After Ding Yun finalized the transaction with the Ministry of Revenue, the ministry, concerned about her ability to fulfill the contract, did not immediately notify other grain merchants. It wasn't until she successfully delivered the first batch of grain, ensuring that troops in various regions would not lack food for the next three months, that the Ministry of Revenue directly informed the previous grain suppliers.
They were informed that their services were no longer required.
There were no more salt permits for the year.
They were free to do as they pleased.
Go somewhere cool and stay there!
This news hit them like a thunderclap, almost sending those grain merchants to their graves on the spot. Once they recovered from their shock and grudgingly accepted the information, they began to desperately inquire for details, resorting to bribery and offering price reductions.
However, matters already decided by higher authorities were not easily changed, especially when Ding Yun's price was so low that no one could compete with her.
Therefore, no matter how they bribed or pleaded,
It was all to no avail.
Some officials from the Ministry of Revenue could at most reveal some specific details, telling them who was competing for the orders and what their grain quotes were.
However, after learning these details,
They were even more devastated.
Because how was that price even possible? If they sold grain at that price, they would only barely break even after deducting transportation costs. With transportation costs included,
They would lose their shirts!
Transportation costs were exceptionally high in this era, not to mention the various losses of grain during transit.
But the grain merchants who learned the specifics,
Despite their anger, could only accept it for the time being. They then hastily convened a meeting in the capital to discuss how to proceed and whether there were any countermeasures.
...
In the capital, at the Li family's villa in the suburbs, in the main hall.
The heads of the dozen or so families that had been supplying grain to the Ministry of War were gathered, their faces grim and their spirits deeply dejected.
"You all should know the specific situation.
Today, let's not shift blame or criticize each other. The most urgent matter is what we should do. Losing the Ministry of War's business is a small matter. More importantly, if we lose this business, we will never be able to obtain salt permits again.
There are only two ways to obtain salt permits: either buy them with money, or exchange them for grain to qualify for purchase. Previously, several of us, due to our extensive grain channels, chose to exchange grain for the right to purchase instead of paying with money, and then each competed to transport grain and exchange it.
This method has been in practice for over a hundred years.
The families who always bought salt permits with money have already formed alliances. It's difficult to get even a little more within their circle, let alone compete with them.
So, we have only one path left.
That is, we must find a way to regain the Ministry of War's business.
Otherwise, the private salt we have stockpiled cannot be sold outside without salt permits.
If discovered, it would be a disaster of catastrophic proportions.
Now, everyone, share your thoughts."
Li Hong, the Li family's representative, quickly highlighted the crux of the matter and asked for ideas.
For these families, salt permits were extremely important, but they weren't interested in the small amount of salt the permits could yield. What they valued was the qualification to sell salt outside, which only salt permits could provide. With this qualification, they could mix adulterants into official salt and, while selling official salt, secretly sell private salt.
As long as the necessary connections were made and officials turned a blind eye, even if investigated, they could use the salt permits as a shield.
You say I'm selling private salt, but I have a salt permit.
I have official salt to sell, why would I sell private salt?
Although everyone knew that the profit from selling private salt far exceeded that of official salt, these individuals who outwardly sold official salt.
Were practically all involved in the private salt business in secret.
But having a salt permit meant they had a protective layer. Unless concrete evidence was found, or their powerful patrons in the government fell, it was difficult to get hold of them.
But without the protective layer of a salt permit.
If they dared to sell private salt again, let alone that officials above wouldn't protect them, even those salt merchants holding salt permits would not let them off the hook. After all, if they sold more private salt, others would sell less and earn less.
Before, everyone had salt permits, so there was nothing they could do.
Now that you don't have one, who else would they target?
Therefore, Qiao Mu's actions were indeed hitting at the core, and the opponent would either die or lose a significant part of their strength.
"The ancients were right. No wonder they say a woman's heart is the most venomous. This woman named Ding Yun, so young, is so malicious. And she's a Daoist priest.
Why don't we just go all the way and.
Send someone to kill her..."
As soon as Li Hong finished speaking, a grain merchant next to him gritted his teeth and spoke with intense hatred. As the saying goes, disrupting someone's livelihood is like killing their parents, so his hatred and malicious intent were understandable.
"Who can guarantee that she is the true mastermind? If we kill her, perhaps another person will quickly step forward to take charge. Do you really believe that such a massive undertaking was orchestrated by a mere fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl? Who would believe that?
In my opinion, this matter is extremely troublesome because we don't know the true background of the other party.
Think about it, the current grain prices across the country. Even if we squeeze ourselves dry, the purchase price won't be much lower than her selling price to the Ministry of War. Not to mention transporting the grain to border areas nationwide. It's safe to say we lose money on every jin sold.
How many of us can withstand such losses?
If this were to fall upon us, with our respective family fortunes, how long could anyone sustain it? Not to mention that she's also transporting grain to disaster-stricken areas, providing disaster relief.
And selling grain at low prices in major grain stores.
It seems that everything she's doing, apart from targeting us, is basically unprofitable, or even constantly incurring losses. This is simply outrageous.
So who has such great capital to operate like this?
Furthermore, we have investigated for a long time and still cannot ascertain where she sources her grain or where she purchases it. This is also very strange.
Because grain must be grown somewhere. She can't grow it in the sea, in the water, or in the sky.
If these two matters cannot be clarified,
We will likely remain in a passive position."
Saying this, Zhu Yu paused and continued,
"And don't forget, His Majesty summoned Ding Yun not long ago. If she were to be assassinated and die just a few days after being summoned.
Who can guarantee that His Majesty won't investigate thoroughly?
Therefore, it's best for us not to resort to any underhanded tactics anymore. Only by confronting her head-on can we find a way out of this predicament."
"What you said is true.
But what do we use to confront her?
She has already suppressed the grain prices so low. If we want to regain the Ministry of War's business, we can only suppress them even lower. But if we do, I worry that even if we invest all the profits from selling private salt,
It will still be difficult to cover the deficit.
She is clearly trying to force us to our deaths."
While some were calm, others were not.
Some were even extremely agitated.
However, as soon as he finished his outburst, an older, very calm voice from the side responded,
"I think we might be overthinking it.
Perhaps the other party is waiting for us to make mistakes ourselves.
Think about it, since none of us can afford to sell grain at such a low price and transport it to the border regions,
Then how can she afford it? Or even if she can bear the cost for a short period, how long can it last?
Perhaps if we just wait patiently for a few months, she will no longer be able to sustain it. At that time, even if she wants to raise prices, the court will definitely not allow it.
That's when she will be the one in trouble.
Besides that, we can also use this opportunity to find ways to collect more grain. I refuse to believe that if we gain control of most of the grain on the market and don't sell it, those low-priced grain stores can still operate!"