Upon hearing Fang Yun's voice, not only those aides who were well versed in political affairs, but even Ao Huang and Yang Yuhuan trembled slightly.
Although humans have abundant resources and do not lack food most of the time, the price of food is always the most sensitive topic.
The county government seemed to have suddenly returned from March to the cold winter, and the scholars' talent to withstand the cold seemed to have disappeared.
Under the escort of numerous private soldiers, the county government's carriage rushed towards the Ning'an County granary at twice the speed than usual.
Afterwards, Fang Yun held the official seal in his hand, and his thoughts were quickly transmitted through the official seal and the holy temple, directly reaching the official seal of the chief treasurer in charge of the granary, and turned into a loud sound.
"This county will arrive at the granary immediately!"
On the way, Fang Yun kept delivering letters.
"Yingwu, investigate the situation at the grain store immediately."
"Captain Lu, the price of grain has changed. Please maintain order in Ning'an County."
"Prefect Cai, could you please send me the documents from Qingwu Prefecture regarding grain prices and grain circulation?"
Fang Yun sent many documents and thought a lot. He vaguely understood the intentions and methods of Zuo Xiang and his party, but everything had to wait until he arrived at the granary.
Soon, the carriage stopped in front of the Ning'an County granary.
Fang Yun got out of the car quickly, and Ao Huang followed nervously behind.
"Kushili Sen greets His Excellency!" Then a middle-aged man in a boy's robe hurried over to greet him.
Fang Yun glanced at the man and asked, "How much grain is left in the granary?"
Li Kushi was stunned and said, "Why do you say that, sir? Last night, the Yingyang Army came with a grain transfer order and took away all the grain in the granary with the people from the Transportation Department. I wrote the document this morning and ordered someone to deliver it to the county government. Your Excellency, don't you know?"
Fang Yun's face darkened. Although he had known that Zuo Xiang and his gang would target the granary, he did not expect them to use such tough measures.
The Yingyang Army guards Mizhou, and Ning'an County is within its jurisdiction. Let alone mobilizing grain and grass for the entire county, it would be easy to even take away the grain and grass for the entire Qingwu Prefecture.
However, no matter how tough the Yingyang Army is, it must go through the Transportation Department.
Fang Yun turned his head and looked in the direction of the Ning'an County Transportation Office. Geng Ge had already taken action, and General Ying Yang had already taken action. A Hanlin and a Grand Secretary had firmly grasped Ning'an County's throat.
Ao Huang asked anxiously: "Can we take the food back?"
Fang Yun said: "Fang Xusheng is capable, but Fang Yun cannot replace the county magistrate."
Ao Huang sighed silently. If this wasn't the palace examination, Fang Yun could even go and rob the food directly, but he couldn't do that during the palace examination.
Fang Yun didn't even look at Li Kushi, he turned around and left.
Li Ku Shi was transferred to the granary as the storekeeper in January this year. Before that, he was just an ordinary clerk and was extremely innocent. It was obvious that the Zuo Xiang’s party had been preparing for this day for a long time!
Ao Huang followed behind and said, "What about the grain? You only have two options now. One is to force the grain merchants to lower the price of grain, and the other is to transfer grain from other places."
"Let's go to the Beimang Army camp," Fang Yun got on the driveway, "I just got news from Cai He. All the grain shops in Ning'an County have been owned by Qingyuan Grain Store!"
"What?" Ao Huang was startled.
Qing State has a superior geographical location and is a major grain-producing country, and Qingyuan Grain Store is the first grain store in Qing State and the second grain store for the human race.
Behind the Qingyuan Grain Store are the many holy families and wealthy families of Qing Kingdom!
Last year, only 20% of the grain shops in Ning'an County belonged to Qingyuan Grain Store.
"Impossible! Some of the grain shops in Ning'an County belong to wealthy families or even aristocratic families in Jing State. There is no way they will be sold to Qingyuan Grain Store."
"Of course, Qingyuan Grain Store couldn't have bought the grain under its own name. They bribed two wealthy families in Jing State, and with the cooperation of several families in Wu State, they spent three months buying all the grain shops in Ning'an County under the name of dozens of grain stores. Even Cai He only got the news today. Soon, the person who got the news will definitely send me a letter."
"It's normal for those small grain shops to be unable to withstand the pressure. Why would those wealthy families want to sell their grain shops?"
"The Demon Saint Wolf Slaughter is about to go south, and the barbarians are invading in large numbers. Many families have been slowly selling their properties in Ning'an County. The obstacles I encountered in severely punishing the workshop owner this time are relatively small, to a certain extent, because many families have already abandoned their workshops here. What's more, which family do you think is responsible for the grain shop? Bribing them is as easy as pie."
As soon as Fang Yun finished speaking, he received an urgent letter from Zeng Yuan who was far away in Kongcheng.
"Oh no! I just got the news that Qingyuan Grain Store has acquired all the grain stores in Ning'an County. They may be targeting you!"
Soon, Kong Detian also sent an urgent letter.
"Be careful with the grain store."
Although Zeng Yuan was from the Zengzi family, because of the bet he had with Fang Yun, after Fang Yun wrote many war poems that were passed down through the ages, he was gradually regarded as Fang Yun's aide. It was not a big deal for him to help Fang Yun in the palace examination.
As a member of the Kong family, it was extremely taboo for Kong Detian to send a letter to Fang Yun during the palace examination. However, Kong Detian did it anyway. In addition to their life-threatening friendship, it was obvious that the situation was urgent!
Afterwards, good friends who had passed the palace examination, including Yan Yukong and Zong Wude, actually sent letters one after another.
"There seems to be something wrong with the grain prices in Qing Kingdom. Oh, it would be bad if it affects my palace examination." Zong Wude seemed to be complaining.
"Fang Yun, what do you think about curbing grain prices?" Yan Yukong seemed to be discussing ways to govern a county.
When Fang Yun saw these letters, he felt warm in his heart. Due to their status or rules, these people could not directly reveal the affairs of the Qingyuan Grain Store, but they used this method to remind him.
Fang Yun was originally a little depressed, and even discouraged by the gap in power between himself and the aristocratic families. However, after seeing the expedited letters one after another, many of which were from his competitors who had also passed the palace examination, he gradually regained his confidence.
The Zuo Xiang’s party, the Qingyuan Grain Store, and the noble families behind them may represent a powerful force for the human race, but these people who deliver the letters also represent a force!
The latter is one of the reasons why the human race continues to grow and develop, and it is also one of the reasons why Fang Yun is willing to serve the human race.
Ao Huang thought for a moment and said, "It seems that we can only transfer food from other places."
"If the Transportation Bureau allows it, if the Yingyang Army allows it." Fang Yun said.
Ao Huang was stunned, with a look of shock on his face, and said, "You mean that the Yingyang Army, the Transportation Bureau, the Qingyuan Grain Store, and all the forces of Zuo Xiang's party will prevent grain from being transported to Ning'an County?"
"Yes, all normal channels have been blocked! If I dare to transport it, the Yingyang Army will dare to seize it!"
Ao Huang immediately said: "That's too simple. You have the River Drinking Shells and I have the Sea Swallowing Shells. Let's just go out and buy grain and bring it back, and then open our own grain shop to sell it!"
"You probably forgot the document that the Mizhou Household Department just issued. In order to curb grain prices, all places in Mizhou are prohibited from issuing grain cards before August. In other words, before August, even if you buy a lot of grain, there is nowhere to sell it! Only the old grain shop can sell it!"
"You mean, the decree issued by the Ministry of Households is not aimed at grain prices at all, but at you?"
"Well, they have used all their strength to encircle me and defeat me in the area of food, which is the most sensitive issue for the people!" Fang Yun said.
Ao Huang said angrily: "Then we can just buy them with our own money and give them to the people of Ning'an County for free. We have plenty of silver anyway!"
"Fang Xusheng can do it, but Fang County Magistrate cannot." Fang Yun said.
"Why not?"
"Yes, but after the submission, the subjects of livelihood and agriculture will be downgraded to the Ding grade until the palace examination is over!" Fang Yun said.
(To be continued…)