Chapter 644: The Lifeline of Grain

First Volume, Chapter 644: The Lifeline of Grain

Zhao Li does not deny that the Qin Grain Shop is a blessing to the entire Shedynasty.

As long as the Qin Grain Shop can unify Shedynasty's grain industry and solve the people's food problem, it is merely a matter of time.

Zhao Li genuinely admires Qin Feng.

Not just in Shedynasty, but across all of Heaven, there is probably no merchant like Qin Feng who places national interest above personal gain.

But admiration is admiration, and business is business.

Even if it costs the well-being of all the people in Heaven.

Zhao Li must spare no effort to protect the Zhao Clan's interests!

Qin Feng long anticipated that Zhao Li would never back down, even with Zhao Zan's life as leverage.

Therefore, Qin Feng did not dwell on Zhao Zan, but treated Zhao Li purely as a commercial rival.

"Young Master Zhao, no need to be so indignant."

"There is only so much grain in Shedynasty—you take one more bite, I take one less."

"Setting aside national and patriotic ideals, as merchants, our goals are identical: to become the largest Northern Grain Merchant."

"When two tigers fight, one must be wounded."

"The commercial war between my Qin Clan and your Zhao Clan was destined from the start."

At this, Qin Xiaofu walked to Qin Feng's side and handed him a sheet.

Qin Feng casually shook it out and read aloud in a calm tone.

"Over the past decade in Yanshou County, the purchase price for grain has been thirty cash per stone, and the selling price forty cash per stone."

"This year's first half saw relatively stable prices."

"In recent months, the purchase price has been crushed to twenty-one cash, and the selling price to twenty-three cash."

"Downstream Grain Merchants have grown rich beyond measure, while Upstream Grain Merchants have lost everything."

Qin Feng set down the statistics sheet and looked at Zhao Li's ashen face.

"This move is draining the pond to catch all the fish—the damage to Upstream Grain Merchants is immense; if this continues, it will strike at their very foundation."

Since Qin Feng spoke purely of commerce, Zhao Li did not evade.

He said gravely: "Fluctuations in grain prices are normal."

"In times of natural disaster or war, grain prices surge; in years of bountiful harvest, they fall—this follows natural law."

"My Zhao Family is truly upright!"

"We have lowered not only purchase prices but also selling prices."

"Although Upstream Merchants have suffered losses, Downstream Merchants have profited—balance is maintained."

"By early next year, when southern grain arrives, my Zhao Family will treat all equally—still buying low and selling low, so Northern Grain Merchants will still profit."

At these words, Qin Feng burst into loud laughter.

"Hahahaha! What a fine sense of uprightness!"

"After this devastating blow to Northern Grain Merchants, small merchants will be cut in half; only those with ample capital will survive."

"When all small merchants are wiped out, wealth concentrates in the hands of a few large Grain Merchants—perfectly suited for your Zhao Family to control. What a brilliant scheme."

"That's not all."

"Your Zhao Family doesn't just hold onto Yanshou County as a single transit point."

"You've already dispatched numerous Merchant Caravans, hidden among Downstream Grain Merchants, to buy grain cheaply and sell it at high prices elsewhere."

"In and out—you Zhao Family doesn't lose a single tael; you make a fortune."

"Do you really think I don't know about all these things?"

Zhao Li's face darkened, his heart tightening with dread.

Had he not been facing Qin Feng, he would never have dreamed Qin Feng's intelligence was this sharp.

Yet… Qin Feng had long resided in the Northern Border and Jingdu, rarely meddling in Grain Shop affairs—how could he know every detail?

Moreover, the Zhao Clan's arrangements were top-secret, known only to its core members.

Outsiders could never learn of them.

Could this Qin Feng truly… have eyes and ears everywhere?

Zhao Li's back chilled, yet he forced a calm expression.

"Merchants seek profit—what's wrong with that?"

Qin Feng shrugged, dismissive: "If you earn money honestly, no one can touch you."

"But using your capital to monopolize grain and profit from it—that defies heaven's law!"

"The wool comes from the sheep—your Zhao Family's profits aren't taken from Grain Merchants; they're sucked from the people's blood!"

"For every tael of silver you profit, one household toils face-down in the soil, working a full year for nothing."

"Don't talk to me about commercial principles!"

"A dishonest merchant exploits market insight and strategic play—not his conscience."

For some reason, Zhao Li had a strange feeling.

As if he had been stripped bare, completely exposed before Qin Feng, with no secrets left.

He clenched his fists tightly, still fighting a desperate last stand.

"So what!"

"If you truly care for the people, why not pay out of your own pocket, buy all the cheap grain, and sell it to the people at fair prices?"

"If you lack such ability, don't talk about conscience!"

At these words, everyone present looked at him with contempt.

It was Lin Ziyi's first time seeing Zhao Li so utterly flustered, nearly throwing a tantrum and rolling on the ground.

Qin Feng peeled away Zhao Li's hypocritical mask layer by layer, exposing the treacherous nature underneath.

Anger was anger.

Yet, in Lin Ziyi's heart, an oppressive gloom lingered.

She racked her brains but could not come up with any way to deal with Zhao Li.

After all, just as Zhao Li had said.

The Zhao Family had already seized the initiative, occupying most of Yanshou County's Grain Supply Chain, and the Pricing Power was entirely in the Zhao Family's grasp.

Unless one bought up cheap Grain regardless of cost.

But doing so would not shake the Zhao Family's foundations—sooner or later, it would surely be the Qin Family that couldn't hold out first.

The Zhao Family might not profit, but they absolutely could not lose.

Yet Qin Feng had been suffering losses all along.

This was a Trade War destined to be unwinnable.

But when Lin Ziyi looked at Qin Feng, she found his expression still calm and composed.

There was even a faint trace of a smile.

As if, from beginning to end, he had never taken Zhao Li's malicious schemes seriously.

"Your Zhao Family suppresses the Grain Price—I truly have no way to deal with you."

"After all, the Upstream Grain Merchants would rather sell to you at a loss—one's willing to hit, the other's willing to take it."

"Relying on myself alone, I truly cannot drag the Grain Price back up in a short time."

Hearing these words, Zhao Li could not help but burst into a fit of arrogant laughter.

"Since that's the case, what's there to keep blabbering about?"

"If you release my Comrade, I might graciously raise the Grain Price by a few wen."

Lin Ziyi could not help but cover her mouth, her eyes filled with tension.

Could it be—even Qin Feng had no solution?

This Yanshou County...

No, the entire Northern Grain Merchant industry—was about to be swallowed up by the Zhao Clan?

Lin Ziyi secretly blamed herself.

If not for her own poor management, giving the Zhao Clan an opening to exploit, things wouldn't have fallen to such a state today.

She had not only let down Qin Feng's trust, but even more so, let down all the common folk of the Shedynasty.

Just when Lin Ziyi was on the verge of despair.

Qin Feng, however, let out a soft laugh...