Chapter 555 Growth (2)_1
Cai Wei slammed the table: "Nonsense, I just left from here two months ago, and everything was normal then. How did the rice price rise after I came back in two months? I think you are clearly bullying me because I am from out of town and want to take the opportunity to exploit me!"
The little boss waved his hands constantly, crying out: "Oh, girl, you’re wrong, I am a decent businessman, I would never do such a disgraceful thing as exploiting a customer. The price of rice in our Lin’an Prefecture is indeed rising, and it’s just happened recently. I heard it will rise even more soon!"
"Oh? Really? Do you know why the price has increased?"
Cai Wei asked curiously.
The little boss said: "Oh, I do know why. It’s because His Highness King Qin is leading an army of 100,000 to the north by the emperor’s order. Unfortunately, the grains and straws were not ready due to the rush, so he bought them on the way as they marched. Therefore, the price of rice in the towns from the capital to here has been rising steadily. Unpolished rice used to only cost forty coppers per bucket, but now it has risen to one hundred; and white rice, which used to cost sixty coppers per bucket, is now one hundred and fifty per bucket, and you may not even be able to buy it! As a steamed bun seller all year round, I know a couple of rice shops where I can buy rice. Others might have to pay up to three hundred coppers per bucket!"
On hearing this, Cai Wei was surprised. Although she had never led soldiers to war, she was aware of the importance of grains and straws during armed conflicts. Grains and straws are essential for armies to wage war. If the supply is not guaranteed, even the strongest army could do nothing.
In ancient times, many generals cut off the enemy’s grain supply when they fought against them. During the Three Kingdoms period, Yuan Shao, with a far superior force to Cao Cao’s, lost the battle because Cao Cao accepted Xu You’s strategy to raid Yuan Shao’s grain depot at Wuchao, which marked the turning point for Cao Cao’s victory. From this, it is evident how important grains and straws are for an army to wage war.
Hence, the proverb "grains and straws precede the troops".