Chapter 523 "Who do you think you are? How dare you disrespect my general?"
(Thanks to Aman76 for casting 3 monthly tickets.)
"I, Li, arrived in Jian'an at the beginning of October. I am able to invite you all to this banquet because you think highly of me and give me face!"
Come, this glass is a toast to everyone!
Li Shiyue drank the cup, said a few more polite words, and then sat down again.
Thus, the people sitting at the two tables inside the room exchanged compliments and flattery, creating a harmonious and joyful atmosphere.
After several rounds of drinks and dishes, Li Shiyue suddenly turned cold and put down her wine glass, causing the hall to fall into complete silence.
"Gentlemen."
Li Shiyue spoke, her voice not loud, but everyone could hear her clearly, "I invited you all here today for two reasons: first, to introduce you to each other."
Secondly, I, the general, have three things I wish to say to you all.
Li Shiyue stood up again and waved to the crowd who wanted to stand up, telling them to sit down and listen to her.
Her long red robe appeared as vivid as blood under the blue light of the deep-sea fish oil lamp.
Li Shiyue raised one finger: "First, from now on, I'm in charge of Jian'an."
Her words had barely faded when the room remained silent, save for the occasional crackling of the charcoal fire.
"Huang Wanchang is corrupt, lawless, colludes with Japanese pirates, and sells innocent people. He deserves to die!"
As you all know, that's what happened to him.
If anyone still hasn't seen it, his head is still hanging on the high platform at the entrance of the government office. Why don't they go and take a good look for themselves?
Li Shiyue smiled coldly, "I, Li Shiyue, have always been fair in my rewards and punishments."
I'm not the kind of person who's heartless; as long as you're obedient, everything is negotiable.
If there are any disobedient fools...
"Bang!"
Li Shiyue suddenly slammed her hand on the table, making the cups and saucers on the table clatter.
The officials like Cai Hua, who were at the same table as Li Shiyue, were relatively fortunate, as they had already witnessed how Li Shiyue handled matters three days prior.
On the other round table, among the dozen or so wealthy merchants, several timid businessmen trembled with fear, and two of them almost dropped their wine cups.
"Then let's go to the underworld to keep Huang Wanchang company!"
Cai Hua squinted, his fingers stroking the wine glass, without saying a word.
Du Hui and Feng Gui exchanged a glance, while Wan Kai stared down at his clenched fist.
As for soldiers like Chang Hai, they sat obediently, not daring to move an inch.
“Secondly,” Li Shiyue raised a second finger, “the two thousand brothers I brought need to eat and drink, and the people of Jian’an City also need to have a good New Year.”
Starting today, grain prices will drop by 30%, salt prices by 20%, and the prices of other goods by 10%.
My two thousand brothers came with me to Jian'an to fight the bandits, and their provisions and expenses will depend on you, esteemed merchants.
Surely all of you wealthy businessmen here will listen to what I'm saying?
If they don't listen...
Li Shiyue's gaze was sharp as a knife, sweeping over everyone present.
She didn't finish her sentence, but everyone present understood the unspoken meaning behind it.
General Li!
Grain merchant Zhao Liangfu suddenly stood up from his seat. With his round face, so full of fat that his eyes were almost invisible, he dared to shout at Li Shiyue, "This is against the rules!"
Grain prices should naturally fluctuate with the market; how can you just lower them at will?
The grain stored up by my Zhao family was bought with real money.
If we reduce the price by 30% as you suggested, wouldn't we lose everything?
Li Shiyue narrowed her eyes slightly and looked at Zhao Liangfu expressionlessly.
"Oh? You've lost everything?"
"I don't quite understand what Zhao Dajia is saying."
Zhou Deyong, also a grain merchant, listened with his head down as Zhao Liangfu and Li Shiyue argued about whether or not to lower grain prices.
Zhou Deyong thought to himself, "The price of grain has already increased by more than 30% in the past few months because of the Japanese pirates' invasion."
General Li is only asking for a 30% reduction, which is essentially just to restore grain prices to their original levels.
Old Zhao said he'd lose everything, but that's not true. He'll just earn a little less.
He doesn't want to be an obedient dog anymore; he wants to...
Zhou Deyong slightly raised his head and glanced sideways at Zhao Liangfu, who was standing two people away from him, before turning his head to look at Li Shiyue, who was looking at their table.
Seeing Li Shiyue's gaze, Zhou Deyong swallowed hard and quickly lowered his head again.
Whether Zhao Liangfu was genuinely intoxicated or intentionally provoking and testing her, he actually dared to reach out and point at Li Shiyue, loudly saying, "What do you, a mere woman, know about the ways of business?"
Did he really think he was someone important just because he got to this position through murder and arson?
My Zhao family has been operating in Jian'an for three generations, and we also have connections in the imperial court. How dare you…”
A flash of cold light.
"ah!"
Zhao Liangfu let out a pig-like scream. He staggered backward, clutching his bleeding right hand with his left hand, and almost fell to the ground.
In the clean white porcelain plate in front of Zhao Liangfu, there was half a finger still dripping with blood!
It was Zhao Liangfu's half of his right index finger that had just been pointing at Li Shiyue and shouting!
Sun Xiaoliu was slowly sheathing his sword, his face calm as still water. He looked at Zhao Liangfu, who was now slumped on the ground howling in pain, and said, "Who do you think you are? How dare you disrespect my general?"
"well."
In the ensuing silence, only Li Shiyue's abrupt sigh stood out.
Cai Hua and his group, who were not seated at the same table as these wealthy merchants, remained relatively calm, while the other eleven wealthy merchants who were seated at the same table as Zhao Liangfu...
Some of the more timid ones were already trembling all over, their hands shaking so badly they couldn't hold anything.
Zhou Deyong stared intently at the still-fresh half-finger in the clean porcelain plate, swallowing back the saliva in his throat. He didn't dare to move, just sitting there motionless.
The distinctive smell of human blood was noticeable to anyone who was close to Zhao Liangfu;
Even if their noses weren't working properly, they could still hear Zhao Liangfu screaming in pain on the ground.
After sighing, Li Shiyue gave everyone enough time to react before speaking, "Little Six."
"Your subordinate is here!"
"Take a team to search the Zhao family's house and see if the letters of treason and collusion with the Japanese are hidden in the study."
"Yes, General!"
Upon hearing Li Shiyue's words, Zhao Liangfu stopped shouting and instead knelt down in Li Shiyue's direction, his face ashen, clutching his blood-soaked severed finger.
General, spare my life!
General, spare my life!
I was confused for a moment, so I'll obey!
"The price of grain will definitely drop, by 30%, no, by 50%, it will drop right now, my lord..."
Li Shiyue didn't even glance at Zhao Liangfu. She turned her head impatiently to Chen Yong, who was standing behind her, and said, "You're really noisy!"
Gag him and drag him away quickly!
"Don't disturb the distinguished guests I've invited today!"
Chen Yong responded and personally tore off a strip from the hem of Zhao Liangfu's shirt, rolled it into a ball, and stuffed it into his mouth.
Then Chen Yong grabbed Zhao Liangfu by the neck with one hand and dragged him to the door, handing him over to the Xuanjia soldiers guarding the door.
"Please do not panic."
Li Shiyue suddenly smiled at everyone, as if the bloody scene had never happened.
Only the half-finger, still alive, placed on the clean white porcelain plate on the round table, can prove what just happened here.
Everyone inside the room fell silent, trembling with fear.
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