The immortal of the Tang Dynasty, but the game starts at Xuanwu Gate?

Since Wang Bai released the news, major grain merchants such as Lü Xun, Zhang Ming, and Ma Yan have all changed their strategies and are no longer in a hurry to sell their grain.

Previously, people from the Ministry of Revenue had contacted them and expressed their intention to purchase grain.

The group was still feeling troubled, because they couldn't afford to offend the Ministry of Revenue, so they could only deal with it in a humble manner.

Of course, this was exactly what the Ministry of Revenue wanted.

Under the instructions of Chen Huai'an and Pei Ju, they were just putting on an act, pretending to want to buy, but in reality they had no intention of buying anything.

One party didn't want to sell, and the other didn't want to buy; the final outcome was self-evident.

The Ministry of Revenue achieved its goal, and the grain merchants breathed a sigh of relief, believing that they had not offended anyone in the Ministry of Revenue and had not sold their grain at a low price.

In April, a piece of news spread, causing an uproar throughout Chang'an and many other regions.

"Your Excellency, the price of grain has already exceeded one string of cash!"

Chang Gui found Chen Huai'an in the Ministry of Works that day, his voice trembling.

This price is astonishing. During the chaos at the end of the Sui Dynasty, the average price of grain in various regions was no more than this.

It's so high it's frightening.

Chen Huai'an waved his hand casually: "It's just one string of cash. Be quiet, it's far from the highest price yet."

"This isn't the highest?" Chang Gui exclaimed in astonishment. "Minister, this is a string of cash!"

"A peck of rice costs a hundred coins!"

"Even if the imperial court is very wealthy, it will still feel the pinch to buy grain at this price."

"A peck of rice costs a hundred coins..." Chen Huai'an said with some emotion. "Don't worry, in the end, it might even come down to a peck of rice costing a single silk thread. For now, relax."

"As the disaster in Shandong worsens and the Guanzhong region continues to experience food shortages, prices will continue to rise."

Chang Gui's eyes were vacant.

A peck of rice and a piece of silk?

Wouldn't one shi of grain cost about three or even four guan?

Three or four hundred coins for a peck of rice?

"Minister, many officials in the court are getting restless!" Chang Gui said anxiously. "Many officials have already submitted memorials to His Majesty, hoping that Your Majesty will punish the grain merchants who are driving up grain prices. Some have even gone so far as to request that Your Majesty behead these grain merchants and display their heads to the public."

"Currently, not only in Chang'an, but also throughout Guanzhong, public resentment is growing. If this continues, the consequences will be unimaginable!"

Only a few people knew about Chen Huai'an's plan; the rest were unaware of it.

That's why Chang Guicai was in such a hurry.

"What does that have to do with our Ministry of Industry?" Chen Huai'an asked directly.

Chang Gui was speechless for a moment.

It seems... probably... maybe, it really has nothing to do with their Ministry of Industry!

These matters were generally handled by the Ministry of Revenue, while the Ministry of Works was only in charge of engineering projects and had nothing to do with grain prices.

If Chen Huai'an hadn't proposed the work-for-relief program, the disaster would have been none of their concern.

"Just do your job well," Chen Huai'an said calmly. "If the Ministry of Revenue issues a notice that new disaster victims have appeared, then continue to employ them and let them reclaim wasteland."

"You just need to take care of these things; you don't need to worry about anything else."

"Yes, Minister!" Chang Gui said, somewhat aggrieved.

He also came from a humble background, and his spirit and passion remained undiminished.

With grain prices soaring like this, countless people are dying, yet he is powerless to do anything about it.

This feeling is really infuriating!

Not long after Chang Gui left, Wei Zheng, Fang Xuanling, and Du Fu came looking for him.

Wei Zheng said sternly, "Mr. Chen, grain prices are skyrocketing outside, and public discontent is boiling over. Aren't you going to do anything about it?"

Chen Huai'an was astonished: "What the hell do I care? Please, look where you are! The Ministry of Works! I'm the Minister of Works!"

Du Ruhui twitched his lips: "Mr. Chen, what time is it? Stop pretending. All of us know you've already taken over the Ministry of Revenue's affairs."

"These days, aren't a lot of documents from the Ministry of Revenue being sent to you?"

Fang Xuanling nodded and said, "Mr. Chen, we just want to know, what are you, the Ministry of Revenue, and His Majesty up to? Can you control this? You've caused such a commotion; if things aren't handled properly, it could really lead to a major disaster."

Chen Huai'an was somewhat surprised: "How did you know we were behind this?"

The three men's lips twitched simultaneously. Wei Zheng said speechlessly, "So this really is your doing?"

Chen Huai'an: ?

"You tricked me?" Chen Huai'an roared in anger. "I trusted you so much, how could you do this to me?"

The three of them were immediately relieved. Knowing that it was the other party and His Majesty's doing, they were no longer worried.

Du Ruhui chuckled and said, "Mr. Chen, grain prices are rising so abnormally, and the Ministry of Revenue is nominally buying grain at high prices, but where is the grain?"

"You've been collecting for so long, have you collected ten thousand shi (a unit of dry measure) yet?"

"Before we came, we had some doubts, but now we are completely certain."

Chen Huai'an glanced at them, somewhat speechless.

Thinking about it carefully, these three people were setting a trap for him from the very beginning. First, Wei Zheng asked a question with a hint of accusation, then Du Ruhui, and then Fang Xuanling asked that crucial question.

He wanted to say, "Is it really that serious?"

"Wei Zheng, let your daughter wait!" Chen Huai'an sneered.

Wei Zheng wasn't angry this time; instead, he grinned and said, "Lord Chen, you'll be getting married someday. I hope you don't have a daughter, otherwise I'll make sure my son is waiting for your daughter."

Chen Huai'an: !!!

"You damned old scoundrel Wei, I'm not even married yet, and you're already eyeing my daughter?" Chen Huai'an roared. "Get out! Get out of here right now!"

"Hahahaha!" Wei Zheng laughed loudly, and without asking Chen Huai'an and Li Shimin what they planned to do, he left triumphantly.

Du Ruhui and Fang Xuanling chuckled, said goodbye to Chen Huai'an, and then left.

They didn't need to know what Chen Huai'an and Li Shimin were planning; they only needed to know that the skyrocketing grain prices were indeed their doing.

If they knew, Li Shimin and Chen Huai'an wouldn't have kept it from them.

Since nothing has been said, it means that this matter is not suitable for people to know.

However... they were still curious.

What were Chen Huai'an and Li Shimin planning to do, and why did they want to inflate grain prices?

What exactly is the intention?

After the group left, Chen Huai'an cursed under his breath, knowing he couldn't stay any longer, or more officials would come looking for him.

They immediately went to the East Palace.

During this period, Li Shimin bore almost all the pressure alone.

Old Li has it tough too.

At that moment, Li Shimin received a message and his face lit up with joy. He then heard that Chen Huai'an was requesting an audience, so he immediately let him in.

"Huai'an, look." Li Shimin handed the secret report in his hand to Chen Huai'an, in a rather good mood. "Since the price of grain rose to one string of cash, many grain merchants, large and small, have been transporting grain from all over the country."

"The waterways have become congested, and the land routes are filled with escort convoys every day. Damn it, what nonsense about Guanzhong lacking food? I see there is clearly plenty of food."

As they were talking, Li Shimin started cursing.

Chen Huai'an nodded: "Why is Your Majesty angry? This is good news for us. Why don't we kill Wei Zheng to celebrate?"

Li Shimin: ?

"..."