The Demon Lords

Chapter 1086: Chapter 261: Night Road

Situ Lei was a legend; even considering his series of defeats at the Snow Sea Pass in his later years leading to the wild people breaching the pass, it still cannot completely negate the splendor of his life.

And the emergence of legends always requires stepping stones and foils.

The place where Situ Lei rose to prominence was precisely at Town South Pass.

This originally unappreciated son, relying on consecutive victories over the Chu people at Town South Pass, accumulated substantial military achievements and prestige, allowing him to return to Ying Capital City to contend with his two brothers in the royal court’s struggles to determine the outcome.

Correspondingly, Town South Pass is exactly Shanggu County of the Chu people. Here, it was once the battlefield where the Chu and Situ Family clashed several times. Due to frequent wars, the population and various industries in Shanggu County were underdeveloped, and in many places, it could even be said to be extremely barren.

Not only did the Jin people invade to plunder them, but also when the Chu army set out, they would frequently conscript local civilians to serve the army. Under this dual exploitation by the enemy and us, Shanggu County thriving would be truly surprising.

Originally, when the Chu took Town South Pass and at the same time the Blue Luan Army marched into Jin, the people of Shanggu County were overwhelmed with joy, thinking they would finally be relieved from the suffering of incessant wars and could transform into enjoying the treatment of interior civilians.

Unexpectedly, the news of defeat at the frontline came, the previously discouraged Yan people suddenly defeated the wild people, then captured Jade Plate City, and finally, the Yan troops pointed sharply at Town South Pass.

The impending battle between Yan and Chu has completely dampened the confidence and enthusiasm for future life among the residents of Shanggu County.

The most obvious point is,

In the inn situated by the post road, the innkeeper dully tapping the abacus, and the waiter leaning there dozing off.

Though there are guests in the inn, the guests likewise share this sentiment.

The royal court ordered to requisition grain to support the frontline army.

To simplify and cut costs, they adopted a method to exchange Salt Certificates for grain, meaning to encourage merchants of the Chu State to purchase grain from various places and arrange transport over. Upon reaching the border, after delivering the grain, the court would offer Salt Certificates, essentially giving a certain quota to sell salt.

This naturally attracted many merchants to organize convoys to transport grain, but when they arduously brought grain, the court suddenly changed its mind. The promised Salt Certificate fell by nearly forty percent, with the remaining sixty percent needing extra items to make up for.

My goodness, with this, after subtracting costs, these merchants ended up incurring a net loss!

The root cause is although the Chu State ostensibly monopolized salt and iron, in reality, large nobles within their fiefs possess rights for self-development of salt and irons, and some could even mint money privately.

The Chu State court recently recovered from the turmoil of seizing the throne, after internal exhaustion, the state treasury was already empty. Ministry of Revenue Minister Mi initially intended to relieve the court’s burden to support the front line with this method, but the Salt Certificates allocated by the Ministry of Revenue, officially from the court’s salt fields, were indeed largely within the fiefs of large nobles.

The nobles refused, immediately began to advocate, and under pressure, the Ministry of Revenue had to amend the strategy.

The large nobles believed offering half was already immensely conscientious and loyal to the king, a favor to the court and the regent;

After mediation by the Ministry of Revenue, at least half of the Salt Certificate quota was preserved, continuing matters and maintaining the court’s dignity;

As for whether these merchants responsible for the grain transport gained or lost, that was beyond what the lords cared about.

Losses were definite, but there was truly no place to reason, with court’s decree changing at will, asking for your consent?

Moreover, you cannot refuse to sell, unless intending to transport back the grain, which would lead to even greater losses!

And in this inn, those sitting are mostly merchants transporting grain, everyone is quite dispirited.

"Does this meal suit your taste?"

In a corner, a man asked the handsome attendant beside him.

"It’s fine, I’m not that delicate; haven’t I eaten the cornbread you previously delivered?"

The meal was something between stir-fried dishes and steamed rice, not hot, probably steamed early in a large pot and served in bowls.

A layer of soybean paste covered the meal, overwhelmingly salty.

Asking for any other food, the waiter said there’s none, smilingly adding the owner plans to close the inn in ten days, even the cook was let go, and the waiter remained due to being a fellow villager with the owner and thus going back together.

Thus, the inn now only provides this meal along with tea, no wine, as the grain price increased, the winery prices also went up, worrying the owner that later they couldn’t sell in time.

Fortunately,

The princess wasn’t indeed delicate;

Traveling from Zhou County, first hiring someone, then accompanying other merchant grain convoys, occasionally weary from travel but without any complaints from the princess.

Every night before sleep, she would remember to prepare a basin of foot wash for Lord Zheng.

The princess ate leisurely,

Glancing up at Lord Zheng,

Asked:

"Why aren’t you eating?"

"I’m not used to it."

"..." The princess.

At this moment,

The princess was truly puzzled who’s the real princess here, herself or him?