Ning Cuishan smiled helplessly and said, "Yue Shangguan is a true hero; he should be fighting on the battlefield!"

"Please excuse my poor attempt."

"Why doesn't Yue Shangguan ask those people who seem to have gone mad, trying to toast the new army?"

Yue Fei had a guess in his heart, but he pretended not to know and asked, "Why?"

"The Emperor intends to conquer Jiaozhi, and Guangnan West Road will then be the front line of the war. Military supplies will inevitably be in short supply. Although they are willing to donate some now, the court will definitely need to purchase them later. Yue Shangguan is the Emperor's trusted and beloved general. Everyone wants to make a fortune from the war, so they will naturally have to serve you well."

He spoke with a hint of sarcasm, but he wasn't mocking Yue Fei; he was mocking those people.

Yue Fei frowned. He didn't want to get too involved with these people. He was just sent by Zhao Huan to attack Jiaozhi, and he would leave after the battle.

However, since they were now willing to selflessly offer their provisions, Yue Fei couldn't say anything, neither out of courtesy nor reason.

Seemingly seeing through Yue Fei's thoughts, Ning Cuishan continued, "Merchants don't lose money. Does General Yue know where these selflessly donated grains and fodder came from?"

"Where did it come from?"

"Plundering the people's wealth!"

Yue Fei's brows furrowed immediately. He said, "So, your Ning family is just like them?"

Ning Cuishan's expression was not good. Because he had drunk some alcohol, he seemed somewhat agitated: "I am ashamed to associate with them!"

"Sir Yue, you have been in the southwest for more than a month. Have you heard of the riot in Zhangjia Village, Siming Prefecture?"

"Never heard of it."

Ning Cuishan clenched his fists, veins bulging on his forehead, and said, "It happened two months ago, and 20,000 people died."

Why did the riots occur?

"Because landlords and wealthy merchants were forcing people to buy and sell grain and fodder, demanding it be given to the imperial court as provisions for the army! Naturally, the people objected, as that was their last grain!"

Ning Cuishan's eyes suddenly reddened: "More than 20,000 people died! That beast Zhu Shizhong didn't even spare children and women!"

Yue Fei was slightly taken aback, and then a surge of anger erupted like a volcano.

P.S.: I can't wait any longer, so I'm releasing a small chapter first. There's no limit today; I'll release as many words as I write. If I write 20,000, I'll release 20,000! If I write 30,000, I'll release 30,000!

I'm still asking for your monthly votes, please cast them all here.