At this point, the grain has beco a "hot potato." Whoever dares to claim ownership would face the grave charge of "hoarding grain." Ye Shikai understands well that in Yang County, where the grain shops are monopolized, it’s impossible for County Magistrate Cao Wenzuo not to know whose grain suddenly appeared here. He simply chooses not to reveal the truth.
Ye Shikai is also aware that he does not have jurisdiction over Yang County. Though he recognizes the injustice before him, he cannot completely eradicate it. However, he has other thods.
"Bring people here, find an open space, move the grain out, and get so workers to count it all."
"Yes." Man Cang imdiately led the soldiers into the tunnel. The soldiers carrying sacks of grain continuously erged from the passage. The townspeople lining both sides of the street were dumbfounded. This tunnel seed like a bottomless pit. Dozens of soldiers took turns carrying grain for over two hours until it was finally emptied. The abandoned shops were filled up, and the grain was moved onto the main street, gradually forming a "mountain" that blocked the road.
"Military Marquis, here are the workers I found." At this mont, Man Cang also arrived with over twenty workers, who couldn’t help but be amazed by the volu of grain.
"Alright, start calculating with counting rods to see exactly how much grain is here," Ye Shikai ordered.
"Did you hear that? Start working."
"Yes, yes, yes." The workers, never having seen so much grain before, mistakenly thought so wealthy rchant ca to Yang County. But finding so many Qin soldiers present, they dared not slack off and began counting diligently.
"One thousand stone."
"Two thousand stone."
Ye Shikai instructed the soldiers to organize the counted grain. Less than half had been counted when over two thousand stone were accounted for. Ye Shikai cast a glance at the shopkeeper standing nearby, who looked increasingly troubled, confirming Shikai’s suspicions. It seed that the shopkeeper would face trouble upon returning.
"Continue counting." Ye Shikai turned and left, giving Xue San a look, signaling him to follow, and they went to a secluded corner.
"Military Marquis, do you have a task?"
"Xue San, if I ask you to find certain locations in the county, can you manage it?"
"Rest assured, Military Marquis. I used to live the life of a thief; I may not know much else, but my skills in this area aren’t exaggerated. Although this is my first ti in Yang County, give half a day, and I’ll scope it out thoroughly." Ye Shikai had seen Xue San’s wall-climbing skills before. He also had Xue San train a team responsible for reconnaissance, which would now co in handy.
"The grain in the tunnel was deliberately hoarded by unscrupulous rchants. But I believe there are more storage spots in the city. Find your brothers and search in the city, especially in those remote, unnoticed places, or so abandoned shops and inns."
"Yes, I understand. I’ll take my n and set off now."
..............................
Two hours later.
"Gentlen, the total amount has been counted. There’s a total of five thousand four hundred stone, enough to feed the citizens of Yang County for ten days."
"Good heavens, such a vast amount of grain! Old Ye, this grain was definitely hoarded intentionally," Shangguan Jian exclaid excitedly.
"Hmph, I don’t care whose it is; now it’s all mine," Ye Shikai clapped his hands. "Clear out a shop for !"
"Old Ye, what are you doing?"
"What else, of course, I’m selling the grain," Ye Shikai announced loudly. "Inform all the citizens of the county that I have grain for sale at a fair price."
"County Magistrate Cao, do you have any objections to my actions?" Ye Shikai asked.
"Well...of course not. This grain is now yours, and I naturally have no objections." Cao Wenzuo kept wiping sweat from his forehead.
Very soon, the news that Ye Shikai was selling grain at a fair price spread. The citizens of Yang County thronged to buy the grain, blocking the market street completely. Instead of calling it a fair sale, it was more like a "bargain sale," and in so doing, the "high-priced grain" hoarded by unscrupulous rchants was left unsellable, eventually leaving them stuck with it.
"Old Ye, what exactly are you doing?" Shangguan Jian curiously asked.
"Can’t you see? How could the rchants monopolize the grain shops without County Magistrate Cao knowing? I’m giving them a lesson. Ill-gotten gains are not sothing we should accept, nor should we make it cheap for these people. In the end, we should return it to the people," Ye Shikai suddenly smiled. "As for the money earned, buy so wine and at for our brothers."
"I understand what you an now."
Ye Shikai was not concerned about these re five thousand four hundred stone of grain, which was only enough to last Yang County’s citizens for ten days. A county’s granary should have supplies to last at least two months, aning that in Yang County, there were at least five more similar tunnels. Whether they can be found depends on Xue San.
In the military camp.
"Ye, although this grain is now yours, selling it cheaply will disrupt the economic order of Yang County. Besides, as soldiers of the Great Qin, selling grain isn’t our duty," Han Hao said with displeasure. He has always been soone who believes in keeping a low profile, even if he saw through the sches, he wouldn’t expose them. Ye Shikai’s actions today were equivalent to declaring war against the masterminds behind the grain stores.
"Don’t worry, Lord Han. I have my asure. On the contrary, it is these unscrupulous rchants who are pushing their luck, greedily siphoning off the people’s ’blood.’ If left unchecked, in the long term, losing the people’s support, even if the soldiers are ferocious and the weapons are sharp, we will cease to exist." Ye Shikai, having co from modern tis, naturally understands how the Qin Dynasty eventually collapsed. Losing the people’s heart, the army that swept through the Six Kingdoms and drove away from the Wolf Clan would ultimately fall apart.
Ye Shikai never had the ambition to single-handedly turn the tide and change history. He simply wants to do what he believes is right. Perhaps, soday in the future, he will realize that those who think they can change history are rely propelling its developnt. Or perhaps, when Ye Shikai ca to the Qin Dynasty, he had already beco part of history.
Returning to the barracks, Ye Shikai found it difficult to sleep. The five thousand four hundred stone of grain from the tunnel wasn’t all sold even by the curfew. With no alternative, he ordered the soldiers to continue selling the next day. Of course, he was still more concerned about Xue San and his n, wondering if they had uncovered any other hidden grain locations.
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