Gu Yuzhi never imagined that a prefecture could be so poor that the prefect had to go out and buy grain and salt on credit.

Looking at Huang Yanzhang, it's as if the people of Qingzhou usually just drink water to fill their stomachs!

Gu Yuzhi was speechless for a long time, feeling as if his mind had gone blank.

The private room was so quiet that only their breathing could be heard. Huang Yanzhang felt his face getting hotter and hotter, so hot that he couldn't lift his head. After a while, he finally said, "I have no other choice."

He scratched his head vigorously: "Whether it's Li's Trading Company or the former prefect's residence, I didn't find anything. The granaries in Qingzhou are also almost empty."

He lowered his head, his voice becoming much softer: "If it were summer or autumn, when the people had food, I wouldn't ask for help. But now that spring is approaching, let's not even talk about planting in the spring; right now, the people's very survival is a problem."

Huang Yanzhang's voice trembled slightly as he said, "Your Highness, the situation in Qingzhou is extremely urgent. If I had arrived a month or two later, the people of Qingzhou might have risen up in rebellion!"

Upon hearing those four words, Gu Yuzhi jumped off the chair in fright, her face turning pale.

Shu Xiaohan exclaimed, "A rebellion? What on earth did this former prefect of Qingzhou do to drive these people to this point!"

The people of feudal dynasties had a natural fear of the royal family. How could they possibly rise up in rebellion unless they were driven to the brink of despair?

Which of the uprisings recorded in history books were not caused by the extravagance of the royal family and the rule of treacherous officials, forcing the people to sell their children?

However, according to her observation, the emperor of Sang Dynasty was still very diligent in governing and loved his people!

The culprit who caused the people of Qingzhou to suffer like this is none other than the King of Chu!

Shu Xiaohan almost wanted to curse the King of Chu's ancestors for eighteen generations, but then she thought, "Isn't this also insulting the young prince?" So she quickly spat a few times and said, "Young prince, judging from Prefect Huang's behavior, Qingzhou is definitely in a difficult situation. You are a prince from the northern desert, so you really have to find a way to resolve this matter."

When the common people rise up in rebellion, the first to suffer are the officials and members of the royal family.

"We don't know what's going on in Quanzhou yet, and Dingzhou has only just stabilized. If Qingzhou has another problem, I'm afraid the northern desert will be thrown into chaos!"

Gu Yuzhi nodded, her face pale, and her expression turned sad.

He truly never expected that his brother, the King of Chu, would turn out like this!

Since he was old enough to understand, his elder brother, the Prince of Chu, had already been granted the title of Prince, but because of his father's favoritism, he had always stayed in the capital and had not left.

Every year during festivals, his father would always give him the best things. Why does he need to do that?

Gu Yuzhi pursed his lips, his eyes reddening, and it took him a while to look up at Xie Changshi.

He really didn't know what to do!

The people of Xinliang also have a hard life, but they don't have to worry about surviving.

Xie Changshi stepped forward and said, “Prefect Huang should know that His Highness’s Xinliang is still under construction. It would be inappropriate to ask His Highness to provide grain and salt to Qingzhou while ignoring Xinliang.”

Huang Yanzhang said anxiously, "That's not what I meant! I just want the people to get through this month safely!"

Next month, when spring arrives and flowers bloom, people will be able to survive even if they have to dig for wild vegetables.

Gu Yuzhi's gaze darted back and forth between Chief Clerk Xie and Prefect Huang. Seeing that both of them were frowning, he scratched his head and said, "But Qi..."

He quickly shut his mouth, tilting his head as he said, "The Wen family's escort agency didn't bring back much salt, and we've already given some to Dingzhou..."

Huang Yanzhang was shocked that even Prince Wen was unwilling to help him. His heart sank into an abyss, his vision went black, and he began to tremble uncontrollably.

Gu Yuzhi, oblivious to everything, continued, "So we really can't give you these things right now."

He suddenly chuckled: "But in a few days, the Wen family's escort agency will be going to Jinzhou to buy grain. Prefect Huang, how much grain do you plan to buy? You should tell me first, otherwise the people from the Wen family's escort agency won't know and won't buy more."

They just raided Li Yanping's mansion, and now he's rich again. He's not afraid to buy two more months' worth of grain for Qingzhou!

Huang Yanzhang was surprised by the unexpected turn of events. His mouth was slightly open as he stared blankly at Gu Yuzhi, his throat tight, unable to utter a sound for a long time.

He wanted to say something to express his gratitude, but the next moment he heard the young prince continue, "I'll buy you a month's worth of food first, and then..."

He wrinkled his little nose and looked at Chief Secretary Xie. He remembered that Chief Secretary Xie had said that he couldn't reveal that he was the owner of the Wen family business, so he stopped the conversation in time and swallowed the words about taking back the money from selling salt.

His voice became somewhat muffled: "I can let you buy food on credit for another month."

He scratched his head, thinking about what Manager Wen had taught him, and continued, "I'll record the cost price for the grain for these two months."

He actually wanted to provide Qingzhou with three months' worth of food, but he was afraid that if he ran out of money and couldn't give it, wouldn't that just be a disappointment?

Xinliang only has a few thousand people, but its food is consumed very quickly.

He silently counted on his fingers, thinking that if it weren't for his elder brother's relief last year, as well as the raids on Li's Medical Clinic and casino, the Wen family alone wouldn't have been able to support so many expenses.

He was happily thinking about the things that had been put into the warehouse in the past few days when he heard a thud. Huang Yanzhang knelt down and solemnly kowtowed three times to him.

Gu Yuzhi was startled and instinctively jumped off the chair, taking two steps forward.

He looked at Chief Secretary Xie, somewhat at a loss.

He didn't really think he had done anything remarkable; he just always remembered what Chief Secretary Xie had said: he was a prince of the northern desert and the support of the people.

He just wanted the people of Qingzhou to get through this difficult time, to not disappoint them as a prince, and even more so, to prevent them from revolting.

When Xie Changshi was teaching him his early education, he would also talk to him about the history of the dynasties and the changes of dynasties. He could roughly understand that if Qingzhou were to revolt, it would not amount to anything, but it would be suppressed.

Gu Yuzhi couldn't help but think of the people who came from Jiangnan last summer, dressed in rags and with numb eyes. He didn't want the people of Mobei to be like that.

Gu Yuzhi stepped forward and tried to help Huang Yanzhang up, but heard Huang Yanzhang sobbing softly.

Huang Yanzhang choked up and said, "Your Majesty, on behalf of the people of Qingzhou, I thank you for your kindness."

"No need."

As soon as Gu Yuzhi's name was mentioned, Xie Changshi stepped forward with a smile and took Huang Yanzhang's other arm, saying, "Prefect Huang, please get up."

Huang Yanzhang then stood up, trembling.

Chief Secretary Xie continued, "The northern desert is His Highness's fiefdom, so it is only right that His Highness treats it this way. You don't need to do this."

Gu Yuzhi nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, that's exactly what I wanted to say."

Huang Yanzhang nodded repeatedly: "Yes, but I will remember Your Highness's kindness, and the people of Qingzhou will also remember Your Highness's kindness!"