They began to send the Qilin Army to acquire grain.
Acquiring it on a large scale.
They had a full one million taels of silver in their hands, which, for an individual, was a frightening amount. The news of the Qilin Army’s grain acquisition was quickly discovered by the major aristocratic families in Central State.
The aristocratic families and Li Guanyi stood opposed to each other. Although they hadn’t completely torn apart, it couldn’t exactly be considered a harmonious relationship.
Naturally, they raised the prices.
Yet, Wen Lingjun continued to buy the grain even at the increased prices.
The aristocratic families quickly realized this.
"Enemies are enemies, silver is silver."
"A position is a position, a business deal is a business deal!"
"Hahaha, the Qilin Army, it seems the major aristocratic families in Jiangnan weren’t cooperating, and the Qilin Army must not have had enough grain to eat, so they had to buy grain from us. Hmph, they kept buying even at such a high price!"
"The Qilin Army, foolish, foolish!"
"Foolish people with lots of money!"
So, the major aristocratic families in Central State gathered grain from various places and sold it to the Qilin Army at high prices. Yet, because of Wen Lingjun’s presence, they couldn’t completely drive the prices up. Soon, the Qilin Army had a large stockpile of grain.
However, the Qilin Army’s grain acquisition and the aristocratic families’ direct price hikes soon had negative effects.
Raising the price when selling to the Qilin Army, what about selling to ordinary people?
"Naturally, it had to be increased too."
The head of an aristocratic family with some marital ties to the Imperial Family, Cui Haomin, turned the precious agate ball in his hand slowly and said: "If the price doesn’t increase for the common people, what if Li Guanyi buys grain from them?"
"Wouldn’t that let Li Guanyi and the Qilin Army get the advantage?" Moreover, I already know the news from Jiangnan. The aristocratic families over there have been greatly humiliated by the Qilin Army."
"Heh, they have likely learned their lesson and are forced to buy grain."
"We have some connections with the Jiangnan aristocratic families, frequent interactions, naturally we have to help them."
His subordinate hesitated and said:
"But, what if this causes civil unrest among the people?"
Cui Haomin said indifferently: "People are like that."
"Cunning, and sly, claiming they have no food, but under the well there’s definitely something hidden. On the rooftop, there’s grain stored, even on the walls, there’s grain turned into rice cakes, dried and filled in. When something happens, they take it out, soak it in water to eat as porridge."
"You and I have seen this many times."
"The people won’t die off. Look around this world, one batch of peasants dies, and if you relax with them, in ten or twenty years, they’ll grow back like weeds in spring, clamoring for land, for grain."
"Moreover, if they come to make noise."
Cui Haomin paused and said indifferently: "It was Li Guanyi’s Qilin Army’s large-scale acquisition that led to the grain price increase."
This kind of thing happened in various places, so ordinary people could barely hold on. But a large group who had poor land or whose land had been taken, only doing odd jobs at wealthy households, couldn’t sustain themselves.
The aristocratic families didn’t give them more money, yet massively inflated grain prices.
Finally, some couldn’t bear the hunger, they went to the Qilin Army’s station, tears streaming down, hoping they would stop acquiring grain. A gentle voice came, saying: "Sir, please rise."
The man, barely holding on, looked up and saw a kind young man, whose eyes showed compassion, softly saying: "We still have to continue acquiring grain."
"However, to cause such suffering for you all, it is indeed our concern in acquiring grain."
The man opened his mouth, knowing it wasn’t the Qilin Army’s fault.
The Qilin Army was acquiring grain, but the aristocratic families were taking advantage of the situation to raise prices.
It’s clear who was at fault, the man tearfully said: "But, we, my lord, I beg you, my family still has my son and my old mother, only relying on me to live. Grain has doubled now, we have no extra food at home, we can’t survive."
Wen Lingjun said: "Then, the Lord’s generosity cannot bear to see people hungry and thirsty."
"Set up porridge shops in this area."
"To relieve the people."
This news quickly spread, and thus the people came eagerly, though they had to work here to get food. So those who wanted to take advantage withdrew.
Cui Haomin, hearing this, sneered to his friend, saying:
"Li Guanyi really can’t let go of his little fame."
"Hahaha, bought grain wanting to help the Qilin Army, but ended up entangled by those peasants? Now it’s great, spent the money, didn’t keep the grain, left a bunch of people eating his meat and drinking his blood."
"Saying it , Li Guanyi is indeed pitiable."
"Since this is the case, let’s drive those peasants we control over there."
Cui Haomin made a move, saying indifferently:
"Anyway, their land is already with my family."
After just over ten days, the Qilin Army’s porridge shops grew in scale. These people, with their families, to be the first to get the porridge, simply found a place to lay down and settled near the Qilin Army. More and more people joined, and the aristocratic families watched, amused.
", every day white silver is burnt up, how pitiful, how pitiful."
"My heart aches, hahaha!"
"Gave the silver to the peasants, hahahaha!"
Meanwhile, in the Heavenly Strategy Mansion, Wen Lingjun and Wen He were playing chess.
Wen Lingjun placed a white piece, his voice warm, saying: "How is it?"
Wen He happily said: "The Lord’s one million taels of silver, it’s burning ."
"A little less every day, a little less every day."
"Your strategy, when spending money, is truly relentless!"