Chapter 97 Ye Chi started a business war!

"Chief, let's go to the palace together and ask to see His Majesty!" A clan member suggested, "We must explain the situation to His Majesty and let him know the difficulties of our clan."

"Yes! We must enter the palace!" others also echoed.

They know that only by uniting together can they overcome this crisis together.

So, surrounded by the crowd, the clan leader and his members marched towards the imperial palace in a mighty procession.

They were filled with anger and resentment, but they also knew the importance of this trip.

The battle for refined salt has turned into a battle for the survival of the clan...

……

They hurried all the way to the outside of the imperial palace and asked to meet the First Emperor.

However, the palace gates were as deep as the sea, and they could only wait for news outside.

Soon, a eunuch hurried over, and his shrill voice echoed between the empty palace walls: "Your Majesty is handling government affairs and cannot spare time. Please go back first!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the clans became indignant.

They traveled thousands of miles to the imperial palace just to meet the First Emperor, but were told that His Majesty had no time to meet them.

How could they accept this?!
"We have an important matter to discuss with Your Majesty. Please inform him again." A clan leader stepped forward and said with a bow.

Seeing this, the other clans also stepped forward and shouted loudly: "We want to see His Majesty the First Emperor!"

Although his voice was calm, it was full of determination and persistence!!
The eunuch was embarrassed and shook his head, saying, "My Lords, it's not that I don't want to report it, it's just that Your Majesty is so busy that he can't spare time."

"Please go back, everyone. His Majesty will summon you when he is free!"

Just then, the sound of footsteps slowly came.

Everyone looked up and saw Zhao Gao walking towards them calmly.

He glanced at the clan leaders present and said calmly, "His Majesty is dealing with state affairs and has no time to see you. If you have anything to say, just write it up as a memorial and submit it to the court. His Majesty will handle it!"

Zhao Gao's words made everyone even more angry! !

They knew that this was just an excuse by the court.

However, facing the extremely powerful Zhao Changshi and the unfathomable imperial palace, what can they do? !

The clan leaders gnashed their teeth, unable to suppress their anger.

They exchanged glances. Although they were filled with helplessness and reluctance, they also knew that they couldn't force it at the moment.

So they could only leave in anger!

……

At the same time, deep in Zhangtai Palace.

The First Emperor looked dignified, with his hands behind his back and his eyes as deep as the abyss.

The swaying palace lanterns and the mottled light and shadows add a touch of mystery to this solemn palace!
Zhao Gao stepped forward and reported in a low voice: "Your Majesty, those clan leaders have left in anger."

When the First Emperor heard this, a gleam of light flashed in his eyes, and then he burst into laughter! !
The laughter echoed in the empty palace, carrying an indescribable majesty and domineering attitude!

Li Si stood aside, stroking his long beard, nodding and praising, "Lord Ye's plan is indeed extraordinary. This action not only caused the clans to lose their composure, but also demonstrated your majesty's wisdom and decisiveness!"

At this time, Ye Chi walked out from the shadows. He looked calm, as if everything was under his control.

Hearing this, he smiled slightly and said, "Now that the first step of the plan has been successful, we can proceed to the second step."

As the First Emperor listened, his eyes flickered and he nodded slightly to show his agreement.

Li Si also came forward, and the three of them sat together to discuss the next plan.

Under the swaying palace lanterns, their figures were intertwined, and Ye Chi's strategy, like a sharp sword, quietly pointed at those restless clans!
……

After the clans left angrily, they gathered together to discuss countermeasures.

The hall was brightly lit, but it was unable to dispel the gloom in everyone's hearts.

They sat together with solemn expressions, and the atmosphere was so depressing that it was suffocating!
"Everyone, the refined salt issue has become a major concern for us now." A clan leader spoke in a deep voice, breaking the silence, "If everyone buys refined salt, the salt in our hands will be like sand, which can only be stored and is useless."

"Once the weather is humid, I'm afraid the losses will be even more severe!"

His words were like a heavy hammer, hitting everyone's heart hard!
Everyone looked at each other, with helplessness and anxiety in their eyes.

They knew that what the leader said was true. The current predicament was imminent and they had to come up with a solution as soon as possible!
"Chief, I think we should sell the salt at a low price and stop the loss in time." A tribesman suggested, "Although it will cost some money, it is worse than hoarding it for nothing."

As soon as this statement came out, everyone agreed.

They knew that what this tribesman said made sense!

This was the only solution for now. "Well, let's do as you say." The leader sighed and said helplessly, "Pass the order down, sell our salt at a low price, and get rid of it as soon as possible!!"

Upon hearing this, everyone stood up and left, ready to carry out their leader's orders.

The hall returned to silence again, with only the leader sitting there alone, his brows furrowed, and no one knew what he was thinking about.

In Xianyang city, the sun was rising and the streets were already bustling with people.

What is unusual is that the well salt, which was once regarded as a treasure by the people and sold at a high price, is now pouring out from major workshops like water. The price is so low that it makes people suspicious!

"Oh, have you heard? The price of well salt is even lower than that of snowflake salt!" An old man stroked his beard, his face full of disbelief.

A middle-aged woman nearby heard this and her eyes lit up immediately. She asked hurriedly, "Really? This is a great thing! We ordinary people can't afford snowflake salt. If well salt is really cheap now, we should thank God!"

The old man nodded and smiled, "Indeed, this is the first time I have seen such a good thing in my life."

"It seems that those clans are really going to cut their flesh this time!!"

As expected, as the news spread like a spring breeze throughout the streets and alleys of Xianyang City, people flocked to the major salt workshops.

The scene was so lively that the streets were completely empty! !

In front of the workshops controlled by the clans, there was a long queue, and the people were all ready to try, just waiting to taste this affordable well salt!
However, although the price of well salt has dropped, snowflake salt is still the most respected salt in the homes of nobles and wealthy families.

They resented Ye Chi, but they would not reject the convenience and enjoyment brought by Snowflake Salt...

On this day, inside a noble mansion, a family banquet was in full swing, with carved beams and painted buildings, and magnificent architecture.

At the banquet, a nobleman held a jade chopstick and gently picked up a piece of perfectly roasted mutton. The mutton was sprinkled with bits of snowflake salt, and it was crystal clear, as pure and flawless as the snowflakes falling in winter.

He took a light sniff and was immediately greeted by the aroma. He put it in his mouth and chewed it carefully, and his mouth was filled with fragrance and had an endless aftertaste.

"Alas, this snowflake salt is indeed much more delicious than well salt." He put down his chopsticks and sighed softly, "It's a pity that the price of well salt is as cheap as dirt nowadays. Even if we want to use it, we have to think twice."

Another nobleman beside him nodded with deep feeling after hearing this: "That's right. Think about how precious the well salt was back then. If anyone had stock of it at home, it would be a symbol of status. But now it has fallen into such a state. It's really unpredictable."

"Forget it," the first noble waved his hand, "The matter of the well salt is a foregone conclusion. Even if we are unwilling, we must accept the reality."

"The only thing we can do now is to take this opportunity to clear out the salt warehouse to avoid being burdened by it again!"

Everyone nodded silently when they heard this. Although they felt helpless, they also knew that this was the best outcome.

So the family dinner continued, and amidst the clinking of glasses, there was also no shortage of nostalgia for the past and expectations for the future.

……

Inside Fengchang Temple, Ye Chi sat upright, with his desk piled with documents.

He sorted out each stroke of the paper, looking focused and serious.

Suddenly, a guard hurried in and knelt down to report: "Master Ye, the clan has greatly reduced the price of well salt. Now all the major well salt workshops are selling them like crazy."

Upon hearing this, Ye Chi raised his head slightly, a gleam of light flashed in his eyes, and a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth: "Oh? The clan is moving quite quickly. It seems that they don't want to continue to suffer losses and want to clear the inventory in time."

He paused, then gave the order, "Take the imperial seal and quickly notify all the major snowflake salt workshops to lower their prices! Moreover, the price must be lowered to half of the price of well salt!"

The guard was startled, knowing the seriousness of the matter, and dared not be negligent in the slightest, so he took the order and left immediately.

Ye Chi smiled and continued to sort out documents with his head down.

A doctor stood beside him, his face showing worry. After hesitating for a moment, he finally couldn't help asking: "Master Ye, if the price of snowflake salt drops below that of well salt, won't we also lose money?"

Upon hearing this, Ye Chi looked up at the doctor, with a glimmer of confidence in his eyes: "Losing money? Humph, do you know what this snowflake salt is made of?"

The doctor shook his head: "I don't know."

"Green salt." Ye Chi said indifferently, "The cost of making snowflake salt from green salt is incredibly low. Do you think we will lose money?"

The doctor suddenly understood what was going on and secretly admired Ye Chi's foresight.

He couldn't help but look shocked!
Snowflake salt made from blue salt?!
This...how is this possible...

How cheap is green salt? It's for livestock, and you can buy a lot of it for just a few bucks.

I didn’t expect that the snowflake salt in those workshops was actually derived from cheap green salt!!!
After a long while, he suddenly understood and nodded: "So that's it... So that's it... This is a price dispute against the clan! Lord Ye is wise!"

Ye Chi smiled and said nothing more.

He continued to sort out documents with his head down, but his heart was calm.

And this battle over salt has just begun.

……

(End of this chapter)