After hearing this, Chen Li didn't dare to be verbose anymore.

It's just that...... He muttered to himself, what is this going to do?

Chen Li couldn't understand.

Don't understand...... It doesn't matter.

He was accustomed to following Zhang Anshi's orders.

Immediately after he came out, he listened to Zhang Anshi: "The next person will come in." ”

Then, in the reception room, a person stood up and hurriedly entered Zhang Anshi's public room.

This person passed by Chen Li, Chen Li raised his eyebrows slightly, and always felt that this person was a little familiar.

But he didn't think about it and hurried away.

In a few days, a lot of news intensified.

These news are by no means groundless.

Rather, it gradually has a nose and eyes.

It is reported that there are many more people checking the ferries and wharves in Taiping Mansion, but all outsiders seem to be very taboo and do not want them to come and go at will.

Qi Xia is there...... There is a big market.

This is the slow evolution of the auction house.

As more and more merchants gathered here, and commerce began to flourish, business in the past was often between merchants, looking for a stable supplier to trade.

But under this prosperity, the merchants are more than that.

Therefore, the place called Dongxiang Temple here was originally just an inconspicuous and desolate place, and the reason why it got its name was only because...... According to legend, a hundred years ago, there was a dilapidated City God Temple.

Of course, now this place has become the most prosperous street in Qixia, a full street, with many shops, and the most attractive is the place called Dongxiang City.

This place is different from the ordinary bazaar, and ordinary people rarely come here, and most of the merchants who come here are all kinds of merchants.

Merchants came here to deliver goods, and slowly, there were more and more such merchants, and even the trade became bigger and bigger, and it became a distribution center for bulk goods.

Here, all the goods imaginable in the world are available, countless people are looking for opportunities here, and sellers are entrusting the tooth shop to find buyers. And buyers are also rushing here to pick what they want.

The buying and selling of bulk goods is different from ordinary trading, and a slight rise or fall in the price also means a large amount of gold and silver.

Because of this, it ...... It is necessary to ensure that the price is fair, otherwise, even if it is a pound of goods less than a penny, and the small amount adds up, people may be thousands of taels of silver.

The tooth shop here will be the first time to hang out the prices of all kinds of bulk goods, and will be placed in the most conspicuous position, so if you walk from this street to the end of the street, what you see, in addition to people, is the dazzling array of trading prices.

In order to ensure that the price they give is absolutely fair, so that both the buyer and the seller do not feel at a loss, they will often put a lot of effort into ensuring that the price is fair.

It is said that the largest tooth shop in this place has more than 400 employees, equipped with the same fast horse as the imperial court, and at the same time...... In the capital and everywhere, they are stationed in the account office to investigate the current prices of various places at any time, and after the prices in the local markets are summarized, they make a set of calculations based on the prices of commodities and the market prices.

And this calculation is the most laborious.

Because first of all, commodities are different, and there must be a price difference between the market price and the price of the commodity.

Some products are easy to store and have a long shelf life, so the price difference may be smaller, but if it is a price such as fresh food, it will become larger.

In addition, there is also a set of calculation system for different price spreads in different places, which will determine a price based on the calculation to ensure that both sides of the transaction will not suffer losses.

Thus...... The price can be guaranteed to be updated once a day every half an hour, and the error value can almost be within a certain range.

This is the result of the joint efforts of more than 400 people, including a large number of bookkeepers, fast horses, and arithmetics.

And the price they give must not make any big mistakes, because once they make a mistake, it may lead to significant losses among the buyers and sellers of commodities.

Initially...... There are many teeth here, but slowly, those non-compliant teeth will quickly weaken, and those who can stay here to become bigger and stronger all have their own means.

And because of this, it has attracted countless businessmen and countless people looking for opportunities here.

For businessmen, the rapid buying and selling of commodities is not just a simple matter of saving time. Rather, it is the rapid flow of goods and gold and silver, which in itself is a huge gain.

Others do ten transactions a year, but you are here, you can accurately and quickly sell at the most fair price or buy dozens or even hundreds of transactions, and the profits in this are not the same.

With the big businessmen fighting hard here, naturally, there are countless brokers, and there are many high-end restaurants, and there are all kinds of expensive decoration shops.

People spend a lot of money here, and slowly, in addition to the gathering place of businessmen, it is also a place of drunkenness.

If it weren't for Zhang Anshi's refusal to open a green building here, I am afraid that this place would surpass the Qinhuai River overnight and become the world's first gold grotto.

Of course, there is another huge reason that attracts many people, and that is safety.

At the foot of Fusi in this Qixia Nai South Town, there is a model camp nearby, as well as an official academy, and the patrol and arrest hall of Taiping Mansion is also nearby, so to speak...... Here, it is almost impossible to see the Daomen and all kinds of thieves who steal, and even the thieves are almost impossible to find.

In fact, the price of bulk commodities often does not fluctuate much, and it may be difficult to rise and fall in a few pennies at the end of a day.

But today, some people have noticed a strange phenomenon, food prices are actually rising.

After all, it's summer, and the summer grain is about to be harvested, which means ...... There will be a large number of rice merchants, as well as gentry families, who will need to sell the old rice in the warehouse as soon as possible, and even if they want to stock up, it is time to stock up on new rice.

This juncture is ...... It is often when the price of grain is the cheapest, and if it is in previous years, it may even reach the point of eight or nine hundred copper coins per stone.

Only after the old rice is exhausted will the price of grain slowly begin to rise. At the end of the year, it can roughly reach one tael of silver and five hundred copper coins.

Still, it seems that in a matter of months, the price of food can rise dramatically, and it is profitable to hoard for a few months.

But in reality, that's not the case!

Because of storage and loss, it is an expense. Ordinary people can't earn this kind of silver at all, and only those big village sages and rice merchants can have their own granaries.

Because of this, the vast majority of people will not be much interested in food prices.

In the summer of this year, there was indeed a period of dryness, and it is expected that the grain output may be reduced, but ...... Production cuts should be limited.

This is Jiangnan, Jiangnan is a water town, even if it is dry, it is not as easy as the north to harvest nothing.

But now, the grain that should have been the lowest price has risen from 872 wen to 957 wen.

This is a commodity, and overnight, such a magnitude can be described as very scary.

Many people couldn't help but sigh and sighed.

Because...... This is a ...... Even if someone drools, they can't do it, there are no warehouses, there are no facilities to store grain, everything is empty talk.

Of course, there are also people in the market who directly take the goods from a warehouse, and then directly write a deed with you to trade.

When you want it, you can pick up the goods at any time with the deed!

However, this kind of thing is not popular now, after all, there are still risks, and such a large commodity, after all, want to be cautious.

It's just that as soon as these people look at the price, they immediately ...... Began to talk about it.

What's going on, how can food prices suddenly go up?

And it's going up so fast?

The first thing that comes to mind when people perceive the increase in food prices is the impact of natural disasters.

Soon, however, this may be ruled out.

So people talked even more.

Thereafter...... The price is ...... It continued to go up like crazy.

The more it rises, the faster it goes.

This sudden change has made many good people start to be interested.

……

"Mrs. Zhang, Mrs. Zhang."

In Shangyuan County, someone hurriedly found Shangyuan Zhang's house, and shouted from afar.

This Shangyuan Zhang family is also a local family, and Mrs. Zhang is in Yingtianfu, which is also quite famous.

He was old, his beard was gray, and he didn't have a few years to live.

At this time, I listened to the movement, and I didn't like it, and with the support of the maidservant, I slowly came to the small hall.

Immediately, he met the scholar in front of him.

This scholar is a showman, who teaches in the Zhang family's ethnology, and his surname is Li.

Li Xiucai said excitedly: "I just went to the city, Mrs. Zhang, do you know what happened?" ”

The maid brought a tea cup to Mrs. Zhang, who rinsed her mouth first and only nodded.

Li Xiu then said: "Mrs. Zhang...... That dog ......."

As soon as he heard the word Zhang Gou, Mrs. Zhang's face changed suddenly.

Li Xiu looked at his reaction, paused, and said, "It's that An Shi...... As the rumors say, there was a big problem. ”

When Mrs. Zhang heard this, he suddenly came to his senses, and his face seemed to be much more ruddy all of a sudden.

When he thought of the three words Zhang Anshi, Mrs. Zhang couldn't even sleep well.

The Xia family in Xuancheng County and the Shangyuan Zhang family are in-laws, and in terms of it, Xia Chang is still the cousin of Zhang Taigong.

Of course, this is nothing, the century-old family business of the Shangyuan Zhang family, I don't know how many famous families have married in this Nanzhili, if you really want to talk about it, they are all relatives.

The terrible thing is that the Xia family has been copied and beheaded, many relatives have not been exiled, and even the family business has been copied, and even the Xia family's land has been divided.

As soon as he thought of this, Zhang Taigong couldn't help but shudder.

He was afraid, and even had nightmares every day, dreaming of the Zhang family's family business, and finally fell into his own hands.

Therefore, as long as someone mentions Zhang Anshi, Zhang Taigong will be scolded endlessly, and he can't care about Sven.

Mrs. Zhang said fairly: "You tell me carefully." ”

So Li Xiucai said: "A few days ago, I didn't mean that the Taiping Mansion was over there...... Has a large amount of arable land been left uncultivated? This is what the Chen family and the Zhou family said, and the Zhou family swears by it. ”

After hearing this, Mrs. Zhang said coldly: "Evil, this is evil, the family business that has been run hard, was distributed to those lazy households by Zhang Anshi's thief, can it be run well?" Those fools, how can they take care of the fields? ”

"Yes, yes." Li Xiucai smiled and said, "But ...... This is ...... Everyone just passed it on, and later heard that there was a power struggle within the Taiping Mansion, and the fight was extremely fierce, and I heard that during the meeting, some people even smashed the tea cup directly, and broke up several times. And that Ann Shi ......"

Mrs. Zhang said: "This matter, the old man already knew, yesterday the Liu family invited wine, and also said this, Liu Gong is a sincere gentleman, his words ...... is credible. ”

Li Xiucai said: "Today...... Only then did I know that the price of grain had risen, and some people said that when they saw the Zhang family's commercial house, they desperately bought grain privately......"

"What?" Mrs. Zhang's eyes lit up: "Is this serious?" ”

"Anything else can be misinformation, but this thing...... I really saw it with my own eyes, and the students saw it with their own eyes, and the price of food rose by 20% in response. ”

Zhang Taigong may not understand cultivated land, but as a family with 100,000 acres of hidden land at home, he understands the price of grain.

Such ups and downs are very unusual.

In a few years, the harvest of Nanzhili may be reduced, but it will not cause such a big fluctuation.

Zhang Taigong stood up with a slight tremble, and with the support of the maidservant, he staggered a few steps before he said with a somewhat excited look: "Okay, good ......"

He smiled.

Li Xiucai said: "Many businessmen regret it, they want to stock up on grain, but it's a pity that it's ......."

Zhang Taigong smiled: "Hoarding grain, do they have a warehouse?" But...... Yesterday, a grain merchant came to collect grain, and the old man agreed, but now, ......"

He smiled, with a meaningful look.

It's a double happiness.

Immediately afterwards he said, "Call the steward." ”

After a while, the steward came.

Mrs. Zhang immediately asked, "How many empty positions do we have?" ”

"There are many, this old rice...... It's almost exhausted, and I'm waiting for the summer grain to be harvested......"

Mrs. Zhang squinted.

If what Li Xiucai said is true, then ...... It's really ...... A windfall.

He has granaries, storage facilities, everything.

Zhang Taigong looked at Li Xiucai and said, "You say...... What is Zhang Anshi collecting grain for? ”

Li Xiucai guessed: "Maybe it's because the Taiping Mansion has no harvest, so it's ...... Secretly buy some food ...... To make up for the shortcomings? If not...... His Taiping Mansion...... The fields are barren, and I am afraid that the court will see the guilt. ”

"Haha......" Mrs. Zhang said fairly: "Yes, the old man thinks the same way, this is the matter...... You go and find out again. ”

"Okay."

Mrs. Zhang turned around, pinched the maid on the side, and said, "Don't you always say that my body is not good, and my lord is in a good mood today......

…………

At noon the next day, Li Xiucai rushed back from Qixia, and he became more and more excited.

This time, Mrs. Zhang sat upright and was already waiting for him.

When the two met, he immediately asked, "How?" ”

Li Xiucai said excitedly: "It's gone up again, it's up by seventy yuan...... And it's still rising for no reason, and now many people are ...... I'm in a hurry. I also heard that the Taiping Mansion began to send many people to guard the ferries and wharves in various places, and no one was allowed to enter and exit easily, and the investigation was very strict. There are also many businessmen who say...... Those rumors are all nonsense, and the grain in Taiping Mansion is growing very well. ”

Zhang Taigong smiled: "Haha...... This is to cover up, those cheap businessmen are really in cahoots with Zhang Anshi. If it is what they say, how can the food rise? This is real money, is there such a fool in the world? ”

"Yes, Taigong, the students think the same way. I also heard that the Taiping Mansion is going to organize a group of people to visit their townships and let everyone see the growth of grain. ”

Mrs. Zhang smiled again, and said with a bit of mockery: "This Zhang An Shi is in a hurry, this person is good at making political achievements, such official deception and concealment, the old man has lived a lot of age, I don't know how many times I have seen it, it is nothing more than to find a place where the grain grows well, let you go and see, in fact, it is ...... It's just a trick to steal beams and change pillars. ”

"Yes, extremely. Zhang Gonggao saw that the Chen family and the Zhou family also said the same, and the son of the Chen family jumped up and scolded. ”

Mrs. Zhang said: "In this way, when the summer grain is harvested, not only will the grain pile not be in the granary, but there may also be a shortage of grain, and this Zhang Anshi is in a hurry to buy grain, and will do everything possible to make up for and cover up the problems of the Taiping Mansion." If it was at this time, the Zhang family would also buy a large amount of grain to store, not only ...... You can teach this Nexperia to buy more food, go and grease and powder him, and we may make a lot of money. ”

"The students also think so, in fact, the Zhou family also thinks so." Li Xiucai continued with a fluttering eyebrow: "I said that I can make a lot of money no matter what, it's just a matter of earning more and earning less." But if you take this opportunity to collapse the Taiping Mansion, it will benefit the country and the people. ”

Although Zhang Taigong also thought so, he was still a little cautious, and he paused and said, "Hmm...... Think again, old man. ”

Li Xiucai said: "I can't think about it anymore, if I delay, I'm afraid the price will rise." Both the Zhou family and the Chen family have already done it......"

Zhang Taigong frowned, he already felt reliable in this matter, but out of instinctive caution, he was still unwilling to gamble.

Just as he hesitated, suddenly, Zhang Taigong remembered something, and immediately said: "Di Bao, where is today's Di Bao?" Did you bring it from the city? ”

A maid hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Call someone to bring it early in the morning." ”

"Fetch it." Mrs. Zhang is fair.

Li Xiucai was confused.

Waiting for the report to come, Mrs. Zhang looked at it seriously.

He seemed to be rummaging for something, and finally, in the corner of a newspaper, he found what he wanted to see.

He muttered in his mouth: "A clarification on the situation in the Taiping Mansion: The Taiping Mansion is solemnly announced, there are small people today, and rumors are rumored everywhere that the summer grain grains in the Taiping Mansion have not been harvested. 2: The grain growth in Taiping Province is very good, although it is affected by drought, there is no major disaster, the situation is controllable, and this year will be a bumper year. ”

When Zhang Taigong finished reading, his shriveled lips trembled.

Li Xiucai listened attentively.

Zhang Taigong read it silently again.

Then, this Taigong suddenly slapped the case, and his eyes opened slightly: "Haha...... This time, I have the bottom of my heart! Collect, immediately collect food for the old man! No matter what means are used, I will try my best to collect food...... The rice warehouse at home must be full, as much as you want, no matter what the price! ”

Li Xiucai was surprised, looked at Mrs. Zhang and said, "Mrs. Zhang...... This ......"

Mrs. Zhang said fairly: "Originally, this Zhang Anshi was silent, but the old man didn't have the bottom in his heart!" You see, now this kid is so angry that he is threatening in the newspaper, and he is saying with great fanfare that his Taiping Mansion is a good year, Zhang Anshi is a thief and cunning, and he can't listen to half a sentence of what this person says, he said that it is a good year, he must be covering up something, he is a thief with a weak heart! ”

"Now...... The old man can guarantee that something happened in the Taiping Mansion, and now he collects grain, even if he does not let Zhang Anshi collect grain to deal with the fact that the grain fields in Taiping Mansion are barren, he can also make a lot of money from it. According to the old man's eyes...... Zhang Anshi will collect grain to cover up regardless of the consequences, his money dealer has a big business, and he is willing to pay all the price for this, but he is afraid that the time will come...... When the price of grain rises to seven taels or eight taels and one stone, the old man will not be surprised. ”

Li Xiucai listened, and immediately understood, and hurriedly said: "Mrs. Zhang is high-minded, but the students are stupid." ”

Mrs. Zhang shook his head, stroked his gray beard, and said proudly: "The old man has lived all his life, what kind of chaotic ministers and thieves have never seen?" The methods of these people, to put it mildly, are just that. ”

"This time, there was not only a chance...... Completely teach this Taiping Mansion to collapse, and there is still a chance to make a huge profit, the best of both worlds, in order to eliminate the hatred of the old man. ”

Li Xiucai nodded, but also said with a little regret: "It's a pity that the student ...... There is no granary at home......"

Zhang Taigong smiled and said: "It's okay, you can be counted as one, you take the silver to collect grain, and the grain collected can also be stored in my Zhang family's warehouse, not ......"

Apparently he suddenly remembered something, and shouted to the outside, "Someone, someone." ”

The maidservant hurriedly came and said, "Old lady." ”

Mrs. Zhang said fairly: "Go and tell the steward, let's build ten more warehouses in the Zhang family, and build them for me immediately." ”

"Yes."

…………

At this time, Zhang Anshi was looking down at the reports.

At this time, he had to accept the fact that he had become infamous since he scored the ground.

In the past, ordinary people did not dare to scold him by name.

But obviously, someone was provoked, and now ......

Looking at the growth of grain prices, Zhang Anshi probably understands...... There are already a lot of people who ...... Wanted to make him die.

Chen Li said on the side: "Grandpa...... There are quite a few readers...... It's all on the lips. ”

"Don't spit out, can't you just say it in one breath?"

Chen Li said: "They say, defend the famous religion, at this time!"

Zhang Anshi stroked his palms and said: "These words are very bloody, and in short, they are shocking, and they are indeed very appealing." But...... I think...... It's just hot-blooded, the atmosphere is not enough, you have a few reading eyeliner on hand? ”

"More than a dozen."

Zhang Anshi glanced at him with disgust and said, "Why is this?" ”

Chen Li showed a little grievance and said: "But as long as there are serious readers, who is willing to make eyeliner for our Jinyiwei." ”

Zhang Anshi said: "Then you call them...... Hurry up and spread the word again, calling Zhang Anshi to be captured alive, buy food to save himself, and if he doesn't buy it, he is not a scholar. ”

"Ah......" Chen Li was stunned again.

He had already begun to suspect that Zhang Anshi had been taken away.

…………

Chapter 2 is delivered.

(End of chapter)