PDLP Chapter 1973: Su Cheng tells the truth
Chapter 1973: Su Cheng tells the truth
It was raining outside the window, with thunder rumbling in the sky. The sound of the dripping rain made Su Zhenhai feel even more uncomfortable.
"Your Highness, to be honest, the camp has been short of food for over a year."
Su Zhenhai hung his head, his knuckles clenched white, "In the beginning, it was only one-fifth less each month. The brothers thought it might be because the treasury was struggling, so they gritted their teeth and endured it.
But within two months, it was reduced to one-third, and later it was reduced to only half..."
His voice gradually dropped, his Adam's apple rolling as if a heavy object was blocking it: "In the past three months... I haven't seen a single grain of rice."
Huo Changhe glanced at the white hair on Su Zhenhai's temples - he was only in his early forties, but he looked so much older.
Su Zhenhai's eyes were bloodshot: "Your Highness, you don't know that the docks in Rongzhou are jointly managed by the Governor's Office and the Liu family. As soon as the grain ship docks, the grain is directly intercepted by them!
I went back and forth to the Governor's Mansion seven times. The first two times, Governor Ding just laughed it off, saying something like, "The grain route is blocked, let's wait a little longer." Later, he simply said the treasury was empty, and finally he wouldn't even let me in!
"Liu family?" Huo Changhe raised his eyebrows slightly.
"It's the Liu family!" Su Zhenhai's voice was filled with hatred and a bit of powerlessness, "On the surface, they are ordinary merchants, but in fact they hold the economic lifeline of Rongzhou.
The silk and satin shops, grain stores, and the porters in the city...
Every industry has its own business, and almost half of the people work in the Liu family's shops.
If you dare to touch them, they can just give the order and all the work in the city will stop, and Rongzhou will be in chaos!"
Huo Changhe suddenly remembered what Yan Ruyu had said: "Whoever controls the economic lifeline has the right to speak loudly."
At that time, he thought this statement was too absolute, but now it seems that Rongzhou is a living example.
Governor Ding was cowardly and incompetent, and the Liu family took the opportunity to control people's livelihood. The military and political authorities hindered each other, and in the end it was the soldiers guarding the city who suffered.
"Take me to the granary." Huo Changhe stood up suddenly, and the sword at his waist made a slight sound.
Su Zhenhai was stunned for a moment, then quickly responded: "Yes!"
He thought Huo Changhe didn't believe him, so he led the way hurriedly, through the corridor of the military office, and walked towards the granary on the west side.
The raindrops hit the two men obliquely. Su Zhenhai's official boots stepped on the puddles, and the splashed mud wet his trouser legs, but he was completely unaware of it. His mind was full of thoughts about how to make Huo Changhe see the predicament in front of him.
The door of the granary was made of rough wood and had a large rusty lock hanging on it.
Su Zhenhai took out the key and twisted it with great effort for a long time before it opened. The door hinge creaked miserably, as if it could not bear the weight.
The moment he pushed open the door, a cold wind mixed with dust and mildew blew in his face. Huo Changhe glanced around and saw empty grain bins neatly arranged, with a few blackened rice husks scattered at the bottom, and some dried wild vegetables piled in the corner. Apart from that, there was nothing else.
"Your Highness, look..." Su Zhenhai's voice was choked with sobs, "Several weak ones have fallen ill, and some have even secretly escaped..."
Before he could finish his words, he fell to his knees with a plop, his forehead hitting the cold ground heavily: "Your Highness, please save the soldiers!
Rongzhou cannot be without a garrison, but if this continues, the soldiers will all starve to death before the enemy arrives!"
Huo Changhe stood where he was, his eyes fixed on the empty granaries, his expression gloomy.
In fact, he and Yan Ruyu had been here last night. At that time, Yan Ruyu looked at the empty granary and said softly, "Prefect Ding and the Liu family colluded to intercept military rations and enrich themselves. I'm afraid this matter will not be so easy to resolve.
The Liu family's roots are too deep. If we touch them, Rongzhou will be in chaos; if we don't, the army will rebel."
He was still weighing the pros and cons at that time, but now, listening to Su Zhenhai's plea and looking at the empty granary, the balance in his heart finally tilted.
He slowly squatted down, reached out to help Su Zhenhai up, his fingertips touched the other's cold arm, and he felt his uncontrollable trembling.
"Get up." Huo Changhe's voice was still calm, but a little more determined. "This time, I came here for military rations."
Tears welled up in Su Zhenhai's eyes instantly, his lips trembled, and he couldn't utter a word for a long time. He just kept bowing: "Thank you, Your Highness! Thank you, Your Highness! The Rongzhou City Defense Army is saved!"
Huo Changhe patted his shoulder and looked at the rain outside the granary.
The rain was still falling, and the gray sky was very low, as if it was going to cover the entire Rongzhou.
He knew that once the military rations were secured, he would have to face off against Governor Ding and the Liu family, and the road ahead would be dangerous.
But he knew even more clearly that he could not watch the soldiers guarding the border starve to death.
"Today, I will ensure that you have enough food to eat." Huo Changhe said in a deep voice, "First, find a way to stabilize the morale of the army and prevent any chaos. Then pick a few trusted confidants."
Su Zhenhai nodded vigorously, wiped the tears from his face, straightened his hunched back, and strode out of the granary.
Looking at his back, Huo Changhe turned around and his gaze fell on the empty grain storages again, his eyes becoming sharp.
Governor Ding, the Liu family... He whispered these two names, his fingertips gently stroking the hilt of his sword. A storm was about to set off in Rongzhou.
Yan Ruyu was just about to turn around to look at Su Jingzhuo when she saw Miss Li walking slowly towards her.
"Doctor," Miss Li walked forward, handkerchief in hand, "how is Jingzhuo doing?"
Her tone was calm and seemed concerned, but in reality, Yan Ruyu keenly caught the indifference in her eyes.
If you really want Su Jingzhuo to be well, why would you let him eat raw fish?
But what is this?
Yan Ruyu twirled a falling petal with her fingertips, a faint smile on her lips: "Miss Lao Li, I'm worried about you. The eldest young master is getting better now."
Her eyes were clear and frank, without any intention of concealing anything.
Li Wanniang frowned, "Really? Could it be that the doctor is afraid that I will regain the right to treat the eldest young master, so he is deliberately deceiving me?"
Yan Ruyu's tone remained gentle: "What's the point of lying to you? You know his situation better than I do. Why do you need me to lie to you?"
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a green figure flash by at the end of the corridor.
Li Wanniang was about to ask more when she suddenly heard hurried footsteps.
Su Shengsheng rushed over with her skirt lifted up. There were some grass debris on her blue cloth skirt. It was obvious that she came straight from the backyard.
She protected Yan Ruyu behind her and pointed at Li Wanniang's nose and shouted, "What are you trying to find out about again? You're pretending to ask about my condition, what's your intention?"
Before he finished speaking, the sound of a crisp slap was heard.
Li Wanniang staggered back, covering her face, and the pearl hairpins in her bun were all crooked.
Su Shengsheng was so angry that his eyes turned red. He reached out to hit her again, but was gently held back by Yan Ruyu.
Su Shengsheng was furious: "Mr. Li, I have always disliked you. What do you say about medical skills? What on earth do you…"