"Not less than 150 wen per dou?"
The moment these words left his mouth, everyone was stunned.
Old Lin's beard trembled, and he almost yanked it clean off in shock. His wrinkled face was filled with disbelief.
The other three family heads of the grain merchants turned their bewildered gazes to Gao Yang.
For a moment, the entire county office was plunged into silence.
Everyone was dumbstruck, utterly speechless.
Even the thought of speaking seemed to have been forgotten.
Gao Yang's words were entirely beyond their expectations.
Du Jiang, who had been ready to watch Gao Yang negotiate a price reduction with the troublesome grain merchants, was equally taken aback.
Instead of lowering the price even slightly, Gao Yang had no intention of reducing it at all. On the contrary, he directly raised it.
And not by a small margin — from the current 100 wen per dou, an already unaffordable price for many commoners, he raised it to a jaw-dropping 150 wen per dou.
He even forbade the merchants from selling at a lower price!
What was Gao Yang planning? Was he trying to starve the entire population of Linjiang City?
Du Jiang's face was filled with rage, but with the four major grain merchants present and Gao Yang now in charge of all affairs in Linjiang City, he dared not openly question Gao Yang in their presence.
To do so would be a grave offense, tantamount to defying a superior officer.
Even Shangguan Wan'er was startled, her beautiful eyes brimming with confusion.
Weren't they in Linjiang City to lower the grain prices?
From previous interactions, Gao Yang should have been acutely aware that this was a test from the Empress, one that concerned the fate of the Duke Dingguo's household.
Why, then, was Gao Yang not working to lower the prices?
Why would he raise them, and to such an outrageous figure?
Shangguan Wan'er couldn't wrap her head around it.
She had spent two months governing alongside the Empress, encountering officials of all kinds — scheming, ruthless, upright, and impartial.
But this was the first time she had seen someone as unconventional as Gao Yang.
Old Lin's face was a portrait of shock, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Lord Censor, perhaps my ears have aged poorly. Did you just say we are not allowed to sell grain for less than 150 wen per dou?"
The other three family heads turned their gazes sharply to Gao Yang at these words.
Gao Yang slowly tapped his fingers on the table, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Is my meaning so difficult to grasp?"
"A price of 150 wen per dou. If anyone dares to sell grain for less, and I find out, it'll cost them their head!"
"Now, have I made myself clear?"
Seeing Gao Yang reaffirm his stance, even the most composed of the four couldn't help but let a grin spread across their faces.
Who could have anticipated such a turn of events?
Rather than lowering the price as they feared, Gao Yang intended to raise it to an astronomical level — a staggering 150 wen per dou!
The profits behind this number were astronomical.
What's more, everyone in Linjiang City knew that the majority of the grain supply was controlled by their four families.
The price had already doubled to 100 wen per dou, earning them plenty of scorn and resentment.
But now, with this decree from the county office mandating a minimum price of 150 wen per dou, the public ire wouldn't fall on them.
They could rake in unimaginable profits without bearing the brunt of the blame. Old Lin nearly laughed out loud at the thought.
In all his years, he had never encountered such a windfall.
But the more elated he felt, the more cautious he became.
Old Lin's cloudy eyes glinted sharply. "Lord Censor, will this be posted as an official proclamation?"
At his words, the other three family heads focused their attention on Gao Yang, their gazes equally sharp.
An official proclamation posted across the city would make the decision ironclad. Otherwise, a sudden reversal from Gao Yang could leave them in ruin.
These seasoned schemers were nothing if not meticulous.
Gao Yang's deep gaze met Old Lin's, and he nodded. "After this meal, the proclamation mandating a minimum price of 150 wen per dou will be posted on every street in Linjiang City."
Old Lin exchanged a glance with the other three, their hearts settling at last.
Today, an enormous fortune had fallen into their laps. To let it slip away now would be a disgrace to the legacy their ancestors had built over generations.
For the rest of the meal, while Gao Yang dined heartily, the others barely touched their food.
But flattery flowed freely from Old Lin and the three family heads, their compliments as endless as a rushing river.
Before long, the four grain merchants took their leave.
"Old Lin, what do you make of this new Censor's intentions? Not only did he refuse to lower the price, but he raised it to 150 wen per dou. Do you think there's a catch?"
Outside the county office, the head of the Qian family voiced his concern.
Old Lin snorted coldly. "I've lived half my life and seen all manner of schemes, but I've never seen grain prices soar only to fall back down!"
"Whatever Gao Yang's motives may be, they're of no concern to us. Right now, our priority is to seize this golden opportunity and make a fortune."
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance. If we grab hold of it, our families will be secure for generations. No matter how chaotic Linjiang City becomes, it won't concern us, because we'll simply be following the county office's orders!"
"Such an enormous windfall is right in front of you, and you still hesitate? Truly, you must be fools!"
At these words, the Qian family head hastily apologized. "Old Lin, calm yourself. It's just that I've never seen such a good deal before, so I was a bit uneasy."
"But if you put it this way, this truly is a golden opportunity."
"My Qian family will follow Old Lin's lead!"
The heads of the Zhao and Han families quickly echoed, "The four major families of Linjiang have always advanced and retreated together. Whatever Old Lin decides, we'll follow suit."
Hearing this, Old Lin's sharp gaze swept over the bustling streets of Linjiang City, his cloudy eyes glinting with boundless greed.
"Before the proclamations are posted, quickly sweep up all the grain in the city at 100 wen per dou!"
"Then sit back and wait for the price to soar. Once the proclamation is out, the price won't stop at 150 wen per dou. In times of chaos, grain prices know no ceiling. When the commoners are starving, they'll sell anything — even their pots and pans — to buy food!"
Lin Lao's voice carried a chilling tone.
The grain price, even at a hundred wen per dou, would already leave the city of Linjiang strewn with the bodies of the starved, with thousands or tens of thousands of commoners dying of hunger.
At one hundred fifty wen per dou or higher, let alone a hundred, it would only take ten to fifteen days for the city to descend into a true hell on earth.
But whether it was Lin Lao or the other three major grain merchants, their faces remained expressionless, with only greed gleaming in their eyes.
The life and death of the common folk—what did that have to do with them?
In such chaotic times, seizing the opportunity to make a fortune off the nation's hardships was the only path that mattered to them!
In Linjiang City, grain prices were about to surge to an inconceivable high.
---
Inside the county yamen.
Du Jiang stared at Gao Yang with a face full of disbelief.
"Lord Censor, do you truly intend to have notices posted all over Linjiang City, proclaiming that grain prices must not be sold below one hundred fifty wen per dou?"
Du Jiang's face was contorted with fury. He thought Gao Yang must have gone mad.
It was one thing to discuss such terms with the four major grain merchants, but to actually issue public notices and post them all over the city?
Once those notices were up, there would be no turning back!
The county yamen would become the target of every person's ire. The people's outrage alone could drown them in a sea of spit!
And weren't they here to lower grain prices?
Why would Gao Yang raise them instead—and to such an astronomical level!
It was a long while before Gao Yang finally turned to look at Du Jiang and spoke slowly.
"Lord Du, carry out my orders as instructed."
"The rest is none of your concern."
Gao Yang's gaze was icy cold.
Du Jiang trembled all over, his eyes locked onto Gao Yang. A sharp pang of despair filled his heart.
The Emperor, wise and virtuous as she was, why would she send such a reckless and arrogant individual here?
Did this man even understand what a price of one hundred fifty wen per dou meant?
It was nothing short of "This is just letting the grain merchants make even more profit."
Yes, this was "This is just letting the grain merchants make even more profit."
The phrase echoed in Du Jiang's mind. How could a pampered aristocrat from Chang'an, born with a golden spoon in his mouth, ever understand the suffering of the common people?
This wasn't just a disaster for Linjiang City—it was a catastrophe for countless lives.
Yet, Du Jiang was determined to try. He was the magistrate of Linjiang City, the "parent official" of its tens of thousands of people. He had to live up to his duty, his official hat, and his conscience!
With gritted teeth, he knelt on one knee and asked, word by word, "My lord, do you understand the consequences of this action?"
"Once the notices are up, in ten days or less, Linjiang City will become a living hell. Countless people will starve to death, families will be torn apart, and even cannibalism may become inevitable!"
Du Jiang clenched his teeth, dropped to one knee, and pleaded, "I, your subordinate, have lived these thirty-six years with a backbone, never having begged anyone. But today, I beg you to revoke this order. At one hundred fifty wen per dou, no commoner will be able to afford grain!"
Gao Yang gazed at Du Jiang, his eyes devoid of emotion.
He knew Du Jiang was a dedicated official with the people's welfare at heart. When he returned to the capital, Gao Yang planned to recommend his promotion.
However, if Linjiang City was to see any relief in grain prices, it had to be done his way.
In a place rife with spies and prying ears, Gao Yang could not afford to reveal his true intentions without absolute certainty.
He offered only a subtle hint:
"Lord Du, lowering grain prices doesn't always mean pressing them down forcibly. Remember, the harder you compress a spring, the more violently it rebounds."
"In seven days, everything will be fine."
"I would never gamble with lives."
Having said this, Gao Yang strode out of the yamen.
After having his fill, there were important matters to attend to.
In this vast Da Qian Empire, Linjiang was not the only city affected by torrential rains. All sixteen cities in the Guangyang Commandery had been ravaged by the calamity.
Linjiang's plight was simply the most severe.
One thread pulled would unravel the entire tapestry, leaving countless people displaced.
Lowering grain prices was only one part of the equation.
The true task was finding a way to help the people survive the disaster, and even earn a livelihood during these turbulent times. That was the real challenge!
But how should he proceed?
Standing at the gates of the inner courtyard of the yamen, Gao Yang gazed out into the city and sank into deep thought.
Behind him, Du Jiang trembled with fury.
He could not fathom it!
In his twelve years of governance, Du Jiang had witnessed countless methods and strategies, but never had he heard of a way to reduce grain prices by raising them!
This was pure arrogance. Sheer madness.
And it would come at an unspeakable cost.
Just as Du Jiang was lost in his seething rage, Gao Yang's voice echoed again.
"Lord Du, accompany me on a tour. This yamen looks like it hasn't been renovated in years. Once the grain prices come down, it might be a good time for a little refurbishment."
Du Jiang's expression changed drastically.
The common folk could barely survive, and yet Gao Yang wanted to undertake extravagant renovations for the yamen?
How was this any different from exploiting the people?
But before he could voice his outrage, Gao Yang, accompanied by Lü Luo, had already walked out of the yamen.
"Lord Shangguan, will you truly stand by and watch Linjiang City fall into utter despair?" Du Jiang turned his final plea to Shangguan Wan'er.
As one of the Emperor's most trusted confidantes, Shangguan Wan'er could surely put a stop to this madness!
Shangguan Wan'er gazed in the direction Gao Yang had left, her flawless face marred by hesitation.
If it had been anyone else, she would have intervened without hesitation.
But this was Gao Yang.
His audacious schemes in the Golden Throne Hall defied all conventional logic.
Was he just a playboy?
By all accounts, Gao Yang, grandson of the Duke of Dingguo, was not only a playboy but a complete scoundrel.
Yet, his actions were anything but foolish.
He should be fully aware of the precarious situation the Duke's family was in.
Resoluteness flashed across Shangguan Wan'er's exquisite features.
"By decree of Her Majesty, all matters in Linjiang City, big or small, are to be handled solely by Lord Gao. However..."
"If the situation spirals out of control, I will step in to put an end to it!"
With that, Shangguan Wan'er, too, walked away decisively.
Du Jiang stood in despair. His voice trembled with pain.
"By then, it will be too late!"
"This cannot go on—I must report this to Her Majesty at once. If this lunacy continues, the tens of thousands of people in Linjiang City will be doomed!"
With a determined expression, Du Jiang shouted,
"Bring me my brush and ink! I must compose an urgent memorial to the throne, an eight-hundred-li express to impeach this madman!"