After Transmigration: Building a Kingdom in Turbulent Times

Chapter 1282: Chapter 1249: Wanting to Open a Parlor

Of course, Zhao Hanzhang not only instructed Ting He to store grain, she also had Chang Ning take money from the national treasury to buy large quantities of grain, cloth, and medicinal materials for disaster relief.

Chang Ning felt a headache as soon as he heard the figures and quickly said, "Great General, we have already obeyed your orders and purchased a lot of grain during the autumn harvest, and we also bought in a lot of cloth and medicinal materials before the end of the year. To buy more at this time..."

"Buy, it’s all disaster relief material."

Chang Ning was hesitant and advised in a low voice, "Disasters may not come, I feel we are prepared enough now. If there’s peace, which of course, I hope for peace, then what will we do with so much grain, cloth, and medicine? Buying now is buying at a high price."

The current stockpiling is different from the last time.

Last time he was well-prepared, with plenty of time, starting from July, he purchased grain in small batches, during which time new grain was about to be harvested, and many grain merchants began to reduce prices for old grain, continuing until the new grain came down in August.

After the new grain came in August, grain prices began to decrease slightly on a large scale, and at that time he directly sent people to purchase grain from farmers, offering prices similar to those of grain merchants. Whether or not this batch of relief grain would be needed in the future, the national treasury would not lose out.

But buying now...

The common people no longer have surplus grain, so we can only buy from the grain merchants. It is already the first month, and most grain merchants are hoarding grain waiting for prices to rise in February or March; they won’t sell cheaply to the court.

If the natural disaster isn’t severe enough to use this batch of grain, this buying and selling would result in a loss of money.

As the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, this matter is intolerable.

Zhao Hanzhang, however, was very insistent and even said to him, "I have put my own financial resources into buying grain with Ting He. If I am willing to take this risk personally, why is the court unwilling?"

"The loss won’t be significant, the grain is in hand, you can convert labor recruitment during idle farming times into civilian labor costs."

Chang Ning said, "The transport costs are high, and originally, the food for civilian labor was the responsibility of the local areas."

"Now you don’t need to transport grain to the Capital City, store it locally, I will assign troops for your use," Zhao Hanzhang said, "I have already promised to reduce labor recruitment this year and lower taxes. In this case, the national treasury will inevitably have to support the local areas, so giving grain instead of money is also acceptable."

This is under the condition of surplus grain.

"Moreover, aren’t you all here? These grains can also be used as salary rice for court officials."

Chang Ning was exasperated, "... The relief grain you’re adding is enough for the civil and military officials’ salaries for ten years. Are we to eat old grain year after year?"

Zhao Hanzhang insisted.

Chang Ning could only obey orders, holding in his frustration as he began preparations.

Privately, however, he couldn’t help but complain to Ji Yuan, saying, "The lady trusts Guo Pu too much. Although he is skilled in observing celestial phenomena and climate, ultimately, he is a Fangshi. If he talks nonsense, wouldn’t it bring great disaster to the world?"

Ji Yuan frowned as well, feeling that Zhao Hanzhang trusted Guo Pu excessively. From the winter climate, it was indeed likely to be rainy in the spring and summer, but spring rains are precious. For the north, having more rain than usual is beneficial for agriculture at this time.

At worst, just switch to planting rice. As long as they choose the right crops for the climate, it’s not a bad thing. Why is it regarded purely as a disaster?

This is the north, how heavy can the spring rains be?

At this time, not only Ji Yuan and other court ministers but even Guo Pu himself felt that Zhao Hanzhang was overreacting.

But Guo Pu was different from other ministers; he never believed Zhao Hanzhang would act without reason. Could it be that Fu Tinghan calculated something and secretly told her but not him?

Or did they get some celestial insight into some secret?

Guo Pu became excited, immediately went into seclusion to observe the stars and calculate the climate, and gathered all existing historical rainfall data from the Imperial Temple to systematically compare and calculate against star observation records.

After Zhao Hu’s banquet ended, he took a break for two days before realizing that his good friend Guo Pu had not come to his party’s last day, so he asked Fifth Silver hurriedly, "Is he ill?"

Given Guo Pu’s playful character and love for entertainment, how could he miss a three-day banquet?

Fifth Silver said, "Mr. Guo has gone into seclusion, and before doing so, he was beating his chest and stamping his feet, but the serious business was urgent, so he could only regretfully go into seclusion."

"How serious can business be? This time I’ve even invited the famous courtesans of the Capital City."

Guo Pu loved to eat, play, drink, and enjoy beauty; it could be said that, apart from power and fame, he loved everything, and also gambling, making him addicted to all five vices.

So after meeting Zhao Hu, Guo Pu quickly became a close friend, with such speed and deep affection that even Zhao Song found it surprising and a little jealous.

Despite his displeasure, Zhao Hu thoughtfully sent his friend some fine food and entertainment, saying, "Tell him I’ll take him out again when he comes out of seclusion. I’m planning to open a ’Pleasure Hall’ in the Capital City, and as long as he comes, everything will be free."

Fifth Silver agreed and went personally to deliver the message.

Then Zhao Hu’s business application was rejected.

When Zhao Hu found out, he was furious; this was the first insulting refusal he had received since backing Zhao Hanzhang. He had been legal and compliant in everything, so why would they not issue his business license?

The business license is the current business permit, listing the operator’s name, business location, and project.

Of course, to avoid being listed as a merchant by the court after future population and property inventories, Zhao Hu did not register his own name but in the name of his steward.

Then he changed the steward’s contract to a white contract and signed a stack of contracts to ensure that this enterprise was his while preventing the court from saying it was his property during enumeration.

It’s like a modern company’s legal representative who is often a scapegoat; the company belongs to the legal entity but not entirely.

Zhao Hu never thought he would be troubled when applying for a business license. Who in Luoyang City would dare to target him like this?

The first person Zhao Hu thought of was Zhao Hanzhang, but he immediately shook his head and dismissed the idea. It probably wasn’t her; she had just borrowed money from him.

Then... Zhao Hu slightly frowned, "What is Fifth Grandfather doing?"

Fifth Silver bent over, not daring to look up, "Fifth Grandfather is sunbathing at home."

Zhao Song disliked the noise at Zhao Hu’s place, so he often went to live in their family’s new house. It wasn’t far from Zhao Hu’s, but he was too lazy to move unless Zhao Hu visited or Zhao Hu caused trouble, prompting him to intervene.

He would only come out to scold him.

Zhao Hu furrowed his brows tightly, "Did Fifth Grandfather know about this? Did he get someone from the government to block me?"

Fifth Silver said, "I inquired a bit and it seems to be the court’s decision, unrelated to Fifth Grandfather, but I couldn’t find out more details."

Upon hearing it wasn’t Zhao Song’s doing, Zhao Hu’s confidence immediately swelled, his anger piling up layer by layer, "Someone at the court is probably targeting Third Lady, using me as a scapegoat. Humph, dealing with other departments is one thing, but what do those at the Ministry of Revenue rate? They eat my food, drink my drink, and still dare to block my business license? Outrageous!"

Zhao Hu headed to the Ministry of Revenue in a fury.

The clerks at the Ministry of Revenue were frightened, quickly going to find Chang Ning.