"Fifty thousand dans …" Lin Muyu was silent.
Situ Xue was stunned. "Why? Do you think it's too little?"
"I thought we could get at least a hundred thousand dans …" Lin Muyu frowned and said, "We need to provide rations for three hundred thousand soldiers. That means we need to consume thirty to forty thousand dans worth of rations a day. The fifty thousand dans you got is only enough for one day. It's far from enough …"
"Yes." Feng Jixing nodded. "It's a pity that the millions of dans of provisions in Xiping Prefecture have been burned. Otherwise, it would have been enough for our army to stay here for a month …"
Ding Xi cupped his fists. "I will take out the gold coins from Xiping Prefecture's treasury to collect and buy food from the people. I hope it will be enough."
"It's too difficult." Feng Jixing said, "The Tianji Empire has been fighting for a long time. The food has been almost consumed."
Situ Xue said, "Milord, I heard that there is a grassland about 20 miles south of Xiping City. There are several large ranches there, which used to be the property of several aristocrats. Later, they were taken over by the Yang Shang Dynasty and became the property of the state. Why don't we … send people to the ranches overnight and drive the cattle and sheep over to serve as food for the army?"
"That's a good idea. Do it immediately."
"Yes!"
As soon as Situ Xue left, the group of people sat in the hall with sad expressions on their faces, and just sipped on their tea.
"What should we do now?" Lin Muyu looked at Ding Xi and said, "Marshal Ding, you are the commander of the Supplies Department. Say something … I don't care. You have to get food for me."
Ding Xi didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "I'm new here. Do you think I have everything? Besides, should you, the commander of the three armies, say something like 'I don't care'?"
After saying that, Ding Xi pondered and said, "If it doesn't work, we can only send the army to capture the surrounding prefectures as soon as possible to collect food. Xishan Province has been managed by Si Kongyao for many years. It is a relatively rich province. The granaries of various prefectures are still full. Chen Yu has burned Xiping City, but he doesn't have the energy to burn more prefectures."
"Attacking prefectures requires food. This is a big problem in itself." Wei Chou hit the nail on the head.
Ding Xi squinted and smiled. "There is another way. Bring enough money and buy food from the villages and towns."
"That won't work. This is in conflict with our constitution. What will the people think of the Empress?" Lin Muyu shook her head. "This method is unpopular and must not be implemented."
Ding Xi spread his hands. "This won't do, that won't do. I'm not going to be the commander of the Supplies Department anymore.
Lin Muyu didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Don't. You are making things difficult for us if you shirk your responsibilities!"
Ding Xi grinned and said, "How about this. Si Kongyao and Liu Buyi are more familiar with Xishan Province than we are. However, they have brought people to get medicine. We will discuss this when they arrive at Xiping City."
"That's the only way."
At this moment, Chu Yao came from the back of the palace and said, "The Spiritual Fire Department has prepared dinner. Everyone can eat. Those who want to eat, come over."
"Okay …"
Lin Muyu and Feng Jixing stood up together, picked up the helmets on the table, and followed Chu Yao to eat. Wei Chou, Zhang Wei, Luo Yu, Guan Xing, and the others looked at each other and immediately followed. They fought to be the first in battle. It should be the same when eating.
…
The entire back of the palace was brightly lit. Eight large tables were set up, and most of the Captaincy and commander-level warriors were eating here. Moreover, the dinner was very simple. There was no chef, and it was all cooked in a big pot made by the Spiritual Fire Department. However, everyone's physical strength was exhausted, and they ate with relish. No one spoke and just lowered their heads to eat.
Halfway through the meal, Si Kongyao and Liu Buyi returned.
"Yao, sit down and eat with us."
Lin Muyu ordered someone to add a stool to the side.
After Si Kongyao sat down, she said gloomily, "That bastard Chen Yu actually set fire to my Xiping Prefecture. I am so angry … I have managed Xiping Prefecture for so long and renovated it so many times … I planned to have a palace-like residence for Brother Yu and the Empress when they came down, but now it has been burnt black. I am so angry!"
She didn't seem to want to eat and kept stomping her feet.
Lin Muyu said, "Yao, let's not talk about these useless things. The most important thing now is rations. Chen Yu set fire to the granary in the treasury. Now we are out of rations and only have one day's worth of rations left. Otherwise, we will have to kill the horses to appease our hunger. Do you have any ideas? For example … are there any cities or prefectures nearby that have a lot of rations and are easy to conquer? "
"The matter of rations …"
Si Kongyao actually smiled. Her smile was extremely sweet. She said, "Brother Yu, you have to praise me on this matter …"
"Oh? Why? " Lin Muyu was stunned. Even Qin Yin, Tang Xiaoxi, Feng Jixing, and Qin Yan were very surprised. No one knew what this Princess of Xiping was up to.
Si Kongyao smiled and said, "A year ago, I ordered the construction of an imperial garden on the right side of Xiping City that covers an area of half the size of Xiping Prefecture. There are all kinds of rare flowers and fruits planted in it. It can be said to be evergreen all year round and very beautiful. Although there are no artificial mountains, it can still be considered a paradise."
"What's there to praise? Should I praise you for your extravagance?" Lin Muyu was speechless.
"But …" Si Kongyao tilted her head and smiled. "There is a huge cellar under this imperial garden. For more than a year, I have secretly purchased rations from Xishan Province and Huoyuan Province and stored them in there. My guards are responsible for transporting and storing them. No one knows that there is a cellar under this imperial garden and there are a total of 1.2 million dans of rations in there."
"What?!"
Lin Muyu was so shocked that she stood up.
"Just now, I went to the imperial garden to take a look as soon as I entered the prefecture. Sure enough, that idiot Chen Yu only burned down the imperial garden. He didn't realize that the entrance to the cellar was under the only newly built pavilion in the imperial garden. How is it? Quickly praise me … "She pouted her small mouth and looked very cute. She made Feng Jixing, Wei Chou, and the others stare at her in a daze.
Lin Muyu was ecstatic. She couldn't help but hug Si Kongyao and said happily, "Yao, you are the savior of the three armies. I thank you on behalf of the Qin Empire!"
Being hugged, Si Kongyao's face was full of a happy smile. But when she saw her two sisters-in-law, Qin Yin and Tang Xiaoxi, looking at her like this, she immediately felt a little guilty. She stuck out her tongue to express her apology.
After a few seconds, Lin Muyu let go of Si Kongyao and said, "Wei Chou, immediately take some people to move the provisions in the cellar."
"Yes, Your Excellency!"
Wei Chou put the steamed bun in his mouth, picked up the helmet and left.
Ding Xi clapped his hands and said with a smile, "Thank you, Commandery Princess of Xiping. If it weren't for you, I'm afraid that I would have been dismissed as the commander of the Supply Department. Lin General, can I breathe a sigh of relief now?"
"No, you still have to continue gathering rations. One million and two hundred thousand dans is only enough for a month. Don't forget, we will have another five hundred thousand soldiers coming from Lingdong Province soon. We need to prepare rations before they come."
"Then how should I collect …"
"I don't care. If I do, I will be the commander of the Supply Department."
"Bah …"
Ding Xi grinned and said to the general beside him, "San Geng, immediately assemble our provisions transport team after dinner. We will go to the surrounding villages and towns to scrape a layer of oil first."
Ding Xi nodded and said, "Yes, commander!"
Si Kongyao pursed her lips and smiled. "It's not difficult if you want more provisions. Within a hundred miles from Xiping City, Jiaoyuan Commandery, Shangchong Commandery, Xizhong Commandery, Jingyuan Chamber of Commerce, and Tianyuan Shang League will all have provisions. Moreover, the garrison of these three commanderies is less than a thousand people. With my token, we can trick them into opening the city gates. As for Jingyuan Chamber of Commerce and Tianyuan Shang League, they are old friends with our Bai Ze mercenary group. As long as we have the money, the provisions will flow continuously to Xiping Prefecture through various channels."
"That's great!"
Feng Jixing said with a smile, "Yu, your sister is too powerful. I have a feeling."
"What feeling?" Lin Muyu asked.
"Obtaining Si Kongyao is equivalent to obtaining half of the Tianji Empire."
"Haha, actually, I have the same feeling."
Si Kongyao blushed and said, "Brother Yu left the Bai Ze mercenary group to me and asked me to do things. I must not let him down. I must complete the task well. Otherwise, I will not be the Tianji Sect's Si Kongyao in vain!"
Lin Muyu suddenly thought of something and asked, "Yao, how is the Tianji Sect now?"
"Sigh, not good."
Si Kongyao was a little sad and said, "Ever since grandfather ascended to the Realm Beyond Avalon, the Tianji Sect's main altar was destroyed by Yangshang's men. Many of the Tianji Sect's members wandered the martial world. I don't know how many people still support the Tianji Sect."
"Why don't you rebuild the Tianji Sect's main altar in Xiping City?"
Lin Muyu thought for a while and said, "From now on, you will be the Tianji Sect's new leader. Announce to the world that you will invite the Tianji Sect's members to Xiping City to serve the Tianji Sect and the Qin Empire. This way, not only can you win over the hearts of the people, but you can also win over a group of skilled soldiers for the Qin Empire. What do you think?"
Si Kongyao pouted and said, "You're thinking about the Tianji Sect again. Brother Yu, do you want Yao's life to play with you in this world war?"
"We have been together for a long time," Lin Muyu said with a smile.
Qin Yin said, "Yao, don't worry. The Qin Empire will never forget your meritorious deeds. Moreover, Yu started this war only to protect himself and to pacify the war. Once the war is over, the entire Celestial Pole Continent will be handed over to you to govern. You should be relieved now, right?"
"I … I hate governing the country. I want to travel with Brother Yu and my two sisters-in-law." Si Kongyao blinked her eyes.
"Oh, there's a new member in the team," Feng Jixing said with a smile.
Si Kongyao was stunned. "What do you mean, General Feng?"
Feng Jixing said, "Because Yu has already promised that once the war is over and order is restored, he will bring his two wives, me, the big brother, Chu Yao, and Xi Yan to travel the world together and not care about the affairs of the world. Now that you are added, doesn't it mean that there's a new member in the team?"
Si Kongyao couldn't help but smile sweetly. "So, we are a big family?"
"Yes …"
At the side, Ding Xi smiled and said, "Your family really plays an important role in the entire universe!"
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
