Luo Yan and several clan leaders of Nanyang families were confronting each other at the city gate. The other party wanted to open the city gate to let their sons out of the city, but Luo Yan refused and led his soldiers to block the city gate to prevent anyone from leaving. Near and far, ordinary people in ragged or rough clothes looked at the conflict between the clans and the army, weighing something.
The two sides are arguing loudly——
"Luo Erlang, don't go too far! Nanyang is still the territory of my Fan family, and my Fan family is not unwilling to provide food. As long as you let a few of my clan members leave the city, my Fan family will tighten their belts and save money to give you the food and fodder you need for the day, is that okay?"
"Thank you for your help, Mr. Fan. But it is not appropriate to leave the city now. Several of our families are old-established families in Nanyang, and the people are watching us. If you escape now, the people will lose their support... My dear, look at those poor people. They are still willing to help because they see you are still here."
"Just sending a few disciples out of the city!"
Luo Yan shook his head: "We are all from aristocratic families, so there is no need to play tricks on this kind of game trap, right? You think Nanyang is hopeless and want to abandon this place. I will not agree."
"Since you are from an aristocratic family, why don't you consider us? Nanyang is going to be defeated! We are going to lose! The court has given up on us... If we don't leave now, will we be buried with them? Your last name is Luo... You are a righteous person. When the Luo family of Ruyang was exterminated, we sympathized with you and praised you as heroes. But Luo Erlang, just because you sacrificed before, do you want us to sacrifice together now?"
The voices of several clan leaders of the noble families became louder, squeezing Luo Yan. Luo Yan took two steps back, and the pressure gradually increased.
Suddenly, the sound of horse hooves shook the ground, and a stern voice came: "What are you arguing about?!"
The people blocking the city gate saw a group of soldiers coming. The one who dismounted and strode forward was the Yingchuan general who had recently been stationed in Nanyang, the Prince of Hengyang Liu Mu. Liu Mu drew his sword and pointed it at the people at the city gate. The soldiers behind him followed his movements. In a moment, dozens of iron-blooded soldiers stood with their swords drawn. The patriarchs of these families all looked pale and said, "What are you going to do?!"
Liu Mu said calmly: "It's a gentleman's agreement. If you agree not to leave the city, then you are not allowed to leave the city."
"Also, we're out of food. You guys can gather up the food, at least for tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. If you can't hand it over, no one can leave here. Luo Erlang, you are responsible for this, right?"
The young prince's eyes were slightly impatient, as if to say, "I am asked to intervene in such a small matter." Luo Yan smiled bitterly: To shock these noble families, one needs a high status. Obviously, Luo Yan's status is not high enough. It would be best if Lu Sanlang did this... But Lu Sanlang has too many things to do.
In the chaos, the nobles were frightened by Liu Mu's coldness and dared not speak. Behind Liu Mu, the graceful Luo Lingyu trotted after him, her face pale.
The patriarch of the Fan family understood immediately and glared at Luo Lingyu: "Madam Luo, are you here to look for the King of Hengyang? Are you looking for reinforcements to deal with us? Are you still from Nanyang? Are you a girl from a Nanyang noble family?"
For a moment, everyone's eyes fell on Luo Lingyu. There were so many eyes, full of resentment and malice. Liu Mu frowned, thinking that a group of old men would threaten a little girl. He took a step forward calmly, trying to block Luo Lingyu behind him. Luo Lingyu just turned pale, and her will remained unchanged: "Nanyang is in danger, the army is in trouble, you should provide for it."
Fan Jun, the father of Fan Silang Fan Qingchen, sneered. He had always disliked this orphan of low status. After his son broke off the engagement with her, he did not hide his disgust: "When did this become something we should do? Nanyang is short of soldiers and food. Is it our fault? We don't allow you to send troops? Didn't we earn our money and food? Now, you are not willing to write an IOU, but want to take away all the food. We, the children of the noble family, can't even provide for them! Who doesn't suffer and go hungry? Do we deserve to be exploited and sucked dry by you at this time?"
"It turns out that the family education of the Ruyang Luo family is to be generous to others."
Liu Mu's eyes suddenly turned cold.
Luo Yan's face also tensed.
Luo Lingyu's eyelashes trembled slightly, and she looked at Fan Jun: "In the past, the prosperity of the noble families depended on the support of the common people. Land, farming, business, the army... they all supported you. In the face of national crisis, and on your own territory, you should pay back what you usually get. They no longer have the ability, but you still have the ability... Even if the army suppresses and forces you to supply food, it is what you should do at this time."
"You only want luxury in normal times, but are unwilling to contribute in times of national crisis. There is no such good thing in the world."
The atmosphere was silent and tense for a while. Liu Mu looked at Luo Lingyu in surprise. He didn't expect her to say such a thing. Liu Mu himself didn't like the aristocratic family. If Lu Erlang hadn't kept talking in his ear... he didn't expect Luo Lingyu to have such an understanding.
Luo Yan also looked at his cousin in surprise.
From afar, among the people staring at them, a cheer broke out in the crowd: "Mrs. Luo, you're right!"
"You should provide food! You usually take so much of our offerings to travel around, and now you are poor? I don't believe it!"
"You are not allowed to leave the city! If you leave the city, we will escape too!"
Fan Jun's face turned red. He was pointed at and scolded by a teenage girl, and was also criticized by a group of noisy common people. How angry he was!
He was about to open his mouth to argue again, but Liu Mu said in annoyance: "Enough! Stop it!"
He pointed at the noble families: "Pay the grain, and then you can leave."
The heads of several families who were blocked at the city gate looked at each other in bewilderment. In the blizzard, they could not stay here forever, and they were also being stared at by the civilians. After discussing together, the old men reluctantly agreed to Liu Mu's conditions, willing to write a document and provide food to the army.
Liu Mu stood straight with Luo Lingyu, watching Luo Yan busy registering. It was getting dark, and Luo Lingyu breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that there was no fighting over there, and moved her feet. However, a soldier came over to Liu Mu's side and whispered something in the prince's ear. Liu Mu's face froze, and he immediately told his men to withdraw, and turned around to ride away.