The price of vegetables in the city changes every day.
Many people gradually cannot afford to eat.
There is food in the city.
The problem is, they have nothing to eat.
Oil, salt, rice, vinegar and tea, I don’t have much in stock.
When the price is high, the rich enjoy it first.
If the common people and poor people can't afford it, then they can't afford it. Who cares?
As long as the officials have something to eat.
After eating for a while, prices continued to rise.
Tea leaves costing two cents per catty suddenly increased to ten taels of silver per catty, and this morning it reached twenty taels of silver per catty.
Don't talk about other people.
King Zhenbei couldn't even afford to drink anymore.
What the hell?
This is rebellion!
With the whole city complaining, he ordered the arrest of profiteers. He thought that profiteers had made money from everyone.
After searching their home, it was found that they didn't have much money either.
Profiteers also need to eat, including firewood, rice, oil and salt.
They did so much business, but they didn't make much money, but lost money instead?
King Zhenbei didn't believe it.
Strict interrogation was ordered.
An official brought the merchant's account book and asked: "I want to ask you, the purchase price of tea is twenty taels of silver per catty. Who are you trying to fool?"
He put the account book in front of the merchant, and it was clearly written in calligraphy on it: On such and such a day, ten kilograms of tea were purchased, and two hundred taels of silver were purchased.
The businessman was beaten so badly that his nose was bruised and his face was swollen, and he couldn't open his eyes. He looked at his account book, and it was all blurry.
Can't see clearly what is written?
He didn't need to see clearly how much money he spent. He knew better than anyone else. He nodded his head, which was regarded as agreeing with the official's question.
He didn't have the strength to speak.
I don't want to say anything.
The official waved his hand fiercely and shouted: "Hit him, beat him hard. If you don't reveal where the money is hidden on the ground, beat him to death!"
The businessman cried like a wolf and howled after being beaten.
After fighting for a long time.
The cane stopped.
The businessman lay motionless on the ground.
Before the official opened his mouth to interrogate him, the businessman suddenly started to cry.
Everyone around was stunned.
Doubts arose in my heart.
Is money more important, or life?
If you die, what will you do with the money?
Why don't you explain it quickly?
The official snorted and asked, "I would like to ask you, do you want to give an honest account?"
The businessman sobbed for a while and then said: "Sir, you have also seen that my purchase price is only so much, how have I ever made any profit?"
"Since ancient times, people have not fought with officials. Aren't villains afraid that officials will make things difficult for me? It's just that villains don't dare to make money. Sometimes they have to give money to help."
"Woooooooo..."
After saying that, he started crying again.
Seeing his sincere words, the official felt disdainful but also became confused, "Could it be that your purchase price is so high?"
The businessman cried out aggrievedly: "Sir, you have beaten and searched, do you have any other account books?"
"When the villain uses the account book, the adult will use it. Can't the villain use the account book himself?"
He burst into tears every time he spoke.
The official fell into deep thought. After a moment, he asked again: "Jinyang Chamber of Commerce sees that the prince is in a crisis. How can he be so evil in doing business?"
He asked people to help the businessman up.
After the businessman got up, his whole body was in pain. "The outside was blocked by King Xiaoliang. When the Jinyang Chamber of Commerce came in, King Xiaoliang always pulled out a layer of skin."
"If he doesn't raise prices, how can he keep his capital?"
The official was furious when he heard this, clapped his legs and shouted: "Zhao Xiaole, the eunuch, deserves to die. You have no ability to break in. You are just riding a horse to play dirty!"
After the officials found out the details, they told the king of Zhenbei.
He intended to keep the information confidential.
It has no effect.
There was no confidentiality during his interrogation, and the results of the interrogation could not be kept secret either.
Before he reached the official residence of King Zhenbei, the common people knew about Zhao Xiaole's price control.
People all over the city were in panic.
The curses of the dead eunuch were endless.
The common people panicked, and so did the powerful.
The problem is more serious than they think. They think that they lack everything and it doesn't matter if they stay in Hongzhou for a year and a half.
There is enough food.
I never thought about whether other things would be enough.
Zhao Xiaole has been controlling prices and raking them all in. What's the use of waiting until King Zhenbei wins in two years?
They have no money, what can they do if they go out?
Can I just eat dry food and enjoy nothing else?
Save all your money.
cannot.
There are many differences between the powerful and the common people. Let them eat dry food every day just like the common people?
Beautiful thought.
The powerful people could not sit still, and their opinions became more and more loud.
Opposition is growing.
The common people are much calmer over there.
They don't panic.
Hongzhou has enough food, so who cares whether the rich and powerful have enough food?
Various opinions came to Zhenbei King.
He was so angry that he couldn't speak.
He had imagined all kinds of difficult situations, but nothing like this.
Zhao Xiaole carried out land reform on his land, but he tolerated it.
He gave strict orders.
No one is allowed to discuss it, and anyone who violates it will be killed.
The purpose is to prevent people's hearts from wandering.
What he didn't expect was that Zhao Xiaole would use prices to create ripples in Hongzhou.
what to do?
Take someone out to fight Zhao Xiaole to the death?
Thinking about how miserable Xuzhou was and how the Yue people were defeated, he gave up.
surrender?
It's impossible, Zhao Xiaole will not let him go.
Keep at it.
He thought for a while and called the dignitaries of Hongzhou to discuss the matter.
He couldn't make up his mind.
He is the king for sure.
There is no one holding him down, so he is nothing.
He is also human.
at the meeting.
King Zhenbei asked: "You don't need to say anything more about the current situation. You all know it."
"Zhao Xiaole frequently resorts to dirty tricks. Do you have any ideas on how to solve them?"
The solution is very simple.
The Jinyang Chamber of Commerce can bypass Zhao Xiaole and deliver the goods to Hongzhou along the grassland.
Avoid Zhao Xiaole's exploitation.
Prices will naturally go down.
What they don't know is that prices will go down, but not too much.
After taking a detour through the grassland, the cost of the goods was almost the same as after Zhao Xiaole's exploitation.
They were thinking about another issue.
Zhao Xiaole almost robbed them.
Is there any difference between goods from Jinyang Chamber of Commerce coming in and goods not coming in?
How much money do they have left?
How long can they last?
Here lies the core of the problem.
They couldn't find the answer. After King Zhenbei asked, no one answered and remained silent.
King Zhenbei sighed and shouted: "Qi Wensou!"
"The old man is here!"
Qi Wensou stepped forward to answer.
King Zhenbei nodded, "Now go and negotiate peace with Zhao Xiaole. How likely is it that he will agree? And what conditions will he put forward?"
Qi Wensou scratched his head and said with an embarrassed expression: "Your Majesty, you know Zhao Xiaole's character. He will definitely open his mouth like a lion."
"The cost of negotiating peace is almost the same as leaving the city to fight to the death."
He originally thought that if it lasted for a long time, Zhao Xiaole would be unable to hold on, but now it seems that the one who can't hold on is King Zhenbei.
To be precise, he and the powerful people below him saw no hope of sustaining the situation.