Chapter 862

First Volume, Chapter 862: Reconciliation Through Ice Melt

Qin Feng simply shrugged and pointed to the sky: "If Old Heaven won't feed us, what can I do?"

Before Old Heaven, whether commoner or noble, all are the same—once snow falls, nothing else matters; everyone hides indoors to warm themselves.

This cursed weather—humans can't endure it, and neither can livestock.

Lao Wu didn't press further; even if he put a knife to Qin Feng's throat, he wouldn't get anything out of him.

He switched tactics abruptly and said gravely: "You were right earlier—I came to you because I have a difficult matter."

"The people of Changshui County have no way left to survive. Since the first snow fell until now, over a hundred have frozen to death in Changshui alone. If only the elderly, weak, and sick had perished, it might be bearable—but among these hundred dead, many were young and strong. You can see how bitter life has become."

Hearing this, Qin Feng immediately grew wary and asked tentatively: "Are you asking me to contribute money or goods, Master Wu?"

Lao Wu studied Qin Feng with interest: "How much can you contribute?"

Seeing Qin Feng hold up one finger, Lao Wu let out a light scoff: "Ten thousand liang? You're dripping with wealth, yet you're a miserly rooster who won't shed a single feather!"

Ten thousand liang? What nonsense!

Qin Feng quickly explained: "Master Wu, you misunderstand—it's not ten thousand liang, but one thousand liang."

Upon hearing Qin Feng's offer, Lao Wu stopped dead in his tracks, eyes sharp with anger: "Are you mocking me?"

"Who in this world doesn't know you're backed by the Northern Border, richer than a kingdom? You could easily produce ten million liang—why are you offering me one thousand? Are you treating me like a beggar?"

Qin Feng forced a smile: "Master Wu, you jest. Ten million liang? Even when two nations wage war, how much do they burn through? If I sold the entire Beixi County, I might scrape together ten million liang—but that would be foolish, draining the pond to catch the fish."

"Master Wu, you don't understand—I'm struggling too."

"I brought only a few ten thousand liang into your kingdom, and my thousand men need food, drink, shelter—everything costs silver. I'm already at my limit."

"Once the weather clears, I plan to enter the capital and beg His Majesty for military payroll—boldly, shamelessly."

Ask Di for military payroll to feed Liang's soldiers? How thick-skinned is this man?

Lao Wu grew tired of circling the issue and cut straight to the point: "I know your nature well. If the beggar were a Liang Kingdom Northern Border villager, you'd sell your pots and pans to help—but when it's my Di people, you haggle and refuse to give your heart."

"Enough. Forget donations of money or goods—just help me reclaim the winter grain stolen from Changshui County."

At this, Qin Feng burst out laughing.

Qin Feng thought his ears had betrayed him: "Master Wu, did I hear right? Isn't this something you could solve with a single word?"

"A hermit of the mountains, even one hidden from the world, must have some connections in the court, right?"

"In this freezing weather, bandits stealing grain is normal—just send a few local troops to crush them. Why must you come to me personally?"

Lao Wu's expression turned uneasy—he too found Changshui's situation difficult, or he wouldn't have come to Qin Feng.

Lao Wu sighed deeply: "If the grain thieves were bandits, I could wipe them out alone."

"But these men aren't bandits or outlaws—they're officials."

"The court knew this winter would be harsh, so it issued winter grain to relieve the people, and strictly ordered local officials to care for their subjects: any jurisdiction where over a hundred died of hunger or cold would see its officials stripped of rank and punished severely."

"The court meant well, but the King of Hell is easy to deal with—it's the little ghosts who are hard to appease. Local officials, to preserve their records, must hoard grain."

"Where does this grain come from? Some bold souls turned their eyes to the relief grain."

"Counties seized and blocked the Official Road, stealing grain from each other."

At this, Lao Wu's grief was palpable; compared to the aloof, otherworldly hermits, he was among the most human-hearted.

Every time he imagined the streets littered with corpses, his heart ached.

Unbeknownst to Lao Wu, Qin Feng had heard plenty about Di's grain distribution to relieve winter hardship.

He just hadn't expected the chaos below.

Qin Feng pondered: "If even Master Wu knows this, the court must know too."

Lao Wu nodded, his gaze sharpening slightly: "You're sharp in state affairs—you grasped the core issue quickly. Correct—the court knows counties are stealing grain, but they can only pretend not to see."

"Grain will always be hoarded by some and starved by others; add the layers of official extortion, and equal distribution to every county is impossible. Right now, the priority is calming the people—if we forcibly intervene and punish officials, we risk sparking rebellion."

"After all, stealing grain isn't just a local official's whim—it's backed by local support."

"Who wouldn't want an extra mouthful to survive this winter?"

He understood—it was understandable. For the people, survival itself was hard enough; who had energy to care for others?

The solution was simple: either distribute more grain, or send Beijing Officials to supervise directly and bar local officials from meddling. But the real difficulty wasn't technical—it was political.

Qin Feng sighed, helpless: "Master Wu, I'm not dodging—this is your kingdom's core interest in people's livelihood. I'm an outsider—I can't interfere."

"I understand your plight, but please forgive my detachment."

Lao Wu knew Qin Feng's unique status—he couldn't easily intervene. But if there was even a sliver of hope, Lao Wu wouldn't let it slip.

If nothing was done, how many more would starve or freeze to death in Changshui, which received not a single grain?

Lao Wu made his decision and said firmly: "If you solve this, our past grievances are erased."

Hearing this, Qin Feng smiled: "Master Wu, how do you propose to solve it? Morality? Politics? Commerce?"

Lao Wu frowned: "There are so many ways?"

Qin Feng shrugged: "Naturally. Different methods yield different results and costs. For morality alone, I could donate one thousand liang and a few hundred quilts—that would be enough."

"If it's politics, I'd gladly accept—but I fear your officials can't cross that threshold."