Zhao Kang's words were like a bomb, shocking Qin Yang and Mashan into silence for a long time.
Several times I wanted to ask Zhao Kang if what he said was true, but in the end he chose to remain silent.
In the era of the feudal dynasty, the imperial examination was the only way to change one's destiny.
This does not mean that those who take the imperial examination and become an official will definitely be rich and powerful. Being a magistrate the size of a sesame seed for the rest of his life is the true portrayal of most people.
But the key is the change in status after becoming an official.
Especially for businessmen, scholars, peasants, industrialists and merchants, their status is the lowest and they are not as good as the ordinary working class.
They were crucified with just one word.
So what if they are rich?
But it would be completely different if someone in their family could take the imperial examination and go to high school.
Their family can slowly get rid of their status as merchants, and then all the descendants of the family can have the opportunity to take the imperial examination.
This is the fundamental reason why businessmen are willing to spend a lot of money to curry favor with officials and nobles!
But now Zhao Kang said that they, the descendants of Qingzhou merchants, have all been hated by Qi Yunshan.
This is a big problem!
A third-grade Minister of Household Affairs and a high official of the imperial court!
If he was determined not to let the young descendants of the merchant clans in Qingzhou have the opportunity to take the imperial examination.
Merchants like Qin Yang and others don't even have the opportunity to give money to officials!
How can we talk about getting rid of the identity of a businessman in the future?
Seeing that the two fell silent, Zhao Kang sighed: "That's why I said that the government is collecting grain now, but it may not collect grain from Brother Qin and Brother Ma. You are all hated by others.
How can people accept your food?"
Upon hearing this, a grain merchant from other places hurriedly said: "Mr. Zhao, we are not driving up grain prices. We are here to do serious business!"
Zhao Kang couldn't help but rolled his eyes when he heard this. Do you believe this?
He said: "You are right, this matter has nothing to do with you. But since you followed Brother Qin and the others, I will also reveal the news to you."
Everyone quickly pricked up their ears. Even Qin Yang and Ma Shan, who were a little distracted, reacted and listened carefully.
Zhao Kang said matter-of-factly: "Let me tell you, in two days, the price of grain collected by the government will probably not be 134, but will be 1112!"
Everyone was in an uproar immediately.
"What! It's going to drop again!"
"If it costs eleven or twelve cents per pound, then we will suffer a big loss!"
"Yeah, if he had known this, why would I come to Qingzhou!"
Everyone was talking about it, and everyone was regretting it.
Qin Yang and Ma Shan's eyes were so dark that they almost fainted!
If the price really was what Zhao Kang said, then they would lose all their pants.
Among the crowd, their two families had the largest stock of grain, and they had collected it at high prices from grain stores across Qingzhou some time ago.
I originally thought that I could make a lot of money to make a fortune for the country, but who the hell would have thought that it would be like this!
Both of them suddenly felt that they had been tricked by someone, right?
Zhao Kang coughed twice and signaled everyone to be quiet, and then said: "There is no way, the most indispensable thing in Qingzhou now is food. Just talk about this Qingzhou City, how much food do you have in total?"
"The other thing is that the imperial court didn't bring much money for disaster relief this time, and they can't afford you a high price."
"The price was set at 17 or 18 a few days ago, but there was nothing we could do about it. The people were starving to death. But things are different now. There is food everywhere. If you don't sell it to others, you won't have to worry about not being able to buy it.
Then naturally I won’t give you a high price.”
After hearing Zhao Kang's words, everyone started to argue again. Everyone was worried, but no results could be achieved.
at last.
One person looked at Zhao Kang: "Well, Mr. Zhao, you know so much information, you must be a senior official in the court, right?"
Zhao Kang pretended to be modest: "Hey, no way. I'm just here to assist the disaster relief ministers and do some dirty work. The credit is all theirs."
"Can you talk to the Minister of Disaster Relief? Now the government also needs food, right? We have food, but the price is too high...can you increase it for us?"
After the voice fell, someone outside the door suddenly snorted: "Raise the price? No way!"
Everyone looked over following the sound and saw Qi Yunshan and several officials walking in. The servants of the Wu family hurriedly brought chairs and hot tea.
Zhao Kang enthusiastically introduced Qi Yunshan and others to everyone, and after some bragging.
Qi Yunshan put the tea heavily on the table, then stood up and said: "What I hate most in my life are you businessmen who only focus on the small profits in front of you! From today on, the government will collect grain at eleven cents per catty."
"Sell it or not. The most indispensable thing in Qingzhou now is food. If you don't sell it, people will sell it!"
These words made many grain merchants not sure how to respond. They all jumped anxiously and greeted all the eighteen generations of Qiyunshan's ancestors.
After Qi Yunshan left, everyone looked at Zhao Kang again.
Mashan sighed and looked at Zhao Kang who was calmly drinking tea across from him. He was not a fool. He had known Zhao Kang's identity before and was able to make even Qi Yunshan kneel down and salute.
Previously, Zhao Kang said that he was a support person who did dirty work.
He didn't believe a word of this.
Now that I think about it, Bao Qi is the one who tricked himself and Qin Yang because of this bastard.
His eyes were complicated and he no longer acted carelessly: "Master Zhao, please show us a way out."
Zhao Kang raised his eyebrows, glanced at Ma Shan and the absent-minded Qin Yang, laughed and stopped acting.
"Brother Ma, since you said so, it would be a bit unkind if I didn't help. The price on the 11th is indeed a bit low."
The grain merchants looked at him nervously, and Zhao Kang said calmly: "Then I make the decision. The government will collect grain for twelve cents per catty, as much as you want. This price is only valid for three days."
"Twelve..." A grain merchant was a little anxious.
He folded his sleeves with both hands and Zhao Kang yawned: "You don't have to sell it, just take the food back where it came from. It's only ten days and a half month's journey. Oh, the weather is not very good. Don't worry.
It would be fun if it gets wet on the road."
His words hit everyone's hearts like a sledgehammer, and everyone fell silent.
Zhao Kang did not drive people away. Now the government did not collect much food, so it was difficult to maintain food for the victims.
We have to purchase a large amount of grain quickly. Since Qin Yang has come to the door with his people, this matter must be settled today!
A full quarter of an hour passed, Wu Xinyi brought hot tea to Zhao Kang and stood aside.
She understood that Zhao Kang was now competing with these people for patience to see who could lose his composure first.
After nearly half an hour, someone sighed helplessly: "Master Zhao, let's make a written statement."
Zhao Kang looked relieved. He knew that the disaster in Qingzhou would no longer be a problem from this moment on.
