Ye Qingcheng nodded in agreement with his words.
Relying on selling grain at low prices for the long term was simply impossible.
They didn't have much grain in their hands to begin with. It was fine to hold out for three to five days, but one to two months was out of the question.
Currently, Ning City's grain reserves were held by the city's grain merchants and the Japanese merchant caravan.
It was precisely because the Japanese merchant caravan was so dominant in Ning City that many local grain merchants were absorbed by them.
Few of them insisted on selling grain themselves anymore.
"Then let's split up. More paths mean more assurance. You go negotiate with the Japanese merchant caravan, and I'll use the medical clinic's network of contacts to see if I can find suitable local grain merchants to cooperate with."
Ye Qingcheng suggested, and Xiao Wangye readily accepted her idea.
After they parted, they each went their own way according to their plans.
Xiao Wangye was going to negotiate with the Japanese merchant caravan, so he first went to the prefecture office to chat with Zhu Chang.
He had just arrived in Ning City and was not very clear about the city's affairs. To contact the Japanese, he could only inquire with Zhu Chang, the local prefect.
When Zhu Chang heard that he was looking for the Japanese, he instinctively thought he was going to cause trouble and refused outright.
The current prefect of Ning City was in a no-win situation. The Japanese found him incompetent despite taking their money and constantly pestered him.
On this side, there was also the Prince Regent watching him closely, looking for an opportunity to catch him.
Seeing that he refused without thinking, Xiao Wangye raised his eyebrows and deliberately said:
"Prefect Zhu, as the prefect of Ning City, don't you even know where the Japanese merchants live? Then who is in charge of Ning City?"
Hearing that he was being praised again, Zhu Chang felt a toothache and forced a smile.
"Your Highness is joking. Matters concerning households are managed by the chief clerk. If you need the address, this subordinate will have someone fetch the detailed registration book and send it to you."
"That would be excellent. I won't disturb Prefect Zhu any further. Farewell!"
Having obtained what he wanted, Xiao Wangye left contentedly, without dwelling on Zhu Chang for further questioning.
Watching his retreating back, Zhu Chang finally breathed a sigh of relief, and a stone in his heart was temporarily put down.
While he arranged for someone to send the address of the Japanese merchant caravan to Xiao Wangye, he also, at a faster pace, sent someone to deliver a message to the Japanese.
As for Xiao Wangye, he couldn't gain any benefits and had to be constantly wary of the other party, unable to offend them easily, which was truly exhausting.
Regarding the grain price issue, Zhu Chang dared not to manage it closely, let alone interfere.
It would be bad enough if he ended up with nothing, but he didn't want to get himself into trouble!
As soon as Xiao Wangye returned to his residence, the people sent by Zhu Chang arrived, respectfully handing over the address where the Japanese were staying.
Glancing at the address on the registration book, he did not intend to go in person but asked Yang Ming to go first to make contact.
"My lord, there are several men who claim to be the Prince Regent's guards waiting outside to see you, saying they wish to discuss the grain prices with you."
Discuss?
The word carried a different meaning to the ears of the leader.
Could it be that the other party was not looking for trouble as Zhu Chang had said?
As the leader of the Japanese merchant caravan, this gentleman was also very intelligent. He knew very well that the majority of Ning City's grain supply was in his hands.
It was true that some grain was being sold at low prices in the city, but he had sent people to investigate their backgrounds.
Apart from a few opportunistic aristocratic families in Ning City, the rest was supported by the small stall of the Prince Regent.
The thousands of households in Ning City consumed a considerable amount of grain daily. He didn't believe these people could hold out for one or two months.
One or two months was not a significant issue for them, as grain could be stored for a long time, and they could afford to wait.
Considering this, the Japanese instantly understood the reason why the other party sent someone to negotiate, and his demeanor became arrogant.
They had suffered a lot of grievances these days, not to mention the great loss they had suffered at Ye Qingcheng's hands before, which prevented them from seeing a doctor in the city from then on.
With various emotions mixed together, the Japanese's eyes narrowed, and he sneered:
"Does a mere guard deserve to negotiate with me? Go tell them that if they want to talk, they should have their master come in person!"
After saying that, the subordinate meekly turned back to reply.
Seeing this, the Japanese felt very relieved and somewhat smug.
To have their own Prince Regent come in person to seek peace was not only a way for them to vent their anger but also something they could brag about when they returned to Japan.
Not only that, but the Japanese also harbored ambitious thoughts, calculating in their minds how to humiliate Xiao Wangye when he arrived!
As for Yang Ming and the others, upon hearing the reply, their faces turned black with anger, and they left without a word.
Upon returning to the post station, they recounted the conversation verbatim to Xiao Wangye, adding with indignation:
"Your Highness, these people are too ungrateful. You were willing to give them a chance to redeem themselves, yet they dare to put on airs?"
"Yes! It's too much!"
Several guards were indignant about the matter, as if they wanted to go back and settle the score.
Hearing their reply, Xiao Wangye simply sneered, his eyes filled with coldness.
If they don't appreciate kindness, then so be it!
"Don't mind them anymore. Go back to your own business."
The Japanese dismissed the guards from the Prince Regent's mansion and waited in their room with full confidence, fantasizing about Xiao Wangye coming in person to apologize.
However, a day passed, and as the sky gradually darkened, no one from the Prince Regent's mansion came to visit.
Therefore, the leader of the Japanese became somewhat flustered and uncertain, and he quickly sent someone to gather information.
He had originally thought that the other party had sent someone to negotiate because they couldn't hold on any longer.
It didn't matter if he adopted a high posture, after all, most of the grain in the city was in his hands, and the result of Xiao Wangye having no grain to distribute could only be for him to admit his mistake.
But he did not expect that the person who came would leave immediately and never send any news.
The subordinate went out to investigate and, upon returning, only said that those guards had not left the post station.
No one, including Xiao Wangye, had seen him heading towards the Japanese residence, clearly indicating that they had not softened their stance due to their words.
Coupled with Zhu Chang's earlier message that Xiao Wangye might be looking for trouble, the Japanese immediately panicked.
A group of them gathered to discuss what to do.
According to the thoughts of most Japanese, they should have welcomed Xiao Wangye's envoy and interacted with them properly at that time.
But the leader was headstrong, directly shutting the door on them and even verbally insulting them.
This time, Xiao Wangye's impression of them worsened, and it could only have the opposite effect.