The Empress's No.1 Lackey

Chapter 983 - 557: Kings Meet: Zhao Shixiong Braves the Meeting Alone

Last night it rained in Taicang City, and by dawn the fine drizzle had not stopped.

"With every autumn rain comes a chill. How many times have we seen this rain this year? We are nearing the Mid-Autumn Festival again."

Zhao Douan, seated in a carriage, left the government office. As he toured the city, he couldn’t help but feel the cold wind blowing in through the window.

In recent days, the people inside the city frequently saw Commander Zhao on his patrols.

Zhao Douan had been spending more time in Linfeng these days. As for the Capital, he only occasionally visited it a few times.

Since the last war, the Lu Family in the city had completely submitted, having abandoned their indecisive thoughts.

Taking advantage of the war, Zhao Douan suppressed with one hand and supported with the other, effectively replacing the major clans on the western front of Linfeng.

Instead, it prompted a unity between the city’s military and civilian populations, subtly increasing the morale.

"Mid-Autumn is approaching... Ah-choo..." Inside the carriage, Jin Jian, wearing a priest robe, sat in a corner, rubbing his sleepy eyes with a fist, yawning, the young priestess’s delicate face looking dispirited, diligently placing her glasses on her nose, she said somewhat dejectedly:

"In past Mid-Autumns, I always spent the time with everyone in the Heavenly Master Mansion. The moon that night is very round, and the power of the Moon God is at its strongest throughout the year."

This was the first time since she could remember that she spent the Mid-Autumn Festival outside.

Zhao Douan curiously asked, "Is the Moon God beautiful?"

Jin Jian was quite annoyed, wrinkling her little nose, she snorted, turned around hugging her arms, and ignored him: "I don’t talk to those who blaspheme the Divine."

Zhao Douan pouted, thinking she was being difficult.

Although the two had been familiar with each other for a long time, they truly hadn’t chatted alone much while on campaign.

This was mainly because of Jin Jian’s habit of being active at night and asleep during the day, hence her biological clock was the opposite of ordinary people.

The reason she didn’t sleep today was that Zhao Douan had been going out patrolling every day recently, and to prevent accidents, every time he went out, he took at least one companion from the Worldly Realm with him.

Today it was Jin Jian’s turn.

As for the reason for wandering outside, it was largely to let the countless eyes in the city, both bright and dark, see, in order to stabilize the military’s morale.

"Speaking of which, did Governor Sun pay you for your help last time?"

Zhao Douan suddenly asked.

"Yes, he did. It’s in my bag." Mentioning money, a smile blossomed at the corners of Jin Jian’s mouth, as she patted the bulging pouch hanging from her waist as if it were a treasure.

Traveling outside attracted her mostly because it offered more opportunities to earn money.

But she hadn’t shown off for three seconds before noticing Zhao Douan’s malicious gaze, instantly retreating warily, her pale little hand clung tightly to the purse: "What are you looking at? This is my money!"

Zhao Douan coaxingly said: "You see, the money is of no immediate use while lying with you. And now the court is waging war, and funds are very scarce. I have a business proposal: you lend me the money, and I will promise you an interest rate thirty percent above the market norm, how about it?"

Jin Jian wasn’t fooled at all, shaking her head like a rattle, smartly replying: "You don’t deceive me! If I lend it to you and you lose the war, you won’t pay me back!"

The young priestess, with no financial acumen, instinctively realized that high-risk investments come with high risks!

Earning money was not easy for her.

Zhao Douan, displeased, said: "When have I ever lost a battle? Do you see Zhao Shixiong by the Huai River? In a few days, I’ll have him dealt with, and acquiring half of Huai River will be effortless. There are plenty of affluent scholarly families along the Huai River, rolling in wealth. After a round of plundering them, do you think I’d be short of your little interest? Moreover, when I was doing the saltpeter ice business, I wanted to bring you on board, but you were too short-sighted to buy the formula at a flat price, and then watched as a huge share of the profit slipped by. Now, such a prime investment opportunity is in front of you, do you still want to miss it?"

Jin Jian, after being coaxed, became hesitantly indecisive.

Afraid of her savings going to waste, she also feared missing a valuable financial product.

The young priestess was terribly conflicted.

With a smile, Zhao Douan cheerfully said: "Anyway, the opportunity is just this once. When I’m in a good mood, if you don’t lend now, later I won’t accept it."

He wasn’t truly coveting Jin Jian’s mere thousand or eight hundred taels, it was mainly for entertainment, teasing her to relieve his boredom.

...

After making a circle around the Prefecture and returning to the government office, Jin Jian still couldn’t make up her mind.

Sun Xiaozhun, however, had already come forward to greet them: "Commander, please take a look at this."

Zhao Douan walked into the main hall, placed the oil-paper umbrella at the door, received the account book handed by Sun Xiaozhun, and flipped through it, raising an eyebrow: "It’s the account book for the autumn harvest grain collection?"

Sun Xiaozhun, whose hair was mostly white, nodded bitterly: "These days, the people have started the autumn harvest, but this year’s autumn grain is less than two-thirds of last year’s."

That’s so little!

Zhao Douan frowned.

The Eight Princes’ Rebellion took place in the summer, at that time the six-road Vassal Kings raised their armies, causing global chaos, and although Linfeng was less affected, Taicang Prefecture, being drawn into the war, inevitably faced consequences.

Fortunately, Zhao Douan organized Su Dan’s "burning city" tactic, otherwise, the autumn harvest grain would have been even worse.

The harvest was low, but military expenses were burgeoning wildly.

The court’s biggest fear previously was gradually becoming a reality.

"Even with the stored grain included, it’s difficult to sustain a prolonged war. If things continue like this, there might be people starving to death this winter." Sun Xiaozhun took off his official hat, revealing his worry-white hair.

Conquering Huai River was becoming increasingly urgent.

The Five Army Camp Commander Yuan Feng was also in the room. Hearing this, he remarked: "The Minister Xue has already taken a city on the Eastern Front, indicating that everything is moving in a positive direction."

Sun Xiaozhun sighed: "But will it be in time? With Mid-Autumn fast approaching, winter will follow in the blink of an eye. Before winter, how much territory can the Minister Xue capture? Even if a few counties are taken, it won’t make much of a difference! This is still without Yunfu soldiers going to aid. Once winter sets in, it becomes much more difficult to wage war. By then... the entire situation will reverse."