Fake Eunuch: Discovering the Emperor is a Woman!-Chapter 97: Bid Up the Price of Grain

Not to exaggerate, but even in Lin Yi’s own little treasury, there is more than just this small amount of money now.

Even for Lin Yi, these more than 1000 taels of silver are definitely not something to be concerned about.

The currency level today is not as valuable as that of the Tang Dynasty, where a single coin could be worth six coins in spending power.

In today’s era, the purchasing power of this one coin is equivalent to 50 cents of the future market. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

And one tael of silver is equivalent to 500 dollars of the future.

These 1000 or so taels together just amount to slightly over 900,000 dollars of the future market.

This number might sound substantial, but when used for a nationwide disaster relief effort, it’s utterly inadequate, like a drop in the bucket.

Keep in mind that in the future, even a minor flood can involve investments of tens or hundreds of billions.

After all, this money is to be spent on tens of thousands of disaster victims.

Spread out, it doesn’t amount to much per person.

However, although Lin Yi is dissatisfied with this, there’s nothing he can do, since the Emperor currently has no influence to speak of.

If it weren’t for the fact that they had caught the Fourth Prince’s weakness this time, the Emperor would probably never have been informed about the disaster relief efforts.

For this reason, it’s unrealistic for him to negotiate with the other party, even if he brought the Emperor into the picture, it wouldn’t scare them.

Seeing that a large number of disaster victims are about to arrive, Lin Yi doesn’t plan to waste more time here. He knows full well that with his current strength, the opposition won’t compromise; perhaps, at this moment, the Fourth Prince is waiting to see him embarrassed?

After all, in their minds, if the disaster relief goes poorly, it’s only the Emperor who will lose face.

They’re not afraid; in fact, they’re looking forward to such a situation.

Now, with the Emperor gaining no prestige from this, they could gain some extra fame—an opportunity they wouldn’t miss.

As for Lin Yi, knowing the outcome, he doesn’t dawdle. After taking the 1000 or more taels of silver, he leaves the Ministry of Revenue’s Government Office in a hurry with his men.

As soon as Lin Yi departs, Zhang Liang’s lips curl into a playful smile, and he waves to his subordinates, saying:

"Prepare a carriage for me. I want to go to the Fourth Prince Mansion."

But speaking of Lin Yi.

After leaving the Ministry of Revenue, he immediately turns to his servants:

"Where is the largest grain merchant in the Capital City? Let’s go there right now.

Also, dispatch 100 of our brothers, form them into groups of five, and have them purchase grain separately—buy as much as they can get.

Another 100 people should immediately leave the city to set up porridge stalls, and make sure to choose locations against the city walls to maintain order among the disaster victims."

With Lin Yi’s orders dispatched, the 500 men quickly disperse, leaving fewer than 100 beside him.

With each group split off, Lin Yi provides them with 1000 taels of silver.

This silver naturally doesn’t come from the Ministry of Revenue but is taken from the Emperor’s Inner Hall.

After all, Lin Yi and the Emperor foresaw this situation from the beginning and were well prepared.

Time waits for no one, and the refugees won’t slow their journey to the capital because of their schemes.

However, Lin Yi is taken aback when he arrives at the largest merchant house in the Capital City, only to be told that the price of grain had skyrocketed a few days earlier.

A bushel of millet, which previously cost seven coins, now costs 15 coins—a more than double increase.

Not only that but even at this price, he was told there was not much available and that more silver would be needed for larger purchases.

This development immediately furrows Lin Yi’s brow.

Someone must be stirring the waters from behind.

Otherwise, those merchants wouldn’t dare confront the Emperor like this.

Who could be behind this if not the Fourth Prince?

And it is at this moment that Lin Yi finally understands the other party’s intentions.

As reports from various subordinates come in, the story is the same—the price of grain has risen at every major and minor grain merchant.

Seeing that all the grain merchants in the Capital City have colluded, Lin Yi can’t help but curse inwardly.

As for dealing with these people, Lin Yi, of course, has means.

But the urgency of time is too pressing right now; to accomplish much in three days is nearly impossible.

Once the refugees arrive, if his side doesn’t take action, a significant uprising will surely occur.

Thus, he has no choice but to bite the bullet and proceed with the purchase.

Fortunately, these merchants, upon seeing the money, don’t cause too much trouble.

Watching bag after bag of grain being loaded onto the cart and transported out of the city, the corners of Lin Yi’s mouth turn up slightly, and he silently records today’s events.

He has already made up his mind that once the disaster relief is over, he’ll let them taste what it’s like to be fleeced.

If he doesn’t peel a few layers from their skin, the name Lin might as well be written backwards!

As Lin Yi carts away the grain out of the city, at the Fourth Prince’s residence, Zhang Liang with the Fourth Prince listens to subordinates report.

Hearing that Lin Yi really bought the millet at twice the market price, they look at each other and burst into laughter.

Zhang Liang can’t help but bow to the Prince:

"Your Highness is truly brilliant. Who could have thought that the millet these merchants sold to him was from our National Treasury?

Thus, the assets confiscated by the Emperor will likely all flow into our hands.

Without funds, let’s see how the Emperor continues to make a fuss.

As long as the Emperor can’t pay the military stipends, I believe it won’t be long before the Left and Right Martial Guards start causing trouble."

Listening to Zhang Liang’s flattery, the Fourth Prince is quite pleased, strokes his goatee, and can’t help but say with pride:

"Hehe, he’s still too green to compete with me.

Order the grain merchants below to double the grain prices again tomorrow."

After speaking, he leisurely picks up the teacup beside him, takes a sip, and his lips reveal a triumphant smile.

What the Fourth Prince doesn’t know is,

...End of Chapter...