Chapter 594 Food Shortage

A catastrophic flood occurred in the south of the Yangtze River, and the news soon spread to the capital. For such a big event, the imperial court could not block the news.

The next day, the price of food increased by another 50%. The price of food was four times that of previous years because of the drought. With the rising price of grain, ordinary people cannot afford grain at all. In addition, the prices of oil, salt, soy sauce and vinegar have also increased again, and the price of salt has nearly doubled.

Tie Kui's wife Xiao became uneasy when he heard the news, and called Zhong Shantong with a big belly: "It's a mess outside now, and the price of food is one day. We should also store more food in our house." Now this When you have food in your hands, you don't panic.

Zhong Shantong said peacefully: "Madam, take care of the baby, the master is responsible for the affairs of the house!" Xiao Shi gave birth to a daughter before, and now this is the second child! Although Tie Kui already has two sons under his knees, Zhong Shantong knows that what Tie Kui looks forward to most is his son.

Seeing Xiao's uneasy expression, Zhong Shantong thought for a while and said, "Madam, don't worry, the food in the mansion is enough for us to eat for two or three months." There are only small heads in the iron mansion, and the big head is in Zhuangzi.

Ever since Tie Kui heard Yu Xi say that there was a drought in the northwest, he began to mutter in his heart, and then began to stockpile food. Because of Tie Kui's special status, it would definitely be bad if he hoarded food wantonly, so he asked Tong Chrome to come forward. Up to now, the amount of grain stored on Zhuangzi is very considerable. Of course, these grains are not for the people in the iron mansion, but for sale. Now that there is a shortage of food and the price of food has risen so fiercely, this batch of food will definitely fetch a good price.

When Xiao heard this, she felt relieved: "If the flood in the south of the Yangtze River is real, it will not be a matter of two or three months." This means that he hopes that Zhong Shantong will go to buy some more grain and store it.

Zhong Shantong shook his head and said, "Madam, although Jiangnan, Taiyuan, Shandong and other places have been hit by disasters, Liaodong has a bumper harvest this year, so Madam don't have to worry about running out of food."

When Xiao Shi heard this, he gave up.

In the evening, Zhong Shantong told Tie Kui about this matter: "Kuizi, the current price of grain is four taels of silver and one stone. Shall we sell the grain in our hands?" When they bought it, it was one tael of silver and two and a half stones. Now resell it and make seven times the profit.

Tie Kui shook his head and said: "Don't worry, this is just the beginning, food will become more and more expensive in the future. [UU Reading 00kxs]" In a few more days, it won't be too late to get rid of the food.

Zhong Shantong also had concerns: "Kuizi, Liaodong has a good harvest this year. When the grain from Liaodong arrives in the capital, the grain will definitely drop."

Tie Kui laughed when he heard this, and said, "Let's not say whether the grain from Liaodong will be delivered. Even if it does, the grain will definitely increase due to the severe disaster this year." Liaodong's output is not much. It is also necessary to purchase a large amount of grain from Taiyuan and other places.

When Zhong Shantong heard this, he couldn't help but said, "I heard that the food in the Northwest is very cheap. I don't know if it's true?" People in the capital say that the food in the Northwest is cheap, so it should be true.

Tie Kui had a better understanding of the affairs in the Northwest, and said: "The price of food in the Northwest has not increased, but the price has been relatively high since the beginning. Rice noodles are 30 Wen a catty, coarse grains are 20 Wen a catty, and yams are relatively cheap, only needing 4 Wen. One catty." The grain in the Northwest is sold at the grain shops set by the government, and the price is fixed. But there is one thing that is not as good as the capital. In the northwest, grain is bought according to the population. Unlike the capital, which can store a lot of grain if it has money.

Zhong Shantong said: "Based on this calculation, rice noodles cost three, two, six, two and one stone. Why are rice noodles so expensive, seven times more expensive than yams?"

Tie Kui said: "The rice and noodles in the Northwest are all purchased from the south of the Yangtze River, and the quantity is very small. However, the potato harvest in March is so large that the grain depot is too large to store, so it is naturally cheaper." After a pause, Tie Kui said : "Actually, it's not cheap to say the least. At that time, the potatoes were bought from the common people for two cents a catty, but now the selling price is twice the original purchase price.

"

Zhong Shantong didn't think there was anything wrong: "Four Wen a catty is actually not expensive." If the grain price in the capital only doubled, I believe the people in the capital would wake up with laughter.

Hearing this, Tie Kui couldn't help saying, "Yes! It's not expensive. Although it's twice as expensive as when it was purchased, ordinary people can still afford it." Unlike the capital, ordinary people can't afford food at all, even if Unable to afford whole grains.

In just five days, food prices doubled. The common people waited at the grain shop early, but the grain merchants were not stupid, they closed their doors every day when they sold out the prescribed quantity. This situation caused chaos and panic.

Meng Nian said worriedly: "Your Majesty, this is not going to work. We can't let the grain increase." In the past few days, the entire capital city has almost turned into a pot of porridge.

Yan Wushuang put down the booklet in his hand and said, "Arresting those grain merchants and forcing them to hand over their grain will last for a while. What will happen next? What will happen after that?" The grain in the capital is basically supplied by Jiangnan, Shandong, and Taiyuan. Now that these places have been hit by drought and floods, they are overwhelmed, and there is no food to supply the capital. It is precisely because grain merchants know this truth that they dare to raise prices so fiercely.

Meng Nian said: "The harvest in Liaodong this year should not be bad. Wait until October for the bumper wheat harvest, and then transfer some grain to Beijing." In this way, the chaotic situation in the capital can be stabilized.

Yan Wushuang said: "The food produced in Liaodong is not enough to supply the army. Where there is food to transfer to Beijing."

Yan Wushuang did not intend to supply Liaodong's grain to the capital. The capital has a population of hundreds of thousands, and the food needed is not a small amount. Yan Wushuang would not starve his soldiers for the sake of the people in the capital.

Meng Nian squirmed his lower lip, but did not continue to persuade: "Then what about the capital? If there is no food, the capital will not be stable. Someone must take the opportunity to commit suicide?"

Yan Wushuang said lightly: "If you dare to commit suicide, kill him." Killing people is as normal to Yan Wushuang as eating.

Meng Nian did not continue this topic. The decision of Prince Yan Wushuang is not something he can change: "My lord, it has been found out that the one who killed Lin Gui was Liu Yongnan who guarded Linzhou City. This person was a hot soldier when he joined the army. , and has been following Yunqing since then, he is Yunqing's confidant." If it weren't for his confidant, it would be impossible for him to guard Linzhou City. This place is also an important military base.

Yan Wushuang stood up and said, "Yunqing really has many confidantes." In the northwest, all the generals guarding one side are Yunqing's confidantes. His people contacted these people and tried to instigate them, but all of them failed. For this, Yan Wushuang had to admire Yun Qing, he could make his followers so determined, he was ashamed of himself.

Yan Wushuang didn't even think about it, none of the generals guarding one side in the northwest had followed Yunqing out of the pile of dead people. No amount of money could buy the friendship of life and death. This is also why Yuxi will be patient with them, because she knows that although these people have opinions on her, they have no second thoughts on Yunqing. In addition, these people are not stupid, their life with Yunqing is getting better and better, their future is bright, and it's not because of their brains that they might betray Yunqing.

Meng Nian said: "After all, he has led soldiers for so many years." In fact, if the Rift Valley was not encircled and wiped out, and the Dingbei Army was almost wiped out, Yunqing could use more generals now.

In the evening, Yan Wushuang went back to the backyard. Looking at the daughter carved in powder and jade, Yan Wushuang's mood improved a lot.

After dinner, Yuchen said: "Your Majesty, I heard that the current grain price in the capital has risen to fifty cents a catty?" Yuchen is referring to coarse grains here, and the prices of fine grains such as rice and noodles are even more outrageous.

Yan Wushuang hummed and said, "These grain merchants are all ungrateful for profit. Knowing the flood in the south of the Yangtze River, they wish they could hide all the grain and not sell it." Now the grain merchants are still selling grain, which is the result of his interference.

Yuchen pondered for a while and said, "My lord, do you want to raise donations for the people affected by the disaster?" The disaster in the south of the Yangtze River is so serious that the imperial court must provide relief.

Yan Wushuang shook his head and said, "Just take good care of Abao and Achi, and you don't have to worry about the rest." Although Yuchen grew up with Han Yuxi, Yuchen is good at dealing with women in the inner house, not outside affairs. At the beginning, he still wanted to train one or two, but now he has stopped thinking about it.

Yuchen was a little disappointed.

After nearly three months of drought, the tolerance of the people in Northwest China has reached its limit. In Henan and other places, you can die for a mouthful of food. Now in the northwest, ordinary people also perform martial arts for a mouthful of water. No, Lujiagou had another fight with the neighboring village this morning over water distribution.

As long as no serious casualties are caused, the government will turn a blind eye. But if serious casualties are caused, the government will not care about one, two, three, and execute all the people involved. In today's world, if you are caught in prison, you have to eat and drink, and no one will kill you directly to save trouble.

In the Northwest, the government's deterrence is still very strong. Therefore, although martial arts are staged in many places from time to time, there are very few serious casualties. Even if there is, everyone hides it and doesn't dare to let the government know.

Yuxi put down the notebook and rubbed her eyes, and continued to review the memorial day after day, her eyes couldn't stand it anymore.

At this time, Xu Wu sent the booklets of Linzhou City and Yanzhou City. These two places, Linzhou and Yanzhou, are the places with the most severe drought in the entire Northwest. Yuxi is now a little afraid to read the excerpts of these two places.

After reading it, Yuxi was in a bad mood again. Facing Han Jianming who just came in, he said, "Yesterday alone, two hundred and fifty-eight people died in Yanzhou and Linzhou." At this temperature, if you are not careful, you will suffer from heat stroke. After the sun comes out, I dare not go out at all.

Han Jianming was silent for a while and said: "More than 30 people died in Pick City yesterday." All of these people died because of the unbearable heat.

Yuxi sighed and said: "I hope the situation will improve by October." In the face of natural disasters, there are really limits to what people can do.

Han Jianming nodded and said: "It will definitely." After a pause, Han Jianming said again: "Yuxi, I think the common people should know the tragic situation in Henan, Shanxi and other places." Only when someone makes such a comparison, the common people will know what they are doing now. How happy it is. In this way, Yuxi and Yunqing's prestige among the common people was further increased.

Yuxi thought for a while and nodded, "You can release the situation in Henan and other places, but not in the form of notice." It can be spread by word of mouth, but the government will not publicize these things.

Han Jianming nodded, and said, "Yuxi, disasters are happening everywhere now, we need to save some food." Now that there is a food shortage, the food in their hands is a bargaining chip.

Yuxi said helplessly: "How can I save money?" The purchase has been limited, so why not sell the food.

Han Jianming said: "Reduce the purchase limit per person per month. The food saved can do a lot of things."

Yuxi shook her head and said: "It's not right, this will inevitably cause greater panic." The monthly purchase limit set by each person before was calculated accurately, and it was not just a random number. The limited amount is actually only enough to fill a person to a full six or seven percent. At that time, Yuxi thought that there was nothing she could do in such a weather, and it would be fine if she could eat six to seven percent full every day. But if it is lowered any further, it will fail.

Seeing this, Han Jianming knew it was useless to persuade him, so he had to give up.

ps: The third update is around nine o'clock. (to be continued)