People in the Qin Dynasty sought good fortune and avoided misfortune.

Chapter 471, The Naive Zhang Liang
"A farm? How did you manage that?"

A hint of surprise flashed in the alluring, narrow eyes of the trendy woman, and she asked with some astonishment.

"Clever, as expected of Lady Mingzhu. Indeed, she comes from the peasant family. After all, the Xu family of the peasant family and I, this Xu, were from the same family two hundred years ago."

Xu Qing climbed out of the Tide Demoness's arms and looked at her, saying...

Chao Nuyao looked at Xu Qing with surprise and doubt on her face. She had guessed it, but Xu Qing's confirmation surprised her even more.

Because this is simply illogical.

During the drought in Nanyang, so much grain was burned. How could a farmer do something so despised by everyone? And this is a farmer whose livelihood depends on agriculture. It's hard to imagine that this could be associated with a farmer.

Seeing the surprised and puzzled Chao Nu Yao, Xu Qing pulled her into his arms, took a deep sniff of the delicate fragrance in her hair, and said...

“Of course, I didn’t order the farmers to do it. I don’t have the ability to command the farmers, but someone else does. So I set him up and got him to give the order in the end.”

Xu Qing did not reveal Xiong Qi's identity, not because he did not trust the Tide Demoness, but because he did not want to cause her any trouble.

Some secrets, by their very existence, will cause trouble for those who know them, rather than depending on whether they will be leaked.

"You're really getting more and more amazing!"

Chao Nv Yao tilted her head and looked at Xu Qing, her eyes full of affection and a happy smile on her face.

When a woman has feelings for you, she will admire you no matter what you are like, especially since Xu Qing's actions are extraordinary.

"When have I ever not been amazing? Wasn't it when I called him 'Dad' last night?" Xu Qing teased.

A blush flashed across Chao Nuyao's face. What could she do? If she didn't call out, who knew what that tireless scoundrel Xu Qing would do?

"You stinky man~ Get out of here! Those grain merchants from Xinzheng are still around, and the grain prices will stabilize as long as they're here." The trendy woman scolded coquettishly, then raised her slightly numb little foot and kicked Xu Qing off the bed.

Xu Qing fell to the ground in pain, then sat up again, gripping the bed with both hands, and casually picked up the black T-shaped object that had fallen on her head.

"These grain merchants are Han Fei's greatest source of confidence, but what can he do? He can only have Zifang fabricate reasons to arrest the grain merchants of Qin. But Zifang is still too young; he actually used the name of the Sikou Mansion to arrest people," Xu Qing said nonchalantly.

"It seems you're quite confident," said the Tide Demoness.

"The grain merchant's problem will be solved, but I really should leave the palace. If nothing unexpected happens, someone should come to see me this afternoon, and I should do some other things." Xu Qing said, picking up his clothes and starting to put them on.

Before long, Xu Qing dressed and, after saying goodbye to the Tide Demoness, secretly left the Han King's Palace.

After leaving the Han King's Palace from the Imperial Medical Academy, Xu Qing saw Zhen Gang waiting for him outside.

"Grand Master, as you predicted, Zhang Liang, the grandson of Zhang Kaidi, has started fabricating reasons to arrest several grain merchants from my Qin state," Zhen Gang said, cupping his hands in greeting.

A glint flashed in Xu Qing's eyes, and he said with a half-smile.

"In that case, this real show is about to begin. Send someone to inform Meng Tian at Wuguan to lead his troops south to prepare to attack Nanyang!"

"As for the grain merchants in the Korean Ministry of Justice, send them a message: if they don't want to maintain their dignity, the Net can help them do so."

From the very beginning, he never intended for the grain merchants summoned by Lü Buwei to come to Xinzheng to purchase grain, but rather wanted to use them to create a reason for the Qin army to send troops.

Bai Yifei couldn't simply declare his allegiance to Qin; he had to put on a show. Qin's army also needed a reason to attack Han, and the arrest of the grain merchant was the perfect excuse.

Although the grain merchants were businessmen, they were also people from the Qin state.

Being a Qin citizen, being imprisoned without cause, and dying in prison are all sufficient reasons for Qin to send troops.

“Yes!” Zhengang said.

"Let's go, we're just idling around anyway, might as well go and check on the situation of these grain merchants in Xinzheng."

Xu Qing turned and headed towards the market where grain merchants were gathered.

As Zhen Gang watched Xu Qing's retreating figure, he suddenly froze. Although Xu Qing's figure was still as ethereal and otherworldly as ever, Zhen Gang felt a strange sense of fear when he recalled what Xu Qing had done during this period.

Without leaving home, he schemes against all sides; though outside the situation, he always has a firm grasp of the overall picture. Everyone knows that everything in Nanyang is related to Xu Qing, but there is no evidence to prove it. On the contrary, all the evidence points to the fact that Xu Qing has nothing to do with it.

Looking at Xu Qing ahead, Zhen Gang felt as if he were looking at a cold and ruthless god in the heavens, whose eyes showed no pity for the world.

After calming herself down a bit, Zhen quickly followed after him.

After leaving the Han King's palace, the two went straight to the market where the grain merchants were located.

Meanwhile, in a restaurant in a market in Xinzheng.

Zhang Liang stood by the window on the third floor of the restaurant, nervously observing the movements of the gold and grain store across the street.

Upon returning to Xinzheng, he swiftly arrested the five Qin grain merchants who had arrived there, to prevent them from disrupting the local plans. Now, these merchants have been there for two days, and thanks to the Zhang family's efforts, today is the day they will sell their grain.

Looking at the bustling street outside, Zhang Liang gripped the window frame tightly with both hands, his eyes scanning the street expectantly, as if waiting for something.

The next moment, dozens of carriages appeared on the street and headed toward the grain store, each carriage carrying sacks of grain.

As the grain wagons arrived outside the grain store, a dozen or so grain merchants from various countries also came to the store. Most of these people were acquaintances, and after meeting, they exchanged compliments and then entered the grain store together.

Seeing the grain merchants enter, Zhang Liang finally breathed a sigh of relief.

At the same time, one of the Zhang family's butlers knocked on the door and entered the room.

"Young Master, fourteen grain merchants have entered the grain market, and grain merchants in various places have also started selling grain in the past two days. Grain prices in places like Yewang, Xincheng, and Yongshi have begun to decline," the steward said, bowing.

There are four markets in Xinzheng City, and each market has a grain store. As long as a large amount of grain enters the grain store, the price of grain will quickly drop in order to sell the grain.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Liang smiled and said in a relaxed tone.

"We have successfully completed our mission. As soon as this grain enters the market, the price of grain will drop quickly."

"If nothing unexpected happens, the grain merchants will hand over the grain to the grain shops for sale, and the price will change soon," the steward said.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Liang glanced at the price list hanging outside the grain store, a glint of anticipation in his eyes, and said with a smile.
"In that case, I'll wait here and see how the price of grain comes down."

The steward got up and walked behind Zhang Liang, accompanying him as they waited for the grain price to drop.

As truckloads of grain were delivered to the grain store, Zhang Liang's smile deepened. He looked at the price sign, hoping someone would come and change the price.

However, after dozens of carts of grain entered the grain store, many common people and servants of high-ranking officials gathered at the entrance to buy grain. However, the grain sales area remained closed, and no grain was delivered from the grain store's import and export channels to the various grain shops. The price signs at the entrances also remained unchanged.

"How is this going?"

Looking at the scene outside, Zhang Liang felt a vague sense of unease.

A hint of doubt flashed in the steward's eyes. These dozens of carts of grain should have already filled the grain store, and the grain store should have put the grain out for sale in order to make money.

What's more, there were so many customers with real money piled up at the entrance.

After pondering for a moment, the steward cupped his hands to Zhang Liang and said...
"Young Master, please wait a moment while I go and see what has happened."

"Go," Zhang Liang said in a deep voice.

The events at the grain store across the street alerted Zhang Liang to something unusual, and his intuition told him that he couldn't just sit idly by and wait for his doom.

"Yes."

The butler then left the room and went downstairs toward the grain store. When he saw the name of the grain store, a strange look flashed across his face.

Inside the Kaijin Grain Store.

A dozen or so grain merchants from various countries were gathered together, their eyes gleaming with greed as they looked at the boxes of gold coins before them.

"Gentlemen, I'll say it again: as long as you bring grain, I'll buy it at half a percent higher than the market price, with no upper limit."

The grain shop manager spoke confidently to a dozen or so grain merchants.

If anyone else were to make such boastful claims, these grain merchants would naturally accuse them of bragging. After all, the amount of grain they brought was enormous, and if they were to purchase it at the market price in South Korea, they would have to pay an additional 50% more, which would be a huge expense.

Even Jade Tiger, South Korea's richest man, wouldn't dare say such a thing, but the words spoken by this shopkeeper left them with no doubt.

This was simply because the grain store was called Kaijin Grain Store, and the manager was from the State of Zhao.

"Don't worry, Manager Zhao, we will sell all our grain to you and will definitely not give it to anyone else."

"Yes Yes."

A dozen grain merchants laughed and said that they didn't care why Kaijin Grain Company was hoarding grain. They only needed to know that they couldn't afford to offend the people behind the company, and they could make enough money selling grain to them, so they were naturally happy to give them face.

Just as laughter filled the grain store, a servant who was serving tea and water silently remembered what these people were saying, and then quietly left.

After arriving at the back gate where no one was around, the servant told the steward the information he had gathered.

Upon hearing the news, the butler showed a look of surprise, then his expression turned serious. After giving the other party another money pouch, he quickly left.

The situation has now escalated beyond what the Zhang family, or even South Korea, can handle. He must inform Zhang Kaidi and let him decide what to do next.

(End of this chapter)