Chu and Han contend for the throne

Chapter 502 Looting Guanzhong ([-])

After moving the capital, there were too many things to do, and Xiang Zhuang was too busy to touch the ground. Today, he was finally free, so he quickly sent Hu Yan to call Bai Lixian and other ministers to a small tavern that had just opened for a drink. After Chu State moved its capital to Luoyang, Many industries that depend on nobles and relatives have also moved to Luoyang, and even opened a branch in Luoyang.

Therefore, in less than half a year, hundreds of taverns, post houses, chess houses and prostitute villages have sprung up in Luoyang City.

Of course, Xiang Zhuang didn't come to this tavern to drink to experience the sufferings of the people, but the palace was being repaired, and the dust was so dusty that he couldn't stay there, so he simply sent troops to take over this slightly decent tavern, and then took all the people out of town. Li Xian, Bi Shu and other civil and military ministers were invited here to discuss matters while drinking.

After drinking for three rounds, Wu She asked, "Your Majesty, why did you let the Qin family and the Tang family buy a large amount of grain in Handan and Anyi? You must know that Zhao and South Korea are very strict on the entry and exit of goods. It would be fine if there is only a small amount of grain, but it is absolutely impossible to transport such a large amount back to Chu."

Xiang Zhuang said: "It is not because we are short of grain that they are asked to buy grain in Handan and Anyi."

Xiang He said: "But the problem is that it is difficult to conceal the shipment of so much grain, how can it be shipped back?"

Xiang Zhuang smiled and said in a nonchalant way: "My dear friends, you are wrong. The grain bought from Handan and Anyi is not intended to be shipped back to the country, but to be shipped to Guanzhong."

"Shipping to Guanzhong?" Xiang Tuo was puzzled, "What's going on?"

"You don't have to worry about what's going on, haha." Xiang Zhuang laughed, "In short, if the operation is done well this time, not only the wealth of thousands of merchants in Guanzhong and Qi Guixu of the Han Dynasty will be looted, but also The millions of stones of grain accumulated in Zhao Guo and South Korea’s Taicang will all fall into our Ao Cang.”

Xiang Ta, Xiang Tuo and others looked at each other in blank dismay, if they could loot Guanzhong, it would be fine, but could they also loot the millions of shi of grain accumulated in the national treasury of Zhao and South Korea?How can this be? !
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The Liuji old store is the largest grain store in Xianyang, but it suddenly put up a wooden sign saying that there is no grain for sale early this morning, and hundreds of traders who came to buy grain early in the morning exploded in no time.

Because before that, dozens of other grain stores in Xianyang City had all closed down.

This year's autumn grain harvest is short, and the price of grain in Guanzhong has been rising all the way. It has risen from [-] yuan per stone at the beginning of the year to [-] yuan per stone. However, three days ago, the grain price in Xianyang suddenly went up like crazy, and it was a It rose three times a day, and in just three days, the price of grain rose to [-] yuan per stone, and there was no market for the price.

The price of food soared, and the aristocratic families in Guanzhong also began to hoard food.

Today, even Liu Ji's old shop can't stand it anymore and has gone out of business.

Although the Han Dynasty pursued the national policy of emphasizing agriculture and suppressing commerce, it only means that the status of merchants and handicraftsmen is low. It does not mean that there are no handicraft workshops in Guanzhong. Iron smelting workshops and weapon workshops employ tens of thousands of workers.

In addition to official workshops, there are also large and small private workshops. There are at least tens of thousands of handicraft practitioners in Xianyang and around Gyeonggi alone (including female workers and child laborers). It is said that there are tens of 10 people, most of whom are out of production and have to buy food to survive.

Now, dozens of grain stores headed by the old Liuji store are all closed, and these handicraftsmen immediately cut off their ration sources, and they will be hungry. Except for these handicraftsmen who have no overnight food, there are even many The guards are also jumping and scolding their mothers, because they can't buy food to feed their wives and children.

All of a sudden, the whole Xianyang was in a commotion.

At the same time, there is a rumor that spread like wildfire, saying that Prime Minister Baimo set up an official to specialize in salt and iron, seriously hurting the interests of merchants in Guanzhong. It is also closed now. The implication is that the food shortage in Xianyang is caused by Bai Mo's misconduct.

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"It's unreasonable, it's unreasonable!" Bai Mo was furious.

A few days ago, I heard that some grain stores were closed, and Bai Mo didn't pay much attention to it, but today, even the time-honored Liuji Store has gone out of business. What makes Bai Mo even more angry is that these businesses have turned black and white, obviously they are hoarding The grain was not sold, but he beat him upside down and poured dirty water on him.

Originally, Bai Mo promoted the government-operated salt and iron business. If he wanted to harm the interests of the salt merchants and iron merchants, it had nothing to do with the grain merchants. How could it cause the grain merchants in Xianyang City to close down?Obviously, behind this must be related giant businessmen who are trying to put pressure on the court.

Chen Pingdao: "Prime Minister, what should we do now?"

At this time, Chen Ping was unavoidably dissatisfied with Bai Mo. He had reminded Bai Mo a long time ago that he must pay attention to it, but Bai Mo didn't take it seriously. Body and merchants from all walks of life explained one or two, how could these grain merchants collaborate with salt merchants and iron merchants to make trouble?
A doorman suggested: "Prime Minister, these profiteers dare to hoard it, why not send troops to search it!"

"Nonsense, wouldn't that make things even more unmanageable?!" Chen Ping reprimanded unceremoniously. The problem now is not only that the grain merchants are hoarding, but even the aristocratic families in Guanzhong are also involved. What's the use of sending troops to raid a few grain merchants? Could it be possible to copy all the hoarding families?
The doorman said with a bitter face: "We can't send troops to search, so what should we do?"

"What should I do? It's easy!" Bai Mo smiled darkly, and said in a deep voice, "Release the grain from Taicang and sell it at a high price! Since those aristocratic and powerful families are willing to help the evil, then there is no need to be polite about the truth. They don't want to hoard and make huge profits Is it? The truth is not as good as they wished, and they insist on paying for everything, heh heh!"

"Grain from Taicang?" Chen Ping frowned, "But this is a reserve grain, so you can't tamper with it..."

"Taishi don't have to worry at all." Bai Mo said with a dark smile, "The truth of this matter has already been taken care of. After the matter is completed, not only will all the stored grain in Taicang be returned in full, but the treasury will also get a large amount of money for nothing. What a god-sent opportunity, the little arm actually wants to compete with the imperial court's thigh, they are courting death!"

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The next day, Xianyang Taicang began to sell grain at a price of [-] qian per stone.

More than a dozen grain stores headed by the old Liuji store have also reopened, but the price of grain has increased by [-] yuan compared to yesterday. I bought a few more dendrobiums on the scalp, who knows if the price of food will rise again?Although it is expensive now, it may be even more expensive tomorrow.

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The Sima Mansion was full of guests and friends. There were still seats for a dozen powerful merchants, and a hundred merchants with lesser strength didn’t even have a seat. They could only stand on both sides of the hall. They gathered here tonight. Is it to ask for a letter, and then should we release grain at high prices, or continue to hoard grain to push up prices?

A giant businessman asked: "Zhong Gong, Baimo has opened Taicang to release grain for several days, and the grain shortage in Xianyang has gradually eased. Is it necessary to continue hoarding grain?"

Sima Ji glanced around the hall, and seeing the different attitudes of the people, he knew that someone had wavered, which was reasonable, after all, Bai Mo stood behind the entire Han Kingdom, and the chances of winning against him were slim, not to mention that the price of food had risen to Three hundred dollars per stone, if you can release all the grain in your hands, you can make a lot of money.

At that moment, Sima Ji sneered and said: "I advise you to give up the idea of ​​releasing grain. Bai Mo is waiting. As long as you release grain here, he will immediately lower the price crazily. When the time comes, the price of grain will be absolute." It will fall to a low level that will make you lose all your money, so that Bai Mo can buy back grain from you at an ultra-low price to enrich Taicang."

Many grain merchants showed awe-inspiring expressions on their faces, thinking that Bai Mo was really insidious enough, and almost fell into his way.

Sima Zhong smiled and said: "You don't have to worry too much, don't look at the price of food has risen to [-] yuan, but this old man can tell everyone very clearly that the fun has just begun, and this old man can tell everyone here. To be honest, by the beginning of next spring at the latest, food prices will definitely rise to thousands of dollars!"

"What? Thousands of dollars?! Is it true?"

"If it can really rise to thousands of dollars, then we will send it!"

"Whether it's true or not, we have no turning back."

"Yes, yes, at this point, even if there is a cliff in front of you, you can only rush forward with your eyes closed."

As soon as the words fell, there were whispers in the hall instantly, some were excited, some were thinking calmly, some were resting with their eyes closed, and some were gritting their teeth with grim expressions.

Immediately another giant merchant asked, "Zhong Gong, what's the attitude over there?"

The whispering in the hall stopped abruptly, and everyone pricked up their ears, because what the giant businessman said was referring to the richest man in Guanzhong—the Lu family.

This time, the merchants in Guanzhong teamed up to hoard grain, and the Lu family did not directly participate in it, but they secretly supported it. Now that Bai Mo released the grain from Taicang, the competition between the two sides would intensify. Without the Lu family and the forces attached to the Lu family Support, just relying on the hundred or so families on their side is likely to be overwhelmed.

Sima Zhong smiled slightly, and retorted the giant merchant who asked the question just now: "Shi Gong, if there is no support from there, how would this old man dare to take the lead and sing against Bai Mo? To tell you the truth, the other side has made it clear that no matter how much food Bai Mo sends from Taicang , he guarantees that he can eat it, if you have spare energy, you might as well continue to eat it."

As soon as these words were said, the hundred or so merchants in the hall suddenly settled down.

"What? Is it finally going to be directly involved? Great, it's no problem now."

"Looking back, I will eat another five thousand shi to come in. Hehe, the food stored in Xianyang Taicang is only 50 shi. I want to see how long Bai Mo can last?"

(End of this chapter)