HCB Chapter 396 The Locust Plague Comes Well
Chapter 396 The Locust Plague Comes Well
Xianyang Palace, in the Qilin Hall.
"Before, I, Daqin, was always troubled by the lack of food. Who would have thought that there is too much food now, and it has become a troublesome thing."
"Last year was good. Since new crops such as potatoes had just started to be widely promoted, although there was a surplus of grain, it was not too much.
People who are used to hard times are also relatively restrained, and most of them will save some surplus food at home, so the food that is actually sold on the market is not too much. "
"However, this year's summer and autumn have two consecutive bumper harvests. Many people's grain depots can no longer store so much grain, and they have been transported to the market for sale, which has lowered the price all at once."
"Right now in Xianyang City, the price of brown rice is as low as three cents and two stones, and the price of sweet potatoes is one cent and one stone. The price of potatoes is even lower, and there is a further downward trend."
"For the time being, the only thing that can be kept at three renminbi and one stone is rice."
Nesten introduced with a wry smile.
"His Royal Highness didn't set a minimum protection price before, how could it fall so fast?"
Meng Yi frowned and said, "Is there something wrong with the purchase of officials by the grain depot?"
"Although the local governments are implementing the minimum purchase price, and this year they also offered a price of two yuan and one stone, but there are too many grains that cannot be supported!"
"In many counties and counties, the grain depots are already full, and there is nowhere to store the collected grain, so the purchase has to be suspended."
"Irritable common people, in order to sell grain as soon as possible, can only lower the price. Merchants see the price keeps falling, and they dare not buy in large quantities. Now it is about to form a vicious circle."
Nesten replied with a wry smile: "The supply is far greater than the demand, and the price will inevitably fall. This is an inherent law of the market, and it cannot be easily reversed by manpower."
"We can't force the vendors to buy grain at high prices and make them lose money, right?"
"And with the gradual increase of Daqin's grain production, I'm afraid this situation will happen every year in the future, and it will only become more serious."
"Even if we build more grain depots, we can't do it."
"Don't forget, the current inventory in the grain depot, I still don't know how to digest it!"
The brows of the courtiers were all furrowed immediately.
Food is related to the national economy and people's livelihood of Daqin, and it is also the most basic economic barometer in the market.
Once the price of food collapses, the income of the farmers who still occupy the majority of Daqin will drop sharply, and their consumption power will be greatly weakened. The chain reaction will easily affect the development of the entire market.
If one is not careful, it will have an incalculable impact on the entire Great Qin.
If it's just that the food price is too high, we still have a little experience in dealing with it.
However, the price of food caused by the law of the market is too low. After a group of people looked at each other in blank dismay, they couldn't come up with an effective solution.
There is even a kind of awkward embarrassment.
"Why don't we ask His Royal Highness, His Highness should be able to think of a solution?"
He hesitated for a moment and said.
A look of anticipation flashed across the faces of the courtiers.
That's right, other people can't help it, His Royal Highness must be able to think of a way.
Even Ying Zheng, who is on the throne, is no exception.
I don't know when, the courtiers and ministers already had trust from the bottom of their hearts, almost instinctively, in Ying Yu, who had performed miraculously many times.
And at this time, Ying Yu just walked in with information about the Protectorate of the Western Regions.
"His Royal Highness, you are finally here!"
"Great!"
When Meng Yi and other courtiers saw Ying Yu, their faces showed surprise.
"What's the situation?"
Looking at the enthusiastic crowd, Ying Yu was a little confused, but after a weak explanation, he quickly understood the reason.
"Prince, can you deal with this food price issue?"
Ying Zheng asked in a deep voice.
Food is related to the country of Great Qin, and now the price of food is about to collapse, which makes Ying Zheng feel very bad.
"After reading the information in the hands of the son, the emperor must be much more relieved."
"Now my Great Qin is full of food, and countries such as Rome and Carthage in the far west, because of the locust plague, it is estimated that it will not be long before their chests are hungry."
"The envoys from these countries who came to buy grain are already on their way. Once the massive demand comes, the price of grain will naturally rise again."
Ying Yu said with a smile.
Ying Zheng read the information sent by the Protectorate of the Western Regions at a glance, and then breathed a sigh of relief: "That's very good!"
The Mediterranean countries combined have a population of tens of millions.
Such a huge demand is enough to raise the price of food in Daqin again.
The courtiers also restored their smiles one by one.
This plague of locusts is coming.
It directly solved Daqin's big problem!
But soon, the hearts of many courtiers became even more twisted.
The arrival of the locust plague turned out to be good news. Why does it feel so weird?
It can only be said that the current Daqin is really too powerful.
Otherwise, in the past, when encountering such a terrible plague of locusts, everyone would have been worried about sleeping and eating.
"However, Your Highness, if grain is exported on a large scale, there will inevitably be new crops such as potatoes. These high-yield crops will be acquired by other countries. Wouldn't our Great Qin's advantage in grain production disappear?"
Xiao He frowned.
Hearing this, the other courtiers frowned again.
It's not for sale, it's not for sale, it's really a headache.
The group of people once again focused their attention on Ying Yu.
"There are many solutions. The first is to give priority to providing the old grain accumulated in the grain depot for a long time when selling to the outside world, and then free up the grain depot space to store new grain."
"Secondly, when new crops such as potatoes and sweet potatoes are sold to the outside world, the original products should not be exported, but the processed potato powder, dried sweet potatoes, etc. This will not only prevent the seeds from leaking out, but also facilitate storage and increase profits. "
"As for the new type of rice, this is the staple food of the people in Daqin. Now the price is relatively stable, so we won't export it."
"It can also be found from this that the consumption demand of the people in Daqin has increased. Ordinary brown rice, potatoes, sweet potatoes, etc. can no longer meet the taste needs of the people. In addition, the supply exceeds demand, and the price will continue to decline."
"So we have to try to refine these poor-tasting foods to make them taste better and regain the favor of the people."
"And everyone, don't forget that food can be used to make wine.
In addition, it can also be used to raise poultry such as pigs, chickens and ducks, further enriching the dining table of the common people. "
"Now, are you still worried that food prices will not recover?"
"Now you can start thinking about how to vigorously develop industries such as grain processing, poultry breeding, and wine making!
As long as these industries develop, the price of food will naturally rise. "
Ying Yu smiled slightly.
"Good regards, Your Highness the Prince!"
Meng Yi and the others immediately sighed in admiration.
As expected of His Royal Highness, the problem that I and others have been pondering for a long time, when it comes to Ying Yu, it is still handled casually, and it can also turn disadvantages into advantages and bring new economic growth points to Daqin.
Unconvinced!