Chapter 266 Zhou Ru'an: Fortune Lies in Peril!
Zhou Ru'an had been trying to win over Wei Dongzhu and other garrison commanders for the past two days, so he specially arranged for a sumptuous feast to entertain them.
Unexpectedly, Wei Dongzhu interrupted him as soon as he sat down and started to speak.
"Second Prince, the army is completely out of food. If we run out of food soon, there may be unrest in the army!"
Qian Feng began to recall the past: "When we were in Dongchuan, because there was no food, the soldiers of the first battalion rebelled, and five or six hundred people died in that battle."
Xiao Fang sighed deeply, "We have no choice but to kill horses to fill our stomachs. As you know, without horses, we will be lambs to the slaughter once war breaks out."
The rest of the people
"These past two days, my soldiers have started complaining that the rice porridge is so thin you can see your reflection in it."
"Second Prince, if the court doesn't send more grain soon, the soldiers might be driven to desperation and end up eating us alive."
"Second Prince..."
They all opened their mouths and asked Zhou Ru'an for food.
Zhou Ru'an was so anxious that he broke out in a sweat. Outsiders might not know, but he did.
He had just received a secret edict from his father yesterday, informing him that the court was out of supplies.
Zhou Ru'an originally planned to win over Wei Dongzhu and others to his side first, and then find a way to raise grain. He did not expect them to be so eager to ask him for food.
Where is he supposed to get them food?
"Where did the Zhenbei Army get its food supplies before I arrived? And how will they continue to come from?"
"It seems the imperial court expects us to achieve something before they'll give us supplies!" Zhou Ru'an said, forcing a smile.
Xiao Fang said angrily, "It's not fair! We've already recaptured a city, so why isn't the imperial court giving us food?"
Qian Feng: "As far as I know, the Prince of Zhennan hasn't accomplished much since arriving in Dongchuan. Didn't the imperial edict say that whoever made meritorious contributions would be given food? Does it mean that our Northwest is treated like an unwanted stepchild?"
Zhou Ruan couldn't stand the words "stepmother raised by a stepmother".
"Stop talking! Even if the imperial court sends grain over, it will take one or two months. Our Zhenbei Army can't afford to wait that long!"
Wei Dongzhu said, "The Turkic army is eyeing us covetously, and the caravans have stopped coming here." This statement cut off Zhou Ruan's escape route for Shen Lanxi to procure supplies.
Zhou Ruan was about to say that Shen Lanxi had recognized so many merchant relatives, but before he could say it, Wei Dongzhu cut him off.
"Gentlemen, what do you suggest we do?" Zhou Ru'an was truly at his wit's end.
He began to resent the imperial court, Zhou Ruyuan, and Emperor Renxiao. If he had known the situation in the Northwest would be like this, he would never have volunteered to come.
If the third brother knew what was going on, he would laugh himself to death.
And then there's Father Emperor. Father Emperor couldn't possibly be unaware of the war situation in the Northwest. When Zhou Ruyuan was around, there was never a shortage of food supplies, but as soon as he arrived, the food supplies were cut off. Isn't Father Emperor afraid of a mutiny, that he, as the prince, would become the target of everyone's attacks and be sacrificed?
Father, how could you be so biased!
Seeing Zhou Ruan's resentment, Wei Dongzhu said, "I have an idea!"
Zhou Ruan felt as if he had seen a savior and hurriedly urged, "Speak quickly."
Wei Dongzhu: "We can borrow grain from Xiling and Hailing. These two cities are the most prosperous in the Northwest and are close to us. They must have grain!"
Zhou Ru'an said excitedly, "Then what are we waiting for? Let's send someone to borrow it right away!"
Wei Dongzhu hesitated and said, "When the Wei family army was still around, we sent people to borrow them, but the garrison commanders of the two cities refused!"
Zhou Ru'an's eyes flashed, and he thought to himself, it's normal that he won't lend the money to Wei's army. He is a prince and the garrison commander of two cities, so he will definitely give him face.
"I'll send someone!" He sent his own men with the imperial edict, not believing that the two city commanders would dare to disobey.
Wei Dongzhu sincerely suggested, "Borrowing grain is a major matter. Sending only our men will likely cause the garrison to delay. Why don't we go ourselves and bring the grain back directly?"
Zhou Ru'an was somewhat reluctant. What was his status, and what were the statuses of those garrison commanders? Was it worth it for him to go there personally?
"Second Prince, the court is different now than before. Many garrison commanders are watching and waiting. If Dongchuan is defeated, these commanders may form their own forces."
Zhou Ru'an immediately became vigilant. If the commanders of the two cities had ulterior motives, wouldn't he be in danger if he went there?
Wei Dongzhu: "We can go there to consolidate their power. The Second Prince can also be seen as inspecting the city on behalf of the Emperor, which will intimidate the soldiers guarding the city."
Zhou Ru'an's eyes lit up, and four words immediately popped into his mind: "Fortune favors the bold."
If he could win over those garrison commanders to his side, it would greatly increase his bargaining power.
"Alright, I'll personally go to the two cities to borrow grain. You hurry up and prepare, and bring more troops!"
Wei Dongzhu: "Yes!"
No sooner had Zhou Ruan been dismissed than a wave of marriages and settling down swept through the Zhenbei Army.
To show her support, Shen Lanxi personally attended the weddings of the first wave of Zhenbei Army soldiers and migrant workers who settled down in the town!
"Zeng Erniu, Zhang Taohua, Sun Tie, Wang Daniu, Liu Cai, Sun Zaohua... Congratulations to the fifty newlyweds on your marriage! Whoever is called, come and collect your settlement money, house, and business!"
"Like I said, those who register first can choose their houses and businesses; those who register later will find all the good houses and businesses already taken..."
"Today is the first batch, and General Shen Lanxi has made a special trip to celebrate with everyone!"
Amid cheers, Shen Lanxi went on stage and waved. Twenty people in two rows carried trays with wedding clothes for men and women, wedding cakes, pastries, etc. The most eye-catching items were a tray of silver hairpins and silver bracelets.
With a joyful smile, Shen Lanxi said, "Today is a big day for our Zhenbei Army, and a big day for the entire Northwest! To express my feelings, I have specially prepared some small gifts for you newlyweds. I congratulate you on your marriage and wish you many children. I also wish for the early pacification of the Northwest, that you all have many offspring, and that the people of the Northwest can live in peace and prosperity!"
The Zhenbei Army cheered in unison, and Shen Lanxi even personally presented gifts to the newlyweds!
The newlyweds were already dressed in festive attire, with the bride wearing silver hairpins or bracelets on her head or hands.
One moment it was bare, the next it was full of joy. The stark contrast made everyone's blood boil, and they wished they could have a wedding on the spot too.
"As expected of a general." Even the timing of the gift-giving was perfectly timed!
Che Mingyuan gently waved his folding fan. He never dreamed that he would be a matchmaker in his lifetime.
And he even brought so many people together at once.
He probably matched more couples in a single day than a proper matchmaker would in a lifetime!
"Old Che, when are you going to play matchmaker for me?" Xiao Fang teased from the side.
Che Mingyuan slapped him with his folding fan and said, "Alright, tell me which one you've got your eye on, and I'll match you up right now. I guarantee you'll get a share of the congratulatory gifts the General brought!"
Xiao Fang took off running, saying as he ran, "I was just joking with you, and you actually did it?"
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