Chapter 214: Spreading the News

The backyard of the Huangshan Town government office.

All the top-tier, influential figures of Huangshan Town had arrived.

Yet, at this moment, a child of only four or five years old sat in the seat of honor.

The crowd beside him was nonetheless incomparably respectful, each one carefully fawning over him.

At this time, Zhu Gaoxu sat in the main seat, chatting happily with the people around him.

Although the group's tone was very respectful, their words were all probing his true strength.

Regarding this, Zhu Gaoxu handled it with ease.

Upon arriving in the North, Zhu Gaoxu finally felt as if he had returned home.

Whether they were officials or local power brokers, they were all quite polite to Zhu Gaoxu.

The reason for all this was, of course, not just because of Zhu Gaoxu's status as a Prince.

More importantly, his father Zhu Di and his maternal grandfather Xu Da truly held great prestige in the North.

Some prominent clans, local officials, and wealthy merchants were all willing to give Zhu Gaoxu some face.

This was something Zhu Gaoxu had not expected before.

Since the start was good, Zhu Gaoxu naturally would not let these advantages go to waste.

With so many people helping, Zhu Gaoxu remarked that he had never fought such a wealthy battle in his life.

"Gentlemen, I have called you all here today, and I presume you have already guessed the gist of it."

As soon as Zhu Gaoxu finished speaking, those present exchanged glances, then stood up one after another, cupped their hands, and said, "Whatever the Prince commands, we shall assist with all our might."

Hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu nodded with satisfaction and then said, "I am moved by your words; to think that our Great Ming has pillars such as you is a blessing for our Great Ming."

If you want people to help, you naturally have to say a few pleasant things.

When people are throwing real gold and silver at you, it would be truly inexcusable not to offer some verbal praise.

The effect was indeed quite good; although Zhu Gaoxu had not yet made his request, since he had spoken this way, they were all quite happy.

Thinking that when it came time to act later, they could at most put in a little extra effort.

Just as everyone was thinking this, Zhu Gaoxu finally spoke.

"Gentlemen, I will not beat around the bush."

"I have invited you all here primarily to ask for your help with two matters."

"I ask that you all must help me."

Hearing Zhu Gaoxu's words, everyone knew the main topic had arrived.

They all perked up, exchanged glances, and stood up again to reply, "We shall certainly do our utmost to assist the Prince!"

Hearing this, Zhu Gaoxu, regardless of whether it was true or false, nodded and said, "I thank you all in advance."

"Actually, for the first matter, I would like to ask you all to find people to spread a piece of news to the South."

As he spoke, Zhu Gaoxu paused.

The others were left completely bewildered after hearing this.

They had assumed that as soon as Zhu Gaoxu spoke, it would be to ask them for money or grain.

They had already prepared themselves to bleed a little.

But they had not expected that Zhu Gaoxu's first matter would be to have them spread news.

One wealthy merchant asked in confusion, "I dare to ask the Prince, what kind of news do you need us to spread?"

Seeing this, Zhu Gaoxu smiled slightly and said, "The news to spread is very simple: just say that I am purchasing grain in the North on a massive scale, at a price more than double the current grain price in the North."

"It is for a limited time but with no limit on quantity; the time is limited, but I will buy as much as there is."

Hearing this, everyone gasped.

Those present were all major figures of Huangshan Town.

Their businesses were not just in Huangshan Town; they had dealings in other towns as well.

Among them, there was no shortage of grain merchants.

One grain merchant in particular understood the current grain prices better than the others.

One must know that the North was currently plagued by disasters everywhere.

The grain price was already sixty or seventy percent higher than the price in the South.

Now, Zhu Gaoxu was taking the Northern grain price as the standard and doubling it again.

With this margin, wouldn't the grain merchants in the South make a fortune?

Moreover, the grain merchants in the North could also get a piece of the action at this price.

The key was the unlimited purchase.

This was simply outrageous.

Why was grain in the North so expensive, yet few Southern grain merchants came to the North to do business?

One reason was that the market was already saturated by Northern grain merchants.

If they came, they would at most be drinking the dregs.

But the most important reason was that not many people could afford it.

This was the most important reason.

It was expensive, yes, but the common people had no money and could not afford to buy grain.

With fewer consumers, plus the fact that they were not locals.

Therefore, Southern grain merchants were naturally unwilling to come to the North to do business.

But now, it was clearly different!

Zhu Gaoxu had said it: limited time, no limit on quantity.

This means the issue of consumer personnel has been resolved.

The market is large enough; the locals cannot finish such a big cake, so they would not mind outsiders coming to share it.

Of course, with such great profits placed before them, even if the locals did mind, it would be of no use.

Those grain merchants from the South will certainly swarm in.

Furthermore, the quantity of grain they bring will be absolutely terrifying.

After all, Zhu Gaoxu also said it is time-limited but not quantity-limited; who knows if they will make it in time for the first round, and if Zhu Gaoxu stops purchasing by the time they come for the second, wouldn't that be the end of it?

Therefore, given the nature of those merchants, they will certainly want to earn everything they can in one go.

And the consequences can be imagined.

Except for Zhu Gaoxu losing an incalculable sum of money, everyone else is very happy.

Why is Zhu Gaoxu spending so much money to buy grain?

It cannot be for himself to eat, right?

That goes without saying; it is for the disaster victims in the North.