Free Web NovelChapter 2823: Chapter 2824: The People’s Sentiment
"I-I know I was wrong, I was momentarily confused, please, don’t kill me." The steward pleaded, thinking everything was foolproof, never expecting Bai Ruozhu to appear, let alone that she would discover his dealings with Master Liu.
"What is Master Liu’s name? Who else is involved behind the scenes?" Bai Ruozhu continued to ask.
"His name is Liu Feng. I don’t know about anyone else behind the scenes." The steward answered, immediately recounting the incident of Lin Zhenghui killing Elder Liu.
Bai Ruozhu speculated that he couldn’t know too much. Moreover, after the matter was over, he would probably be silenced.
"Rest assured, I won’t kill you. You are an important witness." Bai Ruozhu called Jianqi in, "Arrange for someone to watch over him, don’t let him die."
"Yes." Jianqi immediately arranged for a dark guard to take the man away.
Jiang Yichun pointed to the guard who had been sneaking around the doorway earlier, "Take him down."
The guard, who originally held a fluke mentality, hurriedly tried to escape when Jiang Yichun identified him. Unexpectedly, Bai Ruozhu threw a dagger, piercing his calf. He screamed and fell to the ground, quickly being taken away as well.
"Master Bai, there’s now a problem with the grain and forage, what should we do?" a guard stepped forward and asked.
"There are many grain stores in the city; go immediately to repurchase." Bai Ruozhu said.
The guard showed a difficult expression, "Master, you may not know that previously, a large influx of refugees entered Liuri City, and the Prefect gathered grain in the city. Many shops have already donated a lot of stored grain. Now, I fear..."
"Try first." Bai Ruozhu was not worried about the grain issue; she still had some stored in her Space that could substitute part, but feeding the horses was a problem.
Jiang Yichun knew her concern and told the guard, "Gather soybeans and peas, the warhorses must not go hungry."
"Yes."
Once everyone had dispersed, Jiang Yichun held her hand and said, "Feeding warhorses with soybeans and peas is better, and it should be possible to gather them; the Commerce Association doesn’t lack such resources."
Bai Ruozhu sighed in relief, then said to Jianqi, "My letter of introduction, go report it to the officials, never mind, use Achun’s instead, his rank is higher."
Jiang Yichun handed the letter of introduction to Jianqi and also got someone to monitor the toxic grain and forage.
Indeed, Jiang Yichun’s consideration was thorough; soon someone was shouting about a fire being set, as some tried to burn the toxic grain to destroy evidence!
They had just interrogated Manager Zhang when someone came to start a fire, suggesting the message was quite leaked.
However, the late Elder Liu was a member of the Commerce Association, so placing a few confidants in Liuri City wasn’t difficult.
Jiang Yichun led people to fight the fire, easily controlling the water vapor in the air to extinguish it. Bai Ruozhu, inspired by what she saw, also drew some water from the Spatial Pond and poured it over the burning areas.
The others were stupefied, thinking this couple was remarkable, like performing magic.
The fire had spread quickly due to the opponent using kerosene, but thankfully, they fought the fire in time, only charring a few pillars and not touching the toxic grain.
On the other side, Jianqi went to drum and call out far away, attracting a lot of attention from the common people.
Once he explained the situation to the Prefect, many common people began to curse.
Committing such acts for personal gain risked everyone going to the battlefield, further putting Liuri City in danger; the Liu Family was too selfish and malicious!
This matter was no small affair, and coupled with Jiang Yichun’s letter, the Prefect immediately dispatched people to arrest individuals at the Liu Residence, while others were sent to the Commerce Association to collect evidence; soon the news spread throughout the city.
The issue with the Commerce Association’s grain and forage also spread; shortly after, a horse carriage arrived at the Commerce Association entrance, leaving a load of grain before departing.
Upon hearing the report, Bai Ruozhu hurried out to inspect, finding the grain to be donated and unproblematic.
A short while later, an elderly lady approached with a basket, left it, and turned to leave.
Bai Ruozhu glanced inside, finding it full of soybeans.
More people soon appeared, some delivering rice, others flour. The wealthy brought sacks using horse carriages, while the ordinary folks offered baskets or bowls, yet regardless of the amount, it symbolized heartfelt intentions.
The Commerce Association members initially worried about the grain issue, but unexpectedly it was resolved by the end of the afternoon!
"Achun, look at these lovely people; what we’re doing is right, or else these common people would suffer too." Bai Ruozhu said with a slightly choked voice.
Jiang Yichun embraced her shoulders, "Indeed, no matter how tiring or dangerous this journey, it’s worth it."
The entire city’s people focused on this matter, and the Prefect dared not act out of favoritism, instead seeking Jiang Yichun’s opinions on everything. Jiang Yichun’s stance was clear; for Liu Feng, immediate execution was necessary.
Unexpectedly, the Prefect came personally to see Jiang Yichun, dismissing his subordinates and said, "Liu Feng is the sibling of Liu Imperial Concubine from the Palace."
"Liu Imperial Concubine?" Bai Ruozhu didn’t recall such a person, as during the previous palace chaos, many concubines died or fled.
"She was made an Imperial Concubine last year, quite favored by the Emperor; I fear..." the Prefect paused in mid-sentence.
"Even a Prince who breaks the law is treated the same as a commoner; who does Liu Feng think he is?" Jiang Yichun gazed fiercely, "Proceed by the law, I’ll take responsibility for any consequences!"
The Prefect dared not say more and immediately complied.
Early the next morning, Bai Ruozhu and Jiang Yichun took a large batch of grain and left the city; they intended to escort the grain personally.
This grain wasn’t just a hunger supply for the frontline soldiers, but it also represented the intentions of Liuri City’s common people, allowing no loss.
The two didn’t bring other Commerce Association members, only using their dark guards to escort, smoothly delivering the grain to Lin Zhenghui’s hands.
"Why have you come?" Lin Zhenghui asked in surprise, "Is everything settled over there?"
"Resolved." Jiang Yichun replied.
Lin Zhenghui cheered up, "That’s great, and you’ve worked hard."
"We’ve had a tough time, thank goodness we went to the Commerce Association in Liuri City, else you would truly be harmed by your own people this time." Bai Ruozhu grumbled about Liu Feng and Manager Zhang’s consignment of toxic grain, stirring curses from Lin Zhenghui and others.
"Liu Feng should have been executed promptly, we’ll take good care of him when we return." Lin Zhenghui gritted his teeth with a grinding sound.
"Lingchi execution, to prevent further complications." Jiang Yichun responded.
Upon hearing lingchi, Lin Zhenghui felt relieved and ceased his complaints.
"How is the battle going?" Bai Ruozhu asked.
"It’s not as easy to kill as we’d imagined; how Ma Xingguo confidently planned to intercept them, I can’t figure out. Are the Turkic people willing to die willingly?" Lin Zhenghui puzzled aloud.
"Weifeng Stockade is training private soldiers, plus Ma Xingguo has talented individuals by his side, or perhaps he has internal associates within the Turkic forces, but now those people are gone." Bai Ruozhu whispered.
Lin Zhenghui nodded, "We strive to fiercely kill the enemy, hoping the mighty general spirit is in Long City, not allowing Turkic horses to cross Yin Mountain. We lack Li Guang, but with you two assisting in battle, the Turkic forces won’t dare invade lightly!"
