Daqin arrests alchemists, what does it matter to me as a qi refiner?

Yang Ling sneered, "Han Zan has been in power in Jeju City for more than ten years. The price of grain in the city has skyrocketed, but he still sits firmly in his high position. Do you think he can do it with the power of ordinary farmers alone?"

"what--"

The Jeju County Magistrate suddenly came to his senses.

He hurriedly said to Yang Ling: "Now that Jizhou City has fallen into the hands of General Yang, the grain should be under the jurisdiction of General Yang."

"So what?" Yang Ling asked back.

"Uh……"

The Jeju County Magistrate was speechless.

There seems to be nothing wrong with this, right?

Jeju City originally belonged to the rule of Yang Ling, and Han Zan's remaining belongings should be disposed of by Yang Ling.

However, the Jizhou County Magistrate was worried that Yang Ling would erase his achievements.

Yang Ling looked at his expression and said calmly, "Jizhou County Lieutenant, I heard that the food reserves in Jizhou City far exceed those in other places. Not only are they huge in quantity, but they are also of excellent quality. I plan to select elite troops from the city and form an army of 20,000 people.

I want to control these 20,000 troops. County Magistrate of Jeju, are you willing to support me?"

The Jizhou County Lieutenant was stunned for a moment, then immediately cupped his hands and said, "I am willing to assist General Yang with all my strength!"

The Jeju County Lieutenant's mind was working rapidly.

After Han Zan's death, he lost his power as a county magistrate and became a commander without troops. Now Yang Ling is willing to promote him, which is simply a pie in the sky.

Yang Ling nodded slightly, "Don't worry, after the war is over, I will definitely reward you according to your merits."

"Thank you, General Yang!"

The Jizhou County Lieutenant thanked Yang Ling repeatedly and then led him to the largest granary in Jiyang City.

The Jiyang Granary is where the Jizhou County Government stored grain. It occupies the entire nine-story granary. The granary covers a vast area, with nearly a thousand acres of land. Many ships are moored in the open space outside the granary.

Yang Ling stood at the entrance of the granary, looking up at the huge granary, and said, "Lieutenant of Jizhou County, I heard that there are two grain transport ships in the Jiyang granary?"

"Yes, there are two."

Yang Ling nodded and asked, "How much food is there on the ship?"

The Jeju County Lieutenant hesitated for a moment and said hesitantly: "The boats are loaded with rice, wheat, millet, buckwheat, and beans. A total of about 50,000 to 60,000 dan. However, most of this grain is taxes collected from various places, and the rest is taxes collected from the people."

Yang Ling frowned and said, "No wonder your Jeju City is so poor! It turns out that you secretly withheld food from the people."

The Jeju County Lieutenant was so frightened that his legs went weak.

He explained with a sad face: "General Yang, although Jeju is a small county, it also needs food and wages. If it were not for this, I would not withhold food from the people."

Yang Ling pondered for a moment and said, "We are no longer short of food and fodder. Let's leave the food here and transport it back to Chang'an after the war is over."

The Jizhou County Lieutenant immediately relaxed and said bitterly: "General Yang, the granary in Jizhou City has 70,000 to 80,000 dan of grain. If you don't collect taxes, we won't be able to survive for two or three months.

In the past two or three months, I’m afraid many people in Jeju City have starved to death.”

"You are courting your own death!" Yang Ling said coldly, "If Han Zan hadn't been selling grain privately, you wouldn't have ended up like this!"

"This matter has nothing to do with Prime Minister Han! I am willing to guarantee it with my life." The county lieutenant of Jeju said with a solemn oath: "The reason why we are suffering from famine is because of Prime Minister Han's instruction."

"Han Zan's instruction?" Yang Ling frowned and asked, "Are you sure?"

The Jeju County Lieutenant sighed and said, "Yes! If it weren't for the instruction of Prime Minister Han, I would never dare to withhold food from the people in Jeju City. Over the years, we have relied on purchasing food from the people. If we don't collect taxes, the food in Jeju City will run out sooner or later."

Yang Ling pondered for a long time, then waved his hand and said, "First, transport the grain in the granary out of the city. Then you go find the county magistrate and ask him to send troops to clean up the granaries in Jeju County. Anyone who has not paid taxes will be arrested. As for the victims in Jeju City, appease them and don't let them cause trouble. Otherwise, the army will suppress them."

"As ordered!"

The Jeju County Lieutenant agreed and thought to himself: Prime Minister Han is doomed this time!
There are 50,000 shi of grain in the granary of Jeju County.

If it can be emptied successfully, it will be enough to improve food prices.

Of course, this process will definitely come at a price, but this price is totally worth bearing.

After the granaries were emptied, Jizhou Prefecture was able to free up more money and manpower to help Yang Ling pacify the Huaixi counties.

"General Yang..."

When Yang Ling was thinking about the granary, he suddenly heard a timid call from behind.

Yang Ling turned his head and looked in surprise at the girl who was standing beside him and trembling. She was Han Yu.

Yang Ling knew Han Yu. In her previous life, she was the granddaughter of Han Gui, and the daughter of Han Zan.

Yang Ling looked at her pale and pretty face, feeling pity in his heart, and said softly: "What's your name?"

Han Yu said timidly: "My name is Han Yu."

"Han Yu? Did your grandfather ever tell you how your father died?"

"My father was killed by thieves." Han Yu's expression was gloomy.

"Who is the thief?"

"This slave doesn't know."

Yang Ling saw her sad expression and sighed softly, "Don't be too sad. After your father died, your mother took you to wander around. I heard from Liu Wu that you and your mother had a hard life."

Han Yu shook her head and choked up, "No, this servant has not suffered."

She wiped away her tears, raised her tearful face, and said, "My mother and I went to Sishui County to seek refuge with my aunt. My aunt is a kind-hearted person and treated us sisters very well. That's why we are able to survive until now."

"Sishui County?"

"Yes. The governor of Sishui County is a descendant of my aunt's family."

Yang Ling nodded and said with emotion: "I didn't expect that you guys came here to escape. When I first came to Jeju, I only knew that Jeju City was the seat of Huaixi County."

Han Yu smiled and said, "General Yang, you are an official appointed by the court and a subordinate of Prime Minister Han. How did you escape and come here?"

Yang Ling pointed to the mountains and forests on the north side of Jizhou City and said, "That is Jingshan. I came here from Jingshan. I am on a mission out of the capital to suppress bandits."

Han Yu was surprised and asked, "General Yang came from Jingshan?"

"Do you know Jingshan?"

"I heard my mother talk about Jingshan."

Han Yu lowered his head, revealing a look of hatred. "The bandits in Jingshan are too vicious and have killed dozens of innocent people. General Yang, you are an official appointed by the court. Can you make decisions for the people? If the bandits are rampant, please make sure to get rid of them."

Yang Ling smiled and said, "It is the court's duty and mission to stop the rampage of bandits. Don't worry, these bandits will have no chance of survival."

"That's good." Han Yu showed a look of joy.

At this time, the magistrate of Jizhou County came hurriedly and bowed, saying, "General, Zhang Liang, the lieutenant of Jizhou County, wants to see you!"

Yang Ling said, "Let him in." The Jizhou County Magistrate walked out of the granary.

Zhang Liang greeted Yang Ling with a flattering look on his face: "Your humble servant greets you, General."

"No gifts."

Zhang Liang stood up, saluted towards Yang Ling, and said, "General, I have just checked the grain piled up in the granary. The grain stored in the granary is enough to support consumption for several months. Please let the people of Jeju City go."

"What do you mean by that?"

"General, our Jizhou County is the richest county in Huaixi. Every day, a large number of people flock to Jizhou County to make a living, and there is not enough food in Jizhou City. In the past few days, we have withheld nearly half of the people's food. If we continue to withhold, I am afraid that the people of Jizhou City will have a hard time!"

"You mean, I wronged you?" Yang Ling said with a smile.

Zhang Liang waved his hands quickly: "How dare I? The general is wise and brave. How dare I offend the general? It's just that the city is short of food these days, and I have no choice."

Yang Ling asked with a smile: "What if I firmly disagree?"

Zhang Liang smiled bitterly and said, "Then I can only take the risk and seize the granary by force."

"Ha ha ha ha……"

Yang Ling laughed loudly, "You are indeed a loyal official. You would rather take the risk of seizing the granary than give money to help the victims. You are both loyal and righteous. I admire you very much."

Zhang Liang scratched his head in annoyance and said with a wry smile, "General, you are joking. I am only a county lieutenant. How dare I offend you?"

Yang Ling nodded slightly and said, "Since you are loyal to the emperor and patriotic, and care about the people of Huaixi, I will not force you. I will lead the army to leave Jeju immediately, and you can do whatever you want."

"Uh..." Zhang Liang was stunned.

He didn't expect Yang Ling to be so straightforward and not mention the matter of seizing the granary at all.

Yang Ling ordered Liu Wu beside him: "General Liu, load all the grain in the granary onto the ship."

"Yes!" Liu Wu responded with a fist salute.

Zhang Liang's eyes widened as he asked in disappointment, "Is General Yang really willing to withdraw his troops?"

Yang Ling snorted coldly, "I am the Earl of Zhongjing, who was conferred the title by the imperial court. Naturally, I will keep my word. You guys should start the work quickly, and don't worry about me."

Zhang Liang cupped his hands and said, "On behalf of the people of Huaixi, I would like to thank General Yang for his understanding."

He turned and ran outside, shouting as he ran: "Hurry up and clean the granary. Load the grain and fodder onto the truck!"

Yang Ling looked at his back and murmured, "What a fucking idiot."

Han Yu followed Yang Ling and said, "General Yang, why should we abandon Jeju City?"

"Why should I stay? Don't you think this is an opportunity?"

"Chance?"

"I will take this opportunity to annex Jeju County."

Yang Ling smiled brightly, "After we take over Jizhou County, we will slowly solve the problem of Jizhou City. Jizhou County is the seat of Huaixi County. If we can control it, even Han Qi will have to give me some face."

"But, you are an imperial envoy..."

"What's the point? I will not disobey the imperial edict, but I will not enforce the imperial edict."

Yang Ling patted Han Yu's soft shoulders and said, "You stay in the city first. I will send troops to capture Jeju City at night."

Han Yu said worriedly: "General Yang is going to attack Jeju. There are tens of thousands of soldiers in Jeju City. General Yang, although you are strong, it will take a lot of troops to break through Jeju City..."

Yang Ling said proudly: "I have 5,000 cavalrymen with me. Even if there are tens of thousands of defenders in Jeju City, they can't stop my troops."

Han Yu hesitated and said, "But there are also many elite soldiers in Jeju City. There are sixty or seventy military officers at the level of captains and centurions..."

Yang Ling curled his lips in disdain and said, "That bunch of rabble is worthless to me."

Seeing that Yang Ling was confident, Han Yu kept silent.

She suddenly asked, "General Yang, Jeju is a big city, and there is more food in the granaries in the city. What are you going to do with it?"

Yang Ling chuckled and said, "Of course the grain in the granary of Jeju belongs to me."

Han Yu blinked and asked, "What about the others?"

Yang Ling smiled and said, "Of course it's distributed according to work. Each of my cavalrymen can get five dan of rice, while ordinary soldiers can only get about two jin of millet."

He paused for a moment and said, "As for the governor of Jeju, he will be responsible for distributing the food in your Jeju city to the people."

Han Yu hesitated and said, "But will they believe it? The governor of Jeju is Zhang Liang's man."

"I believe that the governor of Jeju knows better than anyone else that grain prices are high. If he refuses, he will be going against me! With my power and prestige in Jiangbei, he can't afford to offend me and will be impeached by the court." Yang Ling said in a deep voice, "As the saying goes, the law does not punish the masses. If he dares to embezzle the people's grain, he will be ruined."

Yang Ling took out a few silver dollars from his pocket, handed them to Han Yu, and said, "Take this money and help me buy a few fast horses, and then send them to Dongchang Prefecture."

"Yes, sir!" Han Yu took the silver dollar and answered excitedly.

Yang Ling added: "You go to Jeju and tell Zhang Liang about the situation in Jeju so that Zhang Liang can prepare early and not wait until I capture Jeju City before chaos breaks out."

"I will obey your orders!"

Yang Ling's eyes flickered, he looked down at his toes, and thought to himself: I am sending troops this time, just to obey the order. Not only do I want to destroy Jizhou City, I also want to take over the entire Huaixi!

What does the life and death of the prefect of Jeju have to do with me? As long as Jeju City is recaptured, the court will have to admit defeat!
After winning this battle, I will be the youngest lord!
Thinking of this, Yang Ling couldn't help but feel his blood boiling.

……

Yang Ling and Liu Wu left Jeju on war horses and galloped towards Dongchang Prefecture.

"General Liu, Jeju City has been besieged by bandits for many years. How much grain is in the granary?"

Liu Wu shook his head and sighed: "I don't know exactly how much food there is. After all, I have never been to Jeju City in person."

Yang Ling frowned and said, "Why didn't you report to me earlier?"

"I was just about to report to the general, but then I encountered the Yellow River bursting its dike. I heard that the water level of the Yellow River had risen sharply, so I left in a hurry. Later, I received the news that the general was leading his army to attack Jeju City, so I returned to Jeju." Liu Wu said aggrievedly.

Yang Ling waved his hands and said, "Forget it! Forget it! Let's not talk nonsense. There should be a lot of food stored in the granary of Jeju City. Let's plunder the Jeju granary tonight. After we capture Jeju tomorrow, we can attack Jeju City and take over the entire Huaixi County!"

……

Jeju City.

"Sir, the bandits have left Jeju City and are heading east."

Wang Zhigang, the prefect of Jeju, stood on the battlements of the city wall and looked into the distance.

To the north of Jeju City is an endless plain, and to the south is the vast yellow ocean.

When Wang Zhigang, the governor of Jeju, heard the report, a look of joy appeared on his face: "Good! Good! As long as the bandits are far away, I can concentrate on farming. The farther the bandits are, the less pressure I will have. As long as I can store enough food, I can ensure that the people in the city will not go hungry." (End of this chapter)