Where do these merchants get the audacity to think they can trample on Grand Secretary Gu?

The Bai family head, the Meng family head, and the Liu family head were all filled with remorse.

The heads of the Wei and Wu families were also very uneasy, and their previous arrogance gradually disappeared.

Magistrate Qin stood next to Gu Shaoyu, his heart filled with hatred for these grain merchants. He had seen them enter with their arrogant attitude, but when they saw Grand Secretary Gu, they were as timid as mice. He thought to himself, "Pah!"

They deserved it; it would have been better if Grand Secretary Gu had them all beheaded!

After a long while, the head of the Wei family couldn't help but speak. He was the largest grain merchant in Baiyang County and the leader of these people.

"Your Excellency, what business do you have summoned me here for?"

Gu Shaoyu put down his teacup and asked, "How much is rice today?"

"Two hundred coins per dou." The Wei family head's voice lowered. Was Grand Secretary Gu about to unleash his fury?

No! Gu Shaoyu's expression remained unchanged.

“It’s nothing. Last year, when there was an earthquake in Zhongzhou, the price of grain in the capital rose to six hundred coins.” Gu Shaoyu said, “I’ve come to you today to discuss something. Grain is extremely precious now, and two hundred coins is a bit low. How about we raise the price a little more?”

"..."

"How about three hundred coins?"

After Gu Shaoyu finished speaking, he saw that the five people looked at him with disbelief. They hadn't come to him to ask for a price reduction, but to ask for a price increase.

"Three hundred coins?"

"Um."

"Why? Isn't this too high?" the Wei family head asked tentatively, secretly pinching his thigh—it hurt!

"No! Last year, there was a major earthquake, and the price of rice exceeded 1,000 coins."

As soon as he finished speaking, Magistrate Qin exclaimed in surprise, "Grand Secretary Gu!"

Gu Shaoyu turned to look at him: "What is it?"

"Three hundred coins for a bushel? Are you mistaken?" Magistrate Qin said anxiously. "Three hundred coins is simply unaffordable for ordinary people."

Gu Shaoyu did not answer his question, but continued to say to the five major grain merchants: "You five have a lot of grain on hand, so let's set the price at three hundred coins per dou, and not any higher, okay?"

The five people were almost stunned. Did Grand Secretary Gu even know what three hundred coins meant?

Three hundred coins is already a very high amount, right?

Last autumn, a bushel of rice cost only thirty coins, and old rice was even cheaper, around twenty coins. Prices rose to fifty coins at the start of winter, and then steadily climbed to two hundred coins.

Grand Secretary Gu suggested signing a contract for 300 cash worth of rice?

If it rises to three hundred coins...

My goodness, we've struck it rich! We've struck it rich!

They hurriedly said, "We have no objection, no objection, it's three hundred coins, no more increases." All five of them said in a hurry, their faces beaming with smiles.

Gu Shaoyu said, "Alright, since you all agree, let's sign a contract. From today onwards, you will sell it for three hundred coins per dou. Don't sell it too low! The government will issue a notice to make the three hundred coins public."

Magistrate Qin was so angry that he didn't want to say anything.

Gu Shaoyu asked him to bring paper and pen.

Magistrate Qin, his face dark with anger, threw a tantrum and refused to sign the contract.

Gu Shaoyu didn't pay attention and had Xie Yu write: "From today onwards, the rice shops of the Wei family, Wu family, Bai family, Meng family, and Liu family shall set the price of rice at three hundred coins. It shall not exceed or fall below three hundred coins. Anyone who violates this rule shall be executed without mercy."

Magistrate Qin felt that only the last three characters were somewhat pleasing to the eye.

Once the contract was drafted, each head of household signed it, and the county government stamped it.

Gu Shaoyu ordered Magistrate Qin to post notices everywhere, adjusting the price of rice to 300 cash per dou.

"By the way, we should not only post them in Baiyang County, but also in the neighboring prefectures. Post them in the busiest downtown areas, the wider the better."

"Prince Rong is rebelling in the neighboring prefecture," Magistrate Qin couldn't contain himself and said, "Grand Secretary Gu, if you post these notices, won't the price of rice skyrocket? The people will be cursing you behind your back!"

"It's alright," Gu Shaoyu said. "Let them curse all they want."

Many people don't understand the reasoning behind this and complain, but when the truth comes out in the end, they will cheer loudly.

Magistrate Qin led his men to post notices, and Xie Yu took the opportunity to ask, "Why did you set such a high price of three hundred coins with them? The common people simply cannot afford this price."

Gu Shaoyu asked with a slight smile, "Can ordinary people afford rice that costs two hundred coins?"

Xie Yu shook his head. Let alone ordinary people, even he, as the eldest son of the Xie family and the young clan leader, could not afford such rice prices.

No, even a hundred coins wouldn't be enough for ordinary people.

"Since they can't afford two hundred coins, what does it matter if it's three hundred coins or even more?"

"But at such a price, the people will certainly be extremely dissatisfied, and it could easily incite a popular uprising."

Xie Yu said worriedly, "Prince Rong is in the next prefecture, and the people are in turmoil. Your safety is even more of a concern."

"Don't worry, the price of grain will definitely come down. Didn't you tell Magistrate Qin to post notices everywhere that the price of grain in Baiyang County is 300 cash? Guess what will happen next?"

After a moment's thought, Xie Yu felt as if a door had been opened in his mind.

He understood.

Brother-in-law, you've killed three birds with one stone again.

"With such high prices, rice merchants from all over the country will be eager to make a profit and will rush to buy up rice and grain, intending to transport it to Baiyang County in Zizhou to make a fortune."

When Prince Rong raised an army, he could only rely on the grain he had stockpiled before. He couldn't buy any grain at a low price outside!

Furthermore, once grain merchants enter Zizhou, the costs of transportation losses, labor, carriage and horse expenses, and warehouse rentals are very high. As long as the grain is not sold, the costs will increase every day, which will inevitably lead to a price drop..."

Oh dear, his brother-in-law is really a ruthless troublemaker!

Ling Xun was also surprised when Grand Secretary Gu said he wanted to raise prices. He kept thinking about the reasons behind it until Grand Secretary Gu asked all the heads of the families to sign a contract and saw one of the clauses: the price shall not be higher or lower than three hundred coins.

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