Chapter 328: Chapter 226: Merchants Pursue Profit, Parting Lightly (Part 3)

"And they have the nerve to say this year’s harvest was bad. Pah!"

"In the past, a *shi* of grain cost one tael of silver at most, but this time it shot straight up to one and a half."

"It might not seem like a big jump, but the garrisons of the Three Towns are short four hundred thousand *shi*. All told, that’s an extra one hundred and sixty thousand taels of silver!"

"You’re telling me!"

"I heard the Third Master went in person and was completely rebuffed. I wonder if the Marquis will go himself."

"He’ll go. Why wouldn’t he?"

"He should take us with him. I’d like to see how many heads they’ve got to dare and raise prices for no reason!"

Hearing this, Chen Yi frowned to himself.

The day before yesterday, Xiao Wan’er had told him that the silver coins Elder Master Xiao spent buying grain had nearly emptied the family’s coffers.

It was just barely enough to cover the summer grain that had been burned in Iron Wall Town and to fill the shortfall in the grain tax.

Now, only a few days later, the price of grain had gone up.

Chen Yi didn’t have to think too deeply to know what was going on.

Someone had timed this perfectly, knowing the Xiao Family was short on silver, and was deliberately scheming against them.

’Thinking deeper... could this be the crime of deceiving the emperor?’

After all, the reason Elder Master Xiao had spent so much silver to buy grain was because of the Imperial Edict from the Capital Prefecture that arrived on the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Unless the Elder Master was determined to deceive the emperor, he had no choice but to replenish the supply.

’The Jing State Liu Family?’

’Probably not.’

’Their schemes in Shu State are only just beginning. They shouldn’t have been able to coordinate with all the various parties to fix the grain price.’

’That only leaves one other possibility—those fat rats hiding in the shadows.’

Connecting this to the unusual fluctuations in the grain prices within Shu State Prefecture City right after news broke about the burning of the Three Towns’ summer grain, Chen Yi already had his answer.

Aside from the Financier who hired Black Tooth of the Bright Moon Building, there was likely no one else who could have orchestrated this.

’This is an open conspiracy.’

’Elder Master Xiao... is probably in a difficult position now.’

Mulling this over, Chen Yi impassively held his umbrella as he crossed the central courtyard and arrived at the Spring Lotus Garden.

When Xiaodie saw him enter, she quickly put down what she was doing and came over to greet him.

She took the Oil Paper Umbrella from his hand while using a towel to wipe the light rain from his clothes.

Chen Yi let her attend to him, his gaze falling on Jiaxing Garden as he wondered if Xiao Wan’er had heard the news.

Xiaodie noticed his gaze and said with a smile, "Young Master, I’ve already asked the Eldest Young Mistress, as you instructed."

"From now on, I will instruct the kitchen staff to prepare Young Master Wuge’s meals separately to ensure his Martial Arts training is not hindered."

Chen Yi knew the news hadn’t reached the inner quarters yet, so he didn’t press the matter.

From the fact that the grain price had only risen to one and a half taels of silver, it was clear that those people were also worried that raising it too high would provoke the Elder Master to take drastic measures.

Therefore, the matter was both difficult and simple.

It was ultimately just a matter of spending more silver.

But why should they?

...

Chen Yi didn’t go anywhere that afternoon. He just holed up in the Spring Lotus Garden, practicing calligraphy and drinking tea.

He appeared carefree and at ease, but in his mind, he had already played out several games of chess.

He didn’t stop until after nightfall.

’They’re nothing more than a few fat rats... Hah!’

’If I can catch them all in one fell swoop, I’m sure the Xiao Family’s situation in Shu State will improve considerably.’

But after thinking for a long time, the one thing Chen Yi couldn’t figure out was why these people were targeting the Xiao Family.

The Jing State Liu Family had come to Shu State with the intention of seizing another’s territory, that much was clear.

But this "Financier" had made two moves, both related to the price of grain, which inevitably made him wonder.

Even if the Xiao Family got screwed over by them, they would only lose some silver.

They could always scrape it together if they had to.

As long as the Xiao family was still around, as long as Elder Master Xiao and Xiao Jinghong were still around, those people would be brought to account sooner or later.

’They can’t possibly just want to make a bit of silver, can they?’

Chen Yi stroked his chin and muttered, "Then again, it’s not entirely out of the question."

Merchants chase profit.

The more chaos, the more they earn.

Especially when it comes to matters of war, any merchant with enough nerve can make a fortune.

There was no guarantee these people weren’t thinking the same way.

At this thought, Chen Yi couldn’t help but smile. "If that’s really the case, then things are about to get interesting."

He just loved dealing with these kinds of fat cats.

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