"One month?" Zhong Shan lightly tapped his finger on the table, lost in thought.
"Yes, at the current rate of demand, if our Da Rong Xu Mi Stone Shop doesn't raise prices, we'll be completely out of stock in a month. Your Majesty, should we limit the daily sales or temporarily close the shop? We could wait until the frenzy dies down and then resu selling," Zhao Hai suggested with a worried expression.
"No, continue business as usual," Zhong Shan shook his head.
Closing the shop was not an option. This wasn't just a typical business situation; it was a confrontation with Lü Buwei. Closing the shop would be akin to admitting defeat.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Zhao Hai replied, his face still filled with concern.
"You may go now," Zhong Shan said.
"Yes!"
Zhao Hai left the hall, while Zhong Shan closed his eyes and continued tapping his finger on the table, pondering possible solutions.
In a courtyard of Lü's rchant Guild.
Lü Buwei had fifty stalks of divining grass laid out before him, seemingly calculating sothing. His subordinates stood by silently, not daring to interrupt. After a while, Lü Buwei shook his head and sighed, evidently gaining nothing from his calculations.
Looking outside, Lü Buwei asked, "How are things out there?"
"All the Xu Mi stone prices in the city are rising, except for the Da Rong Xu Mi Stone Shop, which still sells at the original price. The whole city knows this and is flocking there. Da Rong's supply won't last much longer," a subordinate reported.
"Still the original price?" Lü Buwei's lips curled into a peculiar smile.
"Yes."
Outside the Da Rong Xu Mi Stone Shop, a long queue had ford. High-level cultivators didn't bother queuing themselves but sent their juniors or disciples. Those with lower cultivation levels didn't mind waiting, especially since they were buying storage equipnt.
"Young Master Zhang Si, you're here for Xu Mi stones too?"
"Young Master Li Liu, you as well? Ah, our elders have us queuing here. What a disgrace!"
"Isn't it? But we have to buy now or miss the chance!"
"Why?"
"Can't you see? Other shops charge fifty tis the price, while this one sells at the original price. Once they run out, the prices everywhere will soar even higher. It's only because of Da Rong Xu Mi Stone Shop that prices haven't already skyrocketed!"
"These greedy rchants!"
"Well, at least the family heads are buying us storage space early. Otherwise, we'd have to wait two more years."
"Da Rong's shop is the best, never raising prices!"
The long queue in front of Da Rong Xu Mi Stone Shop was filled with chatter, all praising the Da Rong rchant Guild.
At the shop entrance, Zhong Shan and Zhao Hai watched the long line of custors.
"It's the tenth day already," Zhao Hai's eyes flashed with worry.
"Let's go, we need to talk," Zhong Shan said.
"Yes!"
Back at their residence, Zhao Hai looked at Zhong Shan with concern. "Your Majesty, it's been ten days. We only have twenty days left. We can't hold out much longer."
Zhong Shan remained silent for a mont before responding, "Prepare for our next move. We will not be raising prices, but we will make sure our supplies last. We need to stabilize the market and keep our reputation intact."
Zhao Hai nodded, though his concern did not fully abate. He trusted Zhong Shan's judgnt, but the pressure of the situation was undeniable. The next few days would be crucial in determining the outco of their standoff with Lü Buwei.
"No worries, I've thought of a solution," Zhong Shan said, frowning slightly.
"Oh? Your Majesty has a plan?" Zhao Hai's initial surprise quickly turned into delight.
"Indeed. During my mortal days, I encountered similar situations, though the opponents weren't as cunning as Lü Buwei. Lü Buwei is as shrewd as a fox and not easy to deal with. We need to leverage the right ti, favorable terrain, and harmonious human relations—none can be lacking. When I make a move, it must strike his weak point, leaving him no chance to counter. Otherwise, even a slight opportunity could allow him to turn the tables," Zhong Shan said in a deep voice.
"Yes!" Zhao Hai responded, bowing respectfully.
"As the chief executive in charge of a region, you must command like a general leading troops. A commander must never be disordered. You still lack experience; you need more training," Zhong Shan said calmly.
"I will certainly strive to improve myself," Zhao Hai replied respectfully.
Twenty days later.
In the inner quarters of Lü's rchant Guild.
"No movent from Da Rong Xu Mi Stone Shop yet?" Lü Buwei asked gravely.
"None. Just like ten days ago, they're still selling at the original price," the subordinate reported.
"They really can hold their ground," Lü Buwei sneered slightly.
"And the other shops?" Lü Buwei asked again.
"They're all watching our prices. Only a few have lowered theirs slightly, but sales are still minimal. anwhile, Da Rong's other shops are booming due to the Xu Mi stone frenzy," the subordinate said.
"Winning people's hearts, is it? Da Rong rchant Guild?" Lü Buwei murmured with a slight frown.
In the inner quarters of Da Rong rchant Guild.
"Your Majesty, we only have ten days' worth of stock left. What should we do?" Zhao Hai asked worriedly.
"Don't worry," Zhong Shan said, sipping his tea.
"Yes," Zhao Hai replied, though he remained anxious.
On the twenty-fifth day.
The queue outside Da Rong Xu Mi Stone Shop was as long as ever. Suddenly, an attendant hung a sign outside the shop.
"Xu Mi Stones Sold Out"
Seeing the sign, the crowd erupted.
"No more Xu Mi stones?" "How can this be? I've been waiting for three days. If I go back empty-handed, my family head will kill !"
The crowd buzzed with anger and disappointnt. After waiting for so many days, to be told there were no more stones was unbearable.
"Everyone, please!" Zhao Hai called out loudly.
The crowd quieted down, turning to Zhao Hai.
"You've seen it yourselves. We've been selling continuously for over twenty days. Even with vast stock, we've sold out. There's nothing left!" Zhao Hai explained.
"How can it be sold out so suddenly?" "At least let buy mine first!"
The crowd was restless, but Zhao Hai raised his hand for silence.
"However, the Da Rong rchant Guild prides itself on its reputation. We wouldn't have kept our prices steady otherwise. Today's stock is gone, but our headquarters' resupply will arrive in twenty days. Please be patient. As soon as the stock arrives, we will resu sales. Just twenty days—only twenty days!" Zhao Hai announced confidently.
The crowd murmured, so still unhappy, but the promise of new stock in twenty days offered a glimr of hope. The frenzy might be tempered for now, but how the situation would unfold depended on Zhong Shan's next moves.
"Twenty days until the restock?" the crowd murmured in confusion.
"Yes, please be patient and wait for twenty days!" Zhao Hai reassured the public.
Although the people were disgruntled, there was nothing they could do since Da Rong rchant Guild had run out of stock. The promise of restocking in twenty days gave them a glimr of hope, so they reluctantly dispersed.
After sending off the last of the custors, Zhao Hai wiped the sweat from his brow and returned to report to Zhong Shan.
"Your Majesty, we clearly have five more days of stock left. Why did we say we're out?" Zhao Hai asked, puzzled.
Looking at Zhao Hai, Zhong Shan replied, "Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak. Reflect on this deeply."
"Understood," Zhao Hai responded, though still unsure.
In Lü's rchant Guild inner quarters.
"Zhong Shan's stock has sold out?" Lü Buwei inquired.
"Yes," a subordinate confird.
"Good. Starting tomorrow, raise the price of Xu Mi stones to sixty tis the original," Lü Buwei commanded.
"Why?"
"People are starting to panic. It's ti to fan the flas and drive them to madness. Raise the prices; I want all shops in the city to follow this price."
"But what if so shops refuse to match our prices?"
Lü Buwei's eyes turned cold. "Do I need to teach you this? If they refuse to raise prices, buy out all their Xu Mi stones and then sell them at a higher price."
"Understood," the subordinate nodded, shivering.
In the city, inside a tavern.
"Why hasn't Da Rong rchant Guild restocked their Xu Mi stones yet? The prices keep going up!" a concerned patron exclaid.
"Maybe Da Rong won't be restocking. In such a remote place, how much could they have stored? It might take over a decade for more to arrive."
"Lü's rchant Guild just raised their prices again. What are we going to do? If Da Rong doesn't restock, the prices will rise even more."
"I'll buy so now. The price just jumped from sixty to seventy tis. Who knows how high it will go if Da Rong doesn't restock? It could even reach a hundred tis."
"I'll buy a little too, just to equip my top disciple with storage gear."
Panic spread throughout the city as everyone focused on the Xu Mi stones. Even Lü's rchant Guild and other shops started seeing long queues of buyers.
Twenty days passed in this state.
Lü Buwei frowned and asked a subordinate, "Has Da Rong rchant Guild restocked yet?"
"Not yet! Zhao Hai said they would have stock in twenty days," the subordinate replied.
Lü Buwei sensed sothing was amiss. The Luntian Conference was about to start. Was Zhong Shan planning to strike precisely at this mont?
Lü Buwei walked out and saw the long queue outside Lü's rchant Guild. His brow furrowed in thought.
Suddenly, a voice from afar shouted, "It's here! Da Rong Xu Mi Stone Shop has restocked!"
"Da Rong has restocked? Let's go buy from Da Rong instead!" The crowd cheered and quickly dispersed, leaving the queue outside Lü's rchant Guild empty.
Lü Buwei's eyebrow twitched.
"Master, sothing terrible has happened!" A subordinate ran over in a panic.
"Why are you so flustered?" Lü Buwei glared at him.
"Master, Da Rong's stock has arrived. I saw it with my own eyes. A thousand miles south of the city, Da Rong's shipnt includes thirty Xu Mi stone mountains. And that's just the first batch. There are five more batches on the way. These Xu Mi stones are enough for every person in [***] City to get a jin!" the subordinate exclaid anxiously.
"Impossible!" Lü Buwei's eyes widened.
It was utterly impossible. Delivering thirty Xu Mi stone mountains in twenty days was inconceivable unless a Heaven Extre realm expert had stooped to acting as a transporter. But Lü Buwei knew that Zhong Shan would never deploy a Heaven Extre realm expert for such a task. It was absolutely impossible.
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