In the Chu Dynasty, everyone was accustomed to the rise in food prices every winter.

The roads are covered with snow, and it is difficult to transport food from various places. The food harvested by farmers in the autumn has almost been exhausted by selling or eating, and ordinary people do not have enough money to save much food... The food that grain merchants and wealthy households have hoarded can be sold at high prices.

.

Food prices have risen, making money is only one aspect.

On the other hand, there are always some people who have to sell their fields and businesses every year in order to survive, and some people have no choice but to sell themselves and their descendants together in order to survive, becoming tenants from generation to generation, working hard to support others.

Squeezing out these people's land and labor is a hugely profitable business.

There are thousands of kinds of people in the world, but to put it bluntly, they are just squeezed out step by step.

But this year's grain prices in Beijing are still slightly different.

Youfang Street, Cuijia Liang Shop.

There was a long queue of people buying food, and the Jinyiwei officers patrolled back and forth with their swords drawn, driving away those without masks, and from time to time they flashed their long swords and ordered people to keep their distance.

This battle is actually a bit scary, but the people in Beijing can only come here to buy food in fear because it is cheaper.

In fact, if it weren't for the Jin Yi guards, the Cui family's grain store would have been burned down by other grain merchants.

In the teahouse in the distance, Wang Xiaozheng and Cui Ping were sitting and drinking tea.

"Husband-in-law, I really can't stand it any longer." Cui Ping said fearfully: "The Beijing Grain Industry Chamber of Commerce sends dozens of posts a day, not to mention that two dogs died inexplicably at my house the night before, and several more dogs died yesterday.

This servant is missing..."

"Don't worry, uncle, I have asked the Jin Yiwei to protect the Cui family and the grain store." Wang Xiao said indifferently.

Cui Ping said with a grimace: "Isn't this pushing the Cui family to the forefront? None of those grain merchants have powerful connections behind them."

"Relationship with Tongtian?" Wang Xiaoxiao said with a smile, "Compared with a backer? Uncle, be more confident, your backer is the biggest one in this capital. Besides, I am still your legitimate nephew."

Hearing these words, Cui Ping didn't know whether Wang Xiao was teasing or showing off, and hesitantly said: "But if this continues, our Cui family will not have much food."

"Just restock when there's not much left."

"Where can I go in this season..."

"Don't worry, I will make arrangements." Wang Xiao reassured with a smile on his face: "If we can't get food, we can borrow some from others."

As he spoke, he glanced thoughtfully at the servants behind Cui Ping, and said leisurely: "The straw boat borrows the arrows."

…

After seeing Cui Ping off, Wang Xiao waited for a while and saw Kang Baiwan boarding the teahouse.

Kang Wanwan was a member of Lu Zhengchu. He was in charge of the Kundang's business in Beijing. Although the "Kangping Grain Store" he ran was not large in appearance, its throughput was not small.

"Consort."

"Sit down, Mr. Lu, have you agreed to my conditions?"

Kang Baiwan said: "The two million Liao salary must be prepared as soon as possible. Is it possible for the prince-in-law to do it?"

"Okay." Wang Xiao asked again: "When will Mr. Lu leave?"

"Within ten days. In addition, the boss said that there is no room for chaos in the capital now, and I hope that the prince-in-law will use less cruel methods."

"I have my own arrangements for this matter." Wang Xiao looked very determined and asked: "Where is the post of Commander-in-Chief of Shanhaiguan Pass that I want?"

"Who is the candidate for the consort?"

"Zhang Yongnian."

Kang Wanwan stroked his beard and said: "My lord, I have expected it, but General Qin must agree to this matter. We have to wait a little longer."

A political deal was implemented in a few words.

Wang Xiao added: "I also want to amend the Chu Law and add another commercial law. Can Mr. Lu have an answer to this matter?"

Kang Baiwan hesitated a little and asked, "The prince-in-law really wants to hear the boss's answer?"

"Say it."

"My lord, the prince said... the prince-in-law is just fooling around. This current situation is simply out of whim."

Wang Xiao laughed after hearing this and said, "It doesn't matter. Did Mr. Lu say this in front of others?"

Kang Baiwan was stunned for a moment and said, "Yes."

"Don't be surprised, Prince-in-law. Lu Gong has tried his best on this matter." Kang Wanwan explained: "Lu Gong discussed it with two cabinet elders in the cabinet. They both thought that this matter would not work. If the officials do not compete with the people for profit, we will establish the Chu Dynasty.

For a long time, commercial taxes have been thirty to one, and taxes on valuable commodities and customs taxes are unheard of. The beneficiaries of the tax are not ordinary, which will definitely cause turmoil in the world and make the crisis worse. As for the so-called "macro-control", it is even more nonsense. The government

If we regulate food prices, it will only make food prices rise even higher, just like official salt and private salt..."

Wang Xiao smiled casually and said: "It won't be easy to explain this for a while. Anyway, it's good that the news is released."

Kang Wanwan was a little stunned again.

What do you mean, just let the news out? This prince-in-law is doing things here and there with a hammer and a stick, making it difficult for people to understand. I am afraid he is not a fool.

Wang Xiao took a sip of tea, looked out the window, and whispered to himself: "I would like to start a business war with you. Unfortunately, I hold force in one hand and Chu law in the other. I am both a referee and a player. So I guess you

You don’t want to play with me anymore, do you?”

Kang Wanwan couldn't hear what he was saying, and he thought to himself that this kid was out of his mind and talking to ghosts in broad daylight.

The two discussed other matters for a while, and then Kang Wanwan got up and left the teahouse.

Then, at the Kangping Grain Store opposite the Cui Family Grain Store, a clerk put up a big sign.

"Five cents per dou..." Someone couldn't help but whisper: "Is this lower than the price at Cui's grain store?"

Soon, people buying food came in droves, and the Jinyiwei sent extra manpower to maintain order.

In the chaos, the clerk from Kangping Grain Store shouted: "Don't worry, everyone, everyone in our Kangping Grain Store knows our family background. The warehouse behind here just shipped yesterday..."

After shouting here, another waiter suddenly said: "Why don't you shut up? If you don't take advantage of now to sell more points, you will have to lower the price later..."

"Shut up, everyone!" the shopkeeper yelled.

After hearing these words, a man in civilian clothes withdrew from the team, walked quickly across the long street, and entered He's house.

In the lobby of the He family, He Jue stood respectfully, accompanying the guests.

The people in the room are all dressed in luxurious clothes and have extraordinary bearings, but they are real powerful figures in various noble houses.

At this time, another spy was reporting the news: "Our spy at the Cui family listened to the conversation between Wang Xiao and Cui Ping and has silenced the conversation."

With that said, a letter was circulated among the people.

"Borrowing arrows from a straw boat?!" Exclaims rang out from time to time in the hall.

Then, the commoner man told the news he heard at the Kangping grain store.

There was another round of chatter in the hall.

He Yao said loudly: "Dear gentlemen, the king's thief has already revealed his plan. Today only, we have heard about his plans again, so how many more tricks does he have behind his back?"

"Wang Xiao intends to let the court regulate grain prices, but the cabinet elders can stop it for a while, but not forever. Kangping Grain Store received another grain yesterday, three warehouses full. This is enough to last until he finishes revising the bullshit commercial laws, then he will

But we have to borrow arrows from our just-named straw boat, and the ambition of the wolf is clearly revealed."

"It is said that we should be prepared for danger in times of peace, but now the crisis is imminent. The Wen family, Prince Gong's Mansion, Xianguo Mansion, Dongping Hou Mansion, as well as Zhending nobles, big and small, all kinds of lessons learned from the past, if we don't make plans early, we will seize the family and exterminate the clan.

It’s going to fall!”

When he said this, with an angry look on his face, he raised his hands and shouted: "I beg you all, gentlemen, not to sit back and wait for death! Let's... run away!"

"Zheng Gong is now guarding Nanjing with his emperor and grandson. That is the paradise..."

That night, He Jue talked non-stop, vowing to persuade the nobles in the capital to take away the foundation of the He family.
Chapter completed!