The four people left the grain store and came to the foot of a dead tree outside the door.
Wang Da stared and said, "Miss Shen, what's going on? These profiteers are driving up food prices. Why do the people blame us?"
Shen Qianqian said softly: "As far as I know, since you captured Zhenjiang, all prices in Zhenjiang have soared several times. In the eyes of the people, this is naturally caused by you!"
Wang said angrily: "These abominable bunch of profiteers dare to smear shit on our heads. I will mobilize my troops to arrest them all right now!"
Shen Qianqian glanced at him and said, "Almost all the businessmen in the city are driving up prices. Does General Wang want to arrest them all?"
Wang Da snorted and said: "There are no traitors or businessmen, so we should arrest them all!"
The monkey scolded: "What nonsense are you talking about? Miss Shen is also a businessman! And all the businessmen have been arrested, and the shops have to close down. How can the people live?"
Wang Da stared and said: "What should we do?"
Shen Qianqian said: "For businessmen, doing business in troubled times is the most difficult, because they may lose all their money due to war at any time, so as long as there is an opportunity to make money, they will never miss it!"
The monkey pondered: "What Miss Shen means is that as long as there is war in any city, businessmen will take the opportunity to drive up prices?"
Shen Qianqian said: "Yes, if we don't make preparations in advance, soaring prices are inevitable!"
Wang shouted: "That's not right. When we conquered Jiangdu, why didn't prices in Jiangdu rise?"
Shen Qianqian said: "That's because the king has already won the support of all the big businessmen in Jiangdu. He originally sent me and Bian Ying to talk to the businessmen in Jiangdu just to control prices!"
Wang Da said in a daze: "So that's it."
Monkey touched his chin and said: "Then if we want to control prices, we must also get the support of the largest merchants in the city?"
Shen Qianqian smiled and said: "That's right! Zhenjiang is different from Jiangdu. There are more big merchants in the city. There are twelve in total. They form the Zhenjiang Chamber of Commerce. As long as they get the support of the Zhenjiang Chamber of Commerce, prices will soon be suppressed. People Only then can the grievances be calmed down!"
Wang DaDao: "Then let's invite the heads of these twelve families over immediately. If they don't cooperate, hum -"
Shen Qianqian hurriedly said: "There is no need to go to war, just leave this matter to me. I have my own way to make them cooperate honestly!"
Zhenjiang was the stepping stone for Shen Qianqian to enter Jiangdu. She still has a few shops in Zhenjiang, and she is relatively familiar with the big businessmen in Zhenjiang.
The monkey said happily: "Then Miss Lao Shen will be here!"
"With a little effort, General, you're welcome."
At noon on the second day, Shen Qianqian used the names of Wang and the other three to call President Guo and several vice-presidents of the Zhenjiang Chamber of Commerce to a teahouse for a conversation.
Shen Qianqian explained the purpose of his visit straight to the point, hoping that the chamber of commerce would stop raising prices, but everyone started Tai Chi, saying that they could not restrain the merchants below, and they were motivated but powerless.
Shen Qianqian said calmly: "Since you said so, don't blame Qianqian for ignoring the old friendship!"
Chairman Guo was shocked and said with a smile: "Miss Shen, we are all businessmen, why should businessmen embarrass businessmen?"
Shen Qianqian said coldly: "It is precisely because we are all businessmen that I intercede for you in every possible way, otherwise the place where you drink tea will be changed to the prison!"
President Guo snorted and said, "Is Miss Shen threatening us?"
Shen Qianqian sighed: "It's not me who wants to deal with you, but General Wang. You should have sent someone to find out his temper!"
President Guo laughed and said: "Not only did we inquire about his temper, we also inquired very clearly about the temper of King Chu! We all know that King Chu values businessmen and will not let him act recklessly!"
A vice president said: "Yes, if it weren't for this, your Shen family wouldn't be where it is today, right?"
Shen Qianqian said: "The King of Chu cherishes businessmen who abide by the law, not businessmen like you who don't know how to advance or retreat. Moreover, the King values the people more. If you persist in your stubbornness, you will be responsible for the consequences!"
President Guo said loudly: "I don't believe that King Chu can still kill us all?"
The vice-president said: "Yes, don't think we don't know. King Chu cherishes his reputation the most. I don't believe he dares to massacre merchants indiscriminately!"
Shen Qianqian sneered and said, "If the king wants to deal with you, does he still need to use a knife?"
President Guo bit the bullet and said: "What on earth does King Chu mean? Please make it clear to Miss Shen!"
Shen Qianqian snorted and said: "Your Majesty has no time to pay attention to you. He is just unhappy when he learns that you are driving up prices. He asked my daughter to come over and try to persuade you. If you can't be persuaded..."
Everyone asked in unison: "How?"
Shen Qianqian raised his chin and said: "There have been too many businessmen pouring into Jiangdu recently. Because the competition is too fierce, many of them cannot gain a foothold and are considering moving to Zhenzhou or Tongzhou."
"As long as the king issues an order to exempt Zhenjiang from commercial taxes for one year, I believe that the number of merchants crowding into Zhenjiang will exceed your imagination. It's up to you whether there will be a foothold for you by then!"
Chairman Guo's forehead was dripping with sweat, and he hurriedly said: "We are blind, so please tell His Highness the King of Chu that prices in Zhenjiang will return to normal within three days!"
Shen Qianqian smiled sweetly and said: "That's right. For the sake of your cooperation, I would like to remind you that the Cai family and the Bian family in Jiangdu are preparing to enter the Zhenjiang market in a big way. You should make preparations in advance!"
President Guo asked: "Then... where is your Shen family?"
Shen Qianqian said calmly: "We are not interested in Zhenjiang. Hangzhou and Taizhou are our goals."
Chairman Guo was secretly frightened and said: "Miss Shen, do you think King Chu can conquer Hangzhou and Taizhou?"
Shen Qianqian smiled and said nothing, stood up and said, "My dear, I'll take my leave now. I hope you all will do what you need to do as soon as possible!" He turned around and left the teahouse.
In less than three days, prices in Zhenjiang City finally returned to stability. Shen Qianqian retired, bid farewell to Wang and the others, and returned to Jiangdu City by boat.
When we returned to Jiangdu City, it happened to be noon and the sun was blazing.
Shen Qianqian's carriage had already stopped at the dock. The maid Chunhe was standing beside the carriage waiting. When she saw Shen Qianqian getting off the boat, she hurried over to greet her.
"Miss, is the matter done?"
Shen Qianqian said calmly: "The businessmen in Zhenjiang are much easier to deal with than the Cai family!"
Chunhe said happily: "That's great. If the king knows about it, he will be very grateful to the lady!"
Shen Qianqian didn't say anything and got into the carriage silently.
Chunhe used saltpeter to cool down and asked, "Miss, are you going to the palace?"
Shen Qianqian nodded.
Chunhe said hello, and the coachman outside drove the carriage towards the Chu Palace.
When she arrived outside the palace, Shen Qianqian showed her waist card and went in. This was the waist card given to her by Zhang Yangquan. She could enter and leave the palace at will. There were no more than five people in the entire Jiangdu city with such a waist card.
The two of them walked straight along the corridor. When they came to a fork, Shen Qianqian walked to the right. Chunhe was surprised and said: "Miss, you are on the wrong track. This road leads to the back house!"
Shen Qianqian kept walking and said, "Let's go see Her Royal Highness the Princess first."
Chunhe said "Oh" and hurried to follow.
The two walked through the corridor and through the courtyard, passed through the hanging flower gate, and walked straight along a bluestone path.
Not long after, a small martial arts arena appeared in front. Qin Lingjun, wearing short sleeves and long trousers, was practicing marksmanship on the martial arts arena. A group of maids around her were clapping and applauding!
As soon as Shen Qianqian approached, Qin Lingjun stopped, threw the spear to the two maids, took a wet towel, wiped the sweat and said: "Miss Qianqian is here!"
Shen Qianqian hurried forward to greet him, hesitated for a moment, and said: "Your Highness, you are pregnant, how can you still practice martial arts?"
Qin Lingjun said: "It's only been more than two months, so it doesn't matter!"
It turned out that a few days ago, Qin Lingjun was diagnosed with a positive pulse by the doctor. Zhang Yangquan was very happy. From then on, he refused to let her go to the military camp again.
Qin Lingjun was very active by nature, so when he had nothing to do, he took advantage of his belly to practice more martial arts.
She walked to a nearby stone pavilion and sat down, then motioned for Shen Qianqian to sit down as well, and then she said, "I heard from the king that you went to Zhenjiang. How is the situation there?"
Shen Qianqian briefly explained the situation of the Zhenjiang Chamber of Commerce.
Qin Lingjun nodded and said, "Thanks to you this time."
Shen Qianqian lowered her head and said softly: "Qianqian is a lowly businesswoman, but she can be so valued by the king and princess. It is Qianqian's blessing that she can do her best for them."
Qin Lingjun's eyes flashed and she said calmly: "Without your help back then, we might not have been able to get where we are today. Okay, go tell the king about this!"
Shen Qianqian promised in a low voice, resigned and left.
After leaving the back house, Chunhe glanced around and whispered: "Miss, when you come to the palace recently, why do you always have to greet Her Highness the Princess first?"
Shen Qianqian glanced at her sideways and said, "Talk too much!"
Chunhe lowered his head and smiled, seeming to understand something.