Chapter 171 Fight
"In the beginning, I didn't intend to do such a foolish thing. I also reported it to my father. The court did send some compensation, but how could that be enough to support my family?
I can't just sit there and watch the families of my soldiers starve to death, can I? Some of them didn't enjoy the happiness they had with me when they were alive, and I can't let them still miss their wives and children after they die.
Wife, I am useless, please don’t blame me.”
The man who was eager to ask for a reward just now, now looked like a wilted eggplant hit by frost. He lowered his head, feeling guilty, which made Jiang Wan reach out to rub his ears in amusement.
"I don't blame you. My husband is a kind and righteous man. He knows how difficult it is to be considerate of his subordinates. He tried his best to accommodate the families of the soldiers who died in the war. He really did a great job!
I'm just discussing with you that we should find a way to open up the source of information. Simply blocking the flow won't cut it. So I'm thinking about what we should do. What do you think?
Li Chengxiu raised his head quietly, and after making sure that his wife was telling the truth, he shook his head miserably.
"There's really no good solution. This poor place has more mountains and forests than farmland, so the food we can grow is limited. It's also on the border, so there's no way to attract merchants here.
The most important thing is that the imperial court doesn't allow us to open trade markets with other countries, which has effectively blocked all avenues. I really don't have any other options."
"Why doesn't Emperor Father allow the opening of the trade market?"
"It's not Father who forbids it, it's the Imperial Court. It seems the previous dynasty once opened a trade market for a while, which then sparked a war between several nations, and it was later banned and closed.
I heard this from my brother. I originally wanted to sell our timber to other countries in exchange for some money and food. But my brother wrote me a letter scolding me profusely, saying that if I dared to commit suicide, I should get out of here and return to the capital.
So you see, my dear, besides collecting protection money, I really don’t have any other good business to do.”
"No, there are."
Jiang Wan raised her lips and smiled.
"Although Dongling Prefecture isn't wealthy, I see there are a few fairly bustling areas within the city. The buildings along two streets look quite impressive. Besides, there are quite a few imperial officials within our fiefdom, some of whom come from aristocratic families and have taken up their posts. How could there be no business at all?"
"Ahem, well, my dear, listen to me and tell you something..."
Li Chengxiu looked a little embarrassed.
"These few respectable families in the city probably wouldn't want to have anything to do with our Prince Qi's Mansion."
"What did you do to him?"
Knowing this bastard's character very well, Jiang Wan immediately noticed something was wrong from his guilty look.
"No, nothing..."
"to be honest!"
"Then don't be angry and don't scold me."
"Okay, go ahead."
"Wife, I was really forced into a corner at the time, so I just said that nonsense!"
The tall man avoided her gaze, knowing that he would be unable to get around this circle sooner or later, so he simply closed his eyes and made up his mind, confessing all the immoral things he had done.
"Wasn't the winter in the past few years incredibly cold? There were even floods in the south that summer, leaving the court's finances in a state of constant strain. So, for the past two years, the Ministry of War hasn't been able to send out food, wages, winter clothing, and other supplies. I was really running out of options, so I held a few banquets in the city.
Well, I borrowed some things from a few families in the city. At least I could make do with it and let my people get through the winter in peace."
Jiang Wan was a little skeptical of his understatement. Seeing his guilty expression, she asked with a firm tone.
"Did you ask for money and food from these people?"
"Um."
"You said you borrowed it, but you haven't returned it yet?"
"Um."
"That's not right, Li Chengxiu. You have a lot of people under your command! How much would these families in the city have to give to fill this hole? How could they lend it to you just like that? Did you rob them?"
"No, I really borrowed it."
"Are you so popular?!"
Jiang Wan's voice became much louder.
"I heard my father say that some people lead their troops like ruffians. When the army is short of supplies, they will use local resources and plunder the nearby civilians. Did you do the same?"
"I don't!"
Li Chengxiu looked up and pleaded for justice.
“I really borrowed it, but I just painted a pie for them.
They said that the eldest daughters of their families all looked very wealthy and would probably be able to find a good marriage in the future...
Oh, please don't do it, my dear, I was wrong!"
As soon as he saw that something was wrong, he ran away skillfully.
"Li Chengxiu!"
Jiang Wan lifted her sleeves, her gentle and virtuous demeanor gone. She placed her left hand on the edge of the table and leaped forward, kicking the wicked fellow who had nearly reached the door. With incredible swiftness, she pounced on Li Chengxiu, pinning him down and striking him.
"Don't hit me, wife, I still need to go out and meet people!"
"Do you still have the nerve to lose face? Why do you do fraud? Are you trying to scam them, or me?
I'm telling you, Li Chengxiu, I'm not your sister-in-law. I don't have the virtuous generosity of Song Ziying. It was your royal family who wanted to marry me, and I told you long ago that you'd never share a husband with anyone else in this life.
If you dare to bring a concubine back to cuckold me, I will turn around and give you a green robe. We can either break up or we can be together!"
Every fist and every truth was remembered by Li Chengxiu.
"I'm really wronged. How could I possibly have the intention of betraying you? I just couldn't get to the point where I couldn't talk anymore. Besides, I just wanted to find a good marriage for them, nothing else. Please listen to my explanation!"
Oh, my dear, don’t be angry…”
Hongxiu, who was guarding the door, heard the noise from inside and quickly sent all the maids out to work in the yard. The girl herself stood guard outside the gate, anxiously looking towards the upper room and muttering bitterly.
"Master, master, please remember not to hit the prince in the face. Just lock yourself in the room and clean up. Don't come out!"
Before leaving the capital, the Madam repeatedly told us that the master's fierceness must not be spread out! Otherwise, what will happen to the reputation of the Princess of Qi in the future?
Hongxiu stamped her feet in anxiety.
Jiang Wan didn't know how anxious the maid was outside. She pinned her down and gave her a good beating before she stood up and straightened her slightly messy dress.
Li Chengxiu was lying down, groaning weakly.
"You agreed not to get angry, why did you hit me?"
"I only promised not to yell at you. Did I promise not to hit you? You've done such a wicked thing, and I can't even express my opinion?"
"I really feel wronged."
He got up from the ground and sat down next to Jiang Wan properly. After all, he had already been punished. His wife was a polite person and generally did not hold grudges.
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