Chapter 178: Chapter 173: Preventing the Future
Zhao Hanzhang bought a large amount of grain using gold and silver, and glass, at a price ten percent higher than the market rate. Upon hearing the news, County Magistrate Chai was stunned, "Why is she buying so much grain? Wait, she’s... brought troops here, why pay a high price? Shouldn’t she be lowering the price?"
Chang Ning: "Isn’t it unlikely anyone would want to sell grain at that higher price?"
Indeed, it was already winter, and Yingchuan beside Ru Nan had been hit by a disaster. Plus, the Xiongnu Army was fighting in Luoyang and Yu State, causing grain prices outside to skyrocket madly.
Although grain prices in Ru Nan County were still stable, it was only because the autumn harvest had just ended. Given some time, influenced by the outside market, Ru Nan’s grain prices would certainly soar.
If they combined to form a trade caravan and transported the grain out, they could earn quite a bit. That wouldn’t just be an increase of ten or twenty percent, but double or triple!
However, Zhao Hanzhang’s three thousand troops were right outside the city, and no one dared not to sell.
Fortunately, she showed some conscience by evenly distributing the grain purchase among several families. Although it still pained them, it didn’t empty their granaries, leaving them opportunities to earn later.
So they gritted their teeth and sold.
To the gentlemen and wealthy merchants, Zhao Hanzhang’s seemingly generous offer of a price ten percent above the market left a "ha-ha" feeling in their hearts, thinking it wasn’t appealing to them.
Especially the grain merchants in Shangcai County, who were currently controlling the daily sale amounts, intending to save more grain for later. They weren’t interested in the price ten percent higher than the market.
But businessmen fear people like Zhao Hanzhang most — there’s no reasoning with them, so they could only consider themselves unlucky.
Once Zhao Hanzhang paid for and took away the grain, they immediately ran to the county government to complain to County Magistrate Chai.
If this kind of situation happened once or twice, it could be disregarded, but it couldn’t go on permanently; otherwise, how could they continue their livelihoods?
County Magistrate Chai wanted to escape, but he couldn’t avoid getting caught in the county government, so he had to sit down and listen to their complaints.
"Speaking of owning land, who in the entire Shangcai County could compare to her, Third Sister Zhao? Yet she still forces us to sell her grain. County Lord, you’re the chief official; you can’t ignore this matter!"
"Indeed, the Zhao Family in Xiping already has absolute control over everything. Are they trying to take control of Shangcai too? It’s too domineering!"
"Yes, it’s too domineering!"
County Magistrate Chai rubbed his forehead against the low table, sighing: "I’m helpless too. The trade is settled; it’s a matter of mutual agreement, how can I judge her actions?"
Everyone became agitated, "How is it a matter of mutual agreement? County Lord, her three thousand troops are outside the city; do we dare refuse to sell?"
County Magistrate Chai: "But none of you approached me before the trade was done, and she didn’t lower her price; rather, she offered a price higher than the market."
This puzzled County Magistrate Chai, who asked, "If she had lowered the grain price, it could be called coercion, but she offered a price higher than the market. You’re selling grain regardless; selling to her or anyone else is still selling."
He asked, "Why don’t you want to sell to her?"
The crowd fell silent.
Chang Ning lifted his eyelids and glanced at them. After they left, embarrassed by County Magistrate Chai’s words, he explained, "They’re hoarding grain."
County Magistrate Chai, though not very smart, understood quickly, and his face flushed with anger, "Even now they’re thinking of hoarding grain? Shangcai County has had enough difficulties this year. If they continue to raise grain prices, how many people will remain in the county by next year?"
He then worriedly added, "With so much grain bought quickly by Third Sister Zhao, won’t the grain prices in Shangcai rise faster and higher?"
Chang Ning replied, "County Lord can devise a strategy so they wouldn’t dare control grain prices."
"What strategy?"
Chang Ning suggested, "Why not take advantage of Zhao Hanzhang’s momentum, buying some grains to fill the granaries? Regarding this autumn’s tax, we could submit only a portion and hold back the rest for a justified reason, releasing it after winter or in the lean months of February and March next year, which would help stabilize prices."
Chang Ning enticed, "By doing so, not only will the common folk benefit, alleviating the burden of high grain prices, but County Lord could also earn a profit, and the county government can store some money. Repeating this operation next year ensures continuous shared benefits with the people in price stabilization and profit-making."
County Magistrate Chai didn’t respond.
Chang Ning provided examples with specific data, "Wheat prices are already up to fifteen cents per unit. Given the current rate of increase and the chaotic situations outside, entering winter, I fear it might rise to eighteen or twenty cents. Four months remain until summer harvest after winter passes."
He continued, "Based on the rapid inflation during chaotic times in recent years, a two or threefold increase then wouldn’t be surprising. If County Lord buys at fifteen cents per unit now, come spring, reselling at twenty cents per unit would yield considerable profit."
Chang Ning proposed, "Among this, the fifteen-cent cost remains under the county government, while the extra five cents could entirely be considered County Lord’s private assets. Twenty cents per unit is somewhat high, but compared to thirty or fifty cents, or even higher prices, this rate is barely affordable for commoners. With your price stabilization efforts, others would have to lower their prices accordingly, which benefits the people greatly."
"County Lord not only profits but gains fame and virtue—why not go for it?"
Presented with figures, County Magistrate Chai felt tempted but still hesitated, "If I buy, will they sell?"
Chang Ning replied, "County Lord should act firmly. They’ve been scared by Zhao Hanzhang, and are now quite unsettled. They’ll sell you some even if it pains them."
Meanwhile, Zhao Hanzhang was discussing with Ji Yuan, "Sir, you still need to find ways to purchase grain from various places. I don’t mind offering prices higher than the market. If there are willing common households selling grain, let’s buy from them too."
After some consideration, Ji Yuan asked, "Is the lady aiming to stabilize next year’s grain prices?"
Zhao Hanzhang sighed, "We have too many mouths to feed under our command, which probably won’t have much impact. I can only try to ensure our people won’t go hungry, and if possible, work to stabilize prices later, so we should aim to buy as much grain as we can."
"What’s the price ceiling?"
"No more than fifty percent over the market price." She winced at the thought of going too high.
Ji Yuan understood and nodded, "I’ll start sending people to different areas from tomorrow onwards to purchase."
Zhao Hanzhang nodded approvingly, "I’ll take my mother back to Xiping this time; Shangcai will be left to Sir."
She needed to find a way to extricate Ji Yuan from the affairs of Shangcai, as Xiping required his attention as well.
As she was pondering, a subordinate quietly entered from outside, and whispered into Ji Yuan’s ear.
Ji Yuan was slightly surprised and turned his head to Zhao Hanzhang.
Zhao Hanzhang looked up at him, "What is it?"
Ji Yuan smiled, "The lady mentioned before about wanting to recruit Chang Ning for personal use?"