76 In the golden autumn and August, the yellow-orange-orange rice grew well, and when I looked out a large area, I saw that the harvest would be in a few days.

Zhou Dao was not idle, he rented the adjacent courtyard behind Hesheng, which was located near the back port, but the price was cheap and large enough. He asked people to open up the two courtyards and connect them with doors. Carpenter Chen repaired eight granaries in a row, and when the autumn harvest came, he had to stock up on grain. I got the news from Xu Wei that in two months at most, the Chang Liquidation, the Transshipment Warehouse and the Military Warehouse may increase their positions at the same time! At that time, food prices will rise.

Since Dali had been destroyed by the Mongols, a semi-encirclement and attack posture of the Great Song Dynasty had actually been formed, and this sinister situation prompted the imperial court to step up preparations for war.

"Is this accurate? How many people know? When the autumn harvest is collected, isn't it all known? "Zhou Dao is very concerned about this." This is mentioned in the letter of a classmate who served in the household department, and the household department has not yet issued the document for the grain collection, but it is coming soon. It's unclear how long it will take for the news to get here, but you have to hurry up and act fast! If you can overcharge, you can overcharge. Xu said.

Lao Zhang understood, "We planned to stock up on more grain before, but fortunately we built a granary first, otherwise where would we put it?" I can only watch and be anxious, that's bad. Zhou Dao shook his head and said, "The granary still has to be built!" Food is fundamental, and in the long run, more must be built. But there is no place for the newly rented yard in the back, and it is not convenient to rent it far away, in addition to building houses and building courtyard walls, it is also worth manpower to guard it, and the cost is also large, so you have to think about where to build. Ay! He exhaled, "Money is also tight, annoyed!" He didn't expect that after solving the troubles of Xu Shiyi and the Yu family, there were still so many troubles waiting. "Afraid of trouble? As soon as you close your eyes, you won't be in trouble. "Lao Zhang is here." Except for Lord Yu, only the three of us know about this news today, and we must not spread it. The rest of the ideas are re-thought. Xu Wei admonished.

Seven days later, at noon in the Hongxing Building, Su Tong and Yu Qin, the shopkeepers of Yu Liangji, walked in one after another, followed by two men with knives. In this year, you have to carry a knife everywhere you go. The hall of the restaurant is not small, it is one of the best in the city, Yu Qin's look at the hall, the most eye-catching thing is the two tables of people sitting on the door, there are meals on the table, I am afraid that there are more than 20 people, all carrying knives and looking at them. One of them was a burly, unshaven man looking at her and smiling.

Yu Qin's heart was shocked, she felt that this person was familiar but couldn't remember where she had seen it for a while, in short, she wanted to go out if she didn't look good. "Oh, isn't this the Yu family? Please, please, I'm waiting for you. It was Yao Quan, the owner of Yao Ji Grain, who spoke, and he spoke eagerly, smiling and walking briskly from the stairs. Yu Qin's family recognized Yao Quan, she glanced at the shopkeeper Su, Su Tong nodded and said, "This is in the city." They followed Yao Quan upstairs. Because he leaned on Yuzhi County, Yao Quan could say a few words in several grain numbers in the county, although the scale was not large, and this Hongxinglou meeting was convened by him.

On the second floor, they entered a spacious private room, in the middle of which was a huge table of eight immortals, but there were three people sitting on the top, two seats on each side of the table. "You two, please take a seat." Yao Quan made a gesture of please, and he sat down on one of the chairs on both sides, leaving the next two chairs for the two Yu Qin clans.

A thought overflowed from his chest, "In the grain number of this county, my Yu family has always sat on the top, how can I ever sit on the bottom?" What a villain! She felt the urge to walk away. Looking at Su Tong again, he found that his face was wrong, "Madam, it is Zhou Dao who is sitting in the middle." Su Tong whispered in his ear.

Yu Qinshi looked at Zhou Dao, she had never seen Zhou Dao, but she had heard it many times. Suddenly, she remembered the big man who was staring at her and laughing downstairs just now, it was Zhou Dao's subordinate, and later she inquired about that person's name was Wu Neng.

At this time, she saw Zhou Dao sitting in front of her and smiled at her, shame and resentment welled up in her heart, she pointed at Zhou Dao, "You!" "Mrs. Yu, please be seated. Zhou Dao said in a deep voice with a smile on his face. You traitor! Yu Qin didn't sit down, still pointing at him with his fingers. With a bang, the knife was pulled out, and it was Feng Yi who was sitting next to Zhou Dao. Zhou Dao pressed Feng Yi's shoulder with his hand, Feng Yi didn't move, holding the knife in his hand.

Zhou Dao looked directly at Yu Qin's family, and his smile faded.

"You're going to kill me? Don't you have a knife, come and kill! Yu Qin shouted, "Didn't you kill my master?" You're going to kill me! Otherwise you're not a man! The people of the other two grain numbers on either side of the table sat calmly, quietly watching the play.

"Smack!" "Bastard! Do you want to scatter! Lao Zhang slapped the table and shouted. Zhou Dao raised his hand to stop Lao Zhang, "Hmph, where did your man go, it's my business?" Seeing that the woman was about to have another seizure, she immediately asked, "He poisoned the rice of another family's grain number, do you think he should die?" The impulsive woman obviously felt stunned, and the people of the other two grain numbers on both sides of the table were also full of surprise, "There is such a thing?" ”

"You ask him." Zhou Dao pointed at Su Tong with his finger, "You are the shopkeeper, do you know what the owner does?" ”

Yu Qin was stunned, and she turned her head to look at Su Tong. "Never! Zhou Dongjia, don't be a fool. This kind of statement has to be proven. Su Tong pouted his face and said righteously and sternly.

"Well, well, you know the evidence now. Therefore, if you can't show evidence for the affairs of your man, you will put it on my head, and Lao Tzu will not spare him! Zhou Dao stared at them and continued, "As for the poisoning, whether what I said is true or not, Su Tong knows it in his heart, and I have both human and physical evidence." Do you want to poke this matter out, stab the government to punish these people's crimes, if you don't die, you will be half dead, it's sure to stink! I haven't figured it out yet. Oh, when people are gone, they are gone, and that is to think beautifully. You can do this kind of hurtful thing, that's damn it! Zhou Dao stopped again and looked around at everyone, "I'll leave the words here today, if anyone dares to do this kind of scum thing in the future!" I'm going to kill him all! Destroy his door! "Phew!" After Zhou Dao finished speaking, he slapped his palm on the table again, the teacup overturned, and the water splashed on the table. The loud noise startled everyone.

After a while, Lao Zhang cleared his throat, "What the owner said just now, we are sitting at our table, if it spreads, then it should be a few leaks." Well, let's get down to business now. ”

Yu Qin sat on the chair below, after such a thing just now, the person withered a little, and his mind was not on the so-called business. She watched Lao Zhang talking, her mind confused.

"This time, I called everyone here to talk about two things, the purchase and sale of grain, and first talked about buying. Now that the autumn grain harvest has begun, how to harvest it? Let's sit down and make a charter together. The families looked at each other and said nothing. Harvesting grain, the one with the highest price gets it, in fact, it is like this every year. However, this year's situation is a little different, and the resentment between our several grain numbers this year is really heavy. If they raise the price of grain and make the stumbling blocks want to bring down each other, in my opinion, it is difficult to say for a while, but it is true that everyone can't please them. Not only do we have no profit as grain merchants, but even the people in the city have to eat high-priced grain, do you think this is the reason? Lao Zhang stopped and looked at several other people, some nodded and some were indifferent.

"Do you mean to collect grain without raising the price, but to do it for the people of the city? If you say that you are like a saint, the kind of grain seller is not the people? Su Tong choked Lao Zhang. Lao Zhang didn't mind when he heard this, but smiled instead, "Who said that we are saints, it is the duty of businessmen to make money, as long as it is not too much." You don't necessarily know what I mean by that? At the moment, how many of us have to block each other if we don't make money? If that's the case, then it's against all the grain merchants here, and it's looking for death! You'll have to be prepared to deal with all of us. Lao Zhang unhurriedly picked up the cup that had just wasted half of the tea and took a sip of tea, and said, "Of course, the price of grain will still be on the market, different prices at different times, and each family can have some small fluctuations, but each load should not exceed fifty Wen." The lower the price of the grain, the more beneficial it is for several of us. ＂

Lao Zhang continued, "There is a reason why this amount is set a little small, if it is set large, it will inevitably raise the price of each other, in short, it is within this range, and the price is not dead, if it is adjusted, everyone will discuss and then decide." ”

"You mean that the price of food is up to you, right?" Yu Qin asked. Lao Zhang did not answer positively: "In fact, everyone raises the price and fights the price, and we are not afraid of Hesheng." Hesheng isn't a small grain number now, is it? Let's not talk about the cost, just say that we occupy the dock, this advantage is not small. Besides, in addition to collecting grain locally, Zhuxi Town is also collecting, if any family feels dissatisfied with us to fight the price, then fight. ”

"It seems that there is more than one Hesheng family occupying the wharf now, isn't it just a bigger one for the surplus grain?" Yao Quan interjected casually.

"You mean the original Luoma City? They don't want it now, they rent it to us. Lao Zhang also replied casually.

"You, what did you say?" Su Tong stood up abruptly and pointed at Lao Zhang. Lao Zhang looked up at Su Tong and asked, "What do you want to do?" Su Tong stood there looking at Lao Zhang, and then looked at Zhou Dao and Feng Yi beside Lao Zhang, Feng Yi was sitting upright, looking at him indifferently, these eyes were a little gray, staring at Shen Ren. Su Tong suddenly felt goosebumps all over his body, sat down slowly, and asked, "What do you want to do?" ＂。

There is a stinky chicken coop next to the mule and horse market, and it is never cleaned, but it kills chickens and sells ducks at the door, and the flies are piled up and piled up. In addition, there are so many guys in Zhou Dao who are on the dock, and they have been beaten many times, and the situation is obvious, and now they can't beat it. Seeing that the deficit is getting bigger and bigger, it is time to harvest the autumn grain again, even if they have already repaired six or seven percent according to the regulations of the grain number. After weighing it repeatedly, he returned it to the original owner of Luoma City at a loss a few days ago, so that he could get some money back. Those who buy and sell livestock are not afraid of dirty, and they are not afraid of smell.

"The city of Luoma rented the yard to you?" Yu Qin was unwilling. "Well, I rented it yesterday. They turned their hands and picked up a hundred and ten pieces for nothing, these old boys, ghosts. Lao Zhang shook his head and scolded with a smile, not seeing that he was annoyed.

Yu Qin's face turned blue. Lao Zhang stared at her and said, "See? Light, dark, dark, and yin, you can play with anything. Don't forget about the poisonous rice, County Lieutenant Fang and Pan Ye may be interested in pursuing it, you remember that what I said is possible. Su Tong, I'll keep an account of your business first, and it's up to you what you do if you want to do it. If you want to come hard, think about Xu Shiyi. This last sentence is for everyone, although it is not broken, but it is meaningful, this is a naked threat.

Lao Zhang took another sip of tea and said lightly, "Okay, it's far away, where did you say just now?" Well, I just said buying, so let's talk about selling. I don't go around the bush, selling refers to the government's collection of grain, and we all know that after the autumn harvest every year, the government wants to buy grain from large grain merchants to fill the hole of the regular liquidation. Due to some of these circumstances, in previous years, the errand of purchasing grain from the government was basically taken over by the Yao family, and everyone was also very cooperative, and no one went to make trouble when quoting to the government, or deliberately quoted a low price. For you also know that it is of little use, and that there will be retribution. You don't think it's Yao Quan's revenge, do you? He doesn't have that ability, you know this. When Lao Zhang said this, Yu Qin glanced at Yao Quan, only to see Yao Dongjia sitting upright with a numb face, Lao Zhang listened to some harsh words as if he was talking about others.

"This year we want everything to be business as usual, the only difference is that this year we will take over the errand of the government, as for the Yao family, our two families have already discussed. The government will summon all of us here to quote when the time comes, and we will inform you of your quotation in advance. I would like to remind you here that if someone comes to steal our business at a low price, pay attention, you are telling us that there is a war. I'll talk about it first, if we think it's unprofitable, then let you rob the government's business, but you have to remember, when will you receive the government's cash? Will it be a handover? You have to think about that. And I put the dock, did you pay enough food at that time? If you don't pay enough, it's not just about money, it's about being punished. You've got to think about it. As for the dark one, our owner is a scholar, so we always have some disdain! Don't mention it. Lao Zhang shook his hand, quite chic.

At this time, the atmosphere in the room was a little dull, half loud, Yu Qin squinted at Zhou Dao and said hatefully, "Hearing you say this, could it be that you have decided to eat a few of us?" The surplus is my husband's inheritance, and I will never let it be destroyed in my hands. ”

"Alas! What are you talking about, ma'am? Lao Zhang shook his head and smiled, "I said something unpleasant first, and now I will talk about the benefits." If we can work together this time, it is not impossible to get along for a long time. And everyone has money to make, on behalf of the owner, I will only do it on the wharf in the future, and if you don't go into the city to open a branch, the sale of grain in the city will be given to you, one of them. Second, in the future, each family can buy grain at a preferential price in Hop Than, and as long as the government purchases grain after the period, Hop Sum will give priority to supply it in the future. Third, Halcyon's current business is not only food, there will be more in the future, cooperation is good for everyone, at least no longer an enemy, to be a friend or an enemy can be chosen. I'm a person, superstitious and weird, if you are willing to put aside your suspicions, we will do what we say, and we will never stab you in the back! But if one day we Hesheng is inexplicably unlucky, whether it is the house burning, or the rice is poisonous. I'm going to blame some of the people in the room, and I'm going to be cranky and complaining about why he hasn't been struck yet. That's all, everyone should think about it. Lao Zhang's eyes were staring at Su Tong. After speaking, he leaned back and drank tea.

Speaking of one, two, three, it sounds like a lot, but the substantive concession is the first one: Hesheng does not enter the city. He dominates the wharf to continue to control the grain source, he wants to do wholesale, let others do retail, he just doesn't open a branch in the city, but Zhou Dao insists on doing retail outside the city, that is, on the wharf at the same time, in this way to limit the price of grain in the city, he wants to batch and operate at the same time. Of course, there is another one, strike the army and truce, now he has the advantage, but he is willing to stop, regardless of the previous suspicions. A bone that didn't have much flesh was divided, some of it made but not much, and that's it. How else could it be? Fight to the death with Halcyon? According to the current situation, it is himself who dies, and it is Zhou Dao who lives.

After being silent for a long time, Yao Quan asked, "What about the grain requisition?" Lao Zhang interrupted him, "Didn't we discuss it before?" If you have anything to say, I won't treat you badly. "Well, that's fine," Yao Quan returned and was silent.

"Boss, do you think, can you say a few words?" Lao Zhang asked, "Well, let me say a few words." Zhou Dao nodded, "Mr. Xu said that I have a good point, that is, I know the general, hehe, I think this is praising me." To put it bluntly, it means that I am a person who knows the times. The current situation is clear, what will be the result of the fight, I think you know better than me, at least in my opinion, most likely not good. As for how bad it will be? I don't know, it's probably worse than you think, and I'm reluctant to try. He paused and looked around at the crowd, and then said, "I am thoughtful about this person, and it is more fair to boast about myself cheekily." Whether it's good to me or bad to me, you respect me and I pay you back, if people don't offend me, I won't offend anyone, no one poisons rice, no one thinks about harming people and killing people, so there will be no karma later. If there is a cause, there must be an effect, and there will be a reward if there is karma. I am not saying this to preach, but I really want to give all of us a chance, even if it is a temporary one. Let's do it first, see if there are any opportunities to really cooperate in the future. There's a saying in my hometown that it's called making a cake bigger, and a cake is a kind of cake, and you can think of it as making a cake big enough for everyone to eat. It's my own mind, and I don't want to be the kind of person who kills everything. Okay, I'm done, who's for and who's against? He waited for a moment, but no one said. "Alright, that's it. If you have any ideas, you can also come to Halcyon to find me, I am always waiting. With that, Zhou Dao got up.

On the way back, Zhou Dao didn't speak, but there was a light smile on the corner of Lao Zhang's mouth. "What do you want? Lao Zhang. Zhou Dao asked with a smile.

"Nothing." Lao Zhang replied, and after walking for a while, he said, "I saw that you slapped the table today, and Lao Tzu killed you and destroyed you." It scared the hell out of me. I want to ask, if that happens, will you kill your whole family? ＂

Zhou Dao walked, without a smile, as if he really thought about it, or shook his head, "It's right to kill him, but his family, especially the children, that's not good." He thought about it and added, "I'm still a human being." Lao Zhang shook his head, "I know." ”

Zhou Dao glanced at him sideways, "You must think that I have some woman's kindness." Lao Zhang shook his head and said solemnly: "If you don't kill the first evil, then it is the benevolence of a woman." It's not! In fact, when Yu Qingtian poisoned our rice, you never said that you also poisoned their rice, and used this vicious method to deal with him with a tooth for a tooth, so I know. This is not stupidity, doing something and not doing something, this is benevolence. The benevolence of righteousness. ”