There is no love for no reason, nor hatred for no reason.

The three princes, including Qu King Zhao Tong, Ji King Zhao Antong, and Lin King Zhao Ji, gave Zhao Xun a choice.

Dozens of grain merchants in Fengjing, after the consultation of Zhao Tong and others, were willing to lend the imperial court two million grains at one time, at a price of fifty cents per bull.

Zhao Xun nodded and smiled: "The price is fair, I am willing to accept it."

Many ministers showed playful smiles on their faces. Two million dan food, each 50 cents, was only 100,000 taels of silver, which was not expensive at all, but that was really the only one?

Sure enough, Zhao Tong smiled and said, "Master, they don't want money."

Zhao Xun was slightly stunned and said in confusion: "I don't have money, what do you want?"

Zhao Tong said: "Actually nothing. In the future, the grain trade between the Western Regions and the Great Jin Dynasty will be purchased and sold by 35 grain merchants in Fengjing. Other merchants are not allowed to trade grains."

"His Royal Highness Qu, what are the benefits of doing this for the court?"

Chen Hu asked out loud.

“Of course there are benefits.”

King Zhao Antong of Ji said: "Unified purchase and unified sale of grain, everyone no longer has to fight for interests. Without the dispute over interests, the price will be stable to a relatively low level," said Mr. Zhao Antong, the company.

Helian Chu smiled and said, "What is it probably?"

Zhao Antong said loudly: "In normal times, the rice will never exceed fifty cents, and during war times, the rice will never exceed hundred cents."

At this time, Lu Zhongxun also came out to speak out: "Master, it is actually good for the court and the country to concentrate grain in the hands of some people. First, it can maintain a stable price and benefit the people, and second, it can store grain and benefit the country."

Speaking of this, Lu Zhongxun looked at Zhao Antong and said, "All the grain in the Western Regions is handed over to those grain merchants. What should they do if the court needs food in the future?"

Zhao Antong laughed and said, "Mr. Lu, the food transported from the Western Regions is actually from the court. But we bought it, so the money is naturally from the court."

Li Xun looked at these people singing double acts coldly, saying that the Western Regions attaches great importance to commerce. Because of the development of trade, the proportion of land tax in it was very small. Therefore, hundreds of years ago, even during the Dashi Empire's rule in the Western Regions, there might be many taxes, but there was no land tax. Since there was no need to pay taxes, the price of grain was naturally very cheap. During the war between Li Xun and Zhan Bo, although the food price in the Western Regions rose, it did not exceed ten cents of rice.

What Zhao Antong and other princes said was nice, but in fact they were disguised commercial monopoly. As long as there was a monopoly in any industry, no matter how good it was on the surface, it would definitely be harmful and not beneficial to the country.

Regarding the suggestions of Zhao Antong and others, Zhao Xun showed a look of intent on his face, thinking that what they said made some sense.

Li Xun didn't say anything, but Xie Shiyuan stood up and strongly opposed it.

"Food reserves have always been the top priority of the country. How can we deal with others with slander?"

Li Xun looked at Xie Shiyuan. He objected, and it had nothing to do with politics. After all, he designed his own interests. If Zhao Antong and others monopolized the grain trade in the Western Regions, it would be equivalent to controlling the grain prices in the entire Fengjing and even the capital. They might control the grain prices within a certain price. However, in this way, a large amount of grain in the Western Regions will be saturated, and there will be no need to transport grain from the local area. Local families all have a large amount of land. Because of the supply and demand needs, they will transport a large amount of grain to the customs every year. For example, their local food prices cannot be sold at a high price, but when transported to the capital, the overall price can be several times or even dozens of times.

From another perspective, Zhao Antong and others suggested that if the grain trade in the Western Regions was handed over to them, the food prices in the entire pass would remain at a relatively low level. In the end, it would be profitable. They imported grain from the Western Regions for up to ten cents of rice, or even lower, and then they were sold in Fengjing for a price of up to fifty cents. The benefits were still very considerable and absolutely beneficial to them, but for many large families in the local area, they harmed the fundamental interests.

It is precisely because of understanding these truths that Li Xun knew that the emergence of monopoly would definitely not benefit the country, but he did not object, because there was no need for this. The suggestions of Zhao Antong and others would definitely be strongly opposed by most people.

Sure enough, after Xie Shiyuan stood up and strongly opposed it, a large number of court officials stood up one after another and spoke out against it, including a large number of ministers with heavy weight, including Prime Minister Liu Congji and Liu Zhigu.

Zhao Antong and others' eyes flashed and they were not talking.

Zhao Xun frowned, and after a while, he said, "I will discuss this matter later."

From this incident, we can see Zhao Xun's attitude and the attitudes of a large number of local families such as Xie Shiyuan. Therefore, after the matter was put on hold, Zhao Antong and others smiled. As long as they did not all oppose it, it would be much easier. If one side agrees and the other side opposes, then only the opposing party needs to reach an agreement on interests and the matter will be done.

During this period, Xie Shiyuan gave Li Xun several winks, obviously wanting Li Xun to stand up and speak. A prime minister's words are definitely very important, but Li Xun has no words from beginning to end.

After the court dispersed, Xie Shiyuan approached Li Xun and whispered: "Li Xun, why didn't you come out to speak just now?"

Xie Shiyuan's tone was obviously a little dissatisfied.

Li Xun glanced at Xie Shiyuan and thought to himself, I used to stand up and express my opinion, don’t you always speak without saying anything? Why do you have to follow me if you express your opinion?

Li Xun was a little unhappy, but he still held back and said with a smile: "I was thinking about some things just now, but I was a little confused and didn't notice it."

Xie Shiyuan nodded, patted Li Xun's shoulder, and said softly: "I know that the disaster relief matter in Henan seems to have become a bit complicated now, but there will definitely be a solution to the matter, so don't worry too much."

After saying these unspicable and unspicable words, Xie Shiyuan said goodbye and left.

Looking at Xie Shiyuan's back as he left, Li Xun suddenly felt like he wanted to laugh.

On that night, You Yuanfeng and Liu Jie convened Xie Shiyuan, Li Xun and others and held a meeting to unify the ideas of the people. You Yuanfeng hoped that Li Xun and others would follow Xie Shiyuan's attitude on some issues and concentrate their efforts to achieve the greatest benefit.
Chapter completed!