However, as time went by, these grains all discovered that the Ming Dynasty Royal Grain Industry did not reject anyone who came this time, and harvested as much grain as they had.
This can’t help but make grain merchants wonder. What did the Ming Dynasty Royal Grain Industry do with so much grain?
Wait until suddenly a force emerges and goes head-to-head with the Ming Dynasty Royal Grain Industry to harvest grain. The grain merchants suddenly woke up and tightened their grip on the grain in their hands and stopped selling it. Although these grain merchants did not know what was going on, they began to wait and see.
Grain prices have not disappointed many grain merchants, and have increased at a speed that can be seen with the naked eye.
After Lao Zhu got the news that Queen Ma had something important to discuss, he put down the memorial in his hand and hurried to Kunning Palace.
"Your Majesty, the price of food has skyrocketed. Should we continue to collect food?" Queen Ma looked anxious. After she got the news today, she quickly sent someone to notify the Emperor.
"What's the current price of food?" Lao Zhu sat down and rubbed his temples, feeling a little more relaxed.
Queen Ma sighed, "It has already reached seven hundred yuan."
Lao Zhu was stunned when he heard this. This price was much higher than the price of grain during last autumn harvest. Even during the lean years, this price is nothing more than this.
"How much grain did we collect in total?"
Queen Ma took out a letter and handed it to Lao Zhu and said: "About 1.4 million dan. We harvested grain early. The price at that time was not as high as it is now. Most of them were at the same price. We charged the price of the load. But we have used up all the money now, including the 700,000 guan given by the emperor, plus the 300,000 guan sent by Han Du, and the Ministry of Accounts directly allocated it from the Baoqian Lifting Department. The five hundred thousand guan that came over.”
In fact, Lao Zhu's 700,000 gu was the money given by Jiaofangsi, and the later 300,000 guan were also given by Han Du from Jiaofangsi. Therefore, just one Jiaofangsi earned Lao Zhu a million dollars.
When there was no Han Du, Lao Zhu felt that it was good enough that Jiaofangsi could provide the palace with an income of tens of thousands of dollars every year. Even if the Jiaofangsi did not send a penny to the palace for two consecutive years, it only made Lao Zhu unhappy. I never thought that since Jiaofangsi couldn't make any money, it would be cancelled.
But with Han Du in front of him, whoever wants to take charge of Jiaofangsi in the future.
It's easy to say, as long as you add money.
1.4 million dan!
If the scope of the drought's impact is not large, for example, if there is only one government secretary, then these grains will be enough. But if it affects two or three confirmed Chief Secretaries, it will not be enough. If the drought affects more places, Lao Zhu can hardly imagine what the scene will be like.
Even if it is only 1.4 million Dan, Lao Zhu is somewhat satisfied. When Han Du proposed the establishment of the Ming Dynasty Royal Grain Industry, Lao Zhu was really reluctant. However, through this purchase of grain, he saw with his own eyes the role played by the Ming Dynasty's royal grain industry, and Lao Zhu was deeply impressed by Han Du's foresight.
Lao Zhu took the letter from Queen Ma and looked at it, and couldn't help but frown.
After reading it, Lao Zhu slammed the letter on the table and cursed angrily: "You bastard, someone dares to take advantage of you?"
"These people don't know where they come from, and they are desperately buying food. And they seem to be very rich. No matter how much the price of food rises, they will not refuse anyone who comes. There are even several times. They took the initiative to raise the price and bought it like crazy.”
Lao Zhu stood up angrily, took a few steps with the letter behind his back.
"Your Majesty, why don't we let Han Du squeeze out some money and we can continue the acquisition?"
Lao Zhu raised his head and said seriously: "No, Han Du is also in a difficult situation, so let's not put any more pressure on him. And with such a high price, even if he can squeeze out one hundred thousand or two hundred thousand guan, we won't be able to collect much food. "
Although Jiaofangsi still has money left, why does Han Du still want to manufacture 10,000 revolvers? This is also a big expense.
"And even if we continue to purchase grain, the other party will definitely continue to raise grain prices. Half the effort is half the effort, and the gain is not worth the loss. There is no benefit except continuing to push up grain prices. Let's stop the grain purchase first. 1.4 million It’s barely enough to bear.”
Empress Ma sighed, "I don't know where these people came from, and they are so rich. They always get seven hundred cents a load of food without blinking an eye. They don't refuse anyone who comes. Charge as much as you want.”
"Hmph! Can't we find out who he is?" Lao Zhu looked gloomy and shouted towards the door of the palace, "Mao Xiang, come in."
"I'm here."
Throwing the letter in front of Mao Xiang, Lao Zhu said in a cold tone: "Go and find out who this person is."
Mao Xiang picked up the letter and took a look at it. He understood the emperor's meaning, bowed and replied: "I am a humble minister, I obey the order."
...
The Royal Grain Industry of the Ming Dynasty no longer purchased grain. This sudden cessation made a certain kind of grain merchants wonder what happened when they were making a lot of money.
But what is even more paradoxical is that the Ming Dynasty Royal Grain Industry no longer purchases grain, but the other company continues to purchase grain as usual. And what's even more speechless is that it is the only one left purchasing. At this time, the price of food is still rising. It is now like a brave animal with a big mouth, like a bottomless pit, and no amount of food can fill its mouth.
In just one day, Mao Xiang found out everything about the other party.
"Your Majesty, I have found out that three grain merchants are purchasing grain."
"Three families?" Lao Zhu put down the memorial in his hand, "Have you found out why they purchased a large amount of grain?"
"I found it," Mao Xiang said quickly. "These three grain merchants were also in the grain business before. This time I don't know where they heard about the possibility of drought this year, so they purchased large quantities of grain at any cost, hoping to bankrupt them. Take a gamble."
So that’s it!
Lao Zhu couldn't help but nodded, so it made sense. As for how these three grain merchants learned about the drought this year, Lao Zhu was too lazy to investigate. Anyway, it couldn't have been leaked by Qin Tianjian, that's all.
Since ancient times, the people have been a place where talented people emerge in large numbers and experts hide their talents.
Since Qin Tian Jian can calculate that there will be a drought this year, it is not surprising that some experts among the people can also calculate it.
What matters now is how to deal with these three grain merchants.
