On the day he returned, Nangong Chiyu summoned Chi Yi to the military camp and spoke to him with a serious expression.
"Chi Yi, help me investigate two things. First, find out how many dan of grain the Princess Consort had brought into the city yesterday."
Second, thoroughly investigate the underground market in Beichuan City. Is anyone reselling grain? Report back immediately if you find anything.
"Yes, Your Highness."
Chi Yi gripped the long sword at his waist and reported the intelligence he had just received to Nangong Chiyu.
"Your Highness, there is one more thing. It's April now, and it hasn't rained this year. The weather has warmed up early. Our people sent a secret message saying..."
The poisonous insects of Beiliang have awakened, and they plan to use them again this time.
At this point, Chi Yi paused for a moment, and then spoke again after a long while.
"Your Highness, we suffered heavy losses in last year's war against poisonous insects, and this time I'm afraid..."
In all these years, Nangong Chiyu has never fought such a difficult battle. Beiliang is cunning and uses treacherous schemes and poisonous insects.
He spent the entire winter searching through ancient books, but couldn't find any wars similar to this one.
"I will discuss this matter with the military doctor and first develop a powder that can repel poisonous insects."
They were able to use fire to attack the poisonous insects they encountered for the first time. Given the nature of Beiliang, they would definitely use a fire-resistant insect this time. He wasn't actually very confident.
"In that case, I shall take my leave."
...
Outside the granary of the manor, Su Luo sat to one side, waiting for Duan Tian to put the grain into the warehouse and write the weighed grain into the ledger for her.
"Your Highness, we can't weigh all the grain that has been delivered in a short time. Did you weigh it before you sent it over?"
Duan Tian's eyes were eager. High-ranking officials like Su Luo rarely managed their estates personally. Su Luo was the first person he had met who had visited twice.
Su Luo brought the grain here with a purpose, so how could she not know the quantity? There are a total of 1,867 jin here.
Even if the cost is reduced a little, it's just a round number. She deliberately avoids round numbers to trick the parasites on the estate.
“I used a lot of this grain to distribute porridge to the people of Beichuan City, so I don’t know how much there was. Just weigh it and tell me later. Or is this a difficult task for Steward Duan?”
This time, Su Luo spoke much more forcefully than before, making Duan Tian somewhat unsure of her true nature.
After Su Luo finished speaking, Duan Tian knelt down in front of Su Luo in fear and said in a panic.
"Your Highness, I am filled with trepidation."
It was just about grain; anyone could come. But when Su Luo said it was difficult, it felt like he was being replaced, making his heart skip a beat.
Su Luo lowered her eyes slightly and looked at Duan Tian: "Manager Duan, it's very difficult to get grain in Beichuan City now. One tael of grain is worth one tael of gold. You must guard them well for me."
"Yes! I will keep a close watch and will not let a single grain be missing."
Duan Tian nodded repeatedly, it seemed that Princess Yu had no intention of replacing him.
He breathed a sigh of relief and stood up from the ground. He took out a ledger of the farm tenants from his sleeve and handed it to Su Luo.
"Your Highness, this is the account book for the tenants owed by the two estates last year. The tenants' grain from last year has not yet been distributed because Prince Yu needed grain, so all the grain on the estates was given to the Chiyu Army."
It's already April this year, the planting season has arrived again, but last year's grain is still owed, and the tenants all came to the farm yesterday to make a scene.
The princess has again placed grain on the estate today. I wonder if this grain could be distributed to the tenants first?
Tenant farmers are people who lease land from villagers that they can't cultivate. The harvest they produce is then divided between the villagers and the village.
Zhuangzi received 60% and they received 40%. Duan Tian's account book was almost identical to what he said; it was true that Zhuangzi had taken all the grain and hadn't given them a single grain.
"Manager Duan, are these tenant farmers willing to exchange this grain for silver?"
"Your Highness, I'm afraid that won't work. The tenants specifically want grain. As for the silver, I'll ask again tomorrow."
Su Luo had already guessed this outcome, even with money, it was difficult to buy food. She asked the question simply to see how Duan Tian would resolve the matter.
“I’ve looked at the ledger. There are six tenant households here, each with 200 dan of rice, totaling 1,200 dan. You can handle this. If you want money, just let Lian’er know, and I’ll pay for it.”
After saying that, Su Luo and Lian'er went back. She knew everything about the estate, and she would definitely find out the truth about the lost grain.
When Su Luo returned to the courtyard that evening, she waited until very late but Nangong Chiyu did not appear, and even Chi Yi was nowhere to be seen.
As long as she's here, Nangong Chiyu will never come back this late.
"Lian'er, go outside and ask the Red Feather Army who just changed shifts if something happened in the camp."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Lian'er was preparing bathwater for Su Luo when she saw Su Luo's anxiety. She immediately put down the bucket and went out to ask the Chiyu Army guarding the courtyard for help.
Su Luo let her hair down and used a wooden comb to comb her long hair. Not long after Lian'er left, an arrow pierced through the window of her room.
She put down the comb, stood up warily, and waited until the attack stopped before opening the window. There was an arrow with a note attached outside.
Su Luo pulled out the arrow, closed the window again, and opened the note on it.
The words on it made her furious.
The words on the note were written by Ye Beihan, and Su Luo recognized his handwriting.
The inscription read: 'Su Luo, we meet again. This time, the Crimson Feather Army is destroyed and Nanning has fallen. If you persuade Nangong Crimson Feather to surrender and make peace with him, and you submit to me, I may spare him…'
Su Luo sneered. Ye Beihan was insane and delusional. Last time he lied to her about cooperation to confuse the public. This time he was just being delusional.
The Chiyu Army is not so easy to defeat. Nangong Chiyu died in battle and refused to surrender. Nanning is not a place he can simply take at will.
The most ridiculous thing is that she even wants me to submit to him. She is a married woman. Ye Beihan's thoughts are extremely filthy.
Su Luo then placed the note on the candle, which burned from bottom to top. When Su Luo let go, she discovered that the note did not turn to ashes.
After it fell to the ground, several golden characters appeared.
It read: 'Su Luo, you're cursing me in your heart again, but don't worry, when you see these words, it won't be long before you come to me on your own initiative, hahaha…'
Ye Beihan was a madman, so Su Luo naturally wouldn't take the madman's ravings to heart.
Out of sheer anger, he stomped the burned paper into ashes.
Lian'er went out to inquire about the military camp, and before she even returned to her room, her voice could be heard.
Hearing her hurried footsteps and anxious tone, Su Luo's heart tightened as well.
"Your Highness, something terrible has happened! Something terrible is about to occur!"
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