If the Yellow River floods really come, the Han Dynasty will inevitably become a marshy country. People in many cities and prefectures and counties along the Yellow River will flee, and the whole country will be short of food.
It is not difficult to understand why the imperial court requisitioned grain at such a high price.
In the eyes of these grain merchants, they saw something closely related to their own interests.
Food prices.
According to past experience, when floods in the Yellow River occur, food prices will inevitably skyrocket, possibly several times or even dozens of times. The imperial court started collecting grains in advance, and the price has already doubled. This flood may have a serious cause.
A once-in-a-thousand-year encounter is not impossible.
This means that if they can obtain food supplies, they will receive excess returns.
It's a pity that the imperial court has already taken action first, and there are people targeting the grain merchants. At this time, they must not dare to do anything without permission, otherwise they don't know who else will be wiped out.
Just when everyone was wavering, Jiang Shengwei spoke.
"Young people are not talented, so I have come up with a way out for you. Since this matter started because of the grain levy, why don't you change your flag, hold high the flag of collecting grain for the imperial court, collect grain from various places at high prices, and promise to donate all the grain collected to the imperial court for free.
, In this way, if the case of the grain merchant's extermination was carried out by His Majesty, Your Majesty would not target him again under this precondition. If it were a conspirator, he would dare to touch the grain merchant, but would he dare to touch His Majesty's grain merchant?"
"Collect grain at a high price and then donate it to the court for free?"
A group of grain dealers looked at each other in disbelief. The price of grain was already high, but with the expected sharp rise in grain prices in the future, this price was relatively low. They just donated it all to the court for free. Wasn't this trying to plunder their family fortunes?
A grain merchant stood up and said with a smile: "Mr. Jiang, your method is indeed good and effective, but we all rely on these families to make a living. If we pay all the money, what can we eat?"
"That's right," the other grain merchants agreed: "Giving away all the family's wealth is no different from annihilating the entire family."
Jiang Shengwei stretched out his hand again to signal everyone to calm down.
He opened the paper fan in his hand and shook it gently. In the summer, the wooden house was not well ventilated, so it was extremely hot. At this time, he was annoyed that if it weren't for his special status and the need to hide, he would have to go to Dongshi to grab a table fan.
Feeling shaken, he looked at the group of grain merchants again.
They are really stupid people. They can't think of such a simple thing. How did the business become so big?
But if they had brains, they wouldn't be able to incite these people so easily.
Fortunately, the masked man had planned everything for him. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but sigh and said: "Xiaosheng naturally knows your concerns. The donation for the food collection is just a verbal promise. If you collect one hundred dans of food, hand over ten dans."
After that, I would privately keep ninety dan and sell them when the price of grain rises. Not only would I be able to make back the money I had consumed, but I would also be able to earn far more income than usual. Isn't that good?"
"Furthermore, food requisition is only one of them. If a major disaster breaks out, will only food prices rise? Think about it."
After Jiang Shengwei's suggestions, these grain merchants opened their minds and became active.
"It's wonderful to take a hundred loads and deduct ninety. Mr. Jiang is indeed the best among men. He can come up with such a clever plan, which is comparable to Zhuge Liang in the world!"
"During a major disaster, the prices of various related businesses such as food, clothing, housing and transportation will increase. If we can stock up in advance, our wealth will grow at an incredible speed!"
Wei Shuyu snorted coldly in the corner, these guys actually want to make a fortune from disaster?
Since ancient times, disaster wealth has been the most immoral. Even if they are lucky enough to escape the reckoning, they will be punished. These people are originally from wealthy families. Unexpectedly, they even have ideas for such money. He accidentally caught a glimpse of Zhang Daozi's expression. This Chang'an
The first grain merchant also showed disdain and was unwilling to participate.
Looking at the grain merchants, there are also a small number of people who are wavering and hesitant before facing this disaster.
Jiang Shengwei noticed the change in everyone's expressions and offered another option.
"Of course, I know that none of you want to make money from this disaster. If you don't want to make money, you can provide free supplies to refugees when the Yellow River floods come. But if you don't prepare in advance, you can't do anything and lose everything.
A valuable grain merchant, who would be willing to provide you with protection?"
At this time, Jiang Shengwei had already used his eloquence to the fullest, completely unaware that his words had always had fatal flaws.
These grain merchants also failed to see it.
"In this case, we will also collect food. Thank you Mr. Jiang."
Many grain merchants left one after another. Wei Shuyu looked at his seatmate Zhang Daozi: "Are you recruiting?"
"Since everyone is recruiting, I will be recruiting too. What about you?"
Wei Shuyu cupped his hands and smiled and said: "Since Chang'an's great grain merchant Zhang Daozi has conquered them, I will conquer them too."
When Zhang Daozi stood up and left, leaving only Jiang Shengwei, Wei Shuyu and the three-eyed sword in the room, Wei Shuyu stood up and walked towards Jiang Shengwei.
When Jiang Sheng saw this man, he was followed by a man with a sword, and he quickly stopped him: "Who are you? You must not be a grain merchant, right? Please stop."
"Don't be nervous, I don't mean any harm," Wei Shuyu said quietly: "I am a grain merchant from Lingnan Road. If Mr. Jiang is interested, he can naturally find out my roots. However, I still have to kindly remind Mr. Jiang that all your
The premise of the plan is that there are real crises in the grain merchants, but what if those crises were brought about by Mr. Jiang?"
Hearing that this person exposed the grain merchant plan planned by the masked man, Jiang Shengwei's eyes flashed with a flash of coldness. This person came with bad intentions. If he exposed this matter in front of all the grain merchants, the follow-up plan would be unsustainable.
He knew that the masked man was hiding somewhere in this house, and since he hadn't planned to take action yet, he could only continue talking to him.
"You are just speculating. I can also say that you are the one who caused the tragedy for the grain merchants, but is it really you?" Although this scholar from Hangzhou was reckless, he was also scheming.
"But what if I have proof that it's you?"
"Impossible, how can you have evidence?" Jiang Shengwei refuted.
"Oh?" A cold light flashed in Wei Shuyu's eyes, and he said in a deep voice: "It is indeed you. You didn't expect that I would expose you just by cheating you. But with your wisdom, you shouldn't be able to think of such a plan. Call the person behind you."
Come out, I want to see you."
"this?"
Jiang Shengwei secretly sighed that although he had some scheming intentions, he didn't have much.
The person in front of me is a very scheming person.
"If you want to see him, it depends on whether he wants to see you." Jiang Shengwei no longer insisted and had no choice but to show his cards.
"It doesn't matter, he will meet." Wei Shuyu said, he was fully confident in this matter. If the other party didn't even have the courage to confront him head-on, then this matter wouldn't be worthy of his personal action.
So, does he dare to come out? Wei Shuyu waited quietly, waiting for the moment the person behind him showed up.