Chapter 1172

First Volume_Chapter 1172: Hidden Truths Remain

The question terrified the old Village Chief, who thought Qin Feng was finally showing his fangs.

Yet the old Village Chief strangely noticed that Qin Feng's tone was remarkably relaxed, and even the surrounding soldiers looked calm.

As if the question were nothing significant at all.

With things at this point, even if walking on thin ice, the old Village Chief could only grit his teeth and answer.

"Whatever the landlord tells us to do, we do it; over these years, we haven't been badly treated—we still manage basic food and clothing."

Upon hearing the old Village Chief's answer, Qin Feng nodded in satisfaction.

Then Qin Feng pressed further: "What is your opinion of this Southern Campaign?"

If the previous question had only made the old Village Chief tense, this one left him trembling with fear.

Without the slightest hesitation, he quickly replied: "I… we common people have no opinion on war."

"As long as we can stay alive, that's enough."

This answer was indeed very plain.

Yet to understand the overall public sentiment and folk customs of Nan Jing, Qin Feng patiently pressed further.

"To be frank, I am the Commander of this Southern Campaign, and I hold sole Command Authority over all Front Line operations."

"In other words, my word alone determines Nan Jing's future."

"Only by understanding the local People's Livelihood can I decide how to wage this war."

"If the people are suffering, I will lead my army in a fierce assault to end this battle swiftly and rescue the common people from fire and water."

"If the people are prosperous and living in peace, I will attack only the Cities, minimizing civilian losses."

The old Village Chief's heart churned with doubt.

Could it be that there truly existed an official who listened to the people's voices?

No! Not just any official—the man standing before him was a Prince!

Even now, the old Village Chief still could not determine whether this seemingly kind-hearted Prince was truly compassionate as a Bodhisattva or merely kind-faced but cruel-hearted.

But since he had no way out, the old Village Chief decided to take a gamble.

He sighed softly and reluctantly replied: "I won't speak of distant places, but among the Qianli Baxiang, the people's lives are still bearable."

"We have enough to eat and wear, and occasionally work for the landlord—herding livestock or doing odd jobs—to earn a little extra money for household needs."

The old Village Chief fell silent after this.

His meaning was clear: this Southern Campaign had devastated Nan Jing.

Their once hard but peaceful lives had been destroyed by this war; now they could only flee everywhere, avoiding the flames of battle.

And by constantly fleeing, they could no longer produce anything, surviving only on leftover grain they had stored.

If this continued, the collapse of People's Livelihood was merely a matter of time.

The old Village Chief kept secretly observing Qin Feng and noticed that Qin Feng had fallen into deep thought—as if all his earlier words were not Acting in Concert, but genuine efforts to understand the people's plight.

Emboldened, the old Village Chief ventured a tentative question: "Your Highness, how much grain do you plan to requisition?"

"I dare not deceive Your Highness—the entire village has only three hundred jin of grain left."

"If you take too much, we won't survive until the weather warms up."

Qin Feng spent his days entangled in power struggles—he knew full well what the old Village Chief was up to: deliberately playing the victim, hoping Qin Feng would requisition less grain.

Qin Feng did not answer but asked instead: "How many people are in your village?"

Without hesitation, the old Village Chief blurted out: "Including the elderly, children, and women, eighty-two people."

Beside him, Liu Ming smiled and added: "Didn't you just say everyone in the village had fled?"

Realizing he had slipped up, the old Village Chief turned pale and immediately looked at Qin Feng.

He didn't know what crime it was to deceive a Prince, but it was surely… at least a death sentence.

After all, deceiving a County Magistrate meant being stripped of a layer of skin—how much worse for a Prince?

Just as he thought he was doomed, he was stunned to find that Qin Feng showed no anger whatsoever—still smiling calmly.

This Prince… was he too kind-hearted?

Under the old Village Chief's bewildered gaze, Qin Feng waved his hand and summoned Zhao Zhenhai, who was on guard nearby.

"Do we have enough grain on the Front Line?"

Zhao Zhenhai shrugged: "Definitely enough—originally, the Military Rations were prepared for twenty thousand vanguard troops."

"After several fierce battles, the Infantry have dwindled to just three thousand, so we've saved a lot on grain…"

"As for our Northern Border Cavalry, we're supported by the Logistics Battalion and have independent supply lines from Sun Bo's vanguard forces—our grain is sufficient."

Qin Feng nodded and immediately said cheerfully: "Then send five hundred jin of grain to this village."

Zhao Zhenhai was startled, but seeing Liu Ming frantically signaling him, he suppressed his confusion and turned to leave.

The old Village Chief stood dumbfounded—he had lived for decades, seen countless soldiers, and every army that passed through always stripped the people bare.

He had never seen an army that voluntarily gave grain to the Common People.

"Your Highness, what did you just say?"

"Give us five hundred jin of grain for free? This… this is what's going on?"

Seeing the old Village Chief's stunned expression, Qin Feng remained relaxed and replied casually: "Didn't you say your grain was insufficient?"

"My campaign southward targets the Southern Frontier Noble Clans, but my second goal is to secure the People's Livelihood of Nan Jing."

"Help one if you can."

Only now did the old Village Chief finally believe that this Prince was truly different!

Even while launching a campaign against Nan Jing, he was not here for Power Struggle—he was here to benefit the people.

The old Village Chief had no more hesitation—he fell to his knees with a thud, weeping bitterly.

"Your Highness, you are truly a just magistrate who stands for the people."

"No need to send grain—we still have enough to eat."

"The reason I have deceived Your Highness again and again is that I feared you were... you were the landlord's men."

"A few days ago, several young men from the neighboring village were lured in the same way—and all were beheaded."

Qin Feng, who had been relaxed just moments ago, frowned deeply as he watched the Village Chief weep bitterly.

"So, is there some hidden truth beneath this surface of plenty?"

The Village Chief wiped his tears, trembling: "We do barely have enough to eat—but who wants to go to war?"

"The landlord has repeatedly forced us to act as spies and ordered us to hide all Materials and Supplies, then slowly transport them into Gusu City."

"If we're caught, won't we be labeled Jianxie?"