Chapter 605 Disaster Victims Enter the City

At midnight, the moment the gates of Qingzhou were opened, countless people from outside the city rushed in. They were cold and hungry, and for a moment the entire city of Qingzhou seemed to have become a refugee camp.

At the same time, the government officials and soldiers, holding torches high, surrounded and attacked the Qingshan Inn.

The innkeeper was so frightened that he scrambled out of bed, trembling with fear. "Sir, what has happened so late?"

"Refugees from outside the city have crashed into the city, and some bandits have infiltrated among them. I am ordered to capture the bandits and search the city."

The shopkeeper was startled. "I...I didn't have any thieves break in!"

"Whether or not I have searched the place will be clear once I do." He shoved the shopkeeper aside.

At this moment, Xie Shang and Jiang Fenghua, fully dressed, voluntarily came out of the guest room.

Zhao Yuan was also acting on the orders of Prefect Fan to arrest people. He said coldly, "Take them away."

Xie Shang calmly and unhurriedly asked, "What crime have we committed that the authorities want to take us away from us?"

“You audacious bandits, you disguised yourselves as merchants to enter the city, attempting to rob the people of their property. Fortunately, our magistrate is wise and discerning, recognizing your identities. Now come with me to avoid suffering.” Zhao Yuan said.

Jiang Fenghua also recognized Zhao Yuan; they had met at the yamen during the day. She said, "We kindly donated grain to help the people of Qingzhou, but our good intentions backfired. Now you're arresting us as bandits. I think you're the real robbers!"

Zhao Yuandao said, "Enough nonsense, tie them up and take them away."

However, the next moment, guards appeared and protected Xie Shang and Jiang Fenghua. Zhao Yuan was stunned, and then ordered the archers to step forward, "Anyone who dares to resist will be killed without mercy."

"Anyone who dares to lay a hand on me will have their entire family wiped out." A chilling male voice rang out.

Zhao Yuan looked closely and saw General Situ also coming out of the house. He said, "General Situ, what are you doing here?"

"You dare to murder the imperial envoy sent by the court? Zhao Yuan, you have quite the nerve!" Situ Sheng was the general in charge of the army in Qingzhou. He usually lived in the military camp. In principle, these trivial matters in Qingzhou were not his concern. He was only responsible for leading troops and obeying the emperor's orders at any time. He only came to Qingzhou City after receiving the emperor's secret order.

When Zhao Yuan saw General Situ, he dared not move. He knew that the yamen runners were no match for the well-trained soldiers.

He quickly replied, "This humble official was only acting on Lord Fan's orders to arrest the bandits. I did not know they were imperial envoys. Please forgive me, General. Please forgive me, Imperial Envoy."

Xie Shang said, "Did Fan De send you to arrest me?"

“It was Lord Fan’s steward who sent me to arrest you. He said you were not wealthy merchants at all, but bandits who wanted to rob Qingzhou City. Now all the disaster victims outside the city have entered the city, and it was also Prefect Fan who ordered the city gates to be opened.”

Xie Shang said in a deep voice, "Situ Sheng, have your men guard the city gates tightly. Fan De is trying to escape."

Situ Sheng respectfully replied, "Yes." He immediately ordered someone to arrest the person.

He was also puzzled, because Prefect Fan did not seem like an official who would embezzle or accept bribes; he usually appeared very frugal.

Could it be that he misjudged him? Was his frugality all an act?

It was nearly impossible for the government troops to capture Fan De, as the city was in chaos both inside and outside the gates. It was only after Situ Sheng sent troops to maintain order and intimidate the people that they were able to stay put.

Xie Shang and Jiang Fenghua also arrived on the street. Watching the dense crowd of disaster victims squeeze into the city, he only wanted to find the instigator hiding in the crowd. He should have realized that the increasingly serious disaster in Qingzhou was caused by the mastermind behind it.

While helping the vassal states and instigating wars between them and the Southern Kingdom, he also exacerbated the disaster in Qingzhou. The imperial court's disaster relief funds may have already ended up in Prince Kang's pocket.

It's truly hard to guard against a thief within your own family.

Lin Feng and his men had been following Xue Nu and the others, but by the time he realized what was happening, they were already gone.

He asked the guards, "How did they slip away right under my nose?"

“There are too many refugees, it’s not your fault, sir,” the guard said.

Lin Feng stormed over and found Xie Shang and Jiang Fenghua, saying, "I lost them."

Xie Shang glanced at the refugees filling the street. "I still have no clue."

For the first time, the master and servant felt somewhat dejected. When did they start being targeted?

Jiang Fenghua said, "There's no use thinking about it now. Your Highness should think about how to arrange for so many refugees! It's the middle of the night now, and the disaster victims are sleeping on the streets. Once the city gates open, there will probably be even more disaster victims tomorrow morning. Your Highness's food should be arriving soon!"

Xie Shang said, "Yes, we're almost there. I'm worried that there will be too many disaster victims and the food will be looted when it arrives."

Jiang Fenghua said, "Why don't we take advantage of these few days to evacuate the disaster victims first? Your Highness is now an imperial envoy. Why don't you summon the officials of each town and ask them to take out their stored grain to help the disaster victims, or even just cook some porridge for everyone to eat? We can distribute it in each county and town. Once everyone knows there is food, they will naturally go back."

At this moment, Situ Sheng walked over and respectfully bowed to Xie Shang, "Your subject..."

Xie Shang exchanged a glance with him. "My wife and I are traveling incognito, so there's no need for formalities. General Situ, please speak your mind!"

"Yes, Your Highness. I have already instructed my subordinates to arrange for the Prince and Princess to stay at the post station. I have also dispatched troops to guard the people in the city, so there will be no trouble for the time being." Situ Sheng said, "There are still two hours until dawn. Your Highness and Princess, please go and rest!"

"Send the Princess to rest. I will first discuss with the General how to settle the people." Xie Shang added, "I need to see the rice merchants of Qingzhou within an hour."

Situ Sheng said, "Your Highness wants to buy grain from rice merchants. Since the drought started in Qingzhou, merchants have been buying large quantities of grain. The price of rice in Qingzhou has been rising and not falling, all in order to sell grain at high prices in the next few months. If you want to buy grain from them now, I'm afraid it will be at an astronomical price."

Xie Shang understood that even if the imperial court sent grain, it wouldn't solve the problem for the entire Qingzhou. Grain wouldn't be available until next year's autumn harvest, and the people would only be able to survive if there was sufficient rainfall next year, unlike this year's drought.

Now the only option is to buy grain, either from merchants or from other countries.

Xie Shang prepared to take Jiang Fenghua to rest, but Jiang Fenghua said, "Your Highness and General Situ are staying up all night to help the people, and I also want to do my part. Besides, I can't sleep anyway."

Xie Shang was also worried about her resting alone in an unfamiliar place, so he said, "If you're tired, you can rest by my side."

The group immediately went to the government office, and within half an hour, Situ Sheng brought all the merchants in the city to the Qingzhou government office.

The city gates were suddenly opened wide today, catching everyone off guard. Fortunately, it was late at night and their shops were all closed, so there was no panic buying of food by the disaster victims.

Even when entertained by the government, everyone just sat quietly, and no one dared to say the first word.

Having been merchants their whole lives, they couldn't possibly be unaware of General Situ's intentions. But to demand their grain without paying them silver is no different from being a bandit.

The imperial court probably doesn't want to be a bandit!