"Not less than 150 wen per dou?"
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was stunned.
Elder Lin's beard trembled, almost tearing it from his chin, his wrinkled old face full of shock.
The other three patriarchs of the grain merchants were equally astonished, looking at Gao Yang in disbelief.
For a moment, the entire yamen was silent.
Everyone was dumbfounded.
They even forgot to speak.
Because Gao Yang's words were completely beyond their expectations.
Du Jiang had originally planned to watch how Gao Yang would handle these troublesome grain merchants, expecting him to negotiate a slight price reduction from them.
However, Gao Yang had no intention of lowering the price at all; instead, he directly raised it.
And he raised it from the current one hundred wen per dou, a price many ordinary people could not afford, directly to one hundred and fifty wen per dou.
He even forbade these merchants from selling grain at a lower price!
What was Gao Yang trying to do? Was he planning to starve the entire population of Linjiang City?
Du Jiang's face was full of anger, but with the four great grain merchants present, Gao Yang had already taken over all the affairs of Linjiang City.
No matter how dissatisfied he was, he couldn't question Gao Yang in front of the four great grain merchants.
Otherwise, it would be a grave offense against the superior.
Shangguan Wan'er was also taken aback, her beautiful eyes filled with confusion.
Weren't they here in Linjiang City to lower the grain prices?
And from previous probes, Gao Yang should have clearly known that this was an assessment from the Empress.
It even concerned the entire Duke Dingguo Manor.
Why wasn't Gao Yang thinking about how to lower the grain prices, but instead raising them?
And to such a terrifying number!
Shangguan Wan'er couldn't understand it at all.
She had been governing with the Empress for two months, had seen many officials, some insidious, some ruthless, some upright and impartial.
But it was the first time she had seen an official like Gao Yang, who didn't follow the usual path.
Elder Lin was full of shock, his eyes filled with disbelief, "Censor Gao, I might be getting old, my ears not working well, did you just say that you want us not to sell grain for less than 150 wen per dou?"
As soon as he said this, the eyes of the other three patriarchs all turned to Gao Yang.
Gao Yang's fingers slowly tapped on the table, and he smiled faintly, "Is my intention hard to understand?"
"A price of 150 wen per dou, if anyone dares to sell grain below this price and I find out, they will lose their head!"
"This time, did you all hear clearly?"
Seeing Gao Yang affirm once again, even with their deep scheming, they couldn't help but smile.
They never expected that the situation would take such a turn, that Gao Yang summoned them not to lower prices.
On the contrary, he wanted to raise the prices, and to an unimaginable level!
A full one hundred and fifty wen per dou!
This terrifying number promised astronomical profits.
Moreover, everyone in Linjiang City knew that most of the grain was controlled by their four families.
The grain price had already skyrocketed, more than doubling to one hundred wen per dou.
This had earned them a lot of infamy.
But this time, it was a mandatory regulation from the yamen, requiring them to sell grain for more than one hundred and fifty wen per dou, so they wouldn't bear the blame!
They could make a fortune without bearing the blame, and Elder Lin almost wanted to laugh out loud.
He had lived most of his life, and there was actually such a good thing in the world?
But the more ecstatic he was, the calmer he became.
Elder Lin's murky old eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he couldn't help but ask, "Censor, will this be posted as a proclamation?"
With Elder Lin's words, the patriarchs of the Qian, Han, and Zhao families all turned their gaze to Gao Yang.
Their eyes also sparkled with a sharp light.
Posting a proclamation, announcing it to the entire city, would make it official; otherwise, if Gao Yang changed his mind, they would be the ones to suffer.
Everyone present was shrewd, how could they not be cautious?
Gao Yang looked deeply at Elder Lin and nodded, "After this meal, the proclamation that grain prices must not be less than one hundred and fifty wen per dou will be posted on every street in Linjiang City." Get faster updates on novelping(.)com.
Elder Lin looked at the other three families, and they were completely reassured.
Today, a great fortune had descended upon their four families, and if they didn't seize it well, it would be a disgrace to their ancestors' century-old foundation.
After that, during the meal, except for Gao Yang who ate heartily, the others barely touched their chopsticks.
But the flattery from Elder Lin and the three patriarchs flowed like a continuous river.
Soon, the four great grain merchants all took their leave.
"Elder Lin, what is this new Censor thinking? He doesn't order us to lower the grain prices, but instead raises them to one hundred and fifty wen per dou. Could there be a problem with this?"
Outside the yamen.
The patriarch of the Qian family couldn't help but speak.
Elder Lin snorted coldly, "I've lived half my life, seen all kinds of situations, and never seen grain prices soar and then fall again!"
"No matter what this Censor is thinking, it has nothing to do with us. Right now, we should seize this great opportunity to make a fortune."
"Such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, if grasped, will ensure the family's prosperity for a hundred years, and no matter how chaotic Linjiang City becomes, it has nothing to do with us, because we are following the yamen's orders!"
"A great fortune is right in front of us, if you are still hesitant, you are truly foolish!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the patriarch of the Qian family quickly apologized, "Elder Lin, calm your anger, it's just that I've lived half my life and never seen such a good thing, so I was a bit worried."
"But according to Elder Lin, this is indeed a great fortune."
"My Qian family will follow Elder Lin's lead!"
The patriarchs of the Zhao and Han families also said, "The four great families of Linjiang City have always advanced and retreated together, whatever Elder Lin decides next, we will follow."
Hearing their words, Elder Lin's deep gaze turned to the pedestrians on the streets of Linjiang City, his murky old eyes bursting with endless greed.
"Before the yamen's proclamation is posted, quickly sweep up all the grain in Linjiang City at a price of one hundred wen per dou!"
"Then wait for the grain prices to soar, once the yamen's proclamation is out, the price will definitely not be just one hundred and fifty wen per dou, in chaotic times, grain prices have no ceiling, when people can't survive, they will sell everything they have to buy grain!"
Elder Lin's voice carried a chill.
Grain prices, even at one hundred and fifty wen per dou, let alone breaking one hundred wen per dou, would leave Linjiang City full of corpses, with thousands or tens of thousands of people starving to death!
Not to mention one hundred and fifty wen per dou, or even higher, in just ten days or half a month, it would be a true hell on earth.
But whether it was Elder Lin or the other three great grain merchants, their faces were expressionless, their eyes filled only with greed!
The life and death of the common people, what did it have to do with them?
In such chaotic times, for them, seizing the opportunity to make a fortune from the national disaster was the way!
Linjiang City was about to face an unimaginable surge in grain prices!
"..."
Inside the yamen.
Du Jiang looked at Gao Yang in disbelief, "Censor Gao, do you really intend to post the proclamation that grain prices must not be less than 150 wen per dou throughout Linjiang City?"
Du Jiang's face was full of anger, he thought Gao Yang must be crazy.
It was one thing to say this to the four great grain merchants, but to actually post a proclamation throughout Linjiang City.
Once the proclamation was out, there would be no room for maneuver!
Moreover, once this proclamation was out, the Linjiang County Yamen would become the target of public criticism, the people's angry spittle could drown them!
Besides, wasn't their goal to lower the grain prices?
Why was Gao Yang raising the grain prices, and to such a high level!
It took a long time before Gao Yang slowly looked at Du Jiang, "Lord Du, follow my instructions."
"The rest is not for you to ask."
Gao Yang's gaze was cold.
Du Jiang trembled all over, his eyes fixed on Gao Yang, his heart aching, the Empress's reputation was illustrious, but why did she send such an arrogant person here.
Did he know what a price of one hundred and fifty wen per dou meant?
Let them eat cake!
This was exactly like saying let them eat cake!
Du Jiang's mind was filled with this phrase, how could someone born with a silver spoon in Chang'an City understand the hardships of ordinary people?
This was a disaster for Linjiang City, a disaster for countless people!
But Du Jiang still wanted to try, because he was the parent official of hundreds of thousands of people in Linjiang City, he had to be worthy of the official hat on his head!
"Once the proclamation is out, in less than ten days or half a month, Linjiang City will surely become a living hell, countless people will starve to death, even families torn apart, cannibalism is not impossible!"
Du Jiang gritted his teeth, kneeling on one knee, "I have lived for more than thirty-six years, with a proud spine, never begged anyone, but today, I beg you to retract this order, at a price of one hundred and fifty wen per dou, ordinary people cannot afford it!"
Gao Yang looked at Du Jiang, his eyes devoid of any emotion.
He knew that Du Jiang was a parent official who truly cared for the people, and after returning to the capital, he would also recommend Du Jiang for promotion.
But to lower the grain prices in Linjiang City, it must be done his way.
The yamen had ears everywhere, and without absolute certainty, he couldn't reveal his intentions!
He could only give Du Jiang a hint, "Lord Du, to lower grain prices, you don't necessarily have to suppress them, you must know that the more you suppress a spring, the more violently it rebounds!"
"In seven days, everything will be fine!"
"I wouldn't gamble with lives."
After speaking, Gao Yang walked straight out of the yamen.
Having eaten and drunk his fill, he still had important matters to attend to.
In the current Great Qian, it wasn't just Linjiang City that was hit by torrential rains, the entire Guangyang Commandery with its sixteen cities was suffering from a great disaster.
Only Linjiang City's disaster was the most severe.
A single hair can affect the whole body, countless people were destined to be displaced.
Lowering grain prices was just one aspect.
Allowing people to survive the disaster, and even make money, was the most important thing!
What should he do?
Gao Yang stood at the entrance of the inner courtyard of the yamen, looking out, lost in thought.
Behind him, Du Jiang was trembling with anger.
He couldn't understand!
He had governed for twelve years, seen many methods, but had never heard of a method where raising grain prices could lower them!
This was just an arrogant, ignorant madman.
He would surely pay a heavy price!
Before Du Jiang could gather his thoughts, he heard Gao Yang's voice.
"Lord Du, take me around, I see this yamen is old and in disrepair, in a few days when the grain prices drop, it can be renovated."
Hearing this, Du Jiang's eyes changed dramatically.
The people were already unable to survive, and Gao Yang wanted to renovate the yamen extravagantly?
How was this different from exploiting the people?
But before he could speak, Gao Yang had already left the yamen with Lüluo.
"Lord Shangguan, are you really going to sit 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 she intervened, everything could still be stopped!
Shangguan Wan'er watched Gao Yang leave, her beautiful face showing hesitation.
If it were anyone else, she would definitely intervene.
But this was Gao Yang, his Monkey-Show Scheme in Jinluan Hall, completely unconventional.
Was Gao Yang a wastrel?
From past observations, the grandson of Duke Dingguo, Gao Yang, was not only a wastrel but also a complete scoundrel.
But his actions were not those of a fool.
He should be well aware of the awkward situation Duke Dingguo was facing.
Shangguan Wan'er's beautiful face flashed with determination, "Her Majesty has ordered that all matters in Linjiang City be handled by Young Master Gao!"
"But if the situation becomes urgent and uncontrollable, I will intervene!"
After speaking, Shangguan Wan'er also left.
Du Jiang, hearing these words, was heartbroken, "I'm afraid by then it will be too late!"
"This matter must be reported to Her Majesty as quickly as possible, if he continues to act recklessly, the hundreds of thousands of people in Linjiang City will be doomed!"
Du Jiang's eyes were firm, shouting outside, "Bring me pen and ink, I must write a memorial overnight, an Eight-Hundred-Li Express to impeach this official!"