Daqin Zhentiansi

Chapter 617 Falling Eagle Gorge

The prefectural government of Donghan County.

In front of the stone steps of the back courtyard, Zhao Yu looked calmly at Zhao Defang, who was standing bowing.

Beside him, King Linglan, Ying Chongxiao, stood with his hands behind his back, his expression indifferent, dressed in a light gray martial robe.

Zhao Defang came to report to Zhao Yu that the Yunming Prefecture camp was short of food.

Several chief officials of the Yunming Prefecture government were responsible for supplying provisions to the million-strong new army in the Yunming Prefecture camp, as well as the millions of soldiers recruited later.

With caravans operating in various places and the government's reserves, there was absolutely enough food.

However, with the Three Kingdoms blocking trade routes, caravans of all sizes were delayed and unable to arrive in Yunming Prefecture on time.

The most important caravan, carrying a million shi of rice and grain, was blocked outside the border and unable to enter Qin territory.

The swordsmen of Wei gathered at Tianhai Pass, so many that not even a mosquito could fly into Qin territory.

The assassination of Marquis Qingyang caused turmoil in the eastern region, and several wealthy families with grain resources chose to close their doors, leaving the promised financial support to Yunming Prefecture unresolved.

Prefect Xu Heng went out to borrow grain and never returned.

The prefectural magistrate, Guangping, turned white-haired overnight. He wrote a letter of apology and committed suicide in the government office.

Their Yunming Prefecture was responsible for supplying provisions to the army, and they had solemnly assured the Marquis of Qingyang that there would be no problem with the provisions.

If they had opened more trade routes for grain transport, the prefectural city would have had hundreds of thousands more shi of grain stored, and this mess wouldn't have happened.

None of the three chief officials of Yunming Prefecture can escape this responsibility.

But now is not the time to hold people accountable.

If the millions of new soldiers in Yunming Prefecture were to run out of food, it would be a major event that would shake the entire country.

Upon receiving the report, Zhao Defang immediately went to see Zhao Yu.

After all, in the eyes of outsiders, Zhao Yu is Zhang Yuan's fiancée.

“Prefect Zhao, since Marquis Qingyang has entrusted the affairs of Donghan County to you, you are in charge of all matters, big and small.”

Zhao Yu's voice rang out.

Glancing at Zhao Defang, Zhao Yu said loudly, "Not only this princess, but also the officials from the capital and the people from the Zhen Tian Division will not interfere in the affairs of Donghan County."

"Understood, Your subordinate." Zhao Defang bowed, left the backyard, and then straightened up.

"My lord, what does the princess mean by this?" Behind Zhao Defang, Zhan Guilin, the clerk of the prefectural government, dressed in a blue official robe, spoke in a low voice.

"Do I truly trust you completely, sir, or—"

Zhao Defang turned to look at him.

Zhan Guilin paused, then quickly lowered his head.

Zhao Defang snorted coldly and strode towards the main hall, with Zhan Guilin following behind.

Upon entering the main hall, all the officials and clerks from the six departments, except for the military officer, including Sima Liu Peiyuan, who were not in the prefectural city but remained in the prefectural government, had gathered.

In the main hall, Hu Bin, the military advisor of Yunming Prefecture, was pale-faced and bowed deeply.

"Lord Zhao, it's not a pity if everyone in the Yunming Prefecture government dies. I beg you, for the sake of the suffering of the people of Yunming Prefecture and for the sake of the millions of soldiers, please save Yunming Prefecture..."

Hu Bin's voice trembled as his head slammed heavily against the ground.

As he said, if the prefectural government does not come to the aid of Yunming Prefecture, the camp will run out of food and the entire Yunming Prefecture government will be slaughtered. If the soldiers are routed, there will likely be scenes of people fighting for food.

Inside the main hall, several county officials standing to one side exchanged glances, their faces grave.

“Your Excellency, the county government currently has 3.8 million shi of grain in storage,” said Zhan Guilin, the Registrar of Households, bowing. “However, this is enough to feed tens of millions of people around the county seat, so it cannot be touched.”

Some people in the lobby hesitated, wanting to speak but then stepping back.

This matter is too complex to be easily discussed or interfered with.

All eyes slowly turned to Zhao Defang.

“Hu Bin, go back and tell Yu Rangcheng that the prefecture government has not given him a single grain of rice.”

"No matter what methods he uses, I will ensure the supply of grain and fodder to the Yunming Prefecture camp."

"Otherwise, Guangping Jin's body should still be warm."

Zhao Defang waved his hand, and several Xuanjia soldiers stepped forward and dragged Hu Bin away.

Hu Bin was stunned at first, and only came to his senses after being dragged out of the lobby. "Zhao Defang, you stood by and watched me die!"

Hu Bin roared and struggled fiercely.

"Zhao Defang, if you don't allocate grain, we can only watch helplessly as Yunmingfu's army collapses, resulting in the deaths and injuries of millions. You are a sinner of our Great Qin!"

"I need to see Marquis Qingyang. The army that the Marquis has trained must not be allowed to fall apart!"

Hu Bin was dragged out of the prefectural governor's mansion. Several soldiers stuffed him into a carriage before turning around.

The carriage sped along, heading straight out of the city.

Outside the prefectural government building, many people heard Hu Bin's words, turned to look at each other, and their expressions changed.

"Alas, with the Marquis of Qingyang assassinated, Donghan County is likely to descend into chaos..."

Someone whispered.

"The Marquis will be fine. Donghan County cannot withstand any more turmoil."

Some people's eyes revealed anticipation.

In the main hall of the prefectural government, Zhao Defang calmly looked out the window.

"My lord, do we really intend to see Prefect Yunming..." Chief Secretary Li Xida looked up and hesitated before speaking.

“Today, grain is being transferred to Yunming Prefecture. Tomorrow, all the nine prefectures and five towns in the county, as well as dozens of counties large and small, will come to ask for grain.” Zhao Defang narrowed his eyes and spoke in a deep voice.

"Even if the prefecture had plenty of grain, let alone no grain, it still wouldn't be able to provide it."

He waved his hand and said calmly, "It's alright. If there really is a food shortage, the Eastern Frontier Camp will requisition supplies."

"The trouble that Yunming Prefecture caused is their own problem to solve."

The people in the hall looked at each other, bowed, and dispersed.

Only when the hall was empty did Zhao Defang look down at the long table in front of him, his eyes gleaming.

"I don't believe that Marquis Qingyang would be without the means to deal with assassination attempts."

"I don't believe that Princess Yu Ruo and so many grandmasters really have no intention of interfering in the affairs of the Eastern Territory."

"Since everyone is waiting, then I will wait as well."

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After news of food shortages spread from Yunming Prefecture, other prefectures in Donghan County, including those with river works stationed there or newly recruited soldiers, also reported food shortages.

Anyone with eyes to see knows that they are afraid that Yunming Prefecture will borrow grain.

With the fate of Marquis Qingyang unknown, it remains uncertain whether the new army's reorganization and training can continue.

If the grain is borrowed and something happens to the Marquis of Qingyang, and the new army is disbanded on the spot, then the borrowed grain will be wasted.

Moreover, given the current situation, everyone is indeed short of supplies.

For a time, almost all eyes in the Eastern Territory were focused on Yunming Prefecture.

Yu Rangcheng, the prefectural magistrate of Yunming Prefecture, mobilized all the grain and fodder in the prefecture and requisitioned grain from restaurants and inns in various places. At the same time, he borrowed grain from the various noble families under his jurisdiction.

They called it a loan, but it was practically robbery.

After the three mansions were wiped out and more than a hundred people were slaughtered, the other powerful families obediently delivered grain to the government office.

As Yu Rangcheng, who personally drew his sword to kill people, said, his head was no longer his own, so why did he care about killing a few more people?
Even if the powerful families opened their granaries and sent more than 200,000 shi of grain, it would still be a drop in the ocean for an army of millions.

Yu Rangcheng went to the main camp to see Zhou Chang, the Vice Minister of War, and requested that the army suspend its training to reduce the consumption of food and supplies, but Zhou Chang refused outright.

"You, Yu Rangcheng, want to keep your head, but you want me, Zhou Chang, to lose mine?"

"If I stop the reorganization, when Marquis Qingyang holds me accountable, can you, Yu Rangcheng, help me save my head?" These were Zhou Chang's exact words.

Yu Rangcheng left the camp in shame.

A day later, he led three thousand guards from the prefectural government office and left Yunming Prefecture directly.

The place he went to was Luoying Gorge.

The grain merchants from the Eastern Wei contacted Yunmingfu, saying that the caravan should bypass Tianhai Pass and that Yunmingfu should meet them at Luoying Gorge.

(End of this chapter)