Chapter 572

Since the Northern Border Army announced its southward march, refugees heading for Chang'an changed their routes; they also knew what fate awaited those who got dragged into war—by then it wouldn't be about finding a way to survive, they might straight away become cannon fodder filling human lives. Haven't you seen that even the troops long stationed outside Chang'an have run to Ascend Moon Slope and turned into bandits?

Once the Northern Border King captured Chang'an and hostilities paused, the news spread quickly; after a brief lull, new refugees appeared at the city gate again.

Shen Yu knew the king wasn't handling affairs; upon hearing the news he immediately closed the city gate, then personally went out to persuade the refugees to return home, having tried to turn back and enter the palace to speak as well.

No need to make excuses for persuasion; just tell the truth. Chang'an has just endured a great war, grain is tight inside the city, offices can't even pay salaries—here it's better to go south to find a place without drought to continue farming for a living; the court will actively help everyone re-register their household.

He wore out his lips talking, and the result was no surprise.

"Your Highness! More refugees have come outside the city!"

The king set down his handy‑man, astonished: "Is this the first time refugees have come to Chang'an?" The king felt a headache coming on.

Shen Yu almost choked, "You guys?"

Isn't Chang'an yours now?!

"Your Highness,... no. There have been refugees outside the city for years."

"Then let's follow the old rules for now! The area around Chang'an is densely populated; I can't arrange things right away. If they're willing to go to the Northern Border to reclaim land and register residence, I can help arrange that."

Shen Yu's head ached: "Your Highness, those who refused to leave before were given porridge by the court and the aristocratic clans together; this time…" He feared it would be difficult.

After this incident, grain prices in Chang'an fell from their highs and then, without prior agreement, sellers began limiting sales automatically—this shows that even the wealthy merchants and gentry don't have enough stockpiles.

The king spoke more bluntly: "The court is gone this time. Haven't you visited the treasury? The rebel king left not a single grain or coin, and the over 200,000 Forbidden Troops stationed outside the city are about to run out of food."

Learning that these refugees included some who fled the war and others whose hometowns suffered drought‑induced crop failure— a mixed crowd from various places— the king lost the mood to inspect shops.

Worry.

He took Ling Yin and turned a corner, heading for the East City Gate.

The city walls were under the king's control; he easily climbed them. Fortunately this wave of refugees wasn't large—about a thousand, as Shen Yu said. The king didn't know whether this was the first batch or if more would follow.

He placed Bai Li Zhang on the battlements and pointed: "Do you see? Those are the homeless; it's the duty of our Bai Li clan. In these times, we don't just talk about being full and well‑fed—we must keep the subjects of Great Jin alive, at least able to survive. For now the third brother bears the burden; when you grow up, you'll take half the debt. Agree?"

Sure enough, the parrot echoed the last words: "Agree?"

The king grinned: "You say 'agree'."

Bai Li Zhang clung desperately to the wall, fearful of falling, and earnestly repeated: "Agree~"

The king's worry eased a bit: "What you said—when you grow up and default on debts, don't blame me for forgetting brotherly feelings—I have witnesses! Someone, take note!"

Ling Yin: ……

The king's debt had been shifted a little, and he instantly felt the pressure lessen.

The stall selling roasted … lost interest too; this is just small‑scale fuss, merely to add a bit more meat to Chang'an's diet. Such a tiny ripple can't quench a great fire—he still needs to find another livelihood.

The king queued at the stall's door for a while and bought one for Lao Qi. This goose is just meat; he sells it cheaply, as long as he doesn't lose money on cost. On opening day, buy one get one free, drawing many queues, giving the king renewed confidence in Chang'an's purchasing power.

Having an idea, the king went instead to urge the Ministry of Commerce, which was preparing the Chang'an branch of the Floating Pagoda Tower.

He Guang had already arrived in Chang'an; he was now staring at people, wanting to remodel and harvest leeks, with other facilities needing to keep up.

Upon hearing that the king had come, he hurried out to greet him.

The king walked around, then asked to see the auction list. Looking at it, he scratched his head while doing so, and Lao Qi, who followed his lead, began scratching too. No need to learn speech—now they're learning actions.

He managed to make He Guang unable to scratch.

"Your Highness, is there a problem with the opening bid? This was set personally by the Chief Steward; only you can change it besides her."

The king shook his head: "The price is fine. What we lack most now isn't silver but grain." The grain money he had stored with Bai Yang wasn't spent yet; the speed of grain allocation couldn't keep up with consumption, and Bai Yang, to avoid suspicion, had to consume grain at a reasonable rate.

"Look at it this way: take this Rejuvenation Pill—its opening bid stays at 100,000 taels, then we add 10,000 dan of grain to the starting price. For juveniles, we bundle 30,000 dan of grain. Can a single life of a great clan really not be exchanged for 30,000 dan? Other valuable hot‑selling items likewise get a grain‑bundling clause added to some extent. On auction day payment comes first; if the grain isn't ready, the king can allow a few extra days. We'll have the Capital Prefecture send someone to sign a fair IOU; as long as it's settled within ten days, that's fine—any later incurs interest."

He Guang: ……

Ashamed.

Those mixed up in the Ministry of Commerce lost out.

"First list them, don't finalize the draft yet—I still have some good stuff on my side; we'll add them together later."

He Guang felt heartbroken; he knew the Forbidden Troops were about to run out of food, and the king was about to sell off the palace's reserves. When his family's king ascends the throne, surely he won't be left with just an empty shell?

He didn't know that Emperor Ningde's private treasury had long been empty; fortunately the king had already seized it. Otherwise it's hard to say how much might remain—likely it's already been swapped for weapons and grain by Bai Li Jin and Bai Li Jun.

As the king led Lao Qi back to the palace, the Clan Minister was waiting again; this time it was his orders, and the king met the Grand Clan Minister.

The Grand Clan Minister was over fifty but acted like he was seventy, trembling as he kowtowed.

The king thought the old man was merely putting on an act, perhaps to earn respect for his age.

"Your subject has come specially to ask about the Seventh Prince. Please advise, Your Highness—should the Seventh Prince be sent to the Luoyang Traveling Palace, or remain in Chang'an?"

"What's there to send to Luoyang? The palace is huge—there's nowhere he can't be raised. Just assign reliable people to care for him; those low‑class tricks that ruin a brother, I still look down on them!"

Lao Qi is three years old and still can't figure out the road; he's raised the former emperor's young son into a useless wreck. Next time you go to the imperial mausoleum, will you dare to wail so loudly?! The last time they sacrificed at the mausoleum, this old man bawled loudly, as if he'd suffered some great injustice.

Grand Clan Minister: ……

The king shoved Lao Qi forward: "Go with this old man; let him find you a few attendants. Say goodbye to your elder brother!"

Bai Li Zhang: "Goodbye?"

Upon hearing that, the Grand Clan Minister really needed to tighten up discipline—what kind of etiquette have they been learning?!

After the Grand Clan Minister left, the king immediately summoned the Minister of Revenue, Zhang Jing. Wei Shen, hearing he had returned, came in; as soon as he entered he heard the king boasting about himself: "I'm truly diligent in governance and love for the people—rare indeed—you agree, Xiao Jin?"

Wei Shen: "……How come? I didn't know you were sneaking off to court from the barbecue joint."

The king gave a proud, cold snort: "…Once you realize how much work I do, you'll feel sorry for me."

Wei Shen neither affirmed nor denied, finding a corner to silently observe.

Officer Zhang didn't yet know his Minister of Revenue post was about to change; being summoned now made his heart pound, wanting to feign illness but not daring. They sought the king, but the king wasn't seeing anyone. Likewise, being sought by the opposition is certainly no good. The state of the treasury renders his Minister of Revenue post a mere formality; when the king summoned him, his first reaction was guilt.

The king smiled and called out: "Minister Zhang, what do you think about the 220,000 Forbidden Troops soon running out of grain?"

As soon as he spoke, it was a death‑sentence question; the Officer Zhang, just risen and still catching his breath, dropped to his knees again: "As a Minister of Revenue, I deserve ten thousand deaths!" Smart people know that kowtowing to the king is the right move; no need to lecture him on grand principles or ancestral rules—his fist is the law.

The king still had that squinting smile, "Ah? Lord Zhang, your psychological fortitude is lacking! If someone else asked me, I'd say I ate my fill and secretly watched at home, trying not to smack my lips in front of the imperial guards."

Wei Shen: ……

Zhang Jing's face turned pale and he began to sweat. What does the Northern Border King mean by this? Is he saying that he himself is full and doesn't care about the Imperial Guard? But he hasn't received his salary last month—he's been living off his own savings! When he took over this position, it was a total mess; heaven can see he hasn't taken a single penny in corruption.

Lord Zhang lay on the ground, brainstorming. He thought for a long time, still unsure what the King meant. After a while, he hesitated and said: "The Imperial Guard must not be thrown into chaos. I am incapable, but I also hope to share the Prince's worries. I am willing to set aside enough food to last until the autumn harvest, and donate all the rest to the Imperial Guard."

The King pushed Xiao Jin aside and personally went to help Zhang Jing up.

"If court officials, the gentry and wealthy merchants all had Lord Zhang's loyalty to the sovereign and love for the country, Great Jin would be impregnable!"

Zhang Jing: "... Did I guess correctly?"