Being an emperor is not something he can do, so he can only rely on his connections.

Zhang Jingwei frowned and asked in confusion, "Why do you say that?" He stared at Gao Jiong, hoping to get a satisfactory answer from him.

Gao Jiong explained calmly, "To some extent, this matter is essentially a gamble. Those people are certain that the price of grain in Yunzhou will fall, and at that time, the shares they hold will be more valuable than the common currency. But whether the price of grain will rise or fall is uncertain. I never gamble, so I can't answer this question."

After hearing this, Zhang Jingwei nodded thoughtfully, agreeing. He sighed and said, "I've considered all of this before, but now it seems I can't accept this money." His words revealed a hint of helplessness and regret.

Gao Jiong pressed the issue, "Has the host never considered that he might win?"

Zhang Jingwei smiled wryly and shook his head, sighing, "The price of rice is affected by many factors, such as natural disasters, war, and so on. These are variables that are difficult for humans to control. With my ability, how can I accurately predict its trend?"

Gao Jiong smiled slightly and continued, "Since the chances of winning are so slim, why did the boss open this military company in the first place?"

Zhang Jingwei's face darkened when he heard this, and he asked with a slightly unhappy tone: "What exactly do you mean by this?"

Gao Jiong quickly waved his hand and laughed, "Haha, Master, please don't misunderstand me. I mean no harm. I simply want to remind you to change your perspective. The original purpose of the military camp was to expand the camp, recruit soldiers, and thus build a powerful army. With such a powerful armed force, we can ensure that the people of the area live a stable and peaceful life. When the people's lives become prosperous, the prices of various commodities will naturally rise. In this way, even if Master Dong doesn't win this game over food prices, in the long run, you can still be the ultimate winner."

Ma Tianmao, who was standing by, couldn't help but applaud when he heard this. He was so excited that goose bumps appeared all over his body. He exclaimed: "Brilliant! It hits the nail on the head!"

As a post-90s generation, Zhang Jingwei has also experienced the soaring prices of goods in China's new era. A bowl of rice noodles cost only two yuan when he was young, but now it starts at ten yuan. Furthermore, housing prices in the cheapest areas of most first-tier cities exceed ten thousand yuan per square meter. However, his family's financial situation has improved thanks to the people's stable livelihoods and the rapid development of industry and agriculture, all of which are inseparable from the motherland's strong military.

Zhang Jingwei looked at Gao Jiong in front of him with a smile on his face, his eyes full of admiration, and said loudly: "You are very good, I really like you from the bottom of my heart! Manager Gao Jiong!"

Gao Jiong was delighted when he heard this, but he remained humble and bowed, saying, "Thank you for your appreciation, Master! I will do my best to repay your kindness!"

Zhang Jingwei nodded slightly and continued, "Now, I have an important task for you. The batch of saltpeter that was confiscated from our village is still stored in the military supply department, and a customer in Wuzhou wants to buy it at a high price. We still need to go through some relevant procedures with the government, so you will be responsible for handling this order. Remember, it must be delivered by the end of this month!"

Gao Jiong was stunned at first, clearly not expecting to receive such a difficult task so soon. However, he quickly recovered and replied with a bow, "Yes!"

Zhang Jingwei nodded with satisfaction and said with a smile: "Okay, then it depends on your performance! By the way, regarding the issue of your residence, I have already given instructions. I will ask the servants to clean up your house as soon as possible, and then you can move in with peace of mind. I will rely on the manager in the future!" After that, Zhang Jingwei also bowed to Gao Jiong.

Afterwards, Zhang Jingwei spent dozens of strings of cash to hold a banquet to celebrate the arrival of the manager Gao Jiong. He also promised to give bonuses to the lobby administration and the human resources department at the end of the month.

At the evening banquet, Junxing had a total of sixty-five employees. Zhang Jingwei was stunned by the bustling crowd in the restaurant. Even during the day, it hadn't been that crowded. While he wasn't particularly socially anxious, he had never managed so many people before. So, he imitated the company leader and raised his glass, shouting, "Dear colleagues, with the addition of Manager Gao today, Junxing will surely prosper financially and make a fortune. I raise my glass three times in a row in honor of Junxing, Gao Jiong, and myself!"

Junxing's colleagues shouted in unison: "Cheers to Junxing! Cheers to Gao Jiong! Cheers to ourselves!"

At this banquet, at Gao Jiong's suggestion, the two chief officials of Yunzhou and the chief clerks of each department were also invited. The budget for the meal, which originally cost two strings of cash per table, was doubled.

Liu Yanzhi said with a smile on his face: "Jingwei, I really want to congratulate you! With the help of Gao Jieyuan, the expansion of the camp can finally be settled." After that, he patted Zhang Jingwei's shoulder gently to express his approval and encouragement.

Zhang Jingwei quickly bowed and humbly responded, "Thank you for the compliment, Master. Over the past period of time, you have been tirelessly handling all the official duties of the Yunzhou Tongpan. I understand your hard work. Today's banquet is a way for you to relax and unwind!"

After hearing this, Liu Yanzhi burst into laughter. His laughter was hearty and cheerful: "Hahahaha, Jingwei, you are thoughtful! I know you are a sensible child."

At this time, Zhang Jingwei walked towards Lu Hui, raised his wine glass respectfully, and said sincerely: "Your Excellency, I would like to offer you a toast! Thank you for your care and support."

Lu Hui nodded slightly, looked at Zhang Jingwei expressionlessly, and slowly reminded him, "Zhang Xiaolian, now that you are the commander of the army, you must not forget your duties."

Zhang Jingwei quickly replied, "Yes, I will definitely remember this!" Then he began to toast from table to table. At this moment, Gao Jiong followed Zhang Jingwei closely and whispered in his ear, "The Yunzhou governor seems to be not very fond of you."

Zhang Jingwei's lips curled up slightly, revealing a barely perceptible smile. He replied softly, "Human jealousy is inherent. I'm a student of the Yunzhou Tongzhi. I wonder if you've ever heard of the case of a Yunzhou student abusing his wife?"

Gao Jiong thought for a moment, nodded, and replied, "Yes, I have heard a little about this matter."

A cunning look flashed in Zhang Jingwei's eyes, and he continued, "That student who abused his wife was the prefect's disciple. Since then, he has not produced any outstanding students." After saying this, the two smiled at each other, understanding each other tacitly.