The First National Preceptor of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 183

Xu Tian asked with some surprise, "I thought it was just the border troops that were short of food. Is it the same in the border cities?"

Li Er nodded helplessly: "That's right, that's certainly the case now."

He sighed and said to Xu Tian, ​​"Originally, I wanted to cultivate wasteland in various cities so that they could be more self-sufficient, thus saving a large amount of grain for the border. However, I did not expect that with the increase in population, the grain supply in the cities would be insufficient."

“This…” Xu Tian frowned slightly.

It seems that the reason for the food shortage on the border of the Tang Dynasty was not only due to the lack of farmland and crop yields, but also due to the rapid population growth.

Having figured this out, Xu Tian proposed an idea: "If the emperor or the people on the border could also learn to farm, it would reduce some of the food shortage problem."

"I have thought about this, but the border land is barren, and it would be extremely difficult to cultivate wasteland and grow grain," Li Er said to Xu Tian with a helpless smile and a shake of his head.

Upon hearing this, Xu Tian frowned even more deeply.

But now, this is the only way to solve the problem of insufficient food in the border areas.

After thinking for a moment, he made a decision and looked at Li Er, saying seriously, "Since that's the case... I want to go to the border region to take a look for myself. The border region is especially vast, and it's impossible that there isn't a single good field there."

His statement was not without basis. Although the land in the border areas was barren, many people in later generations began to grow food in these barren border areas.

Moreover, it's possible that the current mutant wheat and mutant rice can thrive even in barren lands.

"The border regions are especially harsh. Grand Tutor Xu, have you thought this through?" Li Er asked with a serious expression.

"Your Majesty, I have indeed made up my mind. The wheat has been successfully trial-planted in the experimental fields in the Western Regions, with a particularly high survival rate. This time, I want to see if the wheat can be planted in the border areas," Xu Tian said earnestly.

"Oh?" Li Er's face lit up with joy upon hearing this. "You mean, the sowing of this high-yield wheat has been successful?"

Xu Tian smiled and said, "Yes, we'll just have to wait and see how well it produces in the future."

"That's good then," Li Er said with a smile.

"Speaking of which, Your Majesty, would you now permit me to take my wheat to the border region for trial planting?" Xu Tian still couldn't avoid this serious question.

Seeing that he was still determined to go, Li Er nodded slightly, "Alright... Grand Tutor Xu, thank you for your hard work."

"As long as it can help the Emperor relieve his worries and troubles, that's good enough," Xu Tian said.

Afterwards, Xu Tian took Li Er to see the experimental field. Seeing that the wheat in the field was indeed growing very well, Li Er smiled with relief.

Three days later, Xu Tian prepared to set off for the border. The time was a bit tight, but he still managed to use those three days to settle everything in the fields. The old man also promised to keep a close eye on the rice.

After everything was ready, Xu Tian led his team to the border.

Li Er stood on the city wall with his hands behind his back, watching Xu Tian's figure gradually disappear into the distance, feeling uneasy for some reason.

He was well aware that some court officials were targeting Xu Tian.

Moreover, he had already realized that many people were afraid that Xu Tian would threaten their own positions, so they all tried to slander Xu Tian, ​​even submitting memorials to the court, openly saying that Xu Tian's high wheat yield was a lie, or that he had used sorcery.

A series of conspiracy theories annoyed him greatly, and now that Xu Tian was leaving Chang'an again, he was sure that someone would send people to intercept him on the way.

He then turned and ordered, "Someone, send a team of secret guards to protect Grand Tutor Xu."

The eunuch was well aware of the situation and dared not disobey the emperor's orders, so he immediately went to give them.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Liu, who was some distance away, saw Xu Tian gradually leaving and secretly sneered.