Volume One, Chapter 16: The Greater the Storm, the Pricier the Fish

The three heads of the families exchanged glances, each detecting hesitation in the others’ eyes. Previously, Zhang Yan had promised clearly that this purchase was just the first batch, yet today, Xu Mu had suddenly reneged on the deal. They had stockpiles of grain in their hands, and now they were being forbidden from selling it privately—was this not akin to signing their own death warrants?

“Lord Xu, you mustn’t speak so recklessly. The Censor promised there would be another batch. Why is it that now, under your watch, the purchase is off?” Zhao, head of the Zhao family, narrowed his eyes like a cunning fox and smiled wryly.

Xu Mu’s word alone was not final; he needed Zhang Yan’s presence to confirm matters.

Xu Mu cast a cold glance at Zhao, unwilling to waste words with the sly old fox. With a flick of his sleeve, he snorted coldly, “I said no purchase, so there will be none. Advisor, see them out!”

The expressions of the three family heads instantly grew chilly.

“Lord Xu, I hope you will take responsibility for your actions,” Zhao said coldly, glancing sharply at Xu Mu before turning to leave.

“Wait, wait! I’m buying! Who said I’m not?” At that moment, Zhang Yan returned to the county office with Xiao Huan and called out loudly to stop the departing family heads.

Catching his breath, Zhang Yan smiled warmly at Zhao and patted his shoulder. “Ah, my apologies for the wait, gentlemen. I was just handling some matters. Of course, the grain will be purchased.”

Xu Mu’s face darkened further upon seeing Zhang Yan’s return and his intention to continue buying. But as the supervising censor, Zhang Yan’s authority was supreme—no matter his resentment, Xu Mu had to comply. The power of a higher official crushed all resistance, Xu Mu sighed inwardly.

Hearing Zhang Yan’s words, Zhao’s face lit up with joy. “Censor, may I ask the price and quantity for this purchase?”

Others also looked expectantly at Zhang Yan, each harboring their own thoughts.

Squinting slightly, Zhang Yan put an arm around Zhao’s shoulder and declared with grand confidence, “Brother Zhao, we’re all on the same side here. At the current grain price—two hundred and fifty wen per dou—however much you want to sell, I’ll buy!”

Offering a richer bait was necessary to entice the fish to bite.

At these words, the three family heads’ eyes sparkled with greed.

Two hundred and fifty wen per dou, and no limit on quantity?

They recalled their original plan: to start selling when the price reached around one hundred and twenty wen per dou. After all, the common people had limited purchasing power; even selling everything they had, one hundred and twenty wen was their absolute ceiling.

Now, selling to the county at two hundred and fifty wen per dou—more than double their estimate—they stood to make a clean profit of over a hundred thousand taels, perhaps even more.

“Sell! Sell it all!” Zhao quickly agreed, and the other two heads immediately echoed him, as if fearing Zhang Yan might change his mind.

With that, the three family heads departed with light, joyful steps.

Beside them, Xu Mu’s face was so dark it seemed to drip shadow.

“Lord Zhang, the county treasury has already spent all its tax silver. Where will the money come from? And buying grain at such an exorbitant price—two hundred and fifty wen per dou—the three major grain merchants’ stock is worth nearly a million taels!” Xu Mu said, convinced Zhang Yan had completely lost his mind. Or perhaps his madness hadn’t yet passed and was flaring up again.

Zhang Yan wore an expression of total control. He gestured toward Xiao Huan, smiling confidently. “Xiao Huan, show Lord Xu the results of my work these past few days.”

Only then did Xu Mu notice the sizable box in Xiao Huan’s arms. Opening it revealed stacks of silver notes—large denominations filling the box. Rough estimation put the total at no less than five hundred thousand taels.

“Where did all this silver come from?” Xu Mu asked in shock, seeing more silver than he had ever witnessed in his life.

At that moment, Shen Qiuxue returned. “As per your orders, all grain transport routes have been sealed—both inbound and outbound.”

Noticing the box and the silver notes it contained, Shen Qiuxue’s expression mirrored Xu Mu’s shock; she had never seen so much silver at once.

Zhang Yan nodded, smiling. “Good. We must prevent outside grain merchants from spoiling the plan. I don’t have that kind of money to waste on grain.”

Shen Qiuxue frowned, her gaze fixed on Zhang Yan. “Though I don’t understand your intentions, I must warn you—the consequences of keeping grain prices high should be clear to you.”

Zhang Yan reached out as if to pat her shoulder, but recalling her habit of resting her hand on her sword hilt at any provocation, he withdrew his hand and instead rested it on Xu Mu’s shoulder.

“Rest assured, I never joke with my own head,” Zhang Yan smiled.

Xu Mu disdainfully brushed Zhang Yan’s hand away and snorted. “Lord Zhang, you’d better believe that.”

The three major grain merchants were efficient and wary of Zhang Yan’s potential second thoughts.

Soon, the transaction was complete, and only a few small silver coins remained in Xiao Huan’s box.

Having finished, Zhang Yan lounged in the courtyard chair of the county office, leisurely eating grapes fed by Xiao Huan, a look of pure enjoyment on his face.

Without notice, Shen Qiuxue appeared beside him and spoke gravely, “The investigation is complete. The three grain merchants have no surplus grain beyond their daily family needs.”

A sharp gleam flashed in Zhang Yan’s eyes as he sprang up. “The bigger the storm, the more precious the fish. Grain prices have not yet reached the critical point, but soon, we will close the net.”

“What do you mean?” Shen Qiuxue and Xu Mu asked almost simultaneously, their eyes full of puzzlement.

They truly could not fathom Zhang Yan’s purpose in all this.

Zhang Yan did not answer immediately. Instead, he fixed his gaze on Xu Mu, a slight smile playing on his lips. “Lord Xu, tomorrow we raise the grain price to four hundred wen per dou. It’s time to haul in the fish ready to bite.”

“What?” Xu Mu exclaimed in disbelief. Zhang Yan was insane. Four hundred wen per dou was unheard of. Even the wealthy gentry could not afford grain at such a price, let alone the common folk.

Shen Qiuxue, more of a pragmatist than Xu Mu, reacted swiftly. In a flash, she drew her sword and pressed its silver blade against Zhang Yan’s throat, her voice cold and deadly.

“Lord Zhang, I have followed your orders these days, but these meaningless actions have only driven grain prices higher. If you cannot provide a reasonable explanation, I will, on His Majesty’s behalf, take over the office of supervising censor and personally ensure you are brought back to Wucheng for trial!”