Chapter 873 Chapter 873 Food Arrives
The border troops left with the food, which surprised Xia Jianren. "Even if they brought a lot of supplies when they came, the Xiao Mansion spent them so lavishly that they should have almost used up all of it."
The staff member next to him laughed and said, "It would be better if they gave it to them. After all, the border troops are regular troops with discipline. They won't easily cause trouble unless they are in dire straits. But the refugees are different. If they run out of food, they will fight to the death."
Xia Jianren smiled. "That's true. The border troops have taken away the food, so there's less left for the refugees. Let's just wait and see how long the Xiao Mansion can hold out."
After he said that, he paused for a moment and said to his staff, "During this period, you should keep an eye on the porridge stall. If the food runs out, go contact those ruffians that Lord Wei has found."
The staff nodded with a smile: "Don't worry, sir, I will definitely get it done."
In the blink of an eye, it was New Year’s Eve.
Celebrating the New Year in the frontier is naturally not as lively as in the capital, but all the necessary rice flowers have been prepared, and the mansion is decorated with joy.
Daohua thought that the servants in the mansion had left their hometowns and followed them to this remote and cold place, so she gave each of them three months' extra monthly salary early in the morning.
There were only her, Xiao Yeyang and Gu Jian in the mansion. Although it was not lively, the three of them sat together, eating hot meals and chatting about what they had seen and heard in Xiliang. The atmosphere was particularly warm and happy.
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Daohua and Xiao Yeyang paid their New Year greetings to Gu Jian. Seeing the whole roasted lamb being prepared in the kitchen, they thought for a moment and called Defu to ask him to send two lambs to the porridge stall.
There are many herdsmen in Xiliang, and as long as you have money, you can easily buy beef and mutton.
At the same time, on the city wall, Xia Jianren's staff did not accompany their families, but braved the wind and snow to keep an eye on the situation of the refugees.
When I saw that there was minced meat in the refugee porridge, I felt very disappointed.
"Are all royal palaces so wealthy and powerful?"
Giving out porridge is not enough, so we also give out meat?
"How much supplies did the Xiao family bring?"
Judging from the current situation, it would be a long time before the Tongzhi Lord could drive Lord Xiao away.
Compared to the heavy burden of the staff, the refugees had red eyes as they carried thick porridge with oil and meat.
Many of them came to Ganzhou City with the mentality of trying their luck. They really could not make ends meet at home. If there was no food here, they could only find a deserted place and bury themselves in the snow and ice.
Unexpectedly, they actually survived.
Some elderly people and children caught colds, but they managed to survive after taking medicine.
Today is the first day of the Lunar New Year, and we even let them drink meat porridge!
"Master and Madam Xiao are such good people!"
Some elderly people drank porridge while wiping their tears with their hands. Many of them found it difficult to eat meat even if they spent the New Year at home.
A few ruffians who were hiding among the refugees and preparing to take the opportunity to incite trouble saw this scene and thought about what they were going to do, and a sense of guilt arose in their hearts.
"How about we just leave?"
It is true that they are scoundrels, but they have not completely lost their conscience. It is really hard for them to get over the fact that they would harm a person who helps the people.
The ruffian leader looked at the porridge stall, then at the medicine being simmered nearby, and gritted his teeth and said, "As long as the new Lord Xiao can make these people survive the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, we will leave."
"What are we going to say to the Commander-in-Chief after we leave?"
"Xiliang is so big, it would be a shame if we didn't go back to Liang."
"Hasn't the food problem been solved? Why are you still frowning?"
When Daohua returned to the room with the medicinal food, she saw Xiao Yeyang sitting in front of the table. She didn't know what he was thinking. She put down the medicinal food, walked over, naturally put her arm around his neck with one hand, and sat on his lap.
Xiao Yeyang held Daohua's hand: "I'm thinking about military supplies."
"Although the imperial court doesn't pay much attention to Xiliang, it is a border region after all, and they still allocate funds every year for military training and replacement of weapons and equipment."
"After arriving in Xiliang, I visited several garrison lines and discovered that the border troops were not only pale and emaciated, but their weapons were also tattered. I wonder where the funds from the imperial court went!"
"Even among the military households in the garrisons, there aren't many strong and powerful men."
As he said this, he snorted.
"And I also found that the border troops and garrisons in some places were very passive in their defense."
"How can they fight a war in this state?"
"It's only in the past two years that Western Liao has been in a recession. Otherwise, if the Western Liao people attacked us, we wouldn't be able to resist them."
Daohua frowned at him and said, "Don't be too anxious. The situation in Xiliang is not something that can be solved overnight. We just arrived in Xiliang, so we have to deal with things one by one."
Xiao Yeyang: "I know that, but I'm worried that the Western Liao won't give us time. The cavalry I encountered last time were all very brave and skilled in fighting."
As he said this, he looked at the rice flowers.
"I have submitted a memorial to my uncle, the Emperor, requesting that the military funds allocated to Ganzhou Guard be sent directly here, without going through the Commandery."
"The iron mine we discovered earlier is managed by Uncle Rui Wang. I used the military silver to buy a batch of military equipment."
"After the fifth day of the new year, I will go to the garrison to select a group of military households and start training. The affairs of the mansion will depend on you to take care of them."
Daohua: "Don't worry, I will take care of everything in the mansion."
Shiqukou is the mountain pass where Daohua and his group were robbed by members of the Wang family.
Wang Qi stood on the mountain, watching the grain team passing by below.
Wang Wu stood beside him and recognized at a glance that the people escorting the grain team were the guards who had beaten him and his tribesmen without any resistance before.
"Sir, that's them. They are the guards of the new Lord Xiao."
"Wow, where did they get so much food? It would be great if they could leave a few more carts for us."
As soon as he finished speaking, Wang Wu was hit hard on the head by Wang Qi.
"Don't be too greedy."
Wang Qi looked at Wang Wu seriously until Wang Wu shrank his neck. Then he raised his eyes and looked towards Liangdu: "When greed comes together, you will fall into an abyss."
Wang Qi quickly withdrew his gaze and looked at the grain team again.
The grain team moved forward very quickly and disappeared in the blink of an eye.
Wang Qi heard the news that Ganzhou City was distributing porridge. At the same time, he also saw the refugees pouring into Ganzhou City, and he was very worried about Lord Xiao.
But after seeing the grain team passing by, he felt relieved.
Lord Xiao was much more generous in providing relief to refugees than he had imagined.
On the eighth day of the first lunar month, the refugees outside the city gate were very quiet as they watched the horse-drawn carriages carrying food entering Ganzhou City. Their previously numb and empty faces began to become lively little by little.
That day, Xia Jianren happened to be on the city wall when he saw the long grain transport team. He was shocked and quickly called his staff: "Go and find out where the Xiao Mansion bought the grain?"
After the staff left, Xia Jianren couldn't help but sigh. The task assigned by Lord Wei was not easy to carry out.
In the garrison, Fan Tong couldn't help swallowing his saliva after hearing the news about the grain team: "Master Wei is right. The prince of this palace may really have mountains of gold and silver."
I was amazed and relieved at the same time.
If the Xiao Mansion really stopped providing porridge, the refugees outside the city would likely cause trouble. Once they did, he would have to take the garrison troops to suppress and eliminate the riot.
He had no problem with the Western Liao people, but he really couldn't bring himself to kill the desperate civilians outside the city.
The Commandery.
Wei Hongcai did not wait for the news of refugees causing trouble in Ganzhou City. Instead, he heard that Xiao Yeyang had brought another batch of food. He felt depressed and more fearful.
The advisor beside him glanced at Wei Hongcai's expression, thought for a moment, and suggested, "Sir, why don't we just ignore Ganzhou Wei for now?"
"Xiao Yeyang is young and energetic. He must be looking to make a difference when he first comes to Xiliang. If we interfere too much, it will only arouse his fighting spirit. It's better to let him do whatever he wants."
"Western Liao has a harsh climate, with cold winters and hot summers. The land is barren and supplies are scarce. When he can't stand it anymore, perhaps he will leave on his own."
Wei Hongcai frowned and said, "This is the only way."
Xiao Yeyang's identity is there, and he also received news that the emperor's uncle, the newly appointed Duke of Fuguo, is also coming. He can do some small tricks in private to make Xiao Yeyang give up, but he cannot confront him head-on.
(End of this chapter)
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