Chapter 398

First Volume, Chapter 398: The Strategy of Stabilizing Grain Prices

In the Jingong Yushufang, the Liang Emperor stood with his hands behind his back, glancing sidelong at the black-cloaked officer behind him.

"Did Qin Feng really say that?"

The black-cloaked officer nodded: "A weak state with strong individuals is a tragedy. The Qin family's future lies in people's livelihood."

Hearing the black-cloaked officer's faithful report, the Liang Emperor fell into deep thought, then drew a long, slow breath.

Without a word, he raised his hand and accepted the "Ten Methods for Controlling Qin" from the black-cloaked officer.

It listed numerous policies to restrain the Qin family: supporting the New Party, suppressing the Pro-War Faction and the Taolin Party, revoking Qin Feng's oversight duties, dismissing ten households…

After much hesitation, the Liang Emperor tore the "Ten Methods for Controlling Qin" to shreds and tossed them aside.

His gloomy eyes finally sparkled again: "I shall see what kind of golden age this Qin Feng can forge for Shedynasty! Aside from supporting the New Party and balancing the Pro-War Faction and the Taolin Party, all other arrangements may be temporarily shelved. If I press too hard, how can Qin Feng implement his strategy of enriching the people and strengthening the state?"

Though the black-cloaked officer's suspicion of the Qin family ran to his bones, and he would never hesitate to eliminate them at the first opportunity, he held the Liang Emperor's orders in the highest regard.

After all, even the Heiwei Office understood that only Qin Feng could alleviate Shedynasty's present crisis.

On the other side, under Qin Feng's direct supervision, candy shops had spread across all Thirty-Six Counties of Jingdu in just a few days. Qin Xiaofu, reluctant to leave, departed Jingdu for Tangqi—and this journey, after Qin Feng's careful deliberation, included Shen Qingci.

Shen Qingci, backed by Qingya Pavilion, had gradually become a leading figure in Jingdu's literary circles.

This trip to Jiangnan served two purposes: to gradually take over the confectionery industry, and to establish a branch of Qingya Pavilion to command the literary circles of the South. To prevent accidents en route, Qin Feng assigned Shu Feng and four Tianji Camp Guards to accompany them, with the Jin Yi Wei providing covert protection. As for Jiangnan, Ning Hu's presence ensured no trouble would arise.

The day after Shen Qingci and Qin Xiaofu departed Jingdu, Qin Feng began organizing the Gaoshan Country merchant caravans.

In addition to the initial caravan transporting "military supplies," Qin Feng dispatched two more caravans carrying Shedynasty's traditional commodities: ceramics, silk, salt, and tea.

Opening traditional trade routes between Shedynasty and surrounding barbarian states was the true path to benefiting the people—and Gaoshan Country was the starting point.

Beyond this, the urgent priority was to bring down grain prices.

Jiangnan was a vital grain-producing region; with the Lin family controlling grain, grain prices across Shedynasty had been severely disrupted, leaving commoners unable to afford food—the very root of national weakness. The Qin Grain Shop was thus born, rooted in Jingdu, expanding from north to south, purchasing grain at market price and selling it at a ten percent markup.

This pricing would remain unshaken for a thousand years!

Qin Feng had expected interference from powerful interests, fearing his entry into the grain trade would trigger fierce resistance—but the response was astonishingly smooth, with green lights all the way.

The day after Qin Grain Shops opened across all Thirty-Six Counties of Jingdu, a messenger from the Northern Border rushed through Jingdu's main gate, heading straight for the Ministry of War.

That afternoon, an emergency court session was convened; all officials in Jingzhong of Fifth Rank or higher were required to attend, and Qin Feng was summoned by the Emperor.

The atmosphere in the Grand Hall was more solemn than ever. The Liang Emperor, who normally preferred circuitousness, broke tradition and went straight to the point, handing the Beixi County War Report to the ministers for review.

At first, Qin Feng assumed it was a major Di invasion—but when he read the report, he was startled.

The Liang Emperor's brow was tightly furrowed, his gaze heavier than ever: "Pingnan County has erupted in rebellion. Led by Huang Cheng, the rebels rose up, launched a stealth attack on the local garrison's armory, and seized Pingnan County. The military intelligence is incomplete: we have no record of rebel numbers or strength. Further reports will take at least seven to eight days to reach Jingdu."

"My ministers, speak freely."

The Liang Emperor's greatest fear had finally come to pass!

All ministers were caught utterly off guard by the report; silence fell over the Grand Hall.

Qin Tianhu, as Supervisor of War and Minister of War, had received the Northern Border intelligence first. After a moment's deliberation, he spoke solemnly: "Your Majesty, Pingnan County is only one hundred and thirty Li from the Piaoqi Grand General's garrison—yet the Piaoqi forces have not moved to suppress the rebellion. This is troubling…"

Before Qin Tianhu could finish, the Liang Emperor waved him off, his eyes filled with dread: "The Piaoqi Grand General would not move without my orders."

Every minister present was an old fox with deep cunning—they understood perfectly: it wasn't that the Liang Emperor hadn't issued orders, but that he couldn't issue them!

Ever since the Piaoqi and Cheqi Grand Generals left Jingdu with their families, they had effectively broken free from the Liang Emperor's control, stationing themselves in place. Whether it was rebellion in the Northern Border or the Beixi County conflict, they watched from the sidelines. Most critically, both garrisons occupied strategic chokepoints on the Northern Border—like two golden swords pressed against the Central Plains' vital artery.

Even though the Liang Emperor feared them to his core, he could only appease them, never give them cause to openly defy him.

Everyone understood this was the lingering consequence of the Liang Emperor's elimination of Gao Ming.

With Gao Ming gone, the powerful clans of the South could no longer be suppressed—and both the Cheqi and Piaoqi Grand Generals were southerners, surely already coerced by the southern powerful clans.

Moreover, Shedynasty's military focus remained on the Di threat; there was simply no capacity to pressure the Cheqi and Piaoqi forces. Once the Emperor's trusted arms, they had now become his greatest internal wound. Stationed on the Northern Border, they deterred the Di army—this was the best possible situation. As for any other tasks, he could no longer rely on them.

If neither the Cheqi nor the Piaoqi could be moved, the Border Army was out of the question.

For the first time in his many years on the throne, the Liang Emperor felt powerless.

Yet he knew clearly: though eliminating Gao Ming brought many drawbacks, it had to be done—otherwise he would never free himself to confront Lin Taibao.

In this emergency, the Liang Emperor could only place his hope in Qin Feng.

"Qin Feng, what is your view?"

At these words, every eye in the hall turned to Qin Feng.

Regarding the sudden rebellion on the Northern Border, Qin Feng appeared remarkably calm—as if he had foreseen it.

This calmness only deepened the Liang Emperor's expectations.

Qin Feng did not answer immediately. Instead, he turned and cast a glance at Lin Taibao, who had lain dormant for years and now finally appeared at court.

"The Qin Grain Shop has just begun to expand, and now rebellion erupts on the Northern Border—of all places, Pingnan County. Everyone knows Pingnan County is the essential route from Jingdu to Beixi County. If Pingnan County falls, trade routes will be cut."

"Could it be that my Qin family has touched someone's cake—and provoked retaliation?"

At these words, the Grand Hall fell utterly silent.

The Liang Emperor also frowned. He had considered this himself, but dared not speak it aloud—Qin Feng's blunt articulation of the stakes spared him considerable trouble.

In response to Qin Feng's accusation, Lin Taibao remained utterly composed: "Qin Feng, are you accusing me of disloyalty to Shedynasty?"

"Do you know what crime it is to falsely accuse a sitting Taibao?"

Seeing Lin Taibao dodge the issue, Qin Feng's cold smile deepened…