Requisition grain?
They had already done so once. If they did it again, how would the common folk survive?
Fengan Marquis knew this well. His usually resolute face was now filled with helplessness. But what else could they do?
“If we don’t requisition it, we’ll have to buy it. But… we have no money.”
Just then, Xiao Lin walked into the tent, overhearing this last sentence. Without hesitation, he said, “I still have some silver. I can contribute.”
“How much?” Fengan Marquis’s eyes lit up.
“Five thousand taels.”
The light in Fengan Marquis’s eyes instantly dimmed. Five thousand taels? That was barely a drop in the ocean for an army of tens of thousands.
Still, even a mosquito’s leg was meat. He stretched out his hand.
Xiao Lin hesitated for a moment, then called for his guards to fetch the silver notes from his tent.
Silver?
Xiao Muchen suddenly remembered the brocade box Mingxi had given him. He had never opened it, intending to wait until he returned victorious to the capital before doing so.
But now…
Xiao Muchen stepped behind the folding screen, retrieving the box from beneath his pillow.
After handling it so often, the surface of the box had gained a faint sheen.
There was no lock on the box, only a delicate little mechanism. He pressed on it a few times, and the box popped open.
Xiao Muchen inhaled sharply. inside, neatly stacked, were silver notes—notes from Hongfeng Bank, redeemable anywhere in the Great Chu Dynasty.
He had imagined many things she might have placed in this box, but he had never expected this.
No wonder she had said it was for saving lives.
Not just his life, but the lives of tens of thousands of soldiers!
Such a thick stack… She must have emptied both her own and Duan Pingchang’s family assets.
Gold and silver had always seemed like the most mundane things to him, but in this moment…
Xiao Muchen smiled faintly.
Outside, Fengan Marquis and Xiao Lin were still discussing their dire situation, their voices heavy with despair.
“…A few years ago, when the nation had bountiful harvests and ample tax revenue, the court provided sufficient military funds. But in recent years, disasters and corruption have drained the treasury. For two years now, I haven’t received enough funding to sustain the army.”
Xiao Lin, who had been in the capital all this time, was shocked. “How could that be?”
He had never heard of such a thing in the capital.
Fengan Marquis sighed. “The Yuxiang Fortress borders Qinan, and war never ceases here. The Great Chu Dynasty cannot fully conquer Qinan in one swift campaign, so Qinan keeps raiding us like bandits. They’re like a stubborn sore—annoying but impossible to eliminate. Their mountainous terrain makes them difficult to subdue. Their entire population is militarized. To truly defeat them would require an enormous force.”
Xiao Lin finally understood.
No wonder the court’s battles with Qinan were always intermittent. He had once wondered why they couldn’t just eliminate the problem once and for all.
After spending months here in battle, he now felt utterly foolish for ever thinking that way.
“So what do we do?”
The army only had a few days’ worth of rations left. Tens of thousands of soldiers could endure hunger for a day or two, but if court provisions didn’t arrive soon and unrest broke out among the troops, the consequences would be disastrous.
Xiao Lin’s expression grew serious. He turned to Fengan Marquis and said, “Why don’t I write to my father and ask him to think of a solution?”
Fengan Marquis: …
A kind thought, but utterly naive.
Seeing Fengan Marquis’s deadpan stare, Xiao Lin hesitated. “That won’t work either?”
“How is Ning Qin Wang’s situation in the capital? If he suddenly takes out a large sum of silver, what do you think will happen?”
Xiao Lin’s face turned pale in an instant. He had been careless.
Marquis Fengcheng patted his shoulder. “It’s good that you have this awareness. I didn’t misjudge you. unfortunately, it won’t work.”
Besides, Ning Qin Wang had been living under the emperor’s watch for years—how much silver could his household possibly have?
For the first time in his life, Xiao Lin encountered such a problem and was momentarily at a loss. “Then what should we do?”
Marquis Fengcheng was silent for a long while before saying, “Naturally, the court should allocate money and grain.”
Xiao Lin’s mouth twitched. That was as good as saying nothing.
it was precisely because the court couldn’t send supplies that they were worried!
The two of them stared at each other. Marquis Fengcheng gritted his teeth. “If there’s no other way, we’ll have to take our army and raid the bandits. There should be some grain stored in their dens.”
Even Xiao Lin, who wasn’t the sharpest, knew this wasn’t a viable solution. He hurriedly said, “If we do that, once the war is over, the court will be flooded with memorials impeaching you. All your military achievements from the past few years will be wiped out.”
Suppressing bandits was the duty of local officials. if they interfered, it would be considered overstepping their authority.
At that moment, Xiao Muchen walked out and handed a stack of silver notes to Marquis Fengcheng.
Marquis Fengcheng took them suspiciously, glanced down, and nearly jumped. “Where did these come from?”
So many…
How much silver was this?
“Your Highness, did you rob the national treasury?” Marquis Fengcheng immediately clutched the silver notes tightly. No matter where they came from, since Duan Wang had given them to him, they were his now.
Xiao Muchen said calmly, “My fiancee gave them to me.”
Marquis Fengcheng: …
Xiao Lin: …
Marquis Fengcheng quickly regained his composure and said solemnly, “I’ve long heard that Miss Duan was raised by Jiangcheng’s wealthiest man. She truly lives up to her reputation.”
So rich!
Xiao Lin pictured Miss Duan’s face in his mind. He never would have imagined she’d do something like this. Looking at Duan Wang, he said, “Miss Duan’s generosity is truly commendable. When the Marquis submits a memorial to commend her, I will be sure to add my name to it.”
So much silver had been sent over—there was little chance they could pay it back.
As for the court…
Ha!
If they couldn’t return the money, they could at least ensure her contributions were acknowledged!
Having spent time in the military, Xiao Lin had gained a better understanding of human interactions and obligations.
More importantly, he was genuinely grateful.
Hearing this, Xiao Muchen looked at Marquis Fengcheng.
Marquis Fengcheng muttered internally but spoke righteously, “Xiao Lin is right. As commander, I must ensure that Miss Duan’s righteous act reaches the emperor’s ears.”
Xiao Muchen was satisfied, though he maintained a composed expression. “Marquis, your words are too kind. on behalf of my fiancee, I thank you both.”
The two of them: …
Marquis Fengcheng sneered internally. Miss Duan is truly a good person. Duan Wang, on the other hand, is truly shameless.
Ignoring him, Marquis Fengcheng turned to count the silver notes.
Although Xiao Lin was the shizi of Ning Qin Wang’s household, he swore he had never seen so many silver notes in one place.
“Your Highness, when we return to the capital, please introduce me to Miss Duan. I’d like to learn how to make money from her.”
Xiao Muchen: …
Don’t even think about it!
“Marquis, how much is it?” Xiao Lin took a deep breath and asked.
Marquis Fengcheng glanced at Duan Wang, then asked, “Wangye, do you know how much silver this is?”
Xiao Muchen genuinely didn’t know. Without revealing anything, he simply said, “Is it enough?”
