Chapter 2963: Step by Step
The entire Xiajiang Town was in chaos for two days because of the fire in Xiaohe Warehouse. During these two days, not only the residents of the town, but also the merchants coming and going in the inn where they stayed were discussing this matter.
Zhu Feng, on the other hand, was very calm.
As if he sensed that Nan Yan was in a bad mood these past two days, he stayed in the inn to accompany her and closed the door to visitors.
On this day, when the two were sitting by the window drinking tea, Li Bushang walked in from outside.
"Greetings to the Emperor, and to the Imperial Concubine."
Nan Yan didn't look up at him, but the moment she heard his voice, her already fair face turned even paler in the sunlight.
Zhu Feng didn't seem to notice her abnormality.
He turned to look at Li Bushang and said, "No need to be so polite. What's the matter?"
Li Bushang lowered his head and said, "Just as the emperor had previously speculated, the people from Hengsheng Bank are now aggressively purchasing food and fodder nearby. However, it's a lean period right now, and ordinary people already have very little food left at home. I heard they've gone even further, towards Cuicang County."
"oh."
Zhu Feng raised his eyebrows.
All this was completely within his expectations.
Then he asked, "Well, is there any news from Cuicang County?"
Before Li Bushang could open his mouth, Xiao Shunzi walked in again and kowtowed to them: "Greetings to the Emperor, greetings to the Imperial Concubine. Lord Li..."
When Zhu Feng saw him hurriedly walk in, he knew there was new news.
So he asked, "What's the matter?"
Xiao Shunzi said, "In reply to the emperor, the people who stayed in Cuicang County have reported that Lü Boying, following the emperor's instructions, collected a large amount of grain from the surrounding counties and cities in the name of the government. I heard that the total amount is over 800 dan."
"More than 800 stones?"
Zhu Feng said, "I originally thought they could collect a thousand stones."
That's why they made such boasts to Guantongxing and some other shipping companies.
Nan Yan listened from the side and said softly, "Eight hundred and one thousand aren't that different. Besides, all the businessmen in the market exaggerate their wealth and quantity of goods first, get a good discount, and then reduce the price a little. That's how it works."
Zhu Feng nodded: "That's right."
Then he said, "You, take my handwritten letter and tell them that I have arrived in Nanjing and need a batch of grain. Have them transport 500 dan of grain to Nanjing first, and have the Ministry of Revenue allocate the money to them. Then, have our people take over halfway and transport it to a port here. Remember, use the Huang Si family's name to transport it."
Xiao Shunzi said, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. I will do it right away."
Zhu Feng said to Li Bushang again, "Send two people to follow."
"yes."
Li Bushang turned around and went downstairs with Xiao Shunzi.
After they all left, Zhu Feng turned around and saw Nan Yan looking at him with a half-smile on her face. He asked, "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Nan Yan tilted her head and looked at him, saying, "I was thinking that even if the emperor wasn't the emperor, he would be a wealthy businessman, the kind that could rival an entire country."
"oh?"
"No, it should be said that a person like the emperor can definitely be the best in whatever he does."
“…”
"So, the Emperor's becoming Emperor is more than just destiny."
Zhu Feng smiled faintly and said, "Destiny? At my age, I should have known, obeyed, and accepted my destiny."
“…”
"But I have lived most of my life without knowing, obeying, or recognizing."
“…”
"I rely on myself."
This sentence is said with such arrogance.
But Nan Yan looked at Zhu Feng who was sitting in front of her. The sunlight outside the window shone on his body, and she had a faint feeling that his whole body was glowing.
From the first sight, his arrogance and confidence deeply attracted her.
No matter what time it is, even today, he has obviously become much more restrained than before, but the arrogance and self-confidence in his heart remain unchanged.
It is precisely because of this that Nan Yan is tied firmly to his side.
But he tied the rope himself.
She suppressed the throbbing in her heart and said softly, "However, the emperor only ordered 500 dan of grain to be sent from Cuicang County. Isn't that too little? I heard that a lot of grain was burned in Xiaohe Warehouse."
"No problem,"
Zhu Feng waved his hand and said, "This five hundred dan is just an excuse. If you don't give them some real money, how will they take the bait?"
“…”
"But we can't give it all out at once. If we suddenly give out so much food at this time, they'll become suspicious."
"That's true."
"You're right. Just like any ordinary businessman in the market, they will brag about it first. These 500 stones are enough to attract their attention."
Nan Yan smiled and nodded.
Just as they expected, all the people sent by Hang Seng Bank returned in the past two days. When Lu Taining heard the news they reported, he became even more furious.
"What? Not a single grain of food was collected?"
The subordinate said with a bitter face: "Boss, it's not that we are not working hard, it's really that we don't go out to collect grain at this time of year. The people at home really have no grain left."
"There's none in Xiajiang Town. I told you to go to Cuicang County to collect them. Don't tell me there's none there?"
"Over there, it's cleaner than here."
"What?"
"I heard that the government officials just collected grain a while ago, and they charged a high price. Many families who had some grain in stock couldn't help but sell it out."
"Um?"
Upon hearing this, Lu Taining frowned cautiously: "The government is buying grain at a high price? Why?"
The people below said, "We've sent someone to investigate this matter. A while ago, the emperor visited Cuicang County, and we heard that he ordered the county government there to collect grain."
"The emperor ordered the county government to collect grain?"
"Yes, the emperor only stayed in Cuicang County for one day before setting off for Nanjing. I heard that this batch of grain was specially collected and sent to Nanjing."
"oh?"
Hearing this, Lu Taining's frown relaxed a little.
He had just heard that the government of Cuicang County was buying grain at a high price, and that it was the emperor who ordered it. Thinking of the fact that their Xiaohe granary was short of grain, he couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat, fearing that there was some conspiracy involved.
However, I felt a little relieved when I heard that the grain was being transported to Nanjing.
Maybe I was worrying too much.
The emperor was naturally very wealthy and greedy for enjoyment, and this was not the case anywhere else. It was unlikely that he would set his sights on this small town of Xiajiang.
Just as I was thinking about it, the accountant walked in from outside.
As soon as he saw the accountant, Lu Taining immediately said, "Any progress on your side? Cuicang County can no longer collect anything."
"oh?"
Upon hearing this, the accountant smiled and said, "I have some good news."
When Lu Taining heard this, he immediately perked up.
"What good news?"
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