After our homes were confiscated and we were exiled, the women in my clan and I raised a million sol

Looking at the anxious Zhong Tian and the others, Zhang Liang poured them a few cups of tea and pushed them in front of them.

"Remember what I told you the other day that even if we used external force to force the four major grain merchants, the effect wouldn't be significant?"

Liu Yu frowned and answered subconsciously, "Of course I remember, but grain prices have skyrocketed now, and those four grain merchants are ruthless people. How could they stop without severely exploiting the people once?"

Zhang Liang shook his head.

"Mr. Liu, I want to ask you something. The four major grain merchants in Ninggu City are all related. Even if we force them to lower the price, how much can they reduce it?"

"Eight or eighteen wen? Even if it drops from one hundred wen to eighty or ninety wen, how many people can afford it?"

Liu Yu was stunned, and even Zhong Tian and Wang Wu beside him were speechless, not knowing what to say.

"Unless I bring in all the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry outside the city and kill all these profiteers, once they are all exterminated, all the merchants in the city will be in fear. They won't believe any policies we issue in the future."

"And for ordinary people, whether it's 100 wen per dou, 150 wen per dou, or 200 wen per dou, it doesn't make much difference. They still can't afford it."

"But the price of grain in Ninggu City has skyrocketed, and the government has even ordered that grain cannot be sold for less than 150 coins per bushel. What will attract this?"

As soon as these words came out, Liu Yu and others' heads were struck by lightning, and they began to think quickly.

Now the price of grain in Ninggucheng has skyrocketed to a sky-high level, and ordinary people can't afford it at all, but who will be attracted by this?

Suddenly, an answer emerged in the minds of Zhong Tian and the other two: the grain merchant outside Ninggu City!

"Could it be, could it be..."

Wang Wu looked at Zhang Liang in shock, his eyes full of disbelief.

Zhang Liang said coldly, "The four major grain merchants, Zhou, Qian, Sun, and Zhao, are greedily raiding the local grain market, driving up prices. They're also causing the smaller local merchants to follow suit and hoard grain, hoping to sell it at exorbitant prices."

"Greed is human nature."

I once heard a saying: as long as there is a 10% profit, it will be used everywhere; as long as there is a 20% profit, some people will be ready to move; as long as there is a 50% profit, it will cause active adventures; if there is a 100% profit, people will not hesitate to take legal risks; when there is a 300% profit, people will be willing to take the risk of committing a crime or even being beheaded!

"There isn't a single merchant in the world who isn't greedy. Now that the news of Ninggu City's skyrocketing grain prices has spread to the surrounding areas at a terrifying speed!"

Having said that, Zhang Liang paused, intending to give these people some time to react.

After feeling that it was about the same, Zhang Liang continued to speak.

"These past few days, the number of horse-drawn carriages and cargo ships transporting grain has been increasing at the city gate and the docks!"

"In Ninggu City, the number of foreign grain merchants is increasing. Ninggu City is no longer short of food."

"Although the grain prices in Ninggu City seem high now, they are just empty shells. A slight kick will make them collapse!"

"These damn profiteers are trying to profit from the national crisis. This time, I'm going to destroy their families and their entire families!"

There was a cold look in Zhang Liang's eyes. His voice was not loud, but Zhong Tian and others could hear it clearly.

And this light tone made it difficult for them to calm down.

They looked at Zhang Liang as if they had seen a ghost!

If they really wanted to die as Zhang Liang said, then these grain merchants would face a great disaster. However, Zhong Tian and others had no pity in their hearts, but only pleasure.

These profiteers who made a fortune from the national crisis deserve to die!

After saying this, Zhang Liang looked at Wang Wu and said, "General Wang, please inform Yan Sheng and Zeng Guodong today. Tonight, fill the sandbags with soil and sand from outside the city. Remember not to leak this information. I will be of great use to you."

Wang Wu nodded immediately and replied, "I understand. I will notify them both right away and dispatch a Tiger and Leopard Cavalry from outside the city to assist the lord!"

Zhang Liang downed the last of his tea in one gulp and said with a cold gaze, "Today will be the last revelry for all the grain merchants in Ninggucheng. Tomorrow, I will show them what true despair is!"

The four major grain merchants in Ninggu City gathered at Zhou Xia's mansion with joy and pride in their hearts to celebrate the rich harvest of the past few days.

During the banquet, the table was filled with delicacies, forming a stark contrast to the famine outside.

Zhou Xia's face was flushed. He was the first to stand up from his seat, holding a wine glass and smilingly proposing to everyone: "Everyone! Cheers to our victory, our wisdom and cooperation!"

Upon hearing this, the other three grain merchants present stood up with a smile and raised their glasses in response.

Zhao Hao was particularly excited. He said happily, "I originally thought that the arrival of this powerful person would affect our plan, but I didn't expect him to actually help us. We really deserve to get rich this time!"

As soon as these words were spoken, they immediately resonated with everyone present. Laughter and voices of agreement intertwined and echoed in the luxurious Zhou Mansion.

They were immersed in the upcoming feast of wealth and completely forgot about the starving and struggling people outside the palace.

This sharp contrast, like an invisible crack, divides Ning Gucheng into two completely different worlds.

......

A ray of golden sunlight pierced through the clouds and enveloped the entire Ninggu City.

In just one night, the price of grain soared by another thirty wen from the sky-high price of two hundred wen per dou yesterday.

This grain price is too much for ordinary people, not to mention some wealthy merchants.

The price of grain in Ning Gucheng has reached an unbelievable level.

This grain price made the grain merchants in Ninggucheng earn a lot of money, but they still hoarded grain and waited for the price to continue to rise!

The streets of Ninggu City and outside the county government office were filled with skinny people.

Their faces were filled with repression, and as they gathered together, a surge of anger rose to the sky.

Everyone knew that if this continued, Ning Gucheng would be in chaos.

At this time, in the county government office, Shen Zui stood in the lobby with his hands behind his back, his eyes looking outside.

Even if the gate of the county government office was closed, the angry voices of the people could still be heard.

Listening to the noise outside, Shen Zui walked back and forth in the county government office anxiously, looking at the lawyer from time to time with an anxious look on his face.

The master had no choice but to comfort him and said, "Master, don't worry. Didn't the young master say that he would take action against those people today?"

Shen Zui sighed.

Of course he knew this, but now he was afraid that Ning Gucheng would become chaotic first, and then everything would be too late.

At this moment, a young man walked in from the side door of the county government office, followed by several people.

Seeing this scene, Shen Zui felt like he had seen a life-saving straw and immediately rushed forward.

Zhang Liang saw Shen Zui, patted his shoulder, and said calmly, "Master Shen, thank you for your hard work these past few days."

He was very clear about Shen Zui's situation in the past few days.

Because of the notices he posted, Shen Zui had become worse than stinky dog ​​shit in the eyes of the people.

Countless people squatted near Shen Zui's house, hoping to beat him up in revenge. This made him afraid to go home and he lived in the government office.

"Now we should take action."

As soon as these words came out, Shen Zui's eyes were filled with excitement: "Master, are you finally going to take action against those profiteers?"

Zhang Liang nodded and said, "Post a notice immediately. All granaries in Ninggu City will be open for sale at a price of 105 coins per dou!"

"This notice must be spread throughout the streets and alleys of Ninggu City!"

Then, Zhang Liang looked at Wang Wu and the other two.

"From now on, troops will be dispatched to take over the docks. All cargo ships are prohibited from leaving the city!"

"Those who disobey orders will be killed!"

"The gates of Ninggu City must be heavily guarded, and not a single grain of food can leave the city!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Wu and the other two couldn't help but show excitement on their faces.

As military commanders, they felt suffocated by the pitiful state of the people in the city, and now they finally took action! And it was a big move!

"Please rest assured, sir! We will definitely not let anything that shouldn't leave Ninggu City leave."

The two responded in unison.

Liu Yu was even more amazed. With Zhang Liang's methods, those grain merchants must be terrified.