"You actually still know to come back!"
It wasn't until nightfall that Princess Gao Yang returned to the Zhangsun Estate, still unsatisfied. Zhangsun Chong was immediately dissatisfied. If it were an ordinary woman, Zhangsun Chong would have already punished her according to the family rules. However, Princess Gao Yang was the Emperor's daughter, so he couldn't do anything to her.
Princess Gao Yang, who hadn't enjoyed herself to the fullest, immediately had an unlucky expression. She coldly snorted and said, "Do you think this princess wants to come back? Your Zhangsun Estate has so many rules. If you don't want this princess to come back, this princess will live in the Princess Residence bestowed by Imperial Father."
When an ordinary princess married, the imperial court would often bestow a Princess Residence, and Princess Gao Yang was naturally no exception. However, the Zhangsun Family was the number one foreign relative of the Tang dynasty. They had a high status and power, and Empress Zhangsun was also present. Princess Gao Yang could only live in the Zhangsun Estate like an ordinary woman and pay respects to her in-laws every day.
"If you're not afraid of His Majesty's reproach, you can try!" Zhangsun Chong said with an embarrassed expression.
The two were instantly in a deadlock. Zhangsun Chong needed Princess Gao Yang's imperial status to maintain the Zhangsun Family's wealth. Moreover, living apart from Princess Gao Yang would definitely make him the laughingstock of the entire city again.
Princess Gao Yang herself understood that she was a tool used by Li Shimin to win over the Zhangsun Family. Only by winning Li Shimin's favor could she obtain the Emperor's favor. If she left the Zhangsun Estate and lived in the Princess Residence, Li Shimin would probably immediately know. She and Zhangsun Chong had just gotten married, and they had already made such a big fuss. In addition, as a woman, she would definitely be disliked by Li Shimin if she went out in public.
Zhangsun Chong took a deep breath and reluctantly explained, "This time, I'm targeting Mo Jiazi not because of personal grudges, but because of the Zhangsun Estate's future. Since you've married into the Zhangsun Estate, you'll naturally be integrated into the Zhangsun Estate. I hope you can understand."
Princess Gao Yang didn't believe him at all. She said with disdain, "You're just deceiving yourself!"
"How can I prove it for you to believe me? Do you really want to wait until the Zhangsun Mansion falls before you believe in your husband's efforts?" Zhangsun Chong said angrily.
Princess Gao Yang sneered and said, "Even if what you say is true, do you really think that you can defeat Mo Jiazi? Mo Jiazi has never lost a battle in the business world. Back then, even when the Five Clans and Seven Hopes joined forces, they were still unable to make Mo Jiazi yield. How can a mere Zhangsun Estate do anything to Mo Jiazi?"
Zhangsun Chong said confidently, "Back then, although the Five Clans and Seven Hopes were powerful, there were many who refused to submit to them. The Jiangnan Aristocratic Family was just one of them. In the end, they were defeated one by one by Mo Jiazi. However, this time, the entire iron industry is against Mo Jiazi. Not to mention, iron is the lifeline of the Mo Clan. The various mine owners control the lifeline of the Mo Clan, yet they're being suppressed by the Mo Clan. This is something that no one can tolerate. This is a conflict of interests that will erupt sooner or later. The Zhangsun Estate is just giving it a push. This time, even if it's Mo Jiazi, he's powerless to reverse the situation. "
"Powerless to reverse the situation?" Princess Gao Yang laughed and said, "Even a woman like me knows that a cornered beast will still put up a fight, let alone a son of the Mo Family with superb methods. Everyone in the world knows that the son of the Mo Family has endless ingenious schemes. This princess would like to ask Prince Consort, when faced with the Zhangsun Estate's encirclement, did the son of the Mo Family yield, or did he come up with any countermeasures?"
Zhangsun Chong's face suddenly darkened. Princess Gao Yang's words directly hit the biggest worry in his heart. Since the Zhangsun Estate joined forces with the various mine owners to besiege the Mo Clan, Mo Jiazi did not take any action at all. Instead, he had been supporting himself with the iron in the Mo Clan's stockpile. He neither bought iron at a high price nor yielded to them, which made the Zhangsun Estate's plan fail.
"Mo Jiazi is already at his wit's end. As long as the Zhangsun Estate controls the lifeline of the Mo Clan, Mo Jiazi will yield sooner or later." Zhangsun Chong gritted his teeth and said.
Princess Gao Yang said, "Since that's the case, this princess will make a bet with the prince consort. As long as the prince consort is able to defeat the son of the Mo family this time, this princess will obediently stay in the Zhangsun Estate and not take a step out. If the prince consort is defeated, then don't interfere with this princess' freedom."
"Good! It's a deal! " Zhangsun Chong said. He did not believe that he could still be defeated by Mo Jiazi when he had the absolute advantage and controlled Mo Jiazi's lifeline.
Princess Gao Yang said with a smile, "Then I'll wait for your good news!"
Princess Gao Yang walked past Zhangsun Chong with a smile, leaving behind a burst of fragrance.
Zhangsun Chong looked embarrassed and waved his hand. Steward Zhangsun hurriedly came forward and said, "Young master, what are your orders?"
"Immediately contact all the iron shops and ask them to raise the price by another 5%. If they can't give the Mo Clan a tael of iron at a fair price, I don't believe that the Mo Clan can store much iron." Zhangsun Chong said with hatred.
"Yes!" Steward Zhangsun immediately responded.
As the iron price in Guanzhong rose by another 5%, all the workshops were in an uproar. All the craftsmen looked at the Mo Clan, the leader of the craftsmen. Everyone knew that the iron price increase this time was targeted at the Mo Clan, and they were waiting for the Mo Clan's response.
However, what surprised everyone was that the Mo Clan was not moved at all. They had been holding on with their own iron reserves.
"Mo Jiazi actually hid so well. The Mo Clan actually stored so much iron?"
A man in the iron trade was embarrassed. The iron reserves of the Mo Clan were not only for their own daily needs, but also for the imperial court. It could be said that the consumption of iron was double. Even so, the Mo Clan had been holding on for more than several months.
In the past, if they used this trick to deal with Mo Jiazi, the iron reserves of the Mo Clan could at least last for more than a year. Then they would not be able to do anything to Mo Jiazi at all.
"Iron is nothing. What's more terrifying is the food. It is said that the granary of the Mo Clan is enough to feed all the people in the Mo Clan for more than three years. "A commoner said proudly.
"Prepare for a rainy day. Mo Jiazi is really not an easy person to deal with." A mine owner said with a complicated expression. When they were in the opponent's situation, they realized how difficult it was to deal with Mo Jiazi.
"Fortunately …" Many mine owners felt lucky that they had chosen a clever point to deal with Mo Jiazi. Otherwise, they would not be able to do anything to him.
"Don't worry. The Mo Clan is at the end of the line. Our success or failure depends on this." Steward Zhangsun said in a deep voice.
The mine owners suddenly felt refreshed. Although the Mo Clan had a lot of iron reserves, it could not be inexhaustible. They believed that there was not much iron left in the Mo Clan. What's more, the Mo Clan was also responsible for the supply of iron coins. At that time, Mo Jiazi would only have two choices. One was to buy iron at a high price, and the other was to open up the secret of stainless steel and let other iron trades produce stainless steel for the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
"Minister, should we urge Mo Jiazu not to delay the imperial court's important matter of iron coins so as not to affect the construction of the Shu Road?"
In the Ministry of Civil Affairs, a manager of the Ministry of Civil Affairs proposed to the Minister of Civil Affairs, Tang Jian.
"Urge?" Tang Jian frowned and said, "Has the Mo Clan ever been short of stainless steel in the Ministry of Civil Affairs?"
The manager of the Ministry of Civil Affairs paused and said, "No, but I heard rumors that the Mo Family Village's iron reserves are running out, and they haven't bought any iron. It would be inappropriate if it affects the production of iron coins."
Tang Jian looked deeply at the manager of the Ministry of Civil Affairs and said, "Since Mo Jiazu has never stopped supplying iron to the Ministry of Civil Affairs, why should the Ministry of Civil Affairs be meddlesome? Tell the person behind you that the imperial court will not interfere with the business. But if he wants to use the imperial court to achieve his secret purpose, do you think I'm a clay Buddha?"
"Ah!" The manager of the Ministry of Civil Affairs panicked and hurriedly apologized, "I don't dare. Please forgive me, Minister."
"Go! Don't meddle. I trust Mo Jiazu's ability. Since he dares to guarantee that I have enough iron, he will not go back on his words. "Tang Jian waved his hand and said.
"Yes!" The manager of the Ministry of Civil Affairs wiped the cold sweat on his forehead and went down gloomily.
Looking at the embarrassed figure of the manager of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, Tang Jian sneered and said, "The more you make trouble, the more I can push into the salt and iron official camp. I'm just a fisherman, how can I be used by you?"
After the manager of the Ministry of Civil Affairs returned to his official residence, he thought carefully about Tang Jian's words and couldn't help but smile. He ordered a servant beside him, "Tell those people that as long as the Mo Clan reduces the supply of stainless steel to the Ministry of Civil Affairs, Mo Jiazi will give in."
"Yes!" The servant took the order and left.
Soon, the amount of iron in Chang 'an soared by more than 10% again. And the supply of iron was very low, but there was no market.
"The Mo Clan can't hold on any longer!"
When the Mo Clan reduced the supply of steel to guarantee the production of iron coins, everyone knew that the iron reserves of the Mo Clan were running out.
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