen per dou. Why haven’t the three big grain merchants come to sell their grain yet?”

The county granary was nearly back to the state it had been when Zhang Yan first arrived, meaning the three merchants had bought back all the grain they had sold to the county.

Moreover, nearly a full day had passed without any new grain being sold, indicating that the merchants no longer had silver to purchase more grain.

By all logic, this was precisely the moment the three merchants should be coming to sell grain to the county.

Only once the three merchants came to sell grain—and were then told the county office would no longer buy—could the next step of the plan be set in motion.

This crucial step could not afford any mistakes.

Zhang Yan lay back in his reclining chair, enjoying the ministrations of Xiao Huan, whose small fists rhythmically tapped his shoulders in a manner most comforting.

“No rush. Calculate the time carefully—the fish should be ready to be drawn ashore.”

Almost as if Zhang Yan’s words had a magical effect, just as he finished speaking, the county hall doors swung open.

The three major grain merchants entered, led by the head of the Zhao family, each wearing broad, cheerful smiles.

Squinting his eyes, Zhao family head chuckled softly and respectfully cupped his fists toward Zhang Yan. “Honorable Censor, we three families have recently procured some grain from other regions. May I ask if you are still purchasing?”

Zhao head was almost certain Zhang Yan intended to leverage his identity as an imperial censor to make a significant profit.

Therefore, he believed Zhang Yan would definitely want this grain.

Nearby, Shen Qiuxue sneered coldly—grain from other regions? She had long since sealed off those routes, making it impossible for any grain to come in from outside.

Zhang Yan opened his mouth and took a grape Xiao Huan offered him, wearing a look of regret. “Brother Zhao, your timing is truly unfortunate. I have already earned enough silver. We will no longer purchase grain. You should keep it yourselves.”

Boom!

His words struck the three family heads like a thunderclap exploding inside their minds.

No longer buying?

They had spent all their family fortunes to purchase this grain, only for Zhang Yan to say he would no longer buy it?

“You, Zhang, are shameless!” Zhao head erupted angrily, pointing at Zhang Yan, abandoning his earlier respectful demeanor, on the verge of cursing.

“Brother Zhao, when did I ever promise to keep buying grain indefinitely?” Zhang Yan squinted, looking even more cunning than the old fox before him.

Not only the three family heads, but even Shen Qiuxue and Xu Mu felt Zhang Yan’s behavior bordered on brazen.

Yet Zhang Yan showed no trace of shame, confident that what he said was perfectly justified.

“You, Zhang—!”

The three heads pointed accusingly but found they had no grounds to reproach him; after all, it was their own greed that ensnared them.

Had they resisted temptation, they would not have fallen into Zhang Yan’s trap.

But now, it was too late for regrets.

Zhang Yan rose, fixing the three heads with a sharp gaze. “What, are you still thinking of petitioning the magistrate in Wucheng?”

Petitioning? They might wish to, but dared not.

They were the ones who had initially driven up grain prices in Jiangcheng; before Zhang Yan, the imperial censor, was punished, they themselves would likely be thrown into prison.

“You, you—!”

“Pfft!”

Zhao head, pointing at Zhang Yan, was so enraged that he spat a mouthful of fresh blood, and the other two family heads had to drag him away.

Shen Qiuxue and Xu Mu watched the three merchants’ forlorn backs, their gazes turning to Zhang Yan with a mix of feelings.

This imperial censor was certainly no saint.

Thankfully, they were not enemies of Zhang Yan.

Xu Mu heaved a sigh of relief but remained somewhat puzzled. Bowing respectfully, he asked, “My lord, I still have one question.”

“Speak,” Zhang Yan replied casually, then popped a grape into his mouth, causing Xiao Huan to blush shyly.

Ignoring Zhang Yan’s rakish demeanor, Xu Mu asked, “If the three major grain merchants hoard grain and refuse to sell, joining forces to weather this crisis, what then?”

Shen Qiuxue also looked toward Zhang Yan, equally curious about the answer.

Zhang Yan picked up a nearby teacup but found it empty. He toyed with it for a moment before smiling and saying, “Since you, Lord Xu, ask so earnestly, I shall generously enlighten you.”

Xu Mu was puzzled.

Zhang Yan paid no attention to Xu Mu’s expression and continued, “Lord Xu, do you know what is most important to merchants?”

“Silver?” Xu Mu answered instinctively.

Zhang Yan shook his head. “Yes, and no.”

“All the bustling throngs of the world pursue profit. For merchants, the most vital thing is利益—profit. Most often this means silver, but not always.”

“Lord Xu, there is a saying not only true now but for centuries to come.”

“Please, enlighten us, my lord!” Xu Mu bowed deeply, nearly ninety degrees, his respect for Zhang Yan growing despite the grain prices still not falling. Zhao head’s blood spat was enough satisfaction for now.

Zhang Yan smiled slightly. “There are no eternal friends, nor eternal enemies—only eternal利益.”

“The three merchants united for利益 to raise grain prices, but for利益 they will inevitably fracture.”

“Now the county office no longer buys at high prices, and the merchants have nearly exhausted their silver. If ‘external merchants’ then sell grain cheaply, would you hoard grain or sell it?”

“After all, the three merchants no longer have silver to gamble on another year of disaster. Even if they did, would they dare?”

Xu Mu suddenly saw the light, understanding the reasoning instantly.

Ingenious.

First, exploit the merchants’ greed by buying their grain at high prices, but in stages, making them believe the county would continue purchasing.

Once the merchants had spent all their silver buying grain, stop purchasing.

Then have the imperial guards pose as ‘external merchants’ selling grain cheaply, forcing the three merchants to offload grain at low prices.

“My lord, your genius is awe-inspiring. I am humbled,” Xu Mu said, folding his hands respectfully.

Shen Qiuxue felt Zhang Yan was ruthless, yet one question still lingered in her mind.

“You say the three merchants will go bankrupt, but even selling their grain at low prices won’t bankrupt them—only cause immense losses. How then will they be truly ruined?”