"Ground?" Shen Mo asked softly.

"Hehe, that's right." Mrs. Xu said with a smile: "Old body, this is also for you and your Suzhou Mansion." As he spoke, he glanced at his grandson as if he had no intention of doing so.

Xu Zhen smiled and said, "Yes, Lord Shen, grandmother knows that your Suzhou Mansion has been in debt in order to stabilize grain prices, and she really can't bear to let you pay again." ”

"It doesn't matter...... Shen smiled silently, but he listened to Xu Zhen say to himself: "So we don't want your money anymore, let's use some ownerless wasteland to top it." ”

'Ownerless Wasteland? Shen Mo sneered in his heart: "Jiangnan is already a small land and many people, and the Ming Dynasty has been established for a hundred years, and every inch of land that can be opened already has a master, how can there be any ownerless wasteland?" ’

I also heard Xu Zhen say very skillfully: "In previous years, the market was 20 stones of rice per acre, but this year, the price of rice has risen six times, which is three stones, three buckets and one mu." He said slowly: "But our Xu family is famous for its benevolence and righteousness, and we are not willing to take advantage of it or suffer losses - how about giving me 50,000 mu of land and 200,000 stone of grain for you?" ”

He thought of Shen Mo as two hundred and five that he didn't understand -- but he didn't know that Shen Mo knew very well in his heart that the average land price in Suzhou was 20 stones, and the current grain price had indeed risen six or seven times, and it seemed very fair to buy one mu of land with four stones of grain.

But in fact, the common people will not agree to this until they are cornered -- because the price of grain is false, but the land is real, and the average yield per mu of rice in the south of the Yangtze River can be harvested at two stones, or four stones a year. It is already April, and even if the autumn harvest is only half a year away, in other words, this grandson wants six months' harvest in exchange for a lifetime of crops for the common people, but he still has to wear a reasonable fig leaf - there is no more sanctimonious greed than this!

"It's not that the price is unacceptable." Shen Mo smiled: "If I have land in my hand, I will definitely sell it to you." Saying that, he sighed lightly and said, "But there is a way that is 'thousand-year-old fields, eight hundred masters'." There has always been a public price for buying land, and the government can't control it, and it can't interfere...... You can't let people force people to buy and sell, right? ”

Xu Zhen didn't expect him to say this, and said with some displeasure: "My lord seems to be insincere?" ”

"The third prince is wronged." Shen Mo said without hurry: "Xiaguan has made it very clear, if you want to buy it, I will not interfere - but the pass is, I have no land in my hands at all, and it is useless for you to be anxious with me." "No matter what, Shen Mo will not agree, although under the pressure of survival, the common people are likely to accept this price and sell their land cheaply.

In that case, this year is over, but what about next year? If the people have no land, what will they eat? It's going to be a big mess! This would be a fatal blow to him, so he could never accept it.

"Lord Shen, you have to understand that we are helping you." Xu Zhen said in a deep voice: "As far as I know, the grain in Suzhou City can last for three days at most, and after three days, the food is broken, and people have no food to eat, so they are going to make trouble, and it is not as simple as picking black yarn when the time comes," said with a murderous awe-inspiring voice: "It's going to lose your head!" This grandson didn't know what kind of person Shen Mo was, and thought that a few words of intimidation would work.

"Hehe, if that's the case, it's really serious." Shen Mo smiled faintly and said, "But the news of the third prince is a little inaccurate. As he spoke, he stretched out a finger and said, "On the dock of the Cao Gang, 200,000 stone of grain is waiting to be shipped." He stretched out another finger and said: "On the wharf of Wujiang, there are ten grain ships parked, 100,000 stones, waiting to be shipped. He stretched out another finger and said, "My division commander in Shaoxing has managed to raise 50,000 stone of grain for me, and it has been shipped here." He said with a smile: "These 350,000 stones should be enough to reduce the price of grain in Suzhou City by half...... At least I can make it until the grain I bought from Yuben arrives in Suzhou. ”

"You dare to buy food from the book?" Xu Zhen glared and said, "This is blatant smuggling!" Are you tired of living? ”

"The third prince is wrong with this," Shen Mo still smiled gently: "I am the head of the Jiangnan City Bo Division, and I still have the right to decide who to do business with and what to do business." ”

"How much grain did you buy?" Xu Zhen's face was already ugly.

"Not much, the country is too poor, and there is a war going on in the country, so there is not much food to come up with." Shen Mo shook his head and sighed: "A few princes have made up and made up, but it is only two or three hundred thousand stones, if it weren't for their cheap food, I wouldn't have bothered to do this." ”

"You ......" Xu Zhen was about to explode, and was about to have a seizure, but he heard his grandmother cough, so he stopped suddenly.

"No matter how large the population of Suzhou City is, this grain is enough to last until the new grain is on the market, right?" Old Madam Xu said to Shen Mo with a gloomy face: "Lord Shen came to the door this time, is it too much?" ”

"Oh, old lady, you really misunderstood that you were born late." Shen Mo smiled aggrievedly: "Wansheng just wants to explain to the third young master that this time Wansheng came to the door, not out of desperation, but out of filial piety to his teacher and teacher!" ”

"Oh, what a filial piety method?" Old Madam Xu sneered slightly.

"Don't worry," said Shen Mo with a smile: "Although you can find a way to get food in your later years, there is a saying that 'fertilizer and water do not flow into the fields of outsiders.'" Such an opportunity to get rid of it at a high price is to cheapen one's own people first. ”

"Well said." Mrs. Xu said, "I don't know how much money you plan to buy from my family's grain?" After all, the old lady was a decent person, and when she saw that she was silent and unwilling to sell her land, she changed her question.

"Seven taels and one stone." Shen Mo said, this price is extremely fair, a few dollars higher than the retail price on the market.

Before the words fell, I heard a crisp voice outside shouting: "Our family is out of eight taels." Seeing the handsome and wonderful Lu Ji, he broke in without being polite.

Old Madam Xu didn't care at all, and scolded with a smile: "It turned out to be the ghost of the Lu family, why did you come to Songjiang?" "Obviously, the two sides are not only acquainted, but also have a very intimate relationship.

"Say hello to the grandmother," Lu Ji arched his hand in a chic manner, and after a string of greetings, he glanced at Shen Mo casually and said, "It turns out that Lord Shen is also here." ”

Silent smiled and ignored him, since the one who came was not good, and the good one did not come, then it was just a matter of following.

After their greetings were over, Mrs. Xu asked Lu Ji, "You just said eight taels, right?" Do you want to buy food too? ”

"Yes," Lu Ji glanced at Shen Mo and said, "The Han family wants to buy the wife's grain at a high price, and Lord Shen has to find another way." ”

"First come, first served." Shen Mo still smiled.

"The one with the highest price wins." Lu Ji also said with a bright smile.

"Even if the price is higher, it will be won." Shen nodded silently and said, "Then I will pay nine taels, and the cash will be paid." ”

"I'll give ten taels!" Lu Ji interlaced his index fingers with his hands, and said with a hint of cold air: "The same cash is paid." ”

"I'll give eleven taels!" Silent said with a solemn face: "The cash is paid!" ”

"I'll go out for twelve taels!" Lu Ji also gritted his teeth and said: "Pay the cash!" ”

In the hall of the backyard of the Xu family, the sound of bidding is rising, the atmosphere is extremely tense, and the air is stagnant.

The price of both sides has been called twenty taels!

Even though the ancestors and grandchildren of the Xu family are accustomed to seeing the world, they have never seen such a crazy scene, the average price of one tael and one stone of grain has increased by twenty times, which is simply unimaginable!

Their family can sell a total of 200,000 stone of grain, which is four million taels, and the hearts of the ancestors and grandchildren are almost beating out of their chests.

Such pressure has made Shen Mo's forehead covered with sweat, and he subconsciously loosened his clothes, and his voice changed tone: "Twenty-one taels, eighty percent of cash, and the rest will be paid off in one month." ”

Lu Ji on the opposite side bit his lower lip tightly, staring at Shen Mo, the green tendons on the backs of his two white hands loomed, and his lips moved several times, but he didn't speak, which showed that the pressure was also extremely great.

Seeing him like this, Shen Mo finally breathed a sigh of relief, picked up the teacup and took a big sip of water, looking at Lu Ji's gaze, there was both pain and a hint of pleasure.

Lu Ji pondered repeatedly, even if these grains dominated the success or failure of this decisive battle, this price was really outrageous, even if he was full of anger and paranoia, he had to ask himself, is this price affordable?

couldn't bear such pressure, he suddenly covered his stomach and said with a dry smile: "Oops, my stomach hurts, I have to go to Gong first, and I'll talk about it later." After saying that, without waiting for everyone to answer, he ran out of the smoke.

As soon as he saw him suddenly run out, Shen Mo almost collapsed on the chair, but fortunately, he had a bit of the momentum of a dead pig who was not afraid of boiling water, and withstood it.

After he left, Mrs. Xu relieved herself from the shock, shook her head at Shen Mo and said, "If you had promised to use the land to return the grain, why would it be difficult to ride a tiger?" ”

Shen Mo smiled bitterly and said, "This is also forced to be helpless." Saying that, he sighed lightly and said: "The opening of the market is a major matter that His Majesty is extremely concerned about, and Elder Yan Ge is also keeping an eye on it, if it is delayed, he will lose his head in his later life." ”

As soon as she heard the words 'Yan Ge Lao', Mrs. Xu chuckled in her heart, and she suddenly realized that if she waded into this pool again, it might affect her son.

For a while, the old lady regretted a little, she shouldn't have made such a big fuss.

was silent for a moment, and was about to speak, but Lu Ji was murderous and went and returned, so Mrs. Xu had no choice but to stop...... After all, the temptation of a few million taels of silver is enough to wipe out anyone's sanity.

Lu Ji sat opposite Shen Mo, ready to make another offer, just before he went out and asked the master who came with him, the man told him that Shen Mo even shouted out the high price of twenty-one taels, which just proved that he only had this last trick left! If this life-saving straw is also removed from him, this breathless decisive battle will be settled - from now on, the entire city of Suzhou will be in their hands!

How much is a Suzhou city worth? So the man told him to come back and beat Shen Mo to death with a stick!

Lu Ji also had questions, where could Shen Mo come up with so much money? The man explained that the two million taels belonged to the grain merchants, and as for the rest of the money, it should have been borrowed from the vinegar jars...... Last night, Shen Mo talked with Wang Chonggu all night, maybe he was exchanging interests! Otherwise, I wouldn't have helped him go to the docks to see the scene this morning.

But it is impossible for those old West to lend him too much, and I believe that the silence has reached the limit...... Let's grit our teeth and hold on! As long as it doesn't exceed thirty taels, don't give up!

'What if it's more than thirty taels?' Lu Ji asked.

Then he is destroying himself. The man said firmly: 'This money will crush him directly!' ’

"Twenty-five taels!" Lu Ji quoted directly.

"Add a tael." Silently wiped his sweat.

"Twenty-seven taels!" Lu Ji's heart was about to reach his throat.

Shen Mo rubbed his face vigorously, his eyes were red, and he said, "...... again Add one or two. ”

"Twenty-nine taels!" Lu Ji clenched his fists, and his palms were wet with water.

Shen closed his eyes, was silent for a long time, and finally opened his eyes in frustration and said, "You won......"

"Twenty-nine taels and one stone grain, deal!" Xu Zhen is in ecstasy! That's 5,800,000 taels of silver! The opportunity must not be lost and will not come again, he hurriedly went to the pen and paper to print the clay, and asked Lu Ji to sign and draw.

At this time, a gust of wind blew outside the door, and Lu Ji suddenly became a little sober, she sat there in a daze, and asked herself in her heart: 'What have I done?' With the tax revenue of the Ming Dynasty for a year, to buy 200,000 stone of old grain, is there anything more stupid in the world? ’

Just seeing Shen Mo there like a mourner, and thinking about that person's words, he had to secretly encourage himself and said: "I can't bear the child to trap the wolf!" You can't win this game without spending money! As soon as he gritted his teeth, he took the pen and signed, and then used the seal, and Xu Zhen used their family's seal, and the contract was established.

"Sit back, Lord Shen!" Maybe it was because there was too much bleeding, and Lu Ji didn't even feel any pleasure.

Ignoring him silently, Xiao Suo got up and said, "Master, since there is no food here, I have to go elsewhere to find a way to hurry up, and I have to retire now, and I will come to visit again." ”

Mrs. Xu also said a little apologetically: "That's how buying and selling, it's always the one with the highest price." As he spoke, he said, "Let's go and see elsewhere, maybe there is another way." ”

"Yes." Shen Mo gave a deep salute, looked at Lu Ji again, and then lowered his head and left.

Looking at his departing back, Lu Ji didn't know what it was like in his heart.

But he couldn't wait for him to taste the mood, so he listened to Xu Zhen say: "According to the contract, you have to pay 4.6 million yuan first, and the remaining 1.2 million yuan will be paid within a month." ”

Lu Ji's face darkened immediately, and he adjusted for a long time before he said: "I only have two million taels of silver tickets in hand now, and the remaining two million and 6.6 million, please give me a grace period, and I will send it to you the next day." ”

"What day is the next day?" Xu Zhen said with a dark face.

"In seven days." Lu Ji said: "With such a large sum of silver, it always takes some time to raise. ”

"Okay." Xu Zhen nodded and said: "But if it is overdue, one cent a day, this can't be ambiguous!" ”

"No, no." The thought of taking so much money out, Lu Ji was dizzy.

Shen Mo had been returning to the car in a fluttering posture, but as soon as the curtain was lowered, a strange smile appeared on his face, and he fell into his wife's ear and muttered quietly.

Ruohan's face changed several times when he heard this, and finally gritted his teeth and nodded: "It seems that you hate them to death." Then he lifted the sedan curtain and ordered: "Go to the Caobang dock!" ”

The carriage quickly left the Xu family, and arrived at the Caobang wharf a quarter of an hour later, Wang Chonggu was really good enough friends, and personally led the people and horses to protect the wharf, and when he saw the silent carriage coming, he quickly greeted it and asked, "How is it?" ”

Shen Mo shook his head and said, "I was still robbed by the Lu family, and they got twenty-nine silver and one stone." ”

"How is that possible?" Wang Chonggu exclaimed, "How can they afford to get out? ”

"Excuse me." Shen Mo said excitedly: "I have to go back with this food, and think of a way to try to last until the food comes in." ”

"Is there really any food?" Wang Chonggu asked, saying in his heart that the dead Daoist friends are not dead and the poor Dao, if not, you don't take these grains away.

"Well," Shen Mo said softly: "I won't tell you, when Mao Haifeng left, I asked him to help me buy food, and it should be in early July." ”

"Oh." Wang Chonggu didn't say anything, patted his silent arm and said, "Go ahead, be careful, if you can't do it, just give in, I'll help you contact and see if there is a way to reconcile." ”

Shen Mo nodded and said, "I can't say that I will have to worry about my brother when the time comes." So he boarded the big ship of Ma Wuye with Ruohan.

The fleet sailed away from the dock, and when there was no figure on the shore, Ma Wuye asked softly: "My lord, Brother Shen, do you really have the grain of Yuben?" ”

"What's the food?" Shen sighed and said, "I don't have front and back eyes, I can't imagine that it will be so difficult to buy food." He said softly: "Let's be honest with you, fifth brother, the grain in my hometown has also been detained by Governor Ruan as military food, and I can't count on it at all." ”

"Ah, Brother Shen, how can this be?" Ma Wuye said movingly: "Those people are trying to force you to death!" ”

Shen Mo suddenly laughed and said, "Forced to death? You can say that again! As he spoke, he suddenly gritted his teeth and said, "I just don't know, who is forcing whom!" ”

Ma Wu couldn't help but be stunned for a moment, and then listened to Shen Mo and said, "Fifth brother, come here with your ears." ”

(To be continued)