roccoschili Chapter 134 Secret Talk
Chapter 134 Secret Talk
After a while, the housekeeper brought the county magistrate of Weishan County over.
"Your humble servant Liu Tan pays his respects to Prefect Su." He bowed and greeted the prefect.
Liu Qin is Mr. Zhou’s brother-in-law. Yesterday, his sister told him with joy that she had found a large amount of grain and took him to the dock to see it in person.
What do you call this? After searching everywhere for something, it finally comes to you without any effort.
Just based on this, Liu Qin is confident that he can move up in position. You know, the prefect has been troubled by this matter recently.
So he couldn't wait to go to the door and ask to see the prefect.
If he hadn't tried hard to persuade the prefect, promising that he had great news to tell him, as if he was willing to risk his life, the butler would not have informed him.
Prefect Su did not respond to Liu Qin's question, but just looked at the man in front of him silently.
He has a round face and looks more like a businessman than an official.
"You said you have good news for me?"
Prefect Su said this slowly. He was very angry at the moment. If Liu Tan couldn't explain clearly, he might end up in a bad situation.
Liu Qin wiped the sweat from his forehead, and thought of the warehouse of food that his sister had found for him. He suddenly felt emboldened, and he expressed everything that was in his mind.
"Governor Su, Jiangzhou is in a difficult situation right now. The main problem is those unscrupulous grain merchants. They hoard grain, thinking that they have a lot of valuables and completely disregarding the common people."
Hearing Liu Qin's repetitive words, Governor Su became a little impatient. If he only had these repetitive words that had already been thoroughly analyzed, then this meeting could be over.
Seeing the impatient look on Magistrate Su's face, Liu Tan immediately changed his mind and said something at length, and went straight to the point.
"If we want to change this outcome, the best way to break the deadlock is to lower food prices."
“And this requires more food.”
Just as Governor Su was about to raise his hand to let Liu Tan leave, he uttered the last sentence.
"I, your humble servant, have found a batch of rice and grain for you to eat for half a month."
This was something Liu Tan had specially calculated. The food in that large warehouse was enough to feed all the people in Jiangzhou for half a month according to the standards of refugees outside the city. So what he said was not an exaggeration.
Governor Su stopped raising his hand in the air and a smile of surprise appeared on his face.
If this is the case, it is indeed great news.
"really?!"
Magistrate Su asked in a dignified tone.
Liu Tan nodded heavily.
"I have personally checked out that batch of grain. It is now in Jiangzhou City, but..."
“Just what???”
Liu Qin paused and said in a low voice:
"That was the grain that a merchant brought back from Siam. The rice in Siam can be harvested three times a year, but the process was not carried out by the government."
Having said that, Liu Tan carefully raised his eyes and looked at Governor Su.
Prefect Su knew about smuggling. One of his classmates was an official in Yunyang. Yunyang was located on the coast, and smuggling was rampant. Although Jiangzhou had a river route, it was still inland, so such things happened occasionally.
However, what Magistrate Su did not expect was that this smuggling ship did not carry jewelry, agates or precious spices, but chose to carry back a shipload of grain.
Those are obviously the ones that make more money, aren't they?
As if he knew what Governor Su was wondering, Liu Tan said:
"According to the merchant, he originally had a shipload of spices, but they were all divided up at various checkpoints along the way, leaving only this shipload of food."
Having said that, Governor Su actually believed it to some extent.
After all, it takes several months for ships to transport food back. A few months ago, who would have known that there would be such a severe drought and that food prices would soar?
However, so much grain must be worth a lot of money nowadays.
So the businessman just took it out like that?
Now the situation is complicated with external troubles and internal difficulties, and Governor Su has to consider more.
If the price is ten taels of silver, no, even if it is one tael of silver per catty, it would be impossible to buy the grain in this warehouse without several million taels of silver.
Several million taels of silver is the national treasury's annual revenue.
"Tell me, what does he want?"
Liu Tan lowered his head slightly and said in a low voice:
"The merchant had three requests. First, he was willing to sell us the grain at a price of ten coins per pound, but he didn't want silver. He wanted to exchange it for an equal amount of jade, agate, pearls, coral, and antique paintings."
Prefect Su silently did some calculations. If the grain in a warehouse was sold at the price of ten cents per pound, the cost would be no more than thirty thousand taels of silver, which was within their affordability. As for exchanging it for gold, silver and jewelry, it would not be difficult either.
It also depends on the following two conditions.
"The second condition is that he hopes to be on good terms with you, Governor Su."
Making friends is fake, seeking protection is real.
Prefect Su thought he had seen through the businessman's plan. He had been exploited at every level along the way, so if he wanted to take this opportunity to find a backer, it was possible.
For Governor Su, this was just a piece of cake.
He was unwilling to do it in the past, but he was an upright person and didn't want to get involved in such things. He still had the ability to protect a small businessman.
Since the first two conditions are not important, it seems that the focus is on the third one.
Then Liu Tan stated the third condition:
"The third condition is that the businessman wants five places at Lushan Academy."
That's it?
Although Lushan Academy is the best academy in Jiangzhou, when it comes to studying and taking the imperial examinations, ultimately it does not depend on the academy, but on yourself.
Entering Lushan Academy is at best just icing on the cake.
Moreover, as a businessman from another place, why would he need a place in Jiangzhou’s academy?
Although this request does not seem to be a problem, Governor Su still habitually analyzes the motives behind this request.
"Strictly speaking, this request was not made by the businessman. His main goal is to establish a good relationship with you. This is for the middleman's children."
Speaking of which, he was a little surprised when he learned about this.
After not seeing each other for a few months, his brother-in-law who was obsessed with business had become someone else's husband without him noticing.
Now Magistrate Su was completely relieved. So that's what it was.
He waved his hand and agreed.
As for how those students are doing in Lushan Academy, he has no control over it.
"You are very good. It just so happens that this year is the once-in-three-years performance review. For a talent like you, it's time to move up."
After Magistrate Su had the confidence and a way out, his originally restless heart calmed down. He glanced at Liu Qin and said meaningfully.
Liu Tan showed joy on his face, having heard the hidden meaning in the words.
Isn't he putting so much effort into making further progress in officialdom?
There was no hope for the imperial examination, and as a juren, his career as a county magistrate had reached its end.
This achievement gave him hope.
"For the next things, you will stay in Jiangzhou City and help."
"Yes!"