The ninth son of the emperor was demoted at the beginning. I have a famous Chinese general.

About half an hour later, Zhang Liao and Liu Mou returned first.

Returning with them were more than a hundred purchased servants and craftsmen.

"Your Highness, I have purchased a total of seventy-seven servants this time, all of whom have clean backgrounds."

"Your Highness, I have purchased a total of forty craftsmen."

After entering the door, Zhang Liao and Liu Mou reported,

"Well, thank you for your hard work."

"Manager Liu, take these people down and resettle them."

Ning Quan nodded.

"Yes, Your Highness!"

Upon hearing the order, Liu Mou hurriedly took everyone away.

Half a quarter of an hour later, Man Chong, Hongxiu and the other two also returned.

Also brought back were several horse-drawn carts of daily necessities and a cart of grain, vegetable seeds.

Beiting is not as prosperous as the capital, and many things are not available for purchase, so you have to buy them in advance.

Grain and vegetable seeds are also necessary. Many crops are not available in Beiting, so Ning Quan plans to bring them over for trial planting.

"Man Chong, I have a task for you."

"It's about the soldiers' families. I promised the soldiers that they could bring their families to Beiting and that they could travel together."

"I'll leave this matter to you. The list is with Fengxian. Go ask him for it."

Ning Quan instructed Man Chong.

"As ordered!"

Upon hearing the order, Man Chong nodded and walked out.

It was almost evening when Zhuge Liang and others finally returned.

"Your Highness, there's a problem at the carriage and horse business."

As soon as he entered the door, Zhuge Liang hurriedly reported.

"Huh? Something went wrong?"

"Haven't we already contacted each other before?"

Hearing this, Ning Quan said hurriedly.

Ning Quan's journey to Beiting was thousands of miles away, and he was carrying a large amount of supplies, so he had to hire a carriage from a carriage company.

It is definitely not possible to expect soldiers to carry things on their shoulders or hands. Soldiers are used to fight, not to do hard labor.

If we encounter the enemy and we run out of energy to transport supplies, then Ning Quan will be useless.

Therefore, when something went wrong with the carriage business, Ning Quan was naturally anxious.

"Your Highness, we have already contacted them and ordered two hundred ox carts and one hundred horse carriages."

"But today, when I went to the car dealership, they suddenly asked for a price increase."

Zhuge Liang explained.

"Raise price?"

Ning Quan asked in surprise.

"Yes, and it's a 50% increase."

"Fifty percent? How is that possible?"

"Which carriage company did you contact?"

Ning Quan frowned.

Ning Quan was shocked.

"Your Highness, it's Yuntong Coach and Horse Company."

"Yuntong Carriage and Horse Trading Company, isn't that the property of the King of Zhenbei?"

Ning Quan heard this.

The King of Zhenbei was one of the three military governors who followed Ning Yuanwu in the rebellion. Later, all three military governors were conferred the title of king by His Majesty.

Ning Quan had met him several times before, but was not familiar with him.

"Your Highness, it is the property of the Prince of Zhennan, but I heard that the person in charge is his daughter."

Zhuge Liang replied.

"Well, I see."

"How about this, I'll go there myself tomorrow to see what's going on."

"Of course, we have to be prepared for both situations. If it doesn't work out, we can try another carriage company."

After thinking about it, Ning Quan spoke.

"Yes!"

Zhuge Liang bowed and replied.

........

The next morning.

Ning Quan took Zhuge Liang, Zhang Fei and others out to Yuntong Coach Company.

In less than half an hour, Ning Quan arrived at the carriage shop.

"Mr. Zhuge is here, please come in."

Seeing Zhuge Liang coming, the shopkeeper greeted him warmly.

"Shopkeeper Li is very polite."

"Shopkeeper Li, this is His Royal Highness the Ninth Prince. He has come here in person today to discuss raising the price."

Zhuge Liang nodded slightly and then introduced Ning Quan.

It turns out to be His Royal Highness the Ninth Prince. How disrespectful! "

Seeing this, the shopkeeper was shocked and quickly bowed to Ning Quan.

"Well, forget it."

"Shopkeeper Li, I want to know why we suddenly raised the price on something we had previously agreed on."

Waving his hand, Ning Quan said directly

"Your Highness, please forgive me. This matter is not for me to decide!"

Shopkeeper Li quickly explained.

"Oh, who made the decision then?"

Ning Quan asked in surprise.

"Your Highness, this is what my young lady meant!"

"Your Highness should know that all the properties in the palace are managed by the young lady."

Shopkeeper Li said nervously.

"You mean the price she offered?"

"Where is your young lady now? I want to see her now."

Ning Quan frowned.

"Your Majesty, my young lady is upstairs. I will take you upstairs now."

Shopkeeper Li said respectfully.

"Well, lead the way."

"Yes, Your Highness, please."

After saying that, Shopkeeper Li took Ning Quan upstairs.

"Miss, the Ninth Prince is here!"

When we arrived at a room on the inner side of the second floor, Manager Li stood outside the door and shouted.

"Well, let His Highness the Ninth Prince come in." A clear and pleasant voice came from inside the house.

Hearing this, Ning Quan pushed the door open and walked in.

Sitting in the room was a young girl wearing a light blue dress, with an exquisite and beautiful appearance.

"Sikong Ruo pays his respects to His Highness the Ninth Prince."

Seeing Ning Quan, the woman stood up and bowed slightly.

"Well, no courtesy."

"Miss Sikong, you should know why I am here."

"Can you tell me why the price has suddenly increased?"

Ning Quan went straight to the point.

Ning Quan had no time to waste. He had to solve the problem as soon as possible as he was about to travel.

If this place doesn't work out, he will immediately find another carriage company to replace it.

"Your Highness, please calm down. It is inappropriate to rashly raise the price, but we also have our own reasons."

Sikong Ruo chuckled

"Oh? I'd like to hear the details!"

Hearing this, Ning Quan raised his eyebrows.

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince sent someone here yesterday to hire all the carriages in our company, and the price is 50% higher than the market price."

"And as far as we know, all the carriage companies in the capital have been hired by the prince."

Sikong Ruo explained.

"Why did the prince hire so many carriages?"

Ning Quan was surprised.

"Your Majesty, from what I understand, the Crown Prince should be transporting grain to the south."

"Recently, the relationship between Daqian and Daqi has become increasingly tense, and war could break out at any time. The prince should be preparing for this." Sikong Ruo continued to explain.

"Oh I got it."

"But even so, that's not a reason for you to raise the price, right?"

"How can we change something we have already agreed on?"

Ning Quan frowned.

"Your Highness, you can't say that."

"His Royal Highness hired our carriage, which is a military duty in itself, so we should serve you, not to mention that the price has been increased by 50%."

"If we still accept this business from you at the original price, not to mention the loss, what will His Royal Highness think?"

"So there's nothing we can do. We can only raise the price by 50%. Then the prince won't be able to say anything."

Sikong Ruodao.

"That's true."

"In that case, I will also raise the price by 50%."

Ning Quan pondered for a moment and then spoke slowly.

Although raising the price by 50% would cost an extra 30,000 taels of silver, Ning Quan had no choice but to accept it.