Xiao Mochen has spent so much time with the Li family that he has developed feelings for every member of the family.
Everyone was somewhat disappointed by his departure, especially Li Xiangkang, who had always been close to Xiao Mochen.
Yan Qingqing watched Xiao Mochen's departing figure until he was out of sight before turning around and going home.
Seeing this, Li Xiangping and the others also went home.
Seeing that it was already very late, Yan Qingqing told Li Xiangping and the others to go and rest.
After returning to her room, Yan Qingqing sat in front of her dressing table and gently tapped the tabletop. Soon after, Mu Xi came in.
Mu Xi bowed to Yan Qingqing and said, "This subordinate greets Madam."
Yan Qingqing hummed in agreement, then asked, "How did things go?"
Mu Xi replied in a low voice, "It's all taken care of. I personally went to select them. There are over three hundred children, and they all have excellent potential."
Moreover, they all volunteered; they only asked that the lady provide them with a place to stay.
Yan Qingqing nodded upon hearing this. Their family's foundation was still too weak. Although they currently had twenty or thirty bodyguards, they simply couldn't withstand any losses.
Yan Qingqing sent out ten people this time alone. If something really happens, that number of people will be far from enough.
So this wave of refugees is an opportunity; there are many displaced and homeless children, and no one will check where they went.
Even if they investigate later, they'll just assume they died on their way to escape famine.
Yan Qingqing was willing to provide them with a place to stay, but on the condition that they would live in anonymity and pledge allegiance to Yan Qingqing.
Yan Qingqing looked at Mu Xi and said, "Mu Xi, I've always trusted you to get things done."
You secretly led these three hundred-plus people up the mountain.
Choose two people from your group who are good at kung fu.
"If I were them, I could reach your level within a year."
Mu Xi and the others have been training for two years, and they have been taught by professional secret guards.
Therefore, they are progressing very quickly. It would probably be difficult for these people to reach the level of Mu Xi and his group within a year.
However, it's not impossible if you plan it well.
Yan Qingqing knew that this request was a bit unreasonable, but she really didn't have that much time.
Xiao Mochen's identity will definitely be exposed once he goes to the Northern Border, and it's still a question whether he can return to Canghe Village.
She estimated that her departure for the capital was not far off.
Seeing that Yan Qingqing didn't seem to be joking, Mu Xi took a deep breath and replied, "Madam, rest assured, I will do my utmost to meet your requirements."
Although this task is somewhat challenging, it is not impossible to complete.
Seeing that Mu Xi had agreed, Yan Qingqing smiled and said, "Mu Xi, you know I've always trusted you. These people are related to the future of our Li family, so you must keep it a secret."
Don't even mention Xiang Ping and Xiang An.
These people will be our trump card in establishing ourselves in the capital.
Upon hearing this, Mu Xi quickly replied, "Don't worry, Madam, I know what to do."
Since Yan Qingqing had such faith in him, he naturally wouldn't let Yan Qingqing down.
Three days later, Magistrate Ling held a meeting of wealthy merchants and gentry as scheduled, and Yan Qingqing also attended.
They were all puzzled as to why Magistrate Ling would hold a banquet at this time.
You should know that it's usually difficult for them to send gifts to the county government. Everyone knows that Magistrate Ling is rich, powerful, and has strong backing, so he doesn't even care about their little things.
Could it be that they're currently trapped in Chengyang County and Magistrate Ling is now coveting their possessions?
If that's the case, they wouldn't necessarily be unwilling to give up their beloved. After all, they don't get many opportunities to curry favor with Magistrate Ling.
Ling Ziyuan didn't care what these people thought.
After having his servants serve tea to these people, he got straight to the point: "Gentlemen, it is only due to the circumstances that we have gathered everyone together."
But with the nation in peril, this concerns every single citizen of our Great Yan Dynasty.
Therefore, I would like to ask for your help.
Everyone knows that the seven prefectures in the south were hit by a disaster, and Ming Zhaoshuo donated 200,000 dan of military grain with the help of his entire family.
I also donated money and goods to the people outside the city. I have exhausted all my resources, but I cannot do it all by myself.
Anyone who donates silver or grain to the court today will be reported to the court by me afterward to be commended.
Not only that, I will also have a monument erected in our Chengyang County to commemorate this achievement.
No matter how much money or grain you donate, it will all be engraved on this stone tablet, so that you may be exiled for generations to come, for future generations to admire.
After speaking, Ling Ziyuan instructed Steward Ling to bring over writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.
These people were all looking at each other, bewildered.
They initially thought Magistrate Ling wanted them to solicit favors. They were willing to part with one or two rare items.
It turns out that all this was for the disaster victims; this needs to be carefully considered.
Given the current situation, not donating is definitely not an option.
The Ming Zhaoshuo family has already donated most of their assets.
However, they were not as wealthy and powerful as Ming Zhaoshuo, nor did they have that kind of boldness.
But donating too little is also unacceptable, as it would require reporting to the imperial court and having a monument erected in their honor. If it were too little, how would future generations view them?
Seeing that the atmosphere was a bit strange, Yan Qingqing gave Ding Yuanwai a wink.
Ding Yuanwai's ability to make a comeback was due to Yan Qingqing's support.
Moreover, Ding Xiu's success in passing the preliminary examination was largely due to Li Xiangkang's willingness to share the answer sheets of outstanding candidates from previous years.
Now that Yan Qingqing needs him, he will definitely go all out.
Upon receiving Yan Qingqing's signal, Master Ding quickly stood up, bowed, and said, "You are a virtuous man, Magistrate Ling. I am but a humble merchant, and I do not understand any profound principles."
However, Mr. Ding still understood the principle that "if the skin is gone, what will the hair cling to?"
Now that the Great Yan Dynasty is in trouble, how can we sit idly by?
Ding's family planted 4,000 mu of medicinal herbs last year, but they haven't had a chance to sell them to pharmaceutical companies yet.
Mr. Ding is willing to donate the entire sum to the government, whether it be given to the soldiers on the frontier or to the refugees affected by the disaster; it is entirely up to Magistrate Ling to decide what to do with it.”
Everyone present gasped when they heard what Master Ding said; how were they supposed to respond?
Everyone in Chengyang County knows that the Ding family started out in the medicinal herb business.
However, the market has been sluggish in recent years, and the Ding family has suffered continuous losses.
Last year, the medicinal herbs from the Ding family's land were offered particularly low prices by pharmaceutical dealers due to their poor quality.
Master Ding was unwilling to sell at a low price, so the stockpiled goods were stored in the warehouse.
But who could have imagined that a plague would break out, and naturally, the price of these medicinal herbs would also rise accordingly.
If Master Ding had made a move at that moment, he would have certainly made a fortune, but what was unexpected was that he was willing to donate it all.
Even Yan Qingqing was surprised by how domineering Master Ding was. He donated 4,000 mu of medicinal herbs at once, which would be worth seventy or eighty thousand taels of silver.
In fact, Master Ding did this out of gratitude.
First, he was grateful to Yan Qingqing for her support; second, he was grateful that after Old Madam Ding passed away, everyone thought the Ding family had declined and avoided them like the plague.
Magistrate Ling personally came to offer condolences, giving him considerable face.
Of course, Master Ding didn't know that this was a beautiful misunderstanding; Ling Ziyuan was after Yan Qingqing, not him.
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