Dad, don't be greedy! My brother climbed into the emperor's bed, and I became famous overn

Cui Ming's lips were pressed into a thin line.

The Cui family has been in power for over a century; which leader wouldn't give them some face?

No emperor dared to openly challenge the Cui family.

The problem is, Xiao Ye doesn't play the conventional game!

His method of action was too direct.

They didn't even bother to cover it up; they were clearly trying to slap the Cui family in the face in front of everyone.

"Brother, can we really control the young emperor regarding grain prices?"

Cui Ming was unsure.

The way this young emperor does things has exceeded their expectations.

Now, with the help of the Da Yong Min Bao newspaper and the Pu Ji Tang, the Cui family's gambling table has been completely overturned.

Cui Yuan slowly pulled a piece of paper covered with calculations from the table.

"This is a detailed list of grain reserves in various regions over the past two months. We have already consumed 30% of the loose grain from the six prefectures south of the Yangtze River."

"The price of grain in Kyoto has now risen to forty or fifty wen per dou. At this rate, if we start to tighten our shipments after autumn, we can force the price of grain in the capital to break one hundred wen."

He pointed his index finger at a line of numbers on the document.

"The locust plague in the north caused a complete crop failure this year, leaving a gap in the allocation of military rations."

"If we put in a little more effort and take back the remaining 30% of the loose grain in Jiangnan, the grain lifeline of the entire Dayong will be in our hands."

"When the emperor wants to oppose us, he will have to consider the people's livelihood."

Having suffered at the hands of the emperor, Cui Ming is now wary of anything he plans.

"Brother, our spies in Kyoto have found out that the Gu family's Pujitang Logistics Park has recently started secretly collecting grain."

Cui Yuan frowned, becoming somewhat wary.

"How much?"

"The exact figures are unclear. But according to our sources, they are buying grain regardless of cost, offering a high price of thirty wen per dou (a unit of dry measure). Moreover, they are using small-scale, individual farmers as their channels, keeping a low profile."

"If our people hadn't happened to be at the logistics park and witnessed the Pujitang workers unloading grain from the canal boat, we wouldn't have noticed at all."

Cui Yuan pondered for a moment.

"What information did Puji Hall receive that they were planning to secretly seize grain?"

As the two were discussing strategies for dealing with grain prices, hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the courtyard.

"My lord! My lord!"

The manager's voice rang out from outside the door, filled with barely suppressed panic.

Cui Yuan raised his chin.

The door was pushed open, and the steward jogged in, clutching a letter whose sealing wax had just been removed.

"Your Excellency, Military Advisor Zhao, under Governor-General Wu of Jiangnan, has just arrived and is waiting in the front hall. He says he has urgent business to report in person."

Cui Ming frowned.

Wu De, the Governor-General of Jiangnan, was in charge of the Jiangnan Grand Camp and was the Cui family's number one pawn in the Jiangnan officialdom.

For his people to make the trip personally, it must be no small matter.

Cui Yuan stood up from his chair and straightened his cuffs.

"Let him speak in the front hall."

In the front hall, the military advisor surnamed Zhao was covered in dust from his journey.

Upon seeing Cui Yuan, he quickly presented a secret report with both hands.

"Your Excellency, Prince Qi, Xiao Jue, has suddenly arrived in Lingzhou. He is accompanied by a small number of people and is keeping a very low profile."

Cui Ming was completely bewildered. He exchanged a glance with Cui Yuan and asked:

"The King of Qi? What's he doing in Lingzhou?"

Zhao, the military advisor, was unaware of the Cui family's schemes, so he answered all their questions.

"I heard... they're here to finalize a project called 'Da Yong First Commodity Wholesale City'."

"I heard that the imperial court is planning to build a large-scale palace in Lingzhou. As soon as Prince Qi arrived at his residence today, several groups of people came to visit him."

"What?!"

Cui Ming was getting anxious.

The news that the imperial court was going to build a commodity city in Lingzhou was first obtained by the Cui family from the Ministry of Revenue.

Unexpectedly, the King of Qi came to Lingzhou on official business without making a sound.

Cui Ming turned to look at Cui Yuan.

"Brother, this is a golden opportunity."

"The Kyoto shopping mall was acquired by Pujitang, and now they are imperial merchants, enjoying preferential treatment."

"Lingzhou is the Cui family's territory. If someone else snatches this project away, it's like planting a nail in our doorstep."

Cui Yuan did not respond.

He sat in the armchair, his gaze deep and thoughtful.

"The King of Qi has come at the wrong time."

Cui Ming was taken aback.

"How so?"

"We were just focusing on buying up grain, preparing to monopolize grain prices. But at this crucial moment, the imperial court sent the Prince of Qi to Lingzhou to set up some kind of commodity city."

Cui Yuan raised his eyelids and looked at his younger brother.

"Don't you think it's too much of a coincidence?"

Cui Ming fell silent.

He wasn't without his doubts. But the profits from the commodity market were so enormous that he didn't want to think about conspiracy theories.

Cui Yuan withdrew his gaze, his tone indifferent.

"Send men to keep an eye on the King of Qi's residence. Record exactly who went there and what they discussed; don't miss a single word. We'll discuss it again in two days."

The next day.

Two spies from the Cui family were already squatting opposite the Lingzhou residence early in the morning.

One man carried an empty load of goods, pretending to rest, while another set up a tea stall, fanning himself with a palm-leaf fan as he secretly glanced at the inn's gate.

At Chen Shi (7-9 AM), there were more pedestrians on the street.

A carriage that looked like that of a wealthy family stopped in front of the main gate of the mansion.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and a young man in his early twenties stepped out.

The man was wearing a smoky gray round-necked, narrow-sleeved robe. He had a refined and handsome face, and his demeanor exuded the composure unique to scions of noble families.

The two spies exchanged a glance and covered their mouths, lowering their voices.

"He is the eldest grandson of the Shen family, Shen Yanqing."

The Shen family of Lingzhou inherited their title for three generations and were in the grain business.

Although not as large as the Cui family, it is still considered a major grain merchant in the local area.

However, over the years, they have been suffocated by the Cui family and have been operating discreetly in a few southern counties.

However, a while ago, Shen Yanqing accepted Pei Yu's invitation to participate in the Cuju (ancient Chinese football) tournament and became a member.

The Shen family is now considered to have insider information.

Shen Yanqing got out of the carriage, straightened his robe, and handed the visiting card to the guards at the door with both hands.

The guard took it, glanced at it, and then turned to go inside to announce the news.

In just a moment, the doors of the mansion were opened from the inside.

Shen Yanqing entered the residence without incident.

In the next half hour, two more groups of people arrived.

One was a young man who looked to be eighteen or nineteen years old.

The boy was wearing a brand-new indigo robe with a small copper coin pattern embroidered on the cuff.

The other group consisted of two middle-aged men who arrived on horseback, and at first glance, they exuded a strong sense of江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry).

The guards at the entrance of the guesthouse read their invitations and let them in as well.

The scout memorized the faces and clothing of the three groups of people.

But today, it's impossible for me to enter the residence to inquire about news.

Because the entrance is guarded by Dragon Scale Guards, even if someone wanted to find a familiar person to use the back door, they couldn't get into the mansion.

In the end, they could only sit outside the inn and wait for the three groups of people to come out before asking around.