Chapter 633: First Volume, Chapter 633: Cutthroat Competition

First Volume, Chapter 633: Cutthroat Competition

Jingdu, Yanshou County.

This county lies within Jingdu's territory, on a vital transit route.

All grain escort teams from the North must pass through Yanshou County.

Likewise, seven out of ten shipments of grain bound for the South also pass through Yanshou County for transshipment.

Since ancient times, Yanshou County has been the most important grain transshipment hub in the North.

It is even hailed as the "Daliang Granary."

Precisely because of this, every Northern Grain Merchant must secure a foothold in Yanshou County.

Once firmly established here, one gains an unparalleled advantage: able to advance southward or retreat northward at will.

On North Street in Yanshou County, a stretch barely sixty zhang long, over a dozen Grain Shops stand side by side.

Moreover, these Grain Shops are all top-tier Northern Grain Merchants.

Qin Shi Trading House arrived in Yanshou County latest; all the prime locations had already been taken by other Grain Shops.

Thus, Qin Shi Trading House sits at the easternmost end of North Street—barely a backwater corner.

Yet Qin Shi Trading House's business is busier than all the other Grain Shops combined.

Not for any other reason, but because Qin Shi Trading House buys grain at fair prices and sells it at fair prices.

It earns only meager Profit Margins, never squeezing its suppliers or undercutting its customers.

After all, the cost falls on the sheep—no matter how high the Grain Price rises, it is ultimately the Common People who pay.

"Gentlemen, today we will only purchase five thousand jin of grain, any type."

"Those who did not get in line must come early tomorrow."

Lin Ziyi, acting Shopkeeper of Qin Shi Trading House, stood outside the Door, overseeing the on-site order.

At nineteen, Lin Ziyi, though well-versed in the Way of Commerce, had mostly studied it on paper and never truly managed alone.

Since her father Lin Qihai fell ill half a month ago, with no reliable staff available, Lin Ziyi had no choice but to shoulder the burden.

Fortunately, the accountants had several dependable old masters who eased much of Lin Ziyi's pressure.

Lin Ziyi, as usual, set the quota and commanded the Grain Merchants in orderly transactions.

Yet the scene still erupted into chaos.

Several Northern Grain Merchants, deeply aggrieved, shouted loudly.

"Yesterday's limit was ten thousand jin, the day before was eight thousand, and today it's even worse—only five thousand jin?!"

"The grain I brought alone exceeds five thousand jin!"

"If not for rumors that Qin Shi Trading House buys and sells at fair prices, would we have traveled thousands of li just to come here?!"

"This Qin Shi Trading House is outrageous—it's clearly mocking us!"

"Let's go! Return and tell the other Grain Merchants: never do business with Qin Shi Trading House again, or you won't even know how you got cheated to death!"

Lin Ziyi instantly recognized the leaders of this disturbance as legitimate merchants.

The middle-aged man at the front was Chen Kang, one of the top Northern Grain Merchants.

If Chen Kang were offended, Qin Shi Trading House would never again do business with any Northern Grain Merchant.

Lin Ziyi quickly ordered her Clerks to block Chen Kang and his group.

"Master Chen, please don't rush. Let's sit down and talk calmly."

Chen Kang's face darkened; he shoved aside the blocking Clerks and roared: "There's nothing to talk about!"

"If Qin Shi Trading House truly had sincerity, why have you left us waiting for days?!"

"I see—this Qin Shi Trading House is merely seeking false fame!"

Lin Ziyi knew she absolutely could not alienate Chen Kang.

She stepped forward immediately, smiling warmly.

"Master Chen, you are the greatest Northern Grain Merchant. Even if I were the most arrogant, I would never dare to neglect you."

"Earlier, there were simply too many people—I didn't notice you. Please forgive me, Master Chen."

"As for the grain purchase quota, it was forced upon us—please understand."

Seeing Lin Ziyi's sincerity.

Chen Kang's expression softened slightly.

If other Grain Shops hadn't crushed prices so ruthlessly, would Chen Kang have wasted so much time on Qin Shi Trading House?

Just as Chen Kang was about to give Qin Shi Trading House one more chance,

A discordant voice suddenly came from behind.

"Heh, Master Chen, I advise you not to waste your time."

"If Qin Shi Trading House truly had the strength to absorb your grain, why would you keep being turned away?"

"Since the beginning of this month, Qin Shi Trading House has imposed purchase quotas."

"Each day, the quota grows smaller."

"Today it has dropped to five thousand jin."

"Every Grain Shop in Yanshou County buys ten thousand jin daily—without exception."

"Anyone with eyes can see: Qin Shi Trading House is on the verge of collapse—any day now, it will shut its doors."

Lin Ziyi frowned slightly and turned to look. A young man in a white long robe, stout and bulky, was walking toward them.

It was none other than Zhao Zan, second son of the Zhao Clan.

Qin Shi Trading House's current dire financial state can be said to be entirely the Zhao Clan's doing.

Since last month, the Zhao Clan has allied with every Grain Shop in Yanshou County.

They began selling grain at prices far below normal.

Merchants all seek profit; downstream grain merchants naturally chose the cheaper grain shops to purchase from.

As a result, Qin Shi Trading House's grain simply could not be sold.

If this were merely a simple price war, it would be fine.

Not only ordinary grain shops, but even the Zhao Clan could not sustain it for long.

But this price war had not begun suddenly—it had long been brewing.

The Zhao Clan and others had stockpiled large quantities of grain, enough to last more than half a month.

At the same time, they continuously lowered upstream grain prices.

Because Qin Shi Trading House's grain could not be sold, its capital could not circulate back.

Naturally, it could no longer purchase grain normally.

If Qin Shi Trading House also lowered prices, it would be no problem—but the upstream grain merchants would suffer.

Under the condition that Qin Shi Trading House could not lower prices, it could only repeatedly reduce its grain procurement quotas.

Many upstream grain merchants simply could not endure it anymore, and sold their grain at low prices to the Zhao Clan and other grain shops.

So much so that they lost everything.

The Zhao Clan had seized Qin Shi Trading House's fatal weakness.

As long as Qin Shi Trading House continued to consider the interests of upstream grain merchants and refused to lower prices,

this price war could continue indefinitely.

The final outcome would inevitably be Qin Shi Trading House closing its doors forever!

……

On the Official Road, less than twenty Li from Yanshou County.

Qin Feng rode a horse, strolling leisurely toward Yanshou County.

Ning Hu and Qin Xiaofu followed on either side.

Around them, Tianji Camp Guards and Brocade Uniform Guards secretly protected him.

After days of gloomy weather in Jingdu, the clouds finally parted.

Bright sunlight fell on their faces, warm and wonderfully comfortable.

"Brother Qin, in my opinion, just issue a few military orders to the branch in Yanshou County."

"Why must you make the trip yourself?"

Ning Hu thought Qin Feng was making a mountain out of a molehill.

Even if the grain shop in Yanshou County was in dire straits, it was only a branch.

The main house was in Jingdu.

Though unprofitable, it was a large, deeply rooted enterprise—no one could easily shake its foundation.