Tang Dynasty: Consort Wu? Your Majesty, please address her as the Crown Prince's Consort.

"Your Majesty! Something terrible has happened! Grain prices in the capital have started to rise!"

Inside the Liangyi Hall, Changsun Wuji reported to the leader with a worried expression.

Upon hearing this, Fang Xuanling, who was standing nearby, quickly stepped forward to inquire.

"What's going on? The grain prices seemed quite stable this morning!"

Upon hearing this, Changsun Wuji did not hide anything and immediately explained:

"Most of the grain shops in Chang'an are owned by aristocratic families. Originally, the price of grain was five coins per shi, but after noon today, all the grain shops in Chang'an belonging to aristocratic families have uniformly raised the price to twenty coins per shi."

While the grain stores not belonging to aristocratic families hadn't raised their prices, their inventories were already smaller than those of the aristocratic families, and they sold out in just a few hours. Now, only the aristocratic family grain stores had grain left!

boom!

"Noble families!! Noble families!! Damn it!!"

Upon hearing Changsun Wuji's words, Li Shimin was immediately enraged.

At this critical time of disaster, it's one thing for these people not to think about serving their country, but they're actually taking this opportunity to make a fortune off the national crisis. Their intentions are despicable!

Despite his anger, as an emperor, Li Shimin understood that he had to find a way to lower grain prices, otherwise the people of Chang'an might riot if they ran out of food!

"Auxiliary machine! How much grain is left in the national treasury?"

Upon hearing this, Changsun Wuji immediately reported the truth.

"Your Majesty! There are still approximately 500,000 shi of grain in the granaries of Chang'an!"

Ok?

"Only 500,000 shi? How could it be so little?"

Li Shimin was puzzled. The Tang Dynasty's annual tax revenue was about five million shi of grain. How could it be so little?

Changsun Wuji said with some helplessness:

"Your Majesty! This spring, the imperial army of 300,000 men conquered the Eastern Turks. Although we gained a lot of cattle and sheep in that battle, those things can't be eaten as a staple food!"

Adding to this the drought and locust plagues in Henan and Hebei this year, the imperial court not only received no income, but also had to sow a lot of grain for disaster relief. By the end of the year, the national treasury was already empty!

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin fell silent.

His resentment towards the aristocratic families reached a new level.

But he still suppressed his anger and spoke:

"Do any of you ministers have a solution?"

"Your Majesty! The only solution now is to sell these 500,000 shi of grain to stabilize grain prices!"

Fang Xuanling spoke up, but Du Ruhui quickly retorted.

"No! Your Majesty! Sending 500,000 shi of grain would be a drop in the ocean, and if we sell it at the original price, it will soon be gone!"

"Then what do you suggest we do? The price of grain outside is already twenty coins per shi (a unit of dry measure). If this continues, the price will definitely rise again in a few days!"

Just as everyone was arguing, a young eunuch rushed in and said:

"Your Majesty! A monk has arrived outside the palace, carrying His Highness the Crown Prince's token. He says he has a way to solve the grain price problem."

Upon hearing this, everyone present was slightly taken aback.

Ok?

monk?

His Highness the Crown Prince's people?

"What kind of trouble is this rebellious son causing now?"

Li Shimin couldn't help but mutter something under his breath when he heard what the little eunuch said.

"Let him in!"

……

A moment later, a black-clad monk with an air of otherworldly wisdom slowly entered the main hall.

The visitor was Yao Guangxiao. Li Chengqian, who was in Lantian County, summoned Yao Guangxiao immediately after learning about the soaring grain prices in the capital.

Upon seeing Li Shimin and the others, Yao Guangxiao couldn't help but smile slightly, and then bowed to everyone.

"This humble monk, Daoyan, greets Your Majesty and all the esteemed officials!"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin looked him up and down before slowly speaking:

"You say you have a solution to the grain price problem?"

"This humble monk does indeed have some insights!"

"Oh? Tell me about it? If it can truly solve the grain price problem, I will not refuse!"

Upon hearing this, Yao Guangxiao couldn't help but twitch his lips slightly.

For some reason, hearing those words gave him a sense of familiarity.

But he still slowly spoke:

"Your Majesty, how much grain is left in the national treasury?"

"Five hundred thousand shi!" Changsun Wuji said without hesitation.

The latter nodded upon hearing this.

"That's enough!"

"Your Majesty, the best way to break this deadlock is not to suppress grain prices. It's better to guide them than to block them. Since they want to raise prices, let them raise them. Not only that, we should also help them spread the word, letting grain merchants around Chang'an and even in Jiangnan know that grain prices in Chang'an are high and there are huge profits to be made!"

Upon hearing Yao Guangxiao's words, those present couldn't help but be slightly taken aback. As some of the smartest people in the Tang Dynasty, they keenly sensed the problem.

However, Li Shimin still didn't quite understand. He cupped his hands in a respectful gesture to Yao Guangxiao and said:

"Master! Please enlighten me!"

"Your Majesty need not do this. It's actually quite simple. If you were grain merchants, and you learned that grain prices in Chang'an were several times, or even dozens of times, higher than in other places, what would you do?"

"Of course, we're transporting grain to Chang'an to sell!"

Du Ruhui spoke subconsciously, while Yao Guangxiao smiled slightly and said:

"Yes, at that time, a large number of grain merchants will bring large quantities of grain to Chang'an, and Chang'an will become a situation of abundant grain but few people. And at that moment, what will happen if the imperial court offers 500,000 shi of grain at a price of five wen per shi?"

Upon hearing this, everyone present immediately understood.

They couldn't help but gasp.

Li Shimin, his face also filled with shock, said:

"Grain merchants will start lowering prices and dumping grain to cut their losses. This way, the people of Chang'an can buy large quantities of grain at affordable prices. Once Chang'an no longer lacks grain, those powerful grain stores will have no choice but to lower their prices!"

As Li Shimin finished speaking, Yao Guangxiao couldn't help but smile slightly.

"That's right! Although the people don't have much food at home, it can still last for ten days or half a month."

There's enough time now to get grain to Beijing!

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"Hahaha! Excellent! Master, you're truly brilliant! With this, the grain price crisis will naturally dissipate!"

At this moment, Li Shimin looked at Yao Guangxiao as if he had seen a rare treasure, and even Fang Xuanling and others couldn't help but show a hint of admiration.

"It's a real pity that such a talented master is merely a monk. Would you be willing to leave the monastic life and serve as an official in the court? High-ranking positions and generous salaries are at your disposal!"

Yao Guangxiao's talent also aroused Li Shimin's desire to recruit him. In his opinion, it was a pity that such a talented person spent his days burning incense and worshipping Buddha.

However, upon hearing Li Shimin's words, Yao Guangxiao smiled and shook his head.

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty, but I am already an advisor to His Highness the Crown Prince, and it was His Highness who sent me here!"

Upon hearing this answer, Li Shimin was slightly taken aback, and his expression turned somewhat unpleasant.

What a wicked son! What incredible luck! Even someone as talented as him is willing to be driven around by him!

Hearing this, Changsun Wuji and the others couldn't help but smile, and their eyes showed a touch of closeness as they looked at Yao Guangxiao!