Chapter 40
Within just three to five days, this raging storm subsided at a visible speed.
This was not a fluke, but a trap that Jiang Manyan had laid in advance the moment she discovered the large influx of refugees into Jincheng.
When the first wave of rumors began, Qin Lingfeng's well-trained bodyguards had already followed the trail and quietly located the spies hiding in the city and even infiltrating people's homes.
On the night of the operation, the action was swift and decisive. Jiang Zhong personally led the city guards, storming several key hideouts and catching the key figures in the middle of their conspiracy red-handed.
The rebels were killed instantly, while the captors were dragged into a dark and gloomy dungeon, where they would face the torture of having their mouths pried open by the third brother.
Meanwhile, Jiang Manyan herself was in the mansion, reviewing the secret reports sent from all directions under the lamplight...
For the people of Jincheng, Jiang Manyan's past identity is not important; they only recognize that it was City Lord Jiang who led them to a better life.
As for the so-called "bewitching" of Young Master Qin? That's simply a blessing for that young master Qin!
In Jincheng, countless young men and women would fight tooth and nail for such a woman.
However, Song Guansui, who had completely taken control of the central area, was only beginning his revenge.
He had plenty of ways to get his half-brother, who had once again fled from him in alliance with outsiders, to return to his side on his own.
His obsession with Jiang Manyan had seeped into his very bones. The girl who had once groveled at his feet and was so obedient and submissive could only ever be his possession.
The seemingly peaceful and beautiful life in Jincheng was like a poisonous thorn, pricking his nerves day and night.
Jealousy and anger burned within him; he was determined to destroy that dazzling happiness and take that person back into his grasp at all costs.
...
Under Jiang Manyan's leadership, in just half a year, "Jincheng Exchange" had become a hot topic of conversation among caravans in Guancheng, Jinghai City, and other places.
"Hey, you haven't been there! The grain there is reasonably priced, and the steamed rice smells amazing from across the street!"
"It's not just grain! Their dried fish, shrimp paste, and seafood are all hot commodities in our area. A trip to Jincheng can increase profits by 30%!"
Such discussions, like a sweet-smelling wild breeze, swept through the caravans traveling to and from Cangzhou.
The vast open space in front of the moat of Jin City was thus filled with unprecedented activity.
The convergence of accents from all over the country, the constant flow of carriages and horses, and the low taxes and high-quality goods made this place a paradise for merchants.
This bustling and vibrant scene is the best proof of Jincheng's vitality.
However, this prosperity deeply stung the eyes of the powerful elites in the central district.
A trade ban, stamped with the Song family seal, was swiftly sent to the central area and all its surrounding towns, like a biting winter wind.
The order was cold and resolute—any caravan that continued to have any business dealings with Jincheng would be permanently barred from entering the central market.
When the news spread, caravans from all over the country were in an uproar, followed by a deathly silence.
Everyone said it was a pity, but no one dared to break the law and challenge the behemoth that was the Song family.
Only one caravan, composed of a few young men, believed that "fortune favors the bold" and attempted to secretly travel to Jincheng.
As a result, the goods were confiscated by the Song family's forces halfway through the journey and permanently blacklisted in the central area.
This swift and decisive action, like a bucket of ice water poured over their heads, instantly extinguished any remaining hope in the hearts of the caravan members.
Money is good, but it is not as important as life and long-term livelihood.
The trade route leading to Jincheng became completely deserted within just a few days.
Within Jincheng, however, the changes were more concrete and more piercing.
The once bustling trading area is now deserted, with only local merchants looking at each other in bewilderment.
The convoy that was supposed to arrive at the pass today has not been seen, and the Jinghai City merchants who were supposed to sign a large number of orders have also disappeared without a trace.
The empty space seemed both vast and desolate.
A silent panic began to spread like a plague among the merchants and common people in the city.
"Mr. Zhang, what... what should we do? My warehouse is still full of grain that I'm ready to sell!"
"It's all over, all over! If I can't sell my seafood and run out of cash, all my efforts over the past six months will be wasted!"
...
Inside the teahouse, several local businessmen sat around a table, their faces pale and their foreheads beaded with cold sweat.
However, the situation changed drastically overnight.
In just six months, through the exchange of grain for goods from various regions, the lives of every household became increasingly prosperous and full of hope.
This sudden severance was like an invisible guillotine hanging over everyone's neck.
"Didn't they say... our grain wouldn't have any trouble selling?"
A young merchant's son asked, his voice trembling.
The old man beside him sighed heavily, his cloudy eyes filled with worry.
“Son, our goods are good, but in this world… good goods are never enough to survive.”
Although Song Guansui had not yet personally arrived in Jincheng, his ability to manipulate events at will was like an invisible giant hand, slowly gripping the throat of this newly established city.
The bubble of prosperity was easily burst, revealing its fragile foundation.
Jincheng, a city that had just ignited the flame of hope, is now facing another severe test of survival.
When Lin Xiu hurriedly stepped into the council chamber, Jiang Manyan was discussing with Lao San and several other core subordinates how to eliminate the lingering effects of the incident in the city.
"Lord! Something terrible has happened!"
Lin Xiu's voice was slightly shrill due to her urgency.
"Those despicable nobles in the central district have issued a strict order forbidding all caravans from trading with us! Now our trading area is completely empty, and the merchants and people in the city are living in fear!"
He had just started his shift when he was surrounded by a group of panicked merchants. Their cacophony of complaints and questions gave him a headache, and he was still shaken.
The atmosphere inside the room was already heavy with the aftermath, and the news brought by Lin Xiu made the air suddenly tense.
Jiang Manyan looked up from the map, her expression unfazed by the bad news. She simply gazed at him calmly with her serene honey-brown eyes and asked, "Lin Xiu, in your opinion, what should we do now?"
Lin Xiu paused slightly, then quickly composed himself and offered his answer, which he had been pondering all along: "In my opinion, the most urgent task is to appease the people immediately. Our reserves are still sufficient, and our supplies will not run out immediately. As long as the people's hearts are at peace and the city order is maintained, we can buy ourselves valuable time to calmly plan our response."
Jiang Manyan listened silently, her gaze slowly sweeping over everyone present.
Some were worried, some were indignant, and some placed all their hopes on him.
He took in everyone's unease, and in the end, he simply smiled gently, a smile as warm as a spring breeze across ice.
"That makes sense."
He first affirmed Lin Xiu, then turned to Jiang Zhong, who was standing beside him, his tone calm, yet carrying an unquestionable, rock-solid certainty.
"Brother Zhong, pass on the message to the villagers so they can rest assured. In half a month, at most half a month, all the scarce supplies currently on the market will appear on the shelves in Jincheng in sufficient quantities and at reasonable prices."
He did not cite classical texts to analyze the situation, nor did he reveal any behind-the-scenes plans; he simply made a decisive and resounding promise.
Strangely, these words seemed to possess a certain magic. The anxiety and tension that had filled the council hall because of Lin Xiu's news were instantly soothed by this calm and composed demeanor.
In Jincheng, Jiang Manyan's words themselves are the hardest currency; his promises are more convincing than any official document bearing the official seal.
When the message spread from the guards to every corner of the streets, the restless hearts of the people miraculously calmed down.
At the market, worried merchants comforted each other.
"Since Lord Jiang said it exists, then it definitely exists!"
In the teahouse, the people who had been discussing the matter finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"The city lord never lies to us, so let's just wait patiently."
This unquestionable trust is the strongest spiritual wall that Jiang Manyan has built for Jincheng through her consistent words and actions.
When Jiang Manyan's letter arrived in Yancheng by carrier pigeon, Hongdou presented both letters to Yu Mobai.
One letter was made of expensive silk gauze, adorned with delicate dried flowers, and had an enticing fragrance.
The other letter was made of the most ordinary hemp paper, simple and unadorned.
Yu Mobai's gaze swept over the ornate letter without hesitation, and he took the simple hemp paper envelope directly.
He had heard about the trade ban in the central area and was deeply worried about the situation in Jincheng.
He unfolded the letter, and instead of urgently seeking help, he began with a detailed reply to all the city governance problems he had consulted the previous month.
Every word is insightful and true, and it also includes a highly feasible strategy for forest reclamation.
They had thought things through carefully, as if Jincheng itself had not encountered any crisis.
Only at the end of the letter did Jiang Manyan gently...
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