Font Size:
“Arbitrary executions.”
Everyone here has betrayed the country; if he’s capable, he should just kill them all.
The general was taken aback by their words.
“You all…”
“Since we’re all going to die anyway, I’d rather die with a full stomach than starve to death.”
“I want to live in Xuan, even if it’s just for a day as one of the people there, I’d be content.” The young boy who initially questioned spoke up.
Everyone nodded in agreement. “Exactly, even if it’s just for a day.”
Upon hearing their words, Su Yu turned to them. “Don’t worry, you won’t just be able to live as Xuan’s people for a day. As long as you’re willing, you can stay indefinitely.”
“Are you willing to join us in saving more people?” Su Yu’s words were tactfully crafted.
He wasn’t referring to these Qi family traitors but rather inviting them to help save the suffering people still in Qi.
“When His Highness the emperor let us go here, he delegated this matter entirely to me. Whether they are Qi citizens or not, as long as the cities of Qi belong to Xuan, the people within are Xuan citizens. We will share our grain with you this year, and next year we’ll provide you with high-yield seeds,” Su Yu addressed everyone present.
The young boy beside him looked at Su Yu in amazement. “Is this true?”
“Our Lord’s words are always true. Last year, he said if there’s a war, he’d prepare all our food, for this year, he has set aside plenty of food, more than we can eat, and stocked up on herbs as well,” a nearby soldier proudly added.
“The Emperor trusts prince Yu greatly; he said to leave the matter to prince Yu, so it’s in prince Yu’s hands now.”
“That’s right, prince Yu said he can provide you with high-yield seeds.”
“The princess’s high-yield crops, including rice, have already reached 1,800 catties per mu. Wheat and corn have exceeded 1,100 catties.”
Those who were initially skeptical, upon hearing the words of the Xuan soldiers, had no more doubts.
“Your Highness Prince Yu, I want to join Xuan and bring my family along.” Over 1,000 catties per mu—imagine the yield!
“Since our Emperor ascended the throne, he set the tax rate at only twenty percent. Our Emperor is truly benevolent, isn’t he?”
Su Jiu and Su Yu couldn’t help but smile as they listened to the soldiers boasting about how great their Emperor was to the people of Qi.
But this is also good as it allows the people of Qi to see how great Xuan Feiran is as an Emperor and how happy the people in his governed country live.
The soldiers from Qi, upon hearing the words of the Xuan soldiers, looked on with longing. In the future, they too would be part of Xuan, no longer needing to envy the lives they led here.
They could look forward to living such a good life themselves.
With everyone surrendering, even the stubborn ones met their end.
Su Yu instructed Su Jiu and others to lead the people into the city, while also ensuring that those preparing meals had extra food ready.
That evening, the people of Qi gazed at the thick, sweet potato congee and fist-sized steamed buns.
The Qi soldiers, seeing those large buns, were a bit bewildered. “Is this really for us to eat?”
The sweet potato congee contained more white rice than sweet potatoes, making it quite enticing.
“Of course, dig in quickly.”
With Xuan soldiers leading the way, Qi soldiers also grabbed two buns each.
Taking a bite, they found the buns were filled entirely with meat.
Looking at the large meat bun in his hand, the young boy couldn’t help but cry.
“Why are you crying, little one?”
“Why is there such a big difference even though we both have emperors?”
“What’s the use of thinking about that? You should focus on eating more to grow taller.” This child seemed too young.
The boy was furious; he was just a bit short for his age.
Su Jiu stood beside Su Yu, watching as Xuan soldiers led the Qi soldiers to eat together, a smile on his face. “Let’s start the siege tomorrow, finish early, and head back soon.”
“How is Xiao He doing?”
Avoiding the topic was fine until this point; mentioning it darkened Su Yu’s expression. “When Xiao He and Uncle dealt with the Yu family, there was a problem. The ancestor of the Yu family was rescued, half of the covert guards I placed beside Xiao He died, and Yuan Xu was severely injured.”
Initially relaxed, Su Jiu’s expression immediately changed upon hearing Su Yu’s words. “What did you say? Yuan Xu was severely injured? What’s going on?”
Su Yu handed the letter he received yesterday to Su Jiu, who became furious after reading it. “The Yu family has quite the audacity; they dare to do this.”
“Afterward, Xiao He will cooperate with Uncle to deal with the Yu family, and the Emperor has already been informed,” explained Su Yu.
Su Jiu nodded, feeling somewhat worried about Yuan Xu’s severe injury. “What about Yuan Xu? Is he alright?”
Su Yu shook his head. “With Yu Jie, who was taken in by Uncle and Nan Qiao, Yuan Xu will be fine. But Xiao He mentioned he’ll need at least six months to recover.”
“Do we know who was behind this attack?”
“Not yet,” Su Yu replied.
Su Jiu remained silent, realizing that without more information, it might be challenging to deal with the situation later on.
“I’ll send a letter back to Uncle afterward; we might learn something from him,” Su Yu said thoughtfully.
“Alright.”
The next day, Su Yu and his brother led the troops to attack the city. As they approached, the citizens had already opened the gates to welcome their arrival.
Seeing this scene, Su Yu was surprised. “Why are you doing this?”
“We are opening the gates for Prince Yu. We only hope that Prince Yu will spare the suffering people in the city; their lives have been too harsh.”
“Naturally, the soldiers of Xuan do not indiscriminately harm innocent people.”
As Su Yu led his army into the city, they witnessed many residents who had lost hope for life. The people seemed numb, as if they were mere puppets without souls.
Letting out a soft sigh, Su Yu, under the guidance of the defending general, proceeded to the place of residence.
“Go and inform the people to come here tomorrow to receive food.”
The defending general stared blankly at Su Yu. “Receive food?”
Did he hear that correctly?
“Food is such a precious commodity. Is Prince Yu truly willing to provide it to the people of Qi?”
“Now that this city belongs to Xuan, the people here are also citizens of Xuan. Xuan has no precedent of turning a blind eye to the life and death of its people,” Su Yu said coldly.
Upon hearing this, the defending general immediately knelt down. “I pay my respects to Prince Yu.”
Su Yu nodded. “Rise and attend to your duties.”
As the general of this city and familiar with its people, he was the best choice for these tasks.
“Yes, I will attend to it right away.”
The defending general, accompanied by his subordinates, took a bronze gong and continuously struck it along the main street.
After the crowd gathered around, he spoke up, “Folks, I have good news to share. The Prince who led the troops into the city today has instructed us to come to the general’s residence tomorrow to collect food.”
The previously silent crowd suddenly turned their attention. “General, did you say… the Prince of Xuan instructed us to collect food?”