The First National Preceptor of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 342

Magistrate Chen smiled and said, "I have volunteered to be in charge of the market in the north. The market is about to open, and I have a way to buy the cheapest materials there."

Why don't you entrust me with the trivial task of purchasing materials?

Xu Tian thought for a moment and then nodded. The entire trading market was completely different from before.

The landowners would pack all the vegetables they couldn't eat into sacks and sell them at the market to the Turks, Koreans, and Yuezhi people. As usual, they would exchange them for jewelry and even furs.

This time, most of the alien races knew about and bought a vegetable called potato. This vegetable was not only cheap, but also filling, and even cheaper than the usual grains.

Soon, many nomadic tribes brought their camels, and the potatoes were quickly sold out.

Magistrate Chen purchased a large quantity of cold-proof and moisture-resistant building materials from a Persian. These materials were of much better quality than the bricks and stones used by ordinary people in the Tang Dynasty to build houses, and they were also much cheaper.

The Persian merchant explained with a smile.

"I thought I wouldn't be able to return to Persia this year and would starve to death on this grassland, but I never expected that your Master Xu would grow potatoes. That's wonderful."

These materials are useless to me, so I'll sell them cheaply. I'll sell them to you for three taels of silver per ton.

Magistrate Chen immediately purchased all the materials according to Xu Tian's design drawings before transporting them all back to the government office.

Qin Xian, who had been in charge of escorting the materials over the past few days, noticed something unusual. After questioning several Persian merchants, he learned that this shipment of materials was intended for the construction of the academy.

That is, two taels of silver.

However, Magistrate Chen recorded two taels of gold in his ledger, a difference that was like heaven and earth. Later that noon, Magistrate Chen was found on a hillside.

Magistrate Chen took out the dry rations he carried with him, took a big bite of the dry naan bread, and then gulped down a mouthful of mare's milk wine.

"General Qin, what business do you have with me?"

Qin Xian didn't say much; he got straight to the point.

"Buy low, sell high?"

Magistrate Chen explained from the side.

"This place is too far from the county seat, so I brought some food with me. How about a naan bread?"

"I've noticed that the quoted prices in the accounts these past two days are too high. If the original price was two taels of silver, why is it recorded as two taels of gold in the ledger?"

Magistrate Chen never expected that he would spot the problem in the account books.

"Please rest assured, General, since I have accepted this assignment, I will certainly not embezzle. As for the two hundred taels in this ledger, that is two taels of silver. As for the remaining money, I have decided to hire some skilled workers from other places at high prices. After all, if the academy is not built soon, the construction time will be exceptionally long and the cost will be even greater."

"It would be better to invite more experts; that way, Master Xu will feel more at ease. Besides, Master Xu has been suffering from typhoid fever these days, so I'll leave this matter to me. General Qin, you don't need to worry."

Upon seeing that this corrupt official had actually lied to him, Qin Xian immediately placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.

Unexpectedly, Magistrate Chen slipped away quickly, and a cold sneer appeared on his lips.

"If the general doesn't believe me, he can ask these people." "What should be done if the wooden beams used in building a house are too damp?"

One of the Persian workers immediately said, "The wood used to build the house should be dried in the sun or air. It's best to use already dried wood, otherwise the house will be dark and damp and full of moisture after it's built."

Qin Xian then turned to look at another person.