Chapter 158 Endless and Unceasing

Imperial Palace.

Emperor Li Shimin was listening to Fang Xuanling's detailed report regarding the grain war.

"Lord Fang, are you saying that despite the Prince of Jin showing goodwill, releasing the heads of the major aristocratic families, and returning their wealth, they are still stubbornly determined to oppose the imperial court?"

Li Shimin was furious.

These aristocratic families were simply acting lawlessly.

If pushed to the absolute limit, regardless of the consequences, he could simply dispatch troops to annihilate all these clans. Even if that brought some disaster, the realm could undoubtedly recover after a few years of rest and recuperation.

However, Li Shimin felt that things had not yet reached the point where such drastic measures were necessary.

With a cautious expression, Fang Xuanling replied, "The Prince of Jin has already contacted merchants across various regions—especially those in Jiangnan who hold massive stockpiles of grain—and is utilizing them to purchase grain in places like Hedong to fill the shortage in the Guanlong region."

Li Shimin nodded.

This seemed like a sound idea.

"I only fear that distant water cannot quench a near fire."

Li Shimin possessed a relatively high level of strategic insight.

Fang Xuanling countered, "On the contrary, the Prince of Jin has provided convenient channels enabling them to gather sufficient grain outside Guanlong in a short period and continuously transport it to Guanzhong, Hanzhong, and other areas."

"The Great Tang has not experienced any major disasters over the past two years, and grain production has been largely adequate. The shortage in the Guanlong region alone will not cause other areas to have no grain available for dispatch."

Hearing Fang Xuanling's report, Li Shimin nodded once more.

"Before provisions are moved, policies are set in motion. True to form, the Prince of Jin has not failed My high expectations."

Li Shimin quite approved of Li Zhi's approach.

Fang Xuanling proceeded with his report: "However, the Guanlong aristocratic families immediately launched a counterattack. They intend to use the wealth currently in their hands, along with funds raised from private sources, to monopolize the grain shipped into the Guanlong region."

"Before all the grain even crosses into the Guanlong territory, they purchase it at exorbitant rates—prices even higher than those on the open market..."

Li Shimin frowned again.

Since this was an economic war, it was impossible for only one side to make moves while the other merely parried.

This was a process of mutual strategizing, of thrust and counter-thrust.

Li Zhi's initial tactics had clearly been proactive, catching the Guanlong families off guard.

Yet, since the Guanlong families had been able to monopolize regional economies for centuries, they naturally possessed their own set of methods.

Purchasing the grain head-on might seem like a somewhat conventional tactic, but it was undeniably effective.

Li Shimin asked, "Did the Prince of Jin not prohibit these merchants from selling grain to the aristocratic families? Had he strictly forbidden any sales, what could the Guanlong families have achieved even with all their wealth?"

In Li Shimin's view, punishing the influence of the aristocratic families required the most iron-fisted methods.

As long as an explicit ban forbade merchants from selling grain to the clans, the merchants would certainly not dare violate the prohibition, leaving the aristocratic families with no way to cope.

Fang Xuanling sighed, "That was precisely what this old minister failed to understand at first. His Highness the Prince of Jin did not place any restrictions on whom these merchants could sell their grain to."

"Merchants are naturally driven by profit, so goods invariably go to the highest bidder. The aristocratic families offered extremely high prices precisely to secure a monopoly and preempt any related imperial bans."

"This old minister has gradually come to realize that even if His Highness the Prince of Jin had issued such a ban, the effectiveness would likely have been limited. The aristocratic families could simply dispatch their own agents to places like Hedong to buy up the surplus grain, thereby driving up prices anyway."

"Furthermore, once the grain enters Guanlong, the clans can utilize private local merchants to make purchases. Out-of-town merchants cannot easily distinguish between what is required by ordinary commoners and what is being bought by agents of the aristocratic families, making it impossible to maintain an airtight defense!"

Having listened to Fang Xuanling's analysis, Li Shimin's first thought was that Fang Xuanling's capabilities were truly extraordinary.

Even such complex matters could be reasoned out so clearly by him.

Link after link was almost seamlessly fitted together.

Li Shimin asked, "Does that mean the Prince of Jin has exhausted all his tactics?"

"In this old minister's view, not necessarily," Fang Xuanling continued his analysis. "Since the Prince of Jin has made his move, he must have subsequent stratagems in reserve. Moreover, there is an abundance of grain across the various regions; relying solely on the liquid funds currently in their hands, the Guanlong families cannot possibly monopolize all the grain being transported to Guanlong all at once. Right now, only the grain from nearby areas like Hedong has arrived. In another ten days to a half-month, grain from distant places like Hebei and Shandong will also arrive, and in about a month, the grain from Jiangnan will reach us as well."

"Hahaha..."

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin felt a great sense of vindication.

Didn't the Guanlong aristocratic families think they had deep pockets?

Then let all the grain in the realm be shipped to the Guanlong region, and let's see how long they can afford to keep buying.

Seeing that Li Shimin was in good spirits, Fang Xuanling accompanied him with a smile and said, "Even now, the families in the Guanlong region have already begun borrowing from private lenders. Perhaps they are not short of money right now precisely to demonstrate to the Prince of Jin that they will spare no expense to fight this grain war."

A deep look crossed Li Shimin's brow as he nodded and remarked, "Are there really people in the private sector bold enough to lend to them, unafraid that they might end up unable to repay?"

Fang Xuanling replied, "If things develop normally and grain prices continue to rise, the Guanlong families will eventually be able to settle their debts simply with the grain they currently hold, and they might even make an astronomical fortune."

Hearing this, a trace of worry crept back into Li Shimin's expression.

Suddenly, Fang Xuanling became extremely cautious and said, "It is just that this minister heard a rumor from back-alley sources... I cannot be entirely certain... and this matter is also of the utmost confidentiality... It is said that..."

In an unkind tone, Li Shimin demanded, "If you have something to say, speak your mind. Why stutter and hesitate?"

Bowing, Fang Xuanling answered, "Yes, Your Majesty."

"This minister received word from someone close to the Prince of Jin in Hounong, which claimed that the Prince of Jin is actually engaging in covert lending, intending to funnel money through underground channels to lend to the aristocratic families."

Astonished, Li Shimin blurted out, "What?"

Perhaps the news was simply too explosive.

Both Li Shimin and Fang Xuanling reserved judgment regarding the authenticity of this information.

After a long while, Li Shimin finally spoke: "If this is indeed true, then it seems I was indeed worrying needlessly. The Prince of Jin must have a much more meticulous method for handling this affair, which is why he is lending money to those aristocratic families, letting them believe victory is already within their grasp."

"Who else knows of this intelligence?"

Hurriedly, Fang Xuanling replied, "Within the capital, only this minister knows, and I have now reported it directly to Your Majesty."

"Then seal this news away at once. On no account must the aristocratic families catch wind of it, lest they take precautions."

"I am increasingly eager to see the outcome of this grand drama. This is, after all, the first major political stage performance for the Prince of Jin."

"Zhi'er has grown up!"

In Li Shimin's eyes, everything Li Zhi had done in the past, though earth-shattering, had not quite reached the prominent level of today's arena.

If Li Zhi could handle this matter successfully, he would truly possess the capacity to become the crown prince.

A ruler required not only an iron fist, but even more so, flexible and versatile methods.

He longed to see Li Zhi emerge victorious in the end.

And he was waiting in anticipation.