Chapter 1123: The Lion's Share

Menshikov tried his best to maintain an indifferent expression.

He appeared to be waiting quietly for Qian Yonggui to speak.

He was weighing the situation.

He was waiting.

Since it was grain, if one wanted to sell it in Russia, it had to pass through him; this was the status Menshikov currently held in Russia.

Then...

Next came the question of price.

Qian Yonggui was drenched in cold sweat, seemingly aware that this Menshikov was not easy to deal with, and stammered, "Marshal, one shi of millet, five hundred wen..."

"Someone, come here!"

Menshikov's expression collapsed instantly.

The guards began to move again.

Five hundred wen!

Generally speaking, in a society with a stable situation, the price of one shi of millet was around one tael of silver, which was one thousand wen. However, in wartime, grain prices would certainly rise significantly. Therefore, Qian Yonggui, not knowing why Menshikov was getting angry again, was so frightened that he knelt down once more and shouted, "Marshal!"

Menshikov gave a cold snort and said angrily, "You are selling me grain that you couldn't sell elsewhere at this price? Do you take me for someone so easily toyed with?"

A vampire!

Qian Yonggui's face changed drastically upon hearing this.

This guy was a vampire!

He had inquired before coming; as the war entered a white-hot stage, the price of grain—millet—within Russia, when converted to Dragon Flame currency, was already two taels of silver!

Five hundred wen!

His own price was only five hundred wen!

And this Menshikov was still not satisfied!

"Three hundred wen!"

"Three hundred wen!"

Qian Yonggui gritted his teeth hard, cold sweat streaming down.

"Marshal, three hundred wen, three hundred wen per shi!"

Menshikov continued to wave his hand, his face showing no expression, but his heart was already overjoyed.

Why?

The civilian grain price had already reached twelve Rubles per shi! But one had to understand, this grain was all for civilian use!

And what about military grain?

Russia had been fighting for a long time, and the demand for military grain was huge. If Menshikov just manipulated it a little, the profit the military grain price gave him would increase even more! Three hundred wen... that was five Rubles. After passing through his hands, it could potentially become twenty Rubles! What a massive profit margin!

But...

Menshikov was still not satisfied in his greed.

He looked at Qian Yonggui coldly and said indifferently, "Two hundred wen, two hundred wen at most! And I must have as much as I want!"

"Ah?"

Qian Yonggui was shocked by Menshikov's greed.

"This..."

He was covered in sweat: "Marshal, I need to go back and discuss this with Master Zhu..."

"Hahahaha, good!"

Menshikov was so happy; seeing a huge fortune within his grasp, he became generous and vowed, "Rest assured, go back and tell your Master Zhu that when we in Russia reach your Jinghua, I can still guarantee him high office and a generous salary!"

"Thank you, Marshal! Thank you, Marshal!"

Qian Yonggui expressed his deep gratitude, kowtowed, and left.

Once he had left.

A servant at his side took a deep breath and reminded him, "Marshal, could this be a trap set by Dragon Flame?"

Menshikov gave a cold laugh: "These Han people are indeed skilled at playing tricks and schemes. But recently, this Vice Minister Liu's reputation in Dragon Flame is truly one where everyone cries out for him to be beaten; no one can stand him anymore..."

The servant nodded in agreement.

Although they were far away in Russia, they had likely heard of the various outrageous actions this Vice Minister Liu had recently taken in Dragon Flame. There was the redistribution of territory, the Private Ownership, the constitutional monarchy, and the script reform. Added to that were the successive defeats on the Northwest battlefield, which had caused the people of Dragon Flame to be furious.

The people were resentful.

His status in Dragon Flame was already precarious.

It was certain that the Scholar-official Zhu Zhen would have objections.

"However, we must still closely monitor his movements! Also, investigate what kind of person this Qian Yonggui really is in Dragon Flame!"

"And, strictly investigate the grain situation as well!"

Menshikov thought for a moment before giving the order.

"Yes!"

To others, Qian Yonggui had left the Menshikov Palace in a state of utter terror.

But once he was inside the Horse Carriage, his entire demeanor underwent a qualitative change.

"Two hundred wen..."

"This..."

An attendant beside him had a sour look on his face and spat, "This Menshikov is truly a snake trying to swallow an elephant with his insatiable greed!"

Qian Yonggui, however, let out a sigh of relief: "As long as he is tempted, the problem is not a big one."

"The fear is that if the price is too low, he will become suspicious of us!"

That is correct!

This Qian Yonggui is not some merchant whose grain sales have been suppressed by Liu Zheng; his identity is from the Jiangzhe region, and he is also part of the Scholar-Official Group!

However...

What these Tsarist Russians do not understand is that the current scholar-officials have already tied themselves tightly to Liu Zheng!

Facing a common enemy, their previous infighting and mutual deception have long since turned into harmony!

This time, he has come with a mission!

It is to corrupt this Menshikov!

Could there be a problem with the grain?

No.

When Vice Minister Liu arranged all of this, he had already instructed to use the best grain!

There must not be any issues with the quality of the grain!

He must gain the trust of this Menshikov in the shortest time possible!

Regarding this.

Qian Yonggui has always found it hard to understand. He thought that since it was grain, wouldn't giving them poisoned grain be of great help to the war between the two sides?

But Liu Zheng rejected his strategy.

He is plotting something bigger...

He wants an inflated Menshikov!

He wants to make this close friend of Peter take the initiative to "end" the life of Peter the Great!

War has always been this complex.

In Liu Zheng's memory, after Peter the Great died, Tsarist Russia would enter a period of chaos. Yekaterina would play a bad hand of cards and shatter it completely. What Liu Zheng wants is this period of time!

A heartless and ungrateful person like Menshikov has nothing he cannot betray in the face of immense profit.

To defeat Tsarist Russia.

One must start from all aspects.

Qian Yonggui and the others naturally do not know Liu Zheng's true purpose.

"Write the letter!"

Qian Yonggui sighed and gave the order.

The two returned to the Post House in Saint Petersburg, and several letters had already been sent out.

Naturally.

One of them fell into the hands of Menshikov.

In the letter, Qian Yonggui's tone was exactly what Liu Zheng had arranged beforehand. Pessimistic, desperate, and filled with self-reproach... What excited Menshikov was that this Longyan merchant actually requested in the letter to lower the grain price to one hundred and fifty wen!

Good heavens!

The greed of the Longyan people is about the same as his own!

He himself still wants to take a profit of fifty wen!

Despicable!

In his eyes, the despicable Longyan people are no longer worth suspecting.

He is already fantasizing about the rolling wealth, wealth enough to keep him worry-free for a lifetime!

Thinking of this, he has already started to get excited.

"Quick, call Yekaterina here, call her here!"