After hearing what Her Majesty the Empress said, Fang Chen already knew what was going on.
Now grain merchants from all over the country are not only raising grain prices, but are also uniting to put pressure on the court's grain buying officials.
As long as the grain cannot be given at the price they want, they will not sell a grain of grain to the court.
It is clear that the purpose is to enrich the country.
Qingluan was angrily on the side: "That's not all. The several major grain stores that are behind the scenes are actually run by the families of the ministers. These bastards are clearly sucking His Majesty's blood!"
Luo Ningxin looked at Fang Chen with a little expectation in her eyes, hoping that the eunuch could come up with a solution just like he did when he solved the problem of the Xijin Empire.
Fang Chen said: "If everyone joins together to raise food prices, it will actually do good things over time."
"Um?"
Luo Ningxin and Qingluan were both stunned, "Why did you say that?"
How can it be a good thing if food prices are so high? Both of them can't understand it.
Fang Chen explained: "The autumn harvest will be here in a month or two. New rice will be put into storage, and the old rice from previous years will have to be sold."
"Your Majesty, if my guess is correct, the businessmen who have joined forces to raise food prices should be from around the disaster areas in the south, right?"
Luo Ningxin nodded and said: "Yes, I have been thinking hard about strategies to suppress food prices these days, but I don't have any clue. The Ministry of Revenue reported to local officials this month and asked the court seven times to open warehouses to release food."
Fang Chen narrowed his eyes: "In my opinion, suppressing food prices is not a good thing. We should let it go unchecked. Your Majesty should even find a group of people to advocate for food prices."
Qingluan was dumbfounded, could this Fang Chen be a profiteer?
Luo Ningxin also said angrily: "Didn't I make it clear to you? Now the price of food in the south has been raised very high, and the people simply can't afford food."
"You actually asked me to find someone to advocate for food prices! Are you out of your mind?"
It seems that I was really sick and went to the doctor. This guy has no solution at all, but is here to cause trouble!
Fang Chen hurriedly explained: "Your Majesty, if the imperial court suppresses grain prices, merchants will be unprofitable and grain will be difficult to flow to the market. In the end, grain merchants would rather rot in the warehouse than sell to the people."
"But if the price is raised high, grain merchants from other places will get wind of it, allowing grain from wealthy places to flow to disaster areas."
"Grain merchants gather together and when supply exceeds demand, grain prices will inevitably fall!"
Fang Chen expressed his thoughts: "If I were to implement it, I would let the local government open the granary and use official grain to allow the victims to survive until the autumn harvest."
"At the same time, we send people to other places, such as the north, to promote food prices in disaster-stricken areas and ask grain merchants in these places to transport food to the disaster-stricken areas."
"Although this method will definitely lead to hoarding by some people, grain merchants have traveled thousands of miles to the disaster area, only to find that grain cannot be sold because of high prices, and the cost of warehousing and transportation will also force them to start lowering grain prices."
Luo Ningxin and Qingluan both looked at Fang Chen blankly. This method of suppressing food prices can be said to be unprecedented.
They didn't even think about it, they didn't even listen to it, and their minds went blank at this moment.
It took a long time for Luo Ning to recover a little, and she asked in confusion: "Is this method feasible?"
"Someone has done it." Fang Chen nodded affirmatively.
In Chinese history, Fan Zhongyan used this method during the Song Dynasty. At that time, there were serious floods in the area under Fan Zhongyan's jurisdiction.
Grain merchants took advantage of the country's difficult financial situation and raised grain prices in an attempt to make a fortune.
Instead of stopping this, Fan Zhongyan encouraged businessmen to raise food prices and hold a large dragon boat parade.
This attracted wealthy businessmen from other places to transport food to the disaster-stricken areas. As a result, too much food accumulated and supply exceeded demand.
In the end, merchants would not be able to sell the grain without lowering prices, and would have to bear transportation costs.
The final result was that under Fan Zhongyan's operation, the disaster was quickly resolved.
The method Fang Chen is talking about now is what Fan Zhongyan once used.
Looking at Fang Chen, Luo Ning felt that something was wrong, but she couldn't explain it. She could only think about what Fang Chen said just now, and said: "Tomorrow, I will discuss the method you said with the ministers. Then we will see
Let’s see.”
Fang Chen nodded: "Then if your Majesty has nothing else to do, I will resign."
"You all go down, I'll think about it carefully."
Luo Ningxin frowned from time to time as she spoke, obviously thinking carefully about the feasibility of Fang Chen's strategy.
Fang Chen and Qing Luan left the imperial study together. On the way, Fang Chen always felt that something was wrong with the way this girl looked at him.
Then he asked: "Qingluan, what are you looking at?"
"No, I didn't see anything!"
…
"Autumn Year!"
After getting rid of Qingluan who wanted to take biology class, Fang Chen returned to the Internal Affairs Office angrily.
Qiu Nian shook his hands and sneered: "What's wrong, Mr. Manager?"
"I didn't expect you to be so lax! The whole harem knows about it, right?"
Fang Chen was so angry that he picked up a stick and rushed over.
"Sir, have mercy on me!"
Qiu Nian was so frightened that he ran away, and half a day later he limped to Fang Chen, holding his buttocks.
"If you spread these nonsense in the future, I will beat you to death!" Fang Chen laughed angrily.
Qiunian let out a silly laugh: "Don't worry, manager, I won't dare to do it next time."
Despite the ferocity with which Fang Chen pursued him, he actually didn't make any serious moves at all.
Leaning on the rocking chair, Fang Chen closed his eyes and felt very relaxed.
The next day.
Luo Ningxin held a court meeting, and hundreds of civil and military officials attended the court.
When Her Majesty the Empress told the ministers what Fang Chen said yesterday without missing a word.
The whole court suddenly exploded!
It was condemned by almost everyone!
"It's a disaster for the country and the people! It's an absolute disaster for the country and the people! Your Majesty, I dare to ask who came up with this strategy! This is simply disregarding the lives and deaths of millions of victims!"