Chapter 34

The news that Guangling Commandery Prefect Zhang Chao was about to mobilize troops made the heads of the Wang and Zhu families tremble!

"Mobilize troops? Is this true?"

Once troops are mobilized, it won't just be Jiangdu County!

By then, the grain prices in the entire Guangling Commandery, and even the entire Xuzhou, will climb!

"So, you can collect as much grain as you want; this is just the beginning!"

Seeing their shocked expressions, Master Zhang said leisurely and self-satisfied!

It is only a mere doubling of grain prices!

What he has his eyes on is more than just this little bit!

What he wants is the grain price after the troops are mobilized!

By then, it will rise ten or twenty times over!

As for the common people not being able to afford grain, what does that have to do with him?

In times of war, it is always the common people who become poor, and the noble families who become rich!

Upon receiving the news, the heads of the Wang and Zhu families also had greedy glints in their eyes, and smiles appeared on their faces!

One week later, in Jiangdu County

"Damn it, why has the grain price risen again? It was only 480 coins yesterday, why is it 500 coins today!"

"Five hundred coins per shi, you aren't selling grain, you're robbing people!"

"That's right, this grain price is too expensive!"

"..."

In front of the Zhang family's rice shop in Jiangdu County, a group of commoners, seeing the soaring grain prices, began to curse loudly!

It has only been a few days!

The grain price in Jiangdu County has gone from 100 coins per shi to 500 coins per shi!

The price of grain has directly increased fivefold!

"If you're going to buy, buy; if not, get out of the way, don't block the path!"

The rice shop clerk cursed and drove the people outside away!

Seeing the other party's tough attitude, and thinking of the situation where they had no grain left at home, the group could only grit their teeth and buy it!

But on the way back, they were all grumbling and cursing!

This cursing caused the news of the rising grain prices to spread throughout Jiangdu County!

"Second Aunt, hurry and go buy grain, if you go late, the price will rise again!"

"Father of my children, stop working, hurry, go buy five shi of grain, we have no grain left at home!"

"Auntie, don't urge me, this 1000 coins can't even buy two shi of grain now, it's risen again!"

"What? The grain price is 580 coins per shi now? This is crazy!"

"..."

In the vast Jiangdu County, in front of every noble family's rice shop, the commoners were panicked seeing the grain prices soar again!

They had also received the news that the fertile fields outside Jiangdu County had been swept by the Huang Jin bandits!

Next year's grain production in Jiangdu County will definitely decrease!

Seeing the grain prices soaring, many people, even if their hearts were bleeding, had no choice but to buy!

Inside the Zhang family residence

"Haha, in just a short time, the grain price has soared to this point!"

The heads of the Wang and Zhu families couldn't help but laugh heartily when they saw the latest grain prices!

720 coins per shi, nine times the original price!

"Next, I expect the one in Jiangdu County will take action to stabilize the grain prices!"

Master Zhang, sitting in the main seat, sipped his tea and said unhurriedly!

This grain price is just the beginning!

When the official intervention fails, that will be the start of the real price surge!

"Master, the County Magistrate's office is selling grain!"

Just then, a servant at the door ran in hurriedly, looking excited!

Hearing that the Jiangdu County Magistrate's office had started selling grain, Master Zhang was not panicked at all; everything was within his expectations!

"Oh? How much are they selling the grain for per shi?"

He asked indifferently, and the servant who had hurried back walked in with a fawning smile!

"Master, the Magistrate's office didn't lower the price; instead, they are selling it even more expensively than us!"

"Their grain price is 750 coins per shi!"

As soon as the servant mentioned the price, the entire hall fell into silence!

Master Zhang, the head of the Wang family, the head of the Zhu family, and others were all stunned!

What is going on?

The Magistrate's office isn't stabilizing the grain price, but raising it?!