Teasing the First Dragon at the Start

"If we want to reduce our losses, we can only beg Bai Su, the representative of the government, to intervene and buy our grain. We have no other choice."

After hearing the official's words, the entire hall fell into a deathly silence.

Huang Silang pointed blankly at himself: "I was tricked by Bai Su, and I lost more than 70% of my family property. Even so, I still have to go to his door and beg him to buy my grain at a lower price?"

The official said with a wry smile, "Even though we can get our grain bought by the government at a low price, we still have to be mindful of their attitude."

Huang Silang was taken aback: "Whose expression is this?"

The official pointed in the direction of the Xiao residence: "Go and see Bai Su's expression."

Huang Silang gritted his teeth and said, "If I'm tricked by him and still have to go to his door to beg and watch his face, wouldn't I be like a beggar on my knees?"

The official said with a wry smile, "What you say is true, sir. Even so, many people want to kneel, but there's no way we can get that. After all, Bai Su can wait, but our stockpiled grain can't wait."

“If it drags on for three to five months, the grain will gradually become damp and moldy. At that time, it won’t be able to sell for even two coins, let alone five coins.”

Upon hearing this, Huang Silang's face flushed red.

"puff!!!"

His expression shifted between anger and rage, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood.

"Master, Master..."

Seeing Huang Silang collapse to the ground, everyone rushed over in a panic.

Chapter 133 Evening Comfort

The next day.

Bai Su had just gotten up and was sitting at the table having breakfast with Ji Liang.

Two figures hurriedly walked in from outside the door.

It was Xiao He and Liu Ji.

She seemed to have rushed here, her fair forehead glistening with sweat, and her lips panting heavily.

Bai Su was taken aback: "Hey, what are you all rushing around for so early in the morning?"

Ji Liang poured Bai Su a glass of wine, her slender hand lifting the strands of hair that fell between her brows, revealing her fair and alluring collarbone. Every move she made exuded the charm of a married woman.

Her watery eyes glanced curiously at Xiao He.

Why does he look so happy? Could something have happened?

Xiao He took a deep breath and smiled, "Young master, those gentry and wealthy merchants really couldn't hold on any longer. They've all come over to curry favor, saying they want to donate grain to the government."

Bai Su smiled and said, "Their offer of grain is a pretense; their real intention is to implore the government to buy up the grain they have hoarded."

Xiao He nodded slightly: "Just as you said, young master, with the continuous flow of grain from Guanzhong, all the grain they hoarded is stuck in their hands and they can't sell it. They are all panicking and begging you to take over and buy their grain."

“They are willing to offer their grain to you, sir, for five coins a pound. If you are willing to take all their grain, they can even lower the price to four coins a pound.”

Bai Su couldn't help but sneer, "They're all ugly, but they have such beautiful dreams."

In the past, when the government was short of food and needed to provide disaster relief, they would hide their grain very carefully. Even when the government offered eight or ten coins, which was far higher than the market price, they would not let go of a single grain.

Now that all the grain from Guanzhong has been transported here, these local gentry still want to sell it for five copper coins? Dream on.

Xiao He understood the meaning behind Bai Su's words and tentatively asked, "Then, according to your suggestion, young master, what price should we use to purchase it? After all, this is a million catties of grain. It would be a real pity to give it up directly."

Bai Su stroked his chin and pondered, "At most three coins."

"Hiss, three...three coins!!!"

Xiao He couldn't help but gasp, contributing to global warming.

She found it hard to believe, because even without natural disasters, the price of grain was usually around five or six coins.

I thought that buying it for four coins was already a huge profit, but I didn't expect Bai Su to say she wanted three coins.

It should be noted that many of these local gentry hoarded grain at exorbitant prices, often spending fifty or one hundred coins.

Sanwen is not just cutting flesh; it's practically sucking the marrow from the bone, leaving no way out.

Even Ji Liang, who was standing to the side, was visibly stunned, not expecting Bai Su to be so ruthless.

Bai Su said coldly, "The reason we bought them at a high price was because the situation around Pei County was chaotic. There were refugees in need of relief, and the remnants of the six kingdoms were causing trouble in secret. We didn't have the energy to deal with them for the time being, so we gave them some benefits."

"Now that food is plentiful, the remnants of the six kingdoms have retreated, and the surrounding situation is gradually stabilizing, what right do they have to negotiate terms?"

"At most three coins. If you don't want to sell, that's fine too. But you can only sell a few thousand catties a day and watch helplessly as countless grains in the granary rot away little by little."

"Or, once the government has settled the refugees and is free to do so, they can directly send troops to forcibly requisition grain. At that point, it won't be as simple as just collecting grain."

"Either they kneel down and beg for food, or they are beheaded. Let them choose between the two options."

Xiao He nodded slightly and respectfully replied, "Yes."

After pondering for a moment, Bai Su looked at Xiao He and said, "You have made great contributions this time. It is too much of a waste for such a talented person as you to stay in Pei County. After I return to Xianyang, I will personally recommend you to His Majesty. I believe it will not be long before you are transferred to Xianyang."

"Thank you so much, young master."

When Xiao He heard that he had the opportunity to enter Xianyang, his delicate face lit up with joy, and he gratefully bowed to Bai Su.

"Young master, young master, what about me?"

Liu Ji blinked his big, flirtatious eyes and said with a fawning expression, "I've been quite busy this time too."

Bai Su looked at Liu Ji, who was rubbing his hands together and had a fawning smile on his face, and couldn't help but fall into deep thought.

To be honest, she was indeed exceptionally clever. Although her talent was far inferior to that of Ji Liang and Xiao He, she was able to use the abilities of those around her to take advantage of others and use their resources to her advantage.

If we give her a bigger stage, she has a lot of potential. We might as well take her back to Xianyang with us.

Firstly, it would give her a chance to gain experience.

Secondly, if this hidden dragon were to remain outside, and were to mix with the remnants of the six kingdoms, some kind of chemical reaction might inevitably occur. It would be better to keep her by one's side, under the watchful eye of the Empress, so that she wouldn't be able to cause any trouble.

Thinking of this, Bai Su said, "You're quite clever; you've got the makings of an official. What kind of official position do you want?"

Liu Ji scratched his dark hair and said with a smile, "As for me, I don't have any great ambitions. I just want to serve by Young Master Bai's side."

"If you really want to give me an official position, I, Liu Ji, would be content if I could become a county magistrate like Lord Xiao one day."

Bai Su was taken aback when she heard that her biggest goal was just to become a county magistrate.

However, I wasn't too surprised.

After all, many people who have gone down in history were driven to the brink of despair, and at the crossroads of fate, they tossed a coin.

Even Su Qin, who led the armies of six states to suppress the Great Xia, had been holed up inside Hangu Pass for many years and dared not venture eastward.

He once said, "If Luoyang had even two qing of land, how could it be worthy of the seals of six kingdoms today?"

If she could be given a stable and leisurely life, she might have remained a county magistrate for her entire life.

Bai Su said solemnly, "Now that the disaster has subsided, why don't you come back to Xianyang with me and stay by my side to work? When you make meritorious contributions in the future, I will recommend you for the position of county magistrate."

Upon hearing this, Liu Ji's face lit up with joy.

She had thought that she had only met Bai Su once and wouldn't have much of a chance to be taken seriously.

She was merely a minor pavilion chief in Sishui, while Bai Su was a high-ranking official, a favorite of the First Emperor. Such a difference in status was like heaven and earth.

She was prepared for Bai Su to give a cold response and for the two of them to part ways.

Hearing Bai Su's promise now filled her with both joy and emotion.

After all, for a woman like her who mingled among the common people and had a roguish air about her, high-ranking officials would often frown upon seeing her and wouldn't even bother to give her a second glance.

But someone as powerful and influential as Bai Su, with her handsome looks and kind personality, who would be willing to promote her, is incredibly hard to find.

Liu Ji said excitedly, "I will definitely serve you like a slave, young master, and live up to your kindness."

Bai Su nodded. With the matters in Pei County resolved, there was only one problem left: how to ease the tension between Zheng Jie and Ji Liang?

He looked at Ji Liang, whose face was gentle, and felt a little troubled.

After all, she and Zheng Jie were sworn enemies. If she found out Zheng Jie's identity and carried out an assassination attempt in Xianyang, things would get very serious.

night.

From Ji Liang's boudoir came bursts of rapid, panting breaths.

After a long while, the two figures on the bed gradually slowed down their movements.

Bai Su stroked Ji Liang's soft hair, momentarily lost in thought.

Ji Liang rested her head on Bai Su's chest. Her fair forehead was covered in fragrant sweat, and a few loose strands of hair at her temples were stuck to her cheeks with sweat.

Her expression was slightly languid: "Young master seems to have something on his mind?"

Bai Su was taken aback and couldn't help but ask, "How did you know?"

Ji Lianghao bit his lip lightly and said in a low voice, "Young Master seems a little absent-minded today..."

Bai Su's eyelids twitched. How could he even sense that?

Bai Su was speechless for a moment. Faced with Ji Liang's national and personal grievances, he really didn't know what to say to ease the relationship between her and Sister Zheng.

Seeing Bai Su's troubled expression, Ji Liang didn't press further, but simply smiled gently.

She immediately brushed aside the stray strands of hair between her brows and slowly slipped into the bedding.

Bai Su was about to speak when she suddenly gasped and her eyes widened.

Chapter 134 The Thoughts of a Mother and Daughter

Ji Liang rinsed his mouth with water by the bedside, then turned around, blinked, and looked at Bai Su.

Faced with her sincere gaze, Bai Su felt a pang of guilt. After hesitating for a long time, he decided to tell her the whole story.

The Miss Zhao she encountered was none other than His Majesty.

But before he could even speak, a slender, jade-like finger pressed against his lips.

It was Ji Liang.

A gentle smile appeared on her face: "Since this matter troubles you, there's no need to say it. In the past, Liang concealed his identity and spent every day with you."

“Even though the young master clearly knows that my identity is fake, my attitude towards others has not changed in the slightest.”