20demayo Chapter 108 Bandits Steal Grain
Chapter 108 Bandits Steal Grain
Shen Li took the brocade pouch, opened it, and took out a strip of cloth. She saw that it was embroidered with black thread: There is a traitor. Investigate immediately.
The signature is: Wan.
"What's going on?" Shen Li closed the cloth strip and looked at the person who came.
"Our brothers inside the pass have not received any food supplies for a month. Many messengers who went to deliver messages to the court were intercepted and killed along the way. The messengers who were supposed to deliver messages to you have also died one after another. It was only with great difficulty that I was able to see you."
The man said urgently, "The brothers are starving and have no winter clothes. The enemy army is launching a fierce attack. If this continues, we probably won't be able to hold out for much longer."
"How could this happen?" Shen Li's eyes were grave.
She hadn't heard any news of problems in the northern border before. Gu Chang'an said that the Ministry of War had been sending orders to the prefectures to transport grain and clothing on time, but the border hadn't received them.
The war has only been going on for a little over a month, and we've already been without food and clothing for a month.
That won't do.
"Is this news from a few days ago?" Shen Li asked, calming down.
"Five days ago, I sneaked in at night, and the message was a little slow to arrive."
"How long will our supplies last?"
"When I arrived, there was only enough food for three days. Now I'm afraid there's no food left." As he said this, even the tough man's eyes turned red.
"Come with me." Without saying a word, Shen Li turned around and headed towards the old Duke's study.
This is a serious matter. She is not of high enough status and has no right to make a fuss. We must invite her maternal grandfather to the palace.
However, before she even got back, she saw that her grandfather had already changed into his court robes, his expression solemn, and was being led outside by her mother.
"Mother, what's wrong?" Shen Li asked as she stepped forward.
"His Majesty suddenly summoned Father to the palace, saying there was a change in the northern border." Xiao Bailing's face was also pale, her brows furrowed with worry.
How could something like this have happened so suddenly?
Shen Li glanced at the soldier who had come to deliver the message.
"The general sent many messengers, so someone must have managed to get the message into the capital." The soldier said excitedly, "Our brothers are saved!"
“Mother, I’ll accompany Grandpa to the palace too.” Shen Li immediately stepped forward.
Xiao Bailing agreed without hesitation. Having more people around would provide more support, and having her daughter by her side would give her a sense of security and make her less anxious in case of trouble.
Knowing this wasn't the time to cause trouble, Shen Yue, at Shen Li's prompting, quietly led the soldier back to the Gu family home.
The atmosphere inside the Hall of Diligent Governance was almost frozen. Emperor Cheng looked at the messenger and then at the urgent official document sent from Yuezhou, his face turning as black as the bottom of a pot.
Below them were the Crown Prince, the Prince of Yi, the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, the Minister of War, and the Vice Minister of Revenue, who had rushed over in a hurry.
Finally, the old Duke Xiao Zhan arrived, supported by Xiao Bailing and Shen Li as he entered the hall.
Gu Chang'an was clearly surprised to see Shen Li there. The two looked at each other, their gazes filled with seriousness.
"Please take a seat." Emperor Cheng spoke his first words only after the old Duke entered.
"This humble woman takes her leave."
After helping the old Duke to sit down, Xiao Bailing tugged at Shen Li's sleeve, preparing to leave.
On such occasions, not only do noblewomen not need to be present, but even the highest-ranking officials of the Six Ministries and Nine Departments do not need to be there.
Shen Li had no intention of leaving, but before she could speak, Emperor Cheng said, "Sister Xiao, go and rest first. Leave Shen girl here to take care of the old Duke."
Emperor Cheng still thought highly of Shen Li.
"Yes." Although Xiao Bailing was surprised, she left with peace of mind. She herself might not have a good sense of propriety, but her daughter certainly did.
"My grain and clothing have been robbed by bandits within my Great Zhao territory. Can you all see for yourselves how utterly ridiculous this is?" Emperor Cheng was furious when he saw these ministers and threw the memorials down from his desk.
Minister Xia of the Ministry of War immediately knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, it was my oversight. I just received the news that the Governor of Cangzhou has failed in his duty and deserves to be executed!"
Shen Li's eyelids twitched when she heard the official title.
Why is it Cangzhou again? She had just mentioned this place to Gu Chang'an a few days ago.
"Does killing a local official solve this problem? If those bandits aren't wiped out, the grain supplies won't be delivered!" Emperor Cheng roared. "Is this the good court you've given me?"
“Your Majesty, please calm down. As Your Majesty says, the most important thing now is to suppress the bandits and transport the grain and fodder across the Cangzhou border to relieve the suffering of the soldiers on the frontier.” Prince Yi quickly stood up to speak for Minister Xia.
"Whom do you think should be sent?" Emperor Cheng sighed, feeling powerless as well.
Who would believe that bandits could rob military supplies?
"I believe that the governors-general of the three provinces should be dispatched to personally lead troops to suppress the bandits, and at the same time, grain and fodder should be gathered nearby and sent to the border," Zhou Zhen stepped forward and said.
"I second that opinion; this is the fastest way to transfer them," Shen Zizai agreed.
"I second that suggestion. But just to be on the safe side, we can also send a contingent from the capital," Gu Chang'an stepped forward and said. "Local officials are often involved, and if they have the Emperor's army to keep them in check, they will likely behave much better."
He practically said that the local officials involved in this kind of incident couldn't possibly be clean, and if the matter were still left to be handled by the local authorities, the border would be useless.
"Your Majesty, I believe that Vice Minister Gu's words are reasonable." The Crown Prince, not wanting to only see Prince Yi showing off, also said, "Father, you can send a general and the troops from the three major camps in the capital to go there. If there is any trouble at the border, they can also serve as a surprise force to support the troops."
Emperor Cheng was tempted; he was indeed reluctant to let the local authorities handle the matter.
He then looked at Minister Xia: "In your opinion, who should be sent to lead the troops?"
"Let me think about it." Minister Xia couldn't think of a suitable candidate for the time being. He had already sent reinforcements once before, and all the people he could use had been used.
Suppressing bandits sounds easy, but it's actually a very complex matter. It requires a person who is adaptable, capable of fighting, and even has a certain deterrent effect.
If the Great Zhao still had such a general, he would have been on the front lines long ago, instead of remaining in the capital.
Shen Li approved of this approach, but she was still uneasy. She thought about the people she knew and wanted to find a flexible enough candidate.
The others were in the same boat as her; they all knew that this matter was of great importance and dared not easily suggest a candidate.
Even the Crown Prince and Prince Yi, who wanted to place their own people in positions of power, fell silent.
"Your Majesty, this old minister is willing to go." A deep, weathered voice rang out, and the old Duke Xiao Zhan stood up.
Everyone looked over.
"Your Majesty, provisions are the foundation of our soldiers. If this is not resolved quickly, things may change at the front lines, bringing disaster to the entire court." The old Duke's voice was solemn and serious: "This old minister is not engaging in a battle of egos, but there is no one more suitable than myself."
"Old Duke." Emperor Cheng frowned, unable to make a decision.
"Grandpa, please think it over," Shen Li whispered, her voice full of worry.
At such an advanced age, traveling north in the dead of winter, let alone commanding battles, would probably be difficult even to complete the journey in just over half a month.
"Your Majesty." Xiao Zhan lowered his body, knelt on one knee, clasped his hands and said, "The matter is urgent, please make a decision as soon as possible. This old minister is still in good health."