Sage Meng! Which Sage Meng?

Three hours later.

Yun Menglan lay in Fang Heng's arms, her face flushed and her expression languid, not wanting to lift a single finger.

"Your Highness, today the Crown Prince gave Shang Hongye a gift."

"A military treatise?"

"Your Highness is as perceptive as ever; indeed, it was a military treatise."

"I heard it was a military treatise titled Thirty-Six Stratagems."

Hearing Yun Menglan's words, Fang Heng understood.

So the person from the City of Life and Death was from the Eastern Palace.

"It was a guest advisor from the Eastern Palace named Liu Qi who presented the military treatise to the Crown Prince."

"I heard Liu Qi spent two rare artifacts to acquire the military treatise."

"The Crown Prince was quite generous, bestowing two rare artifacts upon Liu Qi as a reward."

Yun Menglan, her eyes half-closed, recounted the interesting news of the day to Fang Heng.

"Two rare artifacts?"

"Are you serious?"

Fang Heng exclaimed in surprise, blurting out the words.

He had only received one rare artifact from Liu Qi.

"Absolutely true."

"The Crown Prince spared no expense to win Shang Hongye's favor."

Fang Heng didn't pay close attention to Yun Menglan's subsequent words.

Only one thought occupied his mind.

Liu Qi, that seemingly honest fellow, had actually deceived his superiors and subordinates, asking for an extra rare artifact.

Fang Heng grumbled inwardly, but then, upon closer thought, Liu Qi's actions actually aligned perfectly with Fang Heng's interests.

He had helped him raise the price.

Next time he sold military strategies, he could sell them for the price of two rare artifacts.

Don't ask; just say the Eastern Palace also paid two rare artifacts.

That was the market price.

Six Secret Teachings and Three Strategies, Art of War by Sun Tzu, Taibai Yinjing, Jixiao Xinshu…

He needed to find time to write down all the military treatises in his mind.

The next day.

Xu Xingzhi arrived to present a gift, carrying Cloud Drunk.

When Fang Heng learned that Xu Xingzhi was coming to give a gift, his first reaction was:

No way!

Someone like Xu Xingzhi, giving a gift?

It wasn't until… he saw Xu Xingzhi carrying Cloud Drunk that Fang Heng was convinced he genuinely came to give a gift.

"Your humble subordinate greets Your Highness."

"Hahaha, Sir Xu, you're too kind."

The fact that Xu Xingzhi gave him a gift made Fang Heng feel immensely pleased.

It was as if he had eaten a ginseng fruit, the pleasure shooting straight to his head.

Different people giving gifts had entirely different effects.

Fang Heng wasn't surprised at all when an official-obsessed person like Tian Sheng gave him a gift; he was used to it.

Xu Xingzhi, however, was different. In Yujing City, he was famously upright and incorruptible.

For such a righteous figure to give him a gift…

The feeling…

Simply wonderful!

"This humble subordinate was blind and ignorant of the truth, misunderstanding Your Highness's painstaking efforts. I truly deserve death."

"Today, I have specially prepared a humble drink to apologize to Your Highness."

"This humble subordinate will punish himself with three cups!"

Xu Xingzhi raised his cup, poured three cups of exquisite wine consecutively, and drained them one after another.

"Sir Xu, ignorance is no crime."

"Your integrity truly earns my admiration, Your Highness."

"If all the officials in court possessed the same integrity as you, Sir Xu, how could our Great Qian ever fail to prosper?"

"And how could the common people of the world not live in peace and contentment?"

Hearing the Ninth Prince praise his integrity so highly, Xu Xingzhi felt a warmth spread through him. It was as if, after all these years of being ridiculed by his colleagues, he had finally found a kindred spirit.

His nose tingled slightly.

"Your Highness, I toast you on behalf of the common people of the world."

"With Your Highness here, the common folk of the world have their paragon of justice."

Xu Xingzhi's flattery made Fang Heng feel immensely pleased.

Anyone who dared to say Xu Xingzhi couldn't butter someone up would surely get a hard slap from him.

"Oh, no, no!"

"The Sacred Emperor Rice has just been cultivated, and its yield is limited."

"Only by ensuring proper distribution can the common people truly begin to enjoy good lives."

"From now on, the heavy responsibility of the Seed Selection Department will fall entirely upon you, Sir Xu."

Fang Heng's words left Xu Xingzhi utterly astonished.

"Me? What about Sir Tian?"

Fang Heng looked deeply at Xu Xingzhi and said with a smile, "Sir Xu, you mustn't underestimate yourself."

"The position of Director of the Seed Selection Department is tailor-made for you."

"I have already recommended you to my imperial father."

"As for Tian Sheng, he will accompany me to the Ministry of Agriculture."

Hearing Fang Heng's arrangements for both himself and Tian Sheng, Xu Xingzhi felt a mix of excitement and emotion.

Everyone in Yujing City knew that the Seed Selection Department was about to transform from a backwater office into a lucrative one.

Xu Xingzhi had never dared to dream of becoming the head official of such a desirable department.

He had initially thought that Tian Sheng, who had tirelessly served the Ninth Prince, would surely be given the position of Director of the Seed Selection Department.

He never expected His Highness to value him so highly, even recommending him to the Emperor.

"Your subject thanks Your Highness for the recommendation."

"Sir Xu, if you wish to thank me, then ensure fairness in distribution, so that all the people of the world have food to eat."

"Your subject will strictly abide by Your Highness's teachings."

Xu Xingzhi's expression was solemn and serious.

The Seed Selection Department was responsible for distributing the Sacred Emperor Rice, and its head official absolutely had to be someone of Xu Xingzhi's unwavering integrity.

If someone like Tian Sheng, who was obsessed with official positions, were to lead the distribution, the Seed Selection Department would surely become a chaotic mess.

However, Tian Sheng wasn't without his advantages.

His greatest strength was that he would never question Fang Heng's orders.

No matter how outlandish the command, he would carry it out.

This was something Xu Xingzhi could never do.

As the saying goes, the Yangtze River is clear, the Yellow River is murky, and both the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers flow.

Xu Xingzhi was like the clear Yangtze, while Tian Sheng was the turbid Yellow River.

Each had their own uses, and only when placed in the correct positions could their talents be fully utilized.

After three rounds of drinks, Xu Xingzhi couldn't help but ask Fang Heng, "Your Highness, your subject has something that puzzles him."

"How could rice that previously couldn't even produce grains be cultivated into something as astonishing as the Sacred Emperor Rice?"

Under the influence of alcohol, Xu Xingzhi finally voiced his greatest confusion.

He had inherited the Agricultural School's traditions for decades.

He had also immersed himself in seed selection and cultivation for decades.

Fang Heng's methods, in his view, completely defied common sense.

Yet, somehow, the Sacred Emperor Rice had been cultivated.

This made Xu Xingzhi briefly wonder if he was a complete idiot.

"This matter is both difficult and easy," Fang Heng said.

"I only managed to cultivate the Sacred Emperor Rice after inheriting the teachings of a Sage surnamed Meng."

A Sage surnamed Meng?!

Xu Xingzhi's ears perked up.

"Sage Meng said that all things are composed of yin and yang."

"During reproduction, yin and yang separate, and then the two energies, yin and yang, freely combine to give rise to all things..."

Fang Heng explained Mendel's two laws to Xu Xingzhi.

Using yin and yang to represent dominant and recessive genes, this explanation, steeped in Daoist philosophy, quickly became acceptable to Xu Xingzhi.

After listening, Xu Xingzhi had an epiphany.

It was as if he had achieved enlightenment; the world suddenly became clear.

He felt that the Agricultural School teachings he had cultivated for the past few decades were utterly worthless.

A true teaching is a single sentence; a false teaching fills ten thousand books.

Thanks to the Ninth Prince's guidance today, he had finally received the true teaching.

"Sage Meng is truly a great virtuous figure of our Agricultural School!"

"The kindness of Your Highness's guidance today is something this humble official will never forget and can never repay."

Xu Xingzhi stood up and bowed deeply to Fang Heng.

It's a pity that His Highness isn't from one of the Ten Great Dao Courts.

Otherwise, it would truly be a blessing for all under heaven!