Chapter 416: The Tragedy of the Blocked Boats

When the news arrived.

In fact, these people in the Cabinet had already begun to split into two factions internally.

The stubborn, conservative faction still rejected the Pension System.

At this moment.

In a certain residence in Liangzhou.

Several people were gathered together.

"Elder Zhao!"

"You cannot be like those three spineless cowards and lean toward that side!"

"That's right, we are all counting on you to hold the line!"

The other four Cabinet Members looked expectantly at the old man in the middle.

Zhao Jing.

Zhao Jing was the Inspector Commandant of Liangzhou Prefecture—a position that was currently highly sought after in Liangzhou, holding the power of life and death over many.

Seeing the anxious looks of this group, he couldn't help but chuckle, saying unhurriedly: "Gentlemen, it is the Great Trend, the Great Trend..."

The others heard this and cursed inwardly one after another.

To hell with the Great Trend!

It was just that the benefits hadn't arrived yet! Although the Powerful Clans and wealthy families within Liangzhou were beginning to see their influence wane under the repeated blows from the Prefectural Governor Liu, they still existed after all...

But everyone knew that if this so-called Pension System were to be implemented.

The advantages and privileges of these Powerful Clans would truly and completely be dismantled by Prefectural Governor Liu!

This matter was truly too critical.

Therefore, this Zhao Jing, while appearing hesitant, was actually manipulating these people. He wanted benefits, he wanted a piece of the cake, he wanted more power!

"Elder Zhao, this matter can be fully negotiated..."

"Elder Zhao, as long as you are willing to stand firm in your position..."

The group was still trying to persuade him.

Just then, a servant suddenly ran in, frantic and hurried: "Master, Master, it's madness, it's madness outside!"

Zhao Jing stood up and asked: "What is going on?"

"The Grand Canal, the boats are blocked!"

"What?"

A group of Cabinet Members all stood up. Boats blocked? Such a thing could actually happen?

The servant panted: "Yes, the boats are blocked! The grain shops, the grain shops have all been emptied, should we...?"

"Blocked, is it blocked severely?"

Zhao Jing's eyes suddenly lit up.

"I heard, I heard it will last for at least a month!"

"A month?"

"This, what can be done about this?"

"In a month, the grain supply will be cut off."

Zhao Jing, however, laughed heartily: "Good thing, good thing, immediately submit a petition to the Prefectural Governor, and start the next round of voting!"

"Ah?"

The others immediately realized it too.

That's right.

Under these circumstances, who would care about your Pension System? Those rioting masses would surely all be rushing to buy grain! Wouldn't the pressure they were facing then be easily resolved?

Under these circumstances, anyone could foresee that grain prices would soar, the value of the Yinzhou Coin would inevitably plummet, and inflation would occur. The people's money would no longer be money... The financial system of Liangzhou would face a huge challenge, and might even collapse directly. This would mean that money was no longer money.

As for the pension, who would still care?

Having enough to eat for the moment was the biggest problem!

That's right.

Having enough to eat was the biggest problem.

When Qingyang Shuo in Yintan City received this news for the first time, he, who was usually as calm as still water, could not help but knit his brows.

There was not enough grain.

The public began to queue up to buy grain, the price of grain changed every moment, and the purchasing power of the Yinzhou Coin began to plummet off a cliff.

Following that, other goods also began to skyrocket.

The pension.

In the face of inflation, it became pale and powerless. The beautiful future that the public had just pictured in their minds was shattered in these few days.

Who could care about the future?

Now they couldn't even get enough to eat!

"Sir, how should we handle this? The people outside have gone mad!"

Zheng Yueru ran over and asked anxiously.

Under pressure, Yintan City had already begun to supply stored grain—this was the military grain that Liu Zheng had saved for himself. But in the current situation, it was impossible not to take it out. Not only did it have to be taken out, but it also had to be supplied at the original price!

To prevent unscrupulous merchants from hoarding goods for speculation, those who wanted to buy grain in Yintan City were limited in supply, and they had to have household registration to buy it.

But even so, the people queuing were still endless.

Qingyang Shuo said indifferently: "Carry it out according to the Young Master's wishes; the army will intervene, the entire prefecture will enter a wartime state, strictly crack down on merchants raising prices, and control the price of grain!"

"Those who hoard goods, kill them!"

"Yes!"

"This, how could it be like this? How could the ships be blocked?"

Lao Wang, who had run from Yinzhou to Liangzhou, looked at the group of people scattering like birds and beasts, and felt even more anxious in his heart.

It shouldn't be like this!

It was clear that the vote for the Pension was about to begin.

At a time like this, if these protesters left, would the Cabinet Members still listen to the opinions of these people's representatives?

Lao Wang was a staunch supporter of Prefect Liu, so he was anxious.

He did not believe that Prefect Liu had no backup plan.

Thinking this way.

The backup plan arrived.

The fully armed Liangzhou Army finally arrived.

Wartime state, suppress grain prices!

With these two heavy blows dealt, the mood in Liangzhou finally began to stabilize. Lao Wang was excited again; he first greeted his brother-in-law, and then began to shout along the streets.

This is the trick of enemy agents!

They just want our Pension to not pass!

Do not believe them!

Everyone, unite again, believe in Liangzhou Prefecture, believe in the Young Master.

They have been working hard all along.

Just beginning.

People were still busy scrambling for grain, but soon, this move by Lao Wang achieved results.

The mood had stabilized somewhat.

But the ships were still blocked.

In this era, let alone excavators, there probably weren't even crowbars; how were those three large stone piers to be moved? Ships kept hitting the reef, ships kept hitting the reef, and soon, the area near Longqi Gorge was blocked into a mess.

Liangzhou side soon contacted Shu.

Prince of Shu Xie Zhen had plenty of grain, but after all, it was a case of the whip being too short to reach; furthermore, the Waterway was blocked, and by land, it would take at least a month.

A month.

The pressure was immense.

The Blockage of the Ship.

This caused the entire Longyan Dynasty to enter a new round of reflection.

This time, the Grand Canal blockage did not just block the passage from Hanzhong to Liangzhou. It also choked the throat of many Chambers of Commerce in the Longyan Dynasty.

According to statistics from the Hanlin Academy, one-tenth of the country's total trade volume this year needed to enter Liangzhou via the Waterway.

Therefore.

It was not just the price of grain and other items within Liangzhou that were affected, leading to inflation.

Chambers of Commerce across the country were actually feeling anxious.

Supplies of fine wine, Perfume, Refined Salt, weapons... these things began to skyrocket in price elsewhere.

While the whole country was in an uproar.

The imperial court, at this moment, also fell silent.

Xie Tianyao looked coldly at this bunch of good-for-nothing ministers, so angry he couldn't even speak.

Back then, who submitted the memorial insisting that the diameter of the Grand Canal must be controlled within one li? That the gorge must be controlled within half a li? And now? You said it was to curb the passage of Warship, and now, what do you have to say!

For these big figures.

This round of reflection was not just about whether the Grand Canal being blocked was because the Longyan Dynasty's transportation relied too heavily on the Grand Canal—this did not need to be discussed; at least for the next few hundred years, the Waterway would remain the fastest mode of transport.

The deeper reflection.

Still stemmed from.

The Grand Canal, unknowingly, had already become a vital instrument of the state, slowly beginning to carry so much trade exchange.

Resistance, lip service, was it still useful?

It was useless.

Widen it! Deeper!

Treat it as a serious matter!

Invisibly, this Blockage of the Ship did Liu Zheng a huge favor.

Of course, this was a matter for the upper-level structure to think about.

Then what about the middle-level structure?

At least for now, the Third Prince Xie Ling and Yang Xiao were happy.

Although the Liangzhou side had begun military control, what could not be curbed was that the price of Yinzhou Coin was plummeting every day.

This time, Yang Xiao had already gathered the funds of the entire Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce to buy out Yintan City!

He decided to go all-in with the Third Prince.