Chapter 489: I've Squandered It
Shi Kefa dared not let the thirty thousand rebel families enter the city, fearing they would sow chaos within the prefectural capital. He ordered them to remain outside the walls, while he, dressed simply and accompanied by only a small detachment of household guards, slipped into Pingyang Prefecture.
Dou Wenda, the Prefect of Pingyang, upon witnessing the immense multitude gathered outside the city, naturally came to investigate, having already made his way to the city gate to receive them.
Shi Kefa, whose official rank was lower than Dou Wenda's, performed a deep bow and dutifully reported, "This humble official, acting under the direct command of Imperial Censor Wu Shen, is responsible for escorting thirty thousand surrendered rebels from Hequ County to Chengcheng County. As we traverse your esteemed territory, we find ourselves needing to impose upon your hospitality for a brief period."
Dou Wenda responded, "Provided they don't cause any disturbances, there will be no trouble. However, should they dare to engage in any misdeeds, our Pingyang Prefecture is well-equipped to handle them."
Having said his piece, he gestured towards a military officer standing nearby and made the introduction: "This is Squad Commander Wang Xiaohua, a favored general serving under General Wang Cheng'en, the Grand General of Shaanxi. At present, Pingyang Prefecture's defense rests entirely upon Squad Commander Wang."
"Wang Xiaohua?" Shi Kefa silently scoffed at the parents who had burdened this unfortunate man with such a moniker. He then clasped his hands in a respectful salute to Bai Mao, acknowledging, "Squad Commander Wang, your arduous efforts are deeply appreciated."
Bai Mao was utterly mortified; each time his name was uttered, he felt an irresistible urge to leap from the city wall. He returned the salute with a clasped fist, bypassing any pleasantries, and simply leaned over the city wall. His gaze swept over the thirty thousand rebel families encamped outside, and he silently began to reckon: "The Heavenly Lord will undoubtedly be overjoyed by such a multitude. Though lacking in able-bodied young men, the elderly can be tasked with crafting bamboo goods or producing soy products. The women can operate sewing machines and print and bind publications, while the children can attend the schools within the Prison Valley..."
While he was absorbed in these thoughts, Shi Kefa broke the silence, asking, "My detachment has run out of provisions."
The instant he voiced his concern, Dou Wenda was quick to interject, exclaiming, "Pingyang Prefecture is equally devoid of grain! None whatsoever!"
"Oh!" Only then did Dou Wenda's countenance visibly relax. "Buying it is perfectly fine, then. Ah, I should have considered it! Master Shi, having been dispatched by Imperial Censor Wu Shen, must surely carry the emperor's disaster relief silver—a full hundred thousand taels! Hahahaha..."
Shi Kefa mused inwardly: "Everyone is aware that Imperial Censor Wu carries a hundred thousand taels, but scarcely anyone knows he is on the verge of destitution himself. Ah, the pitiable Imperial Censor Wu!"
He cleared his throat. "Might I inquire about the prevailing grain prices here in Pingyang Prefecture..."
Dou Wenda spread his hands wide. "The grain prices in our region are certainly not inexpensive, I must inform you."
Shi Kefa's heart tightened instantly.
Dou Wenda then held up three fingers. "Three hundred copper coins per dou."
"What?!" Shi Kefa gasped, utterly dumbfounded. "Three hundred copper coins?"
He had just traveled from Taiyuan, where grain fetched eight hundred copper coins per dou. He had argued himself hoarse and even wielded his official authority, barely managing to negotiate it down to seven hundred. Who could have imagined that upon reaching Pingyang, the price would instantly plummet to three hundred? What in the infernal world...
"Master Dou, why are the prices here so remarkably low?"
Dou Wenda gestured towards Bai Mao once more. "It's largely due to Xiaohua..."
"Pfft!" Bai Mao nearly choked, almost spitting out a mouthful of blood. He hastily cut in, "Please, address me as Squad Commander Wang."
Dou Wenda, however, feigned deafness. "Xiaohua hails from an affluent family. His elders, in their support of his endeavors, transported enormous quantities of grain from Shaanxi and sold it to this official at an incredibly low price. Hahahaha, my Pingyang Prefecture has become remarkably stable because of this."
A vein throbbed visibly on Bai Mao's forehead. "I beg you, address me as Squad Commander Wang!"
Shi Kefa, no longer interested in the two men's eccentric verbal sparring, had absorbed only one vital piece of information: the grain price in Pingyang Prefecture was astonishingly low. Overjoyed beyond measure, he immediately whirled around to his attendants and commanded, "Quickly, quickly! Fetch all our remaining silver! Buy every last bit of grain you can!"
He had already spent fifteen hundred taels of silver in Taiyuan Prefecture, leaving him with a mere fifteen hundred taels. Without a moment's hesitation, he decided to stake it all.
This one audacious move, astonishingly, yielded fifty to sixty thousand catties of grain. Shi Kefa was utterly ecstatic. "Hahaha, armed with this abundance of grain, I can most certainly make it to Chengcheng County! Hahaha, we will absolutely reach it!"
He then ensured that the elderly, weak, women, and children enjoyed a hearty meal, after which he bade farewell to Dou Wenda and Bai Mao, and pressed onward with his southward journey. With fifty thousand catties of low-priced grain now secured, Shi Kefa was filled with a triumphant vigor, as if his entire being was overflowing with renewed determination.
And so they journeyed, onward and onward.
Several days later, they arrived at Hejin County.
Ahead, a desolate ruin emerged—the former Hejin County seat. Its city walls had been torn down, half its houses reduced to ash, and not a solitary soul could be glimpsed within. Shi Kefa found himself weeping, his heart heavy with grief. "Hejin is utterly devastated," he lamented, tears streaming down his face. "This official now possesses grain, and if there were refugees in Hejin County, I would readily offer succor. But alas, not a single person remains."
"Alas," he sighed, "let us press on."
Their arrival at Hejin County signified they were not far from Dragon Gate Ferry, and once across Dragon Gate Ferry, they would re-enter Shaanxi territory.
Shi Kefa's spirits soared, and he spurred his contingent to hasten their advance.
It wasn't long before they reached Dragon Gate Ferry.
Shi Kefa had anticipated merely an ordinary, unassuming ferry crossing. Yet, to his profound astonishment, what greeted him upon arrival was an immense, sprawling water-city, teeming with tens of thousands of inhabitants, a vibrant spectacle of unparalleled activity and lively commotion.
"Ah? So, the populace from Hejin County town has entirely relocated here?"
Shi Kefa's spirits were instantly buoyed, and he hurried to the base of the city walls.
Stationed as guardian of this water-city was none other than Shi Jian, whom Shi Kefa had recognized from official reports as the man who had relieved the siege of Pingyang Prefecture. He was formerly Centurion Shi, but now, he recalled, he had been promoted to Squad Commander, and thus, should be addressed as such.
Shi Kefa, beaming with delight, hailed Shi Jian. "I have heard that General Shi valiantly repelled the West Camp Eight Great Kings, forcing back ten thousand bandits with a mere two hundred soldiers. Such formidable military prowess truly makes you a paragon among martial commanders!"
Shi Jian modestly demurred, "Oh, no, no, the true credit belongs entirely to Major Li Huai."
Shi Kefa retorted, a knowing smile on his face, "Only the cloistered officials in the capital would ever credit Major Li Huai. Among us, the people dwelling in the Qin-Jin region, who among us is truly unaware of the facts?"
Shi Jian could only offer a polite smile. "You are too kind, far too kind."
Shi Kefa cast a quick glance at the bustling Dragon Gate Ferry, its walls teeming with humanity, and lowered his voice confidentially. "General Shi, with such an immense number of refugees under your care, has the matter of provisions been settled? This official could recommend an excellent source: Pingyang Prefecture, where the grain price is a mere three hundred copper coins per dou."
Shi Jian let out a soft chuckle. "Ah, three hundred copper coins? That's exorbitant! Here at Dragon Gate Ferry, our grain price is merely one hundred fifty copper coins per dou."
"What?!" Shi Kefa exclaimed, utterly thunderstruck. "One hundred fifty copper coins?"
"Indeed! One hundred fifty copper coins."
Shi Kefa let out a choked "Pfft!"
His body swayed, threatening to topple backward.
His attending household guards swiftly rushed to steady him. "Master, Master, are you unwell?"
Shi Kefa pounded his chest and stomped his foot in utter despair. "Why, oh why, did I deplete all our silver in Pingyang Prefecture? I should have reserved a thousand taels to purchase grain right here! Imperial Censor Wu, this humble official has truly squandered your silver! I've utterly wasted it! I am nothing but a worthless fool... the silver you so painstakingly managed to procure for this official..."
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