Vol 6 Chapter 11 (2/2)
As Zhou Cang said so, her agitated movements made the table knock against Chen Gong’s leg with a *bang*. Chen Gong’s expression did not waver, and she just stared coldly at Zhou Cang.
It’s a very difficult problem to deal with. On one hand, what Chen Gong has done is right by the laws and by her responsibilities. On the other hand, what Zhou Cang did was to secure her survival, and was her last resort after all.
They’re all just people trying to live in these troubled times.
“General Guan, I’m interested to see how you are going to solve this problem.”
Liao Hua came up close behind me and whispered i to my ear. Her gaze was cold, but this did not differ from how she usually was.
Since I’ve been exposed to this problem, I must do something about it. Ignoring the problem would go against the path I seek to follow.
And so, I sat between the both of them and calmly drank the water placed on the table before I began to slowly speak, “I understand that both sides have their difficulties and it’s impossible for me to solve this alone with just my tongue. I would however like to understand the situation so please, Zhou Cang, tell me how many refugees you have? And Chen Gong, how much stores do you have?”
“I have many with me. Including the old, frail and other non-combatants, I have 3,000 odd in total. Apart from the 1,000 odd combatants with me, I’ve placed the rest in a location behind the mountains for now. The provisions we came with are almost depleted and if this goes on, people will starve to death within a week!”
She got more and more agitated as she went on and only stopped and withdrew when I yelled at her.
“And your side, Chen Gong?”
“Nothing! I do not even have a single spare grain for the refugees!” Chen Gong was just as enraged as Zhou Cang and slammed the table as she stood up with a stormy look, “My village too has about 3,000 or so people. We only just planted the seeds for winter planting and I’m expecting a harvest failure next year so we need 3 months’ worth of stores!”
Looks like Chen Gong’s side is under tremendous pressure as well.
“At the end of the day you’re still going to get me to give these people provisions right?! Or are you asking me to take them in?!” Chen Gong pressed closer as she said so, “If we lend them a month’s worth of provisions and our harvest turns out to be a failure, won’t we end up as wandering refugees as well? Who will save us then?!”
“Can’t you just take some in! I’m willing to leave with the rest!”
“Absolutely not! How do I know if any amongst you lot carry any diseases?! What if an epidemic breaks out after a few months?! What do I do then!”
“You b.a.s.t.a.r.d!” Zhou Cang went up to hit Chen Gong as she yelled out.
“So you’re resorting to violence when you lose in reason! So much for manners!”
I wasn’t able to stop Zhou Cang in time but Chen Gong was able to quickly dodge the attack by bending backwards.
As Chen Gong stepped back, her skirt lifted and revealed 2 wooden blocks at her feet.
This is… Could they be wooden shoes to enhance her height…
“Ah!!!” When Chen Gong saw that her wooden shoes were revealed, she immediately screamed, in contrast to how calm she usually was, and hurriedly leapt on top of her wooden shoes to hide them.
We saw it already.
“Ah, un… Sorry.” Zhou Cang was at a loss as to what to do when she saw this and stood in a daze for a long while before she apologised and returned tp her seat.
Looking at her, her actual height should probably be only about 1.4m or so.
Eh, everyone has their weaknesses I guess.
But I should seize this opportunity and think of something.
At times like these, what would big brother do?
…
So it’s that huh.
“I got it.” I thought for a moment before nodding and looking at the 2 people at my sides.
Chen Gong was still blus.h.i.+ng while Zhou Cang was frowning as her side was in more precarious circ.u.mstances.
I don’t know if what I’m going to do is right but I’ve decided I should do it–
“I’d like to ask the 2 of you. Would you both be willing to go down to Dong commandery and Runan?”
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