Protect Our Clan Leader

Chapter 723: Chapter 93: Shou Zhe’s Cunning Plan to Secure Qing’an (Monthly Pass Requested) _4

The same thing was happening in other defensive areas of Qing An Prefecture too.

However, due to the different situations in each county, there was a slight variation in the choice of grains to purchase. In some areas that were prone to pest disasters, “No.43” wheat variety sold better. In places prone to floods, “No.27” wheat variety sold better. Regardless of the region, the “No.59” wheat variety was always the bestseller because it had the highest yield.

Unbeknownst to them, nearly half of the prominent families in Qing An Prefecture had replaced the grains they bought for their families with the Wang family’s grains.

…

The Zuoqiu family’s main residence.

In a luxurious study, a middle-aged man wearing a jade crown, dressed in a brocade robe, with a calm and domineering aura, was meticulously copying a “Pointing at the Mountains and Rivers Painting”.

This middle-aged man was Zuoqiu Guanyu, the family head of the Zuoqiu family in Qing’an.

The “Pointing at the Mountains and Rivers Painting” he was copying was a rough plan for Qing’an’s future, drawn with high spirits by his ancestors when they first set foot in Qing’an to clear and reclaim the land.

The painting was a masterpiece that was admired by Emperor Longchang a thousand years later. The Emperor kept it in his imperial study and rewarded the Zuoqiu family generously to commend their merit in claiming Qing An Prefecture.

Now, the Zuoqiu family had only a copy of the painting.

For various reasons, the Zuoqiu family had a strong attachment to the painting, and each generation of family heads left a copy behind. They all hoped to make exceptional contributions to their family like their ancestors did.

Of course, the current family head, Zuoqiu Guanyu, was no exception.

However, reality was an obstacle. The development of the Zuoqiu family had long reached a bottleneck,

and his ambitions were not realized. But now, the opportunity had finally arrived!

As long as he could topple the Keep Achieving Commercial Firm in Longzuo County, he could control the flying carriage transportation markets in both Longzuo and Qing’an. Even more so, with the advantage of scale, he could enter the counties of Southern Desert, Liaoyuan, and Lingbei.

By then, the Zuoqiu family’s ability to accumulate wealth would ascend a new stair, laying the foundation for advancing to third-class aristocratic families.

As Zuoqiu Guanyu copied the “Pointing at the Mountains and Rivers Painting”, he was overwhelmed with passion in his heart.

Just at this moment.

An old man with a long beard came to pay his respects.

With a thick ledger in his hand, he came in with a smile: “Congratulations, Family Head, congratulations.”

“Old An, what’s the happy occasion?” Zuoqiu Guanyu seemed to be in a good mood, laughing as he continued to draw.

Old An was his confidant and private tutor from when he was young. After he became the family head, Old An was promoted all the way up and was now one of the managers of the Zuoqiu family, responsible for organizing some related accounts.

Old An put the ledger to one side, and said respectfully: “Family Head, the accounts of all the major grain-growing estates have been summarized this year. God bless the Zuoqiu family, the Five-flavor Rice has had a great harvest this year, nearly 20% more than in previous years.”

Twenty percent?

Zuoqiu Guanyu paused his brush and expressed his pleasure: “Old An, this indeed is great news.”

His mood lifted, and the strokes of his brush became even more spirited and vigorous.

The Zuoqiu family’s businesses covered various aspects, but agriculture was still their fundamental industry. This is because they held two powerful tools: the Five-flavour Rice and Jade Pointer Wheat varieties.

Most of the prominent families in Qing’an Prefecture farmed these two crops because of their high yield and good quality. Once planted, they never worried about sales, and they can earn more money for the family.

It was precisely because the Zuoqiu family controlled the agricultural foundation of the entire Qing’an County that it grew stronger day by day, eventually growing into a fourth-grade giant.

Given such scale of cereal farming, a 20% increase in yield was certainly good news.

“Family Head, after the increase in yield of the Five-flavour Rice, the capacity of the grain warehouses in various places may be somewhat insufficient,” Old An respectfully said. “We need to accelerate the sale of Jade Pointer Wheat to free up space in the granary. According to the tradition of previous years, we can slightly reduce the price of Jade Pointer Wheat to promote sales and win the hearts of the families.”

“Reduce the price of Jade Pointer Wheat?” Zuoqiu Guanyu’s brows slightly wrinkled, refusing, “No. Our Qing Feng Commercial Firm is currently engaged in a price war with Keep Achieving Commercial Firm. While the situation is not bad, the expenditure is quite heavy. Although the Qian Family is only a fifth-grade prominent family, they are notorious for their wealth. In the next ten to twenty years, the situation will continue to be a stalemate.”

“In that case, let’s raise the price of Jade Pointer Wheat by 20% this time to make up for our losses in the Qing Feng Commercial Firm.”

Old An tensed up immediately and hurriedly said, “Family Head, if the prices are raised like this, the families will object. I believe…”

“Objections?”

Zuoqiu Guanyu put down his brush, scoffed, “Our Zuoqiu family has been providing high-quality grains to all the families in Qing’an Prefecture, feeding them until they are plump and prosperous. Now, our Zuoqiu family is at a critical moment of transformation, yet they’re unwilling to share some of the risks?”

Old An bowed and said, “Most importantly, we fear the families’ reactions will be too strong, and if they refuse to purchase, there will be trouble.”

“Refuse to buy? That would be great.” Zuoqiu Guanyu stood with his hands behind his back, admiring his almost finished “Pointing at the Mountains and Rivers Painting”, and laughing heartily, “Have you heard of the Changning Wang Clan? They too produce and sell seeds, one called the Wang No.19 Rice Variety and the Wang No.23 Wheat Variety.”

“I had people investigate, and these two varieties of grains are just barely considered high-quality, only slightly inferior to our Five-flavour Rice and Jade Pointer Wheat. Using these seeds, the Changning Wang Clan has reaped quite a harvest.”