Chapter 1168 – Striking Xu Pei, First Kill of the Lords (Thirty-Eight)
The grain transport line is a top-secret matter, but there is no wall that doesn’t let the wind through; it’s nearly impossible to guard against scouts and spies.
Jiang Pengji was handling military affairs and inspecting training when the messenger came back with urgent news.
“What happened?” she asked.
“The 50,000 stones of military grain transported from Hujun’s Xingcheng have been ambushed—” the messenger said grimly.
Jiang Pengji crushed the pen in her hand, her expression calm but her eyes turned cold.
“What do you mean? The grain from Hujun’s Xingcheng was ambushed?” Jiang Pengji questioned, “Who attacked?”
The messenger didn’t answer, but she had a pretty good idea herself.
Xu Pei’s forces were almost right under her nose; the only one who could launch a stealthy ambush on the grain line was definitely Huang Song.
“The attackers didn’t display a banner, but judging by the confiscated weapons, it’s likely Huang Song,” the messenger reported.
The weapons were engraved with the surname “Yuan” and adorned with a crude family emblem.
The Yuan clan was indeed Huang Song’s direct lineage.
Jiang Pengji gritted her teeth in fury; communication was just too inconvenient in ancient times.
While she received the news of the grain convoy being ambushed, Huang Song must have already wrapped up his business and gone home.
“Do the military advisers know about this? Have they sent anyone to intercept?” Jiang Pengji knew that the 50,000 stones of grain were beyond saving, but the thieves who dared to steal the grain shouldn’t expect to leave unscathed. “What plans do they have?”
Seated at the command center, Jiang Pengji had been working hard to stabilize military affairs and win over the hearts of the people, while Yang Si and the others were at the front lines, undoubtedly quicker to react than she was. If they sent troops to intercept in time, they might even catch those grain thieves and deliver them right to the underworld!
“The military adviser Qi Guanrang learned of the situation and has already dispatched troops to intercept,” the messenger conveyed.
Jiang Pengji trusted Qi Guanrang’s capabilities; since he had taken action, he surely wouldn’t allow Huang Song to leave unscathed.
Still, even with that, Jiang Pengji was seething with anger.
She had invested heavily in creating a cavalry battalion; even if she had scraped together wealth from the aristocracy of the northern frontier, she still felt poor.
In times of chaos, no amount of jewels and gold could compare to the value of food.
Although Hujun was a major grain-producing region with vast fields, farming was no easy task for the farmers; grain was cultivated, not conjured. Every single grain was precious. Just thinking about the 50,000 stones of grain being snatched away or burned by Huang Song made her clench her fists.
The audience had been following Jiang Pengji for quite some time and could occasionally glean her feelings from her expressions and gaze.
It went without saying that she was furious in this situation.
【Flower Flower Loves Pig Head】: Host, don’t be angry! Our army of 850,000 dried fish supports you! 50,000 stones of grain is nothing—each of us can give a little, and you can easily exchange it for a million stones! Eat one bowl, throw another, boil a pot, dump a pot—let those poor peasants witness the power of wealth! Let them understand—having money truly means doing as you please! Don’t be angry now!
【Jia Jia Fish】: Um, can I ask a somewhat silly question—50,000 stones of grain is a lot, right?
Jiang Pengji rarely got angry, and many audience members had followed her for years without witnessing anything other than her calm or smile.
【Old Driver Alliance】: 50,000 stones is a lot! If you’ve been following for a long time, you should remember how the host played with grain purchase limits to suppress grain prices in Hejian County. Back then, the host barely had enough grain to manage; they tightly calculated it to maintain the regular grain prices in Hejian County. Think of how much 50,000 stones amounts to! If it falls into Huang Song’s hands, not even ashes will be left for the host.
【Genius Guo Fengxiao】: From my observations over the years, one stone in this world is roughly equivalent to 50 kilograms. Let me do the math for you; assuming an adult eats half a kilogram a day, that’s 10,000 adults, which totals 5,000 kilograms, or 100 stones.
With those concrete numbers, the audience couldn’t help but gasp.
【Stowaway Non-Money】: But wait, the grain transport workers also need to eat, right? Their food comes out of the total grain amount.
【Shen Jia】: But I remember that Hujun’s Xingcheng is only a seven or eight-day trek from the front line, right? How much can the workers eat? By the time those 50,000 stones of grain reach the front, there should still be a large portion left. So, it’s understandable for the host to be upset about Huang Song intercepting it.
The audience had grown accustomed to TV drama plots where a mere battle would see a million stones of grain thrown around.
Little did they know, 50,000 stones of grain could already support a small war.
While Jiang Pengji didn’t lack food, it didn’t mean she wouldn’t feel the loss if the enemy snatched it or burned it.
The audience fell silent for a moment.
【Not Last Night’s Stars】: I remember during the earthquake in Dongqing when the host exchanged a lot of grain from the live broadcast system. 50,000 stones of grain is indeed a lot, but we have even more people in the live stream. If every single one of us donates a pound of grain, it should be enough.
Because Jiang Pengji was too unconventional, it was easy for her long-time followers to forget that she had a system at her fingertips.
What was there to fear about a grain shortage?
Their army of 850,000 dried fish lacked everything except a few pounds of rice.
As long as Jiang Pengji spoke, they would definitely donate.
Having been leeching off live streams for years, they finally had a reason to spend money, and they wanted those from another world to see their wealth!
【Liu Yu Control】: Yes, yes! Host, let us drown Huang Song in grains!
The audience was getting excited, and before the rich could start donating, Jiang Pengji surprisingly intervened.
【Host V】: No need; save it for yourself to buy some candy. Even if you donate, I won’t exchange for grain; it’s pointless.
Jiang Pengji had her own considerations.
That earthquake in the capital had been a last resort, and now was far from the point of desperation; she wouldn’t use the system’s exchange platform.
It wasn’t about maintaining her dignity; it was simply that using it would come at a cost.
Let’s take a moment to rethink; if she was truly out of grain, she wouldn’t need anyone’s donations to swap for it.
After so many years of streaming, her popularity and points had accumulated to absurd levels.
If she were to really exchange for grain, she wouldn’t just drown Huang Song; she could drown the people of the five nations in a sea of rice!
Seeing her say this, the audience could only suppress their burgeoning impulse.
【Thousand Sorrows Can’t Compare to a Month’s Light】: Okay, brain queen, I’ll go buy some candy.
Jiang Pengji: “…”
After the audience’s distractions, Jiang Pengji’s anger was replaced by rationality.
【Clear Lotus Leaves】: Host, without these 50,000 stones of grain, the army won’t be lacking in provisions, right?
With no one else in the tent, Jiang Pengji spoke softly, “No, we won’t be lacking. One can’t put all eggs in one basket; similarly, the grain lines won’t just be a single one. The Xingcheng from Hujun is one, but there are several others. Losing this 50,000 stones might be uncomfortable, but it won’t lead to starvation.”
Moreover, Qi Guanrang wouldn’t let Huang Song benefit and leave unscathed.
Though the grain line had been attacked, it might affect morale, but the overall impact wouldn’t be significant.
