Chapter 381: Long Feiye’s methods (2/2)

Nanguo Jun felt thunderstruck by the statement as he gaped. Meanwhile, all the people present, along with the soldiers, broke into shrill cries. Two jin of grain at a time of famine like this was simply a beautiful dream! South Ning Prefecture might be an area of severe famine, but the senior provincial official definitely had ways to get grain! First of all, he and the minor officials below him had to have stored some in their reserves. The reserves could have come from exploiting the farmers or embezzling deliveries from the imperial court. In the midst of their pleasant surprise, the people began to reconsider the rumors they’d heard before. All of them said His Highness Duke of Qin was an embezzler who had abandoned the people, but now they had seen the exact opposite happening with their own eyes. His Highness Duke of Qin had forced the senior provincial officer to spit out his embezzled grain stores on the first day he arrived at South Ning Prefecture!

Who amongst all the other civil and military officials of Tianning had the same skills and daring resolve?

“What, you can’t do it?” Long Feiye said as he elegantly raised a foot to step on Nanguo Jun’s head. It was an utterly humiliating move, that of an outright bully. If this was any other time, the crowd might think His Highness Duke of Qin was too merciless and cruel. But now, all of onlookers–including Nanguo Jun’s own bullied soldiers–were silently cheering him on in their hearts. Quite a few were hoping he would trample the guy even harder!

With his life at the mercy of a foot, Nanguo Jun wouldn’t have refused even if he had Heaven-defying guts! “Your Highness, I can do it, I can! I’ll get on it right away!” Nanguo Jun wouldn’t think too deeply into the issue. He knew that there weren’t many people left in the city to begin with, so it should be possible for his father to wrangle up two jin of grain per person. A few months ago, the national treasury had distributed a large load of grain to South Ning Prefecture. Some of the higher-ups took a portion, while his father took another bit. About a third of the rest were sent from the senior provincial official’s headquarters to various counties and villages, where the shipments were further embezzled by the local authorities. If his father didn’t have enough grain on hand, they could always ask for more from the surrounding counties.

“And if you can’t produce the grain before nightfall?” Long Feiye asked coldly. The scene was absolutely silent. Everyone had unconsciously stood on His Highness Duke of Qin’s side while waiting for Nanguo Jun’s answer. They were afraid of missing a single word. After all, this matter was related to grain for everyone!

“If I can’t…if I can’t, then may Your Highness punish this one accordingly!” Nanguo Jun promised in a rush.

“What kind of punishment?” Long Feiye asked next.

Nanguo Jun thought it over, before he declared, “Payment with my life!”

“How much is your life worth?” Long Feiye asked again. Han Yunxi began to feel bewildered. Long Feiye had always been brief with his words, but why did he have so much to say today? What was he planning to do?

Nanguo Jun knew his life wasn’t worth much, if anything, in His Highness Duke of Qin’s eyes, so after some thought he added, “My father’s life will be forfeit, too!”

At this, Han Yunxi suddenly understood! Long Feiye’s target was the senior provincial official all along! She chuckled and said, “Nanguo Jun, you really are of a treacherous type. What kind of son barters with his father’s life?”

But Nanguo Jun was quite self-assured as he replied. “To reply esteemed wangfei, the father’s to blame when the son’s uncultured! Today I’ve made such a big mistake precisely because my father was negligent in his instruction. That’s why my father needs to take responsibility!”

Han Yunxi nearly laughed out loud at his words! Heaven knows whether the senior provincial official would die from rage if he heard those words!

“Your Highness Duke of Qin, I’m begging you, please spare me. I’ll go begin the hunt for grain right away!” Nanguo Jun was desperate. If Long Feiye kept stepping on him like this, he would start to find breathing difficult. It was only after settling the terms that Long Feiye released Nanguo Jun, who half ran, half stumbled away. Despite this, none of the soldiers or common people wanted to leave. Instead, they surrounded Long Feiye and Han Yunxi on all sides.

Someone shouted, “Your Highness Duke of Qin is wise and brilliant! Your Highness Duke of Qin came to save us all!” Immediately, everyone chimed in to shout and prostrated themselves before the pair. In truth, the common people weren’t stupid at all. They were good, honest, simple folk. Their wants were few, and they only worried about basic necessities like food and clothing and shelter. They had believed in those rumors because of those same desires, rather than out of any ill-will. Whoever treated them well and gave them basic protections would earn their deep gratitude. Han Yunxi looked at all their honest faces and expectant eyes and felt both gratified and pressured at once. She glanced back at Long Feiye, only to see his eyes shine with determination. She knew then that Long Feiye had the relief for the disaster regions all planned out!

Here was Tianning’s coldest duke, the man who was ambitious enough to want the entire world. His heart was large enough to fit even the most negligible of peasants! As she stared at his icy profile, Han Yunxi suddenly felt herself looking forward to the day this man took over the entire continent as their sole sovereign.

Long Feiye and Han Yunxi didn’t head for the senior provincial official’s estate, but settled down at an inn instead. Nanguo Jun’s mishap soon spread throughout the entire South Ning Prefecture, including its outlying districts. The senior provincial official had long ago received the news.

Pah!

A resounding slap ran through the entire compound as Nanguo Jun’s father slapped his face, sending him tumbling to the ground.

“Unfilial son! Swine! Stupid pig! Worthless trash!” The senior provincial official kicked his son with his foot, so angry that his neck had turned completely red. If this wasn’t his only son, he would’ve hacked him with a sword long ago! He had no idea how his household had given birth to such an idiotic thing. It was nothing short of karmic retribution!

Nanguo Jun was frightened by his father, but not enough to stop his backtalk. “Father, how was I supposed to know His Highness Duke of Qin was coming? Everyone had said he disappeared!”

“You’re still talking!?” the senior provincial official slapped him again. He was furious enough to kill himself!

Rumors of His Highness Duke of Qin’s disappearance had been fabricated by the higher ups. His Highness Duke of Qin was here this time to relieve the people in disaster areas. If he couldn’t buy enough grain to help the victims, he’d definitely check the officials strictly to make sure they weren’t embezzling the supplies. Once he found the real embezzlers, he would return the stolen grain to the populace! Under these circumstances, anyone who offended the Duke of Qin was doomed to die!

His Excellency Provincial Official had no desire to waste more words on his idiotic son. He had to figure out what to do next. The imperial uncle had long found him ahead of time to discuss working together. He wasn’t going to agree originally, but now it looked like he had no other choice!

1. jin (斤) – unit of weight equal to 0.5kg or about 1lb.