Chapter 872 Chapter 872, Heavy Troops
Dongli rode at full speed for five days and five nights and finally arrived at the Ninglu Provincial Government. After handing the jade pendant and letter to Governor Wu, Governor Wu immediately called his staff to discuss whether to borrow grain.
Dongli and the guards rested for a night. The next day, Governor Wu told them that he agreed to lend them grain.
Dongli immediately used a falcon to send the news back to Ganzhou Wei.
When Daohua received the news, she immediately felt relieved.
Although she was 70% to 80% sure that Governor Wu would borrow grain, there was always a chance of something happening, and she had been very worried these days.
After counting the remaining food again and making sure it would last until Dongli and others brought back the food, Daohua then began to prepare for the New Year with peace of mind.
This was their first New Year in Xiliang, so she wanted to have a warm and lively time.
Thanks to Xiao Yeyang's annihilation of the Western Liao cavalry of 100 people, the Western Liao people became much quieter and did not dare to attack the Ganzhou Defense Zone again, but other garrisons were robbed.
In previous winters, with Ganzhou Wei at the forefront, other garrisons had a much easier time. But this year, they began to complain.
Guard Command Headquarters.
Many people in the garrison were waiting to see Xiao Yeyang make a fool of himself, and Xia Jianren would go to the city wall every day to check on the refugees.
Seeing him running so hard, Fan Tongzhi nodded and thought to himself, although Old Xia is a little shrewd in his daily life, he is still a good person and still cares about the people.
On the city wall, Xia Jianren looked at the refugees below who were queuing in an orderly manner waiting to drink porridge, his brows tightly furrowed. At the same time, he couldn't help but sigh in his heart at the wealth of the Xiao family.
The number of refugees is now almost reaching 40,000, but the Xiao Mansion is still able to hold on.
What’s even more speechless is that they even provided herbal medicine.
This is a waste of money!
Seeing that some people were still building straw huts, Xia Jianren didn't want to watch any longer. He pulled his coat tightly around him, walked down the city wall, and strode home.
Since the Xiao family is so generous to the refugees, they will definitely not be stingy to the generals guarding the border.
After returning to the mansion, Xia Jianren sent a letter to the border army generals.
After the death of the previous commander, the garrison was almost entirely managed by him and Fan Tong. Fan Tong was a rough man who only knew how to train soldiers, and he was in charge of food and wages.
This winter, the garrison did not provide much food to the border troops.
At this time, the army must be having a hard time.
Border military camp.
After receiving Xia Jianren's letter, Lieutenant General Cao Dan stood in the military tent in silence for a long time.
If the new governor of Ganzhou Guard had not destroyed a group of cavalry from Western Liao this year, his soldiers would definitely still be fighting guerrilla warfare with the Western Liao people.
The army didn't have much food and pay, but since everyone stayed in the camp and didn't move, if they were frugal, it was enough.
Looking at Xia Jianren's letter, Cao Dan narrowed his eyes.
He had dealt with the garrison many times over the years and knew that Xia Jianren was a very calculating person.
He had also heard about the porridge distribution at the gate of Ganzhou City. Now Xia Jianren asked him to go to Xiao Yeyang to ask for food, which clearly showed that he had bad intentions.
Instinctively, he leaned towards Xiao Yeyang.
Soldiers are like this, they admire those who are stronger than themselves. Obviously, in Cao Dan's eyes, Xiao Yeyang, who can destroy the Western Liao people and make the Western Liao people fear him, is more convincing to him.
After much consideration, Cao Dan decided to go to Ganzhou City.
It's not necessary to get food, but it's definitely a good idea to complain more.
The last time he saw Xiao Yeyang, he knew that this person was not the kind of playboy who only knew how to enjoy himself as everyone imagined. In his eyes, he saw the determination to destroy Western Liao.
I heard that he moved into the commander's residence and took over the Ganzhou Guard, so I have to have more contact with him so that I can get the military pay smoothly in the future.
Of course, he would be happier if he could bring back food so that the soldiers could eat better and have a good New Year.
On the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, Cao Dan entered Ganzhou City with several personal soldiers.
Xia Jianren had been paying attention to the movements in the Xiao Mansion. He knew at the first moment that Cao Dan had gone to find Xiao Yeyang, and immediately sent a message to the commander-in-chief.
"The border troops have already joined in. Now we just have to wait for the porridge distribution at the city gate to stop, and then we can drive Xiao Yeyang out of Xiliang."
Xiao Mansion.
Daohua heard that Bian Juncan was coming to see Xiao Yeyang, and after asking how many people were coming, she asked the kitchen to prepare food.
In the front yard living room, Xiao Yeyang was obviously surprised to see Cao Dan and immediately asked, "But the army is short of food?"
Cao Dan nodded instinctively.
In recent years, the garrison has always been in arrears with food and wages for the military camp. Every time he comes to Ganzhou Garrison, it is almost always to ask for food. This has become his subconscious reaction.
Xiao Yeyang had a good impression of Cao Dan. The first time he saw him, he was leading his soldiers in a bloody battle with the Western Liao people.
It was obvious that their weapons and equipment were much inferior to those of the Western Liao people, but they did not let the Western Liao people get any advantage.
"Wait for me."
Cao Dan, who hadn't said a word when he came in, stared blankly at Xiao Yeyang's back as he strode away.
It was not until the maid came in with tea and snacks that he came to his senses.
"Tea, General!"
The maid served Cao Dan tea and then stood aside.
Seeing that the maid was not looking around, Cao Dan quickly reached out and handed the plate of red bean cake to the two personal soldiers behind him.
They just ate a steamed bun today and came out, so they were already hungry.
The personal guards glanced at the maid, and seeing that she wasn't looking at them, they each quickly took three pieces of red bean cake.
The porcelain plate is not big, and one plate can only hold about eight or nine pieces.
Seeing that his personal guard had left three pieces for him, Cao Dan picked up one and started eating.
As soon as Cao Dan took the cake in his mouth, his eyes narrowed.
The maid who had been pretending to be invisible couldn't help but burst out laughing when she saw Cao Dan's expression of enjoyment.
Cao Dan was embarrassed and his face turned red immediately.
He was a native of Xiliang. Xiliang was a remote and cold place, and because of the rebellion of the Western Liao people, there were few caravans coming here.
This has led to a shortage of supplies and extremely high prices here.
Precious things like sugar and honey were difficult for him to eat even though he was a lieutenant general.
The pastry was so soft, delicious and sweet that I couldn't control my expression.
The maid realized that she had made a mistake, and immediately stopped smiling. She looked straight ahead again, as if the person who had just smiled was not her.
Seeing the maid like this, Cao Dan didn't want to eat anymore, but he quietly put the remaining two pieces of cake into his pocket and calmly drank his tea.
Fortunately, Xiao Yeyang came back after a while.
As soon as Xiao Yeyang entered the room, he said to Cao Dan, "I will give you 500 dan of grain first. You just hold on for now. I will allocate more grain in the middle of the first lunar month."
Cao Dan moved his lips, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "If it's not convenient for you, my lord, there's no rush here in the military camp."
Before he could finish his words, Xiao Yeyang interrupted him: "The soldiers' rations are absolutely essential. Without good physical strength, how can we fight against the Western Liao?"
"The soldiers I saw last time were all pale and skinny. If they were to go to the battlefield, they would be the first to die."
Hearing this, Cao Dan was moved.
The grain production in Xiliang was low, and he almost never received enough military rations. Every time he asked for food, the people in the garrison would delay the delivery as much as possible, and the soldiers often went hungry.
Now they finally met someone who would not shortchange them of their military rations.
Xiao Yeyang: "By the way, I see your weapons and ammunition are badly damaged. Don't you have anyone to replace them for you?"
Cao Dan smiled bitterly, "Every time the memorials about changing weapons and uniforms were submitted to the Command Headquarters, they were almost always left unaddressed."
Xiao Yeyang's face darkened. After thinking for a while, he said, "Before you leave, make me a list of the military supplies that the army usually uses."
Cao Dan glanced at Xiao Yeyang and nodded in agreement.
At this time, Defu walked in.
"Master, the princess has prepared the meal, we can eat now."
Xiao Yeyang stood up and took Cao Dan to the living room for dinner. The few personal soldiers brought by Cao Dan were taken by Defu to the side room to eat.
Looking at the sumptuous meal on the table, the personal soldiers who followed couldn't help but swallow their saliva. After Defu left, they began to eat with big mouthfuls.
After the meal, Cao Dan left with 500 shi of grain.
The burping soldier sitting on his horse said to Cao Dan, "General, the new Lord Xiao is a really good man."
Cao Dan laughed: "If someone gives you food, he is a good person?"
The guard nodded seriously: "Yes, I am not afraid of fighting the Western Liao people, I am afraid of starving."
Hearing this, Cao Dan felt a little pang in his heart, but he forced a smile and said, "Master Xiao also gave us two carts of meat. When we return, I will also let the other brothers have a good meal."
(End of this chapter)
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