As one of the largest restaurants in Ning An County, Jade River Restaurant was usually filled with customers. Today, however, it was completely deserted. Only a few scholars with foreign accents were in private rooms.
In the Sky Room, twelve scholars were drinking and chatting. Among them, there was one Hanlin, seven Jinshi, and four Juren. They were all wearing the style of the Qi Kingdom.
"I'm afraid Fang Xusheng will not be able to escape this time."
"He can only blame himself for participating in the battle of the Divine Path too early, forcing the Zong Family and Mount Liu to block him."
"However, he could have given up on agriculture and the people's livelihood. He could have spent his own money to let the Dragons use their Sea Swallowing Seashells to buy food and help the people. However, he hasn't done so yet. It's clear that he doesn't care about the lives of the people."
"That's not right. We can't jump to conclusions until the last moment!"
"Fan Ming has praised Fang Xusheng many times. I naturally know that Fang Xusheng is very talented. However, if people starve to death in Ning An County, he won't be able to absolve himself from the blame! He will definitely be labeled as heartless. Of course, this is only a possibility. As for whether he wants benevolence or profit, it depends on how he chooses. "
"The rising price of food isn't just a problem. It's the beginning of a series of problems. For example, the workers of a private weaving workshop need to eat. Now that the price of food is high, they will demand higher wages. The workshop owner will pay higher wages, and the cloth will be sold at a higher price. When the price of cloth on the market rises, the people who buy the cloth will have to spend more money. It's the same for other sundries. Anything that involves labor and wages will increase in price. "
"Yes. Necessities will increase in price, but non-necessities will be miserable. If no one buys them, they won't be able to feed themselves and won't be able to eat their fill. "
"Another example is the price of our food and wine. It's frighteningly expensive!"
"Therefore, this is a great test for Fang Xusheng. It depends on whether he can pass it."
"Tomorrow is the Medical Conference. I'm afraid some people will say that under Fang Yun's rule, the people won't be able to make a living. "
"I'm not afraid of anything else. I'm just afraid that people will starve to death."
Far away in the yamen, Fang Yun frowned as he read the latest price reports sent by his aides.
Not only did the price of grain rise, but the price of vegetables, meat, alcohol, and many other goods also began to skyrocket. The cost of labor also began to increase.
The price of coarse grain was already close to half of the price of vegetables, which was very dangerous.
Unlike the later generations where farming and animal husbandry were developed, the current Saint Origin World was somewhat similar to the ancient China Valley. Most people relied on grains for food, and ordinary people only ate meat a few times a year. Soybean oil and rapeseed oil were extremely expensive. Ordinary people would not use such oil to cook.
In the Saint Origin World, most of the land was used to grow crops. There were very few vegetable fields, and the price of vegetables was extremely high. Even if ordinary people were able to eat fresh wild vegetables, they would only eat them raw or hot. Stir-fried or deep-fried was the way the rich ate them.
Vegetables spoiled easily and were difficult to transport, so they were often made into salted vegetables. Together with coarse grains, they formed the diet of ordinary people.
It was better in the south. The climate was suitable, and there was a rich variety of plants. Wild vegetables could be found all year round. But in a place like Ning An County … It was impossible to grow vegetables at this time of the year. Once vegetables that could be kept fresh from other places were transported here, they would definitely be quickly bought up by the rich families. The price was almost as high as the price of meat.
Fang Yun sighed softly. If one did not see it with their own eyes, it would be hard to imagine that the lives of ordinary people in ancient times were so difficult. However, although the Saint Origin World was close to the Sui Dynasty of ancient China, it was still very close to the Sui Dynasty. However, species were not as poor as the Sui Dynasty. Many species had already entered the Saint Origin World.
Furthermore, the production of those fruits and vegetables was limited. It was impossible to reduce the amount of grain or waste a lot of manpower for them. Therefore, ordinary people rarely had the chance to eat them. At the very least, only prominent families could eat them regularly.
After reading the letter, Fang Yun once again read the newly compiled "Plague Theory" to look for omissions.
Tomorrow was the 19th of March. It was also the day of the medical conference in Ning An County.
Different from other small literature conferences, the medical literature conference would be held for three days. The theme was Fang Yun's "Plague Theory".
Fang Yun didn't go to bed until the dawn of the morning.
The 19th of March was the day of the Medical Arts Conference. It was also the day that Fang Yun had personally chosen.
The venue of the Medical Arts Conference was the Temple Square of the county's Institute of Literature. Since yesterday, the guards and soldiers had begun to set up the venue, hoping that there wouldn't be any problems.
The School of Medicine was an important pillar of the human race. The Medical Arts Conference was a rare event in many years. Hence, it attracted a large number of medical practitioners from the Ten Nations.
When the time came, the scholars of the Medical Hall would hold the rare Xulou Bead and record the entire conference. They would then broadcast it to various ancient lands outside the Saint Origin World so that the medical practitioners from other places could learn the most advanced knowledge of the human race.
At night, the entire conference would be decorated with lanterns and colored banners to welcome the medical scholars of the various nations.
However, the atmosphere in Ning An County was extremely oppressive.
Early in the morning, Fang Yun had just finished washing up when he received a piece of bad news from the magistrate of the Green Crow Residence, Cai He.
Last night, the general of the Soaring Eagle Army, Lan Xungu, said in public that if Fang Yun couldn't solve the food price problem in Ning An County, he could lend a helping hand. Lan Xungu said that the reason he didn't do anything was because he cared about Fang Yun's reputation. Since there were rumors that the Prime Minister had deliberately caused the food crisis in Ning An County, Lan Xungu was willing to sell food at a fair price in the name of the Soaring Eagle Army.
This news had already spread through the streets and alleys of Ning An County.
"It's all a scheme. If you let the Soaring Eagle Army come out, it's tantamount to admitting that you're incompetent. Not only will the Prime Minister's faction attack you, but the people of Ning An County will also think that you're incompetent and push the blame to the Prime Minister. Moreover, you're using the military to solve the food crisis. At least for the people's livelihood, you won't have to go to B this year. "Ao Huang sighed softly.
Fang Yun nodded and said, "Let's eat."
Ao Huang rolled his eyes and said, "Look at how chaotic it is outside and you're so relaxed. The price of coarse grain has already risen six times the usual price! There are already a large number of poor people hoarding coarse grain. The price of fine grain hasn't risen so much, but it's still more expensive than coarse grain. If this continues, the price of coarse grain will rise by seven times by noon! Fang Yun, I'm afraid this price will go down in history! "
"Anyway, the historians have brains. They won't push the blame on me for the price increase. Even if it goes down in history, it will be the Prime Minister. "
"But, if you can't solve this problem, you'll be the one to be smelly!"
Fang Yun was about to speak when a thunderous voice spread throughout the city.
"Ning An County people, please calm down. The officials of Mishou have been paying attention to the grain price. The Soaring Eagle Army has already made preparations to sell their grain at a fair price. However, the county magistrate of Ning An County is Fang Yun. Once the Soaring Eagle Army sells their grain at a fair price, the court examinations will determine that County Magistrate Fang is incompetent and will lower his evaluation. Therefore, Fang Xusheng may not agree. Whether County Magistrate Fang's court examination is more important or the lives of the people of Ning An County are more important will be decided by County Magistrate Fang himself. Here, Old Man, as the chief of the Transport Company, asks, County Magistrate Fang, is your court examination more important or the lives of the people of Ning An County more important? "
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