He Qing dismissed the crowd and said to the two Ren brothers, "You two should calculate how much it will cost to repair the damaged granary, and take your salaries to the grain official to settle the bill."

The two brothers of the Ren family had actually just received a letter and banknotes from Ren Jiayu, asking them to repair the granary, and the rest would be used to compensate the grain officer and grain protection team who had been beaten.

Now that Uncle He said so, let’s do it.

Still somewhat unwilling to accept this, he asked He Qing, "Uncle He, the military rations are late and the three armies are out of food. What else can we do if we don't go to the border warehouse to borrow food?"

He Qing asked, "Why don't we borrow grain from the three border counties? What is our relationship with the people of the three border counties? What is our relationship with the three counties?"

The Ren brothers said, "We naturally have a good relationship with the people because we protect the border towns and borders. When the three counties suffered a snowstorm, the soldiers came to their aid. They also often help the people with their daily work. Naturally, we have a good relationship with the people and the county magistrates of the three counties. However, the granaries in the three counties are all the grain stored by the people, and they are used to provide emergency relief in the event of famine in the three counties."

He Qing said, "Do you think the grain in the border warehouses isn't for emergency use? The granaries in the three counties are under the jurisdiction of the county magistrates. Whether to lend or not is up to the county magistrates. Our three armies have always been on good terms with them, and we have a good relationship and mutual trust. You can borrow grain from the three counties and return it as soon as the military rations arrive. It will only take three to five days."

Even if it's just a coincidence, as you say, that within the past three to five days, all three counties have suddenly encountered an emergency and needed grain, then the border granaries will not be opened for the people? My dynasty's civil and military officials are divided into different factions, and they are not subservient to each other. It is rare for our border troops to have good relations with the civil officials of the three counties.

If the people of the three counties were in trouble and the county magistrates approached the border granary officials to borrow grain, that would be a matter for the civil service. Civilians would negotiate with each other, not resort to direct action like you would, causing military generals to bully civilians. Furthermore, Your Majesty has always been strict with the military and lenient with the people. Besides, most people generally have enough food for three to five days.

And you went straight to rob the border granaries. The four major granaries are national reserves, not just one county's. Without the emperor's order, how many heads would you have? They are all grain, but grain is different from grain. But in fact, Your Majesty set up the border granaries for the people in the border towns and the border troops. We can use them legitimately, and there is no need to rob them.