PNB Chapter 121 Everything is Ready
Chapter 121 Everything is Ready
Qi Liang came down the hillside and walked slowly forward. "If the officials can show sincerity, there is room for negotiation."
Yan He said directly, "Name your price."
Qi Liang said what Meng Fuqing had once said, "Why not use the prices from the grain shops in the city?"
Upon hearing this, Lord Hu, who had remained silent until now, said in a deep voice, "Are you making exorbitant demands on the government?"
Qi Liang gave a sneer, "With grain prices in Yezhou City like this, how come it's us asking for exorbitant prices?"
Yan He reached out to stop Lord Hu, who was about to step forward again, and asked Qi Liang, "I heard that you sell grain to the people at only half the price of grain in the city. What is this...?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Qi Liang said righteously. "My boss said that if the officials want to buy grain, they are robbing the refugees and the people in the city of grain. Our grain price is the same as the grain price in the city. If the officials negotiate the price with us, they are just exploiting the people and taking advantage of us refugees."
Given the current situation, what difference does it make who we sell this much grain to? Choosing to sell to ordinary people and refugees is simply to prevent our grain from being exploited at every level before it reaches the people!
His voice was loud and clear, and all the refugees who had not yet left heard him clearly.
The refugees faced the direction of the hillside, their expressions deeply moved. Someone in the crowd shouted "Good!" first, followed by thunderous applause and cheers.
Throughout history, those who win the hearts of the people have always won the world. Yan He knew that this group of people were not a bunch of reckless fools, but he never expected that they would use the hearts of the people to achieve their goals.
The smile on his face faded. "We represent the face of the Yezhou government. How could we do something like preying on the people? We just want to take your grain to help the refugees."
"Oh? So we misunderstood you?" Qi Liang touched his nose. "But my boss also said that we don't care whether you buy grain to provide relief to refugees or to continue raising grain prices for resale. The government must buy grain at the city's price, and only then can ordinary people get half price."
Lord Hu could no longer remain silent and said sternly, "Even at half price, it's still more than ten times the price before the war. Do you think this kind of action can win people's hearts?"
Qi Liang frowned; his father and Meng Fuqing had never told him this.
What the other party said was true; in the past, if anyone dared to sell him grain at such a high price, he would definitely take action.
However, he knew that he couldn't show weakness at a time like this, so he simply said, "They can sell a bushel of grain for nearly a tael of silver in the city, but we are much more conscientious than them..."
Before he could finish speaking, a familiar voice rang out from behind him, "What kind of talk is this, sir? With war still raging and natural disasters raging, how can you compare our grain prices to those of a bumper harvest? Isn't that just sophistry?"
Meng Fuqing walked to Qi Liang's side, looked at the two of them and said, "As for winning people's hearts, that's nonsense. We are just a group of refugees who have come together by chance. What use is it to win people's hearts?"
The grain price is set based on the price in the city, and we'd like to know why the city's grain price is so outrageous! Instead of wasting time questioning us, why don't you two do something practical and help the government win back the people's hearts?
With these words, Meng Fuqing returned the moral blackmail and the blame that had been thrown at him. Seeing that the official surnamed Hu remained silent with a sullen face, Meng Fuqing curled the corners of his mouth.
Yan He spoke up at this moment, looking Meng Fuqing up and down and asking, "Are you the Miss Meng who has been to Yezhou City?"
Meng Fuqing's gaze first fell on his smooth, full forehead and cheeks, then he paid special attention to the other man's long beard, before finally meeting the other man's eyes.
"So what?"
"I heard that the girl went to the city and fooled everyone. I admire her."
Yan He spoke with an old voice, but was full of energy.
"You flatter me, sir." Meng Fuqing's gaze never left his face.
After staring at him for a moment, she suddenly asked, "How old are you, sir? With white hair and a youthful face, are you a Taoist practitioner?"
Lord Hu's heart skipped a beat; upon hearing this, he knew he was doomed.
This old Mr. Yan was extremely capable, skilled in divination and strategy, and also capable of cultivating Taoism and refining elixirs. His superior was obsessed with Taoism, and upon first meeting Mr. Yan, he mistakenly thought he was an enlightened immortal. After witnessing his abilities, he took him on as a staff member in his household.
Unfortunately, this person can't stand being praised. He gets carried away as soon as he hears praise, and has caused countless things to go wrong because of it.
Before coming, he repeatedly reminded the other party in the car, and the other party readily agreed, but he was still worried and reminded him, "Sir, please don't forget the important matter..."
Yan He, however, was no longer listening to what he was saying. “Young lady, you have good eyesight. I am indeed a Taoist practitioner. I am seventy-three years old this year. My current appearance is entirely due to my small success in Taoist cultivation. I also take a Heart Nourishing Pill every day, and all my illnesses have disappeared.”
"I am quite curious about this Heart-Nourishing Pill. May I speak with you in private, sir?"
Upon hearing this, Yan He realized the purpose of their visit and also sensed Lord Hu's displeasure.
He hesitated for a moment, then turned around and whispered to Lord Hu, "Lord Hu, please try to reason with them again. That Miss Meng is obviously of high status. If I speak with her alone, perhaps this matter can be resolved."
Lord Hu looked at him suspiciously, and after a moment of silence, he spoke again, "Sir, please do not forget the purpose of this trip."
"My memory is good; I won't forget."
As he spoke, he followed Meng Fuqing to behind a tree.
Niu Er, who was standing on the hillside relaying messages to Du Zhong and Xie Jin, was somewhat puzzled by this situation.
He turned his head to speak, but was startled by the person who had appeared next to him at some point.
"...Young Master Xie, why haven't you made a sound..." he muttered, then asked, "What's Boss doing? What do you have to say to that old man alone?"
"Perhaps they've noticed something's wrong," Xie Jin said thoughtfully. "I'll go check it out."
Meng Fuqing did notice something was wrong, so she made her move when Yan He walked up to her.
The blade of the dagger in her hand instantly sprang out and was pressed against Yan He's neck.
Yan He instinctively wanted to make a move, but he held back.
"What does Miss Meng mean by this?" It was still that old voice, slightly hoarse at this moment.
"You want to use me as a hostage to force the government to allow you to sell grain outside the city? They won't care about my life..."
His chin was suddenly pulled, his voice stopped, his eyes widened instantly, and he quickly reached out to stop it.
This movement caused the blade of the dagger to dig into his flesh, and he dared not move again, only staring at Meng Fuqing without making a sound.
Meng Fuqing held the half-plucked beard in his hand, then let go, and placed one hand down on Yan He's chest.
Yan He: ...
Xie Jin, who arrived using his light-footed skills: ...
His handsome face, hidden behind the mask, darkened for a moment before Meng Fuqing raised an eyebrow and said, "A woman?"
Yan He slapped her hand away, gritting his teeth and saying, "Miss Meng, how can you, a young woman, have no shame at all?"
As she spoke, she glared at Xie Jin, who was not far away. Xie Jin glanced at her coldly, then turned away, preventing anyone else from getting close.
"It doesn't matter if you're shameless, but if you lose your life, you're really gone, don't you think? Mr. Yan?" Meng Fuqing's voice was tinged with laughter.
He thought he would have to deal with the government to achieve his goal, but unexpectedly, someone came to his door to deliver a pillow when he was sleepy.
Sensing the threat in her words, Yan He didn't care much and simply asked, "How did you see through me?"
"Your eyes," Meng Fuqing offered his advice, "even if you're over seventy, no matter how well you take care of your appearance, how can your eyes not be a little cloudy?"
Just as Yan He was about to speak, Meng Fuqing raised his hand to signal her to shut up, "If you're so skilled in cultivation, why don't you shave your beard black? You can fool stupid people if you want."
Yan He remained silent for a moment, then spoke again in his original voice, "What do you want me to do?"
"We're going to sell grain three miles outside the city gate. The government doesn't need to do anything; we'll arrange everything ourselves."
"Why would they agree to this if there's no benefit for them?"
“We’re helping them win over the people,” Meng Fuqing said. “If they continue to stir up trouble among the refugees and city dwellers, what do you think will happen? How can they keep their official positions secure?”