Han Ji

In October, the cold wind began to blow.

The atmosphere in Shuxian County was subtle.

The government's land survey was all talk and no action, and gradually faded into obscurity. The resettlement of displaced people was only carried out on a few scattered plots of government land, failing to achieve any real impact. Prices for goods in the government market remained suppressed, and sales were meager.

The study in the Zhou family mansion was warm and cozy with the glow of a charcoal fire.

Zhou Chong held the hand warmer while listening to the steward's report.

"...There's been no movement from Lu Zhi's side. Several of the officials who were previously causing trouble have also quieted down."

Zhou Chong squinted: "Lu Zhi is a dragon crossing the river, but unfortunately, the waters of Lujiang run deep. Even a powerful dragon can't suppress a local snake."

"Your Excellency is wise," the steward flattered. "How much grain have we harvested as you instructed?"

"The warehouse is almost full." Zhou Chong revealed a hint of pride. "We've consumed 70% of the surplus grain from the surrounding counties. When spring comes and the food supply dries up, the price of grain will skyrocket."

"The master has a far-sighted view."

"Lu Zhi? Hmph, a mere military man, what does he know about governance?" Zhou Chong sneered. "Wait until the spring famine strikes, and the people go hungry, then let's see how he manages to be a prefect!"

Inside the prefectural government office, Lu Zhi looked at Liu Bei and said, "The Zhou family has started buying up large quantities of grain."

Liu Bei nodded and made a note on the bamboo slips: "It's faster than I expected. He has quite the appetite."

How much cash do we have left?

"The spoils from the suppression of the barbarians, plus the confiscated property, amount to approximately 800,000 coins," Liu Bei said. "At current market prices, that can buy nearly 7,000 shi of grain."

"Buy them all?"

"No," Liu Bei shook his head. "If we buy, we'll alert them. Let our students take some reliable people, disguised as out-of-town grain merchants, to buy grain in small quantities and store it in our secret granaries in various locations."

"The risks are considerable."

"So we need to be quick and discreet," Liu Bei said. "By the time the Zhou family finds out, we'll have stockpiled enough."

In the days that followed, Liu Bei, accompanied by several carefully selected veterans from the north, disguised themselves as merchants and frequented the grain markets of various counties. They were cautious in their purchases, buying only a few dozen bushels of grain at a time and storing them in the granary without saying a word.

On the Zhou family's side, the buying spree continued, slowly pushing up grain prices.

Zhou Chong heard that some merchants from other places had also come to buy grain, but he didn't pay much attention. With a spring famine looming in Lujiang, it was normal for savvy people to come and hoard grain.

"Let them buy it!" Zhou Chong said dismissively. "Once grain prices skyrocket, their meager profits won't cover much!"

The thirteenth day of the eleventh lunar month.

Liu Bei returned to the prefectural government with the last of his money for buying grain. He was covered in dust, but his eyes shone with light.

"Teacher, that's enough. We now have nearly 10,000 shi of grain, scattered across five hidden granaries." (3000 shi of grain remaining in the granaries)

Lu Zhi looked at his gaunt face and patted him on the shoulder: "You've worked hard."

early December

The notice has been posted.

The inscription on white paper, bearing the official seal of Lujiang Prefecture, reads: "To raise funds for the army and to provide relief to displaced people, the price of grain stored in the official granaries will be increased by twenty coins per shi (unit of dry measure)."

Shuxian County was in an uproar.

The people cursed and swore, surrounding the prefectural government office. The minor officials shrank back, not daring to show their faces.

At home, Zhou Chong listened to the housekeeper report on the situation outside, holding a teacup and gently blowing on it to warm it.

"Lord Lu, it seems we can't hold on any longer." He smiled and said to the merchants seated below him, who were dependent on the Zhou family, "Even the government has raised prices, so let's not sit idle. Use all the money we can, go to Jiangxia, go to Yuzhang, and bring back as much grain as we can get. Not enough warehouses? Rent them! Rent every warehouse available in the city!"

"Sir, isn't this... a bit too risky? What if..."

"What if what?" Zhou Chong put down his teacup. "The government is out of grain, which is why they've resorted to this desperate measure. Once the spring famine arrives, grain prices will skyrocket! Stockpiling now is a sure thing!"

He squinted, as if he could already see mountains of gold and silver filling the Zhou family's warehouses. "Lu Zigan? What's the use of being a good fighter? Governing a region is all about that." He pointed to his head, then patted his pouch. "Trying to play with us? He's still too green."

For the next month or so, Lujiang County appeared calm on the surface, but underneath, funds were flowing like an undercurrent. The Zhou family and other powerful merchants brought back carts of grain they had purchased from other places, filling every imaginable corner.

Meanwhile, in the prefectural capital, all was quiet. Several shops with different signs were also operating discreetly, with funds flowing out through secret channels controlled by Lu Zhi and Liu Bei to purchase grain in more distant markets, breaking it down into smaller quantities and storing it in various locations.

Liu Bei occasionally appeared at the market, looking at the carts loaded with grain, his face expressionless.

Xiping seven years.

Spring has arrived, and the wheat seedlings in the fields are just turning green.

The grain reserves in ordinary people's homes were running low, and panic began to creep into the eyes of those on the streets. In previous years, this was precisely the time when grain prices were soaring and the powerful were eager to seize power.

Zhou Chong counted the days, planning to gradually release the grain in a few more days to raise the price first.

That morning, a new notice was posted on the bulletin board in front of the prefectural government office.

A large crowd gathered around.

The literate person read aloud: "...Now that the government treasury is in good condition, we are opening the granaries to sell grain at a fair price. Starting today, the government granary will sell grain at...140 coins per shi (a unit of dry measure)?"

The crowd fell silent for a moment, then erupted into an even louder uproar.

One hundred and forty coins?

Before anyone could react, the man continued reading: "To alleviate the people's suffering, any neighboring households that pool their resources to purchase together will receive a further discount of ten coins per shi (a unit of dry measure)! Only one hundred and thirty coins!"

crazy!

Everyone's gone mad!

One hundred and thirty coins per shi! This price is fair, even in a bumper year, let alone a spring famine!

The crowd surged toward the granary like a tidal wave. Cries, shouts, and calls to friends filled the air.

When Zhou Chong received the news at home, the jade ruyi in his hand fell to the ground with a "crack" and shattered into pieces.

"Where...where did he get the food?!" His voice was shrill, completely losing his usual composure.

The steward scrambled in, shouting, "Master! Something terrible has happened! There's a long line at the official granary! They're selling grain at the price per unit! What about our grain... what will we do with our grain? Especially those makeshift warehouses, the grain will spoil if left there too long!"

Zhou Chong's vision went black, and he almost collapsed.

He rushed out the door and rode his horse to his own grain shop. He found it deserted, while the official granary across the street was packed with people. His clerk, looking dejected, cried out, "Boss, nobody's buying our grain! They've all gone to the official granary! Should we...should we lower the price too?"

"Lower the price? How?" Zhou Chong roared. "Our cost is almost 150 coins per shi! Selling it for 130 coins would be a huge loss!"

"We...we can choose not to sell. The grain is piling up in the warehouse, and it's spoiling every day..."

Looking at the bustling crowd in front of the official granary, and at the three glaring characters "Joint Purchase Price," Zhou Chong almost ground his teeth to powder.

He realized that this was all a setup from beginning to end. Lu Zhi and Liu Bei had dug the pit long ago, waiting for him to fall in.

He now only has two options: either tough it out and watch the grain rot in the warehouse, or swallow his pride and sell at the joint purchase price, cutting his losses in time.

Either way, it's like cutting off his flesh and bleeding him out.

The grain in the government granaries seemed to be inexhaustible.

The joint purchase price acted like a giant magnet, drawing in all the demand for grain. The shadow of famine, which hadn't even gathered over Shuxian County, was swept away by this influx of affordable grain.

Other powerful families ultimately couldn't withstand the pressure. Financial strain, warehouse costs, and loan interest forced them to follow the government's lead and begin selling off their grain at the government's joint purchase price. Seeing no hope of holding out, the Zhou family also joined this fire sale.

My heart bleeds with every stone I sell.

A spring famine and popular uprising that could have swept through Lujiang were thus averted without a trace.

In the back office of the prefectural government, Lu Zhi and Liu Bei sat facing each other.

"Zhou Chong has suffered a serious injury this time," Lu Zhi said, his tone devoid of emotion.

"Hmm." Liu Bei refilled his teacher's cup with hot water. "For the time being, he won't dare to openly oppose the new policies. Land surveys and the recruitment of displaced people can continue."

"The method you used this time was very risky," Lu Zhi said, looking at him. "If we don't have enough funds, or if there's even the slightest mistake in the grain procurement process, we'll lose everything."

"The students have calculated that the confiscated embezzled funds, plus the assets of Wang Hong's shops, will be just enough. There are risks, but it's worth it," Liu Bei replied calmly. "To deal with someone like Zhou Chong, the methods used on the battlefield won't work. We have to use the rules they know best, and defeat them where they are most confident."

Lu Zhi picked up his cup and slowly drank the water.

Outside the window, the faint, lively chatter of people discussing their purchase of affordable grain could be heard.