Lu Tao snorted coldly: "He, Zhu Donglai, is not so stupid that he does not know that this move will have a huge impact. Naturally, there must be some collusion of interests, or perhaps he, Zhu Donglai, is so ambitious that he wants to stand out among the four clans."
After taking care of Xuanzong, and with the support of Di Zong behind him, the Zhu Clan can really ignore the three clans.
Xie Fu always had a hunch that Zhu Donglai wanted to deal with him, so he did not hesitate to offend the other three families and join forces with the Di Zong.
Probably Zhu Jiuchun died indirectly in his hands and had a guilty conscience.
Seeing Fu Xie's erratic expression, Lu Tao asked, "What are Shaodian worried about?"
Xie Fu asked tentatively: "I'm wondering how Zhu clan would deal with me if I snatched this Jiangnan East Road Grain Merchant from Zhu clan."
Lu Tao had not thought deeply about this point. With Zhu Donglai's character, he naturally refused to give up and said with a smile: "Shaodian is the prince's son-in-law. Even if he wants to touch you, he must first think about it. If it were me, I should make a decision."
When the arm is broken, the arm needs to be cut off.”
An idea flashed in Xie Fu's mind. Yes, it was because he was the prince's son-in-law and Zhu Donglai wanted to touch him that he needed to join forces with Di Zong.
If Zhu Donglai wanted to deal with him, he would naturally conduct an in-depth investigation on him. He was about to become the Jiedushi of Huainan Road. Did Zhu Donglai already know about it?
The more Xie Fu thought about it, the more he felt that there were many connections...
Seeing that Xie Fu seemed uneasy, Lu Tao said: "Shaodian, to tell you the truth, Gu Xuan and I like you very much. We hope you can settle in Suzhou and establish a family on an equal footing with me, the four clans in Wuzhong."
Xie Fu was surprised. He didn't expect Lu Tao and Gu Xuan to be so open and open. After all, resources and interests are limited. From a human perspective, no one wants others to get a share of the pie.
Lu Tao smiled: "Wushuang has selflessly done so much for Suzhou. Is it too much to repay kindness with kindness? Moreover, both sides will benefit from cooperation, and both sides will be hurt by division. If selfishness can be abandoned in many things, it is actually not too complicated."
Xie Fuying said: "However, human nature is selfish and things are unpredictable."
At this time, a man in military uniform walked quickly into the hall. This man was Feng Shoudao.
Feng Shoudao was a close bodyguard of Lu Tao. He was an official of Zhonglang General and concurrently served as the commander of the Suzhou Imperial Guard.
"grown ups!"
Hearing Feng Shoudao's tone as if he had something to report, he suddenly looked at Xie Fu, his expression was slightly surprised, and he took the initiative to say hello: "Thank you, Mr. Xie."
Feng Shoudao also participated in the royal family's recruitment. This thank you to the young master shows respect and comes from the heart.
Xie Fu and Feng Shoudao were considered acquaintances, so he replied: "General Feng."
Feng Shoudao looked at Lu Tao, but stopped talking.
Lu Tao smiled and said: "Shudao, if you have anything to do, just tell me."
Generally speaking, when it comes to public and military affairs, more or less, they are not allowed to be disclosed privately. Lu Tao's words obviously told Feng Shoudao not to treat Xie Fu as an outsider, but it didn't matter.
"Sir, this afternoon the entrances to all major grain stores are lined up with people buying food. All the grain stores have been sold out."
Xie Fu was slightly surprised when he heard this. It was not based on household registration, and each household was limited to purchasing one bucket. How could it be sold out?
As the governor of Suzhou, Lu Tao was a person who had experienced great storms. In his eyes, this kind of thing couldn't be more trivial, so he asked lightly: "Did you act in accordance with the regulations?"
"Everything is done in accordance with the regulations. Each household is limited to purchasing one bucket, and the same household is not allowed to purchase more within ten days. However, there are so many people buying grain that almost every household is dispatched."
Lu Tao asked: "But someone spread rumors and caused people to panic?"
"That's not true, but it seems that someone is buying grain at three times the market price."
Prices in Jiangnan, especially in Suzhou, are much higher than in other places. A bucket of rice is worth about 200 Wen.
In this way, he made four hundred cash from changing hands. For a rich and wealthy family, four hundred cash may be nothing, but for ordinary people, it is just one month's expenses.
Not to mention the poor people.
Lu Tao said calmly: "Shudao, go and arrest these people and confiscate their food. Now."
"Sir, what is the crime?"
Lu Tao said: "Raising food prices will disrupt people's livelihood."
Xie Fu saw that Lu Tao's expression seemed to be made up on the spur of the moment, and he couldn't help but sigh. It's true that there are two official words, and it can be said in black or white.
Feng Shoudao took the order and retreated. Lu Tao smiled at Xie Fu: "There are many people who are ignorant and need to be guided."
Xie Fu said: "Master Lu, I think they are still unwilling to give up."
Lu Tao said calmly: "Leave Suzhou to me. They are just a bunch of brats. If I can't cure them, they are not worthy of being the governor of Suzhou. Shaodian, you can put your energy elsewhere."
"Thank you, sir."
…
Zhu Shide is very proud, so what if the governor of Suzhou, you have a good plan, I have a wall ladder.
A grain merchant said: "All the grain shops in Suzhou have been purchased, and a total of two silver taels were spent..."
Zhu Shide interrupted: "Silver is not a problem." According to his estimate, within these ten days, the price of food will soar sharply, and this cost is nothing at all.
In fact, compared to the entire Jiangnan East Road, all the grain stores in Suzhou City are only a fraction of the size.
He had a back-up plan for doing this. The ultimate goal was to force Lu Tao to withdraw the grain purchase order, and at the same time prove to Zhu Donglai that he, Zhu Shide, could deal with Lu Tao.
Another grain merchant said cheerfully: "Mr. Zhu, all the purchased grains are being packed into bags. It will be shipped back to Hangzhou in about an hour."
Zhu Shide said in a deep voice: "You have to move quickly. If you are discovered by the Suzhou government officers, you will have to draw water from a bamboo basket in vain."
"Don't worry, Mr. Zhu, we are using a ship from Jiaxing, and Suzhou won't be able to find out that easily."
Zhu Shide nodded. It seems that he can have a peaceful sleep tonight.
Just then a voice came in from outside the door: "It's not good, it's not good, Mr. Zhu, it's not good..."
A middle-aged man dressed in silk and satin walked quickly into the hall. It was already autumn, but his face was full of sweat.
Zhu Shide frowned. What he hated most was being in a panic about everything and being unable to withstand any storm.
He said in a deep voice: "Why are you panicking!"
The grain merchant was stunned by Zhu Shide, but he calmed down. He only heard Zhu Shide ask: "What's the matter?"
The grain merchant raised his hand and wiped the sweat from his face: "Zucai and the others were all arrested."
Master Zhu immediately blurted out: "By whom?"
"Suzhou Prefectural Army."
"Why!"
The grain merchant said weakly: "The crime is to drive up grain prices and disrupt people's livelihood."
Zhu Shide immediately slapped the table and stood up, saying angrily: "This is unreasonable, it's too much to bully others!"
The grain merchants looked at Zhu Shide with a strange expression. Who said just now that there is no need to panic? You can't hold your breath.
Zhu Shide took a breath and asked: "How many people did the government army arrest?"
"No one escaped, everyone got the stolen goods, and all the food was seized."
Zhu Shide said coldly: "Everyone gets the stolen goods! We are not thieves, we are serious businessmen, and these grains were bought with real money. Why does Lu Tao have to arrest people and seize grains?"
Seeing that the grain merchants didn't say a word and just stared at him, Master Zhu felt that he needed to express his attitude: "No! I will go find Lu Tao to discuss it now."
With that said, he hurriedly walked towards the gate.
The grain merchants hurriedly stopped Zhu Shide and advised him: "Mr. Zhu, please calm down. Since ancient times, the people have not fought with officials. Who would let someone be the governor?"
Another person also echoed: "Master Lu is not an ordinary governor, he is also the leader of the Lu clan. This Suzhou is his territory, how can we fight against him."
Zhu Shide pretended to calm down under everyone's persuasion and sat down again. What qualifications did he have to see Lu Tao? His qualifications were far from enough, and it was almost enough to ask Zhu Donglai to come forward.
A grain merchant said: "I know Zhao Sihu, why don't we let Zhao Sihu go and intercede?"
"Old Liu, you are confused. Are you qualified to ask Sihu to go to the governor to intercede?"
When talking about whether he was qualified or not, he reminded everyone, and they all looked at Zhu Shide in unison.
There are only a handful of people in the entire city of Suzhou who can be on an equal footing with Lu Tao, and this Zhu clan leader is one of them, and the Zhu family in Hangzhou happens to be close relatives of the Zhu family in Suzhou, and both belong to the Zhu clan.
It would be best if Zhu Donglai could come forward.
Zhu Shide naturally understood what the grain merchants meant, but they had some inside information, but these grain merchants didn't know that Zhu Donglai could come forward as soon as the state government's purchase order was issued, so why wait until now.
He responded calmly: "Why bother the Lord Zhu with such a small matter? Suzhou allows me to slowly think about countermeasures. Everyone should focus on other state capitals to avoid losing big for small things."
Someone immediately echoed: "Yes, there are nineteen prefectures in Jiangnan East Road, and all the grain reserves are basically in our hands. Without Suzhou, it will have little impact on us."
Zhu Shide reminded: "This is the time of autumn harvest. The grains in the hands of farmers are the bulk, and this is the key to victory or defeat."
Someone responded: "Don't worry, Mr. Zhu, the people collecting grain everywhere are our people, and the channels for collecting grain are always in our hands. I really can't think of any way the other side can steal from us."
Most of these grain merchants have been working in the grain business for more than ten or twenty years. These ten or twenty years are not in vain. They have long been familiar with the corresponding channels and relevant connections.
Someone sarcastically said: "Do you really think you can start this grain business on the first day? I'm afraid the other party is still trying to figure out where to collect grain."
"So what if we find out clearly? Jiangnan East Road covers such a wide area, how busy can it be?"
"Even if they are busy here, how to solve the transportation problem? It is simply a dream to transport grains from all directions back to Suzhou within ten days."
Everyone talked to each other, and the more they talked, the more they felt that they had a chance to win. The opponent was not an enemy at all, and the morale that had just been hit by Lu Tao was slowly restored.
Seeing that the morale of the grain merchants was still high, Zhu Shide was secretly happy, but he didn't want them to be too proud. "The opponent is very capable. We must not underestimate the enemy. This matter needs to be done with certainty. I hope you will go all out and don't be careless."
Everyone nodded.
"Okay, everyone, let's go back and rest first."
After the grain merchants left, Zhu Shide was not sleepy and thought about how to deal with it.
I'm very sorry for keeping everyone waiting for so long. I haven't been feeling well in the past few days and I didn't dare to ask for leave.
