However, once the dark dealings were exposed to the common people, they naturally began to speak up for themselves and voice their grievances against unfair treatment.
In this situation, Ye Qingcheng played another card, fanning the flames!
That night, in a modest residence, many people carrying medical chests entered the gate one after another.
Inside the closed doors, a crowd had already gathered, conversing in low tones.
The most conspicuous figure among them was Ye Qingcheng!
Seeing that time was getting late, Ye Qingcheng cleared her throat and said, "Everyone, please be quiet. I believe you've all heard about my lawsuit with the people from Japan today. The reason I've summoned you here is simple: I want us to unite and raise our medicine prices in response to the Japanese."
Upon hearing this, the crowd exchanged bewildered glances, their eyes filled with confusion.
They didn't understand why Ye Qingcheng was suddenly making such a request. Although they had all heard about her case, it had nothing to do with their own medical clinics.
Immediately, an elder stepped forward to voice his doubts:
"Doctor Ye, what do you mean by this? Our medicine prices are already set. Changing them suddenly is rather inappropriate."
"Surely, everyone knows that the Japanese merchant convoy deliberately inflated grain prices, profiting greatly in our Ning City, right? Aren't you all indignant? They can raise grain prices using the excuse of long transportation routes; why can't we raise our medicine prices for the same reason?"
Ye Qingcheng smiled gently, presenting her arguments logically and appealing to their emotions.
She had gathered all the medical clinic owners in the city that night to add more fuel to the fire of boycotting the Japanese merchants' grain prices.
Grain is the foundation of life, and medicinal herbs are equally indispensable.
She intended to use their own tactics against them.
Those present, being owners of medical clinics, were naturally intelligent and instantly grasped Ye Qingcheng's intent.
"You mean, we should join forces to boycott the Japanese?"
Someone ventured to ask, and Ye Qingcheng gave him an affirmative answer.
As soon as this was said, half of the attendees readily agreed, their expressions full of enthusiasm. While they were not lacking in food or clothing, they were also troubled by the excessively high grain prices in the city.
The other half, however, showed hesitation on their faces.
Some among the attendees were closely associated with officials and understood that the government was involved in this matter.
They were doctors as well as merchants and naturally did not wish to confront the authorities.
Sensing their indecision, Ye Qingcheng dropped another bombshell.
"I have long heard that the Japanese merchant convoy's deliberate inflation of grain prices has reached the Emperor's ears, and he has already dispatched people to thoroughly investigate this matter. They should be on their way soon, so everyone need not be afraid."
With her words, the message was clear. The remaining hesitant individuals had no choice but to agree.
The next day, the city's transformation became apparent. The Japanese in Ning City quickly noticed that something was amiss.
The streets were filled with boycotters, and medical clinics were deliberately raising their prices. The entire Ning City was in an uproar over the grain price issue.
At this very moment, Zhu Chang's yamen received a group of unwelcome visitors.
"Lord Zhu, you must give me an explanation for this!"
In the prefect's chambers of the Ning City yamen, a Japanese man furiously confronted Zhu Chang.
Zhu Chang, on the other hand, was pacing the room, his brow furrowed with anxiety.
He had never imagined that things would escalate to this point, and even he, the prefect, could no longer suppress it.
Currently, boycotts were rampant throughout the city. He was willing to use force to suppress them, but unfortunately, Xiao Wangye was lurking nearby, watching his every move.
If he were to truly dispatch troops, Xiao Wangye's memorial would likely be delivered to the capital the very next day, and his official hat would be in jeopardy.
Seeing that he was merely pacing and offering no explanation, the Japanese man's anger surged uncontrollably. He pointed at Zhu Chang and began to curse, "We give you a large sum of silver every year! Now, with the entire city boycotting our grain prices, our grain stores haven't sold a single grain in the past two days."
Zhu Chang, already in a foul mood, became even more agitated by the constant chatter of the Japanese man.
If it weren't for the man's connections in the Japanese court, he would have long since kicked him out. He wouldn't have had to endure such indignity.
In his haste, Zhu Chang could only sigh and look up to tell him the truth:
"It's not that I don't want to help you, but our Emperor has already sent the Regent to investigate this matter of excessively high grain prices. He is currently in the city, and the clinic owner who had a dispute with your people yesterday is the Regent's Consort. What do you expect me to do?"
With a deep sigh, Zhu Chang sank into his chair, his mind in chaos, completely devoid of solutions.
Upon hearing his words, the Japanese man was stunned into silence.
While they were struggling to come up with a plan, Xiao Wangye made his move.
The grain he had seized from Luo Qin Quan had some remaining, which he had transported into Ning City a few days prior.
After the entire city began boycotting the high-priced grain from the Japanese merchant convoy, he and Ye Qingcheng, after discussion, decided to set up a small stall next to the medical clinic.
The stall only sold grain, and at prices comparable to those in other cities, it was significantly lower than the prices at the grain stores in Ning City.
However, Xiao Wangye's grain supply was limited, and he could only sell a limited amount each day to ensure he wouldn't run out.
As a result, the people of Ning City were immensely grateful and had even more motivation to boycott the Japanese merchant convoy.
Not only Xiao Wangye, but some prominent families in the city had also learned of the imperial dispatch to investigate grain prices.
The current situation in Ning City was likely a result of the instigation by that official behind the scenes.
When they sent people to investigate further, Xiao Wangye and Ye Qingcheng's identities were naturally revealed, shocking them greatly.
Under these circumstances, these prominent families began to hatch plans and followed suit, offering grain at low prices.
The current Emperor had already decreed a thorough investigation into the Japanese merchant convoy's price gouging. These opportunistic families knew how to choose their stance.
With the assistance of these prominent families, the grain stores of the Japanese merchant convoy in Ning City became even more desolate, with no customers in sight.
The momentum of the boycott in Ning City surged!
However, Xiao Wangye and Ye Qingcheng discussed for a whole night with grim expressions.
They knew that the current measures were not sustainable; their grain supply would eventually run out.
When the city's populace had no further source of grain, the inevitable outcome would be their submission once again to the prices set by the Japanese merchant convoy.
"For now, there are only two paths forward," Xiao Wangye said, his brow furrowed in thought.
"Either we secure a fixed grain supplier to sell grain at fair prices, or we negotiate with the Japanese merchant convoy to lower their grain prices."