I'm really not King Jing of Zhongshan

Chapter 230 Everything will be revealed...
"Father, what exactly do you mean..."

"In the end, what do you mean..."

In the north of Chang'an City, the side hall of the Taiwo Palace.

Nearly half a month has passed since the emperor's four-year grand ceremony.

But even after so long, Liu Sheng still couldn't bear to worry about what happened in the apse of Xuanshi Palace that day.

——Liu Sheng didn't understand what Tianzi Qi's attitude was.

Did he want to praise Liu Sheng for his good work?

Or do you want to blame Liu Sheng for not doing well?
or······

"Even if you scold me a few words, it's okay to talk about what I think is wrong?"

"A sentence of 'Well, I understand, let's go down'..."

"--What do you mean?!"

Looking at Liu Sheng who was sitting in the main seat, he was talking to himself as in the past ten days, and from time to time he popped out the phrase 'what do you mean? ’, Liu Pengzu and Dou Pengzu, who were sitting on both sides, couldn’t help but smile at each other.

Each of them was busy with the work in hand, and they did not forget to comfort each other softly: "Maybe the meaning of the father is 'no comment'?"

"Just like the big plan, there are only a few counties and counties that can teach the most, and most of the counties and counties can only get a result of 'no comment'?"

"——I think that what His Majesty means is that this matter cannot be rushed."

"—So, even if you agree with the young master's statement, His Majesty will not comment on it;"

"——If you compare what the young master said on the grand court ceremony to a memorandum, then your majesty's disposition may be 'stay in the middle and not send it'?"

The consoling voices of cousin Dou Pengzu and elder brother Liu Pengzu came to his ears, which only made Liu Sheng raise his head thoughtfully.

But after hearing his elder brother's 'no comment' and his cousin's 'stay in China', Liu Sheng became even more irritable.

"No comment, not really 'no comment'?"

"—The counties and counties that received the 'no comment' will also receive the notice of 'no comment'?!"

"As for the memorabilia, 'stay in China but not publish'..."

"Isn't that what 'take it and burn it' means?"

A moan full of boredom immediately provoked Liu Pengzu who was at the side to smirk, looking at Liu Sheng with full gloating.

To say that the stalk of "staying in China and not posting it" was caused by the two brothers helping the old prime minister with government affairs last year when the old prime minister Shentu Jiashang was still alive.

But now, the old prime minister has passed away, and only two brothers Liu Sheng and Liu Pengzu are left who can get the stalk of 'remaining in China but not posting'.

On the other hand, Nanpi Marquis Dou Pengzu, heard Liu Sheng's complaints, but smiled slightly when they met.

Putting down the work in his hand temporarily, he looked up at Liu Sheng with a little seriousness.

"Staying in China and not sending out is actually not exactly what the young master thinks it means."

"If it's a memorial that you don't want to see, or a memorial handed in by someone you don't want to see, His Majesty will indeed keep it;"

"——The word stay here does not mean 'take it and burn it'."

"But apart from this, there are other situations, and His Majesty will not let go."

"For example, His Majesty approves of a certain memorial, but knows that this matter cannot be done for the time being;"

"Another example is a certain memorial, which touches His Majesty's heart, but His Majesty cannot admit it."

"Another example······"

In the middle of speaking, Dou Pengzu stopped talking with a strange expression, looked at Liu Sheng thoughtfully, then looked at the opposite side, and also raised his head to look at his own Liu Pengzu.

After a long time, he said a meaningful 'mutter': "That, ahem..."

"During the time of the first emperor, Chao Cuo presented the "Strategy for Cutting Fans", the first emperor..."

"Cough cough cough cough cough cough..."

A very deliberate dry cough caused the two brothers to stare at each other in surprise!

"Strategy to Cut Fans"!
Chao Cuo's "Strategy for Cutting Fans" was put forward as early as the first emperor? !
And the attitude of the first emperor was to 'stay in China and not send out'? ! !
"Sigh~~~~~~"

"This?!"

Seeing the two brothers gasp in unison, they looked at each other in horror again!

Then, Jianman turned to the sitting side with curiosity-seeking eyes, pretending that he was looking up his cousin Dou Pengzu.

Sensing the eyes of the two brothers staring at them full of thirst for knowledge, Dou Pengzu couldn't help but froze slightly;
After a while, he raised his head with a stiff smile, and grinned at the two brothers.

"Well, two young masters, should you focus on the matter in front of you?"

"After all, the matter of food is the most important thing now?"

The very deliberate change of the subject only caused the two brothers to cry and cry in disappointment, and let out a disappointed "ha~".

After a while, the two brothers looked at each other tacitly, then lowered their heads with a strange smile...
——In the future, there will be plenty of opportunities!
Secretly making up his mind to 'get back and listen to some past events from Dou Pengzu's mouth again', Liu Sheng no longer struggled, and refocused his attention on the bamboo slips that were half full of cases.

While flipping through the pages, he did not forget to casually ask his elder brother Liu Pengzu beside him: "Brother, have you written down the ledger?"

"——How much of the food in Taicang has been sold?"

"Is the money worth it?"

As soon as Liu Sheng said this, the two 'Pengzu', Liu and Dou, reacted: After nearly half a month, Liu Sheng finally entered the working state and refocused on food matters.

Everyone heaved a sigh of relief in their hearts, and saw Liu Pengzu get up first, picked up a roll of obviously thicker bamboo slips, and put it on the desk in front of Liu Sheng.

"It's all here."

"—In September, the 37 princes spent almost all their money and money in Chang'an to buy almost 740 million shi of grain;"

"After the New Year, these 37 companies still transferred gold and money from the Fengguo in Kanto, and bought more than 100 million stones."

After speaking, Liu Pengzu did not forget to stretch out his hand, leaned over the bamboo slips in front of Liu Sheng, and pointed again.

"here."

"As of today, a total of 2000 million shi of Taicang's 920 million shi of grain has been sold."

"Counting Aunt Guantao's 70 stones, there are only [-] stones left unsold."

"—The sold 920 million shi grains were exchanged for about 12 gold in total, all of which were sent to the Shaofu's internal funds;"

"In addition, there are [-] copper coins. The Crown Prince's uterus can't put it down, and most of them have been sent to the inner money."

"The money and food accounts are all correct."

Following Liu Pengzu's voice and his fingers sliding on the bamboo slips, Liu Sheng's eyes fell on each data on the bamboo slips, but he quickly fiddled with the abacus in his mind.

While fiddling with the abacus in his mind, he kept asking: "Is there any news from the Shaofu?"

"How much is the total amount of grain transferred from other official warehouses in Guanzhong, and how long will it take to transport it to Chang'an?"

Hearing this question, it was the turn of Nanpihou Dou Pengzu on the other side to stand up, walked forward with a smile, and stopped beside Liu Sheng.

He bent down, looked at the bamboo slips in front of Liu Sheng, and never forgot to answer Liu Sheng's questions.

"The Shaofu can transfer more than 900 million shi of grain from the official warehouses in various places in Guanzhong, and it will arrive in Chang'an at the latest."

"As for Shu County and Hanzhong, the Shaofu has sent people to buy grain, and it should take some time."

"The plank roads in and out of Shu and Hanzhong are difficult to walk, plus this October winter..."

"—It is estimated that the grain from Shu County and Hanzhong will not be transported back to Chang'an until February in spring."

"According to the Shaofu, the total is between seven and nine million stones."

Hearing this, Liu Sheng nodded slowly again, and the abacus he was fiddled with in his mind finally made a final crisp sound.

"Well······"

"2000 million stone, 900 million stone, 700 million stone..."

After finishing the mental calculation, he murmured thoughtfully twice, and Liu Sheng nodded again.

He stood up and signaled his elder brother and cousin to sit down. Then Liu Sheng took a deep breath, and then turned his serious eyes to his cousin Dou Pengzu on the right.

"The 2000 million shi of grain in Taicang have been eaten by those 37 princes."

"Biao Shu thinks, do these 37 princes still have the ability to continue to buy grain?"

"—Has the 2000 million shi of grain in Taicang forced these 37 princes to the point where they are 'deprived of anything'?"

"When the 900 million shi of grain newly transferred by the Shaofu is shipped back to Chang'an, will these 37 princes still have the ability to continue to eat the next part of the grain?"

Feeling the seriousness and seriousness in Liu Sheng's tone, Dou Pengzu couldn't help but sit up a little.

After thinking for a while in secret, he shook his head firmly.

"In September, the son opened Taicang to sell cheap grain. These 37 princes used all their money and gold in Chang'an to buy more than 700 million shi of grain from the son;"

"By October, these 37 families transferred money and gold deposits from the Kanto region, and it was difficult to eat more than 100 million shi."

"—37 families ate more than 900 million shi of grain, and on average, each family ate nearly 50 shi."

"To buy this 50 shi of grain from the son, it will cost five thousand gold, or 5000 million copper coins..."

In the middle of speaking, Dou Pengzu thought about it carefully, and then shook his head heavily.

"These 37 princes, with an average of 5000 gold or [-] million yuan each, should have reached their limit."

"The newly transported 900 million shi of grain from the Shaofu, these 37 families may not even be able to eat [-] shi."

"—Although it's not to the point of 'no wealth' as ​​the young master said, these 37 princes probably don't have much money or gold in their hands."

"Even if you mortgage your mansion, manor, and shop in Chang'an, you won't be able to borrow much money from Ziqian merchants."

Hearing this, Liu Sheng nodded slightly, but there was still no relaxed look on his face.

After thinking about it for a while, he still asked solemnly: "Aside from Ziqian merchants, who else will lend them money?"

"If they can't eat it, then besides them, who else would have the idea to eat the 900 million shi of grain that was just transferred?"

Hearing that Liu Sheng did not relax at all, and still had a solemn tone, Dou Pengzu lowered his head and thought for a while.

Dou Pengzu raised his head with a stern expression after going through everything he could think of, those who could afford so much money, and who were willing to lend to these dukes.

"Sub-money merchants may lend them money, but the interest will be high."

"—Just like last year, when Zhou Yafu led the army to go out, he borrowed a thousand gold from Ziqian businessman Wuyan's military expenses. In the end, he paid back a full ten thousand gold with interest."

"So, these 37 princes should not borrow money from their sons."

···
"In terms of 'borrowing or not', the other princes who did not buy grain from Taicang are also capable of lending money to these 37 families."

"But that's unlikely."

"Because these princes, since they didn't buy grain from Taicang, they have made up their minds and don't want to have trouble with the prince;"

"I don't even want to buy grain from Taicang or from the son. Naturally, I will not lend money to these 37 families to help them buy grain from the son."

···
"Except for Ziqian merchants and other princes who have not bought grain, there should be no one who can lend them money."

"—Princess Guantao has money, but she won't lend it to them;"

"—Young Master has money, so he won't lend it to them."

"If you can't borrow money, then these 37 companies should stop here."

"Taicang's 2000 million shi of grain has squeezed out all the financial resources of these 37 companies."

···
"As for these 37 families, who else will be tempted by the newly transferred 900 million shi of grain from the Shaofu..."

"Um······"

"——If among the other dukes, there are no more outrageous people, then the rest are the grain merchants who have been waiting and watching for the past two months."

"But how much food they can eat, I'm not sure."

With a stern look on his face, Liu Sheng finally breathed a sigh of relief after his cousin Dou Pengzu finished his last sentence;
Because of Liu Sheng's suddenly solemn expression, and the inexplicably gloomy atmosphere, it finally became normal.

But even so, the tone of Liu Sheng's next words still did not relax in the slightest.

——Liu Sheng himself didn't realize that: that day, the teachings given by the emperor had made Liu Sheng subconsciously pay attention to his own words and deeds.

At the very least, Tian Ziqi's teaching of "discussing state affairs must be serious and solemn" was obviously firmly remembered by Liu Sheng...

"In this way, the 2000 million stones in Taicang have fed these 37 princes."

"As for the other dukes, since they didn't make a move earlier, they won't interfere in the matter of food."

"The Shaofu transferred 900 million from various places in Guanzhong, and 800 million from Shu and Hanzhong in spring and February;"

"—together, the total grain of more than 500 million shi has to be counted on the grain merchants in Guanzhong."

"As long as they try their best to eat the 500 million shi of grain, after the beginning of spring, the price of grain in Guanzhong will be decided by them."

"The court has no food in hand, so it can only sit back and watch the price of food skyrocket, skyrocketing to thousands of dollars, or even thousands of dollars per stone..."

For the first time since he presided over the stabilization of grain prices, Liu Sheng revealed his purpose in a subtle way in front of his elder brothers Liu Pengzu and Nanpihou Dou Pengzu.

And after hearing Liu Sheng's deep voice, the expressions of Liu Pengzu, Dou Pengzu's uncle and nephew also suddenly took on a touch of heaviness.

——Thousands of dollars, even thousands of dollars for a stone!
The two uncles and nephews couldn't imagine what kind of changes such a grain price would bring to Guanzhong.

About 50 years ago, when Emperor Taizu Gao took the throne, the price of grain in Guanzhong experienced such a sharp rise.

At that time, the price of grain in Chang'an was as high as [-] yuan a stone, and the money to buy a cart of grain could not be pulled by a cart!

In addition, the sharp rise in grain prices was caused by Emperor Taizu Gao's order to reduce the mansion and cast three baht pods, which made the grain price as high as [-] yuan a stone last for nearly three years.

During those three years, many people died in Guanzhong...
starved to death, frozen to death;

Those who were exhausted from working for others, and those who were strangled to death by sawdust and mud;

Most of them are children who are exchanged by their parents and then eaten by neighbors...
In the history books, the tragedies of those years are only recorded by the cold words "Hungry everywhere, Yizi ate each other";

But even these eight icy seal scripts are enough to make Liu Pengzu, Dou Pengzu's uncle and nephew feel the impact from the depths of their souls.

And now, Guanzhong is facing that situation again.

As long as it is not handled properly, the price of grain will be as high as thousands of dollars, or even thousands of dollars per stone, and the historian of the Han family will write down again: In the fourth year of Emperor Xiaox, the price of rice was x[-] dollars per stone, and the people starved to death everywhere. Yizi Xiangeclipse······
"So, Ah Sheng is sure: the 500 million shi of grain, the grain merchants can't eat it?"

"Or besides this, is there another backhand?"

The long silence was broken by Liu Pengzu's trembling voice, but it also made the atmosphere in this side hall even more gloomy.

Even Nanpi Hou Dou Pengzu on the other side looked at Liu Sheng inexplicably solemnly.

But what both uncle and nephew were confused about was that before, Liu Sheng, who had always had a stern face and solemn tone, at this moment, inexplicably relaxed.

Although he still had the serious and solemn face, he did not forget to turn his body sideways and grinned at his elder brother Liu Pengzu and cousin Dou Pengzu on both sides.

"Brother, cousin, don't worry."

"I know all of these things."

"—Let's sell out the food first."

"Exchange all the money in the hands of these 37 princes and those Guanzhong grain merchants with grain in Taicang;"

"When the spring of next year begins, the common people will start to leave their homes and go to the market to buy rice, everything will be known..."

The meaningful words can be regarded as reassuring the uncle and nephew.

Thinking that Tianzi Qi and Empress Dou also knew what Liu Sheng was doing, the two uncles and nephews forcibly calmed down their uneasy hearts.

In the next few months, everything that happened in Chang'an City was exactly as Liu Sheng expected.

After the 37 princes were 'exhausted' and the Shaofu transferred 900 million shi of new grain from all over Guanzhong, the grain merchants in Guanzhong began to mobilize.

But after they ate the 900 million shi of grain, a very strange scene appeared in Chang'an City.

——The grain merchants are very happy to eat these grains;

——The princes are also very happy;

But the happiest one is Liu Sheng from Taiwomen...
(End of this chapter)