After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times

Chapter 1281: Chapter 1248: Stockpiling Grain

The members of the Zhao Family are all literate.

Although Zhao Changyu is stingy, he has never slacked in educating the clan members.

The Zhao Family not only has a portion of clan lands specifically allocated as educational funds, but each year Zhao Changyu also allocates additional funds for the clan school.

Children of appropriate age in the clan can attend the clan school for five years for free, and the expenses for books, ink, and paper are covered by the school.

For orphans and impoverished students, the school also provides meals, and those with excellent grades or innate talent are given special attention by the clan.

Take Zhao Shi for example, his family background is average, and he is an only child, but since he has talents in both academics and martial skills, to support his studies and travels, not only does the clan cover his expenses, but it also helps care for his parents, allowing him to focus without distraction.

The more gifted and capable a student is, the more support they receive from the clan.

For students without talent, they enter school at seven, study for five years, and finish at twelve, which is sufficient for them to learn basic literacy, arithmetic, and reasoning.

At twelve, in this era, one is already considered half an adult. Even if they don’t pursue studies, they can help at home or find other paths.

Thus, every member of the Zhao Family is literate and numerate, and many possess a skill.

Such individuals won’t go hungry anywhere; it’s merely a matter of living comfortably or not.

Like Zhao Wan, many clan members are dissatisfied with their situation, and Uncle Cheng found out there are six individuals hesitating whether to leave with Zhao Wan for Xiping.

Zhao Hanzhang reviewed their profiles and found all were skilled individuals, such as tailors, accountants, and jewelry engravers, and even one talent in poetry.

Zhao Hanzhang was puzzled, "Skilled in poetry? A scholar then. Why doesn’t he compete for talents exams?"

Uncle Cheng bowed, "He did. In Xiping, he participated and even passed, but couldn’t maintain it for long. He writes excellent articles but only excels in writing."

Zhao Hanzhang understood and glanced at his former employer, more curious, "Why did Seventh Ancestor hire him?"

"To converse with literati and cultured guests," Uncle Cheng said, "Seventh Grandfather hired him as a client, keeping him at the mansion to occasionally greet guests and assist with poems and essays, which surely held financial promise."

Zhao Hu is quite generous to his clients.

Zhao Hanzhang was confused, "What happened?"

Uncle Cheng lowered his voice, "Recently, Seventh Grandfather intended to marry a concubine. During the process, the woman favored him over Seventh Grandfather, and after both parties deliberated, they wed. When Seventh Grandfather discovered, he angrily expelled him, and even Fifth Grandfather’s mediation failed."

Zhao Hanzhang remarked, "A remarkable woman indeed, she has a keen eye. Zhao Xun is quite handsome."

Uncle Cheng laughed too, bowing, "Indeed, Mr. Xun may not be adept with mundane affairs but is gentle and kind, also good-looking."

Zhao Hanzhang pondered a moment, then said, "Ask him to bring some articles for me to review. Schedule these individuals for me to meet at home the day after tomorrow. If suitable, we’ll keep them."

She added, "Be attentive to the clan’s needs. If any members are struggling and need assistance, help them as instructed by Grandfather."

She felt Zhao Changyu had good policies for the clan, teaching self-reliance instead of merely providing, helping find them jobs to support themselves.

Uncle Cheng cheerfully agreed, eager to proceed.

He had long hoped Zhao Hanzhang would involve herself with clan matters; he believed both Zhao Song and Zhao Ming were less capable in handling clan affairs compared to the Old Lord.

Yet Zhao Hanzhang avoided clan matters, partly due to her being exceptionally busy, and Uncle Cheng dared not bother her with such issues.

Now seeing her willing to intervene, he was absolutely delighted.

Zhao Song and Zhao Hu hadn’t noticed, one being older and limited in energy, delegating clan affairs to Zhao Ming who was far away in Yu State, unable to handle issues in the Capital City;

The other preoccupied with personal pursuits, with an impending banquet, wouldn’t pay attention to such matters.

On the fifth, Zhao Hu’s banquet commenced, and Zhao Hanzhang joined the occasion, had lunch, and took the chance to retrieve borrowed funds.

Once she retrieved the money, Zhao Hanzhang generously strolled with Zhao Hu in the garden, displaying familial harmony, before excusing herself.

Outside, Zhao Hanzhang called over Ting He, "Investigate which attendees possess grain, and aim to spend all the money at reduced prices."

Ting He, having just counted the money, was startled, "All of one million coins on grain?"

Zhao Hanzhang: "More than just this one million coins, use whatever’s available at home, convert anything in the storage that can be liquidated, and turn all the gains into grain. If Luoyang’s grain isn’t sufficient, buy in Yu State, Jizhou, and Qingzhou, storing locally. Keep this confidential."

She said, "I’ll have Yuan Li and Zeng Yue assign people to assist you, and during purchases, you may rely on the influence of the General Mansion, but be discreet. Our large-scale grain hoarding must remain undisclosed to avoid affecting prices."

This was a challenging task, yet Ting He agreed, rapidly formulating a plan.

The remaining items in Zhao Hanzhang’s storage weren’t easily liquidated, but with the return of many educated families and southern elites arriving in Luoyang, items claimed to be from the previous Imperial Palace or Mrs. Wang were appealing to many.

Ting He selected several, discreetly arranging them for sale.

After gathering funds, she selected individuals to start choosing grain merchants and landlords in Luoyang, Yu State, and Jizhou.

With Yuan Li’s intelligence, selecting wasn’t difficult, especially in Luoyang, where capable ones attended Seventh Grandfather’s banquet, easily pinpointing suitable parties by checking at the entrance.

Others came from afar to attend the banquet, and Ting He noted them, acquiring their contact details, necessitating stewards to assist at Zhao Hu’s home, discreetly engaging in conversation.

After the banquet, Ting He dispatched people to find these individuals to discuss transactions.

For some, she approached personally.

As the chief maid beside Zhao Hanzhang, her name and appearance weren’t secrets, and led on, the counterpart uniquely assumed her aspirations toward grain trading for profit.

Though considered audacious to invest tens of thousands into grain trade, her status made it plausible.

A person succeeds, and those close also prosper. Zhao Hanzhang now controls the government; her entourage compares to officials of fifth or sixth rank, as gatekeepers at the Prime Minister’s hold honorary seventh rank.

Those sought after, major grain merchants and landlords usually agreed to benefit Ting He, offering her grain slightly below market prices.

Someone discreetly advised Ting He, "Profiting from grain trade now is challenging. If embarking on it, ensure all grain’s sold before April ends; otherwise, come April, harvests commence, causing grain prices to drop."

Typically, grain traders acquire between May and October, with primary profits from regular sales and largely from the three months between January and April, as a time of scarcity and rising grain prices.

Currently, it’s early January, grain prices rising, and Ting He entering late business by traders’ viewpoints.

Nonetheless, she efficiently acquired 1.85 million coins’ worth of grain per Zhao Hanzhang’s instruction, storing locally, safeguarded by soldiers dispatched by Zeng Yue.