The grain ship crashed and sank?
Does the imperial court still have food left over?
The panic that had been suppressed was once again noisy.
Not only has the momentum of people collecting grain not eased, but it has become even crazier! Countless people carrying rice bags poured into the sales points of major granaries.
Cao An left the palace gate and went straight to Guanghui Cang.
However, he was already mentally prepared, but he was still shocked by the situation before him... The entrance to Guanghuicang was crowded with people, and it was even more lively than the Chinese New Year.
"Fifty liters! Someone came first..."
"One stone! Someone wants one stone!"
"Don't squeeze, someone came first..."
There was a long queue in front of the food stalls, and many people looted. Some people even got into small-scale fights because someone jumped in line.
The Inspection Department sent several rounds of government officials to maintain order, but there were too many people and it didn't work at all.
In particular, these government officials are used to being rampant on weekdays, and their attacks are insignificant. After many people were suppressed, they even shouted, "I can't live anymore," "The court has no food," "People are starving to death..."!
Arhat protected him all the way into the courtyard, and said with lingering fear: "Damn it, are these people crazy? I don't even think about it. This is Kyoto. Is it possible for people to starve to death?"
"Nonsense, can the common people compare with you?"
Cao An glared at him and said coldly: "They only have that little income all year round. Once the price of food increases, it means starvation or even family ruin!"
Seeing his cold expression, Arhat scratched his head angrily and did not dare to say anything more.
"Cao An!"
Outside the door, Liu Weizhen came in person.
He was escorted into the courtyard by two government officials. Before he could take a breath, he hurriedly said: "Fan Gong was coming, but someone stopped him. Fortunately, he was not allowed to come, otherwise..."
In this scene, if he fell, he would be trampled to death on the spot.
Cao An said with a smile: "I didn't expect Master Liu to come to take charge of the matter in person. Now I can rest assured."
"Stop coming!"
Liu Weizhen rolled her eyes at him and said coldly: "I'm here to remind you to resolve this matter quickly, otherwise... aren't you afraid of riots? How many heads do you have!"
Cao An still smiled relaxedly: "You can't blame me, right? The lower official's task is to sell grain. As for how to maintain order, it is your inspection department's business."
"fart!"
Liu Weizhen would not be polite to him, and laughed and scolded: "You kid, don't try to argue! Seeing that there are more and more people, if you don't think of a way, I will kneel in front of the palace gate! Let the Queen Mother make the decision."
He really had no choice, otherwise he wouldn't have taken the initiative to come to Cao An.
Although the Inspection Department has the right to maintain public security in Kyoto, how many yamen are there? Once a riot breaks out, who can stop it?
"Cao Sijian!"
At this time, Yang Hua, the food supervisor, also squeezed in from the crowd, looking very embarrassed.
One of his shoes was squeezed out, his clothes were pierced by something unknown, and his hair was messy: "Find a solution quickly! If we don't control it, the city may be turned upside down!"
"Didn't I say that all the major grain stores are open?"
Cao An frowned and asked doubtfully: "Those people have a lot of grain in their hands, and the price is the same... Why do the people still come to rob it?"
"Either you say you are a businessman or a traitor!"
Yang Hua cursed angrily, and then smiled apologetically at Cao An: "I didn't tell you, sir! The grain store is open, but they have stipulated that they can only sell two thousand dan per day!"
Bianliang has a population of more than one million, and two thousand dan are not enough to fill the gaps between teeth.
Are you playing hunger marketing?
Damn it!
Cao An cursed secretly and said coldly: "These people really want to make money at the expense of their lives! I'm afraid there are many people sent by them among the common people in front of me!"
"there must be!"
Yang Hua pointed outside angrily and cursed: "I have seen several familiar faces already! They are all clerks from various grain stores! We have interacted with each other a lot in the past."
There's a lot of collusion, right?
Cao An glanced at him, but had no time to care about it: "Don't care what their purpose is, the most important thing right now is to stabilize people's hearts. Go, move the stored grain out of the warehouse, and move new grain when the old grain is gone!"
"this……"
Yang Hua hesitated for a moment and asked: "What about the price? According to the market price, one liter of new grain is at least thirty cents! How should we set the price? If it is too low, we may lose money."
But if the price is too high, people will not be able to afford new grain, and old grain will be out of stock...
That will only make it more troublesome!
"They are all sold at seventeen cents, and they say to the outside world that there is too much food and there is no room for it!"
"You put it like that...people are not stupid."
Liu Weizhen smiled bitterly and shook her head.
"Just do it like this, hold your eyes steady first!"
Cao An made a decision immediately and said without any room for refutation: "Don't worry! I will definitely get back a lot of the damage caused! You want to have fun, right? Don't be afraid!"
…
After explaining the matter at hand.
Cao An and Arhat slipped out of the back door and went straight to the political hall.
With such a big event happening, the three prime ministers and assistants didn't dare to slack off, sitting in the duty room waiting for the news.
Zhang Zhibai received him personally, and Wang Zeng and Lu Yijian also came later.
Cao An didn't have time to exchange greetings, so he cupped his hands and said: "My dear sirs, I would like to ask you to mobilize the army to help! No need for more, two thousand people... No, a thousand people will do!"
He knew how strictly the Song Dynasty controlled the army, so he could only plead hard.
"Is it serious enough?"
Zhang Zhibai frowned and said coldly: "If this is the case, we can no longer let it go! Report it to the Queen Mother Ming immediately and send troops to suppress it! Force those grain merchants to open warehouses!"
Wang Zeng hesitated for a moment and sighed: "But if this happens, the people will be even more panicked, and the city will be in chaos!"
"No need to suppress it! I just want to..."
Cao An revealed his plan and said seriously: "Since the other party dares to instigate his servants to steal food, they are obviously taking risks! If troops are sent to suppress them, they will be even crazier... I am afraid that the court will also be in chaos!"
Lu Yijian stared at him with serious eyes.
"Are you sure this method will work?"
"able!"
"What if it fails?"
Cao An said without hesitation: "Xiaguan's family still has some money left! If everything goes wrong, I will make up for the shortfall! How much money the court has lost, it all belongs to me!"
What does it mean to be wealthy?
Several prime ministers were made a little embarrassed.
"It's too late!"
Cao An urged unhappily: "It will take at least twenty days for the grain ship to arrive in Beijing! But in this situation, can the eight major granaries last for twenty days?"
Once high-priced grain enters the market, it will be useless even if there is more grain afterwards!
"The method is feasible..."
Lu Yijian was the first to express his position: "If you let them go like this, I will feel aggrieved! At worst, I will go and apologize to the Queen Mother! You can't just let them off like this!"
The grain merchants' actions have touched the bottom line of the court.
If you force him directly, it will appear that the government is at the end of its rope. Cao An is right...business matters must be resolved through business.
If force is used in everything, what will happen to the court? Bandits?
