The Duke of Shu Han began guarding Jingzhou in place of Guan Yu.

Chapter 99 Yuzhou Grain

Mi Wei looked at Zhang Jian with a calm expression.

The latter, catching his breath, clasped his hands and said:
"So that the Commandant may know, I have already promised the local gentry and leaders that 'Prefect Liu' will treat our hometown well!"

"If I break my promise, I will not only lose my own reputation, but I am also afraid that it will also tarnish the reputation of the King of Hanzhong and General Guan!"

"If blood is spilled, how would we be any different from Cao Cao?"

Upon hearing this, Xiang Chong was immediately embarrassed.

But Mi Wei, looking at Zhang Jian who was blushing, had more on his mind.

The other party was backed by the local powerful Mei clan, as well as the people of the five counties along the Han River who had defected to the south after rebelling against Wei.

If today, due to an urgent military situation, we were to raise the butcher's knife against these 70,000 or 80,000 people.

If there is another emergency in the future, will they also take action against the people of the five counties?

The saying "when the rabbit dies, the fox grieves" illustrates this point.

However, Xiang Chong's reasoning from a military perspective is not entirely unreasonable.

With so many people, the available troops simply cannot control them.

Xu Huang or any of the Cao generals will arrive at that time.

There was no need to directly attack the city; they could simply drive tens of thousands of people outside the city to overrun the county town.

Miwei will likely mess things up first.

Cao Ren was probably worried about this situation, which is why he was in such a hurry to get away.

After a moment's thought, Xiang Chong said:
"Then let's not defend the city, just burn the supplies and then withdraw the troops."

"Deng County is not far from Fancheng. If this place is burned, the people there will surely know, which will greatly demoralize them and force Xu Huang to retreat!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jian hurriedly stopped him again:

"The grain must not be burned!"

"This year, Xiangfan is suffering from food shortages, and banditry is rampant in various places."

"If these 70,000 to 80,000 people lose their food and are unable to return home, I fear that next year Xiangfan will see another 70,000 to 80,000 bandits, wreaking havoc on the counties!"

Mi Wei wholeheartedly agreed with this.

Why did Cao Ren spend the entire summer suppressing bandits?

It wasn't because the fundamental problem of "lack of food" couldn't be solved that the more bandits were suppressed, the more bandits there were, until things completely collapsed, and they had no choice but to leave.
At this point, Xiang Chong, facing repeated opposition from Zhang Jian, also lost his temper:

"This won't work, that won't work, are we just going to watch Xu Huang burn down Fancheng, then get supplies here, and calmly return north?"

Zhang Jian's face flushed red, and he was speechless for a moment.

He didn't really know what to do either.

They all looked up at the deer-like figure at the head of the table.

Mi Wei looked up at the sky outside the door and said:

"It's lunchtime now, let's go check out the mansions in the city."

……

The mansion was the government's granary.

Cao Ren captured the two cities of Xiangyang and Fancheng and retreated north, having already gathered all the available grain and fodder.

They are now all concentrated in Deng County.

Outside the mansion, conscripts from all over the country had gathered, layer upon layer.

Although they appear scattered, they are actually all under a unified command according to their place of origin.

Mi Wei stood in front of the mansion gate, and the local elders and gentry from all sides took the initiative to come forward to pay their respects.

One of them asked nervously:

"General (politely), I have heard that the mansion is to be burned down. Is that true?"

These words drew countless eyes.

At the same time, they looked at Miwei.

There were people of all ages, men and women among them.

Barefoot, shirtless, fierce, sorrowful... their appearances and expressions varied.

Although Miwei did not have the ability to read minds.

However, it is not difficult to glean two words from them.

hunger.

For an instant.

I felt my hands and feet were ice cold and I could hardly move.

It was even more terrifying than facing Xu Huang's thousands of iron cavalry on the walls of Xiangyang that day.

Mi Wei suddenly felt a bit of admiration for Cao Ren.

Being watched by tens of thousands of hungry eyes, he felt that even a second was too long.

But Cao Ren was facing far more than just tens of thousands; it was probably ten or even a hundred times more.

And he actually held on for several years before finally breaking down?

This guy has incredible inner strength!
Truly, his will is as pure as gold, and his heart as firm as stone!

Of course, Mi Wei had no intention of emulating Cao Chariot Cavalry's astonishing willpower.

He already had a plan in mind.

Or rather, it was long before he witnessed the grand spectacle of Guan Yu entering Xiangyang City that day.

He knew how to handle this situation. He secretly took a deep breath and then spoke loudly:

"My two or three friends, do not worry."

"I have not come today to burn grain, but to give grain!"

Grain donation?

Upon hearing this, the crowd was not pleased but alarmed, and they began to stir and whisper among themselves.

Miwei had no choice but to raise his voice:

"My men, there's no need to worry. Giving grain is just giving grain!"

"Regardless of whether the two or three sons have returned to the right path, every household and every person, regardless of age, will receive three days' worth of rations!"

"I only have two requests."

Miwei took a slight breath.

Upon hearing this, everyone below quickly held their breath in anticipation.

"Firstly, apart from those who are locals of Deng County, once you receive your rations, please return to your hometown immediately. You may go south or north at will!"

"Secondly, when receiving rations, take care of the elderly and children, and do not fight or grab!"

"And that's all!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire hall fell silent for a few breaths before erupting in a commotion.

Xiang Chong, Zhang Jian, and their subordinates who came with them were also dumbfounded.

Zhang Jian couldn't help but ask:

"The provisions in the mansion are enough to feed 20,000 regular soldiers for a month, or several thousand knights."

"Is the Commandant really willing to do this?"

The village elders, who were preparing to organize the villagers to receive their grain, all turned to Miwei again upon hearing this.

There were doubts, fears, and speculations.

Many people who were about to join the queue slowed down.

"Good question!" Miwei called out again.

"These grains aren't given away for free, so how can we not want to part with them?"

Upon hearing this, the elders exchanged glances, and then a look of understanding dawned on them.

One of them stepped forward on behalf of the group and said:

"We must repay the general's kindness in saving our lives. If there is any need for our service, we will gladly die for it!"

Mi Wei replied, "Your men have already reported this; there's no need for further orders!"

what?
The elders looked at each other in bewilderment once again.

All that could be heard was Mi Wei saying:
"In the thirteenth year of Jian'an, my lord, the King of Hanzhong, also known as 'Liu Yuzhou' by you two or three, came south from Xiangfan to Jiangling, and you two or three accompanied him with the old and the young."

"However, Cao Cao was fierce and greedy at that time, and he chased us all the way to Changban in Dangyang, where he plundered all the family property of the two or three men."

"This ordeal will last for twelve years!"

"A full twelve years!"

Upon hearing Mi Wei bring up this old story again, everyone was taken aback and fell silent once more.

It could also be a recollection of the past twelve years, of every day and night that "Liu Yuzhou" never reached.

"Thankfully, Heaven has eyes! Today we have finally defeated the traitor Cao and reclaimed the property that rightfully belongs to us!"

Therefore.

Miwei stepped aside and pointed to the pavilion at the entrance of the gate.

"What I am giving you today is a return to its rightful owner!"

"If I must say it's a gift, it's simply to repay the 100,000 righteous men who risked their lives to follow me in the past!"

"This is 'Yuzhou grain' to reward the righteous men; you two or three, take it without worry!"

Upon hearing the novel name "Yuzhou Grain," Xiang Chong and his subordinates cheered.

Even the elders from various places who had already understood Mi Wei's implication began to praise him.

As for the millions of people further away, after confirming that they could indeed receive food for free...

They completely disregarded any explicit or implicit suggestions.

They shouted "Yuzhou grain" as they rushed forward to beg for food.

Fortunately, the elders of the various departments and villages exercised some restraint, and basic order was maintained.

In less than two hours, the mansion was completely destroyed, leaving not a single grain of rice.

Those conscripts who rushed from outside the city but missed out on their rations because they were a step too late beat their feet and wept bitterly.

Miwei also has arrangements for this.

He then ordered people to make a batch of bamboo slips with the three characters "Yuzhou Grain" engraved on them.

Then it was distributed to those who couldn't get their rations.

It is said that with this bamboo slip, one can go south to Xiangfan and join the army under General Guan to make a living.

The group felt somewhat relieved and dispersed.

Soon, the difficult problem that had initially frightened Cao Ren's army away, and had caused Xiang Chong and Zhang Jian to argue heatedly, was resolved.

And so it all vanished into thin air.

(End of this chapter)