Volume One, Chapter 19: Time to Kill the Fish in the Net

Zhang Yan clapped his hands and praised, “As expected of Lord Shen, your vision is truly far-reaching.”

Though it was clearly a compliment, Shen Qiuxue felt no joy at all hearing it from Zhang Yan.

Zhang Yan smiled casually and continued, “After the three major grain merchants finish selling their stock, they will indeed still have some money left. Given their capabilities, they might make a comeback in time, but by then, they will no longer be the aristocrats of Jiang City.”

“Lord Shen, why do you think those wealthy landlords are willing to lend me money? It’s not a small sum. Is it because I am a Censor? Or because I proposed to split the profits from the three major grain merchants thirty to seventy?”

“No, I don’t have that kind of influence, and my reputation isn’t worth much. It’s because I told them how to completely eliminate those three major grain merchants after their decline and take over their business, so they could ascend to a higher level.”

Upon hearing this, both Shen Qiuxue and Xu Mu’s eyes flickered with deep apprehension. Had Zhang Yan really anticipated even this?

This was serious—they were planning to completely erase the three major grain merchants from Jiang City.

Zhang Yan seemed oblivious to their unease and turned his gaze to Xu Mu, smiling, “Lord Xu, issue the proclamation allowing grain merchants to sell grain and lower the county’s grain price to one hundred fifty wen per dou.”

“Lord Shen, let the Imperial Guards impersonate grain merchants from other regions, open the grain transport channels, and let genuine external grain merchants enter the market. The fish in this net are ready to be caught!”

“Yes!”

Shen Qiuxue and Xu Mu responded with excitement and immediately went to carry out the orders.

...

In Xiàchéng County Office,

Xiao Changqing sat coldly in the magistrate’s chair, looking down at the county magistrate of Xiàchéng kneeling before him.

In Xiao Changqing’s hand were the pieces of evidence proving the collusion between the Xiàchéng county magistrate and the various merchants and officials in Xiàchéng over the years.

“These pieces of evidence, I could choose to ignore them, but I want you to lower the grain price by another fifteen wen, down to seventy wen per dou.”

Xiao Changqing’s icy gaze fixed on the county magistrate as he spoke.

Sweat beaded on the county magistrate’s forehead, his face bitter, “Seventy wen? Lord Xiao, I... I have no power to do this.”

Hearing this, Xiao Changqing snorted coldly and slammed the evidence on the table, “I have already investigated. The prices at which those grain merchants hoard grain generally range from fifty to seventy-five wen. At seventy wen per dou, they can still make a profit.”

“Moreover, I’m not negotiating with you. No matter what means you use, within two days I want to see the grain price lowered to seventy wen per dou. Otherwise, beware for your head!”

“Yes, I understand.”

The county magistrate of Xiàchéng seemed to have lost all strength and means, collapsing weakly.

After the county magistrate left, Xiao Changqing slowly curled the corner of his mouth, gazing distantly outside the county office, murmuring, “Zhang Yan, Zhang Yan, I want to see what you have to compete with me.”

As a distinguished third-place imperial scholar, Xiao Changqing excelled in governance and strategic management. He could only press the grain price down to seventy wen per dou, which was already the limit, but this achievement was good enough and would make Zhang Yan lose face badly.

Besides, he had received news that grain prices in Jiang City had long spiraled out of control, reaching as high as four hundred wen per dou.

...

In the Zhao family’s reception hall,

The Zhao family head, having just spat up blood and been carried back by two other family heads, was looking rather listless.

“That Zhang boy is truly cunning and ruthless, using such tactics to cheat us out of our silver.”

The Li family head’s face darkened with anger.

Beside him, the Han family head agreed, “Indeed. Now the three of us have very little silver left. Next year, we don’t even know if it will be a bumper harvest or a disaster. What are we to do with this grain?”

“Enough!” the Zhao family head snapped angrily, his face pale and grim.

“We thought we could exploit this boy’s greed to make a huge profit from the price difference, but unexpectedly, he turned his sights on us instead.”

The Zhao family head ground his teeth in fury, recalling Zhang Yan’s arrogant demeanor at the county office, which made him seethe with rage.

However, having been in the business world for so many years, the Zhao family head still retained some rationality, “The grain in Jiang City is limited and mostly in our hands. As long as the county office has no grain to sell and holds out a while longer, that Zhang Yan must return to Wucheng to report. By then, we can sell as much as we want, even at prices higher than the county office, as long as we shift the blame onto Zhang Yan.”

“Wise words, Brother Zhao. The two of us will certainly follow the Zhao family.”

The other two family heads immediately echoed.

As long as the grain remained in their hands and the people still needed it, they still had the capital to turn the tables.

At that moment, the Zhao family steward rushed in, flustered and nearly stumbling.

“Sir, bad news! Something terrible has happened!”

The Zhao family head’s complexion had just recovered some color, but seeing the steward’s urgency, he immediately grew furious again.

“What’s the matter so urgent?” the Zhao family head frowned and asked.

The steward, barely catching his breath, said, “News just came in: the county office has issued a proclamation allowing grain merchants to sell grain, and the county has lowered the grain price to one hundred fifty wen per dou.”

“What did you say!?”

The three family heads’ faces changed drastically, and the Zhao family head nearly spit blood again.

With a cold snort, the Zhao family head said, “It doesn’t matter. The county office has little surplus grain left. That Zhang boy wants to force us to lower our prices. How many more days can he hold out?”

“That’s right. As long as we work together with Brother Zhao, we’ll surely survive this crisis and make a comeback!” the Li family head said firmly.

The Zhao family head nodded, his expression softening somewhat.

The steward, now breathing more evenly, added, “Sir, there’s more. Jiang City has opened the grain transport channels. Just now, a large number of external grain merchants flooded in. The grain supply in Jiang City has increased, and some external merchants have already priced grain at one hundred forty wen per dou.”

“What!?”

The three family heads were shocked again, their expressions even grimmer.

The Zhao family head spat a mouthful of fresh blood—the second time Zhang Yan had provoked him to such an extent.

“You Zhang, you have no honor!” the Zhao family head gritted his teeth. Thinking of the grain price possibly falling further, he spat blood again and fainted.

The Li and Han family heads exchanged a glance, both seeing urgency mirrored in the other’s eyes and understanding each other’s thoughts.

They smiled bitterly and clasped fists, “There are urgent matters at home; we must leave for now.”

What a joke. Grain prices had already been driven down to one hundred forty wen per dou, and with external grain merchants entering the market, prices would only fall further.

Continuing to hoard grain was a death sentence; it was better to act quickly and recover some funds. Waiting too long would mean total losses.