Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress novel Chapter 987

Chapter 987: Chapter 983: Accumulating Grain

The grain shops saw the influx of so many people and followed suit by raising prices. Some even closed their doors entirely, leaving the masses even more panicked and helpless.

Since the people of Xiliang became wealthy due to Cuiyu brocade, furs, and paper, they became less willing to farm the already scarce lands, instead focusing on brocade, hunting, and papermaking. With food prices cheap and stable, people felt that farming was not profitable, leading to neglected lands over time.

But just then, the grain shops in Yunjing suddenly raised prices and closed one after another, refusing to sell grain. Grain is the most crucial livelihood issue for the people, who toil for sustenance. The price increase is like cutting off the people of Xiliang’s lifeline, causing them panic.

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It was late at night in Mingyang Palace. The shadows of the lamps flickered. The emerald cloud gauze curtains, hung with red beads on copper hooks, swayed gently. The Empress of Xiliang sat behind jade bead curtains, reviewing memorials. Her long hair was tied atop her head, with a jade crown, dressed as a man. But her brows were breathtakingly beautiful, like a peony king blooming in a Jinxiu brocade, dazzling and captivating.

Two ministers knelt outside the lightly swaying bead curtains, reporting to the Empress of Xiliang about the chaos caused by the sudden spike in grain prices in Yunjing. Yun Poxing held back a cough, his expression grave, standing silently by.

When the Empress of Xiliang received the news, she seemed not surprised, put down her pen, lifted her tea cup, revealing a fair wrist, and looked at the Minister of Revenue and the Vice Minister who reported the news: "It has finally come..."

Unfortunately, she and the court officials realized it too late, and Cui Gongxing refused to admit it until the end.

But, as the saying goes, better late than never.

The sooner the issue is identified, the better it can be remedied in time, although the problem has grown large, it’s better than watching it grow larger.

Last month, after capturing Cui Gongxing into prison, the Empress of Xiliang issued a series of decrees encouraging farming, but with little effect.

The Empress of Xiliang was determined to eliminate Cui Gongxing’s shops, but now, most of Xiliang’s people relied on Cuiyu brocade for livelihood, and some on furs, with Cui Gongxing’s shops acquiring the largest volume in Xiliang.

If Cui Gongxing’s shops were closed rashly, no other merchant in Xiliang could absorb the daily production of Cuiyu brocade, cutting off people’s livelihood.

Moreover, Cui Gongxing was a smart person, her business was massive... and she involved the most influential Eight Great Clans of Xiliang; although two clans were no longer significant, the rest should not be underestimated.

The relationships are intricate, and Cui Gongxing, supported by the nobility and several clans of Xiliang, became the largest grain supplier, which is why the Empress of Xiliang delayed killing Cui Gongxing; killing her might leave half of Xiliang’s people struggling.

The Empress of Xiliang, unwilling to see Yun Poxing struggling to speak, signaled the eunuch beside her to offer Yun Poxing a seat and some tea.

Yun Poxing took the tea, drank a few sips, lightly coughed, suppressed it, and continued: "For example, this time...if not for the Eight Great Families being blinded by profit, who would have noticed how the few farmlands in Xiliang were neglected, with the people all weaving Cuiyu brocade and hunting wild game! Cough, cough, cough..."

The Empress of Xiliang closed her eyes in coldness.

Yun Poxing’s cough worsened, he pulled out a handkerchief to cover his mouth, coughing severely.

"Great General, please sit!" The Empress of Xiliang was deeply concerned about Yun Poxing’s health, watched him unable to hold on and sit down, then slowly spoke, "The nation’s interests are less important than their profits! I think... the Eight Great Families deliberately concealed this time because they valued the immense profits from Cuiyu brocade, and moreover, they anticipated... after Cuiyu brocade, they could use grain to again siphon the silver the people earned from Cuiyu brocade into their pockets."

After a long silence, the Empress of Xiliang opened her eyes: "If I’m not mistaken, the Eight Great Families must have hoarded a lot of grain! They were waiting for the day when grain prices doubled, and wouldn’t care about Cui Gongxing’s life or death."

It’s not that Cui Gongxing’s business skills were impressive, but the Eight Great Families’ greed was overwhelming.