6: Chapter 6 I heard you have the Preface to the Orchid Pavilion?

"At the time of our nation's founding, we had at least a handful of people capable of commanding a million troops. Do you think we would lack commanders?"

Yang Fan naturally couldn't talk about the present.

After all, in modern warfare, if a million troops were deployed, provided no nuclear weapons were used, they could basically sweep across more than half the globe.

Emperor Taizong of Tang's mouth twitched. This guy was bragging more and more outrageously. From ancient times to the present, those capable of commanding a million troops could be counted on one's fingers. You're saying five could pop up in a single era?

And at least five?

He'd better talk about what else was worth trading; if they kept chatting, he wouldn't be able to stop himself from taking action.

If he wasn't afraid that Yang Fan wouldn't trade with him in the future, he would have grabbed him right then and there to reason with him.

Did he really think people like Bai Qi, Wang Jian, and Han Xin were a dime a dozen?

"From what I gather, you aren't lacking in grain or weapons. Could you trade some to me?"

"Sure. As for grain, I have as much as you want!"

"As for weapons, I probably can't for the time being. After all, my country has very strict weapon controls!"

Emperor Taizong of Tang nodded. He could basically guess that much; otherwise, it would be strange if so many reservists weren't in chaos.

However, he had no idea that what Yang Fan wanted to trade him wasn't just some horses or equipment!!

"How much can you trade?"

"As long as the money is right, as much as you want!"

It really was as much as one wanted. If he couldn't buy it domestically, he could go to neighboring countries; as long as he had money, he could get as much as he wanted.

Emperor Taizong of Tang thought for a moment. In recent years, droughts had been frequent, and every region was short of grain.

"Can you trade 200,000 shi of rice?"

(One shi in the Tang Dynasty is approximately equal to 100 jin today.)

200,000 shi was a figure Emperor Taizong of Tang came up with based on the reserve troops Yang Fan mentioned; he believed it certainly wouldn't be an astronomical number.

"I can."

Yang Fan didn't even hesitate.

This actually stumped Emperor Taizong of Tang.

Although he didn't know what grain prices were like in Yang Fan's era, grain was a hard currency; it certainly wouldn't be cheap.

"You don't want silver, and I can't produce that much gold to exchange for grain. How about I exchange goods plus gold with you?"

Emperor Taizong of Tang could roughly understand that the currency he currently used probably didn't circulate in Yang Fan's time, but it seemed gold did.

Yang Fan nodded; he had heard that Emperor Taizong of Tang had quite a few good things.

"I heard you like collecting calligraphy and paintings?"

"I have collected a few."

Emperor Taizong of Tang nodded and glanced at Yang Fan. This guy knew quite a bit.

"I heard you have Wang Xizhi's preface to the poems composed at the orchid pavilion!"

"Absolutely not!!!"

Upon hearing the name Wang Xizhi, Emperor Taizong of Tang immediately bristled. This guy—he was planning to keep this piece of calligraphy and take it into his mausoleum.

He had only just acquired it not long ago. How did this guy, Yang Fan, know about it so clearly?

"Trade for something else. I can't trade this!"

Yang Fan knew there was no hope when he saw Emperor Taizong of Tang's expression, but he hadn't really counted on it anyway; after all, it was the man's prized possession, so it was normal not to trade it.

"Then how about 10,000 taels of gold, plus you write the preface to the poems composed at the orchid pavilion in the feibai style, and have Yu Shinan and Chu Suiliang make copies of the preface to the poems composed at the orchid pavilion, have them sign their names and add their seals, and then you affix your imperial seal."

"A total of 10,000 taels of gold, and three copies of the preface to the poems composed at the orchid pavilion!"

Emperor Taizong of Tang glanced at Yang Fan. So cheap?

As for writing and such, that was child's play; he was good at it!

Although gold could buy things in the Tang Dynasty, copper coins or silver were usually used in daily life; gold was rarely used.

It seemed gold was very valuable in Yang Fan's era. 10,000 taels could buy 200,000 shi of grain, and there was probably plenty left over.

It seemed gold was a good thing. He would need to collect more in the future to trade with Yang Fan.

Empress Zhangsun, who was beside Emperor Taizong of Tang, was about to speak up and agree; after all, this was a guaranteed profitable deal.

Emperor Taizong of Tang hurriedly stopped her and spoke first:

"8,000 taels of gold, plus the copies of the preface to the poems composed at the orchid pavilion you mentioned!"

Emperor Taizong of Tang naturally couldn't let Yang Fan set an exorbitant price, or he wouldn't be able to trade in the future. He also couldn't let Yang Fan know that gold wasn't that valuable to him, or it wouldn't be as simple as a few thousand or ten thousand taels next time.

"Deal. But it will take time; as you know, the quantity is quite large!"

Yang Fan had just taken out his phone and calculated it; 200,000 shi was about 10,000 tons.

He roughly calculated that buying that much rice would cost around 40 million.

But 8,000 taels was still very profitable; after all, a 10-tael gold bar could sell for 3.8 million!

Plus the three calligraphy pieces, it wasn't just making money; it was faster than a printing press!

"Good! Same as before; this time I will give you half the gold and the three calligraphy pieces first!"

"When you are ready, you can leave the note for me here. I will come to check every day!"

Emperor Taizong of Tang happily slapped the stone table and stood up.

Emperor Taizong of Tang was truly happy. With this, he would never have to worry about grain again. He also discovered that his own calligraphy, as well as those of Yu Shinan and Chu Suiliang, must be quite famous in later generations.

Perhaps they were worth a lot of money. He would need to get more of their calligraphy in the future to keep in reserve.

"Hmm, just place the items directly on the stone table."

"As for the grain, I will move it directly into this space, and you can just take it away!"

Yang Fan looked at the space they were in; it was still very large, so there shouldn't be any problem.

However, he definitely couldn't store personal items here; after all, it wasn't private, and Emperor Taizong of Tang could also enter this place.

"Alright, it's a deal. I will go prepare the gold now. This quantity is not small, so it will take a few days to prepare!"

Empress Zhangsun, who was beside Emperor Taizong of Tang, looked confused. Wasn't there still quite a bit of gold?

Why did it still need a few days to prepare?

"Hmm, I see Empress Zhangsun's complexion isn't very good. It seems she not only has a respiratory ailment but is also a bit anemic. I didn't bring any gifts this time; next time, I'll bring some supplements for Empress Zhangsun!"

Empress Zhangsun felt a bit embarrassed. Emperor Taizong of Tang had already taken advantage of the other party so much, and yet he still wanted to give her things; it was quite embarrassing.

However, Emperor Taizong of Tang wouldn't feel embarrassed.

"I didn't expect you to understand the art of qi observation. Indeed, the imperial physicians have said as much, but qi and blood are not easy to replenish. Since you have some there, that's great! Bring more! I need some too!"

Yang Fan gave an OK gesture and left the space. Supplements didn't cost much money anyway, so he might as well give them away.

"Er'lang, isn't that not quite right? We have already taken such a huge advantage!"

"Empress Zhangsuns nickname, you haven't seen the situation clearly at all!"

"Listening to what he said, they are not lacking in grain. And since he asked for the preface to the poems composed at the orchid pavilion right away, it proves that the era he lives in is prosperous, and the value of calligraphy and paintings is extremely high."

"So I suspect he is definitely making a profit. Otherwise, where could he get so much grain? It's not like grain is free where they are!"

"You haven't learned a single bit of your brother's shrewdness!"

After hearing Emperor Taizong of Tang's explanation, Empress Zhangsun also felt the analysis was very correct. Who would do a losing business deal!

"How about I still persuade my brother to resign from his official post and return home!"

"His position is too high now, and I always feel it's not good for an in-law to be in such a high position!"

"Sigh, what kind of talk is that? Fuji has been with me for so many years; could he possibly harm me?"