stonecrandall Chapter 1189: Step by step, I'm caught in a scheme!
Chapter 1189: Step by step, I'm caught in a scheme!
"The opportunity has arrived." Gao Yao received the secret report while reviewing grain price reports from various regions. Over the past month, under his manipulation, grain prices in Qing Kingdom's major grain-producing areas had fallen by 25%. Many small and medium-sized grain merchants began to sell off their inventories, and some officials were also secretly reselling old grain from the granaries—they were calculating very carefully: sell old grain at low prices now, and then buy new grain at low prices after the autumn harvest, making a profit from the price difference.
Gao Yao exploited this psychology. His acquisition network, like an invisible net, quietly took over more than 70% of the grain being dumped on the market. These transactions were broken down into hundreds of small deals, distributed across different times and locations, making it difficult even for the most astute auditors of the Ministry of Revenue to detect anything amiss from the chaotic market data.
Meanwhile, Gao Yao began implementing the second phase of his plan: creating a false impression of a bumper harvest. He sent people disguised as itinerant Taoist priests and fortune tellers to spread rumors in the countryside that "this year's rice ears are exceptionally heavy" and "one mu can yield three shi of grain." He even bribed some local officials to exaggerate the estimated yield in their reports to the imperial court.
"We need to convince the imperial court that there is enough food before they will feel comfortable transferring the reserves," Gao Yao explained to his core team. "By the time they realize what's happening, it will be too late."
As he predicted, at the end of October, the Ministry of Revenue ordered the transfer of 80,000 shi of grain from the Jiangnan Ever-Normal Granary to support the northern border. In order to meet their quotas, local officials had no choice but to purchase grain from the market to fill the gap—while most of the grain stored on the market had already quietly flowed into the secret warehouses of Gaoyao.
November, the autumn harvest season, should have been the most bustling time in the Qing Kingdom. But this year's harvest did not turn out as expected.
In Jiangzhou, farmers discovered an unusually high rate of empty husks in the rice fields; in Huzhou, continuous autumn rains caused large areas of rice to sprout on the ears; worse still, several major grain-producing areas were simultaneously hit by insect infestations. Actual yields were only about 60% of the estimated amount.
It was only then that grain merchants in various regions discovered with alarm that they had almost no new grain to buy. Most of the pre-purchase contracts signed early on had fallen into the hands of some unknown small businesses, which had either closed down or were making excuses and delaying delivery, refusing to deliver the grain as agreed.
"Investigate! Find out everything about these businesses!" Zhou Wanshan, the largest grain merchant in Qingdu, roared in his main room. His men had traveled all over half of Qing Kingdom, but the news they brought back was alarming: at least twenty businesses were buying up new grain in various places, and the financial backers of these businesses all seemed to be some mysterious chamber of commerce.
Unbeknownst to Zhou Wanshan, the mysterious merchant guild he spoke of was currently controlling the lifeline of Qing Kingdom's grain distribution. Gao Yao stood atop the highest watchtower in the warehouse district, looking down at the endless rows of granaries. These warehouses held over 60% of Qing Kingdom's circulating grain, enough to feed the entire country for three months.
"Has the panic begun?" Gao Yao asked softly.
"It's started," the head manager behind him replied. "Yesterday, the price of rice in Qingdu rose by 30%, and today it has already risen by 50%. People are starting to rush to buy it, and some shops have already begun to limit sales."
Gao Yao nodded, his face devoid of any smugness. This was all part of his calculations. But he knew the real challenge was just beginning. When the food crisis fully erupted, the imperial court wouldn't stand idly by, and those grain merchants he had squeezed out of the market would unite in a counterattack. Not to mention the political forces lurking in the shadows; they wouldn't allow a single merchant to control so much grain.
In early December, seventy percent of the counties in the Qing Kingdom showed signs of food shortages. Grain prices skyrocketed, tripling in just ten days. Riots broke out in the streets as people rushed to buy grain. Some local officials urgently opened granaries to release food, but the meager reserves in the public granaries were far from meeting the overwhelming demand.
The imperial court finally realized the gravity of the problem. The emperor issued three imperial edicts, ordering the Ministry of Revenue to stabilize grain prices and investigate the cause of the famine. But the investigation results shocked everyone: it wasn't a natural disaster, nor was it war; someone was manipulating the market!
"The Gao Clan Chamber of Commerce..." In the Imperial Study, Emperor Qing looked at the report presented by his secret agents, his face so dark it could drip water. "A mere merchant can manipulate the grain prices of an entire nation?"
"Your Majesty, it's not just the Gao family," the head of the secret agents kneeling below said cautiously. "We've investigated thirty-seven businesses, seemingly independent on the surface, but their funds ultimately converge at..."
"explain."
"There are many connections with the Gao family's business association, but we can't find direct evidence."
The emperor slammed his hand on the table: "What evidence do you need! Issue an imperial decree to seal off all the granaries of the Gao family's merchant guild and confiscate all stored grain!"
"Your Majesty, you mustn't!" Qin Ye, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up. "If we seal off the grain now, the merchants will surely rebel. If they move or destroy the grain, the grain shortage will immediately turn into a famine. At that time..." He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear: the famine would trigger a popular uprising, and Qing Kingdom was currently fighting on two fronts and was simply powerless to suppress a nationwide unrest.
A deathly silence fell over the Imperial Study. Emperor Qing finally realized that he was not dealing with an ordinary unscrupulous merchant, but a master of economic warfare who deeply understood human nature. The other party had calculated the court's reactions precisely at every step, forcing the state apparatus into a dilemma.
While the imperial court was still hesitating on how to respond, Gao Yao had already begun his next move. He did not hoard grain or drive up prices—at least not on the surface. Instead, Gao's grain stores began to "limit the quantity of grain sold at a fixed price," with each person limited to three liters per day, and the price only 20% higher than usual.
This move won over some public support but plunged other grain merchants into desperation. They had no grain to sell, long queues formed in front of their shops, yet they could only display "Sold Out" signs. Angry citizens began smashing shops and looting grain; in just three days, hundreds of attacks on grain merchants occurred throughout the Qing Kingdom.
“He’s trying to divide us.” Zhou Wanshan said through gritted teeth at a secret meeting with the surviving grain merchants. “Gao Yao is playing the good guy while making us take the blame. If this continues, the angry people will tear us apart without the court even having to lift a finger.”
"Then what do we do?"
A ruthless glint flashed in Zhou Wanshan's eyes: "Doesn't he have grain? We'll prevent his grain from being transported out."
A covert struggle ensued. Grain merchants from various regions began to use their long-established networks of connections to bribe officials in the Grand Canal and obstruct the Gao family's grain transport; they hired gangsters to attack grain convoys; and they even spread rumors that the Gao family's grain was mixed with sand and was moldy.
Gao Yao was well-prepared for this. He had three plans for transporting grain, each convoy was armed with guards, and officials at key points along the route had been bribed or controlled by him through various means. More importantly, he had a trump card: the sea transport route.