Seeing Xu Changliang sit down, Zhang San continued: "As Governor Qian said, the price of food cannot be suppressed just because we want to suppress it. Because of the contradiction between supply and demand, the supply is far less than the demand. Therefore, we need to do the opposite and raise the price."
High grain prices attract more grain merchants from other places, causing a large amount of grain to appear in Xuzhou in a short period of time, making supply greater than demand."
"But how can we ensure that food prices can be reduced in this way?" Qian Tong's eyes lit up immediately after hearing this, but he didn't quite understand the supply and demand relationship that Zhang San mentioned.
"This requires us to take action. When we attract enough grain merchants, we will put up notices to severely crack down on driving up grain prices and force grain merchants to sell grain at lower prices."
Hearing what Zhang San said, the three of them instantly understood what Zhang San was thinking, and couldn't help but secretly sigh that Zhang San's method was wonderful!
When grain merchants come from afar, people eat horses' chews along the way, which consumes a lot of money. Even water transportation requires a lot of costs.
If the price of food here immediately drops back to the original level after arriving, they will not be able to sell it elsewhere because they will suffer greater losses.
It's just that everyone is still a little worried. If grain merchants from other places don't come, or if few come, it will be bad.
When the local food prices remain high, the people will definitely complain.
Seemingly seeing the worries of the three of them, Zhang San continued: "Businessmen value profits. I don't think they will let go of this opportunity. Of course, this plan is also very risky to operate, but right now we have nothing better to do."
Is there any way?"
"I think it's okay. This is the only way for now. I support it!" Messenger Yu said first.
"I agree too!" Qian Tong also expressed his support. He is now at his wits' end. Although Zhang San said it is risky, as long as it is done properly, the success rate is high.
"Then just do what County Uncle Zhang said! But how should this news be spread? It cannot be in the name of the government, otherwise it will definitely cause resistance from the victims." Xu Changliang asked a key question.
"We can pass on this news through the merchants who come and go. At the same time, the government should also come forward to hint that the government will also come out to collect grain at a high price to increase the confidence of grain merchants. At the same time, we should closely monitor all channels leading to Xuzhou, and then send people to
Promote the big grain-producing states." Zhang San had already thought of a countermeasure, but the implementation of this matter required Qian Tong's cooperation.
"Okay, I will start arranging the arrangements when I get back tonight." Qian Tong said.
"What should we do with these victims now? This strategy cannot be realized at once." Yu Mingsheng asked.
"Yes, there are so many victims outside the city, and there are victims in every county. The food in the granary is not enough to make porridge for several days!" Xu Changliang said
"There is no good way at the moment. The victims must not be left alone. We can save as many as we can. Do you know bran?" Zhang San suddenly asked.
"Bran bran? Isn't that what livestock eat?" Qian Tong was stunned and didn't know why Zhang San asked this.
Yu Mingsheng and Xu Changliang also looked at Zhang San, wondering why Zhang San asked this.
"Since food prices are high and there is not enough food, the victims cannot ignore it, so we will replace the food with bran and cook it into porridge for the victims to eat," Zhang San said.
"What? Bran is used to feed livestock, how can it be eaten by the victims? Then..." Xu Changliang suddenly realized after saying that it is only right to let the victims live at this time. The victims have eaten all the bark, grass and roots. At this time, the bran
It's also a good thing in their opinion.
One pound of wheat can be exchanged for at least four or five pounds of bran, which means that the rations that could have saved one person can now save at least four or five people.
Qian Tong and Yu Mingsheng looked at each other without saying anything, acquiescing to Zhang San's proposal.
"Okay, don't feel any psychological pressure. If this matter goes wrong, I will take the responsibility. When the superiors ask, you can just say that I insisted on doing this." Zhang San saw that although a few people meant it,
He wanted to move, but he still had great concerns, so he reassured a few people.
"How can I let Uncle Zhang take the responsibility? Anyway, I am a sinner now. If something happens, I will take the responsibility." Qian Tong said quickly.
"Since it was a decision made by everyone together, when asked by the superiors in the future, just say that we made it together." Yu Mingsheng and Xu Changliang said one after another.
"Okay, these are all things for later. Governor Qian, please make arrangements first when you go back. Tonight, part of the grain will be replaced with bran. Tomorrow, we will give porridge outside the city to help the victims." Zhang San stood up and said.
"Okay, I'll make arrangements right away." Qian Tong got up and went back to make arrangements quickly.
"You two, you should have something to eat. Only when you are in good health can you do more things. I think everyone will be busy for a while." Zhang San took a few sips of the porridge on the table and said to the two of them.
"Uncle Zhang is right." Yu Mingsheng also picked up the porridge and started drinking it.
The three of them had not eaten for almost a day, and eating millet steamed buns at this time also felt very sweet and delicious. After eating, the three of them went back to their houses to rest, as they would be busy tomorrow morning.
Zhang Fu brought the foot-washing water, and Zhang San soaked his feet and asked, "Have you all eaten?"
"After eating, brothers take turns to watch and rest. Sir, you can sleep peacefully!" Zhang Fu replied.
"This is an inn run by the government. It's okay. I have something for you to do tomorrow. You all should go to bed early!"
"Okay, Sir." Zhang Fu took out the foot-washing water and told the brothers to have a rest early.
Zhang San was lying on the bed, very tired. What he experienced in person was always more impactful than what he saw on TV. When he thought of the victims looking at him with hope, Zhang San felt like a big mountain was pressing on him and he couldn't breathe.
.
In the dark sky outside, there were two homing pigeons fluttering their wings and flying towards Chang'an. Zhang San knew nothing about it. The fatigue of traveling for days suddenly hit him, and Zhang San fell into a drowsy sleep.
Qian Tong called the magistrate overnight and exchanged more than half of the grain in the warehouse for bran from grain merchants and wealthy businessmen. He also asked the official to join the army and lead people out of the city to set up more than a dozen soup kitchens.
The whole night, Qian Tong was so busy that he couldn't touch the ground, his head was dark, and he finally got everything ready before dawn.
At dawn, Zhang San got up and found that Xu Changliang and Yu Mingsheng had already gotten up. When they saw Zhang San coming, they greeted Zhang San and said: "The arrangements have been made by Governor Qian, and they are now giving porridge outside the city.
Someone was sent just now to ask us if we wanted to go take a look."
"Okay, let's go take a look too." Zhang San grabbed a steamed bun on the table and ate it while walking.
When the three of them arrived outside the city, they saw groups of victims, organized by government soldiers, lining up to receive porridge.
"How come there are so many victims overnight?" Xu Changliang muttered to himself when he saw that there were obviously more victims today than they saw yesterday.
Zhang San and Yu Mingsheng did not answer the call. Qian Tong saw the three people approaching and ran over quickly and said: "Now that there are more and more victims, even if you use bran to make porridge, it is difficult to satisfy them."
Zhang San saw that Qian Tong's eyes were bloodshot and thought that Qian Tong must have been busy all night.
"Thank you, Governor Qian, for your hard work. You should also take care of your health and don't break it down. The victims of the disaster in Xuzhou still need you."
"It doesn't matter. As long as the victims can eat, it will be worth the hard work," Qian Tong replied.
Zhang San and others took a look at the porridge stall. These porridges, which were adulterated with a large amount of bran, were also clear and watery. However, they saw that the victims were very satisfied with the food. They must have been tortured by hunger for too long. When they saw the food, they
No one cares whether the bran is for human consumption.