Chapter 750: Things Left Behind

At nightfall, the fragrance of meat drifted everywhere in the military camp, even seeping into this tent. Zhuang Zhong lowered his eyes and sat motionless. He was a Dharma Form cultivator; he would be fine without eating or drinking for a month. It was just that he had been left out for a whole day—he had noted this matter down, and he would remember it for a very, very long time.

An attendant said: "I'll go out and scout for news."

After leaving the tent, the guards outside did not make things difficult for him, only warning him not to approach the central military camp, as there was an array defense there, and those who trespassed would die, and no one could save them. He could go anywhere else.

The attendant strolled to a campfire and saw a large pot set up over the fire, the water in the pot already boiling.

Then the cook brought over a large iron bucket, cut open the lid with a knife, dug out something like meat paste from inside, dug out half a bucket in one breath, put it into the pot, and cooked it with vegetables into a large pot of thick soup, which was then distributed into the soldiers' bowls. Each person got a large bowl, which they ate with the rice and noodles provided. Everyone was eating until their faces were glowing red and steam was rising.

This attendant was also knowledgeable about military affairs and was stunned on the spot. In this meal, each soldier received at least half a catty of meat!

When the commandery troops in Xiang Rong Commandery fought, according to military regulations, they should also have meat, but it was basically once every few days, and each person could only get one tael. This was not counting the layers of skimming; what actually reached the soldiers' mouths was probably only one or two tenths.

The attendant looked around and saw at least a dozen stoves, all the same, but he still found it hard to believe. If the entire army was like this, how great would the military supply consumption be? He thought about it slightly and felt a bit dizzy.

At this moment, he suddenly saw a female general passing by. Judging by her uniform, she was at least a general with a title. He hurriedly went over to stop her, saying that Governor Zhuang had been waiting for a day and wanted to ask the female general to report to Little Wei Yuan so that he could meet Governor Zhuang sooner.

The female general just nodded and went straight into the central army.

A moment later, an expressionless cultivator walked into Zhuang Zhong's tent, looked him up and down, and asked: "You are Zhuang Zhong?"

Zhuang Zhong was deep-scheming. Although this cultivator was extremely rude, Zhuang Zhong could not show any anger at the moment and just said calmly: "That is this humble official."

The cultivator said: "Lord Wei is very busy today and has no time to see you. Anyway, Governor Zhuang is only a mere fifth-rank, and usually has nothing to do, and your time is not worth much. You might as well wait another two days. When Lord Wei has time, he will naturally see you."

A layer of green aura flashed across Zhuang Zhong's face. He suppressed his anger and said: "This humble official's rank is low, so naturally I am not in Lord Wei's eyes. However, I ask this gentleman to report that there are still many relatives of this humble official detained in the camp, and I don't know how they are doing. If possible, could you let me visit them first?"

The cultivator said coldly: "You finally know your rank is low? A mere fifth-rank, and you want to see Lord Wei as soon as you arrive? Those who didn't know would think you were a first-rank!"

Zhuang Zhong did not flare up, but the attendants beside him were furious and shouted: "Governor Zhuang is a high-level Dharma Form cultivator; you had better be more respectful!"

Who knew that the cultivator's aura would rise, and a mottled giant tiger would appear above his head, instantly pressing the attendants to the ground. He then sneered: "So what? Who doesn't have a Dharma Form?"

Zhuang Zhong was shocked and furious, and at the same time, he felt a chill in his heart. This cultivator's Dharma Form was special, but one look told him it was a divine beast good at fighting. This was a Heaven-rank, not comparable to his own proud Earth-rank Dharma Form.

The Dharma Form cultivator remained expressionless and said: "There are more than four hundred people detained in the camp. I don't know who is who, but they have all gone three days without eating. Since Governor Zhuang is here, remember to call someone to send them food quickly. Fifty catties of rice and ten catties of meat per person per day, otherwise they will starve."

Zhuang Zhong said: "I need to see Lord Wei to discuss this matter."

The Dharma Form cultivator sneered and said: "Who is discussing with you? This is a notification."

Zhuang Zhong said coldly: "Then I want to see if Lord Wei can really watch these people starve to death."

After saying this, he stopped paying attention to the Dharma Form cultivator and closed his eyes to rest.

In the central army camp, Little Wei Yuan was facing the map of the five commanderies, making the next plan: "Now the checkpoints have been established, but there are still a dozen small roads. These places must also have checkpoints. Then release the news that after half a month, no matter who it is, 80% of all passing goods will be levied as military funds. Imperial relatives are no exception."

Dozens of officers stood in the tent, all having changed into new military uniforms, a uniform black background that was indeed pleasing to the eye.

Little Wei Yuan added: "Starting from today, Qingming will stop selling grain to the five commanderies, and then establish a porridge station every ten miles at the border. You mobilize the local gangs and ruffians, let them spread the news of the porridge stations at the border, saying that if you go to Qingming, you will have food to eat."

"In addition, print a batch of porridge tickets. With this ticket, you can exchange for porridge at any porridge station established by Qingming. If it goes smoothly, the porridge tickets alone can attract a large group of people."

"It is already winter, and most of the grain in the five commanderies has been levied as military grain. The border regions rely entirely on Qingming's grain to survive. We stop selling grain, and the five commanderies will inevitably have a famine. At that time, there will definitely be people who want to sell their land."

"At this time, official families and noble families will buy land, but this time we will also go to buy land. No matter how much they offer, we will offer more, until the price is raised back to the land price of a normal year. However, for our payment, half is silver, and half is porridge tickets."

A young officer suggested: "Lord, I have a proposal. If we add a portion of actual grain to the purchase price, the effect will be better. In war-torn years, you can't buy grain even with silver. As long as we provide grain, even if the price is lower than normal, farmers will be more willing to sell to us. Those who want to sell land are all people who are starving to death; as long as they see grain, they will do anything."

Little Wei Yuan recalled the officer's information. This person was born in poverty and was among the first batch of refugees to take root in Qingming, and also the first batch to achieve the Dao Foundation. Since then, he had fought bravely, was bold and careful, had made repeated military achievements, was promoted to Captain early, and had studied at the Qingming Military Academy for half a year. Now he was in the middle stage of the Dao Foundation, promoted to Assistant Regional Commander, and belonged to the young officers cultivated by Qingming itself.

Little Wei Yuan said: "This method is very good! Then change the grain portion to half porridge tickets and half actual grain. You go to Qingming to supervise the transport of five million catties of grain over here; it must be polished rice."

After the action was arranged, Little Wei Yuan finally said: "Just grabbing some gold, silver, and jewelry will not make these wealthy families submit, nor will it hurt their bones. Their greatest wealth is land, and this is the only thing we cannot take away. So they will think that as long as they grit their teeth and endure the present, we will leave sooner or later."

"Everyone must remember that our goal this time is people! We must try every means to make people leave the land and migrate to Qingming. By the time these noble families find that they have land but cannot find anyone to farm it, it will be too late."

The officers finally understood why Little Wei Yuan had been making a fuss about grain, artificially creating a turbulent famine in the five commanderies. Only famine could force farmers to leave their homes and migrate elsewhere.

"Alright, everyone remember the primary goal, and then you can improvise on the specific details. Everyone's tasks and assigned troops will be issued shortly. You go back to the camp and wait."

The officers dispersed, and a moment later, people began to lead troops out of the camp one after another, rushing into the distance in the night.

Xu Yi asked: "With such big movements, they will report to the imperial court, right?"

Little Wei Yuan smiled slightly and said: "Only the matters here in Xiang Rong Commandery will be reported; the other commanderies will have no movement. These local officials have always reported the good and hidden the bad. How can starving a few refugees be more important than the official hats on their heads? So as long as there is no large-scale civil unrest and no organized rebel army, they will not report it. We can go ahead and do it."

"What about here in Xiang Rong Commandery?"

Little Wei Yuan said: "There are also our people in the imperial court, and the Prince of Jin will naturally argue with them. These pure stream officials will at most attack me with words, put a hat of 'treacherous powerful minister' on me, and let me stink for ten thousand years. Besides this trick, they have nothing else to deal with me. Do they really dare to fight a war with me?"

Xu Yi opened his eyes wide and said: "Isn't stinking for ten thousand years a huge matter?"

"Reputation is just something left behind after death; it's no big deal. Besides, if I die halfway, then everything is over, and reputation or not doesn't matter. If I luckily succeed, can't I find someone to write history? I will rewrite everything I don't like! And by the way, I'll curse all those people I don't like!"

Xu Yi was speechless.

As the two were talking, they suddenly heard a roar from above the camp: "Little Wei Yuan! You hide and dare not see me; what kind of hero are you!"

This sound shook the surroundings, and it could be heard everywhere in the entire camp. Immediately, countless people walked out of their tents, looking at the sky, curious to see who was so bold as to provoke the Military Governor.

In the air, Zhuang Zhong took a deep breath and was about to say it again when he saw Little Wei Yuan flick his finger from afar. Suddenly, countless thunders were generated in the air, descending like a torrential waterfall!

The thunder light swept over Zhuang Zhong's figure. He screamed, and the thunder fire around his body had already turned him into a piece of charcoal, and he fell directly to the ground.

The soldiers sighed, all disappointed. They had thought they would see a brilliant duel between strong men, but they didn't expect another fool to come, who couldn't even block the Military Governor's best thunder strike. It was really not worth watching.

A pair of boots appeared in front of Zhuang Zhong. He struggled to prop up his body, looked up, and finally saw Little Wei Yuan.

Little Wei Yuan grinned and said: "Although you and I are both Dharma Forms, for me to destroy you is like stepping on an ant passing by, or like the autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves by the roadside. After destroying you, I won't even know you existed."

Zhuang Zhong spat out black smoke from his mouth and nose, his eyes rolled back, and he was so angry that he fainted.

Xu Yi followed Little Wei Yuan and was somewhat puzzled, saying: "We want people; isn't it enough to just create a famine? Why waste time on these people?"

Little Wei Yuan said: "Getting people is just the first step; dealing with these people is for the second step."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 751 =====