Chapter 646: First Volume, Chapter 646: Ten Thousand Tael of Gold

First Volume, Chapter 646: Ten Thousand Tael of Gold

The Prince of Ming, the Three Great Generals of the North, and their three Deputy Generals all have the authority to purchase grain.

But… their hands cannot reach Yanshou County.

Even if the Prince of Ming himself signs a Grain Purchase Hand Order, Zhao Li can simply treat it as scrap paper and toss it aside.

But if the big shots of the Northern Border, plus Qin Feng stationed in Yanshou County, are involved, the situation changes entirely.

Qin Feng is that hand extending from the background!

This is why Qin Feng, despite being a "local emperor" in the Northern Border, insists on returning to Jingdu to endure the Li Imperial Clan's manipulation.

This fertile land of Jingdu must never be abandoned, under any circumstances.

Qin Feng looked at the four large chests of gold, silver, and jewels before him.

He gave Zhao Li no chance to react—straight to the point.

"Take these one hundred and twenty thousand taels of silver back with you."

"One million one hundred and forty thousand shi of grain—round down the remainder."

"You must deliver one thousand one hundred shi of grain to the Qin Family Grain Shop before dawn tomorrow."

"As for how to transport it to the Northern Border, I have my own methods."

"If Brother Zhao wishes to help me transport it, that would be excellent—I shall remember this favor."

At these words, Zhao Li stepped back two paces, his face ashen.

As if deeply frightened.

"As for transporting the grain—figure it out yourself!"

"Wait!"

"Qin Feng, I haven't agreed to sell you military rations."

Qin Feng raised an eyebrow, his gaze sharp: "I'm not asking for your permission."

Qin Feng took the paper and brush from Qin Xiaofu, scribbled a few lines, and tossed the Grain Purchase Order onto Zhao Li's desk.

"This Grain Purchase Order is issued on behalf of the Prince of Ming by me."

"You only need to carry it out—I've already paid. You don't intend to default, do you?"

Zhao Li stared, dumbfounded.

These one hundred and twenty thousand taels of silver were originally his own.

This fellow Qin Feng was using Zhao Li's money to buy Zhao Li's grain.

And all at once—one million one hundred thousand shi…

Since the Zhao Clan began suppressing prices, they had gathered a total of only twenty million shi of grain.

Subtract the ten million shi already sold.

Even if the Zhao Family Grain Firm emptied its entire current stockpile into Qin Feng's hands, they would still fall short by one hundred shi.

This wasn't merely losing one hundred and twenty thousand taels of silver.

The price of military rations was only half that of Yanshou County's market price.

Altogether, the Zhao Clan had lost twenty-four thousand taels of silver.

The most critical point:

These grains were the Zhao Clan's strategic reserves, meant to crush grain prices.

Without grain in hand, they could no longer manipulate prices.

As demand rose, prices would gradually rebound until returning to normal levels.

All the Zhao Clan's efforts would be rendered worthless.

"Qin Feng, you're going too far!"

"If you had brought real gold and silver, this deal might still be possible."

"But you offer not a single coin, yet expect to take one million one hundred thousand shi of Zhao Clan grain? Dream on!"

Although Zhao Li had already witnessed Qin Feng's methods,

He knew this man was extremely dangerous.

But Zhao Li had no choice but to confront him head-on.

The Zhao Clan's core industry could not be destroyed under his own hands.

Facing Zhao Li's desperate resistance,

Qin Feng no longer wished to waste words—he cut straight to the point: "What, do you intend to disobey imperial decree?"

Zhao Li's back was drenched in sweat; summoning his courage, he pointed at Qin Feng and roared:

"Thug!"

"You wield military power to bully honest merchants like us?"

At these words, Qin Feng burst into loud laughter.

"Hahahaha, when you were carrying out thug-like acts, did you ever imagine one day another thug would crush you?"

"I gladly accept the title of thug!"

"As for 'honest merchant'? You don't deserve the name!"

"You feast on upstream profits, then devour downstream ones—ignoring the lives of Shedynasty's people for your own selfish gain. How dare you call yourself 'honest'?"

Zhao Li clenched his fists tightly, teeth grinding.

"Will you not fear angering the Central Plains Imperial Party by acting this way?"

Until Zhao Li mentioned the "Central Plains Imperial Party," Qin Feng had not been angry.

He immediately slammed his fist on the table and stood up, roaring fiercely.

"The Central Plains Imperial Party should have taken the welfare of all under Heaven as their own duty!"

"Yet now, their eyes hold nothing but Authority."

"Such petty villains — what is there to fear!"

"If you are counting on clinging to the Imperial Party's thigh to make me hesitate, I advise you to kill that thought."

"Anyone who dares to lay a hand on the Shedynasty commoners' rice bowl must die!"

"Let alone you — even if the Imperial Party stood before me, I would carry it out all the same!"

Zhao Li's last sliver of illusion shattered completely.

Zhao Li knew full well in his heart that the moment he dared refuse Qin Feng, Qin Feng would dare to kill both his Comrades on the spot.

After all, this kind of audacious act was, for Qin Feng, practically a Family Banquet.

Zhao Li had no choice.

From the moment he stepped through the Door…

No!

To be precise, from the moment Zhao Zan publicly showed disrespect to Qin Feng.

The ending had already been sealed.

Either hand over the Grain, or hand over your life!

Choose one of the two — no matter which he chose, the Zhao Family would bleed!

Zhao Li let out a long breath and finally relented.

He cupped his hands and bowed deeply to Qin Feng, every word and gesture brimming with helplessness and rueful admiration.

"Young Master Qin's great feats have long since spread across Heaven. Though I have heard of them often, only upon meeting Young Master Qin in person can one truly sense his methods."

"I lose to Young Master Qin without grievance."

"I only beg Young Master Qin to show mercy and grant my Zhao clan a path to survival."

Hearing this, Qin Feng sat back down in his chair.

He picked up the Tea Cup and took a light sip.

The viciousness in his eyes had already faded; he regarded Zhao Li with keen interest.

"Show mercy? Young Master Zhao, what do you mean by that?"

"Your Zhao clan — a great house with vast holdings — surely wouldn't collapse over a mere ten million Stone of Grain?"

Grain is unlike other goods — it increases in volume on schedule every year.

The price of new Grain is higher than that of old Grain.

Therefore, any Grain Merchant rarely hoards Grain for long, but sells it off the same season.

All major buyers keep enormous Grain Escort teams.

Especially in Yanshou County, where a great number of Grain Merchants gather — mighty Grain Escort teams stream in and out of the city, a truly spectacular sight.

A single cart of Grain, stacked high, can easily hold forty Stone.

Even a man-powered 'wheelbarrow' can haul eight or nine Stone at a time.

Take Yanshou County as an example — to say nothing of a full year, in a single season the Grain flowing in and out reaches thirty million Stone!

If you add new Grain to old, it is an astronomical figure — equivalent to half a year's provisions for the common folk of the North.

This eleven million Stone of Grain may seem like a lot, but with the Zhao Family's strength, they can well afford the loss.

Zhao Li's posture had dropped extremely low; his words were worlds apart from the earlier, gunpowder-laden exchange.

"Young Master Qin holds Authority in his hands. So long as you are willing, you can issue ten or twenty more Grain Purchase Orders at any time."

"My Zhao Family cannot afford to play against Young Master Qin."

"If Young Master Qin will show mercy, my Zhao Family is willing to withdraw from Yanshou County."

Zhao Li's decisiveness earned considerable admiration from Qin Feng.