After hearing Lu Xuan's words, Zhang Zhao cheered up, organized his thoughts, and then explained the situation of resettling the refugees, food consumption, and the current work-for-relief situation.
Zhang Zhao was familiar with every aspect of the situation. He didn't need to look at the data, he just picked it up at his fingertips. He remembered everything in his mind.
Kuai Liang listened with admiration in his heart.
Zhang Zhao is worthy of being the leader of the civil servants under Lu Xuan. He has rich experience, outstanding ability, and is very powerful.
After hearing this, Lu Xuan nodded and said with approval: "Thank you for your hard work, Mr."
Zhang Zhao shook his head and said: "The humble position is not hard. My lord risked his life to go to Jingzhou to celebrate Liu Biao's birthday. Although he got countless benefits, it was all the lord's hard work. Compared with the lord's efforts in Jingzhou, the hard work of the humble position Not worth mentioning."
Lu Xuan smiled and said, "It's rare to hear Mr. Zibu's praise. It's really rare."
Zhang Zhao felt a little unnatural.
He met Kuai Liang, Xu Shu and Pang Tong, felt the threat posed by the Jingzhou scholars, and his attitude and tone of speech changed somewhat.
In an instant, he regained his composure.
Zhang Zhao continued: "At present, Lujiang County is doing very well in relieving the victims. However, there is a big problem."
Lu Xuan asked: "What's the big problem?"
Zhang Zhao said in a deep voice: "The big problem now is that the price of food is soaring. During the autumn harvest, the price of food is very cheap. Food can be found everywhere for four or five cents a pound."
"In winter, the weather is cold and the price of food increases. Normally it is six or seven cents per catty. But this year, the price of food has risen to fifteen cents per catty."
Lu Xuan frowned and asked, "Who is driving up the price?"
Zhang Zhao replied: "Our local big families in Lujiang County, such as the big families of Chen Tang, Cao Xi, and Peng Yuan, do not earn high prices and maintain them at ten cents per catty. However, they all limit their supplies and sell less grain every day. many."
"Currently, the four major families in Lujiang County who are raising food prices are the Gu family and Lu family in Wu County, and the Yu family and Wei family in Kuaiji County."
"The Gu family and the Lu family, one is a relative of the lord, and the other is run by the Lu family. They sell grain in large quantities for fifteen cents per catty. In addition, the Yu family and the Wei family are powerful families from other places."
Zhang Zhao said: "I have made appointments with people from the four major families in my humble position, but these people said that fifteen cents per pound is very suitable, and the price has not been lowered."
Lu Xuan's eyes were deep, revealing a cold look.
The price of food in Lujiang County is manipulated by outsiders. These people are extremely bold.
Lu Xuan asked again: "How are the food prices in the counties of Yangzhou this winter?"
Zhang Zhao said without thinking: "With the exception of Lujiang County, the grain prices in the counties in Yangzhou, Danyang County, Wu County, Kuaiji County and Yuzhang County are relatively stable and have not risen significantly."
"Jiangdong is a fertile land, and this year's harvest is good. Even in winter, food prices generally remain at around eight cents per catty."
"The reason why the price of food in Lujiang County has soared is because the Lord has set a strategy to harvest all the refugees. All the refugees have come to Lujiang County. The population has grown too much and the supply of food exceeds demand, so the price has soared."
"The refugees we resettled include people from Danyang, Wujun and other places, as well as people from Jiujiang, Yanzhou and Xuzhou."
"There are even a few Qingzhou people."
Zhang Zhao couldn't help but smile and said: "I don't even know how these people came to Lujiang County even though I'm in a humble position."
Lu Xuan nodded after listening.
In general, he understood.
Lu Xuan looked at Zhang Zhao and Kuai Liang and asked, "How do you think the food price issue should be resolved?"
Zhang Zhao had already made plans in his mind. As soon as Lu Xuan asked, he took the lead and said: "I believe that it involves the Lu family and the Gu family, as well as wealthy families like the Yu family and the Wei family, and many big families are involved. The implications are too wide and cannot be ignored." Let’s go to war.”
"Especially the Lu family and the Gu family, who are relatives of the Lord, are even more troublesome."
"My humble suggestion is to talk to the people from the four major families and ask them to take the initiative to lower the price. If these people understand, the matter will be solved. If they don't agree, just expel the people from the four major families from Lujiang County."
Lu Xuan said in a deep voice: "Mr. Zibu's plan is mainly to be gentle?"
"yes!"
Zhang Zhao nodded.
"I disagree!"
Kuai Liang opened his mouth to object.
Lu Xuan's expression remained unchanged and he asked: "Mr. Zirou, what do you think is the appropriate way to deal with it?"
Kuai Liang said in a deep voice: "Zhang Gongcao's first step is to recognize his humble position. To govern the place, you cannot directly kill people. Otherwise, killing people everywhere and making enemies will not be conducive to the lord's unification of Yangzhou."
"The first step is negotiation."
"If we can't reach an agreement, just pick one family and kill the chicken to scare the monkeys."
"The Gu family and the Lu family are the lord's relatives. They have broken bones and tendons, so they are not suitable for disposal. The Yu family and the Cao family have nothing to do with the lord. Choose one of them as the object of establishing authority to intimidate Xiaoxiao."
"As long as you set an example and make families fear you, food prices will naturally drop."
"If you don't kill people, just drive these businessmen away, the impact will be minimal. But a small amount of killings will not be a problem."
"Just follow the king's way without being overbearing. It is impossible to intimidate Xiao Xiao and establish authority. Therefore, we still have to kill some of them. Follow Zhang Gongcao's method and drive these businessmen away. They will not be in awe."
"In the future, if my lord seizes other places in Yangzhou, these people will think that my lord is weak and can be bullied, so they will continue to make profits. The reason is simple. The price of offending my lord is not high, so why not continue to take risks and make money?"
Kuai Liang said: "My lord, please think twice."
Zhang Zhao looked cold and solemn, flicked his sleeves, and said forcefully: "We will consider the future situation later. My lord now only has Lujiang County. Although his strength is not weak, he has not yet grasped the general trend."
"When the lord takes over Danyang, Wujun and other places in Yangzhou, the situation has been achieved and the foundation will not be shaken. You don't have to worry no matter what you do."
"At this stage, mass killing will shake the foundation."
"My lord's current task is to win over more nobles, gather more strength, and ensure that my lord can seize more territory with minimal losses."
"As long as you kill someone, it will have an impact."
Zhang Zhao glanced at Kuai Liang and retorted: "You are weak, so you can't be too hasty." The first step is to use thunderous methods, which will only scare the grass and scare the snake. Become one with the light first, and then you can do whatever you want after achieving the general trend. "
Kuai Liang sneered and said: "I don't agree. What the lord wants to do is to win over one group and attack another, not to offend everyone. In short, there is both kingliness and domineering, and blind compromise is useless. You Compromise now and you will compromise again."
Zhou Yu and Huang Zhong looked at it, a little stunned.
The two faced each other tit for tat and refused to give in to each other.
Just thinking about it gives me a headache.
Lu Xuan listened to the argument between Zhang Zhao and Kuai Liang, very calm and without any surprises.
With more people under your command, it is natural for them to have different opinions. This is normal. If there is a single opinion, there is a problem. The key lies in Lu Xuan himself, who must have his own opinions, and after the decision is made, the people below must implement it unconditionally and cannot be held back.
Lu Xuan raised his hand and pressed it down, saying in a deep voice: "Stop arguing."
"Please let me know, Lord."
Zhang Zhao and Kuai Liang answered in unison.
Lu Xuan said: "Your suggestions are all reasonable, but they all made a big mistake."
Zhang Zhao and Kuai Liang looked at each other.
Somewhat unexpected.
Are they all wrong?
Lu Xuan continued: "Why can't we deal with the people of the Lu family and the Gu family who are driving up prices? What's so special about them? If you don't dare to deal with the Gu family and the Lu family at this stage, they will be even more serious when I take charge of Yangzhou. Unscrupulous.”
"I'm afraid it's going to turn upside down."
"Neither my brother-in-law Gu Yong nor I know the situation of the two families."
"It is absolutely unacceptable for people from two families to do things in our name. They must be dealt with, and even severely beaten to prevent them from doing it again."
Lu Xuan's tone was stern.
The Lu family and the Gu family can only support Lu Xuan and cannot hold him back. If you cause trouble to Lu Xuan, you will be punished.
Zhang Zhaodao: "It is easy to become unstable when dealing with one's own people now."
Lu Xuan looked tough and said directly: "Now because of my identity, I have concerns, but when their interests are greater, they will have even greater concerns. My standard is only one, the Gu family and the Lu family operate legally, under my banner It’s not okay to make money.”
"My lord is wise and humble, I understand."
Zhang Zhao nodded in reply.
Lu Xuan added: "The adjustment of food prices will follow the direction you mentioned, with courtesy first and then attack. I will first meet with people from the four major families, sit down and talk with them, and try to keep the price down."
"If they don't agree, let's fight."
"In business competition, it is not appropriate to directly kill people. However, I have many means to deal with them. They want to do business, and I will completely crush them from the commercial aspect. I am an official, I arrange business, and under the premise of integrating government and business, I must crush them It’s too easy for grain merchants.”
Kuai Liang and Zhang Zhao were even more surprised when they heard this.
Unexpectedly, Lu Xuan did not adopt their opinions, but had other arrangements.
Kuai Liang asked: "My lord, how do you plan to integrate government and business? I don't understand."
Zhang Zhao said: "Please tell me, Lord, I will arrange my humble duty in advance. Food prices are rising. If we delay for one more day, many people will suffer. Food prices must be brought down as soon as possible."
Lu Xuan asked: "Mr. Zibu, are there too many grains in the government granary?"
"many!"
Zhang Zhao answered firmly.
He said solemnly: "Both Shu County and the other counties in Lujiang have stored a lot of grain, and the granaries are sufficient."
"Of course, this is because the strategy adopted by Beizhong is to ensure that the refugees do not starve to death and there is no large-scale disaster relief. If we want to ensure that everyone is full at this stage, all the food in the granary will not be able to bear it. "
"At this stage, we must first satisfy people and not starve them to death."
Zhang Zhao had a tough attitude and said: "Only by keeping enough food in our hands can we stabilize the situation."
Kuai Liang also nodded slightly.
Zhang Zhao was weak towards the big family, but there was no problem with his strategy of resettling the refugees.
Lu Xuan praised: "In the current situation, we must first ensure that no one will die."
Zhang Zhao said: "My lord, you have given me a reward."
Lu Xuan continued: "Getting back to the topic, the strategy of regulating grain prices is that you open grain shops in each county of Lujiang County, and the government sells grain uniformly. The price of grain is eight cents per catty, and it is sold at a fair price."
Zhang Zhao frowned and said: "If the government comes forward and sells it on a large scale, I'm afraid there will be a lot of pressure. Because the price of grain is low, there must be a lot of people buying it. It is true that we can regulate and prohibit bulk purchases, with a maximum purchase of ten kilograms at a time. But when a large number of people come to buy, it’s difficult for us to sustain it.”
A worried look appeared on Zhang Zhao's face.
He was afraid that Lu Xuan would do something random.
Food is fundamental. Once sold, it is difficult to get it back.
Without food everything is difficult.
Lu Xuan said calmly: "Even if all the people in Lujiang County come to buy food, the granary will have enough supply in a short time, which is enough. Because the government continues to provide food in an unlimited amount, the price will definitely drop."
"As long as people don't panic, fewer people will buy food."
"In addition, I mentioned the integration of government and business. It is the government that also formulates food policies."
"The price of grain is set at less than ten cents per catty. Once it exceeds this price, the government will directly ban and inspect it. Finally, in view of the lack of grain in Lujiang County, no one is allowed to transport grain away, and no one is allowed in or out."
"Grain prices are high now. If the big family doesn't sell their grain, the price will be even lower after spring."
"They have hoarded a large amount of grain in Lujiang County. If they don't sell it, they will have to keep it in the granary. Then the price will be lower and they will suffer even more losses. Anyway, in Lujiang County, the price reduction is more expensive than in the surrounding areas, and it is still making money."
"If you keep it and don't sell it, you will suffer even more losses."
"These people are under pressure and can only sell food. If they sell food, food prices will become more normal."
Lu Xuan elaborated on the idea.
"My lord is wise!"
Zhang Zhao's eyes lit up when he heard this.
This is a good idea.
Kuai Liang cupped his hands and said: "My lord's method is to achieve the price reduction without any bloodshed. I admire my humble position."
Lu Xuan looked indifferent and said: "The establishment of food shops in various places is just the beginning. I have another idea. Not only food should be sold in the shops, but also basic daily foods such as meat, vegetables and salt should be included in the sales. "
"The government has taken the lead in establishing a comprehensive sales market. Although the prices sold by government organizations are lower, I think they are cheaper than those sold outside, and because of small profits but quick turnover, we can make a lot of money."
Lu Xuan said: "On the one hand, we make money through the shops. On the other hand, we can also provide the people with information."
Zhang Zhao was doubtful and asked: "My lord, this is a loss-making business. Can it really make money?"
