It would be impossible to get the cooperation of all noble officials when collecting food in the city. Yuan Xi thought for a while and asked Gao Shun and Xu Huang to lead troops to each family respectively and invite the heads of each family to the military camp for dinner.
As soon as this order came out, every family was frightened. This kind of action was most likely to settle accounts with them, and it was very likely that they would be beheaded in public!
Yuan Xi's reputation as a ferocious tiger spread throughout the world, mostly due to his repeated victories. In fact, the nobles did not care about this, but they were very afraid of another rumor.
It is said that this ferocious tiger hates the hoarding of food by wealthy families, especially during the war. He has repeatedly threatened the heads of hoarding families to jump off the city wall and commit suicide. This made the families in Wancheng who received the notice feel like they had received a reminder. He left his last words with a pale face, then cried and said goodbye to his family and left.
As the administrative seat of Lujiang, Wancheng has convenient water transportation, so there are many wealthy households in the city. There are actually two to three hundred scattered heads of wealthy families. Under the escort of Gao Shun and Xu Huang's army, they arrived at the military camp outside the city one after another.
Seeing two rows of tall and powerful soldiers lined up outside the camp, with fine armor and sharp swords, the nobles shuddered. Was it possible that they would just kill them all and bury them on the spot?
Some people were unable to stand steadily and needed to support each other to prevent them from falling. Some people cried out in pain, and some people wet their legs with drips down their pants.
Driven by the soldiers, everyone came to an open space in the center of the camp. There were already more than a dozen large pots set up on the ground. When everyone saw it, their faces turned pale and they fell to the ground. Was this meant to cook people on the spot?
It has to be said that the outrageous rumors about Yuan Xi actually had a lot of effect at this time.
As firewood was put into the earth stove under the big pot, the soldiers brought mountain spring water, mixed the corn with a little wheat grains, wild vegetables, added a little coarse salt, poured it into the pot and boiled it.
When everyone saw it, they felt a little relieved. At least this pot was not used to kill people!
At this time, there was a sound of footsteps, and everyone couldn't help but look. A young general wearing Zhajia and an extremely handsome face appeared in front of everyone, but it was rare for him to not have a beard. He bowed his hands to everyone: "Your Excellency, Yuan Xi, Yuan Xian Yi, I will lead Xuzhou Mu, be the general who conquers the east, and serve as the emperor’s order to quell rebellion and redress the rebellion!”
Everyone did not expect that the legendary fierce tiger was so young, and regardless of the mud on the ground, they quickly knelt down and yelled: "I have seen the envoy!"
They were afraid that if they moved too slowly, they would offend this legendary murderer!
Yuan Xi raised his hands and said, "Everyone, please stand up."
After hearing this, everyone looked around and stood up one after another hesitantly, but they all lowered their heads and did not dare to express their anger.
Yuan Xi took a few steps forward and said with a smile: "Don't be nervous, everyone. I invite you here today because I want to enter Wancheng and disturb you, so I treat you to a meal."
"Please take your seats."
Immediately, soldiers came over and led all the family heads to sit down around the cauldron.
Everyone looked at each other and had no choice but to sit on the spot.
After a while, the multigrain rice in the pot was cooked. The soldier distributed the wooden bowls to everyone and motioned to everyone to fill it themselves.
Everyone hesitated for a moment, then filled their bowls with rice and chewed it in their mouths. For those who were pampered and accustomed to fine food, this multigrain rice with wheat bran was too coarse, so everyone chewed hard. Only then can the meal be swallowed.
Yuan Xi also filled a bowl and said to everyone while eating: "What do you think it tastes like?"
After everyone heard this, they quickly praised him against their will.
Yuan Xi smiled and said: "It seems that you are all very powerful, and you can actually get used to it."
"To tell you the truth, I marched and fought for several years. I ate and lived with the soldiers. Most of the time I ate this kind of food."
"To be honest, I think the food tastes just average. I feel sorry for the soldiers. But I have no other choice but to make do with it."
"I'm sure what you eat on weekdays is better than these things."
No one reacted for a while, taking advantage of the situation and not daring to say anything.
But at this moment, I heard someone suddenly say: "I am willing to donate all my family wealth and food to serve as food for the envoy's army!"
Everyone was startled, cursing in their hearts that their reaction was too late!
Sure enough, Yuan Xi walked up to the man and saw that he was one of the officials who had surrendered with the seal and ribbon before, so he asked, "Who are you?"
The man quickly spoke out: "I am Li Shu from Runan, who was formerly the chief clerk of the prefect Liu."
After hearing this, Yuan Xi smiled and said, "You are quite smart."
"I don't take what you have in vain. I will leave you half of my property, and you will donate the rest. How about I let you temporarily take over the post of prefect?"
When Li Shu heard this, he was overjoyed and quickly knelt down and said, "Thank you for your great kindness, envoy. I will be so angry that I will not hesitate to do so!"
The heads of the families present were so regretful that their intestines turned green. This was the head of a county, and he missed the opportunity to make his family prosperous by just one step!
Moreover, by letting a foreign noble from Runan serve as the governor, it is clear that he wants to suppress the local nobles through his hands!
Li Shu also reacted at this time and smiled bitterly in his heart, but now he was riding a tiger and couldn't get off, so he had no choice but to fight to the end.
With Li Shu taking the lead, everyone no longer hesitated and expressed their loyalty one after another, wishing they could offer their wives and daughters.
Yuan Xi waved his hand and said, "I don't have much interest in your family property."
"But I must take the food from everyone's homes."
"I won't take your money in vain. I will use my wealth to make up for your food losses later."
After hearing this, all the family heads looked at each other in shock. Even so, there is currently a shortage of food in the city. Food is much more valuable than property. If no food is left for them, are they all waiting to starve to death?
Yuan Xi saw their doubts and said: "I believe you have also seen the plight of the city. No ordinary people starve to death every day, and there are constant bandits outside the city."
"If all the people in the city starve to death, and there is no one to defend the city, and the bandits enter the city, I believe your fate will not be bad, right?"
Everyone had to admit that Yuan Xi was right. Famine in the city was often accompanied by banditry and epidemics. At this time, it was useless no matter how rich the family property was.
Yuan Xi struck while the iron was hot: "So before the next grain harvest in Lujiang River and before Wancheng overcomes the food shortage crisis, I will collect the grain and distribute it per head so that everyone can tide over the difficulties together."
"What do you think?"
Of course everyone understood that Yuan Xi was not negotiating with them, but telling them directly. Who dared to object without a long-sighted mind? At that moment, everyone spoke in agreement.
Yuan Xi called Lu Xun over and said, "In the following period, I will ask my sworn brother Lu Boyan to handle food distribution."
"He is the grandson of the former governor Lu Jining (Lu Kang). The Lu family should have some friendship with you. Can you please rest assured?"
When everyone heard this, they were very determined and knelt down one after another and said, "If the grandson of Lord Lu Mansion acts, we should obey it!"
Speaking of which, most of the Lujiang nobles owe Lu Kang a favor.
In the name of Yuan Shu, Sun Ce attacked Lujiang County and killed many people. As the governor of Lujiang, Lu Kang led troops to resist Sun Ce for two years before Lujiang fell. During this period, he also protected many nobles.
Therefore, the fact that Yuan Xi brought Lu Xun out to distribute grain not only reassured the Lujiang nobles, but also allowed Lu Xun to accumulate personal connections.
As for Li Shu, Yuan Xi used it to do sinners' things. Li Shu also knew it well. After all, he was a subordinated general and his demands could not be higher.
Seeing that his goal was achieved, Yuan Xi smiled and said: "Today's meal is simple and the reception is not good. I hope that Lujiang will be rich in food in the future and I can really treat you to a banquet!"
Everyone hurriedly thanked everyone, and then heard Yuan Xi smile slightly and say: "I will try my best to fulfill the promises I make to others in my life, and I hate people who break promises the most."
"If someone has evil intentions or is collaborating with the enemy, don't blame me for taking any measures."
Everyone's hearts suddenly suddenly changed, and they all said in unison: "Don't dare!"
Yuan Xi smiled and said: "Okay!"
"Everyone can go!"
As if they had received an amnesty, everyone put down their rice bowls and ran away. However, a few people finished the food in their rice bowls and just about to get up and leave, Yuan Xi said: "You guys, wait a minute."
The few people were confused and listened to Yuan Xi: "It's a good habit not to waste food. You follow Lu Boyan's work."
Those people were overjoyed and thanked him quickly.
The heads of the family who had left the camp earlier said this and beat their chests again. This opportunity was missed again!
Yuan Xi sneered in his heart. Looking at the way those family heads left before finishing most of their bowls of rice, it was obvious that they had not suffered much hunger. This meant that during the famine in Anhui City, their families had never suffered from hunger.
It doesn't matter, wait a few days and let them know what it feels like to eat half full.
After Lu Xun waited for everyone to leave, he said: "There is no problem in collecting grain, but how can we exchange goods?"
Yuan Xi smiled and said: "Bo Yan forgot, there are still hundreds of boats detained in Wanshui River."
"Since they want to escape, the things on the boat naturally belong to us."
Lu Xun couldn't help but smile bitterly after hearing this. This was really like plucking a goose's hair.
Yuan Xi thought for a while and said: "Carefully check the roster of the nobles in the city, especially the origins of those who escaped."
"Perhaps there may be something we can use, especially the whereabouts of famous counselors such as Liu Ye and others."
Lu Xun heard this and immediately took the order.
Wanshui Pier.
"ah?"
"Are you going to steal our food and belongings?"
"This is our family, why?"
At this time, Xiao Qiao was having a quarrel with a captain who was boarding the ship. The man sneered and said: "You are such a good girl. You are so confident. It's a pity that you don't speak human words."
"If you run away, you are an enemy. Why, are you still dissatisfied?"
Xiao Qiao said angrily: "Are the people who are fighting with you in the city not your enemies?"
"At least we haven't killed any of your people, right?"
The team leader smiled after hearing this, "You are a sharp-tongued girl. Fortunately, you met me and don't care about you."
His face was stern, "I checked just now and there are dozens of stones of food on your ship. Do you know that people are starving to death in the city?"
"I hate you the most who don't care whether others live or die. By the way, which family are you girls from? Where is the head of the family?"
Xiao Qiao wanted to speak, but Da Qiao quickly came out, pushed her into the cabin, lowered his head and said, "Master, please don't blame me for my little sister's conflicting words."
"My father was a slave in a wealthy family and ran away with his master. We fled north to get food for the long journey. We sold off the master's property and had no other intention."
"Now that the military master has collected it, he must give it to him with both hands."
When she saw soldiers boarding the ship, she immediately asked Xiao Qiao and herself to put on old linen clothes, paint her face, mess up her hair, barely covering her appearance, and pretend to be an ordinary woman.
The corps commander nodded, "It's not easy for you, and I won't embarrass you, but you brought a lot of treasures. According to the envoy's order, these will be confiscated."
He took out the bamboo slips and was about to write down the number when he caught a glimpse of Da Qiao's fingers. His eyes suddenly turned cold. He closed his hand and grabbed Da Qiao's sleeve. He turned his hand over and looked at Da Qiao's palm.
"Your hands are so white, how can you look like you're doing rough work?"
The two servants of the Qiao family who were operating the boat next to them saw it and were about to come over. The captain was extremely alert and pulled out the sword from his waist with a swipe. He said with a smile: "Is the secret exposed?"
(End of chapter)
