Chapter 389: Another Battlefield! Destroy Them Economically!

"Many nobles have already begun selling our Divine Beans to the Hunhe Duchy; since the Houdun Kingdom is in a state of hostility with us, their nobles still dare not sell potatoes there."

In the newly built temple of the Xiling Kingdom, Princess Luo Ying said.

Meng Ying nodded and said: "Let's sell all our Divine Beans to the Hunhe Duchy. By the way, Luo Ying, how is the grain output in the Hunhe Duchy?"

Princess Luo Ying said: "The Hunhe Duchy has high grain output; after satisfying all its citizens, it still sells some grain to us each year. Also, the Hunhe Duchy has sweet Gao Liang, which can be used to brew alcohol—it's quite tasty. The stalks are sweet too, and many children love eating them, but they're very expensive—one jin costs three silver coins."

Eating Gao Liang stalks is not like eating rice; it's like chewing sugarcane—you only suck out the sweet juice, and the pulp can't be eaten.

So it can only serve as a sweet snack, not a filling food.

Hearing this, Meng Ying's heart stirred.

She was Lin Yan's most cherished favorite; when Lin Yan gave her revelations, he was in fact meticulously instructing her, hoping she would grow rapidly!

To this day, Meng Ying's intellect had become quite high.

One of the three edicts was actually her own idea.

"Among the revelations granted by my deity, there is indeed a method of brewing alcohol from Gao Liang."

Meng Ying murmured to herself.

Princess Luo Ying showed a look of interest: "If it's a revelation from our deity, the alcohol brewed must be extremely delicious?"

Meng Ying affirmed: "Of course. But I'm thinking of another issue—how to take over the Hunhe Duchy. We still need some time to stabilize our own Xiling Kingdom, then we'll first seize the Houdun Kingdom, stabilize it, and only then move against the Hunhe Duchy. That means our action against the Hunhe Duchy won't happen for several months."

Princess Luo Ying nodded: "Yes, that's how the timeline works, since the Houdun Kingdom's internal situation is more complex."

The Xiling Kingdom stabilized so quickly because of Princess Luo Ying's presence.

She was a princess; with the entire royal family dead except her and the elder princess, it was natural for her to become queen.

But the Houdun Kingdom was different.

The Houdun Kingdom had no figure like Princess Luo Ying, and the Wangshigen Sect and the royal house were now united.

The nobles were also united with the royal house and the church.

Therefore, after seizing the Houdun Kingdom, digesting and stabilizing it, and eliminating all threats will require a great deal of time!

Only after that will the time come to act against the Hunhe Duchy.

The Hunhe Duchy has five churches and five deities—its situation is even more complex than the Houdun Kingdom's.

Meng Ying stood up and looked at the fox-woman Qing Ling, who had been quietly listening without speaking: "Holy Maiden, Luo Ying, let's issue a proclamation: the Yan Kingdom and the royal house will buy all the Hunhe Duchy's Gao Liang at a 50% premium—whatever quantity they have, we'll take it all!"

"A 50% premium? Sister Meng Ying, is this to make our gold coins circulate faster?"

Luo Ying asked.

Meng Ying said: "That's one aspect, but more importantly, during the time we prepare to strike the Houdun Kingdom, we can destroy the Hunhe Duchy's foundation—its food supply—by economically crushing them!"

Upon hearing Meng Ying's words, the fox-woman Qing Ling's eyes lit up—clearly, she had already understood.

Luo Ying still looked confused and asked: "Buying Gao Liang at a 50% premium can destroy the Hunhe Duchy's grain economy?"

Meng Ying nodded and said:

"Yes, that's the logic."

She slowly explained:

"The price of rice in the Hunhe Duchy remains two silver coins per jin. Our nobles selling Divine Beans there offer a lower price than rice, so ordinary people prefer to buy Divine Beans. But many nobles and commoners still own land and continue planting rice because they lack Divine Bean seeds."

Luo Ying listened intently, saying nothing.

Meng Ying continued:

"The price of Gao Liang is three silver coins per jin. One mu of Gao Liang yields the same as one mu of rice, but because the price is so high, sales are low, so the people of the Hunhe Duchy haven't planted it on a large scale."

Her gaze fixed on Luo Ying: "But Holy Maiden, if we buy Gao Liang at 4.5 silver coins per jin on a massive scale—whatever they have, we'll take it—and the people of the Hunhe Duchy can buy our exported Divine Beans as food, their food problem is completely solved. What do you think they'll do?"

Hearing Meng Ying's words, Luo Ying finally understood; astonishment appeared on her face:

"I get it, Sister Meng Ying! Whether noble or commoner, the people of the Hunhe Duchy will definitely convert vast tracts of land to grow our Gao Liang—and with gold in hand, they might even turn all their land to Gao Liang!"

Meng Ying nodded and said:

"I'm certain that if we do this, within three months, less than ten percent of the Hunhe Duchy's land will still be growing food. We'll control the export of Divine Beans—don't send too much—let them finish off their existing grain stock in these three months!"

Princess Luo Ying's eyes grew brighter; she added:

"Then, when we strike the Hunhe Duchy, we cut off its food supply entirely—without grain, the Hunhe Duchy will collapse without a single battle."