Chapter 428 Preparing to Pick Up Someone
"But why did the Xianbei do this?" Qin Zhao was puzzled.
The Xianbei agreed not to move south for three years. This is only the first year, and they can't hold back?
But if they really couldn't hold back, why not just attack directly? Why let the Wuhuan take action? Did they want to wait for the Wuhuan to open a gap in the northern border before they could march on it?
As he expressed his guess, he denied it in his heart.
Qin Heng and others also denied his speculation, "The Xianbei are powerful. If they really want to move south, they must take them by surprise and attack them when they are unprepared."
Qin Yan and Qin Sheng echoed, "Big brother is right."
Lü Songli listened silently. Dali was a fictional dynasty, not part of the official history she'd studied, yet it also closely resembled the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties she knew. During that era, the Xianbei were also a powerful foreign tribe, equally ambitious. During the Yongjia reign, the Xianbei gathered four other foreign tribes and invaded the Western Jin Dynasty from the south, a phenomenon known in history as the Five Barbarians Invasion of China.
Qin Heng looked at his brothers and said, "I think this might be a test from the Xianbei. What do you think?"
Qin Zhao touched his chin and said, "Whether it's a test or not, we'll know after the outcome of this battle."
Qin Yan frowned, "If that's the case, then we don't have much time left."
Qin Sheng said, "Next autumn, the Xianbei will surely move south."
Lu Songli agrees with this conclusion.
The four Qin brothers all looked at Lu Songli who was silent.
Lu Songli: "What are you looking at me for?"
Qin Heng asked, "Sixth sister-in-law, what do you think?"
Lu Songli smiled and said, "I agree with your views. For the next year, Big Brother, Second Brother, Third Brother, and A Sheng, you all work hard on training the troops, and leave the rest to me."
Afterwards, Lu Songli went to the government office and handled some urgent official business. Then her father and Mr. Xue arrived one after another.
Since there was nothing major happening in Pingzhou, the three of them inevitably discussed the two issues: the Wuhuan invasion of the northern border and the snow disaster in Yanmen.
After Lu Songli told the Qin brothers' speculation, Lu Desheng and Xue Xu were both shocked, but facing such a situation, there was no other way except to do their best.
They can't get involved in the war in the north.
For Lv Songli, her abilities were limited, and she was too lazy to bother with the matter. However, she had no control over the affairs of the northern border, and she could not intervene. But she did have some thoughts on the Yanmen snow disaster.
Lu Songli told Xue Xu that she would go to Ji's house later to talk to Ji Wuyin about something.
Xue Xu said, "Why bother? Just ask someone to invite him over."
Ji Wuyin arrived soon and rolled his eyes. "It's winter, and you guys can't just stay quiet. Can't you just stay here like the locals?"
Xue Xu replied with the same rudeness, "If you keep hiding, you'll get moldy."
"That won't happen." It's warm at home.
Only then did Lu Songli say, "Uncle Ji, I have something to talk to you about."
"What's the matter?" Ji Wuyin asked.
He had also heard about the Wuhuan border invasion and the snowstorm at Yanmen, but he felt it had little to do with them. He didn't want to bother with any of this in the middle of winter.
However, Ji Wuyin guessed that Lu Songli should tell him these two things.
Lu Songli spoke, and Ji Wuyin heard it and realized that it was true.
Lu Songli said bluntly, "Uncle Ji, I asked you to come here this time mainly because I want to ask you for a favor."
"You say." Ji Wuyin felt a little alert. If he was asked to go out, it would be fine. But he was an old man and didn't want to go out in the middle of winter.
"A heavy snowstorm hit Yanmen, and the imperial treasury is empty. We also have to support the northern border, so I'm afraid there aren't many supplies available for disaster relief. Whenever I think of the common people who are starving and cold in the heavy snow and cold wind without a roof over their heads, I feel very sad." Lu Songli said these words with a sad face.
Ji Wuyin rolled his eyes, not wanting to be fooled, and said, "Speak human language."
"The imperial court cannot save all the victims of the Yanmen disaster."
It wasn't that Lu Songli underestimated them. Of all natural disasters, floods and snowstorms were the most difficult to deal with. Snowstorms would cause road congestion, and severe cold weather would also make disaster relief more difficult.
Given the limited treasury, the imperial court would certainly prioritize the soldiers in the northern borders, and food, fodder, and clothing would certainly be prioritized for the soldiers in the northern borders. With insufficient disaster relief supplies, it would be a wonder they could properly accommodate all the victims, and they might not even be able to accommodate most of them.
"Under such circumstances, many victims from Yanmen will undoubtedly seek a living elsewhere. I've already ordered Wu Ren and his men to prepare to pick them up. I hope the Ji clan's branch in the north can also help and lead them to Pingzhou."
When Lu Songli heard about the Yanmen snowstorm, she had already made this decision. She wanted to save people, but she couldn't just provide disaster relief locally. She could and would save those who had escaped Yanmen. After all, those who had escaped Yanmen were courageous, adventurous, and determined, and worthy of saving. She also planned to have Wu Renqingzhou transport some supplies to Yanmen to support the victims, as a token of their appreciation.
Ji Wuyin was speechless when she heard this, "No, the population density in your Pingzhou and the corners of Dali is almost catching up with the heartland of the Central Plains. Is this normal?" How obsessed is she with population?
Lu Songli looked innocent, "We can't just sit there and watch the people get nowhere, right?"
"Okay, I'll help you with this!"
…
south
Xie Zhan came out of a thatched hut. The biting cold wind made him involuntarily wrap his cloak tightly around him.
He glanced at the gloomy sky and thought, it should be snowing in Chang'an now, right?
It doesn't snow in the south, but the weather is damp and cold. The cold seems to penetrate deep into the bones, completely different from the dry cold in Chang'an.
The attendant behind him asked, "Master, when will we return home?" As the year was coming to an end, letters from the old lady and the lady came one after another.
"Tomorrow, we'll go back tomorrow."
The attendant said happily, "Then have someone prepare it immediately!"
Lately, they've been traveling with the master, recruiting talent. Some have been impressed, others unmoved. They've witnessed the master's hard work and felt indignant for those who remained unmoved, believing them to be blind.
Xie Zhan didn't feel too upset after being rejected. It didn't matter if those people were unmoved right now. He would go there now. Both sides would have to save face. When the situation became clear, the outcome would be clear.
Overall, Xie Zhan was quite satisfied with the results of his recent busy work.
One of the biggest gains was getting to know Qiao Xitong, a big timber merchant in Bingzhou, and Hu Jiangyi, a porcelain clay merchant in She County, Xin'an.
The trip to Nanyang had given him a lot of inspiration. He had a plan, but he still needed to think carefully about how to implement it. If it went well, it would bring him countless benefits.
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