Just as Jiang Pengji had guessed, An Cui had deliberately recruited all the young and strong people who could be taken away. The remaining old, weak, sick, and disabled would not have enough food to get through the winter. Even though a large number of refugees had starved or frozen to death in previous years, wasn't Jiang Pengji in charge this time?
Jiang Pengji was a feudal lord with an extremely good reputation among the people. If there were huge casualties among the people under her rule, it would be a huge blow to her reputation.
If An Cui took the opportunity to send people to incite these refugees who could not survive to attack her, she would be in grave danger.
Either Jiang Pengji gave up her reputation among the people and let tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of people starve or freeze to death.
Otherwise, Jiang Pengji would embezzle the provisions used for the war. In this way, the morale of the army would definitely be shaken by the lack of provisions in the spring.
Either way, Jiang Pengji was at a disadvantage.
If that wasn't the case, why would An Cui be so generous as to give away two prefectures?
In the eyes of the outside world, Jiang Pengji had conquered nearly two prefectures of Nansheng in one go. Her momentum was like the sun at high noon. If it weren't for the change in the weather, she would have led her troops south and destroyed An Cui's old nest. In reality, that was not the case. The profits that could be extracted from the two prefectures were too low. If she had not sent people to dig up graves to earn a sum of money, Jiang Pengji was afraid that even emptying her private treasury would not be able to make up for the financial deficit.
Regardless of whether it was An Cui or the people under An Cui's tent, they all thought that Jiang Pengji would be badly battered by the refugees in the two prefectures who were crying piteously for food, and that she would simply provoke the people into boiling with resentment … In the end, Jiang Pengji used reality to slap their faces until they were swollen.
"What did you say?"
An Cui put down the wine cup with a clang. The Xichang Emperor Concubine, who was nestled in his arms, was so frightened that she knelt down and begged for forgiveness.
He didn't have any tender feelings for the fairer sex. He stared at the messenger with a stern expression.
"Are you sure?"
The messenger said, "I'm sure. The news from everywhere is the same. After Liu Xi occupied the two prefectures, the people …"
An Cui abruptly raised his hand to interrupt him. His brows were tightly knitted together, leaving behind several deep wrinkles.
"There's no need to say anything else. Send someone to invite the military advisor over for a discussion."
Ann Cui had wanted to watch a good show, but he hadn't expected the people he had sent to bring back news that was completely different from what he had imagined.
After Jiang Pengji took over the two regions that were of little value, not only did the people under her rule not die on a large scale, but they also had a relatively peaceful winter. Wei Ci seized the time to dispatch the Internet Water Army. Every day, he would publish countless articles to flatter Jiang Pengji.
Wei Ci's ability to control the navy was far beyond the standards of this era. The feudal lords who were once enemies with Jiang Pengji were often defeated.
Even though the aristocratic families of the Nansheng and Nansheng states scolded her for digging up graves, her reputation among the common people was unexpectedly good.
He who wins the hearts of the people will win the world.
These words could not only be applied to the ruler of the world, but also to the feudal vassals who were striving to become the ruler of the world.
It was true that Jiang Pengji had offended the aristocrats of the two prefectures, but she had also won over nearly a million people from the two prefectures.
In comparison, there was no harm in offending a few thousand landowning households whose teeth had been plucked out.
How many years had it been since the citizens of Nansheng had a war-free winter? Since the beginning of the calamity of the southern barbarians, the common people had always been in deep water and suffering. At night, they were worried that bandits would suddenly break into their homes to kill and loot. It could be seen how heavy their shadow was.
She, an outsider marquis, had done what the Nansheng marquis had not done.
The common people longed for peace and a stable life. Jiang Pengji had let them see hope.
To further embellish Jiang Pengji's lofty and selfless image, Wei Ci had even revealed some facts, such as how rare it was for Jiang Pengji to distribute warm clothes, and how she had almost emptied her private treasury to ensure that the people of the two prefectures had a peaceful winter …
Although she had not brought the best days to the common people, she had done her best. The common people should know how to be satisfied.
After Wei Ci's manipulation, the common people of the two prefectures wished they could worship Jiang Pengji as their savior!
"Crazy! They're all crazy! What kind of magic potion did Liu Xi feed the common people? "
When the aristocrats found out that there was a thief's hole near the graves of their clans, they were so angry that their lungs were about to explode. However, when they heard the common people singing praises of Jiang Pengji, they almost felt like they had been born. An Cui and his group had the same thoughts as them.
An Cui sent people to spread rumors that were unfavorable to Jiang Pengji. In the end, the people who spread the rumors were beaten half to death by the common people.
They were simply making trouble out of nothing!
Was it fake that Jiang Pengji had dug up graves?
Was it fake that Jiang Pengji had slaughtered countless people all these years?
She was clearly a tyrant, but she had been portrayed as a white lotus flower. Were they all blind?
An Cui's first plan had failed, so he came up with another plan. Unfortunately, it was stopped by Hua Yuan.
"The most important thing now is to prepare for next spring. The soldiers under Liu Xi's command have sufficient protection against the cold. A surprise attack won't be very effective."
An Cui sighed and said, "That's fine. I was too impatient."
When faced with Jiang Pengji, An Cui was lying when he said that he did not feel pressured.
Not only did he feel pressured, but he also felt a mountain of pressure.
It was just that he could not tell these feelings to others.
He was the lord. If even he had the intention to fight, how could his subordinates have the confidence to win?
Hua Yuan was An Cui's most trusted confidant at the moment. He calmed him down with a few words.
After An Cui's consolation, his anxious mood was greatly improved.
He said to Hua Yuan, "You haven't visited him in a long time. Do you have time to visit him in the near future?"
Hua Yuan smiled apologetically. "I have neglected the young master. This is my oversight."
An Cui did not really like that heir, but he had some problems. He had no choice but to make his adopted son his heir. This was good for calming people down. However … at that moment, Hua Yuan quietly told him something that made An Cui's heart tremble.
He introduced An Cui to a divine doctor who had a lot of experience in treating men's private matters.
An Cui was tempted. He secretly met with the divine doctor.
The moment an expert made a move, one would know whether he was real or not.
The doctor's diagnosis was exactly the same as An Cui's. Unlike other doctors who said they were helpless, this doctor had a way to cure him!
Of course, An Cui hoped to have his own bloodline. He was so happy that he could not suppress it. His expression twisted for a moment.
"Are … are you serious?"
An Cui tried hard to suppress his joy. He asked the doctor carefully.
The white-haired doctor said, "Duke Duoxi, there will be an effect after a month of careful recuperation. After three months of recuperation, the hidden illness will be cured."
An Cui said, "Then I'll have to trouble you to prescribe medicine."
The doctor said, "A doctor has a benevolent heart. This is a doctor's duty. Duke Duoxi, you are too serious."
At the side, Hua Yuan also said, "Congratulations on regaining Lin 'er, my lord."
An Cui nodded repeatedly. After a while, he said, "Take care of Mian 'er, lest the child feels uncomfortable."
He had raised that adopted son as the young master for a few years. They had some father-son relationship. This matter had to be kept from him for now.
Hua Yuan said, "Your subject understands. Don't worry, my lord."
He brought the doctor to prescribe medicine in secret.
When there was no one around, the doctor's face, which had been calm before, turned a little pale.
Hua Yuan laughed coldly. "Do what you have to do. Don't talk too much. If you talk too much, not only will your own tongue be pulled out, your entire family will not be able to escape."
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