The First National Preceptor of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 225

Fang Yi'ai retorted: "Of course it's me, so what? I can give everything for the princess, can you?"

Xu Tian cursed inwardly, but didn't forget to call someone in to deliver the antidote to the people. Only then did he turn around and say, "Young Master Fang, it is actually the princess who is in love with me, not me who is interested in the princess. Since you like the princess so much, then go to the palace to ask His Majesty!"

The Fang family wields considerable influence in the court. If you ask your father to propose marriage, the Emperor will surely grant it.

"Yes, how could I not have thought of that? Are you really willing to give up this opportunity to leap over the dragon gate?"

Xu Tian's lips twitched: "It's not that I'm willing to give up, but Young Master Fang comes from a powerful family with a strong background. He is both a scholar and a warrior, and has extraordinary talent. How can I compare to him?"

Fang Yi'ai was surprised that Xu Tian was so cooperative and immediately said, "Grand Tutor Xu, I actually admire you very much. Why don't we become friends? I didn't know you were this kind of person before. If I had known, I wouldn't have poisoned your wheat."

Xu Tian cursed inwardly, "That bastard thinks he can be friends with me? Keep dreaming!" He then stood up, clasped his hands in a fist and palm salute, and said, "I have official business to attend to, so I'll take my leave now."

Fang Yi'ai's face turned cold: "Hey, Grand Tutor Xu, don't go."

When Xu Tian returned to the military camp, General Wang was pacing back and forth like an ant on a hot pan.

Xu Tian said, "General Wang, could you please stop spinning me? It's making me dizzy."

"How could Grand Tutor Xu not be anxious? The wheat you developed has been poisoned, and now large tracts of farmland are lying in the ground unharvested. Moreover, although the people have taken the medicine, their vitality has not yet recovered."

This time, the border region has suffered a severe blow. Although our army is stationed on the border, we don't cultivate the land ourselves; most of our grain comes from the taxes paid by the people. Now that the people have nothing to eat, my soldiers will go hungry.

As General Wang spoke, he stepped out of his command tent and led three hundred cavalrymen to the border trading market.

At this moment, Boss Huang stood on the high platform and said, "This year's grain price is 30% higher than in previous years."

Before he could finish speaking, General Wang stepped forward.

"This year's grain supply was already low, and with the farmland being poisoned, the army's edible grain is even less, and yet you've raised prices again!"

Boss Huang recognized him immediately as the garrison general. He walked over and said, "General, please calm down. I had no choice. Your army needs to eat, and I need to make a living too. Otherwise, in these times, are we all supposed to starve?"

You're right, this year's grain yield is indeed low, so the price is naturally much higher than in previous years. But your wheat has been poisoned; what can I do?

After the grain merchant left, General Wang's adjutant stepped forward and said, "General, look at his face just now. That Boss Huang is really too unscrupulous. I have already figured out the situation in this area. Although this year's grain yield is low, people like them will hoard a lot of grain every year, just like last year when there was a bumper harvest."

They haven't stepped in to sell the grain, so they still have plenty in stock, but they're taking this opportunity to raise prices.

General Wang's face turned completely dark.

Seeing that the border grain merchants were acting like clowns, General Wang was furious.

"If the general and his soldiers are not well-fed while guarding the border, we are likely to be invaded by foreign enemies. When the nest is overturned, no egg will remain intact. Instead of thinking about how to serve the country, you only care about personal gain. This is putting the cart before the horse!"

"General, I haven't broken the law by doing business, have I?"

General Wang sneered, then rode his horse back to the military camp.

The lieutenant asked, "Why didn't you capture him just now, General?"

General Wang sighed: "I have no choice but to accept this situation; it happens every year."