All merchants have high sensitivity.

It is rare to encounter a huge disaster, and the opportunity to get rich has come.

This is a once-in-a-century.

Although there have been constant small disasters in the world over the years, it is like this large-scale drought in Guanzhong this time, but it is unprecedented.

This means... a sudden land annexation and a large amount of human trafficking are about to begin.

Wu Wenlong knew very well that after some people, the big grain merchants sat together. Although they were just listening to operas, drinking tea, and smiling at each other. Although the merchants didn't say much, in fact, tacit understanding had already emerged.

What we need to do next is to raise the price of grain.

Even if the price of food is raised to heaven, it is still not hesitant.

The market began to move abnormally.

This is no longer the little quarrel when I first got the news.

The grain shops closed one by one and directly hung up the sold-out sign.

The people in the capital were affected and had to travel to many grain stores to barely buy some food.

Naturally, the court immediately released grain in the warehouse for relief.

Emperor Tianqi was already in a state of great anxiety. He was pacing back and forth in the Qinzheng Hall, and the situation was already beginning to be critical.

The information available is more terrifying than the other.

"Your Majesty." Wei Zhongxian hurried over and said anxiously: "Not good... something happened."

Emperor Tianqi looked at Wei Zhongxian: "What?"

"After checking the Zhongcang and Dongcang in Beitongzhou, I found that the grain originally hoarded... was not as large as the amount."

"What?" Emperor Apocalypse took a step back, his face full of shock: "What do you say?"

"Originally, there were 230,000 shi of grain in the Beicang and Dongcang. Now we are going to prepare to transport grain to Guanzhong and provide relief in the capital. I ordered the eunuchs in Tongzhou to adjust the grain, but an urgent report came from there, saying that the two warehouses of grain were only 70,000 shi left."

"Why are there so many missing?" Emperor Aoki looked in disbelief.

What about other food?

Wei Zhongxian said: "The people who guarded the warehouse have already taken it. They said that it was raining rain, and a lot of food was flooded. However...the two warehouses have always been strictly guarded and are well maintained on weekdays..."

Emperor Tianqi was already trembling with anger and said angrily: "Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill all of them."

"I... obey the order." Wei Zhongxian frowned.

Emperor Apocalypse gritted his teeth and said, "What should we do now? Is the news leaked?"

"It has been leaked." Wei Zhongxian said: "Now there is no grain to buy in the capital. The price of grain has reached four taels of silver and one stone, but it still has a price but no market."

Emperor Tianqi took a breath. When things got to this point, he only felt that the Ming Dynasty was just a leaky house. It was okay, but once it rained, if you want to block this hole, the hole would be exposed again.

Emperor Tianqi said anxiously: "The food price must be stabilized immediately. What are your solutions?"

Wei Zhongxian bowed and said, "The king is worried about the humiliation of the ministers, and the servants should do their best to repay the consequences with death. Even if they try their best, they will suppress the price of food."

Emperor Tianqi was furious at this time: "Don't be skeptical. If something goes wrong, what will I look like to meet my ancestors? Wei partner, I will entrust this matter to you."

Wei Zhongxian knew that at this time, if he did not solve this difficult problem, he would not be able to explain to His Majesty: "I obey the order."

Standing aside were Sun Chengzong and Huang Liji.

As cabinet ministers, they were also worried about this.

Not everyone hopes to make a profit by taking advantage of this huge disaster.

To some extent, there is still a group of people who dare not say that they take the world as their responsibility, but they also hope that they can maintain a good reputation.

When they heard that the number of granaries in Tongzhou was incorrect, they were actually very clear in their hearts what might have happened.

What losses, what accounts are unclear.

They are all fake. The court has never moved the grain from these two warehouses. Even the military rations from Liaodong are not dispatched from here. This is specially used by the court to prepare for major disasters.

It is precisely because of this that they suddenly thought that some big rats had already hollowed out the granary.

But now that the food prices have risen to such a level, what can the court use to calm them down?

Wei Zhongxian received the order and left.

Emperor Tianqi's face was already ashen. He paced back and forth anxiously. Suddenly, when he thought of those big rats, he really wanted to kill them with his own hands.

But then he was worried about the overall situation. Guanzhong had not yet started to lack food. Although the people suffered a severe drought and would have to harvest this year, the disaster was only the beginning.

It has just begun, and it has reached this point, so once the disaster continues, how many hunger will be killed and how many people will die?

I can't imagine it.

I can't imagine it!

"Huang Qing, Master Sun, do you have any good solutions?"

Huang Liji and Sun Chengzong looked at each other, and then Huang Liji said seriously: "I have come up with a response strategy with the officials of the cabinet. Please ask Your Majesty to take a look."

Huang Liji said, took out a memorial and sent it respectfully to Emperor Tianqi.

Emperor Tianqi looked down at the memorial. Obviously, Huang Liji and Sun Chengzong spent a lot of effort.

But after watching it, Emperor Tianqi couldn't help laughing: "Hahaha...hahaha... the method is good. All these nineteen items make sense. It's a pity, but it's a pity. The court has no money and food. As long as there is enough money and food, it's a good idea."

This laughter was powerless and sad.

Actually, this is understandable.

The strategies inside are indeed very smart, and they can never be done by typing.

The only shortcoming is that it requires money and food...

But what I lack now is money and food. If I don’t have money and food, why should I provide relief?

Huang Liji couldn't help but smile bitterly and said with a sad face: "Your Majesty, it's hard to cook without rice... but... I'm waiting... I'm waiting... I'm waiting... I'm thinking, starting from today, I think that starting from me, in this year of famine disaster, my salary should be reduced by half, so that I can spend the hardships with the court."

"Oh..." Emperor Tianqi sighed.

At this time, he knew that no wonder Huang Liji was wrong, so he shook his head and said, "That's all, my palace will be reduced by half."

There is really nothing we can do except promote frugality.

Huang Liji and Sun Chengzong retired.

After leaving Xiyuan, Huang Liji smiled bitterly and said to Sun Chengzong: "Mr. Sun, can you solve the problem by nine thousand years old?"

It seems...it can only be entrusted to Wei Zhongxian.

Sun Chengzong was not sure, so he knew that Wei Zhongxian had the power to seize life and death, and had so many disciples, but...

After thinking about it, Sun Chengzong said, "I don't know how to say it, hey..."

Huang Liji said helplessly: "If the food price cannot be solved, you and I, although they are Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, are sinners in the eyes of the hungry people in Guanzhong."

Sun Chengzong actually always looked down on Huang Liji. He felt that Huang Liji defected to Wei Zhongxian because he became the chief assistant because of his fellow townsmanship with Wei Zhongxian.

However, after hearing his feelings, he developed respect for Huang Liji and then said in a solemn manner: "It's not just sinners, but you and I will never forgive you."

"I won't say it, I'm very nervous now, I'm afraid that all departments will cause all kinds of troubles. The current problem is not just a Tongzhou granary? I'll go to the Ministry of Revenue and pass the accounts of the various Qingguans to see where I can squeeze out some surplus grain."

Sun Chengzong thought for a while, looked into the distance and said, "I want to go out for a walk, too."

Huang Li said curiously: "Where to go?"

Sun Chengzong said: "Go to Xinxian."

Huang Liji couldn't help but be stunned, and then looked at Sun Chengzong with complicated eyes.

But he didn't say anything. After bowing to each other, he quietly parted ways.

When Sun Chengzong went to Xinxian, of course, he went to find Zhang Jingyi and this guy because what he saw and heard in Qingpingfang had been lingering in his mind.

He felt that Zhang Jingyi was a genius, and this kind of person was not conservative. Perhaps talking to this person would inspire him.

This idea came up, and actually Sun Chengzong just smiled bitterly in his heart, but now he has no way to solve the current predicament, right?

Along the way, when the sedan chair passed by various yards, people carrying baskets gathered outside the rice shops on the street. Unfortunately, the rice shops were closed, but the people refused to disperse.

When passing Tianqiaofang, the post-disaster order in Tianqiaofang has now been restored, and people in soap clothes can be seen everywhere, as if they want to make some transformations of Tianqiaofang.

When he arrived at Xinxian County Government, Sun Chengzong fell into a sedan chair and asked someone to inform him, Zhang Jing hurried out and said, "I have met Mr. Sun."

Sun Chengzong smiled at him and said with his hands behind his back: "I feel that the order is quite good when I come to this Xinxian County. Finally, I feel more comfortable with me. You don't have to be too polite. Are you and Wei Zhongxian close friends? In other words, I am also peers with Wei Zhongxian. In this way, you and I have been friends forgot about age."

Zhang Jingyi smiled embarrassedly: "Brother Sun, please speak inside."

Sun Chengzong: “…”

Originally, he was just polite, but this guy... as soon as he heard what he said, Brother Sun immediately called him. Is this guy really reckless or wants to take advantage of him, the old man?

Shaking my head, I didn't care much, it was important to talk about serious matters.

Sun Chengzong sat in the middle and said directly: "Your Majesty has ordered Wei Zhongxian to calm the price of grain. What advice does Zhang Baihu have on this?"

Zhang Jing said without thinking, "Brother Wei's methods will definitely fail."

"Take it seriously?" Sun Chengzong said in surprise: "How did you know?"

Zhang Jingyi said bluntly: "By killing a few people, you can calm the market. If this is so easy, then the world's affairs will be too easy."

After hearing this, Sun Chengzong suddenly smiled bitterly: "Actually, I also feel it is difficult to achieve results, but... I still have some hope in my heart. I didn't expect that you were so direct and poured me a basin of cold water. You said, if it were you, what would you do?"
Chapter completed!