A Modern Man Reincarnated Into Tang Dynasty And Become A County Magistrate (Patreon)

Chapter 2: The Auction for One Million Shi of Grain

At the gates of Wuling County, the scene was lively and bustling.

Travelers, carts, and horses moved in an unending stream, creating an atmosphere of vibrant activity.

Fang Yuan stood with the county deputy and registrar, observing the passersby from a quiet corner near the gate.

To be precise, it was the deputy and registrar who were closely watching the crowd, while Fang Yuan sat comfortably on the side, sipping iced watermelon juice.

Over an hour had passed, and though a few individuals appeared promising, brief conversations revealed they were not the emperor.

As the sun began to set, Fang Yuan lost interest in waiting. He thought to himself that the time could be better spent preparing for the grain auction scheduled for tomorrow.

Rising to his feet, he brushed off the wrinkles on his official robe and prepared to leave.

“County Magistrate, County Magistrate, are you not going to wait any longer?”

Zhang San hurried over, speaking deferentially.

“I’m done waiting. If you want to wait, go ahead,” Fang Yuan replied, heading back toward the county gates without looking back.

“County Magistrate, please, just a little longer!”

Zhang San chased after him, trying to persuade him.

Fang Yuan, however, ignored him completely and continued on his way.

As Fang Yuan reached the gates, he heard someone repeatedly calling out “County Magistrate.”

At first, he thought it was still Zhang San and paid it no mind. But when someone tapped him on the shoulder, he turned around, startled.

The man before him was extraordinary—his bearing refined and noble, yet with an aura of strength and majesty. He had the appearance of a dragon among men, with a demeanor that commanded respect.

The older man standing slightly behind him was also imposing, though his gaze toward Fang Yuan was somewhat unfriendly.

“Were you calling for me?” Fang Yuan responded politely, maintaining a warm and approachable demeanor.

Inwardly, he began to wonder: could this man possibly be Emperor Li Shimin, traveling incognito?

“Yes. Are you the County Magistrate of Wuling County?”

Li Shimin’s expression was filled with excitement as he looked at Fang Yuan.

He scrutinized Fang Yuan closely, impressed by the young official's graceful demeanor.

This man appeared to be only in his early twenties yet was already the magistrate of Wuling County. Furthermore, he displayed no annoyance at being interrupted by a stranger. This spoke well of his character.

Could this be the virtuous minister from his dream?

“That’s correct. I am Fang Yuan. And you are…?”

Fang Yuan nodded, introducing himself.

Although he suspected this man might be Emperor Li Shimin, certain details made him doubtful.

If this man were indeed the emperor, even traveling incognito, he wouldn’t display such open excitement at meeting him.

Moreover, an emperor would require a well-secured entourage to ensure his safety. Yet, these two were traveling alone.

The older man behind him, supposedly a guard, didn’t fit the role at all. He looked frail and sickly, like someone Fang Yuan could knock down with a single punch.

“I am Li Daye, from Longxi County,” the man replied with a smile. “This is my steward. You can just call him Old Du.”

Li Shimin had already decided not to reveal his true identity.

As this was a private, undercover journey, it wasn’t appropriate to disclose his status. Additionally, since he suspected Fang Yuan might be the virtuous minister from his dream, he wanted to observe him discreetly to evaluate his character and conduct as an official.

Li Daye? Likely an alias.

Longxi County? Probably a fabrication.

But judging from the man’s attitude, Fang Yuan was nearly certain he wasn’t Emperor Li Shimin.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. May I ask why you stopped me?”

Fang Yuan nodded calmly, his tone neutral.

Since it’s clear he wasn't the emperor, there was no need for excessive courtesy.

“I’m in the grain business. This year, many regions have suffered from droughts and locust plagues, leading to severe grain shortages. I heard that your county has grain for sale, so I’ve come specifically for that. Rest assured, price is not an issue,” Li Shimin said, his fists slightly clenched, his heart growing tense.

In truth, he hadn’t heard anything at all; he was merely improvising.

If Fang Yuan was indeed the virtuous minister from his dream, he would surely have a way to resolve the crisis surrounding the zui ji zhao (edict of culpability). The core of this crisis was the grain shortage.

If the grain problem could be solved, the rumors would collapse on their own, public confidence would be restored, and the zui ji zhao wouldn’t need to be issued. Any officials in court who dared to pressure him further would be courting death.

Thus, he speculated that Fang Yuan had access to grain and that Wuling County had grain.

“So that’s the case! You’ve come to the right place, Boss Li, tomorrow, our county will sell one million shi of grain by auction, and the highest bidder will win." Fang Yuan said, his eyes lighting up as he smiled warmly, his demeanor becoming even more hospitable.

It turned out this was another “God of Wealth” come to visit, deserving of a proper welcome.

Tomorrow was the day Wuling County would begin its grain auction—its first ever.

Over the past several days, merchant caravans from various regions, having received news through commercial channels, had already arrived in Wuling County to participate in the auction.

Fang Yuan assumed that Li Shimin, too, was part of this informed group, likely connected to one of these merchant caravans. This assumption left him with no further suspicion that the man before him was Emperor Li Shimin.

This year, Wuling County’s grain harvest had reached new heights, even as droughts and locust plagues devastated crops elsewhere, leaving many regions without grain.

Fang Yuan worried that if the central government discovered Wuling County’s surplus, it might requisition the grain forcibly. Thus, he had concealed this information from the authorities and relied solely on private commercial channels to attract merchant caravans for the auction.

“One million shi of grain?!”

Li Shimin and Du Ruhui both exclaimed in shock.

Their faces showed disbelief as if they’d misheard.

A county producing a million shi of grain wasn’t unheard of, but that would be in years of favorable weather.

This year, with widespread droughts and locust plagues, how had Wuling County managed to produce such an abundance?

Their first reaction was to suspect Fang Yuan of deceit. Yet, upon reflection, that seemed impossible. It was their first meeting, and as the magistrate of the county, Fang Yuan had no reason to lie.

“County Magistrate, please take us to see it immediately!” Li Shimin said excitedly.

He could hardly wait to see the grain fields of Wuling County.

It wasn’t just grain; it was the lifeblood of the people and the strongest countermeasure to the zui ji zhao.

“Boss Li, no need to rush. It’s late, and tomorrow morning I’ll personally take you to see it,” Fang Yuan said with a light laugh. “In the meantime, please follow me. I’ll take you to our guest lodge for the night.”

Gesturing for them to follow, he led the way toward a direction within the city.

Li Shimin and Du Ruhui exchanged glances, their excitement still evident in their eyes.

But they were not ordinary men and quickly reined in their emotions. Besides, it was already sunset, and after their long journey, it made sense to wait until morning.

As they entered the city, the extraordinary nature of Wuling County became increasingly apparent. Despite the late hour, the streets were bustling with activity. Merchants with fully loaded carts moved through the city, and the scene was one of vibrant prosperity.

Before long, they arrived at the entrance of a grand and luxurious inn. Two attendants, dressed neatly, stood at either side of the door. Above the entrance hung a plaque that read: Guest Lodge.

Li Shimin and Du Ruhui were slightly taken aback.

It was clearly a high-end inn. Why such a peculiar name?

As they pondered, the two attendants bowed simultaneously and made inviting gestures.

“Welcome, esteemed guests. The Guest Lodge offers round-the-clock premium service, ensuring you feel completely at home.”

The two men were startled, glancing toward Fang Yuan in unison.

Around them, the bustling crowds included several people who seemed almost ready to rush toward Li Shimin and Du Ruhui out of curiosity.

“Haha, this is the finest inn in Wuling County. Please rest here for the night, and tomorrow morning I’ll send someone to escort you to the fields and the auction,” Fang Yuan said with a laugh, gesturing for them to enter.

“Then we’ll await the Magistrate’s summons tomorrow,” Li Shimin replied with a smile as he and Du Ruhui stepped into the Guest Lodge.

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Tn: shi: shi, the basic unit of weight in ancient China. The shi was created by Shi Huang Di, who became the first emperor of China in 221 bc and who is celebrated for his unification of regulations fixing the basic units. He fixed the shi at about 60 kg (132 pounds). The modern shi is equivalent to 71.68 kg (157.89 pounds).