"You can't hide it from me." Mr. Fan looked at the young man in front of him again. The conversation and laughter with him at the pier seemed to have happened yesterday. At that time, he only thought that the man he met by chance was an interesting man with both talent and appearance. He never expected that the young man he met by chance was an interesting person.

He was actually the hostage of the Zhao Kingdom, and he would never have thought that he would come to visit him in this way. This life encounter is really wonderful.

"Mr. Fan, if you have any difficulties, just tell me. You and I are destined to get to know each other. Whatever the boy can do, he will definitely do his best."

Blowing away the tea leaves floating on the surface of the tea, Situ Xi looked at the old man in front of him. Although he was a proton, in the eyes of ordinary people, he was also a group of people who could easily come into contact with the senior officials of the Chu State. The old man in front of him obviously knew this very well.

This is why he came here today.

"The old man said it bluntly. I want to see Duke Huaiming, but there is no way." Old man Fan talked about business, stood up from the stool, raised his hands and bowed to Situ Xi with a very low attitude.

This request did not go beyond Situ Xi's expectation. He knew what the old man was thinking. Since he was in trouble for raising food for the emperor's list and found himself here, he obviously wanted to borrow his own network.

Apart from that, I really can’t think of anything else worth using myself.

"I haven't even met my father-in-law, so how can I introduce Mr. Fan to him? You also know that I am just a hostage." After hearing his request, Situ Xi stood up and greeted him back to his seat and took a sip.

After tea, he introduced his situation to Mr. Fan.

Fan Lao understood, took five silver notes from his arms, and handed them to Situ Xi.

The price can be negotiated slowly, and he comes prepared.

"Mr. Fan, I'm telling the truth." Situ Xi looked at the banknotes on the table. All five were in denominations of one thousand taels. This was really a generous move, but he still shook his head and said sincerely that what he said was not true.

Virtual.

"But I heard that I was at Duke Huaiming's Mansion yesterday..."

After hearing this, Situ Xi immediately smiled bitterly and shook his head.

Well, good things don't go out, but bad things spread thousands of miles. It seems that the old man came here early in the morning after hearing some rumors from yesterday.

"I wonder if I can first know why the old gentleman took over the imperial list." Situ Xi responded in no hurry.

"I won't hide it from you, sir. This old man is trying to save people. The younger members of the family were arrested due to some accidents. If I can help your majesty, I might have the opportunity to exchange the reward for a request..."

"With your financial resources, why not try handing over the grain directly?" Situ Xi was a little confused. The grain shipped by the old man filled the port every day. Isn't this enough?

"Young master, I don't know. Your Majesty's demand is very great this time. There are many merchants transporting grain to Chu State. Although I am quite powerful, I am still a businessman after all. Even if I have achieved great success, I may not be able to meet the saint. I am visiting the merchants.

, and I have never been around Xuan'an, and I have neglected to take care of things. I met the young master by chance, and I don't want to abandon the near and seek the far away. Therefore, I want to ask for a meeting with Duke Huai Ming through the young master, so that I can have a chance to talk no matter how hard it is," said General Fan.

After speaking eloquently, he quickly added: "Don't worry, young master, I am very sincere."

This is because he is worried that he does not have enough chips. It seems that the reason why his junior is being imprisoned is not simple.

"Old sir, do you know why your majesty is raising food from all over the world?" Situ Xi sat upright and changed his name to the old man in front of him. Although he was a businessman, he was also an extremely shrewd person, so it was appropriate to call him sir.

Hearing the question posed by Situ Xi, Fan Lao crossed his fingers to protect the tea cup, his eyes were a little dodgeful, he looked at the young man in front of him and said hesitantly: "There are rumors that the Star Observation Institute predicted that there will be a severe drought in Guanzhong of Chu State this summer...

…”

Hearing this answer, Situ Xi just shook his head slightly and stared at him with burning eyes.

Mr. Fan also shook his head, exhaled a sigh of relief and said helplessly: "Last year, the imperial court changed the military conscription system to a military recruitment system. Yes, this is a well-known thing, so naturally I can't hide it from the young master."

The recruitment system first started with Wu Qi in the Spring and Autumn Period. "Wu Zi·Guo Tu" records: "Simply recruit good talents to prepare for emergencies." When Wu Qi formed an elite army, he reformed the traditional recruitment system.

In the past, soldiers recruited through conscription had to pay for their own equipment, food, and salary. However, under the recruitment system, soldiers will be given wages, military pay, and no corvee tax.

This system became popular during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty due to the destruction of the imperial military system, and by the Song Dynasty it had become the main recruitment method.

"Does the old gentleman now know His Majesty's intention to raise food?" Situ Xi looked at the old man in front of him again and couldn't help but smile.

Jiangnan is a prosperous land that produces a lot of grain. Although it is already March, the people should not be short of food. Situ Xi traveled around the city, listened to other people's chats in restaurants, and read a lot during this period.

Related books. No large-scale natural disasters have occurred anywhere in the Chu country in recent months. Naturally, there is no need to open warehouses to release grain for disaster relief.

At this time, the royal family changed its military system and did not hesitate to buy grain from the people without hesitation. The intention was obvious.

The State of Chu is located in the southeast, adjacent to only the State of Zhao and the State of Li. When I heard that the Li State envoy had entered Xuan'an a few days ago, all the civil and military officials came to greet them...

Whether it was for preparations for war, a deliberate posture for intimidation or negotiation, or for some other strategy, the Chu State's movements must be to achieve certain strategic goals.

"Mr. Fan, I am the prince of Zhao Kingdom." Situ Xi looked at the old man in front of him who was pretending to be confused just now and chuckled.

"Well, of course I know that. It's just that the young master mentioned it a few days ago that if I encounter any difficulties, I can come to you. But I think it's easy... I'm bothering you. Please accept these banknotes. I'll think about it again.

If there is no other way, I'll say goodbye first, I've offended a lot today..."

Squeezing out a smile, Mr. Fan drank the tea in the cup. The tea tasted bitter. After putting down the cup, he stood up slowly, bowed apologetically to Situ Xi, and said goodbye.

"Wait a minute! Mr. Fan, you're such a busy guy, you've helped me."

Mr. Fan turned his back for a moment, thinking that he had heard wrongly. He turned around slowly and said with some confusion:

"Sir, what did you say?"

Situ Xi also stood up, walked to Mr. Fan, looked at him again and said:

"Although I may not be able to help you meet your father-in-law, I can at least put your documents on his desk. In addition, I am also willing to give the old gentleman three tips. Is the old gentleman interested in hearing them?

"

After being confirmed again, Mr. Fan was very happy. He could let Duke Huaiming read his book, and he was confident that he would get support.

"Seriously? I really thank you, sir. I will hand over the reward to you now." Old Man Fan was delighted and did not hide it. He quickly took out some banknotes from his pocket and asked seriously: "I don't know.

Sir, what good advice do you have?"

Seeing Mr. Fan handing the banknote to him, Situ Xi was not polite, took it casually, looked at him and said with a smile:

"The first strategy is to exchange nobles for grain."

Mr. Fan's smile suddenly stopped. Even if he suppressed his voice, others should still be able to hear his surprise.

"Selling an official position and getting a title?!"

What a good strategy this is.


Chapter completed!