Dongning Prefecture is the capital of Dongning Province!
It is also the location of the provincial capital!
In recent years, due to the serious bandit problem in Dongning Province, the imperial court has not appointed a governor or viceroy to govern it.
The Prefect of Dongning became the most important official in the area!
All the government's money and provisions, and even a portion of the taxes from Dongning Province, were gathered here.
However, nowadays, the entire Dongning Prefecture granary has only this much grain left.
In an instant, Li Xin suddenly became agitated.
"Zhang Dayuan!"
Li Xin's eyes were bloodshot as he roared, "As the prefect of a prefecture, you should be collecting tens of thousands of bushels of grain in taxes every year, but now you only have this little bit left!"
Where did all the food go?
Did you embezzle it all?
"ah?"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Dayuan was startled and immediately knelt down, kowtowing repeatedly, saying, "Your Highness has wronged this humble servant!"
Having served as an official for over a decade, I have always been honest and incorruptible and loved the people. How could I possibly do such a thing!
Your Highness is wise!
hehe!
I don't believe you for a second!
Li Xin was inwardly full of complaints.
In this remote and inaccessible region, Li Xin would never believe that all the local officials were honest and incorruptible!
Not to mention, Zhang Dayuan had previously tried to persuade Li Xin to flee Dongning City.
When have they ever truly cared about serving and protecting the people?
Li Xin's face was gloomy.
Even now, the combined grain reserves of the Prince Xin's residence and the Dongning Prefecture's granary are still not much.
Maintaining such a large number of refugees, royal guards, and city garrison soldiers would likely be extremely difficult!
food!
food!
Where can we get the food?
Li Xin was somewhat troubled and sighed helplessly, "Could it be that Dongning City really doesn't have much food left?"
Li Xin's words made Zhang Dayuan's eyes dart around.
Zhang Dayuan stepped forward and replied, "Your Highness, this humble servant knows where there is grain in Dongning City..."
The Zhao and Qian families are powerful and influential clans in Dongning City!
Every winter, they would seek refuge elsewhere, and their family property was not damaged by bandits.
In Dongning City now, these two families must have plenty of grain!
"Your Highness, why don't we borrow some grain from the Zhao and Qian families to get through this difficult time!"
"Borrow grain?"
Li Xin frowned slightly.
That's all we can do!
Li Xin instructed, "Zhang Dayuan, I grant you permission to make amends for your past mistakes. You are to handle the matter of borrowing grain!"
"Yes, sir!"
Zhang Dayuan quickly agreed and then left.
...
Back at the Prince Xin's residence, Wei Jun had already organized dozens of guards to recruit refugees.
Even some of the servants from the Prince's mansion were assisting.
At the entrance of Prince Xin's mansion, dozens of strong and able-bodied refugees had been selected and were waiting on the side.
"These were selected?"
Li Xin sized up the men's physiques, nodded in satisfaction, and said, "Not bad, not bad!"
"Don't just sit around, He Tongyuan, get them to set up the pots and cook."
"yes!"
The servant He Tongyuan responded.
Before long, large pots were brought out and set up directly on the wide open ground in front of the Prince's Mansion.
Some of the displaced people also took action on their own, carrying bricks, building stoves, chopping firewood, and carrying water.
At this moment, bags of grain were brought out.
A dozen or so bags of sorghum, golden and shiny.
There were also two bags of pure white rice!
This caused the refugees outside the mansion gate to erupt in jubilation!
Your Highness truly loves the people!
Bags of sorghum and rice were poured into the pot.
The servants also started cooking.
Before long, the rich aroma of rice filled the air, and the hungry refugees turned their heads and swallowed their saliva.
"He Tongyuan,"
Li Xin instructed, "Our royal residence does not support idlers!"
The people Wei Jun selected went to training right after dinner!
Other refugees who can do odd jobs can also stay.
At that time, we will also need people to prepare supplies for defending the city!
The guards are given two meals a day, one dry and one porridge!
Everyone else gets two meals of porridge!
The same applies to everyone in the Prince's mansion!
I'm no exception!
Conditions are tough, let's wait until we get through this difficult time!
Li Xin's words once again moved the refugees.
Although there were only two meals of porridge, it was still much better than going hungry!
Those who were chosen as guards were even more excited.
Even when they weren't fleeing for their lives, it was difficult to maintain such a diet of alternating dry and wet foods every day!
Your Highness is truly merciful!
For a moment, everyone was moved to tears and cheered.
"Thank you, Your Highness!"
"Thank you, Your Highness!"
...
Seeing the plight of the people, Li Xin was also somewhat moved.
As the saying goes, he who wins the hearts of the people wins the world!
As long as the people work together, how could they not defend Dongning City?
An hour later, nearly a hundred strong and capable people who had hunted had been selected from the refugees.
These people, under the command of Wei Jun and others, were incorporated into the new guard of the Prince's Palace.
As the Prince's Palace guards grew stronger, Li Xin felt a sense of excitement and joy.
The good news is that Dongning City is now secure!
...
However, Li Xin's joy was short-lived, as he soon received bad news.
"What?"
Looking at the grain in front of him, Li Xin questioned, "Zhang Dayuan, I asked you to borrow grain, and this is all you've borrowed?"
"A few hundred bushels of grain? That's not enough to feed anyone!"
"Your Highness,"
Zhang Dayuan lowered his head and replied, "The Zhao family and the Qian family don't have much grain left either. They only managed to get half of what they had from their own warehouses..."
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