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

Shen Zui shuddered at these words, and said in surprise, "My Lord, are you saying that the big grain merchants in Ninggu City haven't sold yet? I don't think that's possible. After all, the four major grain merchants, Zhou, Qian, Zhao, and Sun, have always had close ties with each other. It's impossible for them to sell off!"

"Ironclad?"

Zhang Liang suddenly looked at Shen Zui and couldn't help but chuckle: "Master Shen, you think too highly of these four major families!"

"There's a saying that goes, 'It's easy to share adversity, but hard to share prosperity.' In this world, there are no friends when it comes to profit. The plummeting grain prices in Ninggu City, from the influx of grain merchants from other places, and from the moment I asked you to open your warehouses and release the grain, no one can stop it!"

Zhang Liang's calm voice reached everyone's ears clearly.

Zhong Tian and others stood where they were, feeling these words resounding in their minds like a huge bell.

The four major grain traders appear to be very close, but when a crisis strikes, will they really remain as close as a rock?

After a while, Shen Zui bowed ninety degrees towards Zhang Liang.

"My lord, your words are like a revelation, and they have opened my eyes. I thank you for your advice!"

His eyes were pure, full of respect from the bottom of his heart.

To be able to be pushed to the position of county magistrate by him and Liu Yu, he must have passed their tests. He does have certain abilities and is a person who works for the people.

It was not until now that he understood what Zhang Liang had said to him seven days ago.

Everything is in his calculation.

If you want to lower food prices, you don’t have to try your best to lower them!

A notice was posted ordering the major grain merchants in Ninggu City to sell grain only at high prices and not at low prices.

Once the grain price in Ninggu City rises to a sky-high level, merchants from other places will surely rush in to transport grain out of their greed, hoping to make a fortune here.

Wait until foreign grain merchants push up grain prices further and most of the grain has come in, then order the county government to open the warehouses and release the grain, forcing these foreign grain merchants to sell first, and the grain price will plummet!

The most amazing thing is that the price Zhang Liang paid for releasing grain from his warehouses was neither too high nor too low, which just gave those grain merchants from other places room to make money.

Those who sell first will make a lot of money, while those who sell later may go bankrupt.

This will cause all foreign grain merchants to compete with each other, and everyone wants to sell as quickly as possible.

"My lord, I have to admire your method!"

Zhong Tian said in amazement.

Zhang Liang's methods are incredible.

But he was curious: "If these foreign grain traders don't panic sell, how will it end?"

Zhang Liang looked at the looting scene before him, shook his head, and said, "This is human nature, it's simply impossible to resist. Haven't you noticed? Ninggu City has seen a lot of grain merchants from other places pouring into it over the past seven days."

"With so many foreign grain merchants, everyone's ideas are unlikely to be the same, and everyone faces different problems, so their choices will be very different."

"Most of the grain held by Ninggu City's four major grain merchants is old grain from last year. Furthermore, disasters have occurred frequently this year, so these people took the opportunity to stockpile grain when grain prices were at their lowest. Their costs are low enough, so they're naturally not in a hurry."

"But these foreign grain merchants are different. This year, the entire Daqian region is having a hard time, and grain prices have skyrocketed."

"Some of them have spent all their money hoping to make a killing, spending exorbitant prices on food and traveling dozens or even hundreds of miles to come here to profit from the price difference. The cost of transporting it all the way here is a terrifying figure."

"Not to mention that some people have spare money to buy food, while others spend all their money to buy food. In this case, how can these people be united?"

"Their panic selling is inevitable."

"The situation in Ninggu City is now settled. We don't need to wait and see. We can just wait for the food prices to plummet."

After saying that, Zhang Liang raised his foot and left.

Just after they took a few steps, Zhang Liang's voice sounded in front.

"Since the price of grain in Ninggu City has dropped to 91 coins per bushel, we should send people to sweep it up!"

"Post another notice telling the people that the county government's granary is fully stocked. The price will be reduced by another twenty wen, to only eighty-five wen per dou!"

Liu Yu, who was following behind Zhang Liang, suddenly brightened up. He then looked at Shen Zui and said, "Did you hear that, Master Shen? Hurry and do as the young master says!"

After hearing this, Shen Zui nodded quickly.

Zhang Liang walked towards the mansion, feeling extremely emotional.

Now, whether it is the four major grain merchants in Ning Gucheng or grain merchants from other places who want to ship goods, the price must be lower than ninety cents per dou!

In Ninggucheng, as foreign grain merchants were frantically comparing prices and selling off their grain, the people were all very excited.

There was discussion everywhere.

"Food prices have fallen! Food prices have finally fallen!"

"Now the lowest price is 91 wen per dou! Before, when I saw the price of grain at over 200 wen, I felt like dying."

......

Although the current food prices are still very high, this also brings a glimmer of hope to the people of Ninggucheng.

Inside the Zhou residence, the atmosphere was so oppressive that it seemed as if water could drip out of it. Four grain merchants sat around the table, each with their own ulterior motives, yet they had to maintain superficial calm.

Qian Duo picked up the cooled teacup on the table and took a sip, trying to ease the uneasiness in his heart with this insignificant action. He asked anxiously, "Master Zhou, why are your servants so slow? Could something have happened?"

Zhou Xia's eyes flashed with displeasure when he heard this, and he was also very irritated. He responded impatiently: "Maybe he was delayed on the way! Wait a little longer, don't be so impatient!"

Having said that, his clenched fists and slightly trembling voice revealed his inner anxiety.

The other three frowned when they heard this. Although they didn't say anything, the expressions on their faces betrayed their inner anxiety and suspicion.

There was an indescribable solemnity in the air, and everyone was silently calculating their gains and losses and their way out.

At this moment, a servant suddenly rushed in from outside and fell on the threshold because he was too panicked.

But he ignored the pain and quickly got up. He staggered to Master Zhou and said angrily, "Master, something terrible has happened! The price of grain in Ninggu City has dropped to ninety-one coins per bushel!"

Upon hearing the news, Zhou Xia and the other three's expressions instantly turned ugly.

Sun Yi's face turned ashen in an instant, and he slammed the table so hard that the teacups on the table jumped up.

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

He shouted loudly to the servant, "We, the four major grain merchants, haven't made any moves yet, and we've spent a lot of money to buy grain on the market. How can the price of grain in Ning Gucheng be so cheap?"

"It's impossible for those few small grain merchants from outside the area to have such a great influence! Tell me! Are you talking nonsense because you got some benefit?"

The servant was so frightened that he fell to his knees, his voice trembling as he said, "My lords, how dare I lie to you! What I said is true. There are not just a few grain merchants selling grain in Ninggucheng now, but a whole group of people I can't even count!"

"These outsiders are unruly and are selling grain recklessly. At this rate of decline, I'm afraid the price will soon drop to ninety wen a dou!"

The servant was almost in tears, fearing that he would be dragged away and beaten to death by the angry Master Zhou.

When Master Qian heard this servant dare to quibble, his face flushed with rage, and veins on his forehead throbbed. He slammed the table and roared, "Bullshit! We are the four largest grain merchants in Ninggu City. Where do all these foreign grain merchants come from?"

"You bastard, you still say you're not lying!"

His voice echoed throughout the room like thunder, causing pain in everyone's eardrums.

The servant was so frightened that he trembled all over. He knelt on the ground and kowtowed desperately, his voice filled with tears: "Master, I really didn't lie!"

"The grain market in Ninggu City has really changed. Not only are there more grain merchants from other places, but they also don't play by the rules at all and are constantly pushing down prices."

"My whole family works here, how dare I deceive you!"

Qian Duo's anger had not yet subsided. He turned to look at Zhou Xia beside him and said coldly, "Master Zhou, you are no good as a servant! Now you are deceiving your superiors and subordinates here! In my opinion, you should get rid of him as soon as possible!"

Zhou Xia's face also turned gloomy. He stared at the servant, a hint of hesitation and doubt in his eyes.

After hearing Qian Duo's words and the servant's tearful look, it didn't seem like he was lying to him.

After thinking for a moment, Zhou Xia suddenly widened his eyes, as if he suddenly realized something.