There is no high or low in life
In the Weizhou Governor's Mansion, Ning Lingyi's fingertips passed over Zhenzhou, which had just been marked as "Shuo".
"The people of Western Qiang fled westwards, and more than 200,000 lives were like being put into a tiger's mouth. Although Tuoba Hong got an empty city, he also occupied Zhenzhou." Ning Lingyi said.
"The people must be rescued; the city must be restored."
Nong Zishi stood below, his brow furrowed. "Your Highness, Generals Wang Mengzi and Zhao Kun have not returned with their 30,000 elite troops. The troops we can mobilize are only enough to hold Wei and You provinces. If we divide our forces further to attack, our foundation will be shaken. If either the Western Qiang or the Northern Shuo forces take advantage of this opportunity, the consequences will be disastrous."
"I know." Ning Lingyi turned around, the candlelight flickering in her eyes. "So, not a single soldier or horseman of Wei You can move."
She paused, her gaze fixed on the dark night outside the window, "Please ask Jing Zhao to come."
In just a moment, the imperial edict arrived.
Although he was over thirty years old, he still had the elegant appearance of a young man from the south of the Yangtze River. When he heard that Ning Lingyi wanted to borrow another two million taels of silver, he did not agree immediately, but took out a sealed letter from his arms and handed it to him with both hands.
"Your Highness, we are close family members, so why bother asking for favors? My Jing family will naturally fully support your Northern Expedition. However, my father has instructed me to pass this letter on to you." Jing Zhao said calmly, "The Sixth Prince is doing well, Your Highness. Please rest assured."
Ning Lingyi took the letter with trembling fingertips.
The letter was written in the handwriting of his younger brother, Ning Yanhe. He rambled on about his daily life at the Jing family, the books he read, and the words he wrote. Every word showed his effort to be sensible, except for the last sentence: "Sister, Yanhe misses you so much. Last night I dreamt that you came to pick me up. When I woke up, my pillow and quilt were wet."
Those few words pierced my heart like a needle.
Ning Lingyi closed her eyes, gently pressed the letter against her chest, and remained silent for a long time.
"Please, Master Jing, tell Mr. Jing," she said in a steady voice, "Lingyi knows how to handle this matter. The funds I'm requesting affect the lives of tens of thousands of people, and also the extent of my future return. I hope Mr. Jing will consider this carefully."
Jing Zhao bowed and retreated, full of respect and without a single sign of dissatisfaction.
Ning Lingyi stroked her brother's letter with her fingertips, feeling mixed emotions.
How could she not know that cooperating with the Jing family was like drinking poison to quench thirst?
The logistics reserve route that Su Qingfan painstakingly built had been quietly infiltrated and replaced by the accountant brought by the Jing family during the transportation of huge amounts of money and grain.
They had already tied her lifeline closely to the ambitions of the Jing family. Now, even Su Qingfan sometimes had to give in to the people of the Jing family.
She knew that every ounce of silver invested by the Jing family was contributing to her brother's throne, and was also building a rope for themselves that would be enough to strangle her.
If the chair is not delivered as promised, the money and food that nourishes her today will become a weapon to strangle her in an instant.
This giant crocodile, fed with gold and silver, has been growing quietly under her ship, becoming another invisible but more deadly hidden danger.
Ning Lingyi took a deep breath, suppressed the worries in her heart about missing her family, and looked at the map again. At this moment, she had no choice.
The next day, Ning Lingyi rode alone and entered the Beishuo camp again.
The atmosphere in Tuoba Hong's royal tent was completely different from the last time.
The generals of Beishuo were stationed on both sides, all with a newly victorious arrogance on their faces. Their eyes were like knives, sweeping across the Southern Dynasty princess who came alone. Tuoba Hong, who was sitting in the main seat, had an unreadable expression and only nodded slightly as a greeting.
"Congratulations, Khan. Congratulations, Khan." Ning Lingyi spoke calmly, seemingly unaware of the tense atmosphere in the tent. "The mighty city of Zhenzhou has finally fallen into the hands of Beishuo. This is a further step forward in the Khan's ambitions. This is truly gratifying."
Tuoba Hong's eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn't respond.
A Beishuo general couldn't help but snort, his tone tinged with sarcasm: "Princess, are you here again hoping to exchange a few glasses of wine for this empty city?"
A few suppressed sneers were heard in the tent.
Ning Lingyi's smile persisted as she shook her head slightly, "General, you're joking. Since Zhenzhou was captured by the Khan's warriors after shed blood, it naturally belongs to Beishuo. Lingyi didn't come here for the city."
She changed the subject, her tone tinged with just the right amount of regret. "I just heard that when the Western Qiang retreated, they took over 200,000 civilians with them, forcibly taking them westward. The Khan was left with an empty city. It's truly heartbreaking."
Tuoba Hong finally spoke, his voice flat: "My Beishuo is left with an empty city, and your Southern Dynasty has also lost many people. I imagine you are also dissatisfied."
"Khan is absolutely right." Ning Lingyi nodded, his eyes sweeping across the generals in the tent. "So today, Lingyi would like to do a business with Khan and the generals."
"Business?" The generals looked doubtful.
"That's right," Ning Lingyi said. "I'm willing to hire brave men from Beishuo at a price of ten taels of silver per person to pursue the Western Qiang and reclaim my captive people. As long as you return them safely to me, regardless of age or gender, I will immediately pay you a reward per head, with absolutely no delays."
Ten taels per person!
Two hundred thousand people means two million taels!
There was a sudden gasp in the tent, and greed instantly flashed in the eyes of many generals. The Western Qiang were carrying civilians with them, and their speed was slow, so there was not much risk in chasing them, but they could exchange their heads for such a huge amount of cash!
This is far more cost-effective than attacking a fortified city or looting a town!
"I've already prepared the money." Ning Lingyi seemed oblivious to those burning gazes and only looked at Tuoba Hong. "As long as the Khan nods, the generals will send troops, rescue the people, hand them over, and get the money. It's a win-win for both sides. What do you think, Khan?"
Tuoba Hong stared at Ning Lingyi, his heart suddenly filled with waves.
She was willing to sacrifice a huge sum of money in exchange for these common people. Was it for her reputation? Was it for the people's hearts? Or was it for the intangible justice?
He once again found it difficult to see through the woman in front of him. She always made a move he had never thought of when he thought he had it all figured out.
The generals under his command could no longer contain themselves and looked at Tuoba Hong with eager eyes, eager to try. This business could make much more money than conquering cities!
Tuoba Hong was silent for a moment, his eyes sweeping over Ning Lingyi's calm face, and finally he spoke slowly: "□□."
"I'm here!" A brave general responded and stepped out.
"Gather 10,000 cavalry and set off immediately. Pursue the defeated Western Qiang soldiers and take back the people of the Southern Dynasty as the priority. There is no need to fight them to the death." Tuoba Hong gave the order, but his eyes never left Ning Lingyi.
"Hand the man over safely to the princess."
"Understood!" □□ excitedly beat his chest and left after receiving the order.
Ning Lingyi knelt slightly and bowed, "Thank you, Khan, for your help. My people will be waiting at the agreed location, and the silver carriage will arrive at the same time."
In the following days, a strange sight appeared in the wasteland where the forces of Beishuo and Xiqiang intertwined.
The Beishuo cavalry came roaring and broke up the rear guard of the Western Qiang. They did not linger in the battle, but only drove away and robbed the panicked captives, then gathered them together and took them to the designated river valley or pass.
There, Su Qingfan and others were already waiting with a large group of vehicles and cash boxes.
The number of people was counted and silver was distributed on the spot. Ingots of snow-white official silver flowed into the pockets of the Beishuo soldiers, and batches of disheveled and scarred civilians were sent to the rear.
Most of the rescued people were confused and bewildered after surviving the disaster, and only knew how to express gratitude.
In the crowd, a middle-aged merchant, his clothes torn but still recognizable as fine material, pulled an equally bedraggled scholar and whispered excitedly, "Brother Wu, did you see that? It's Princess Mingzhu! It was His Highness who spent real money to buy us back from that Qiang dog! Ten taels each! What a great favor!"
The scholar surnamed Wu had a sallow complexion. He adjusted his crooked scarf and glanced at the filthy farmers and porters who were driven here together. A trace of barely perceptible contempt flashed in his eyes.
He lowered his voice and said to the merchant, "Shopkeeper Wang, Your Highness is so righteous. Scholars like me naturally admire him, but look at these people..."
He nudged the huddled masses with his chin.
"They're bargaining with us, ten taels each? Don't they know how to distinguish between the wise and the foolish? They won't even earn ten taels of silver in their entire lives."
An old farmer nearby, with sharp ears, heard it. He turned his head, his face still wrinkled with dirt and sand, and said in a hoarse voice, "Sir, you can't say that! Your Highness is buying her life! Our lives are worthless, but Your Highness said it's worth ten taels, so it's ten taels! Under the Qiang people's knives, my neck and yours will not be able to withstand a single blow!"
Wu Xiucai was choked, and suddenly felt that it was beneath his dignity to argue with such a vulgar person. He flicked his sleeves and sneered, "A summer insect cannot talk about ice."
Turn your head away and ignore it.
After the Beishuo cavalry had handed over this group of several thousand people and the silver and goods had been paid, the soldiers of the Southern Army began to organize everyone to go to the temporary camp.
Mr. Wu straightened his clothes and felt that he had regained some dignity. He took a few quick steps and rushed to a captain who looked like the leader and bowed.
"Sir," he forced a smile and spoke earnestly, "I am student Wu Qiming. Today, Her Royal Highness the Princess has been so kind and generous that she has redeemed me. I am deeply grateful and my heart is burning with grief! However, I have something to say that is like a thorn in my throat. I hope you can convey it to the emperor."
The captain was so busy that he was exhausted. He said impatiently, "If you have to fart, do it now!"
Wu Xiucai hurriedly said, "General, please understand! Your Highness is kind and benevolent, but money is limited and should be used where it counts. People like students who are knowledgeable, sensible, and useful to the country and the people, are worth it for your Highness to redeem them, but those uneducated and unskilled people..."
He turned around and pointed with disgust at the group of people who were supporting each other: "It's a huge expense of ten taels per person. It's really a waste! I think that if we can distinguish in the future..."
Before he could finish his words, the captain's face turned pale with rage. He kicked Wu Xiucai hard in the stomach!
Wu Xiucai screamed "Ouch" and was kicked to the ground unexpectedly. He was covered in mud and his handkerchief rolled to the side.
"Bullshit!" the captain pointed at his nose and cursed.
"I've fought on the front lines and seen more dead than you've read in all the rotten books! In the eyes of the Qiang dogs, your stupid head isn't much harder than a farmer's! Your Highness is paying ten taels of silver to buy the life of a citizen of the Southern Dynasty!"
"Life! Do you understand? Life is not high or low!"
The captain grew angrier as he spoke. He took another step forward and kicked him hard. "Your Highness risked all his wealth to rescue you, and you don't even think about repaying him. Instead, you're here nitpicking and looking down on the poor brothers who shared your misfortune. I think you're the biggest waste! You've wasted ten taels of silver from Your Highness! Today, I'm going to teach you a lesson on behalf of Your Highness, you ungrateful bastard!"
Several soldiers nearby heard the commotion and came over, beating Mr. Wu severely until he vomited blood.
"Just because you've read a few more books, do you really think you're superior to others?"
"You don't do anything productive all day, you just talk big. You pick up your bowl to eat, and when you put down your chopsticks, you curse. You look down on the people who feed you!"
"Instead of thinking about revenge and finding a way out for the people of your hometown, you're busy arguing about who deserves to live? I think you're the least worthy!"
"I'm going to beat you to death, you bastard!"
He was so frightened that he didn't care about the pain in his stomach or his dignity. He rolled and crawled to avoid the attack, begging for mercy: "General, please calm down! I said something wrong! I know I was wrong! I know I was wrong!"
The shopkeeper Wang rushed forward to hold them back, and finally persuaded the captain and the others to stay.
Wu Xiucai got up in a miserable state, picked up the dirty handkerchief, and dared not say another word. He dejectedly returned to the crowd, shrinking his neck amidst the silent contemptuous gazes.
Wu Xiucai thought to himself, you are the powerful ones now, so I will keep my mouth shut. When the world is at peace and we scholars are in power, you rotten soldiers and civilians will just wait and see!
Let’s not talk about the turmoil here.
The cold wind blew sand and gravel across the vast land.
Ning Lingyi stood on the top of Weizhou City, gazing far to the west, and received messages from Su Qingfan again and again: "Your Highness, we have brought back over 3,700 civilians today, and the money has been paid."
"Your Highness, the □□ tribe has sent over 5,100 more men..."
Her face became thinner day by day, but her eyes became brighter.
When the final figures were tallied, a total of over 98,000 civilians had been rescued, costing nearly one million taels of silver. Just feeding the people and horses each day would have cost thousands of dan of grain...
She stood there for a long time, letting the wind blow her clothes.
The burden on my shoulders is getting heavier and heavier. How can it not be heavy to carry 100,000 people on my shoulders?
But we have to keep doing it.
*
How could this news be hidden from the world?
However, within a few months, the news that "Princess Mingzhu spent millions of dollars to buy back 100,000 people from Beishuo" spread like wildfire throughout the country and north and south of the Yangtze River.
The government and the country were shocked and the whole world was in an uproar.
In teahouses, taverns, and in the fields, everyone was amazed.
"A million silver coins! Just to exchange for those poor people? This is really..."
"I heard that Her Royal Highness the Princess sold a lot of her jewelry and personal property, and borrowed a huge amount from the wealthy merchants in Jiangnan, just to raise enough money!"
"The benevolent rulers of ancient times were no more than this! This is what it means to truly love your people like your own children."
"Compared to the man in the capital who just sat there and watched the Qiang people slaughter the people outside the capital... Alas!"
He spent a million silver coins to redeem one hundred thousand people. The people's hearts were like rivers flowing into the sea, all converging on the two words "Pearl".
Upon hearing this, Ning Lingyi simply put on a plain silver hairpin in front of the mirror and continued to bow her head in the official documents that seemed to never end. She occasionally coughed twice, but didn't care at all.
Outside the window, fine snowflakes began to fall again without me noticing.
Winter is coming to Weizhou.
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