Chapter 172: Follow the clues

The Bianjing Grain Depot was burned, and rumors suddenly flew out of the sky, and there were whispers everywhere on the streets and alleys, and all kinds of rumors spread rapidly like wings.

There are even exaggerated things, saying that Fang Latu, who was beheaded two years ago, was resurrected, and had raised the flag in Jiangnan and rushed north soon. Although this kind of rumor cannot stand scrutiny, some people believe it deeply.

However, soon, some people with a keen sense of smell had a premonition that the food prices would inevitably rise. One of the four major grain warehouses in the city had been burned down, and the shortage of food was only a matter of time. With this fear, in the morning of the next morning, many people were surrounded by the doors of various rice shops.

On ordinary days, it would be fine to buy a few liters of rice every now and then; but today, many people carry loads and hold big urns, and the whole family goes to battle.

Now, taking advantage of the fact that there is grain in Beijing, buy as much as you can. When there is no grain, the price will inevitably skyrocket.

Therefore, before noon, the rice and grain from various rice shops were swept away, and naturally there were many rice merchants who did not dare to raise the rice prices for a while, so they simply hoarded some rice to watch the wind.

This kind of thing has been happening in ancient times. Although merchants seek profit and stockpiling goods is a serious crime of beheading, in the face of huge benefits, some people naturally want to take a risk.

The rice shop was gone, panic spread and everything was said, so that there were already crowds of people in front of the rice shops, shouting and shouting. Fortunately, the imperial guards in the city were properly handled, and teams of imperial guards appeared in the main streets and alleys, and no one dared to take extreme actions.

If such a thing happened, Jingzhao Mansion naturally could not stand by and immediately summoned rice merchants and ordered them to sell Chenmi.

The rice merchants said one after another: "Sir, the warehouse is empty, and there is no rice sold there." They all shouted. In fact, before seeing the Jingzhao Prefecture, these rice merchants had already colluded. As long as they insisted that there was no rice to sell, no one could hold on to them.

The prefect of Jingzhao just sneered and read the imperial edict, then said: "It's a critical moment now. Once the food in the city is short of food, it's not a joke. You can think clearly about it yourself. Take out the rice, and even raise the price slightly, you can also discuss it. If you dare to stock up on the goods, don't blame me for turning against others."

This warning is meaningful, meaning that as long as you don’t need to overestimate the price, there is room for negotiation for the rest.

The rice chambers of all agreed and left Jingzhao Mansion. After discussing for a while, they went back and started selling rice again.

The current price of rice has risen three times a day. Originally, it was five cents for one liter, later it was seven cents and nine cents, and finally it was a high price of thirteen cents.

Under such circumstances, no one knows how terrifying the rice price will reach tomorrow, so the people of Bianjing City are upset about buying rice.

The faster the price rises, the more you buy it. This is the most surprising thing throughout history, but it is also the most realistic thing.

Shen Ao, who was in charge of Dali Temple, was playing chess at this moment, and he was playing Goji. The one who played against him was Jiang Min, the minister of Dali Temple. These Goji were simple, but there were many changes. Shen Ao taught him and invited him to play.

Logically speaking, Jiang Min had no such thoughts. Mi Gui in the city was lip service to the imperial court's will. This was a huge crime. However, the young master Shen in front of him didn't care.

Now even the Duke of Wei County is sick. He said he was very sick and didn’t even have the strength to stay. The imperial physician has been there, and the result is that his qi and blood are not smooth, and his worries and fatigue are caused by illness.

Jiang Min had a premonition that Duke Wei was avoiding suspicion, but he, the minister of Dali Temple, wanted to avoid it. Therefore, Chen Ao proposed a chess game, and Jiang Min naturally refused, shook his hand repeatedly, and said, "Young Master Chen, you won't play this chess anymore. I still have official duties."

Chen Ao's face turned aside and immediately took out a golden arrow: "The golden arrow is here, if the emperor comes in person, and the emperor asks you to play chess, you will have to do it if you don't."

Jiang Min was speechless. He had seen many imperial envoys, but he had never seen such an one. Others were anxious, but he was very busy and was really using the chicken feathers as a commanding arrow!

But the Golden Arrow attack was really effective as I came in person, so Jiang Min had to sit down and set up a formation with him.

Chen Ao smiled and said, "It's not interesting to just play chess. Why not add some gambling money? It's a small gambling fun!" He smiled treacherously: "But if I say that one game of money will be a shame, the adults will definitely feel that it has a disgrace to the identity. Dali Temple Minister, what is the money of money? If it spreads it, I'm afraid it's a joke. Let's do it, just fifty one game, and the adults will ask first."

Jiang Min had the heart to cry, fifty knots, this kid was really bad, it was obvious that he wanted to extort money; Jiang Min had no choice but to hold her breath and sit down and start playing chess.

After two days like this, Jiang Min was full of thoughts, and he was a novice and had lost more than 700 coins, which was speechless.

However, Chen Ao was not concerned about the case at all. He just listened to the reports of some sent public officials every day. Jiang Min couldn't sit still and said to Chen Ao: "Young Master, now the rice price of Bianjing has reached 70 cents per liter. If it rises further, it will be aroused public resentment."

Chen Ao smiled slightly, but just shook his head: "Wait a little longer, there should be news soon."

This news was like a rock sinking into the sea, but there was no turmoil at all. After waiting for two more days, the rice price of Bianjing had exceeded 90 stakes. What's even more terrifying is that the major grain accounts have already had no inventory.

At night, a prosecutor returned to Dali Temple mysteriously and reported to Chen Ao: "Young Master, all the major merchants have rice again."

Then, Chen Ao showed a strange smile, threw down his chess piece, and said to Jiang Min: "Sir, it's 950 knots in total. I believe in the reputation of my parents very much. You don't need to write an IOU."

Jiang Min felt the skin on her face froze involuntarily, and said stiffly: "In a few days, the officials will definitely send the silver on their faces."

Chen Aohe nodded before saying to the referee: "Didn't the company's grain warehouse be hollow? Even if the grain from nearby prefectures and counties is transported nearby, it will not be so fast."

The official said: "The Xiaguan also found it strange at first. Later, he sent someone to check it out and found that all the rice was provided by a merchant named Jingtai. Jingtai was responsible for supplying the rice, and major merchants were responsible for selling rice. In the early morning, the grain was transported from Yuetai to the city and directly entered the rice warehouse of the major grain numbers in the name of the major grain numbers."

Chen Ao sneered: "It seems that our unscrupulous business classmate can't sit still anymore." Yuetai is only twenty miles away from Kaifeng, and it is a good place to store grain.

The food in Bianjing City has now increased by twenty times or twenty times. It is too tempting for the merchants, and it is enough to make him take risks.

Chen Ao's move to attract the snake out of the hole was not without loopholes, and his motive was suspicious, but in the face of huge profits, he was not afraid that the fish would not take the bait.

Chen Ao asked, "Where is this Jingtai now?"

"Yuetai."

Chen Ao smiled slightly and said, "Thank you for your hard work. In order to comfort everyone, each of the brothers who have gone out to inquire these days will give you fifty taels of rewards. You can't teach everyone to do things in vain."

The Promoter's face was happy and hurriedly said, "Thank you, my son, this is the duty of the officials."

Unexpectedly, Chen Ao threw out a sentence: "Just ask Lord Jiang for the reward, Lord Jiang, you won't be able to blame the debt."

Jiang Min now felt that Chen Ao had dug a big hole for him, but he still said seriously: "Young Master, did you underestimate me?"

"That's good, that's good." Take out the golden arrow from your arms, and Chen Ao's face became extremely solemn: "I notify the commander in front of the hall that from now on, the whole city will be martial law, and no one is allowed to enter and exit the inner city. Dali Temple servants and others will go to major stores and get people!"

"Take someone?" Jiang Min showed confusion.

"Yes, I took all the rice merchants. Their charges were for bandits and bastards. I asked them to spit out all the food they had eaten. I hate those who make money from the national crisis the most." Chen Ao was familiar with the matter of liquidation, so he said to Deng Long: "You go and call dozens of brothers from the imperial guards, and I will say that I want to invite them to have fun and come here to gather."

Deng Long said: "What fun is looking for? This is not good. We are all your Majesty's personal army. We are unwilling to think about seeking flowers and asking willows."

Without thinking about it? There were more imperial guards in the major traits than dogs. Chen Ao glared at him and said, "Go quickly."

As night fell, the city became nervous. The imperial guards blocked the city gate. The officers were everywhere, and they were arresting prisoners everywhere. With the sound of dogs barking, the knock on the door suddenly broke into the door. Someone shouted: "Shopkeeper Zhao, your news is revealed, come and take it down!"

"It's unfair..."

Such a sound is shrill and terrifying, which reminds people of Miku being burned a few days ago, which makes people frightened.

On the official road to Yuetai, more than a hundred strong horses galloped in the dark. Under the swaying of torches, Chen Ao was surrounded by a group of imperial guards, wearing strong clothes, and was quite majestic.

These people were all called out in the name of seeking fun. Not only did they notify the Three Ya, but they did not reveal the news from the Ministry of Justice. Now Kaifeng City has martial law and cannot even get out of a fly. Chen Ao can conclude that this news has not been leaked yet.

The most urgent task is to rush to Yuetai as soon as possible and catch all these small fish and shrimps in one go before the news leaks.

As the way, Yuetai was already far away. The city walls in the dark gradually appeared, and the low city walls were no match for Bianjing. When they arrived at the city, they asked Deng Long to call the door. When they saw it was an imperial guard, they claimed that there were golden arrows. The gate slowly opened. The wing army guarding the city came out to interrogate. After passing through the city cave, Chen Aoleng glanced at Dudu and took out the golden arrow and said, "Soon the city gate will be blocked later. No one is allowed to open the door without my order. If you miss your errand, you will ask."
Chapter completed!