Chapter 1111: Chapter 1102: Price Suppression
Prime Minister Zhao convinced General Shi, and naturally, General Shi would persuade his trusted generals.
Eight days later, a large amount of money and grain was transported to the border from a place just a few dozen miles away from their station.
The team transporting money and grain was afraid that the Zhao Family might send people to rob them, so they made preparations for defense.
The outcome was unexpected; they left the Zhao Family’s control range effortlessly, leaving the grain transport officer somewhat bewildered.
The court didn’t dare to falsely accuse the Zhao Family.
Marquis Dongxiang didn’t care who eventually intercepted the money and grain. The Nanliang court is so incompetent, they can’t even transport some money and grain to the border, yet they have the audacity to ask Daqi for more time?
With a weak opponent like this, is there any need to show them face?
The grain transport officer dared not be complacent and urged the team to rush to the border.
The weather was clear that day.
Inside the military camp.
Su Jin had been recuperating for many days and couldn’t stand lying down anymore. She finally could get out of bed and walk around.
However, she could only take a few steps from her bed; the Princess Consort absolutely prohibited her from leaving the camp to enjoy the breeze.
The wind and sand are strong at the border, especially now that autumn has arrived.
It’s just a hundred steps from the Prince’s camp to Su Jin’s camp, yet the Princess Consort was blinded by the wind and sand.
Su Jin hadn’t finished her postpartum confinement, and the Princess Consort feared the wind might cause some lasting effects.
Su Jin understood the Princess Consort was caring for her well-being and repeatedly promised not to leave the camp.
Even so, the Princess Consort wasn’t reassured.
After their training, Prince NanAn and his men went to the nearby river for a bath, returning to camp feeling refreshed.
From afar, they saw a man approaching on horseback.
The Eldest Young Master of Duke Dingguo Mansion glanced at him, finding the man somewhat familiar but unable to recall who he was.
When it comes to recognizing people, Prince NanAn has the best memory among the group.
"Commandery Prince, take a look at who that is," said the Eldest Young Master of Duke Dingguo Mansion.
Before Prince NanAn could speak, the Heir of Marquis Beining exclaimed, "Father-in-law?"
"Isn’t that my father-in-law?"
"What is he doing at the military camp?"
Before finishing his sentence, the Heir of Marquis Beining had already gone to greet him.
He had just bathed, his hair still damp.
In the military camp, everyone was accustomed to such situations, but Old Master Zhou wasn’t used to seeing his son-in-law looking so unkempt.
After all, he is the princely heir, and they are outside the camp; such a lack of decorum!
"Father-in-law, what brings you to the military camp?" the Heir of Marquis Beining asked.
There were two carriages behind Old Master Zhou, carrying several large boxes.
The Heir of Marquis Beining guessed that he might have heard about Marquis Dongxiang’s new grandson and was here to deliver congratulatory gifts.
But sending two carriages full of gifts seemed excessive.
Moreover, it doesn’t make sense to deliver gifts to a military camp.
They could wait until returning to the Capital to deliver them.
Old Master Zhou glanced at his son-in-law dismissively and said, "The Marquis invited me."
The Heir of Marquis Beining truly didn’t know that Marquis Dongxiang had invited Old Master Zhou.
He led Old Master Zhou to the main tent of the camp.
Upon hearing Old Master Zhou’s arrival, Marquis Dongxiang came out of the tent to greet him, "Brother Zhou, what took you so long?"
Old Master Zhou didn’t know why Marquis Dongxiang wanted to see him and explained, "I was delayed by some matters on the way for a few days. I hope I haven’t delayed anything for the Marquis?"
Marquis Dongxiang invited Old Master Zhou into the tent to talk, saying, "It’s fine today, but if you hadn’t arrived by tomorrow, I would’ve been worried."
Prince NanAn and Chu Shun exchanged glances.
Tomorrow is a very special day.
Nanliang is supposed to deliver compensation money and grain to the military camp; it’s unclear why Marquis Dongxiang summoned Old Master Zhou at such a time.
But one thing’s certain, Nanliang is going to have bad luck.
Marquis Dongxiang had the Imperial Chef prepare a table of dishes, and he and Old Master Zhou chatted while eating.
Nobody knew what they talked about.
After finishing the meal, Old Master Zhou went to see the Little Princess and Young Prince.
The items in the two carriages were brought for them.
The Young Prince was too young for Old Master Zhou to hold, so he only held the Little Princess.
After staying for a while, Old Master Zhou left the military camp.
He shared a close friendship with Marquis Dongxiang and was trusted, but because this was a military area, unrelated persons couldn’t linger.
With no issues at the camp, the Heir of Marquis Beining escorted his father-in-law to settle in the nearest town and stayed with him there.
The following day was the day Nanliang was supposed to deliver the compensation.
The grain transport officer hurried to reach the border by noon.
Without delay, he delivered the money and grain to Daqi to avoid giving Daqi any excuses for trouble.
Though referred to as money and grain, there was actually no grain.
No national treasury is without grain shortages, especially with the extensive warfare between Nanliang and Daqi, consuming a significant amount.
Marquis Dongxiang sighed in relief, allowing Nanliang to substitute some items with ancient artworks.
Marquis Dongxiang invited Old Master Zhou specifically for this matter.
Five hundred thousand dan of grain and grass; Nanliang substituted with ancient artworks.
Such vast amounts of grain hold considerable value, and when ancient artworks are brought to the Capital, they are either bestowed by the Emperor or secretly swapped out.
This is a common occurrence.
Marquis Dongxiang wouldn’t let the Emperor indulge without restraint. Since Nanliang lacks grain and has to use ancient artworks as replacements, it’s fine; Marquis Dongxiang vouches for it, and Old Master Zhou, along with the Zhou Family’s resources, acquires these artworks to later exchange for grain to deliver to the court.
The court had no objections.
As a businessman, Old Master Zhou certainly couldn’t take losses.
The court demanded grain; five hundred thousand dan. The financial and material resources needed to sell these artworks for money and cover the costs must be recouped from Nanliang.
Marquis Dongxiang initially seemed agreeable to Nanliang.
But now, Nanliang feels utterly tricked!
This is essentially using Nanliang for favors.
If they had known, they might as well have benefitted Nanliang’s merchants!
But since the items have already been transported to the border, they can only be left at the mercy of others.
Old Master Zhou brought several capable shopkeepers who were skilled in appraising artworks.
The grain wouldn’t be priced at the highest rate but would be calculated at the average price of the past three years.
Each piece of artwork had its price estimated; a thousand taels by Nanliang’s valuation, yet Old Master Zhou offered eight hundred taels, possibly even just seven hundred.
For items of higher value, the suppression of prices was even more severe.
After all, expensive things come with the risk of being unsellable and stuck in hand, and Old Master Zhou, as a businessman, would definitely try to minimize the risk.
Before these items were brought to the border, their values were assessed.
Knowing that they were being used to compensate Daqi, appraisers didn’t dare value them too high; if they were overvalued and gave Daqi an excuse to continue fighting, they would become scapegoats.
Prices were already underestimated to guard against Daqi and the fear of including fakes among the artworks, hence bringing items worth the value of 600,000 dan of grain to the border.
But to Old Master Zhou, these were only worth the money for 400,000 dan of grain.
There was still a shortage of 100,000 dan of grain needing supplementation.
Now, with money and artworks in Marquis Dongxiang’s hands, failure to supplement this 100,000 dan of grain would definitely lead to war.
If war broke out, then these items would be equivalent to throwing a meat bun at a dog.
Nanliang gritted its teeth and returned to the camp to gather various pearl necklaces, bringing in a large box.
Working until the next morning, Nanliang left, weary and emotionally drained.
If this experience were to be summed up in three words, it would undoubtedly be—
Can’t afford it.
