After coming out of Fujia Grain Store, Xu Hai and others had serious expressions, especially Taizhou prefect Tan Lun, who looked solemn.
Accompanied by Tan Lun, Xu Hai and his companions went to several grain stores. As the shop assistant of the wealthy grain store said, although the grain prices of these grain stores were 500 coins per stone, they were basically out of grain. After walking around the west side of the city, they only saw two grain stores still selling grain, but they were also limited in quantity. Only 100 catties of grain were available for sale every day, and each person could only buy 1 catty of grain. When Xu Hai and his companions arrived at the store, today's share had already been sold out, and the shop assistant asked them to come back early tomorrow.
Xu Hai and others asked them why they limited the amount of grain they sold. The shop assistants replied that they had no grain in their shop and it was difficult to transport grain, so they had no choice but to do so. If they were forced to release the grain sales, their grain shop would have to close down before they could sell a stick of incense.
"It seems that the flood situation in Jiangnan is still very serious."
After walking out of the West City Quarter, Xu Hai couldn't help but sigh with compassion and said in a heavy tone.
Although Taizhou Prefecture stabilized the price of grain, there was a price but no market for it. Most grain stores had no grain to sell, and the few that were still available were selling in limited quantities. What could they do with the 100 kilograms of grain sold daily? For Taizhou Prefecture, a city with a population of hundreds of thousands, this amount of grain was not even enough to fill the gaps between their teeth.
"Fortunately, Taizhou Prefecture stabilized the price of grain, otherwise the situation would be even more serious." Wang Meng spoke for Tan Lun.
After hearing Wang Meng's words, Taizhou prefect Tan Lun's embarrassing application was slightly relieved.
"Sir, we have found out the address of the nearest black market for grain." At this moment, a plainclothes Dongchang soldier came over and reported in a low voice to Zhang Guyi, the captain of the Dongchang Criminal Division.
The sound was not loud, but Xu Hai and others heard it.
Zhang Guyi smiled and said to Xu Hai and the others, "I heard from several grain store employees that the black market was on the rise, so I asked my men to look into it. Although it was a little slow, it didn't disappoint me. I want to go to the black market, would you like to go with me?"
It's so fast, and you still think it's too slow?! I just got the news about the black market, and the address was found the next moment!
Everyone looked sideways when they heard this.
The East Factory is worthy of being the East Factory. Although it is now suppressed by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, its power and ability to investigate and spy are still terrifying.
"Please lead the way, let's go together. It seems that the black market has become an inseparable part of food supply. If we don't go to the black market to take a look, we will be blinded by the trees and miss the big picture."
Xu Hai nodded.
So, under the guidance of the Dongchang guards, the group walked into a semi-enclosed old alley and arrived at the black market.
There were a lot of people in the black market. Horse-drawn carriages formed small stalls in the black market. The people selling grain covered their faces. There was not much grain in the black market. Many horse-drawn carriages selling grain were empty and were being driven out. There were only six or seven horse-drawn carriages left in the black market still selling grain. Many people surrounded the carriages and scrambled for the grain.
"Shopkeeper, how much are these grains for?" Xu Hai and others finally squeezed in front of a horse-drawn carriage that was selling grain and asked for the price.
"3,500 coins per dan of grain, no bargaining." The masked seller replied in a very arrogant tone without even looking up.
"What?! 3,500 Wen per stone?! Are you selling grain or robbing?!"
Xu Hai and others gasped in shock when they heard this. They couldn't believe their ears. Each stone of grain was sold for 3,500 coins! The price of grain was sky-high! They couldn't help but shout at the seller.
"Ha! You think it's too expensive? Turn left when you go out. No one will ask you to buy from you." The seller raised his head, glanced at Xu Hai and others, and sneered.
"What's your attitude?" Zuo Zhen glared at him, furious. "Do you know who we are?!"
"Shut up." Taizhou prefect Tan Lun pulled Zuo Zhen's arm and glared at him, lest he ruin the overall situation of the secret visit.
"Oh, who cares? I'm selling grain at this price. Buy if you want, otherwise get out! I'm telling you, there are only two bags of grain left in my shop. If they're sold out today, it will be at least ten days before you come back next time."
The seller's attitude was much more aggressive than Zuo Zhen's. He retorted to Zuo Zhen, saying that with grain in hand, the world is mine.
After Zuo Zhen was stopped by Tan Lun, he knew that this was not the time to reveal his identity. If he disrupted the overall situation of the secret visit, it would be Lord Fu Zun who would be in trouble, so he tried hard to restrain his anger.
"If you don't want to buy, please make way. Shopkeeper, he doesn't want to buy, but I will. I will buy, I want them all." The person behind had already become impatient. He pushed aside Zuo Zhen and others, squeezed forward, took out a purse from his arms, and threw it into the carriage without counting.
"I, I'll buy it."
Many people also squeezed forward, waving their money bags and shouting to buy food.
So the shopkeeper gave Zuo Zhen a smug look, lifted his face mask, spat at him, and cursed him as a "poor bastard".
I was so angry! When had I ever been humiliated like this before? Zuo Zhen couldn't help but get furious again, but he finally remembered not to cause trouble for the Lord of the Mansion, so he forced himself to hold back. He glared at the seller and made a note of him in his heart. Boy, I remember your face, just wait for me!
"Young man, don't be like him. Let me tell you, buying now is profitable. If you come to buy grain tomorrow, it's hard to say whether there is grain on the black market. Even if there is grain, the price will not be the same as today. If it doesn't increase by 100 or 200 coins, the sun will rise in the west. Today's grain price has increased by 150 coins per stone compared to yesterday. Alas... In this world, grain is the most important thing. Forget about the rest."
An old man patted Zuo Zhen's shoulder kindly, shook his head at him, and gave him some advice in a bleak tone.
After teaching Zuo Zhen, the old man also joined the army that was robbing food.
Xu Hai and his men looked grim. Soon, in just a few minutes, the six or seven horse-drawn carts that were selling grain had sold out and left. Many people waved their money bags, but could not buy grain.
well
The situation is so serious.
Although Taizhou Prefecture stabilized the price of grain, there was almost no grain to sell on the market, and the price of grain on the black market had risen to 3,500 wen per dan of grain. Even with such a high price, there was a serious shortage of grain on the black market. There was often a price but no demand, and people could not buy grain even with a bag of money.
As for cracking down on the black market and strictly controlling the grain prices in the black market? ! This is unrealistic and impossible. The grain black market is like a horse-drawn carriage. If you close it here, they will run to other places, just like cutting leeks. The reason why the black market is called the black market is because it is not exposed to the sun and is not controlled by the government.
After Xu Hai and others came out of the black market, the expressions on their faces were even more serious than when they came out of Chengxifang.