The Inflationary Military Treatise

The Daishan Secret Realm governs twelve counties.

The Imperial Estate assigned to the Ministry of Agriculture was located in Dingling County.

When Fang Heng and his party arrived in Dingling County, the county magistrate and all the officials had already been waiting for a long time.

"Welcome, Your Highness!"

"Welcome, Envoy!"

County Magistrate Chen and the other officials of Dingling County were respectful, even somewhat humble.

They were much like colonial officials, who inherently felt inferior when facing officials from the motherland.

"Your humble servant has prepared a welcoming banquet. Your Highness, please grace us with your presence…"

Before County Magistrate Chen could finish, Fang Heng frowned and waved his hand.

"There's no need for a welcoming banquet. Let's go to the Imperial Estate first."

"Uh—"

County Magistrate Chen's face first showed a slight astonishment, then a troubled expression.

"Your Highness, this welcoming banquet was prepared for you by the prominent families of the county. They've already arrived…"

Fang Heng looked at County Magistrate Chen with a cold gaze, letting out a cold snort through his nose.

"County Magistrate Chen, do you not understand what I'm saying?"

A sharp, questioning shout instantly made County Magistrate Chen break out in a cold sweat.

This prince is decisive and difficult to deal with.

County Magistrate Chen chuckled bitterly to himself, but he didn't dare to defy Fang Heng's order.

He personally led Fang Heng and the others to the Imperial Estate.

The Imperial Estate was located west of Dingling County city, covering an area of fifty thousand acres.

"How many tenant farmers were originally in the Imperial Estate?" Fang Heng asked.

"Reporting to Your Highness, there were a total of two thousand two hundred and fifty-three people," County Magistrate Chen replied, having prepared for the question and rattling off the answer as if reciting from memory.

"When the Imperial Estate was converted to grow Sacred Emperor Rice, their crops were destroyed. Was there any compensation?"

"Your Highness, they have been compensated. Five taels per person."

"Bring the ledger. I will have someone check it."

Hearing this, County Magistrate Chen felt assured.

This Ninth Prince is meticulous and not to be underestimated.

He was fortunate that he hadn't known the Ninth Prince's temperament and hadn't tampered with the compensation.

If he had tried to skim some off the top, he would have been ruined today.

County Magistrate Chen gave a look, and the registrar quickly presented the Imperial Estate's ledger.

Fang Heng took the ledger without looking at it, and simply said, "I am tasked by my imperial father to plant Sacred Emperor Rice. This is a demanding and complex task."

Hearing Fang Heng's dismissal, County Magistrate Chen flattered him, saying, "Your Highness possesses the qualities of a dragon and phoenix. You are sure to succeed."

"Your humble servant will not disturb Your Highness any further."

After County Magistrate Chen left with his people, Xiao Luoyu walked up to Fang Heng and quietly asked, "Are you really not going to the welcoming banquet?"

"Wouldn't that be too rude?"

Fang Heng shook his head, unconcerned. "No need. They just want to take advantage of the situation."

"They're just local gentry. I won't humor them."

What welcoming banquet?

Fang Heng saw through it immediately.

They just want to curry favor with me so they can manipulate the Sacred Emperor Rice yield.

By skimming off a small portion of the Sacred Emperor Rice, the prominent families of Dingling County could grow fat.

"The Sacred Emperor Rice is of great importance. We also need to set up an array in the Imperial Estate…"

"Reporting to Your Highness, His Majesty has already had this old servant bring the array disk for the Myriad Manifestations Reversion Array."

Fang Heng paused, then said, "That's good!"

"My imperial father is truly thoughtful."

"Minister Jian, I'm putting you in charge of setting up the Myriad Manifestations Reversion Array."

"Understood, Your Highness."

Jian Bingyang took the array disk and began to set up the formation.

As for Fang Heng, things weren't easy for him either.

Planting Sacred Emperor Rice across 50,000 mu of land was no simple task.

The Sacred Emperor Rice needed to be planted by the Imperial Estate's original tenant farmers.

Additionally, the Spirit Farmers from Evergreen Temple were needed to regulate the weather.

Only with both working together could things truly get on track.

Amidst countless complexities, Fang Heng's first order was to send a transfer request to the Ministry of Personnel.

He transferred Tian Sheng from the Seed Selection Department to the Ministry of Agriculture.

The next day.

Tian Sheng arrived at the Imperial Estate in Dingling County, travel-worn.

When he saw Fang Heng, tears welled up in his eyes, as if he had seen parents he hadn't met in decades.

Of course, only Tian Sheng himself knew how much of the excitement on his face was genuine.

"Tian Sheng, I've transferred you to the Ministry of Agriculture. Do you have any complaints?"

"How could this subordinate have any complaints?"

"I'm eager to come to the Ministry of Agriculture and serve His Highness like a dog or horse."

These words came from the bottom of Tian Sheng's heart.

Though the Director of the Seed Selection Department offered many perks, how could it compare to serving the Ninth Prince hand and foot?

The former was wealth; the latter was a future.

Tian Sheng understood perfectly which was more important.

For a low-ranking official like him, with no background, getting a chance to cling to a prince's thigh—if he didn't seize it, he'd be struck by lightning.

"Seeing such fighting spirit in you, I feel relieved."

"You are to teach the tenant farmers on the Imperial Estate the method for cultivating Sacred Emperor Rice."

"This subordinate obeys, and will surely not fail His Highness's trust."

Tian Sheng enthusiastically went to teach the tenant farmers the cultivation method for Sacred Emperor Rice.

Fang Heng was very satisfied; he needed exactly this kind of go-getter.

A go-getter willing to put in the effort to climb the ranks.

In the following days, the Ministry of Agriculture got on track, and the burden on Fang Heng's shoulders lightened considerably.

City of Life and Death.

In the City of Life and Death, there were many more people buying military treatises.

And without exception, they were all seeking rare, original editions of military treatises.

As for their origins, anyone with eyes could clearly see, throughout the entire City of Life and Death.

There were even gambling houses that set up bets on which prince Shang Hongye would ultimately choose.

The Second Prince's odds were the highest.

The Crown Prince followed closely behind.

As for why the Second Prince's odds were the highest?

It was simply because the Crown Prince already had a Crown Princess.

It was hard to imagine a prodigy like Shang Hongye agreeing to be a concubine.

In contrast, while the Second Prince had side consorts, the position of his main consort was still vacant.

This was the Second Prince's biggest advantage.

The stalls buying rare editions of military treatises had been set up for several days.

Unfortunately, they yielded nothing.

Some people did come to sell military treatises, but they weren't rare editions.

Some even tried to swindle them, but unfortunately, they were seen through by the princely manor's retainers.

"Take a look at this military treatise."

A bull-headed man spoke in a low voice.

Song Heng, the Third Prince's retainer, took the jade slip and scanned its contents with his spiritual sense.

Immediately, a look of delight spread across his masked face.

Pure ecstasy seemed to materialize and pour out of his eyes.

The Art of War by Sun Tzu

A military treatise he had never seen before.

It was definitely a unique, solitary copy of a military text.

He was finally having a change of luck, not letting the Third Prince down.

The other princely retainers had all witnessed what Liu Qi, the Crown Prince's retainer, had been through these past few days.

From a peripheral figure in the Eastern Palace, he had suddenly become a favored guest of the Crown Prince, often serving by his side.

Such treatment could only be described as a meteoric rise.

After reading the first chapter of The Art of War by Sun Tzu, Song Heng seemed to already envision his own glorious future.

"Two rare artifacts."

"Deal!"

Upon hearing the offer of two rare artifacts, Fang Heng didn't haggle and immediately agreed.

[Purple Green Bell]

[Profound Fire Claw]

These two rare artifacts were of average quality, considered entry-level.

Compared individually, they were far inferior to high-quality items like the Heavenly Thunder Token.

After accepting the two rare artifacts, Fang Heng lowered his voice and spoke to Song Heng.

"Do you know how many rare artifacts Liu Qi used when he acquired that military treatise?"

"Wasn't it two?"

Song Heng froze for a moment, then quickly reacted.

Could there be something fishy going on?

"Heh heh!"

"Liu Qi only used one rare artifact to acquire that military treatise."

"Many people witnessed the transaction that day. If you don't believe me, you can go ask around."

So that's how it was!

This Liu Qi was truly cunning.

Although he hadn't verified it, Song Heng already believed Fang Heng's words by seventy or eighty percent.

"Thank you for the tip."

"A small token of my gratitude, please accept it."

Song Heng gave Fang Heng a storage bag containing one hundred Soul Pearls.

Fang Heng nodded slightly; this person was quite sensible.

To be honest, Fang Heng didn't really care for a hundred Soul Pearls.

His goal was to inflate the price of military treatises.