Chapter 723: Chapter 93: Shouzhe’s Clever Plan to Secure Qeng’an (Seeking Monthly Votes)_4

Similar events were also occurring in other garrisons within Qeng’an County.

The difference lay in the varying conditions of each county, leading to slight variations in the choice of grain seeds. Some areas were prone to pest outbreaks, making the "No. 43" wheat seed more popular, while other places were susceptible to flooding, favoring the "No. 27" wheat seed. However, regardless of the location, the "No. 59" wheat seed always sold best due to its high yield.

Unknowingly, nearly half of the noble families in Qeng’an County had already replaced their family’s purchased grain seeds with those from the Wang Family.

...

The main residence of the Zuoqiu Family.

In a luxurious study, a middle-aged man, adorned with a Jade Crown and clad in a brocade robe, exuding a calm and domineering aura, was diligently copying a "Pointing at the Mountains and Rivers" map.

This middle-aged man was none other than Zuoqiu Guanyu, the Patriarch of the Qeng’an Zuoqiu Family.

As for the "Pointing at the Mountains and Rivers" map he was replicating, it was a planning draft of Qeng’an’s future, drawn by the Zuoqiu Family’s ancestors during their initial settlement and land development in Qeng’an, full of ambition and pride.

The original map became a renowned piece, gaining the favor of Emperor Longchang a millennium later, who added it to the Great Emperor’s Imperial Study and rewarded the Zuoqiu Family substantially for their immense contributions to the grand development of Qeng’an County.

Today, the Zuoqiu Family only preserves a replica of this piece.

Due to various reasons, the Zuoqiu family members hold a deep attachment to the "Pointing at the Mountains and Rivers" map, with past patriarchs having left their own copies. They all hope to one day achieve unparalleled feats like their ancestors.

The current Patriarch, Zuoqiu Guanyu, is naturally no exception.

However, constrained by reality, the Zuoqiu Family’s development had long reached a bottleneck, leaving his aspirations unfulfilled. But now, the opportunity had finally arrived!

If he could crush the Shouda Trading Company in Longzuo County, he could then control the Flying Chariot markets of both Longzuo and Qeng’an. Moreover, he could leverage this advantage to expand into the Southern Desert, Liaoyuan, and even Lingbei regions.

By then, the Zuoqiu Family’s ability to generate wealth would elevate to a new level, laying the groundwork for upgrading to a Third-Grade Noble Family.

As Zuoqiu Guanyu continued copying the "Pointing at the Mountains and Rivers" map, he felt his blood boil with excitement.

At that moment.

An old man with a long beard entered the room and paid respects.

He held a thick stack of account books, a slight smile on his face: "Congratulations, Patriarch, delightful news for the Patriarch."

"Old An, what brings such joy?" Zuoqiu Guanyu asked with evident delight, continuing to paint with a laugh. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Old An was his trusted companion from his youth, having climbed the ranks alongside him as he became Patriarch. Currently, he was one of the Chief Stewards for the Zuoqiu Family, specifically responsible for organizing certain account records.

Old An placed the account books to the side and bowed, saying: "Reporting to the Patriarch, the accounts for various major grain farms have been compiled this year. Truly, heaven smiles upon our Zuoqiu Family. The harvest of Five-Spice Rice this year is abundant, yielding nearly twenty percent more than previous years."

Twenty percent?

Zuoqiu Guanyu paused with his pen, expressing satisfaction: "Old An, this is indeed wonderful news."

In his cheerful mood, his pen strokes on the replica grew more vibrant and spirited.

The industry of the Zuoqiu Family spans numerous aspects, but their core industry remains primarily agriculture. This is because they hold two powerful implements: the Five-Spice Rice seed and the Jade Finger Wheat seed.

Throughout Qeng’an County, the majority of noble families cultivate these two crops. Due to their high yield and quality, once planted, they are never concerned about sales, ensuring more profits for the family.

It is precisely because Zuoqiu Family holds the agricultural foundation of all Qeng’an County that they have grown stronger, eventually emerging as a Fourth-Grade Colossus.

Given this scale of grain seedling, a twenty percent increase in yield is naturally a grand affair.

"Patriarch, with the increased yield of Five-Spice Rice, the capacity of grain seed warehouses is somewhat insufficient," Old An said with a bow, "We need to accelerate the sales of Jade Finger Wheat seeds to make room in the grain warehouses. Traditionally, we can reduce the price of Jade Finger Wheat slightly to enhance ties with the noble families."

"Reduce the price of Jade Finger Wheat seeds?" Zuoqiu Guanyu frowned slightly, rejecting the idea, "No. Our Qengfeng Trading Company is currently in a price war with the Shouda Trading Company. Although the situation is favorable, it’s costing us significantly. Don’t be fooled by the Qiaan Family’s mere status as a Fifth-Grade Noble Family; they are notoriously wealthy. The battle is likely to remain stalemated for the next decade or two."

"Here’s what we’ll do: this time, increase the price of Jade Finger Wheat seeds by twenty percent to cover our losses in Qengfeng Trading Company."

Old An’s expression tightened, and he quickly said, "Patriarch, raising the price like this might provoke discontent among the noble families; I believe..."

"Discontent?"

Zuoqiu Guanyu laid down his pen, sneering, "The Zuoqiu Family has been providing quality grain seeds to the noble families of Qeng’an County, fattening them nicely. Now, when our Zuoqiu Family is in a critical stage of transformation, they are unwilling to share some of the risks?"

Old An bowed his head and said, "The concern is mostly about the potential for significant dissatisfaction among the noble families, leading to refusal to buy, which could be problematic."

"Refusal to buy? That would be splendid." Zuoqiu Guanyu clasped his hands behind his back, admiring his nearly completed "Pointing at the Mountains and Rivers" map, and laughed heartily, "Have you heard of the Changning Wang Family? They also produce and sell grain seeds, the Wang Family’s No. 19 rice seed and No. 23 wheat seed."

"I’ve already sent people to investigate. These two grain seeds can barely be considered quality seeds, slightly inferior to our Five-Spice Rice and Jade Finger Wheat. Yet the Changning Wang Family has reaped considerable benefits from them."