The people of Xuan County have been starving for years, and they are all emaciated and irritable. In addition, today, the magistrates of the two counties were negotiating, and Tai County did not give an inch. They were all furious, thinking that they were not afraid of offending the Princess Zhenguo.
In any case, it all boils down to death.
"We haven't had rice to cook for two days, Your Highness, Princess Zhenguo, please spare us. You're new here and you immediately ask us to dig a river. We are native locals, do you think we don't know about water sources?"
"If Princess Zhenguo has so much free time, she might as well use her money to help us and give us a good meal. We would be grateful to you."
Qiao Lian'er was very unhappy to hear these words, but she did not blame the people.
When people are hungry and in dire straits, no one is any better off than the other.
She said, "Dredging the river channel and diverting the water requires physical strength. During this period, I guarantee that everyone will have rice and meat at every meal. Before the autumn harvest next year, I will use my strength to provide disaster relief so that no one will go hungry."
The people thought they had misheard and looked at each other in disbelief.
If that's really the case, even if opening the river to divert water is just wishful thinking, they'd still be willing to shoulder their hoes just to have a full meal.
“What Princess Zhenguo said is true. So many of us have heard it. You can’t go back on your word.”
The people no longer harbored the same hostility as before; instead, they feared that Qiao Lian'er would not keep his promise.
For them, a meal, even a little bit of meat, is such a rare luxury.
"Everyone should gather here tomorrow. I will have someone bring rice and ingredients. Everyone can eat their fill before we get to work," Qiao Lian'er said.
Looking at the longing eyes of the crowd, she felt a pang of pity. To live, one needs to eat and wear warm clothes in winter. These are the most basic needs. If even these cannot be met, and one is struggling to survive by merely seeking sustenance, how can one talk about anything else?
The people of Tai County were also full of anticipation. If there really was rice and meat to eat, of course they would be willing to come and help.
Moreover, Xuanjun doesn't compete with them for the river channel.
However, they couldn't be sure whether the princess was telling the truth or not, so they decided to wait and see. Everything would be clear by daybreak tomorrow.
The people finally went home.
Lord Zhu and Lord Liang looked at each other.
To them, the words of the Princess Zhenguo seemed like a fantasy, yet she spoke with an air of absolute authority.
This left them in a dilemma, unsure whether to believe it or not.
But if there really is a water source, and a water source large enough to form a river, that would be a cause for celebration, and for both places, it would be a chance to turn hostility into peace.
Since the princess has made a promise, if it doesn't come to fruition in the end, they can't be blamed.
They just need to carry out the orders.
“If Princess Zhenguo can solve the water problem in Xuan County and help Xuan County achieve a bumper harvest next year, the people of Xuan County will be eternally grateful to you, and I will also be extremely grateful,” Lord Liang said sincerely.
"It's not just the people of Xuan County. If Tai County can have enough water and harvest more grain, the people of Tai County will erect a monument to Zhenguo Princess and remember her for all eternity."
Although the two said these things, Qiao Lian'er could tell that they didn't really believe her.
These words seemed more like putting pressure on her, subtly implying that since she had made a promise, she couldn't go back on her word.
She didn't explain much, only saying, "You two should go back and rest first; there's a lot to do tomorrow."
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