Looking at the chaotic scene of grain distribution after the devastation, Xiao Yichen felt a heavy weight on his heart. The food shortage loomed large, and the panic and chaos among the people only exacerbated the situation. But he knew that he could not back down now; he had to coordinate with all parties and find a solution as soon as possible.
He first summoned officials at all levels involved in distributing the grain, including officials from the Ministry of Revenue responsible for grain allocation, officials from the Ministry of War responsible for transportation, and minor officials in charge of on-site organization. Everyone gathered in a makeshift tent, the atmosphere heavy and oppressive.
Xiao Yichen spoke solemnly: "Gentlemen, the current food shortage is our primary problem, and we must work together to solve it. Officials from the Ministry of Revenue, please tell us the exact amount of food we currently have and the possible replenishment situation."
An official from the Ministry of Revenue stepped forward, holding an account book in his hand, his brows furrowed: "General, the chaos has resulted in significant grain losses. The current grain reserves, if distributed according to the original plan, will not last more than two days. Although the surrounding counties have agreed to provide assistance, the distance is long, transportation will take time, and the quantity is limited. As for the wealthy households in the capital, we have already done our best to plunder them; obtaining grain from them again will likely be even more difficult."
Xiao Yichen frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and said, "We can't place our hopes solely on the surrounding counties and wealthy households. We need to approach this from multiple angles. Ministry of War, is there any way to speed up the grain transport? For example, could we increase the number of transport personnel or find a faster mode of transport?"
The Ministry of War official replied, "General, we are already transporting goods at the fastest speed possible. Currently, we are mainly relying on horse-drawn carriages and oxcarts, but some sections of the road are rugged and difficult to travel, which limits our speed. If we want to speed up, we need to repair the roads first, but this will also take time. Moreover, increasing manpower will increase food consumption, which may not be worthwhile."
Xiao Yichen nodded: "Road repairs can't stop, but we need to think of other solutions. By the way, are there any small grain-producing areas or estates near the capital that we could negotiate with to borrow grain?"
A minor official familiar with the geography around the capital said, "General, there are several small manors in the northeast of the capital that produce a certain amount of grain, but they are not large in scale. However, they have connections with some wealthy merchants and powerful figures in the capital, so they may not lend us grain easily."
"No matter how difficult it is, we must try. I will personally negotiate with them. You all continue to stabilize the situation in the capital and ensure that the grain distribution can continue until the new grain arrives." Xiao Yichen made up his mind.
Xiao Yichen led a troop of soldiers, galloping towards the manor in the northeast. Along the way, he saw the impoverished lives of the people and the barren fields, which strengthened his resolve to solve the food problem.
Upon arriving at the first manor, Xiao Yichen found the gates tightly shut and some servants patrolling the area. He stepped forward, identified himself, and explained his purpose, but the servants looked hesitant and refused to let him in.
“Our master is not home, you cannot enter,” a servant said. Xiao Yichen saw through their lie at a glance, but still patiently said, “This food crisis in the capital concerns the lives of countless people. I hope you can let me in to discuss the matter of borrowing grain with the manor owner. The imperial court will definitely repay it in the future.”
At this moment, a voice came from inside the manor: "Hmph, the imperial court comes to us when it's in trouble, but why didn't they think of us when they were collecting taxes?" With the voice, a middle-aged man walked out; he should be the manor owner.
Xiao Yichen clasped his hands in a salute: "Master, the situation is critical. The people of the capital are on the verge of death. I know this will cause you trouble, but I implore you to lend some grain to save those innocent people."
The manor owner sneered, "My grain didn't come from thin air, why should I lend it to you? If the imperial court were capable, it wouldn't let the people go hungry."
Xiao Yichen knew that reasoning with him would be useless, so he said, "Master, I know you have difficulties. But if the capital falls into chaos due to the food crisis, your manor will also be hard-pressed to remain unscathed. At that time, not only will you lose your food, but you may even be in danger of your life and property. If you lend us the food now, the court will remember your kindness and will surely repay you handsomely in the future."
The manor owner fell into deep thought after hearing Xiao Yichen's words. Xiao Yichen continued, "Furthermore, you can also propose some conditions. As long as it is something the imperial court can do, we will definitely consider it."
The manor owner finally relented: "Alright, I can lend some grain, but the court must promise to reduce my manor's taxes next year and ensure that my manor is not disturbed during this crisis."
Xiao Yichen agreed without hesitation: "Alright, I can agree to your conditions on behalf of the court. I hope you can prepare the grain as soon as possible, and I will arrange for people to transport it."
Having learned from the success of his first manor, Xiao Yichen visited several other manors. Some of the manor owners were reasonable and readily agreed to lend him grain after listening to his advice; others, however, made more demanding demands, which Xiao Yichen tried his best to meet after some negotiation.
While coordinating the borrowing of grain from the manor, Xiao Yichen did not forget the situation in the capital. He arranged for Lin Wan'er to continue to reassure the people and maintain order at the grain distribution sites. At each distribution point, Lin Wan'er explained to the people that the imperial court was working hard to solve the food problem and urged them not to panic.
"Fellow villagers, the imperial court has sent people to find more food, so don't worry, you won't go hungry. We need to maintain order now so we can get through this difficult time better." Lin Wan'er's gentle yet firm voice reassured many of the people.
In addition, Xiao Yichen ordered officials to recalculate the population and needs of the people in order to allocate grain more rationally. Based on the new statistics, the grain allocation ratio was appropriately increased in some densely populated and severely affected areas.
Regarding transportation, after returning to the capital, Xiao Yichen discussed the matter again with officials from the Ministry of War. They decided to open up some new transport routes while repairing existing roads. Although the new routes might carry some unknown risks, they were worth trying in order to get the grain back as quickly as possible.
"Select some experienced soldiers to be in charge of transporting supplies along the new route, and at the same time strengthen security measures to prevent anyone from robbing the grain," Xiao Yichen said to the Ministry of War officials.
To encourage more people to participate in solving the food problem, Xiao Yichen also posted notices in the capital, offering rewards to those who voluntarily donated grain or provided clues about where grain might be hidden. The notices were met with enthusiastic responses from many people. Some brought their last remaining grain to the distribution points, while others provided clues about possible hiding places for grain.
Based on clues provided by the people, Xiao Yichen found some hidden grain reserves. Although the quantity of these grains was small, they still provided some help in alleviating the food crisis.
During this process, some dissenting voices emerged within the imperial court. Some ministers expressed dissatisfaction with Xiao Yichen's promise to reduce taxes for the manor owners, believing it would harm the court's interests.
The Prime Minister raised a question in the court: "General Xiao, your unilateral agreement with those manor owners' conditions may lead to more people following suit in the future, which will seriously affect the court's tax revenue."
Xiao Yichen responded in court: "Prime Minister, the most important task at present is to resolve the food crisis in the capital and save the lives of the people. If the people starve to death because of tax issues, the court will lose not only tax revenue, but also the hearts of the people. Moreover, these conditions are only temporary. We can discuss them again after the crisis is over."
The Emperor nodded after hearing Xiao Yichen's words: "General Xiao is right. In this special situation, we should deal with the immediate crisis first. We can discuss the matter further once the crisis is over."
With the Emperor's support, Xiao Yichen became even more determined in his approach. He continued to coordinate efforts from all sides to increase grain reserves.
After several days of effort, grain borrowed from surrounding counties and estates, as well as newly found grain, was successively transported to the capital. Seeing the warehouses filled with sacks of grain, Xiao Yichen and the officials involved in distributing the grain breathed a sigh of relief.
However, Xiao Yichen did not let his guard down. He knew that this grain only temporarily alleviated the crisis; to completely solve the food problem, it was necessary to address the fundamental issues of grain supply and reserves. At the same time, those behind the scenes who sabotaged the grain distribution could not be let off the hook.
He summoned his trusted subordinates and instructed them: "Continue to investigate those who caused trouble at the grain distribution site. There must be a larger force manipulating them. We must uproot this force to ensure the long-term stability of the capital."
In the process of addressing the food shortage problem, Xiao Yichen also realized the loopholes in the imperial court's grain management. He suggested to the emperor that after the crisis, the grain policy should be revised, the management of grain production, transportation, and storage should be strengthened, and a more comprehensive grain reserve system should be established.
The Emperor took Xiao Yichen's suggestion very seriously: "General Xiao, what you say is absolutely right. This food crisis has made me realize the shortcomings of the court in food management. After the crisis ends, you can discuss this matter with the ministers and formulate a detailed plan."
With the initial resolution of the food problem, the situation in the capital gradually stabilized. Smiles returned to the faces of the people, and their trust in the imperial court was slowly being restored. But Xiao Yichen knew that much more work remained to be done; he could not afford to slacken in the slightest. For the future of the capital, he would continue to move forward.
Lin Wan'er was extremely anxious as she looked at the injured people in the chaos. She knew that if the injured were not treated in time, not only would the people suffer more, but panic would also spread further among the crowd, and the situation that had just begun to stabilize would spiral out of control again.
She quickly directed soldiers and some helpful civilians to move the wounded to an open area near the grain distribution point. This area, originally used for storing miscellaneous items, had been temporarily converted into a treatment area. While arranging for more doctors to be found, Lin Wan'er also organized people to perform basic triage and treatment on the wounded.
"Gather the seriously injured over here, and the lightly injured over there. Stop the bleeding first, and don't move those with fractures unnecessarily." Lin Wan'er directed the operation methodically, her eyes filled with concern and anxiety.
Some soldiers and civilians made makeshift stretchers out of planks and strips of cloth, carefully carrying the seriously wounded to shady spots. Lin Wan'er personally bandaged the wounds of some of the injured, her skillful and gentle movements minimizing their pain.
"Young lady, my child... How is he?" A woman, her face streaked with tears, clutched her unconscious child and pleaded with Lin Wan'er for help. Lin Wan'er took the child and carefully examined him, finding that the child had simply fainted from fright and was otherwise unharmed. She comforted the woman, saying, "Sister, don't worry, the child was just frightened; he's not injured." Hearing this, the woman was somewhat relieved and thanked Lin Wan'er profusely.
While treating the injured, Lin Wan'er did not forget to restore order to the scene. She knew that order was the foundation of all work; if the scene remained chaotic, it would not only affect the treatment work but also delay the subsequent distribution of grain.
She found several respected elders and said to them, "Gentlemen, the situation is critical, and we need your help to maintain order. Please tell everyone not to panic; we will treat the wounded as soon as possible and continue distributing grain." The elders nodded and shouted loudly in the crowd, "Everyone, calm down and listen to the imperial court's arrangements. This chaos will only make things worse." Under the elders' persuasion, some of the people gradually calmed down.
Lin Wan'er then arranged for soldiers to re-establish a cordon around the grain distribution point to prevent unauthorized personnel from entering. At the same time, she instructed the soldiers to inspect the grain distribution facilities for damage and to determine how much grain remained to be distributed.
After an inspection, the soldiers reported: "Miss Lin, most of the grain storage tools are still usable, but some sacks have been torn, and a lot of grain has spilled out. Also, some grain has been soaked in water." Lin Wan'er frowned: "Organize the usable tools, collect as much of the spilled grain as possible, and set the soaked grain aside to see if it can still be dealt with."
While the soldiers were busy, Lin Wan'er continued to calm the people in the crowd. She saw a young man arguing angrily with those around him. Lin Wan'er stepped forward and asked, "Brother, why are you arguing? We need to unite now." The young man, seeing it was Lin Wan'er, softened his tone slightly: "Miss, I've been queuing for so long, and now the food is gone. My family is waiting to eat." Lin Wan'er patiently explained, "Brother, the imperial court is working to solve the food problem. We won't let anyone go hungry. There have been some unexpected events, but we will resume distributing food as soon as possible. Please trust the imperial court, and we hope you can help maintain order." Hearing Lin Wan'er's words, the young man stopped arguing and silently nodded.
As the doctors arrived one after another, the rescue work proceeded more systematically. The doctors brought some simple medicinal herbs and medical tools and began treating the injured. Lin Wan'er assisted nearby. She saw a doctor setting the bones of an elderly man with a broken leg; the man was sweating profusely from the pain. Lin Wan'er held the old man's hand and gently comforted him, "Grandpa, just bear with it, it'll be over soon." Encouraged by her, the old man gritted his teeth and persevered.
During the rescue efforts, Lin Wan'er discovered that the medicinal herbs were quickly running out. She immediately arranged for people to collect herbs from pharmacies in the capital. However, due to the food crisis, the pharmacies were also facing a severe shortage of herbs. Some pharmacy owners expressed their willingness to provide assistance, but in limited quantities.
Lin Wan'er did not give up. She said to the pharmacy owners, "Gentlemen, these medicinal herbs are used to treat the injured people, which concerns many lives. If you have any extra herbs, please provide them. The imperial court will remember your kindness and will surely repay you in the future." Under her persuasion, the pharmacy owners brought out more medicinal herbs.
Meanwhile, Lin Wan'er came up with another idea. She had notices posted throughout the capital, appealing to people with medical knowledge for help. The notice read: "Fellow citizens of the capital, an accident has occurred at the grain distribution site, resulting in numerous injuries and a shortage of medicinal herbs. If you have medical knowledge or medicinal herbs, please come to the grain distribution point to help. The court and the people will be eternally grateful."
As soon as the notice was posted, many people with medical knowledge rushed over. An elderly woman, carrying a medicine box, arrived at the scene, her steps trembling. "Young lady," she said, "I'm a folk healer with some basic medical skills. These herbs are ones I gathered myself; I hope they can be of help." Lin Wan'er was deeply moved and quickly thanked her, "Thank you so much, Grandma! You're a true lifesaver."
Thanks to everyone's joint efforts, the injured received proper medical treatment. Most of those with minor injuries were able to return home on their own after treatment, while those with serious injuries were out of danger and were transferred to safer and more comfortable places for continued treatment.
By this time, order had been largely restored at the grain distribution site. The soldiers had reorganized the distribution points, and although some grain had been lost, after collection and sorting, a portion could still be distributed. Lin Wan'er climbed back onto the platform and addressed the people loudly: "Fellow villagers, thanks to everyone's efforts, the wounded have been treated, and the grain distribution points have been prepared again. The imperial court is working hard to solve the grain problem, and we will continue to distribute grain. Please maintain order and line up to receive your grain as previously arranged."
Upon hearing Lin Wan'er's words, the people applauded and cheered. They saw the court's efforts to resolve the problem, and their fear and discontent gradually dissipated.
During the process of restoring order to the scene, Lin Wan'er also noticed some suspicious individuals. In the chaos, some people deliberately stirred up trouble in the crowd, exacerbating the disorder. She informed Xiao Yichen of this and arranged for soldiers to keep an eye on the movements of these suspicious individuals.
"We can't let these people sabotage the grain distribution again. We must find the mastermind behind them," Lin Wan'er said to the soldiers.
To further stabilize the people's emotions, Lin Wan'er also organized some small activities. She had the soldiers set up several simple sunshades near the grain distribution points so that the people queuing could rest in the shade. At the same time, she also arranged for people to cook some porridge and distribute it to those who were starving but had not yet received their grain.
"Have some porridge to fill your stomachs first, it will be your turn to receive your rations soon." Lin Wan'er personally distributed porridge to the people, her actions warming their hearts. An old man received the porridge, his eyes brimming with tears: "Young lady, you are such a good person. It is a blessing for us people that the court has someone like you."
As time passed, the distribution of grain resumed smoothly. The people lined up in neat rows, receiving their food in turn. Although the previous chaos had subsided, Lin Wan'er remained vigilant. She knew the enemy might have new schemes, and she had to be prepared at all times.
During this process, Lin Wan'er also pondered how to prevent similar chaos from happening again. She realized that relying solely on soldiers to maintain order was not enough; it was also necessary to improve the quality and awareness of the people.
So she posted some slogans at the grain distribution points, such as "Receive grain in a civilized manner, care for each other" and "Observe order, overcome difficulties together." At the same time, she also arranged for soldiers to promote the importance of civilized grain collection to the people while they were queuing, so that the people would consciously abide by the order.
In addition, Lin Wan'er improved the facilities at the grain distribution site. She had queuing lines drawn on the ground so that people would know where to stand. At the same time, more signs were installed at the distribution point to help people understand the process and precautions for receiving grain.
After this incident, Lin Wan'er's prestige among the people grew even higher. The people knew that a kind and courageous young woman named Lin was working hard for them. Lin Wan'er also deeply understood the heavy responsibility she bore; she would continue to strive for the well-being of the capital's people and work hard to restore the capital's prosperity and stability.
During this challenging time, Lin Wan'er was like a ray of light illuminating the darkness of the capital. With her wisdom, kindness, and resilience, she resolved crisis after crisis, bringing hope to the capital's future.
After some twists and turns, the grain distribution operation continued in a tense but orderly atmosphere. The sun was still high in the sky, but compared to the previous chaos, the distribution site now had more order and hope.
Lin Wan'er stood at the front of the grain distribution point, her gaze gentle yet firm as she looked at the people who came to collect their grain. Behind her was the neatly prepared grain distribution area, where soldiers and officials busily prepared, each performing their duties. The grain in the sacks gleamed a pale golden yellow in the sunlight, representing the people's hope for survival.
The people stood in neat rows, their eyes filled with anticipation. The line stretched out from the grain distribution point, winding through the streets, but this time there was no crowding or pushing. An old man stood at the front of the line, clutching his household registration certificate tightly in his hand, his wrinkled face trembling slightly with excitement. "Finally, we can receive grain again. The imperial court hasn't forgotten us," he murmured to himself.
At the entrance, soldiers carefully checked the household registration certificates of each civilian, verifying the number of people before allowing them to enter the grain distribution area. A young soldier said to a woman holding a child, "Madam, this way please, watch your step." The woman nodded gratefully and slowly walked into the grain distribution area with her child in her arms.
Inside the grain distribution area, the clerks responsible for weighing the grain skillfully packed it into sacks. An experienced clerk, while weighing the grain, said to his assistant, "This time we must be careful; there can't be any more mistakes." The assistant nodded in agreement and handed the weighed grain to the soldier in charge of distribution.
"This family of three should receive [x] jin of grain," the soldier announced loudly, then handed the grain to the people who came to collect it. A middle-aged man took the grain, tears welling in his eyes: "Thank you so much, Imperial Court! Thank you so much, sirs! This grain is truly a lifesaver!" The soldier smiled and replied: "Brother, take it and make sure your family has a good meal when you get home."
As the grain distribution progressed, more and more people received their food. In the queues, people chatted, sharing their stories and aspirations for the future. A young man said to his companion, "Once this crisis is over, I'm going to farm hard and store up plenty of grain. I never want to experience hunger again." His companion nodded in agreement, "Yes, the imperial court's opening of the granaries has truly saved our lives. We must also learn to plan ahead."
However, the distribution of grain was not without its difficulties. In the middle of the line, an old man suddenly collapsed. The surrounding people cried out in alarm, and soldiers rushed over. Lin Wan'er also hurried over, crouching down to check on the old man. "Quick, carry him to a shady spot and find a doctor!" Lin Wan'er shouted anxiously.
The soldiers carefully carried the old man to a nearby awning, where a doctor quickly arrived. After examining him, the doctor said, "This old man has been starving for too long, and the hot weather has caused him to suffer from heatstroke. I'll give him a few acupuncture treatments; he should be fine." Under the doctor's care, the old man gradually regained consciousness. Lin Wan'er had someone bring some water and dry rations and fed them to the old man. "Grandpa, how are you feeling?" Lin Wan'er asked with concern. The old man weakly said, "Young lady, I'm fine, just hungry. Now that there's food, I'm relieved." Lin Wan'er told the old man to rest well and return home once he had recovered.
To prevent a similar situation from happening again, Lin Wan'er arranged for the soldiers to prepare some water and simple rations in the ranks, which were then distributed to the weak civilians. "If anyone feels unwell, please speak up; don't try to tough it out," Lin Wan'er told the civilians.
At another grain distribution point, Xiao Yichen was also closely monitoring the distribution process. He patrolled the area, vigilantly watching for any disturbances. Suddenly, he noticed a figure lurking suspiciously near the distribution point. Xiao Yichen approached stealthily, and upon recognizing the person, he lunged forward and subdued them.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?" Xiao Yichen demanded. The man turned pale with fright and stammered, "M-Sir, I was just passing by, I didn't do anything." Xiao Yichen's gaze was sharp. He carefully examined the man and noticed that his eyes were shifty, suggesting he wasn't telling the truth. "Passing by? Why are you loitering near the grain distribution point? Do you have some ulterior motive?" Xiao Yichen pressed sternly. The man lowered his head, not daring to speak again.
Xiao Yichen handed the man over to his soldiers: "Take him back and interrogate him thoroughly. You must find out his purpose." He knew that the enemy would not easily give up on disrupting the grain distribution plan, and he had to remain vigilant at all times.
Back at the center of the grain distribution point, Xiao Yichen felt somewhat relieved to see the people receiving their grain in an orderly fashion. He said to the officials in charge of distributing the grain, "This time, there can be no more mistakes. We must ensure that every person receives their grain smoothly, and at the same time, pay attention to their health." The officials nodded in agreement and continued their work diligently.
As time passed and the sun began to set, the distribution of grain was nearing its end. Most of the people had received their grain, their faces beaming with happiness and gratitude as they carried their bountiful harvest. A woman, holding her grain, said to those around her, "Tonight I can finally cook a full meal for my children and the elderly; they've suffered so much these past few days."
In the final stage of the grain distribution, some disabled people and the elderly with limited mobility also received their food with the help of soldiers. An elderly disabled man, sitting in a wheelchair, had tears in his eyes: "The imperial court is so thoughtful; they haven't forgotten us poor people." The soldier smiled and said, "Sir, this is what the imperial court should do. Go home and live a good life."
When the last bag of grain was distributed, cheers erupted at the distribution site. The people's gratitude towards the imperial court was overflowing, and they praised the court's benevolent act. An old man approached Lin Wan'er and said excitedly, "Young lady, you are our great benefactor! This grain distribution has shown us the court's care. We hope the court will continue to improve and always think of the people." Lin Wan'er smiled and replied, "Grandpa, this is the result of the joint efforts of the court and everyone. I hope everyone can live a good life from now on."
After the grain distribution ended, the soldiers and officials began cleaning up the site. They gathered their tools and organized the remaining supplies; though exhausted, everyone wore a satisfied smile. Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er stood before the grain distribution point, watching the gradually dispersing people, their hearts filled with emotion.
"Although this grain distribution was fraught with difficulties, it was ultimately completed successfully," Xiao Yichen said. Lin Wan'er nodded, "Yes, seeing the smiles on the faces of the people after receiving the grain makes all the hard work worthwhile. However, we cannot let our guard down and must continue to investigate the conspiracy behind the grain crisis to ensure the long-term stability of the capital."
That night, the people of the capital returned home with grain, their homes filled with a long-lost warmth. Lights shone in every corner, the glimmer of hope. Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er, meanwhile, returned to their residence, pondering the future. They knew the food crisis was not yet completely over, and much work remained, but they were confident that with the combined efforts of the court and the people, the capital would overcome this difficulty and usher in prosperity and stability.
Back at their lodgings, Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er began discussing their next steps. They decided to continue monitoring the people's living conditions to ensure no one went hungry due to food shortages; on the other hand, they would intensify their investigation into the mastermind behind the food crisis, starting with the arrested suspects to find clues and uncover the truth behind the conspiracy.
At the same time, they also suggested to the imperial court that grain management and reserves be strengthened. The loopholes in grain management exposed during this crisis must be addressed promptly, and a more comprehensive grain early warning mechanism and reserve system must be established to prevent similar crises from recurring.
In addition, in order to restore the economic and social order of the capital, they also plan to organize some public welfare activities to help those who have been severely affected by the disaster rebuild their homes, encourage businessmen to resume business activities, and let the capital regain its vitality.
In this challenging time, Xiao Yichen and Lin Wan'er shoulder the hopes of the capital. They will continue to move forward, striving for the prosperity of the capital and the happiness of its people. Their story, like stars in the night sky, illuminates the darkness of the capital and brings hope and courage to its people.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com