Yuan Yunzhong asked another question, "For fifty thousand refugees, even if each person only drinks a bowl of clear water porridge daily, wouldn’t that require eight pecks of rice a day?"
Not a single person in the council hall spoke.
It was precisely because everyone had calculated that if these refugees lacked food, the so-called fifty thousand people were merely silver-like pewter spearheads—unable to hold out for more than a few days before falling into chaos. It would be effortless to capture all these refugees, which is why the Ministry of War advocated for a firm suppression.
Though young, Yuan Yunzhong hailed from a family with a profound scholarly background. Having followed Master Jinghu from a young age, he was well-versed in these affairs of officials.
Burning with anger, he scoffed coldly, "Could it be that in your eyes these fifty thousand lives are not considered lives?"
Many people bowed their heads.
Only Lord Bai, with a disdainful sneer, said, "Of course, we cannot compare to Lord Yuan’s compassion for the heavens and the people, his impartiality like iron, capable of abandoning one’s own kin and countrymen."
He continued, speaking to the strategist, "Go, bring the roster of colonels who were injured or killed by those refugees in the past few days for Lord Yuan to see. Since Lord Yuan has been ordered by His Majesty to inspect our administration, please begin by issuing the consolation silver for these colonels. Don’t assume we’ve been idly watching the spectacle just because it’s the refugees who have died."
He also mocked, "No wonder some officials always believe the gentry to be wealthy and lacking in kindness, bullying their fellow villagers, whenever they see the poor and the gentry in lawsuits."
The strategist found himself in a dilemma, unsure of what to do.
Luckily, Yuan Yunzhong wasn’t making it difficult for him but instead looked around the council hall with an icy expression, "Kindred kin, are you all thinking the same as Lord Bai then?"
Most people in the council hall believed that Lord Bai was right.
The death of fifty thousand refugees might solidify their great achievements, perhaps even the only one in their lifetime.
But they dared not admit it.
Once they did, they would be tied to the same rope as Lord Bai. And it was clear that Yuan Yunzhong disagreed with Lord Bai, with the Emperor behind Yuan Yunzhong... If Yuan Yunzhong prevailed, wouldn’t they be unlucky along with Lord Bai?
Someone immediately muttered softly, "Lord Yuan, this official did not mean that. How could we not care about fifty thousand lives? It’s just that the refugees have been disobedient, and many of our colonels have been injured; everyone is a bit anxious."
He also advised, "Lord Bai is as caring for his soldiers as he is for his children, afraid of disheartening those colonels."
Once someone stood out, naturally others echoed, "Yes! Yes! We absolutely do not treat human lives as grass."
Lord Bai was so incensed that he leaned back.
Upon hearing this, Yuan Yunzhong seemed to cool down somewhat, his tone softened as he said, "Since these refugees neither pay taxes nor serve, and they disrupt the localities, instead of letting them run wild, we might as well think of ways to discipline and subdue them. Since maintaining a siege for a period will lead to chaos due to lack of grains, why must we insist on slaughter and suppression? Isn’t it better to turn refugees into good citizens who pay taxes and serve?"
Everyone looked at each other.
The reasoning was understood by all. But doing so not only meant their military achievements would vanish into thin air but also raised the big problem of how to deal with so many refugees.
Not a single person dared to respond.
Seizing the opportunity, Yuan Yunzhong began giving orders: "Lord Xiang, when you were at the Temporary Imperial Scholar Residence, you once observed politics in the Ministry of War and later became the Middle Assistant Minister of War, familiar with the military system and the dispatch of troops. I must ask that you take charge of this matter."
"Commander Chen, you have previously served as the Ten-Thousand Households in the Wanping Guard, so you should be most clear about the military affairs of Wanping County. Now, mark out the fortress of Wanping County on the map together with your Government Subprefect."
"Commander Wang, take your scouts and find a way to gather information about the leaders of these three routes. Who are they, and why have they split into three factions?"
He methodically laid out each directive, pinpointing the crucial elements, gradually shifting everyone’s attitude from perfunctory compliance to careful obedience, with no one daring to defy his commands.
Lord Bai laughed out of frustration and said, "Lord Yuan truly excels in both literary and military skills, capable of fighting barbarians on horseback and drafting military documents on foot. Though, when did Lord Yuan also learn to deploy troops and form battle arrays? Let’s just hope it’s not another drawn-out battle like the one at Changping."
His words were a sarcastic remark that Yuan Yunzhong was engaging in armchair strategizing.
The atmosphere in the council hall grew tense.
Indeed, Yuan Yunzhong had never previously dealt with military matters.
Among the crowd, a hint of hesitation couldn’t help but show on their faces.
Hearing this, Yuan Yunzhong glanced at him sideways and said indifferently, "How many refugees are at Bixia Temple?"
Lord Bai was taken aback.
The people in the council hall showed looks of confusion.
Yuan Yunzhong continued coldly, "Atop Shijingshan, there is Bixia Temple, with more than three hundred monks and over five hundred acres of good farmland. Each autumn, the temple stores over four thousand pecks of grain. If Lord Bai has free time, he might calculate what would happen to Wanping County if the leaders among the refugees gathered at Shijingshan found out about the grain stored in Bixia Temple. Or perhaps I should put it more explicitly. If the aim of the refugees at the foot of Shijingshan is to target the temple’s grain stores, what does Lord Bai plan to do?"
Lord Bai was stunned.
Yuan Yunzhong suddenly smiled and said, "Does Lord Bai intend to starve the refugees for a few more days, and then join with the Ministry of War, the colleagues present here, and the Shang Twelfth Armies to eliminate the bandits?"
The Shang Twelfth Armies are the Emperor’s personal guards. They may sound imposing, but their primary duty is the defense of the Capital City. In terms of actual combat, they fall far short of the colonels of the Nine Borders Garrisons, and even those from nearby Guard Stations. Naturally, they also lack opportunities for military achievements, which is precisely why the Ministry of War has the confidence to advocate for the extermination of the refugees.
As for the colonels of the Shang Twelfth Armies, many come from noble families, with some even inheriting their military positions. While they desire military honors, they are not prepared to exchange their lives for them.
A few commanders, upon hearing this, began to exchange meaningful glances without making a sound.
Some even quietly gestured, signaling their confidants to quickly gather information.
Soon, someone tiptoed into the council hall. Seeing that most people’s attention was focused on the verbal sparring between Yuan Yunzhong and Lord Bai, they cautiously approached their superior and whispered, "It’s been confirmed, there is indeed a Bixia Temple on Shijingshan. The monks there practice asceticism and do not ask for incense money, only grains, oil, and flour. As a result, they have a large stockpile of these provisions every year. When the rice gets old the following year, it’s donated to the surrounding believers. Not just Wanping County, but even people from the Capital City know of it. Every time Bixia Temple gives out provisions, people rush there for rice and flour. You don’t have to specifically inquire about this; just ask any person from Wanping County, and they’ll confirm it."
"Damn it!" The commander cursed through clenched teeth and said to his colleague, "I think it’s Lord Bai who has become an idiot from reading too much. He hasn’t even bothered to investigate such an obvious issue. If we really followed his lead, with the recklessness of war, we might end up with no way out, unable to retreat even if we wanted to."
His colleague looked at Lord Bai with disdain, "After all, he is a civil official. Even if we were all to die, not a bit of the credit due to him would be diminished. Perhaps he’s not the one who’s become a fool from reading. It’s us who are blinded by greed and believed that he was telling the truth."
Angered, the commander stomped his foot and said, "Go beg! Rather than following him, it’s better to follow Yuan Yunzhong. After all, Yuan Yunzhong has the Emperor’s confidence and the support of the Imperial Cabinet. Why should we be pawns for Lord Bai?"
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