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 Xiliangâs lifeline, causing them panic.
·
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, itâs 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 Gongxingâs shops, but now, most of Xiliangâs people relied on Cuiyu brocade for livelihood, and some on furs, with Cui Gongxingâs shops acquiring the largest volume in Xiliang.
If Cui Gongxingâs shops were closed rashly, no other merchant in Xiliang could absorb the daily production of Cuiyu brocade, cutting off peopleâs 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 Xiliangâs people struggling.
The former Empress of Xiliang, who despised merchants, favored Cui Gongxing because she taught her about Jin Kingdomâs customs, shared travel stories from other states, and tales from overseas, speaking against belittling women, advocating gender equality, which pleased the Empress greatly, so... even if the Empress of Xiliang didnât regard Cui Gongxing as a confidante, she at least saw her as someone to converse with.
Unexpectedly, this very person... harbored ill intentions to harm Xiliang.
Indeed, as her father said, people from Jin... and Yan are the most cunning.
Over the years, like other nations, Xiliang despised merchants so much that they never took a small merchant seriously, only to find that this merchant could wield such power silently, weakening a nation.
During Cui Gongxingâs imprisonment, the Eight Great Clans repeatedly pleaded for her. It wasnât until they received an assurance from the Empress of Zhou that her shops would not be interfered with, affecting the Eight Great Clansâ profit, that they relented.
"Tomorrow, sell the grain previously shipped from Yan by the Minister of Revenue at regular market prices to the people," said the Empress of Xiliang, then asked Yun Poxing, "Great General, do you think maintaining this for some time can restore the grain market price?"
Yun Poxing stifled a cough, turned and saluted to the Empress of Xiliang behind the bead curtain: "Your Majesty, I think... the urgent matter is to release Cui Fengnian. Cui Fengnian and the Eight Great Familiesâ interests are intertwined. So far, because it hasnât affected the Eight Great Familiesâ businesses, everything was manageable. Now Cui Fengnianâs people raised grain prices, Iâm afraid itâs just the beginning. If Cui Fengnian isnât released, there will surely be further actions, possibly concerning Cuiyu brocade."
The Empress of Xiliang pursed her lips, lowering her beautiful, intense eyes, her voice tinged with a smile: "Unexpectedly, even the once mighty Great General of Xiliang fears the Eight Great Families."
"Cough, cough..." Yun Poxing couldnât hold back and coughed several times, then continued to suppress it until his face turned red, "I am not scared. This incident made me realize how the Eight Great Families... hide their might and make concessions. Itâs not yet the time to think that empowering the humble is enough to contend with the Eight Great Families."
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 Poxingâs 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 Poxingâs health, watched him unable to hold on and sit down, then slowly spoke, "The nationâs 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 Iâm not mistaken, the Eight Great Families must have hoarded a lot of grain! They were waiting for the day when grain prices doubled, and wouldnât care about Cui Gongxingâs life or death."
Itâs not that Cui Gongxingâs business skills were impressive, but the Eight Great Familiesâ greed was overwhelming.