Chương 155: 3 Shi of Grain

Liu Ce patted him on the shoulder and said, "Remember, when it comes to bringing your family back, be open and aboveboard. Just say that this general is showing consideration for his subordinates by bringing his family back for a reunion. As for finding those two young ladies... keep it low-key and don't make a fuss."

"Rest assured, my lord, the Embroidered Uniform Guard is best at 'acting discreetly'," Lu Bing said confidently.

"Alright, that's all. Go and get it done." Liu Ce waved his hand.

Lu Bing bowed and turned to leave. As he reached the door, he suddenly turned back and said, "My lord, the funds for the Embroidered Uniform Guard…"

Liu Ce slapped his forehead: "Oh right! Money! I'll have someone send you three thousand gold coins later. Use it first, and we'll talk about it if it's not enough."

Lu Bing then truly stepped down.

Liu Ce watched his retreating figure and sighed, "Professionals are just different; they even ask for money so subtly."

After Lu Bing left, Liu Ce sat in the study and smiled slightly.

...

The second important event: the Zhen family's provisions have arrived.

That day, Zhen Jiang came to find Liu Ce.

"My husband."

Zhen Jiang said with a smile, "The last batch of the three million shi of grain that the Zhen family caravan has transported has arrived and is being unloaded outside the city."

Liu Ce's eyes lit up: "So fast? Let's go, let's go see!"

The two arrived outside the city in a carriage and saw a large convoy of carriages parked on the official road.

The oxen and horses pulling the carts stretched for two or three miles, each cart piled high with sacks bearing the character "甄" (Zhen).

Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui were already there directing the unloading.

Upon seeing Liu Ce arrive, the two hurriedly went to greet him.

"My lord."

Fang Xuanling exclaimed excitedly, "The Zhen family is truly generous!"

Du Ruhui added: "Moreover, they are all top-quality millet, with plump grains and no sand mixed in."

Liu Ce walked to a vehicle, untied a burlap sack, and grabbed a handful of rice. The grains were golden and dry to the touch; it was indeed good quality grain.

He turned to look at Zhen Jiang, so moved he didn't know what to say: "Jiang'er, I, Uncle Liu, will always remember the kindness of the Zhen family!"

Zhen Jiang smiled gently and said, "Husband, you're too kind. We're all family."

At this moment, a man who looked like a manager came over and bowed to Zhen Jiang: "Miss, this batch has been counted. Please take a look."

Zhen Jiang nodded and said to Liu Ce, "Husband, you, Mr. Fang, and Mr. Du go ahead with your work. I'll go check the accounts."

After saying that, she followed the manager away.

The Zhen family transported the three million shi of grain in batches, using a combination of water and land routes, and it took more than two months to deliver it all to the major granaries in Youzhou.

When the last cart of grain was delivered to the warehouse, Fang Xuanling's hands were trembling as he held the account books.

"My lord," He addressed Liu Ce, his voice trembling with excitement, "Three million shi of grain, a solid three million shi, all stored in the granaries! Adding to what we already had, there are now nearly seven million shi of grain stored in the Youzhou granaries!"

Du Ruhui rarely smiled: "My lord, with this grain, let alone 600, 000 refugees, even if another million came, we could feed them!"

Liu Ce stroked his chin thoughtfully: "Seven million shi... that sounds like a lot, but have you calculated it? There are about two million refugees, and they would need to consume at least six million shi a year. This doesn't even include the expenses of the army and officials. We need to be more frugal and find ways to increase our income."

Xun Yu nodded in agreement, saying, "What you say is absolutely right, Lord Marquis. However, with spring planting just around the corner, as long as the promotion of potatoes and sweet potatoes goes smoothly, the pressure on grain will be greatly alleviated after next autumn's harvest."

As Fang Xuanling watched Zhen Jiang's retreating figure, he exclaimed with emotion, "It is truly a blessing from heaven that my lord has found such a virtuous wife!"

Du Ruhui nodded and said, "With these three million shi of grain, plus our own reserves, we can more than feed these people until next autumn's harvest."

Liu Ce was secretly pleased, but he remained modest, saying, "It's all luck, luck."

But what I was really thinking was: Being a kept man is so satisfying! If anyone ever says that being a kept man is a sign of weakness, I'll fight them!

However, he didn't just live off his wife.

On Shen Wansan's side, fine salt, wine, and paper have been fully launched on the market, and sales are astonishingly good.

Especially the "Jade Liquid Spring" wine, although the price has been raised to twenty coins per liter, those aristocratic families and wealthy merchants love to buy it even more - they feel that it is beneath them if it is cheaper!

"My lord, based on the current sales volume, we can make a net profit of over a million coins a month just from selling wine!"

Shen Wansan's eyes were shining as he gave his report.

Liu Ce calculated that one million coins could buy about a thousand shi of grain. Although it wasn't much compared to three million shi, it was a steady stream of income, and it was pure profit without any cost.

"Very good," Liu Ce said.

"Continue to expand production, but quality must be guaranteed. We need to take the high-end route and make 'Jade Liquid Spring' the standard for banquets for the powerful and wealthy!"

"Understood!" Shen Wansan left with great enthusiasm.

Liu Ce finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Food is always the primary hard currency in times of chaos.

With grain comes popular support, manpower, and the resources to contend for supremacy.

...

The third major event: The Black Mountain Army has arrived.

That day, Liu Ce was watching the soldiers train at the drill ground when a fast horse galloped in. The messenger on horseback dismounted and shouted, "Report! General Cheng has sent word that Zhang Yan of the Black Mountain Army has agreed to surrender and is preparing to lead his troops to Youzhou!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Ce chuckled: "Zhijie is good! Not bad!"

He took the letter and quickly read it through.

The letter was dictated by Cheng Yaojin and written down by his scribe; the handwriting was crooked and messy, but the meaning was clear:

"My Lord, I, Lao Cheng, have arrived at Black Mountain and met that brat Zhang Yan... I took out the Nine-Section Staff, the token, and the letter written by the Holy Maiden. After reading it, he knelt on the ground and cried his heart out, saying that he was willing to submit."

Respectfully submitted by Cheng Yaojin.

After reading it, Liu Ce was both amused and exasperated. The letter was written in a style as straightforward as Cheng Yaojin himself.

However, the outcome was good. Zhang Yan surrendered. The population of 600, 000 to 700, 000, although most of them were the elderly, weak, women and children, there were also many young and strong men, and they had all experienced the battlefield. With a little training, they would be good soldiers.

"Someone come here!"

Liu Ce shouted, "Issue an order to the commanders of all counties in Ji Province: I, in my temporary command of the military affairs of Ji Province, hereby command that the Black Mountain troops are surrendered subjects and must not be obstructed along the way. Let them pass!"

"Yes!" The guard accepted the order and left.

Liu Ce then asked Fang Xuanling beside him, "Xuanling, is the resettlement plan ready?"

Fang Xuanling nodded and said, "It's all ready. As instructed by the lord, some of the able-bodied men have been incorporated into the military farms, while the elderly, weak, women, and children have been dispersed and resettled in various counties. The remaining able-bodied men will be provided with work relief. The workshops, road repairs, and city construction projects in various counties are short of manpower."

"Good," Liu Ce said with satisfaction, "Once they arrive, we'll proceed according to plan."