The Humble Family's Daughter Has A Spatial Pocket!-Chapter 1033 - 871, Borrowing Grains

The vast Ganzhou City had only a few grain stores, and to ensure a continuous supply within the city, Daohua had not sent anyone to buy grain from the stores within the city but had people purchase it from other military posts instead.

Gan State Guard Commandant Office.

Just two days after returning to the city, Fan Tong learned of this matter and shook his head disapprovingly, "She really does throw her weight around with money, buying grain to aid the refugees."

On the other side, Xia Jianren scoffed beside him, "If they want to, why do you care so much?"

Fan Tong was a rugged bruiser while Xia Jianren, although he looked somewhat like a scholar, had a pair of cunning, fox-like eyes that often sparkled with shrewd, calculating light.

Fan Tong expressed his dissatisfaction, "Old Xia, don’t make cold remarks here. You clearly know that without Wei Hong’s approval, they can’t buy any grain. Yet the number of refugees outside the city keeps increasing. If things really get out of hand, can you and I just sit by and do nothing?"

Xia Jianren smiled, "Why can’t we? Isn’t Xiao Yeyang supposed to take over the Ganzhou Guard? Let him deal with it himself."

Fan Tong frowned, "I understand you want to make things difficult for Xiao Yeyang, but the common people are innocent. Besides, Wei Hong also said we shouldn’t oppose him directly."

Xia Jianren replied, "Who’s going against him? We just won’t be the ones to start anything. If Xiao Yeyang comes to the guard post, we’ll just do whatever he orders, that’s all."

Thinking of the thirty to forty thousand refugees already outside the city, Fan Tong couldn’t help but sigh, "I knew I shouldn’t have spread the news about distributing porridge outside the city when I came back."

Hearing this, Xia Jianren chuckled derisively, "You brute, would you really go against Wei Hong for the sake of Xiao Yeyang?"

Fan Tong fell silent.

He had an inkling that what they were doing was wrong, but being accustomed to following orders, he couldn’t figure out exactly why.

...

Xiao Residence.

"Miss, the price of grain in the city has risen!"

In the hall, Yan Shouhou reported the news he had discovered to Daohua.

Upon hearing this, Daohua set her teacup heavily on the table.

Yesterday, Xiao Yeyang mentioned some people did not wish them well, which she hadn’t felt deeply, but today, right after she had sent people out to buy grain, the prices had risen, and she clearly felt this intense malevolence.

They were being seen as fat sheep ripe for a fierce bite before being kicked out of Xiliang altogether.

Yan Shouhou glanced at Daohua, "Miss, if the grain prices also rise in other military posts, should we continue buying?"

Daohua replied, "Continue buying, but... limit each purchase to no more than one hundred bushels."

Yan Shouhou frowned, "If we do so, I’m afraid it won’t be enough to cover the household’s expenses."

Daohua instructed, "Do as I say, don’t worry about the rest." She hadn’t expected to buy much grain from Xiliang to begin with.

Yan Shouhou nodded and quickly left.

As soon as he departed, Bi Shi brought Dongli over.

Dongli bowed to Daohua, "Crown Princess, did you have orders for your subordinate?"

Daohua nodded slightly, "The residence is short on grain, and I would like you to take two hundred guards to Ning Lu Province."

Ning Lu Province bordered Xiliang, and with fast horses and whipping speed, the grain could arrive in half a month.

Dongli asked, "Does the Crown Princess want me to buy grain?"

Daohua corrected, "Not to buy grain, but to borrow grain."

The further north, the lower the grain production and the higher the prices. A few dozen to a hundred bushels of grain weren’t much, but the cost for thousands of bushels would be substantial.

Although Xiao Yeyang never mentioned it, through inquiries and reading, she knew that nearly fifty thousand soldiers of the border army stationed near Ganzhou Guard, along with the refugees outside the city, consumed a terrifying amount of grain each day.

If they had to buy all that grain with silver, even mountains of gold and silver wouldn’t be enough.

Dongli frowned, feeling that Daohua was being a bit unrealistic, and gently reminded her, "Crown Princess, Ning Lu is also having a hard time. I’m afraid they won’t lend us any grain."

Daohua took out a jade pendant, "The Provincial Governor of Ning Lu is a relative of Governor Wu. With this jade pendant, and since you are the Emperor’s nephew, he will definitely meet with you."

Dongli took the jade pendant and saw the ’Wu’ character on it. He then remembered that the Crown Princess had saved Governor Wu’s life back in Zhongzhou.

Daohua continued, "Of course, this is just an introduction. It’s far from enough if we want the Provincial Governor of Ning Lu to lend us grain." Saying this, she handed a letter over.

Dongli took the letter, "What is this?"

Daohua smiled, "I have inquired that the Provincial Governor of Ning Lu has been in office there for three terms already. The main reason he hasn’t been transferred back to Beijing is due to his poor performance."

"The situation in Ning Lu is better than in Xiliang, but not by much. The grain yield has always been low. With no grain, the population doesn’t increase, and without people, there are no taxes or achievements."

"Tell him that as long as he agrees to lend the grain, by next April or May, I will be able to return it to him. At the same time, I will give priority to providing high-yield seed to Ning Lu for three years."

Although high-yield seed had been promoted for some years, the vast lands of Daxia meant that each province received only a small amount each year. As a province at the end of the line, Ning Lu received even less.

After hearing all this, Dongli’s brows gradually relaxed. High-yield seed was something all provinces were scrambling for: "After I report to my lord, I will set out immediately."

Daohua nodded with a smile, "I have prepared some dry food and gifts for the Wu family ladies, don’t forget to take them later."

Dongli nodded and departed.

Daohua had already discussed the plan with Gu Jian beforehand, and once Dongli went there, Gu Jian had agreed.

Doctor Ge was also present and looked worried as Dongli left, "Will we be able to borrow the grain?"

Gu Jian nodded with a smile, "Yes, we will."

Not to mention the promise made by his disciple. Just the fact that Dongli was going — a man with connections to the Emperor and now serving the newly appointed Duke of Supporting the Nation, and also connected to the Residence of Prince Ping — Governor Wu would surely oblige, if he still harbored any aspirations of climbing higher.

It must be said, his disciple was quite skilled at choosing the right people.

...

Lanwu Guard was right next to the Gan State Guard. Xiao Yeyang returned the same night he had left.

Seeing his furrowed brows, Daohua did not ask about borrowing grain from the Commander of Lanwu Guard. Instead, she just told him about sending Dongli to Ning Lu to borrow grain, "Don’t worry, I will definitely get you the grain."

Xiao Yeyang hugged Daohua, "It’s good to have you here."

Having taken over the Gan State Guard, he had to manage both defense and civil affairs. He now deeply felt the limitations of human strength. With few people he could rely on by his side and continuous sabotage from others, he often felt overwhelmed.

Daohua hugged Xiao Yeyang back, "We are husband and wife, we should help each other stand guard."

Xiao Yeyang rubbed his forehead, "The situation in Xiliang is more complicated than I thought. I had hoped to make use of the Commander of Lanwu Guard, since he is not highly regarded, but he was unmoved." freewēbnoveℓ.com

As Daohua massaged his temples, she thought about the looming threat from Xiliao people and felt her own head begin to ache.

...

Commandant Office.

Wei Hong just read the message from the Commander of Lanwu Guard and a sneer appeared at the corner of his mouth.

His aide laughed, "Xiao Yeyang still thinks he’s in Beijing, assuming everyone will give him face as the Prince Residence’s Princely Heir."

Wei Hong sneered, "Pang Guang being so sensible this time isn’t because he’s siding with us, but rather he feels Xiao Yeyang has come to Xiliang just for show and will soon leave, not wanting to get involved."

The aide, "Regardless, as long as it benefits you, it’s a good thing."

Wei Hong chuckled, "Get some ruffians to mix into the refugees. As soon as the distribution of porridge stops, have them incite the refugees to cause trouble."

The aide, "I’ll arrange it right away."