Chapter 557 - 271: Cyan Heaven Dharma Aspect

Chapter 557: Chapter 271: Cyan Heaven Dharma Aspect

"Let the bullets fly?" Xiao Nianci was slightly taken aback. This was the first time she had heard this expression, but she more or less understood its meaning.

"Fine, then. Handle it as you see fit. It’s rare for me to have a few days to relax."

After Chen Cheng left, the maid at her side asked in confusion, "My lady, the price of grain in Linji City is still soaring.

And the betting pools run by the Four Major Sects are still accepting wagers.

This situation is undoubtedly because someone from the Jiang, Qin, and Wang families—three of the Four Great Clans of the Inner City—is secretly providing the Four Major Sects with silver taels.

Even with the Shen Family’s support, Lord Chen might not be able to cause a shortage of silver taels for the Four Major Sects.

Why are you so certain that Lord Chen can curb the rise in grain prices?"

Xiao Nianci rose and walked to the window, looking down upon the whole of Linji City. After a long while, she said leisurely:

"The price of grain is still rising because the Government Office has not yet made its move. From the moment Chen Cheng placed that massive bet on himself to win, a drop in Linji City’s grain prices became a foregone conclusion. It wouldn’t be hard for either the Four Great Clans of the Inner City or the disciples of the Four Major Sects to guess this outcome. What everyone truly cares about is the result of the battle between Chen Cheng and the Inner Sect Disciples of the Four Major Sects in the Life and Death Arena. If Chen Cheng wins the battle, the Shen Family will make a fortune from this wager, becoming the most financially powerful family in Linji City overnight. If Chen Cheng loses, then the other three families, along with the Four Major Sects, will carve up the Shen Family’s enormous sum of silver taels, weaken their influence, and perhaps even join forces to swallow them whole. Since Chen Cheng has shown such boldness in handling this matter, how could I afford to be shortsighted?"

"My Lady, if Lord Chen loses, wouldn’t the Four Major Sects solidify their footing in Linji City?" the maid asked.

"Perhaps I am also betting on Chen Cheng to win," Xiao Nianci murmured, a peculiar glint in her eyes.

...

「The fourth day.」

Early in the morning, the market on Upper Street in Ruyi District was already crowded with commoners who had come to buy grain.

However, the price announced by the grain merchants shocked everyone once again.

In just one day, the price of grain had risen by a full ten percent!

The commoners were immediately plunged into despair.

With the price rising ten percent a day, who could afford to eat?

"Father, maybe we shouldn’t buy any for now?"

In the crowd, Wang Chun said to his old father, Wang Laoshu, his face grim.

Wang Laoshu hesitated. The Wang Family’s situation was indeed much better than before, but they still couldn’t cope with such high grain prices.

"Sigh..." Wang Laoshu sighed heavily and stamped his foot repeatedly. "I told you to buy more grain and stockpile it a few days ago, but you wouldn’t listen! Instead, you had to go and bet on those damned pools.

Now the price has shot up so much again. What are we supposed to do?"

Wang Chun felt uneasy and said guiltily, "Master Chen said the price of grain will come down. I... I believe Master Chen wouldn’t hurt us!"

Wang Laoshu grimaced. "Master Chen has always been kind-hearted; of course he has no ill intentions.

But he’s a high and mighty official now, living in luxury. How could he understand the suffering of us common folk?"

"So, are we buying or not?" Wang Chun asked.

Wang Laoshu was in a panic and couldn’t make a decision.

He looked around and saw nothing but the worried, frowning faces of his fellow townspeople, which only made him more anxious.

Just then, a constable from the City Guard Department, holding a sheet of yellow paper, ran into the market, shouting as he went:

"An order from Lord Chen is here! Make way, quickly!"

The crowd parted to make way, watching with confused expressions as the constable ran to the notice board and posted the yellow paper.

After posting the notice, the constable turned to the crowd and read, "By imperial command, Lord Chen Cheng, Chief of the Brocade Guard of the Linji Prefecture Inspection Department, hereby decrees to all citizens:

The Linji Prefecture’s Finance and Grain Department is urgently transporting grain from various regions... The price of grain will soon fall... To reduce losses..."

Hearing the notice mention that grain prices would soon fall, the crowd erupted, swarming forward and breaking into a clamor of discussion.

"The price is falling? Is it really true?"

"Why isn’t the Finance and Grain Department just selling cheap grain directly?"

"Didn’t you hear the notice? It said the price will fall gradually, so those with surplus grain can sell it first to cut their losses."

...

"QUIET!" the constable shouted, silencing the crowd’s discussion. With a solemn expression, he said:

"Lord Chen’s decree is very clear. The Finance and Grain Department has already been dispatched to urgently transport grain from various regions. The price will definitely fall, eventually becoming comparable to what it was a month ago.

While the transported grain is still on its way, you can all sell off some of the grain you bought at high prices."

"What if the price doesn’t fall?" someone asked.

The constable shot him a look and said, "Lord Chen’s decree is right here. Whether you believe it or not is up to you to decide."

With that, the constable hurried away.

For a moment, the entire crowd was in an uproar.

The many grain merchants in the market were also shocked and uncertain.

Wang Chun said to Wang Laoshu, "Father, Lord Chen issued the decree himself. It must be real.

Our family bought a lot of grain before. Should we sell some of it off?"

Wang Laoshu pondered for a long time, then sighed softly. "Sigh... You’re still too young. You can’t blindly trust a Government Office notice.

Let’s wait and see first."

...

At the same time, Lord Chen’s decree was posted in all the streets and markets selling grain throughout the Four Outer City Districts of Linji City.

The vast majority of commoners were waiting to see what would happen; almost no one sold their surplus grain.

However, the price of grain had finally stabilized.

...

The various betting pools in Ruyi District’s gambling dens also finally faced a Government Office inspection.

Chen Cheng, the Chief of the Brocade Guard of the Inspection Department, personally led the Brocade Guard, the City Guard Department, and soldiers from the Protectorate Army to seal off every betting pool and inspect their wager deposits.

The inspection process lasted for several hours.

In the end, all the wager deposits from the betting pools were confiscated and temporarily held in the treasury of the City Lord’s Mansion, under heavy guard by the Protectorate Army.