"Counting the 10,000 rifles, 1,200 light and heavy machine guns, 500 field artillery pieces and 128 heavy guns, and a number of ammunition, all the 'merchandise' you have purchased have been delivered, and here is a condensed catalogue, and we will provide a detailed list as soon as possible. ”

In an ornate manor, an Asian man in a suit respectfully presents a decorated booklet to a middle-aged man dressed like a medieval aristocrat.

"Excuse me, at least I can trust you in this matter. ”

It's just that what doesn't match the middle-aged man's attire is his behavior at this time.

Compared to the Asian man standing beside him in a straight dress, this middle-aged man in retro clothes is holding a cigarette in one hand and a goblet with champagne in the other, and next to him is playing soothing violin music in the stereo that he knows is expensive just by looking at the appearance of 10,000 yuan, and he himself is lying on a chaise longue carefully built according to his size, holding the sunglasses on his face, and comfortably enjoying the warm sunbath.

"Ah~ You Chinese things are really good, every day can make people live so comfortably, I really can't imagine how I lived without these things before." ”

"It's our pleasure to make you happy if you like it," the Asian man said, placing the booklet on the table, "We will send special instructors to guide your military's training work, and please forgive me." ”

"Ah, okay, I see," the middle-aged man replied casually, "Anyway, what about Izumino?

"Do you mean Junzawa senior? He has been in charge of other places lately, so for the time being, Yasukawa Ichiro will be in charge of the business in the region. ”

"yes, your name is Yasukawa Ichiro, your name is really strange. He snorted disdainfully, then shook the goblet in his hand happily, listening to the crisp sound of the ice cubes inside colliding with the glass, and a smile appeared on his face unconsciously.

"However, Izumino is really very good at doing things, and you can't fault everything you do, so you need to learn a lot about it. ”

"I'll do my best. ”

"It's for the best. ”

"So, Lord Radkun," Yasukawa put away the flattering smile on his face and asked solemnly, "How are you handling our affairs?"

"Oh, what? Oh, do you mean the food, why do you ask this, what, can't you believe me?"

"No, it's not. ”

"Hmph, don't quibble, I can still see your little thoughts, come on. ”

At his command, a burly man in a black robe stepped up, placed a piece of parchment on the table in silence, and then disappeared silently into the shadows.

"Take it and see what you want. ”

Before he could finish speaking, Yaskawa picked up the parchment, and his disrespectful act naturally caused the nobleman named Radkun to be dissatisfied.

However, as Yaskawa's gaze continued to move down, his face became more and more difficult to see.

"What, what kind of expression do you have, don't you think it's enough?"

"Yes," Yasukawa Ichiro said with a look that had completely lost the smile he had just now on his face at this time, and he stared at him with even terrifying eyes, "too much less." ”

"My lord, based on the money we paid, we should be able to buy much more food than that. ”

And beyond that, why there is so much unnecessary cost on this has not been seen in previous negotiations.

Of course, Yaskawa did not say the latter words, because he had already received instructions from his superiors on the way before he came, which mentioned that as long as the other party's 'excess' expenses did not exceed five percent of the total amount, it was within our acceptable range.

Although the other side has increased a lot of expenses that seem completely unnecessary, such as personnel leave allowance and after-the-fact allowance for foreign employees, the amount is still within the range of being able to turn a blind eye.

Therefore, although he was unwilling in his heart, he could only stop on the surface.

"You said that, this can't blame me, after all, have you seen the current market, the price of grain is getting higher day by day, yesterday ten copper coins can buy a bag of two catties of coarse grain, after half a day can only buy half of that is about a catty, but today, these ten copper coins can only buy bran to feed livestock, let alone tomorrow ......"

"Please wait a minute," Yaskawa frowned at his explanation, then took out a document from his ordination and said as he flipped through the document in his hand, "Because of our actions, price fluctuations in the grain market are inevitable, and this is within the range we expected. However, because of the implementation of corresponding cover-up measures, according to our forecast, it is possible to stabilize the fluctuation of grain prices within a controllable range. ”

In order to achieve the goal of thoroughly controlling grain, Chu Qingqing, in addition to constantly reducing grain exports to foreign countries, also carried out a comprehensive purchase of grain still circulating in the market through various channels.

An attempt to directly take over the economic hegemony of the entire continent through the method of controlling grain.

However, such a crazy move is certainly not completely hidden, especially for a business empire like the Assas Empire, which can be called a different-world Wall Street, this kind of behavior with obvious purpose naturally cannot escape their eyes.

Therefore, they decided to resort to certain cover-ups.

In addition to buying some of the nobles of the Assas Empire as a way to buy grain for himself, Chu Qing also consciously put some grain back on the market, so that the market has always been in a state of near balance.

And this balance will be maintained until they control what they think is enough.

So logically speaking, as long as this supply chain continues, the entire market should be fine.

Or that as long as they want to, the whole market will be fine until this famine is over.

But the facts before them are high unimaginably hyperinflation.

"What the hell is going on, Lord Radkun, what the hell is going on to make the price of food rise so fast!"

"What's going on? you shouldn't know better than we do, right?" Radkun looked disdainful, only to see him take a sip of champagne from his glass and continue, "Don't forget, it's not just you who are staring at this mouthful of food, our country, the Great Qin Empire, the Sark Empire, other kingdoms, principalities, and even those large and small chambers of commerce want to get some oil and water from here. ”

It has already been said more than once that not only humanity, but the entire continent is on the verge of collapse due to famine at this time.

Even if all the arable land were to be cultivated to the point of three crops and four crops a year, and all the food was added together, the famine would never have been alleviated without five years.

And even the figure of five years is a very 'tolerant' figure after subtracting a large number of people who died of famine.

For food, something that no one can give up, or to satisfy their own use, or hoard, in the face of the immediate opportunity, no one or organization capable of intervening will never stand idly by at this time.

It's just that their purpose is not as terrible as yours.

Yaskawa's expression became more solemn, and the hand holding the parchment clenched unconsciously.

"So, don't you have anything to do?"

"What's the solution?"

"The way to buy more food. ”

"I say," Radquin sighed, "don't forget, in the final analysis, our relationship is not an ally, but a buyer and a middleman, and we will help you find the food you want, but whether to sell it to you or not is not what we say?"

As long as it's about money, the saying that the one with the highest price will always apply, you know?

"So, is there really no solution?"

"Ahh ”

I'm just a small aristocrat, and taking care of my own business and a third of an acre of land is what I have to consider.

Radquin put on a look of annoyance and said, "If I have to say a way, I can think of two." ”

"First, add more money. He held out a finger, "If the other party wants money, just give it to them." ”

"Doing business, it is difficult to achieve the satisfaction of both parties, so if you want to buy and sell, there must be a party to make a compromise, cede part of the benefits, and most of the time the buyer and seller compete is the endurance and bottom line of both parties, which party's needs are more urgent, the bottom line is shallower, the easier it is to become a compromise. ”

Obviously, you are now the one who wants to compromise, so it is understandable to cede some of your interests.

He took a sip of the wine from his glass, then sat up from the recliner and said, "As long as the budget is sufficient, even I can find some more ways to buy food." ”

"As for the second option," he said, picking up the bottle and pouring a little champagne into the glass, "what do you think you will do?"

"I'm afraid it won't work. Yaskawa said very resolutely, although he didn't know how much grain we had collected now, one thing was for sure that the number was still far from their goal.

"Hey, what's wrong with that?" Radquin looked confused as if he couldn't understand his words, "You've bought enough grain, and with that amount of stockpiling, all that's left is to sell it all in one go when the price is right, and you can make a lot of money." ”

Coupled with the armaments you have relied on to lend money to sell us, is it possible that these two profits together will not satisfy you?

"No, it's not," Yaskawa's eyes rolled for a moment, and then he said ruthlessly, "In that case, let me tell you the truth." ”