Chapter 1416: The calm before the storm

This scene immediately left the waiting Zhao Kingdom grain merchants unsettled.

A middle-aged wealthy merchant with a huge belly, looking like an inflated balloon, was stunned at the sight.

"What's going on? Why are they lowering their flags and diverting for no reason?"

As soon as this was said, it sparked a wave of discussion.

"Indeed, this makes no sense!"

"If I'm not mistaken, that large ship seems to be Cao De's, the Governor of Da Qian Canal Transport. Could he have issued the order?"

"Nonsense, why would Cao De suddenly order a change of course for no reason?"

"Exactly, the situation is unclear, don't panic!"

This sudden scene caught the Zhao Kingdom grain merchants off guard.

Some with a keener sense of smell realized this was unusual and were filled with worry.

Soon.

They each sent their trusted subordinates to scout for news.

In just a few days, the news arrived.

"Disaster! The Qian Emperor has ordered a strict ban on Da Qian commoners wearing Zhao Gao, and at the same time, ordered that this year, grain ships north of the Huai River are forbidden from flying the Da Qian flag!"

"In the entire Huai River, no one dares to transport grain to our Zhao Kingdom!"

Boom!

Once this news broke, it was like a sonic boom, sweeping out in all directions.

Everyone who heard the news was shocked and stunned.

"What?"

"The Qian Emperor ordered not only a ban on Da Qian commoners wearing Zhao Gao but also that grain ships north of the Huai River are forbidden from flying the Da Qian flag this year?"

A middle-aged wealthy merchant was stunned, the prayer beads he was twirling falling to the ground, shattering and rolling everywhere.

He collapsed into his chair, his lips turning white.

"Banning Zhao Gao and banning grain—it's over. This Da Qian is aiming for the grain of our Zhao Kingdom!"

"How many people will die now?"

Thinking of this, the middle-aged wealthy merchant felt his scalp tingle.

He couldn't bear it and closed his eyes in pain.

But on the other side.

An old man with graying hair and shrewd eyes heard the news and was instantly excited.

"My Deng family's granary still has plenty of grain. After Da Qian bans grain, Zhao Gao will also plummet. Isn't this a heaven-sent opportunity?"

"Hahaha, such a great opportunity, we should raise prices and make a fortune!"

"If we don't seize this opportunity, we'll regret it for the rest of our lives!"

The old man clenched his withered hands, his heart full of excitement.

Merchants of the world, not absolutely, but most are driven by profit.

National hatred and family feuds have little to do with them; in the hearts of the vast majority, profit is eternal!

And right now, it was the heaven-sent opportunity they had been waiting for!

Those with grain in their hands would make a fortune!

Zhao Gao would plummet, the Da Qian Empress was banning grain from going north, and the people of Zhao Kingdom had abandoned their rice paddies for mulberry this year, leaving large amounts of farmland desolate—all these were signals!

That grain prices were about to skyrocket!

Whether the people of Zhao Kingdom lived or died, or where the Zhao Kingdom would go, what did that have to do with them?

Once they made the silver, the world was vast—where couldn't they go? Where couldn't they enjoy life?

Even if it were a chaotic world, with money and power, they could still eat and drink well!

For a time, the Zhao Kingdom began to surge, and this news quickly spread toward the Zhao Kingdom's capital, Handan.

At this time.

Handan.

The news from Da Qian had not yet arrived, and the entire Zhao Kingdom was still in a festive atmosphere.

Little did they know, beneath the surface of ecstasy, a crisis was quietly approaching.

In the imperial palace.