Buzz!
With Wu Zhao's words, the entire Jinluan Hall was thrown into a state of shock.
The light, airy voice echoed clearly in everyone's ears.
"What?"
"Grain prices in Linjiang City have dropped to seventy wen per dou?"
After a brief moment of shock, the officials' discussions nearly overturned the entire Jinluan Hall.
Cui Xinghe was also stunned, then immediately denied it.
"Grain prices in Linjiang City as low as seventy wen per dou? How is that possible!"
Based on this, Linjiang City's grain prices would be lower than those in Clearwater City.
But that's absolutely impossible!
He had calculated that Linjiang City was suffering more from the disaster, and the grain merchants were more united. Unless violent means were used, ninety wen per dou was a very reasonable price range.
Let alone seventy wen per dou!
Gao Feng's eyes widened suddenly, almost doubting his own ears.
"Seventy wen per dou? Wasn't the news two days ago that it had broken through two hundred wen per dou?"
Even Gao Tianlong was slightly shocked, his eyes changing.
Seeing the officials' reactions, especially the speechless Censors from the Censorate, Wu Zhao felt a surge of satisfaction.
The accumulated frustration in her heart was completely swept away.
She took out a memorial and looked at the officials, "This is a memorial urgently sent by Du Jiang from the Linjiang City government office last night!"
"It clearly states that two days ago, the grain price in Linjiang City plummeted to seventy wen per dou in a single day, and it is still falling."
"The grandson of Duke Dingguo, Gao Yang, ordered a proclamation to be posted, requiring that the grain not be sold for less than one hundred and fifty wen per dou, using the greed of merchants to lure foreign grain merchants to flock to Linjiang City!"
"As for other methods, they are all written here, see for yourselves!"
"A pillar of talent, yet you narrow-minded people madly impeach him, it truly pains me!"
Wu Zhao threw the memorial heavily, her voice echoing in Jinluan Hall.
Yan Zheng immediately picked up the memorial, and after quickly scanning it, his face turned pale.
Clang!
The memorial fell to the ground.
Seeing Yan Zheng's expression, the officials couldn't help but be even more astonished.
More officials snatched the memorial, even Cui Xinghe took it to have a look.
Yan Zheng, full of disbelief, said, "Raising grain prices to attract foreign grain merchants, and once they enter the city, opening the granaries to impact the grain prices!"
"These foreign grain merchants, due to costs and losses, would sell off their grain, thus driving local grain merchants in Linjiang City to sell theirs..."
Yan Zheng was internally shaken.
All the officials were equally shocked.
Song Li and Wang Zhong's hearts skipped a beat, stunned like wooden chickens.
Using the greedy nature of merchants to lure them in, then opening the granaries, how many foreign grain merchants would be ruined?
And all of this was destined seven days ago.
In their minds, the figure of Gao Yang seemed to appear, standing there, strategizing, causing the grain prices to plummet.
Countless people were reborn because of him, countless grain merchants lamented their bankruptcy because of him!
This young man is terrifying!
Song Li's eyes changed again and again, his face extremely grim.
For a moment, the entire Jinluan Hall was silent.
All the officials were mentally shaken.
They had never thought that during a major disaster, there could be such a method to lower grain prices.
Gao Feng snatched the memorial, also full of surprise.
Yang'er, are you really hiding your talents?
Grain prices in Linjiang City as low as seventy wen per dou, this is even more impressive than Cui Xinghe.
Gao Feng's mind flashed with Gao Yang's words before he left.
A fledgling eagle must spread its wings and soar high, striking the sky!
Cui Xinghe, unwilling, said, "But he ordered the reconstruction of the county office and the hosting of large-scale events during a disaster year, isn't that exploiting the people?"
"How do you explain this?"
Today, he was supposed to be the center of the entire Jinluan Hall, his name spreading across the land, receiving the Empress's high regard!
But all of this was gone.
Under Gao Yang's method of lowering grain prices, Cui Xinghe felt like a joke!
As Cui Xinghe spoke, a young eunuch also approached the Empress and whispered.
Wu Zhao said calmly, "This issue, not only is Lord Cui curious, but I am also curious!"
"Summon the Investigating Censor of Linjiang City, Gao Yang, for an audience!"
For a moment, all the officials turned their heads in astonishment, looking towards the entrance of Jinluan Hall.
Soon, Gao Yang strode in, wearing a long robe, with a fine piece of white jade at his waist.
"Minister Gao Yang, pays respects to Her Majesty!"
Swish, swish, swish.
In an instant, many eyes gathered on Gao Yang, with complex emotions.
Wang Zhong and Song Li's faces were particularly grim.
These days, they had thought they had won. Enjoying the story? Read on at g.com.
Who knew Gao Yang would give them such a big surprise.
The grain prices in Linjiang City plummeted in a single day.
Gao Feng looked at Gao Yang with satisfaction.
Today, this rebellious son seemed much more pleasing to the eye, much more handsome.
He indeed had a bit of Gao Feng's youthful charm!
Wu Zhao spoke, "I have already learned of the sudden drop in grain prices in Linjiang City, Gao Yang, your methods are indeed superb."
"But County Magistrate Du mentioned in the memorial that you want to rebuild the government office and host a large dragon boat race, with the winner exempt from three years of commercial taxes, is this true?"
Gao Yang nodded, "Reporting to Your Majesty, this is my idea, and I hope for Your Majesty's approval!"
Wu Zhao asked, "During a disaster year, oppressing the people, High Censor, do you know this has incited public anger, and how many have impeached you?"
Cui Xinghe directly stood up, looking at Gao Yang, "During a disaster year, the people struggle to eat and drink, High Censor, isn't it inappropriate to oppress the people like this?"
He had no retreat, either suppress Gao Yang or be completely overshadowed by Gao Yang's brilliance today.
Wang Zhong also followed, "High Censor, oppressing the people, exploiting the people, this is a grave crime, please give the world a convincing reason."
For a moment, Gao Feng was a bit worried, unable to help but look at Gao Yang.
Gao Yang remained calm, looking at Wang Zhong and Cui Xinghe, "I want to ask General Wang and Top Scholar Cui, as well as all the officials who impeached me, one question."
"Before I left, the grain prices in Linjiang City had already dropped to seventy wen per dou, foreign grain merchants poured in, local grain merchants sold off, and the prices could even drop to fifty wen per dou."
"But even at fifty wen per dou, compared to the entire Guangyang Commandery, it's considered low, but can all the people really afford it?"
"Does the court have enough grain for disaster relief?"
For a moment, the officials' pupils shrank, speechless.
In fact, every major disaster in the world leaves corpses everywhere, and the first to die are those who can't afford grain.
One hundred wen per dou and fifty wen per dou make little difference to these poorest disaster victims.
Because these people simply have no money to buy, or not enough to last through the disaster period.
They can only wait for the court's relief!
And with the vast number of disaster victims, even though the court orders disaster relief, how can the national treasury have ample grain?
Some must die first, then relief can help the rest survive.
The lack of sufficient grain in the national treasury is the fundamental reason!
But not just now, even for hundreds of years, there hasn't been a good solution.
This is the harsh reality!
Gao Yang said calmly, "Simply opening the granaries can only delay the death of disaster victims."
"The people can't find work, can't earn money, that's the root cause, and moreover, with constant disaster relief, many people will wait daily for relief grain, and the national treasury's grain is simply not enough."
"The real solution is Work-for-Relief, allowing the people to have work and earn money, that is the best strategy!"