pdf-ebookys Chapter 156 Borrowing Food
Chapter 156 Borrowing Food
Under the cover of night, teams of people set out quietly. They scattered in the surrounding towns and villages, looking for opportunities to collect food and fodder. Lieutenant General Li personally led a team of people to a wealthy family near Songshan County.
The owner of this family is surnamed Zhao, and he is a famous wealthy businessman in Songshan County. The Zhao family compound is brightly lit and heavily guarded. Since the drought, the Zhao family, as the largest grain merchant in the area, has been the focus of many people. There are also some refugees who are ready to rush in to grab food. However, they were all repelled by the Zhao family's servants. These servants can guarantee food for their families in the Zhao family, so they work very hard. Everyone knows that many families outside are starving to death. Who would not work hard to ensure that their families have food?
Lieutenant General Li and his men approached quietly but were discovered by Zhao's servants.
"Who are you? How dare you break into the Zhao family compound at night!" The servants shouted loudly, holding sticks and surrounding Zhou Kai and others.
Lieutenant General Li signaled his men not to act rashly. He took a step forward and said in a deep voice, "I am Li Wei, a general under General Zhou Kai of the Imperial Army. I came here tonight only to borrow grain. The Zhao family is the largest grain merchant in Songshan County, and they must have stored grain. As long as the Zhao family is willing to lend them grain, our army promises that we will not make it difficult for them in the slightest."
The servants looked at each other in bewilderment when they heard this. They all knew Zhou Kai's name, and they also knew the predicament of the government army at the moment. But they had no say in lending food to the government army.
At this time, the owner of the Zhao family, Mr. Zhao, rushed over after hearing the news. He was an old man in his sixties with a kind face. He glanced at Li Wei and said in a deep voice: "General Li, do you know that once this grain is lent out, my Zhao family will have a feud with the rebels. Have you ever thought about the risks involved?"
Lieutenant General Li nodded and said in a deep voice: "Mr. Zhao is right. But the current situation does not allow us to hesitate. The rebels are powerful. If we cannot collect food and grass as soon as possible, I am afraid that Songshan County will not be able to be saved. As a wealthy family in Songshan County, the Zhao family should do their part to protect their homeland. Of course, I, Li Wei, promise that as long as the Zhao family is willing to lend food, our army will do its best to protect the Zhao family's safety."
Mr. Zhao hesitated for a moment, and finally nodded: "Okay! My Zhao family is willing to lend the food! But I hope General Li can keep his promise!"
Lieutenant General Li was overjoyed when he heard this, and immediately bowed and said, "Thank you, Master Zhao! We will definitely live up to your trust!"
"I wonder how much grain this general wants to borrow! I'm willing to take fifty dan of grain! This is the limited grain I have!"
Mr. Zhao asked straight to the point. Although he was also the largest grain merchant in Songshan County, this time, it was obvious that the grain was a waste of money. He naturally didn't want to take out more. And the more serious the situation, the higher the value of the grain.
"Thank you, Mr. Zhao, for your generosity! To be honest! Those rebels attacked our grain team yesterday, so we are very short of food now! How about this, we will only borrow one thousand stones of grain!" Upon hearing this, Lieutenant General Li did not hesitate to give a number.
Master Zhao couldn't help but frowned when he heard this. He was silent for a while before saying, "General Li, one thousand dan of grain is not a small amount! Do you know what kind of sensation it will cause once the grain is transported to the capital? You should know that my family doesn't have that much grain in stock! At most, I will add another fifty dan, a total of one hundred dan of grain, which is considered our Zhao family's support for you to suppress the rebellion!"
"Our army has no way to retreat! These grains are very important to our army. We have to get rid of the enemy as soon as possible. If you are reluctant to give out the grains now! If we retreat, those rebels will not let you go! Do you think you can defend Jianing with just this little food?" said Lieutenant General Li.
"But I don't have much food!" said Mr. Zhao with a frown.
"My army is out of food now, and we can't fight on an empty stomach! If Master Zhao is unwilling to lend us some, then we can only get it ourselves!" After saying this, Lieutenant General Li pulled out the knife hanging on his waist.
Mr. Zhao was not frightened when he saw him draw his sword.
"General Li! Have you ever inquired about our Zhao family's background? Our Zhao family is not just a grain merchant in Songshan County! You should know that some of our Zhao family's children are studying and serving as officials in Kyoto! If you dare to use force against our Zhao family, are you not afraid that our Zhao family will report you to the emperor? Our Zhao family will not let you control us!" Master Zhao sneered.
Upon hearing this, Lieutenant General Li snorted coldly: "You don't have to scare me! Your family does have some children studying and serving as officials in Kyoto, but unfortunately they are all low-ranking officials and mean nothing in my eyes. If the Zhao family is unwilling to give up the food, then my army will not be polite!" After saying that, Lieutenant General Li waved the sword in his hand and attacked the Zhao family servants in front of him.
"Kill me!"
The Zhao family servants all had very sophisticated weapons in their hands, but facing these ferocious soldiers, your brother did not dare to take action.
"Humph! You Zhao family are really stubborn! If that's the case, don't blame me for being ruthless!" Lieutenant General Li roared. After saying that, he drew the sword from his waist and rushed towards the Zhao family servants.
"What are you afraid of! Beat them first, I will report them to the higher authorities! I guarantee that no one can punish you!" Mr. Zhao saw this situation and shouted angrily. You know, he spent food to support these servants in the hope that they could keep their family business.
Under the cover of night, the battle in the Zhao family compound was about to break out. The soldiers of the government army led by Lieutenant General Li engaged in a fierce battle with the servants of the Zhao family. Swords clashed, sparks flew, shouts and screams intertwined, breaking the tranquility of the night.
Master Zhao stood aside, his face livid, and kept urging the servants to fight hard. However, in front of the well-trained government troops, the Zhao family's servants gradually became powerless and began to waver.
"Stop! Stop!" Seeing the situation was not good, Mr. Zhao shouted loudly, "General Li, please calm down! We are willing to lend the food, just ask you to let my Zhao family go!"
Upon hearing this, Lieutenant General Li paused the sword in his hand and stared at Master Zhao with a sharp gaze: "Master Zhao, if you had known this would happen, why did you do it in the first place? Now that you say you are willing to lend me grain, can I still believe you?"
Mr. Zhao hurriedly explained, "General Li, my Zhao family does have some stored food, but we did have some concerns before. Now I understand that only if we unite together can we resist the threat of the rebels. I am willing to lend all the stored food in my home, and I only ask you to protect the safety of my Zhao family."
Old Master Zhao looked at the Zhao family members and servants lying on the ground! He finally understood that those Zhao family members who went to Kyoto and other places to study and become officials could no longer protect them. In the future, it would probably be those who really held military power who would have the final say.