The Sage of Confucianism and Taoism

Chapter 923 March 19

As one of the largest restaurants in Ning'an County, Yuhe Restaurant is usually crowded with customers, but today it was empty. Only some scholars with foreign accents were in some single rooms.

In the upper room of Tianzihao, twelve scholars were drinking and chatting. Among these people were one Hanlin, seven Jinshi, and four Juren. They wore civil service clothes in the style of Qi Guo.

"I'm afraid Fang Xusheng will be doomed this time."

"If you want to blame him, blame him for prematurely participating in the battle for the holy way, forcing the Zong family and Liu Shan to try their best to intercept it."

"However, he could obviously give up on people's livelihood and farming, and spend his own money to let the Dragon Clan use swallowing sea shells to buy food in various places and provide relief to the people, but he has no such plan so far, which shows that he doesn't care about the lives of the people."

"That's wrong. Don't make a final decision until the last moment!"

"Fan Ming has praised Fang Xusheng many times. Of course, I know that Fang Xusheng is very talented. But if people in Ning'an County really starve to death, he will be blamed! He will definitely bear the name of being unkind. Of course, everything is just a possibility. As for whether he wants benevolence or profit, it depends on him."

"Rising food prices are not just a problem, but the beginning of a series of problems. For example, workers in a private weaving workshop need to eat. Now that food prices are high, they will demand higher wages, and the owner of the workshop will give them higher wages. If the price of labor is high, the price of cloth will be higher. If the price of cloth in the market increases, people who buy cloth will have to spend more money. The same is true for other sundries. Everything that involves labor will increase in price. "

"That's right. The prices of daily necessities will increase, but the price of non-necessities will be miserable. If no one buys them, they will not be able to support themselves and they will not have enough to eat."

"For another example, the prices of our food and drinks are outrageously expensive!"

"So, this time the other party's Xu Sheng is facing a huge test. It depends on whether he can pass it."

"Tomorrow at the medical conference, I'm afraid some people will say that under Fang Yun's rule, the people will not be able to survive."

"I'm not afraid of anything else. I'm just afraid of starving to death."

Fang Yun, who was far away in the Yamen, frowned as he looked at the latest price brochure sent by his staff.

Not only did food prices rise, but the prices of vegetables, meat, wine and many other commodities began to skyrocket, and labor costs also began to increase.

The price of whole grains is close to half of the price of vegetables, which is very dangerous.

Unlike later generations when planting and animal husbandry were developed, the Shengyuan Continent at this time was somewhat similar to the ancient China. Most food relied on grain. Ordinary people could not eat meat a few times a year. Soybean oil and rapeseed oil were extremely expensive and ordinary It is impossible for people to cook with oil.

In Shengyuan Continent, most of the land is used to grow food, with very little vegetable land and vegetable prices are extremely high. Even if ordinary people can eat fresh wild vegetables, they can only eat them raw or boiled. Stir-fried or fried is the way of eating for wealthy families.

Vegetables are easy to spoil and difficult to transport, so they are often made into pickles, which together with whole grains constitute the diet of ordinary households.

The south is better, with a suitable climate, rich plant species, and wild vegetables available all year round. But in places like Ning'an County, it is impossible to grow vegetables at this time of year. When vegetables that can be kept fresh from other places are shipped here, they will be quickly bought up by wealthy families, almost keeping up with the price of meat.

Fang Yun sighed lightly. If he didn't see it with his own eyes, it would be difficult to imagine that the lives of ordinary people in ancient times were so difficult. However, although Shengyuan Continent is close to the Sui Dynasty era of ancient China, its species are not as poor as in the Sui Dynasty. Many species have entered Shengyuan Continent in advance.

Moreover, the output of those vegetables and fruits is limited, and it is impossible to reduce the grain fields or waste a lot of manpower for them, so ordinary people can rarely eat them, at least only those from noble families can eat them regularly.

After reading the biography, Fang Yun once again read the newly compiled "On Plagues" to look for omissions.

Tomorrow is March 19th, which is also the day when Ning'an County holds a medical conference.

Different from ordinary essay gatherings, the medical essay gathering will be held for three days, and the theme is Fang Yun's "On Plague".

It wasn't until dawn in the early morning that Fang Yun fell asleep.

March 19th is the day of the Medical Association, and it is also the day chosen by Fang Yun himself.

The venue of the Medical Association is located in the Temple Square of the County Literary Academy. Starting yesterday, the officers and soldiers began to decorate the venue, trying not to cause any problems.

Doctors are an important pillar of the human race. This medical conference has been rare for many years, so it attracted a large number of doctors from ten countries.

When the time comes, the Grand Master of the Medical Palace will hold the rare Xulou Bead and record the whole meeting, and then go to various ancient places outside the Holy Yuan Continent to play it, so that doctors in other places can learn the most advanced knowledge and knowledge of the human race.

When night falls, the entire literary conference will be decorated with lights and colorful decorations to welcome doctors and scholars from all over the world.

However, the atmosphere in Ning'an County is extremely depressing.

Early in the morning, as soon as Fang Yun finished washing, he received bad news from Cai He, the prefect of Qingwu Prefecture.

Last night, Yingyang General Lan Xungu said in public that if Fang Yun could not solve the food price problem in Ning'an County, he could lend a helping hand. Lan Xungu said that the reason why he did not take action was because he took Fang Yun's face into consideration. Since some people spread rumors that the left prime minister deliberately caused the grain disaster in Ning'an County, Lan Xungu was willing to sell the grain at a fair price in the name of Ying Yangjun in a few days.

The news has spread in the streets and alleys of Ning'an County.

"It's all a calculation. If you let Ying Yangjun come forward, it would be equivalent to admitting that you are incompetent in running the county. Not only the left prime minister and his party can attack you, but even the people of Ning'an County will feel that you are incompetent in governance and put the blame on the left prime minister. . Moreover, the food crisis was solved with the help of the military. At least the people's livelihood subject will not be able to go to the second grade this year." Ao Huang sighed softly.

Fang Yun nodded and said, "Eat."

Ao Huang rolled his eyes and said: "It's such a mess outside, but you can take it easy. The price of coarse grains has increased to six times the usual price! There are already a large number of poor people hoarding coarse grains. The prices of fine grains have not increased that much. It’s an exaggeration, but it’s still more expensive than whole grains. If this continues, the price of whole grains may increase to seven times at noon! Fang Yun, I’m afraid this price will be recorded in history!”

"Anyway, the historians have brains and will not put the blame for the price increase on me. Even if it remains in disgrace for thousands of years, it will still be the left prime minister who stinks."

"But if you can't solve it, you'll be the one to blame!"

Just as Fang Yun was about to speak, a tongue-splitting voice spread throughout the city.

"The people of Ning'an City should be at ease. We and other officials in Mizhou have been paying close attention to the price of grain. Ying Yang's army is ready to open a warehouse to sell grain at a fair price. However, the people in charge of Ning'an County are just lucky. Once Ying Yang If Yang Jun sells grain at a fair price, the palace examination will definitely determine that County Magistrate Fang is incompetent and lower his palace examination evaluation. Wait, so Fang Xusheng may not agree. Whether County Magistrate Fang's palace examination is more important or the lives of the people of Ning'an County will be decided by Magistrate Fang. Here, I ask as the Transport Secretary, Magistrate Fang, it is you. Is the imperial examination more important, or the lives of the people of Ning’an County?”

Geng Ge shines his sword.