Chapter 65: Collecting Food My general, just one look and you let Yu An...
Without waiting for Zheng Liang to argue, Fang Yilan and his group left the granary, leaving Zheng Liang and a group of grain merchants dumbfounded.
"Mr. Zheng, what should we do?" Shopkeeper Wang asked hurriedly with his round face wrinkled into a bitter gourd.
"What's the hurry?" Zheng Liang sneered twice. "Just be patient and wait. In a few days, she'll be kneeling before me, begging me to give her Fang family soldiers a meal!" Back in the tent, Fang Yilan sat at the desk, writing furiously. After folding the letter, he instructed Zhuang Gu, "Give it to Miss Shao Wan."
"yes."
Fang Yilan's throat was dry. Her fingertips had barely touched the handle of the teapot when a celadon cup filled with amber tea was thrust before her. The steam rising just barely covered her eyelashes. A freshly picked leaf of Qingxincao rested at the bottom of the cup.
Zhao Huaixu pressed his warm fingertips between Fang Yilan's eyebrows and said, "General Fang, please don't keep frowning like that."
Fang Yilan raised her eyebrows: "Are you saying that I'm not good-looking anymore?"
Zhao Huaixu chuckled, leaning closer to her, pinching her pubic area and looking left and right: "Hmm... Let me take a closer look..."
Taking advantage of the moment when Fang Yilan blinked, he suddenly held her lower lip and sucked it gently.
After a long while, their lips parted, the tip of his nose still rubbing against hers, his voice low and seductive: "My General, just one look at you makes Yu An want to kiss you like this..."
"Okay, stop it." Fang Yilan kissed his lips comfortingly and slightly perfunctorily.
After Zhao Huaixu interrupted her like this, her mood calmed down.
After much thought, the only option now is to bypass the grain merchants and try to buy grain directly from the farmers.
Early the next morning, as soon as the sky turned pale, Fang Yilan took a few personal soldiers, changed into simple casual clothes, and rushed to Anjin Village outside Linzhong City.
As we entered the village, a scene of desolation and desolation greeted us. The old houses were leaning to one side and the walls were peeling off, as if a strong wind could blow them down.
As we got closer, we found that most of the villagers were hunched and thin, their backs bent by the burden of life. Their faces were sallow and dull, just like dead grass hit by frost, lifeless.
Fang Yilan saw an old farmer working in the fields and approached him and asked, "Old man, we would like to buy some food from you."
The old farmer straightened up, his cloudy eyes visible from beneath the brim of his straw hat. He said, "There's no more food at home. We can barely afford to eat. Even if we had food, it would have been taken away by Master Zheng's men long ago."
He saw that Fang Yilan and his group were dressed simply but neatly, and did not look like bad people. He asked timidly, "How much are you willing to pay?"
"Just buy the grain according to the market price, three hundred coins per stone." Fang Yilan squatted down and answered.
The old farmer widened his eyes in astonishment, and was a little excited, because this was five times the price they paid for their grain.
The old farmer wiped his face vigorously with his torn sleeve, his expression quickly darkening again as he sighed heavily. "The Chamber of Commerce has made a strict rule: if anyone dares to sell grain privately, they'll never accept our grain again. We work so hard all year long just to earn a living. If we offend the Chamber of Commerce, how will we survive in the future?"
He stretched out a finger like a dead branch, pointing to the dirt road to the west. "Last month, the kid from the Zhou family at the village headed for selling two dou of rice secretly. The Chamber of Commerce sent people to break his legs and smash the millstones. The kid couldn't get his legs healed, so he died a few days later..."
"It's not that we don't want to sell grain to you, it's just that we don't dare."
Fang Yilan smiled and said, "It's okay, sorry to bother you, I'll go ask somewhere else."
As she turned around, someone tugged at the corner of her clothes.
"Young lady, please wait..." The old farmer suddenly lowered his voice, his eyes rolling from side to side. "If...if...you came with cash, I have a stone of new rice hidden in the ravine behind the mountain."
Fang Yilan was stunned for a moment.
"Please inform the villagers." She untied the purse from her waist and put the silver into the old man's palm. "I will wait under this old locust tree until sunset. The price of grain is the same for everyone. I promise that the merchants will not know about this."
Although the woman in front of him was wearing ordinary coarse cloth clothes and spoke softly, the old farmer still felt the weight of her words.
He hurriedly raised his hand and gestured: "Okay, I'll go inform everyone!" Then he hurried towards the village.
A scrawny man was the first to arrive with the grain. He opened the sack and said, "Look! There are no stones or stale rice mixed in!"
Fang Yilan nodded, and Zhuang Gu quickly counted the silver and handed it to the strong man.
The man took the money with trembling hands. In the past, when the city shops came to buy grain, they were always picky and had to bargain down the price. He didn't expect them to pay directly.
When the villagers heard the news, a small group of people quickly rushed over. They looked back every three steps. Seeing that they were surrounded by Fang Yilan's people, they felt relieved and secretly took the remaining rice from their homes.
The old woman with gray hair came tremblingly, tears in her eyes, and wanted to kneel down to Fang Yilan: "Buddha, please appear. If it weren't for you, I don't know if I could have survived this winter."
Fang Yilan quickly helped the person up: "Don't be afraid, mother-in-law. If there is still food left, go to the city to find the army, and someone will collect it."
It was not until the sun was setting that Fang Yilan had managed to gather a dozen stones of food, but this was truly a drop in the bucket for the army.
Fang Yilan returned to Linzhong City, and Xunyun rushed over: "General, there is a man named Pei Yi who wants to see you today. He has been waiting for half a day."
"Pei Yi?"
Xun Yun explained, "His father, Pei Xing, was originally the president of the Linzhong Chamber of Commerce. However, in the 21st year of Honghe, he was accused of embezzling disaster relief grain, and all of his family's assets were confiscated, sparing only his life."
"Please ask him to come in."
Then a tall and thin man came in. The hem of his gray cloth robe was patched with dark patches, but it was washed cleanly, and there was a sense of righteousness between his brows.
He bowed and said, "Greetings, General. My name is Pei Yi."
Fang Yilan nodded slightly: "Mr. Pei, why don't you tell us in detail what happened back then?"
Pei Yi looked sad as he slowly said, "My father, Pei Xing, was originally the largest merchant in Linzhong City. The current head of the Chamber of Commerce, Zheng Liang, was originally the owner of the rice shop owned by my father."
"I don't know what tricks he used to collude with the high-ranking officials in the capital. My father was ordered to escort 3,000 dan of disaster relief grain to Nanxi, but by the time it arrived, it had turned into 800 dan of sand." Pei Yi's Adam's apple rolled. "Zheng Liang served as a witness, and he stubbornly pinned the embezzlement of the relief grain on my family, falsely accusing the late crown prince of his orders."
Fang Yilan's heart trembled, and she couldn't help but glance sideways at Zhao Huaixu beside her. He had an indifferent expression, as if he knew these old stories.
Pei Yi continued, "Since my father's unjust death, Zheng Liang has become the head of the Chamber of Commerce. He's become even more reckless and has been making things difficult for me. Those honest merchants who once received my father's kindness and helped me out of old friendships have been ruthlessly excluded by him, and their lives are now unbearable."
"The Chamber of Commerce these days..." Pei Yi's eyes were filled with resentment, his fists unconsciously clenched. "Grain merchants pay a 60% life-saving fee, and farmers are even more pitiful. Even if they sell their grain at a loss, they can only barely make ends meet. If they disobey, their lives are in danger."
Fang Yilan said in a deep voice: "Yes, this matter needs someone to break the deadlock."
Pei Yi said loudly, "I know the general is suffering from the problem of food and grass. Pei Yi is willing to help the general solve this problem."
"So, you came here to clear your father's name?"
Pei Yi admitted generously, "Of course, that's one reason. Back then, there were seven Pei families listed in the Chamber of Commerce directory, but now I'm the only one left... I also want to fulfill my father's lifelong wish and restore our family's reputation. However, this matter is also for me. If I can help the general out of this predicament, I can naturally turn the tide and make a name for myself."
Fang Yilan raised an eyebrow and asked, "Aren't you afraid of making a wrong bet? If you fail, you might never be able to recover."
"I have nothing to lose now," Pei Yi said calmly. "As a businessman, I understand the coexistence of risks and opportunities. I believe in the general's character, and I also believe that this opportunity will surely restore my Pei family to the light of day and provide a glimmer of hope for the suffering people of Linzhong."
"Okay." Fang Yilan stood up and said, "I've always had an idea, but I've been struggling with the lack of a leader. After all, I'm not familiar with Linzhong. With your help, this matter will be able to turn around."
Zhuang Gu rushed in and reported loudly, "General, Miss Shao has replied."
The letter first praised Fang Yilan for his previous counterattack against Emperor Jingwen, and then told Fang Yilan that a chamber of commerce banquet would be held in a town adjacent to Linzhong in the near future. Prominent merchants from all over the country would attend the banquet, and perhaps they would be able to receive grain from merchants from all over the country there.
Shao Wan also included a pure gold token in the letter. With this token, Fang Yilan could not only represent Jinling Money House to attend the event, but also withdraw money at any branch of Jinling Money House.
Pei Yi stood aside and inadvertently caught a glimpse of the golden peony pattern on the back of the token, his expression slightly changing.
He hadn't expected Fang Yilan to have such a deep connection with the Jinling Bank. Shocked, Pei Yi hurriedly bowed, his tone filled with awe, and said respectfully, "I will obey your orders, General."
Fang Yilan raised his eyebrows and asked, "Where is the most expensive property in Linzhong City?"
...
Across from Jiuyun Tower in Linzhong City, a new shop quietly opened. This location is incredibly expensive, and finding a spot here would normally be as difficult as climbing to heaven. Yet, this new shop was exceptionally grand, with a gilded plaque prominently displaying the powerful characters "Poyue Chamber of Commerce."
Everyone was wondering who the owner of this chamber of commerce was.
Soon, the news spread, and it turned out that the boss was also an old acquaintance, Pei Yi.
The merchants, who had been suppressed by Zheng Liang and faced obstacles everywhere, suddenly brightened up upon hearing the news. They spread the word and flocked to the Poyue Chamber of Commerce to offer their congratulations. For a time, the Chamber of Commerce was bustling with activity.
"Mr. Pei is overjoyed!"
Pei Yi stood at the front of the steps, his usual faded blue shirt replaced with a cloud-patterned brocade robe, casting off his usual gloom. He chatted warmly with the merchants who came to congratulate him. Pei Yi caught a glimpse of the bamboo curtain on the second floor across from him moving slightly, and a smile curled his lips.
"Where did Pei Yi get so much money?" A businessman muttered in a low voice in the private room of Jiuyun Tower.
Zheng Liang had already heard the news from his servants. Sitting on the armchair, toying with a jade ring, he snorted coldly, "Fang Yilan is truly willing to spend a fortune. Humph, the Pei family thought they could turn things around by clinging to Fang Yilan? Little do they know, they've just boarded a pirate ship."
After saying that, he slammed his ring on the table. "Whoever dares to communicate with the Pei family will suffer the consequences... you know!"
But who would have thought that the next day, a striking wooden sign was placed at the entrance of the Poyue Chamber of Commerce, which read: [New rice, 300 coins per stone, no one is turned away]
When this news came out, the whole Linzhong City was in an uproar.
You know, before this, Zheng Liang’s Chamber of Commerce was the only one in Linzhong, and farmers and small merchants had no choice but to sell their grain to Zheng Liang at a low price.
Now, Pei Yi's Po Yue Chamber of Commerce has emerged and is purchasing grain at a high price. Someone is competing with Zheng Liang head-on, and it is a member of the Pei family with a good reputation.
Regarding the disaster relief grain issue back then, the people in the imperial city were unaware of the inside story, but who in Linzhong didn't know about it? What exactly happened?
Within a few days, many people were delivering grain to the Po Yue Chamber of Commerce, either openly driving horse-drawn carriages or secretly carrying loads on their shoulders. Some farmers even left home before dawn just to sell their grain to the Po Yue Chamber of Commerce as soon as possible.
"Boss, your tea is cold." The servant reminded nervously.
Zheng Liang threw his favorite Jun kiln teacup to the ground.
The sound of porcelain breaking came from the teahouse opposite. Fang Yilan was sitting in a private room on the second floor of the Po Yue Chamber of Commerce, leisurely sipping fragrant tea.
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