The Grand Governor's Mansion of Donghai Commandery.
"Grand Governor..." Yang Hu, currently the Chief Clerk of the Governor's Mansion, said with a distressed expression to Zhou Fugui, "After a great epidemic, there will inevitably be a great disaster. If a great disaster is not handled properly, it will lead to great chaos."
"As long as the common people have enough to eat, there will be no great chaos," said Li Qing, the strategist of the Xue Pi Army.
"What the Strategist says is very true..." Yang Hu nodded upon hearing this, "But where is the grain?"
Zhou Fugui, the Marquis of Yanpingliang, General Jianzhong, Grand Governor of Donghai, and Prefect of Donghai Commandery, summoned people for a meeting. Sometimes it was held in the Prefect's yamen, and sometimes it was held directly in the Grand Governor's Mansion, which was originally the mansion of Murong Hong, the King of Donghai.
In order to save expenses, Zhou Fugui either assigned the female servants of the Governor's Mansion to the soldiers or dismissed them. Many of the servants in the mansion were also dismissed. The mansion had many rooms, and Zhou Fugui, Xiao Qing, Liuxia, and Feiyun could not live in so many rooms. Thus, the extra rooms were repurposed, either as barracks or as granaries.
The epidemic in Donghai Commandery had been basically brought under control, but at this moment, Zhou Fugui and others were once again facing the problem of food.
Zhou Fugui encouraged the people of Donghai Commandery to resume farming and develop agriculture, but this could not be accomplished overnight. It required a relatively long time, at least one farming and harvest season. The remaining grain from the former King of Donghai's mansion and the grain borrowed by Zhou Fugui had been largely consumed and could not last much longer.
Amidst the war and the great epidemic, hundreds of thousands of people in Donghai Commandery were hungry and waiting to be fed. The grain consumed daily was countless.
"Why doesn't the Grand Governor borrow more grain?" Yang Hu then asked Zhou Fugui.
"Inappropriate!" Zhou Fugui nodded with a pained expression.
The wealthy families of Donghai Commandery were not bottomless pits. They could not be extorted endlessly. If they were to borrow grain from them again, it would be tantamount to outright robbery. And if they resorted to robbery, it would inevitably cause great chaos among the wealthy families and prominent clans of Donghai. Their resistance to Zhou Fugui would be far more severe than that of the common people of Donghai. If this truly happened, then as mentioned before, even if Zhou Fugui had three heads and six arms, he would not be able to quell it all. In the end, he would either die in Donghai Commandery or leave shamefacedly.
As the saying goes, a mere penny can baffle a hero. Governing a province or a commandery was not an easy task. Zhou Fugui directly felt that fighting on the battlefield was more enjoyable and easier.
"What the Grand Governor says is true..." Li Qing agreed, "The wealthy families do not have much surplus grain left. They value this little grain as their lives. We cannot borrow grain from them again... However, Grand Governor, do not worry. This matter can be resolved with external help."
"External help? Why external help? Yongshou, Mingqin, how did they deal with such matters in the past?" Zhou Fugui asked.
"Grand Governor, it was nothing more than the imperial court bestowing grain and money, or allocating money and grain from other prefectures and counties for emergency relief," Yang Hu replied.
"Damn it, the imperial court? Can we count on that damn imperial court?" Zhou Fugui cursed.
The epidemic in Donghai Commandery had eased. The Yan imperial court's blockade of Donghai Commandery was no longer as strict. However, not a single grain of rice or a single coin from the Yan imperial court or other prefectures and counties had arrived. It seemed that the Yan imperial court intended to abandon Donghai Commandery to fend for itself.
"Grand Governor, it is better to rely on oneself than on others. The Buddha does not save those who do not save themselves..." Li Qing said helplessly, "We can try to purchase grain."
"Purchase grain? Where can we purchase it?" Yang Hu shook his head. "Even if there is some grain for sale on the market, the price is frighteningly high. Let alone ordinary people, how much grain can the money in your hands purchase?"
Yang Hu's words were indeed true. In times of war and disaster, grain was more expensive than oil, comparable to gold and silver. The price of grain in Donghai Commandery had risen from three hundred coins per dou during the epidemic to nearly a thousand coins per dou. Three hundred coins per dou was already considered high-priced grain. A thousand coins per dou was no longer affordable for ordinary people. Even the wealthy and powerful were troubled by it.
Some wealthy families and gentry who had grain were even hoarding it to drive up prices. Zhou Fugui was helpless when he learned of this. As he said before, unless Zhou Fugui resorted to strong measures, such as robbery or arrest, he would not do so unless it was absolutely necessary.
When Zhou Fugui attacked Donghai Commandery and seized the King of Donghai's mansion, he had captured a considerable amount of gold, silver, and money. However, even if Zhou Fugui took it all to buy grain, he could not buy much. Moreover, even if he had money, there was almost nowhere to buy it in Donghai Commandery at present.
"It seems that we can only purchase grain to cope with the emergency for now..." Zhou Fugui murmured, holding his forehead in pain. "Where to buy grain? Where to buy grain? Let me think, let me think..."
Li Qing and Yang Hu could not think of a good solution for the moment, so they could only accompany Zhou Fugui in his distress.
The three of them were at a loss and speechless.
"Grand Governor, what about crossing the river to purchase grain?" After a long while, Li Qing had a flash of inspiration and asked Zhou Fugui.
"Cross the river? Does Yongshou mean...?" Zhou Fugui asked.
Li Qing stroked the sparse beard on his face and nodded.
Crossing the river to purchase grain meant buying grain from Xia. But would Xia happily and smoothly allow Grand Governor Zhou to buy grain and relieve the crisis in Donghai Commandery? Yang Hu shook his head and said, "The Jiangnan region is indeed a land of fish and rice, but will their grain be given to us? Grand Governor, even if they are willing, are the roads clear? Years of war have blocked both water and land routes."
Furthermore, Donghai Commandery was separated from the Yangtze River by Guangling Commandery.
Li Qing glared at Yang Hu resentfully upon hearing this, and then sighed. He had finally come up with an idea, only to have it dismissed by Yang Hu, and in a way that left Li Qing speechless.
"Damn it, if it doesn't work, I'll cross the river and rob them!" Zhou Fugui, out of options, angrily spoke some nonsensical words.
"Alas, Grand Governor's army is strong and horses are plentiful, but what about ships? Without ships, we cannot cross the river!" Yang Hu sighed.
This time, it was Zhou Fugui's turn to glare resentfully at Yang Hu. Yang Hu's words had also rendered Zhou Fugui speechless.
Yang Hu's words were indeed true. To cross the river and raid Jiangnan, one must first have ships, and not just a few, nor small boats. They must also defeat the powerful navy of Xia. This was currently as difficult as ascending to the heavens.
Even if Zhou Fugui had a navy and could defeat the powerful navy of Xia, and then go to Jiangnan to rob grain, this would lead to conflict between Yan and Xia. Zhou Fugui would not be able to handle the consequences.
Thus, the three of them were in the council hall of the Grand Governor's Mansion of Donghai Commandery, sighing, looking distressed, and at their wit's end.
When it rains, it pours. When the boat is slow, it encounters a headwind!
"Dong... dong... dong..."
A rapid and heavy sound of footsteps echoed. Pi E, holding a stack of urgent reports, hurried into the council hall and said to Zhou Fugui with a solemn expression, "Master, there are dozens of messengers gathered outside the mansion."
"Dozens of messengers? What has happened?" Zhou Fugui sensed that something was amiss and stood up to ask Pi E.
Li Qing and Yang Hu also vaguely guessed what was happening and turned to look at Pi E.
"Sea pirates are raiding in Haixi, Dongtai, Funing, and other places," Pi E replied after handing the urgent reports to Zhou Fugui.
Haixi County was receiving rescue from Dongye Han, Xi Ben, and others, so the situation was much better. However, other places were not as fortunate as Haixi County. Zhen Ao's pirates were raiding and plundering, resulting in heavy losses.
"Pa!" Zhou Fugui took the urgent reports and, after a brief glance, slammed them on the table and said angrily, "Is it Zhen Ao's men? Damn it! After being defeated at Youzhou city, I thought they would lie low for a while, but I didn't expect... I didn't expect it... Damn Zhen Ao's men, they are too overbearing, too overbearing! If I meet them again, I will show no mercy. I will chop them into meat paste to vent my hatred!"
When Zhou Fugui led his troops to Donghai Commandery, he had a purpose. Therefore, after capturing some of Zhen Ao's men, he did not kill them all, but released most of them. However, he did not expect Zhen Ao's men to be ungrateful and take the opportunity to plunder.
This was simply not putting Zhou Fugui in their eyes!
The grain crisis in Donghai Commandery had not yet been resolved, and now Zhen Ao's pirates were raiding and plundering. How could Zhou Fugui not be resentful?
"Grand Governor, a mountain collapses before you, yet your expression does not change. A deer appears to your left, yet your eyes do not blink!" Li Qing advised Zhou Fugui. He picked up the scattered urgent reports on the table and read them, saying, "Zhen Ao's pirates plunder and flee, which is in line with their nature. Donghai Commandery has suffered heavy losses, but it is not yet at a point of no return."
"Hmm, what does Yongshou mean?" As a great general and the chief administrator of Donghai Commandery, he should indeed be as Li Qing said, not changing his expression when a mountain collapses before him, nor blinking when a deer appears to his left. The crisis had not yet been resolved, and he was already in a panic. This would not only be unhelpful but would make the situation worse. Thus, Zhou Fugui took a deep breath, steadied his mind, and sat back down at the low table, asking.
"Grand Governor..." Li Qing took out a report and said, "This is an urgent report from Haixi County. Hundreds of pirates have invaded the border. Xi Ben of the Vanguard Camp led his troops to kill over two hundred pirates, and the rest fled. Xi Ben's troops have achieved a great victory! Grand Governor, this shows that pirates are not invincible. As long as our troops maintain good defense and leave no opportunity for the pirates, there will be a turning point."
"What? Xi Ben achieved a great victory?" Zhou Fugui had only skimmed through the reports earlier and had missed the urgent report from Haixi County. Upon hearing this, he was overjoyed. He took the urgent report from Li Qing and read it again, saying with joy, "Xi Ben, I remember he was just a slave before, yet he has achieved such great merit. I will certainly reward him handsomely. Quickly summon Xi Ben and his officers and soldiers back!"
"Grand Governor..." Yang Hu looked at Zhou Fugui, then at Li Qing, and said, "Let us postpone the reward for now. The urgent matter is how to defend against further pirate raids? Grand Governor, Strategist, Donghai Commandery has hundreds of miles of coastline."
"Signal fires, linked armor," Li Qing said.
"Signal fires and linked armor are merely temporary measures, and they are passive measures," Yang Hu said. "Even if we implement signal fires and linked armor, where is the money? Where is the grain?"
"Damn it, I'm going to personally go and rob for money and grain!" Roars echoed from the Grand Governor's Mansion of Donghai Commandery!