Chapter 162: Far from at Ease

The awakening merchants felt deeply resentful in their hearts, yet they could only blame themselves for failing to respond actively to Li Zhi.

Had they done so, they would not have fallen into their current predicament.

However, as long as they could ship the grain back in time, even if they suffered some losses, those would mostly be transportation costs. Grain prices in other regions were also on the rise, so they would not lose too much.

Li Zhi issued a stern warning: "Most of you have already made money, and from now on, you must act according to my rules."

"The most important rule is that no one is allowed to assist the Guanlong aristocratic families in selling their grain. Anyone caught helping them transport grain to other places to be sold will have their property confiscated and face criminal charges!"

Li Zhi's words carried immense deterrent power.

The merchants present fully understood the implications.

If the Guanlong families were blocked from transporting their grain outward, they would have no choice but to sell it locally or watch it rot in their hands.

Grain was something that could normally be stored for a year or two.

However, the storage conditions required were extremely harsh.

Furthermore, these great aristocratic families had borrowed heavily from outside sources to purchase grain. Now, lacking the capacity to continue storing it, they had no choice but to find a way to sell the grain to repay their debts.

"We naturally understand."

Some merchants stepped forward to express their absolute obedience to Li Zhi's commands.

Li Zhi did not entirely trust these businessmen.

Merchants pursued profit above all else.

Previously, they had sold their grain directly to the aristocratic families, leaving very little to circulate in the open market.

It was only because this matter fell within his own plans that he had spared these double-dealing merchants from punishment.

Now, while they professed obedience with their lips, who could tell if they would say one thing to his face and do another behind his back?

He had to use strict laws and harsh punishments to keep them in check—execute one for every single violation.

Make an example of a few to warn the rest.

"Very well. Someone else will contact you regarding the establishment of the Chamber of Commerce. I have other matters to attend to and will not stay here any longer."

As the Prince of Jin, Li Zhi did not need to personally entertain this low-tier group of merchants.

It was sufficient to leave the negotiations to his subordinates.

...

Upon returning to his residence, Zhao Tang already had the preliminary statistics of this commercial operation ready for Li Zhi.

"Your Highness, although the grain war has not yet concluded, we have already made a profit of sixty million guan. In addition, more than fifty million guan has yet to be collected and is waiting to be dunned."

Zhao Tang had never admired anyone as much as he admired Li Zhi right now.

Li Zhi's strategic mastery allowed him to truly witness what supreme wisdom looked like.

It also made him realize his own shortcomings compared to Li Zhi.

Li Zhi nodded and said, "This grain war is not yet over. The key to victory does not lie with me, but rather with the support of the imperial court."

"Hmm?"

Zhao Tang was momentarily startled.

After a brief moment of thought, he understood.

If not for Li Li Shi-min's secret backing, Li Zhi might not have achieved victory so effortlessly.

"Has my uncle arrived in Hongnong yet?"

Li Zhi had not seen Zhangsun Wuji for several days.

Zhao Tang smiled and replied, "Your uncle has been here for nearly ten days already."

"Then bring him to see me. I have some things I need him to take back to Chang'an."

Li Zhi did not elaborate further.

Once Zhao Tang brought Zhangsun Wuji into his presence, Li Zhi handed over a document.

"Your Highness, what is this?"

Zhangsun Wuji looked at Li Zhi with a smile.

Li Zhi smiled back. "This is fifty million guan for my imperial father, which I intend for you to transport back to Chang'an together."

"What?!"

Zhangsun Wuji's jaw nearly dropped to the floor.

Fifty million guan?!

What kind of concept was that?

If these funds were transported back to Chang'an, wouldn't Emperor Li Shimin be overjoyed?

Li Zhi frowned and asked, "What? Do you not wish to accept this task?"

"No, no, no! I am more than willing to accept this task, and I will certainly not fail Your Highness's trust." Zhangsun Wuji was no fool.

Such a wonderful assignment was tantamount to being handed a great merit on a silver platter.

The duties stripped from him previously by Li Shimin might now be fully recovered in one stroke, and perhaps he could even advance further.

However, since the ultimate credit belonged to Li Zhi, he did not dare to claim it as his own.

For now, his greatest hope was simply that Li Shimin would be so pleased as to restore him to his former official position.

Li Zhi smiled lightly and said, "Then hurry and make the arrangements. The money will be loaded onto the carriages tomorrow morning. I won't see you off."

"Very well, very well."

Elation filled Zhangsun Wuji's heart.

He hurried off to make the necessary preparations.

After Zhangsun Wuji departed, Zhao Tang appeared deeply perplexed.

"Your Highness, Hongnong itself is in desperate need of funds right now. Even if we are to pay tribute to the imperial court, there is no need to rush it at this very moment."

Zhao Tang was likely still feeling a pang of heartache over those fifty million guan.

Li Zhi gave a cold chuckle.

Clearly, Zhao Tang's ideological realm had not reached his level.

"Money is merely a number to me now. If I do not present a larger tribute, how can I seal the mouths of those in the court who level groundless criticisms against me?"

Li Zhi was currently moving to suppress the Guanlong aristocratic families, and opposition within the imperial court remained fierce.

Even though some could see that this was Li Shimin's own intention executed through Li Zhi as an proxy, they still dared not openly voice too much opposition on the surface.

Instead, they were simply waiting to watch Li Zhi stumble; the moment he made a mistake in any step of the process, they would blow that error entirely out of proportion.

Transporting fifty million guan back now served not only to silence these critics but also to demonstrate his capabilities to Li Shimin.

Did they truly think he, Li Zhi, aimed merely to be an ordinary imperial prince of the Great Tang?

The entire realm would belong to him in the future.

Still only half-understanding, Zhao Tang smiled and said, "Your Highness is truly brilliant."

Li Zhi waved a hand dismissively. "I have heard enough flattery; you don't need to add to it. What you need to do is assist me properly and wrap up the tail end of this grain war."

"Yes, yes." Zhao Tang hastily nodded in agreement.

Li Zhi issued one more reminder: "Since the various aristocratic families now wish to sell off their grain, we must cut off their escape routes. Local officials, especially those prefects—if any of them fail to cooperate, report them to me directly so I can memorialize the throne for their removal."

"From now on, the aristocratic families of this Guanlong region had better tuck in their tails and live humbly, or else I will reduce them to utter ruin."

...

The grain war competition had now entered garbage time.

The Guanlong aristocratic families had completely collapsed.

Those few clans without external debts were still fortunate; they could hoard their grain and wait to sell it the following year.

Even if the new grain turned into old grain and its price dropped somewhat, at least their losses would not be catastrophic.

Yet for the majority of aristocratic families burdened with heavy debts incurred just to fight this grain war, they urgently needed to unload the grain in their hands. Otherwise, the sheer interest on their outside borrowings would crush them to dust.

Li Longjiang was currently helping Li Zhi collect debts.

Previously, he had been a fence-sitter playing both sides.

Now, standing firmly on Li Zhi's side and utilizing the power of the official administration to assist, he had also amassed a considerable fortune.

"They all want me to grant them leniency, but what were they doing earlier? Only now that the creditors are hammering at their doors do they remember I can offer them leeway?"

Li Longjiang felt immensely pleased with himself.

Where he used to fear retaliation from the aristocratic clans, he now found that members of those very clans were currying favor with him.

"Master, word is that young Lord Luo is bringing his men over again. The purpose of their visit this time... seems to be collecting debts."

A subordinate brought Li Longjiang news regarding Luo Tong's impending arrival.

Li Longjiang smiled. "What are we waiting for? Quick, make the arrangements. I intend to properly host young Lord Luo."