"Report!"
"Reporting to my lord, the grain price in Linjiang City has dropped to ninety coins per dou!"
"Report!"
"Reporting to my lord, the grain price in Linjiang City has dropped to eighty-six coins per dou!"
"Report!"
"Reporting to my lord, the grain price in Linjiang City has dropped to eighty coins per dou!"
"Report!"
"The grain price in Linjiang City has dropped to seventy-five coins per dou!"
Inside the county yamen, Gao Yang was sipping tea.
One after another, yamen runners rushed in, kneeling on the ground with faces full of excitement, almost shouting at the top of their lungs.
As each voice echoed through the main hall of the yamen, all the yamen runners in Linjiang County were filled with disbelief.
Immediately, their eyes turned sharply to Gao Yang, who sat in the center of the yamen with a calm expression.
Despite all their efforts, they couldn't lower the grain prices, yet in Gao Yang's hands, it plummeted in a single day!
Not to mention today's drop from over two hundred coins, even the high price of one hundred coins per dou from seven days ago had fallen by twenty-five coins!
Seventy-five coins per dou would greatly alleviate the pressure on the people of Linjiang City.
Du Jiang was even more incredulous.
Although Gao Yang had mentioned it, and he had anticipated that the Four Great Grain Merchants would have disagreements, he hadn't expected it to happen so quickly.
In just a few hours, they had begun to sell off!
Gao Yang took a sip of tea and said, "This tea is quite good."
Du Jiang, understanding the situation, said, "When you return to Chang'an, my lord, I will prepare some of this tea for you."
"Of course, I will pay for it myself, just a token of friendship."
As Du Jiang spoke, he glanced at Shangguan Wan'er.
Shangguan Wan'er remained expressionless; even if Du Jiang hadn't explained, she would have pretended not to see it.
Too much clarity leaves no room for fish.
A little exchange of favors in officialdom is normal, not to mention that Du Jiang was only offering some inexpensive tea leaves.
"No need for tea, just give me cash. I dislike these mundane things; let's be straightforward."
Gao Yang put down the teacup and looked at Du Jiang.
Shangguan Wan'er: "..."
Du Jiang: "..."
"High Censor!"
Shangguan Wan'er's voice rose, reminding him.
Doing this in front of her was a bit too audacious.
Even if it were said in private, she would have pretended not to know.
"Ahem."
"Lord Shangguan, you're too tense. Do I seem like that kind of person? It was just a joke!"
Gao Yang quickly explained.
Shangguan Wan'er didn't speak, but her eyes said it all.
Du Jiang changed the subject, "Lord Gao, I'm still curious why the Four Great Grain Merchants would cause such a stampede?"
"If it weren't for their sell-off, relying solely on these foreign grain merchants, the grain prices wouldn't have dropped so quickly."
Gao Yang glanced at Du Jiang. Although he wasn't a good person himself, he had a certain respect for good officials like Du Jiang.
So he didn't mind giving him some pointers.
"The Four Great Grain Merchants united for profit, and they are destined to fall apart for the same reason. This has been human nature since ancient times."
"Compared to foreign grain merchants, their costs are lower, and they save on transportation and labor costs."
"But that doesn't mean they aren't panicking."
"Her Majesty the Empress is wise and capable, and Great Qian has had three consecutive years of poor weather. Looking at a single year, good and bad weather are fifty-fifty, but if you consider four years together, in their eyes, the probability of a good year next year is greater than a bad one."
"Once the grain prices in Linjiang City stabilize, the risk of not being able to sell their stockpiled grain next year will be enormous. If next year's harvest is good, and new grain is sufficient, let alone old grain, prices as low as thirty coins per dou are common."
"They would rather cut their losses and leave than gamble on the possibility of losing everything next year. Once you understand this, their actions aren't surprising."
"Sell first, live yourself, let others die; sell later, others live, you die." Find the original chapter at g.com.
Shangguan Wan'er asked, "What if they all unite and agree not to sell?"
Gao Yang laughed, "A verbal agreement is just a joke."
"Everyone will think, if I don't sell, will they secretly sell? If they do, won't I be finished? With this mindset, there will always be one who sells first. Linjiang City is a small place, and they are local powers; it's impossible to hide from the other three, so a stampede is inevitable."
"I just didn't expect them to be so ruthless, aiming to destroy each other."
Gao Yang's voice wasn't loud, but to those present, it was like a thunderclap.
Du Jiang bowed again, expressing his gratitude, "Thank you, my lord, for your guidance."
He looked at Gao Yang, who remained calm, and was completely convinced.
To know that all of this had been predicted by Gao Yang seven days ago.
From the moment the proclamation was posted, everything had been unfolding according to Gao Yang's plan.
From the foreign grain merchants, the people's reactions, the greed of the Four Great Grain Merchants, to opening the granaries and bursting the grain price bubble, forcing the Four Great Grain Merchants to sell through a stampede!
All of this had been predetermined from the moment Gao Yang set foot in Linjiang City seven days ago.
The Duke Dingguo Manor had produced an extraordinary Kylin prodigy.
No one had seen a Kylin, so a few flaws were normal.
Du Jiang was inwardly amazed.
Shangguan Wan'er also had a complex expression.
It was hard to imagine that these strategies came from the same man who had ogled her legs the moment he got on the carriage.
Gao Yang continued, "As an official, one governs the people of a city and cannot be concerned with the gains and losses of a single person."
"In this surge and crash, there will inevitably be bankrupt merchants, but there will also be those who withdraw in time and profit greatly. An official only needs to control the overall situation."
Du Jiang understood that Gao Yang was advising him.
"Thank you, my lord, for your guidance!" Du Jiang said respectfully.
Gao Yang nodded, knowing that Du Jiang had taken his words to heart.
"Next, follow the plan step by step, and soon, Linjiang City will stabilize."
Du Jiang asked, "My lord, do you mean to renovate the yamen and hold large-scale events?"
Gao Yang nodded.
Seeing the puzzled looks of Du Jiang and Shangguan Wan'er, he said calmly, "The crisis in Linjiang City is not just about the soaring grain prices."
"What is the root cause?"
Du Jiang replied without hesitation, "Heavy rains flooded the fields, leading to poor harvests!"
"In a year of disaster, the people lost their source of income, which is the fundamental reason for the rising grain prices."
"So, after lowering the grain prices, we must urgently address the people's income issues. Only by allowing the people to earn money can they survive this disaster."
"Otherwise, for the people, there is little difference between grain prices of fifty coins per dou and two hundred and fifty coins per dou; they simply can't afford it."
Hearing this, Du Jiang's pupils contracted.
Gao Yang's words struck at the essence of the disaster.
Behind the high grain prices was the reality that the people simply couldn't afford it.
The lowest tier of the populace had long been penniless, struggling to find work to support their families.
A flash of insight seemed to pass through Du Jiang's mind.
Renovating the yamen, holding large events, addressing the essence of the disaster!
Du Jiang's eyes grew brighter, and suddenly, he froze.
He understood.
He understood everything.
"My lord possesses the talent of a king's advisor. I am in awe. If Her Majesty had your assistance, she would surely usher in a golden age for Great Qian!"
Gao Yang laughed, "Lord Du, you're too kind. What I've done is merely going with the flow, driven by self-preservation."
Du Jiang heard the underlying meaning, considering the situation of the Duke Dingguo Manor.
His expression grew slightly serious.
"Report!"
"Latest news, the Qian, Zhao, Han, and Lin families have completely fallen out. The Qian family patriarch has slashed the grain price to seventy coins per dou!"
How long had it been, and the grain price in Linjiang City had dropped another five coins!
She looked at Gao Yang with a complex expression.
Seventy coins per dou, that's twelve coins lower than Clearwater City's eighty-two coins per dou!
Gao Yang stood up, dusting off his robe.
"The grain price in Linjiang City has fallen; my task is complete. I'll return to Chang'an now, leaving the rest to Lord Du."
Du Jiang was taken aback, "Lord Gao, you're leaving already?"
Gao Yang smiled, "The grain price in Linjiang City is settled. My staying here serves little purpose."
"This is a personal letter I've written to the abbots of the temples I've visited these past few days. Once the yamen renovation begins, you can send someone to deliver it."
"Lord Du's abilities are evident to all the people of Linjiang City. I'm very reassured. I've had my fill of credit here; staying longer is unnecessary. It's Lord Du who needs this political achievement."
Gao Yang took out a few letters from his pocket and handed them to Du Jiang.
Du Jiang accepted the envelopes, his eyes filled with gratitude.
"My lord, your kindness leaves me at a loss for how to repay you."
Gao Yang laughed, "Hold large events, exempt three years of commercial taxes as a condition, according to the rules of Great Qian, it requires Her Majesty's approval. I'll handle this when I return to Chang'an."
"With Lord Du's abilities, I'm very reassured."
Gao Yang paused, his expression turning serious, "I have only one piece of advice for Lord Du: do not increase wages out of pity for the people during this disaster year, as it will backfire!"
Du Jiang nodded heavily, "I will remember every word of your advice, my lord."
Gao Yang nodded and stretched lazily.
"Alright then, I'll leave everything in Linjiang City to you, Lord Du."
Du Jiang was shocked, "Lord Gao, you're leaving so soon? I haven't had the chance to properly host you these past few days. Why not stay another night..."
Shangguan Wan'er also spoke, "Her Majesty hasn't set a deadline."
Gao Yang shook his head, "Considering the travel time, Chang'an is probably in an uproar by now. I must return personally."
Gao Yang's eyes were deep, leaving one to wonder what he was thinking.
Du Jiang, feeling a bit guilty, said, "It's my fault for being foolish, sending two memorials, which put you, Lord Gao, in the spotlight. Allow me to see you off!"
"Thank you, Lord Du." Gao Yang then addressed Lüluo, "Lüluo, come with me to pack up."
Shangguan Wan'er frowned, feeling something was amiss.
"......"
An hour later.
At the city gates of Linjiang City.
Du Jiang, along with the officials of Linjiang County Yamen, stood beside the carriage.
Gao Yang sat in the carriage, lifting the curtain, "The news spreads slowly. In the coming days, more foreign grain merchants will arrive at Linjiang City's docks. You can crush them all, forcing them to cut their losses."
"But the grain price shouldn't keep dropping, or the people will expect it to go even lower. There should be fluctuations in between. I've written down how to control it; just follow it, Lord Du."
Advisor Bai and others twitched at the corners of their mouths.
Ruthless!
Too ruthless!
These merchants, rushing to Linjiang City thinking it's a gold mine, will find it's actually a big pit.
Du Jiang was deeply moved, "Thank you, Young Master Gao."
"This is some local tea from Linjiang City. I hope you'll accept it as a token of my gratitude."
Du Jiang handed a tea box to Gao Yang.
Gao Yang took the box, weighing it, and smiled brightly.
"Lord Du is very thoughtful."
"The mountains are high and the road is long. I'll be waiting for your good news in Chang'an."
Du Jiang stood at the city gate, watching the departing carriage, feeling a sense of nostalgia.
Behind him, Advisor Bai couldn't help but say, "My lord, that's three years' worth of your salary. And with Lord Shangguan present, if Her Majesty finds out..."
Du Jiang's face changed, "What three years' salary? That's local tea from Linjiang City! Besides, I have a clear conscience, never oppressing the people, nor asking Young Master Gao for favors. It's purely out of gratitude."
"Even if the Empress knows, so what?"
Du Jiang waved his sleeve dramatically, "I submitted two memorials criticizing Young Master Gao, causing him to lower the grain prices in Linjiang City and then rush back to Chang'an. If I don't express my gratitude, am I even human?"
"Back to the yamen, I must submit a third memorial to the Empress!"