Chapter 412: Liu Zheng Plays the Shaman

Yangzhou.

A certain residence, lush and verdant.

This is a large manor, with rockeries and flowing water inside, lush and verdant.

One must pass through several courtyards to reach deep within.

At this moment, in a pavilion, two people are sitting.

A young man and an old man with white hair.

The young man, dressed in brocade, has a face full of humility, yet his eyes are filled with arrogance. This person is none other than the Third Prince, Xie Ling, who has not appeared for a long time.

The old man opposite him is elegant and exudes a compelling air of nobility. What he is wearing is actually a purple-gold python robe! If anyone else saw this, they would surely be greatly shocked.

The purple-gold python robe holds a very high status in the Longyan Dynasty, but this person is clearly not wearing the jade ornaments that should accompany such a robe, which means he does not hold an actual official position.

Then.

There is only one possibility.

He is an Imperial Merchant!

Xie Ling is also quite respectful toward this person, because he knows that the old man before him is none other than the current richest man in Jiangnan and the leader of the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce, Yang Xiao!

In the current Longyan Dynasty, most of the tax revenue comes from the Jiangnan region. This is a historical trend and also a historical inevitability. The "land of fish and rice" is not just a saying. Furthermore, the silk and cloth of this Longyan Dynasty almost all come from the Jiangzhe area. In ancient times, cloth itself was a hard currency, and in certain eras, it could even be used as money.

This has established the extremely high status of this Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce in the Longyan Dynasty.

However...

Nowadays, with the rise of the Yinzhou Chamber of Commerce, at the beginning, it did not threaten the status of this number one chamber of commerce in Longyan, the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce. But as time passed, they also felt the pressure from the Yinzhou Chamber of Commerce—for example, the fine liquor that began to spread across the country, as well as the impact of Perfume and Soap on their Spice business.

This pressure is growing greater and greater.

At first, under the command of Xie Ling, the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce participated in an operation to buy out the Yinzhou Coin, but because of the later burning of Jiangzhou, ten million taels of silver vanished into thin air.

Yang Xiao could not hold back anymore and finally came to Liangzhou in person to take charge.

"Elder Yang, the ambition of the Yinzhou Chamber of Commerce is self-evident. If we do not cooperate this time, I fear that the entire Longyan will no longer be able to tolerate this Prefect Liu."

Xie Ling drank a cup of tea and said indifferently.

Yang Xiao smiled slightly.

He knows the purpose of this Third Prince coming to Liangzhou from Jinghua without stopping.

This Pension Insurance System in Liangzhou has made everyone unable to sit still.

But...

Just because you are Xie Ling, you want me to put up my entire fortune to compete with Yintan City? Yang Xiao is not stupid, and with a chuckle, he said: "This old man does not quite understand. Does Your Highness mean... I came to Liangzhou with the intention of learning..."

Xie Ling snorted coldly in his heart, knowing that the person before him is an old fox, the kind who won't release the hawk until he sees the rabbit.

Learning?

Learn my foot!

A sharp glint flashed in his eyes: "Elder Yang, let us speak plainly. This time, the Pension System he has come up with is our opportunity!"

Yang Xiao said calmly: "How so?"

Xie Ling said with a sinister face: "The Pension System will surely cause social unrest in Liangzhou. If at this time, the grain from the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce is delayed for a few days, Elder Yang, what do you think will happen?"

Yang Xiao trembled all over, his heart filled with shock.

This...

It is truly too ruthless!

Having been in Liangzhou for so long, he actually discovered long ago: what does Liangzhou lack the least? Gold and silver! But what does Liangzhou lack the most? Still grain!

Because Liangzhou's land is barren and the climate is harsh; these are objective conditions of force majeure. Even if that Prefect Liu is divine and comes up with something like Sweet Potato, it still cannot solve Liangzhou's ever-increasing demand for grain. With the increasingly developed industry and commerce in Liangzhou, as well as the large number of talents attracted to Liangzhou by the Imperial Examination.

The shortcomings of Liangzhou in agriculture and animal husbandry have become prominent.

It can be said this way.

The current Liangzhou is certainly very wealthy, but every day it must bring in large amounts of grain from all over the country to ensure the stability of this society.

And this Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce is the largest supplier of grain.

Under these circumstances, if the grain supply is cut off, what will happen?

Social unrest!

Massive devaluation of the Yinzhou Coin!

Inflation!

If grain prices rise, what about other things?

They do not understand things like trade surpluses or deficits. They only know that now that a Pension Insurance System has been released and the entire Liangzhou society is entering a state of unrest, seizing their lifeline will surely deal a painful blow to the Liangzhou side!

The two people suddenly fell into silence.

Each lost in thought.

Xie Ling looked at Yang Xiao indifferently; he knew that the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce would certainly not refuse.

Because as long as they take action, this buying and selling scheme can completely hollow out Liangzhou!

So that the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce will never be threatened by the Yinzhou Chamber of Commerce again.

A moment later.

Yang Xiao took a deep breath: "Your Highness, with contracts in place, the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce needs an excuse."

Xie Ling laughed out loud, tapped his finger on the table, and a sinister look flashed in his eyes: "Elder Yang, it is very simple. Now, Prefect Liu's Hanzhong Grand Canal has already opened..."

He chuckled: "If the ships on this Grand Canal were to be blocked, what would happen?"

Blocking ships?

Yang Xiao was stunned for a moment.

This idea is simply brilliant.

Furthermore, this matter is likely something only the Third Prince's methods could successfully accomplish.

……

"What are you saying, you want to challenge me to a drinking contest?"

Shama Zhuoyi seemed to have heard the most ridiculous joke under the sun, and he laughed until he was rolling on the floor.

The others also burst into uproarious laughter.

Shama Zhuoyi slowed down after a while and said, "This young lord, it's not that I, Shama, look down on you, but here, we don't drink by the cup; we drink by the bowl!"

The entire room erupted in laughter once again.

Looking at the young Han man before them, mockery appeared in everyone's eyes.

The Han have always been hypocritical and weak; how could they be as straightforward as the Yi people?

Who would have thought.

Liu Zheng smiled again: "Then let's drink by the bowl."

Qin Zhangfeng and the others wanted to persuade him, but they knew they couldn't stop him. Who didn't know their young master's personality?

Is he really doing it?

Everyone watched Liu Zheng as he walked toward the Horse Carriage in the back with a serious expression.

The crowd watched in confusion.

What is he doing?

Pei Yanran and the others were also completely bewildered.

Liu Zheng was seen looking solemn, muttering something under his breath, his hands making gestures that no one could understand, appearing extremely mysterious.

The entire room fell silent, everyone looking at one another.

"Son of the Black Dragon!"

Liu Zheng suddenly shouted out loud.

Huobu Quli followed along excitedly: "Son of the Black Dragon!"

The men and women of the entire Small Trouser Leg Tribe also knelt and chanted in unison.

The curtain of the Horse Carriage was lifted.

Aluba, dressed in black attire and wearing his usual charlatan expression, appeared before the crowd, then lightly tapped Liu Zheng a few times with his hand.

"Son of the Black Dragon!"

Liu Zheng trembled all over, as if possessed, and jumped up.

Everyone.

Was stunned speechless.

Especially Qin Zhangfeng; their young master actually knew this trick?

What is this called?

A shaman dance?

And then.

A group of people watched with wide eyes as Liu Zheng came before those large bowls of rice wine, picked one up, and without changing his expression, gulped it all down.

Silence.

The entire room.

A deathly silence.