You Promised to Be an Idle Son-in-Law, How Could You Become a Land Immortal?

If the Governor’s Office were allowed to open the granaries and stabilize grain prices, forget about recovering their capital—nearly a million piculs of grain would be left rotting in their hands.

Therefore, upon receiving the news, Lin Zhenghong and the others—at the suggestion of the Ji State Trading Company’s Wind Patrol Envoy, Li Sanyuan—rushed frantically to the Governor’s Office.

After learning from Liu Hong that they had three days at most, Lin Zhenghong and his peers, no matter how reluctant they were, could only scurry back to their grain shops to figure out another countermeasure.

”Three days. Even if we lower our prices, there’s no way we can sell off all the grain,” a pot-bellied merchant in brocade garments wailed as if he were at a funeral. ”Furthermore, now that the word from the Government Office has spread, most of the city’s commoners are planning to just tough it out. We... we’re going to suffer a massive loss this time.”

Lin Zhenghong’s expression was even uglier.

Originally, their schemes in Shu State had gone smoothly, and every single one of them had raked in massive profits.

But now, with the price suppressed at fourteen taels of silver per picul, all their money had been converted into grain.

If the grain price fell back to one tael of silver—no, even if it dropped by just ten percent—their collective losses would exceed a million taels of silver.

Under these circumstances... under these circumstances...

Lin Zhenghong’s eyes turned bloodshot. He stood up abruptly and stormed off in a rage.

”Mr. Lin, where are you going?”

”I’m going to find the main culprit!”

The person Lin Zhenghong was looking for was none other than Li Sanyuan.

So what if he was the Wind Patrol Envoy of the Ji State Trading Company? So what if he had overseen several highly profitable transactions? At this moment, it was all a joke in his eyes.

Later, at the Lin Mansion.

Lin Zhenghong marched straight into the backyard, shoved open the wooden door of the guest room where Li Sanyuan was resting, and roared, ”You’ve completely ruined me!”

Li Sanyuan froze slightly, his expression instantly turning ugly. ”Lord Liu didn’t agree to our request?”

”Agree?

”Old Marquis Xiao and General Jinghong went there together today! No matter how reluctant Liu Hong might be, he wouldn’t dare protect us from losses at a time like this.”

”Then what did he say?”

”Lord Liu gave us a final three days!

”After three days, either the grain shops voluntarily lower their prices, or the Government Office will open the granaries to stabilize the market!” Lin Zhenghong fumed. ”Are you satisfied now?!”

Li Sanyuan’s expression shifted. Ignoring the man’s attitude, he furrowed his brows and pondered a countermeasure.

But no matter how hard he thought, he couldn’t come up with a better plan.

The crux of the issue lay in one thing: the cost of the grain was too high!

If no one else took this batch of grain off their hands, not only would they suffer heavy losses, but they would also be punished by the Trading Company.

That kind of outcome...

Li Sanyuan shuddered, a trace of fear flashing across his face. ”Don’t panic. Don’t be hasty. We still have three days left.

”I... you and I will definitely think of a way.”

”A way?” Lin Zhenghong laughed out of extreme anger. ”What kind of way can you possibly think of?

”Now that the news has spread, the commoners are all waiting for the grain prices to drop. Who would be stupid enough to buy grain at a time like this?”

”Buy?” A flash of inspiration struck Li Sanyuan. ”Someone will buy it!”

Lin Zhenghong’s angry expression faltered. ”Who?”

”Just because there’s no one in Shu State doesn’t mean there’s no one on the outside.” Li Sanyuan looked toward the west, a faint smile actually surfacing on his face. ”The men under the Peacock King Banner are currently launching a massive invasion.

”Based on what I know about them, that cavalry of rebel forces must be traveling light, bringing very little rations and fodder.

”If we can sell the grain to them, not only will we recover all our losses, but we might also make a huge... well, a small profit.”

Hearing this, Lin Zhenghong’s anger dissipated considerably. ”Would King Nalandu agree to this price?”

Li Sanyuan chuckled. ”He’ll have to agree, whether he wants to or not.

”Actually, before your father died, he secretly contacted King Landu to sell them a batch of Weapons, Armor, and Refined Iron.

”That’s a transaction worth hundreds of thousands of taels of Gold.

”As long as we bundle that batch of ironware with this grain, he’ll have no choice but to agree.”

Hearing this, Lin Zhenghong pondered for a moment. ”Will this work?”

”Of course! Besides the Trading Company, who else in the entire Great Wei Dynasty would dare to sell ironware and blocks of Refined Iron to them?”

”Then... what should I do?”

”You? You can’t. Since this mistake was caused by me, how can I let you take the risk?” Li Sanyuan revealed a cold sneer. ”Besides, since Liu Hong has shown no respect for the Trading Company, there’s naturally no need for us to be polite to him either.”

Lin Zhenghong was taken aback. ”You... you want to do something to Liu Hong...”

”Watch your words!

”No matter how foolish I am, I’d never be stupid enough to make a move against Liu Hong!”

”Then...”

”Do you remember who your father saw in the mansion on the night he died?”

”You... you mean... Liu Taofang?”

”Exactly.

”Later, take a trip to the Liu Family. Seek out Liu Taofang to negotiate, and make sure you get your hands on the grain he has.

”The price will be the same as what Miss Cui got—fourteen taels.” A flash of ruthlessness crossed Li Sanyuan’s face. ”Since Liu Hong is being heartless, he can’t blame us for being unjust!

”No matter what, the grain sold to King Landu this time must include a portion from the Liu Family!”

Lin Zhenghong opened his mouth, but upon seeing the look in Li Sanyuan’s eyes, he didn’t dare say anything more and nodded in agreement.

He had already been forced to the edge of a cliff. Since he was doomed either way, he might as well gamble alongside Li Sanyuan.

Especially after the two parted ways and Lin Zhenghong heard another rumor circulating outside, he became even more determined to drag Liu Hong down with him.

The news was none other than this: at Lin Village in the East City Outskirts, someone was selling grain for the price of one tael of silver per picul.

As the news spread, the commoners of the entire Prefecture City scrambled out the East City Gate, rushing toward Lin Village.

Under such circumstances, no matter how weak-willed Lin Zhenghong was, it was impossible for him not to harden his heart.

He went straight to the Liu Family. Taking advantage of the time while Liu Hong was still at the Government Office, he sought out Liu Taofang, who had been confined for many days.

Li Sanyuan also swung into action.