Choose Liu Bei at the start, I am the only one who knows the plot of the Three Kingdoms.

Two servants helped an elderly man, dressed in a brocade cotton robe and with an unnatural flush on his face, slowly walk out. He was Tian Chou, the head of the Tian family.

He coughed as he walked, and he did look sick, but his eyes were sharp and clear, without much cloudiness.

"General Chen... cough cough... forgive me for being unwell and unable to greet you from afar."

With the help of his servants, Tian Chou sat down in the main seat, his voice hoarse.

"I wonder what urgent military matter brings you to my humble abode so late at night, General? Or is there some unusual activity from the barbarians?"

Chen Dao sneered inwardly, but maintained basic courtesy on his face, clasping his hands in greeting.

"Lord Tian is unwell and should not be disturbed. However, the military situation is urgent and concerns the lives of the soldiers and civilians in the city, so I have no choice but to come. Yang Le is currently besieged and its food supplies are running out. The soldiers and civilians defending the city are only able to eat thin porridge each day. If this continues, the city will fall in no time."

Chen has heard that the Tian family is a benevolent and virtuous family in Liaoxi, with accumulated wealth. He has come to earnestly request Lord Tian to extend a helping hand, out of consideration for fellow subjects of the Han Dynasty, and temporarily lend him grain to supply the army and alleviate this urgent crisis. Once the war has subsided, our lord will surely reward him handsomely, and Chen will forever remember this great kindness!

After listening, Tian Chou let out a long sigh, his face showing an extremely troubled expression.

"General Chen, your words are truly too kind to this old man. Defending our territory and resisting the barbarians is a matter of great righteousness, how could the Tian family dare not do their utmost?"
But... alas, General, you are unaware of this. Last year, the harvest in Youzhou was already poor, and this spring, with the outbreak of war, refugees have poured in. My family, numbering several hundred, along with the tenants and servants we depend on, now has nearly a thousand mouths to feed.

The grain stored at home is barely enough to sustain our own livelihood, and we truly... truly have no surplus grain to lend. In normal times, let alone lending, I would gladly donate some, but now... I am truly willing but unable, and I beg your understanding, General.”

These words were perfectly worded, expressing both "righteousness" and lamenting "difficulties," thus completely shirking responsibility.

Chen Dao patiently reiterated the principle that after the city fell several times, no one, regardless of status, would be spared under the barbarian's sword, and even hinted that he could issue an IOU to "purchase" the city at a price higher than the market price.

However, Tian Chou just kept shaking his head and sighing, insisting that there was no food at home. In the end, he even coughed violently, looking like he was about to faint, and told the servants to quickly fetch medicine.

Seeing that Tian Chou was unyielding, Chen Dao knew that further discussion would be futile.

He suppressed his anger and got up to take his leave.

"In that case, I have disturbed Lord Tian's rest. I hope Lord Tian will take good care of his health. I will do my best in the matter of the city's defense."

Chen Dao's face was ashen as he left the Tian residence.

Without pausing, he led his men to the ancestral home of the Gongsun family in the west of the city. The Gongsun family's reaction was exactly the same as the Tian family's. A middle-aged steward came forward to receive them, claiming that the head of the family was "worried about national affairs and his old illness had relapsed," and was therefore unable to receive guests.

When asked to borrow grain, the steward shook his head vigorously, his lamentations even more pitiful than those of the farmers, mentioning things like "the family has fallen on hard times," "family members have scattered," and "the granaries are empty," as if the Gongsun family had fallen so low that they needed to rely on others for help.

Having been met with two firm but unyielding rejections, Chen Dao's anger was about to erupt, but at the same time, a trace of doubt arose. Were these two companies really in such dire straits?

Or perhaps they were convinced that Yangle would fall, and preferred to let the grain rot in the cellar or be secretly moved rather than support the defending army, so as not to offend the Hu barbarians who might take over, or other forces that might occupy the area in the future.

He returned to the temporarily requisitioned county office and immediately summoned his most capable crossbow captain.

"Immediately send more men to keep a close watch on the Tian and Gongsun families' granaries and warehouses, as well as all their secret passages and hidden doors leading out of the city! I need to know whether they have any grain! And how much grain they have!"

"promise!"

The captain of the crossbowmen accepted the order and left.

Over the next two days, Chen Dao anxiously awaited news while dealing with the increasingly frequent harassment and attacks from the Xiongnu. The city's food reserves were dwindling at a visible rate, forcing rations to be reduced again. The faces of the garrison and militiamen showed increasing signs of hunger, and morale began to waver once more.

Late on the third night, the officer in charge of crossbows, covered in night dew and chill, quietly sneaked into the county government office and presented Chen Dao with a thin, secret report on silk.

Chen Dao unfolded the silk cloth by the dim light of the oil lamp. After just one glance, his pupils suddenly contracted, and the veins on the back of his hand holding the cloth bulged.

The document clearly indicated the locations of the granaries belonging to the Tian and Gongsun families in the city and nearby hidden fortresses using simple text and symbols, as well as the estimated amount of grain stored based on the number of vehicles entering and leaving the city and the scale of the guards.

"A rough estimate suggests that the grain stored by the two companies can supply at least seven thousand able-bodied men for half a month."

"The crossbow captain added in a low voice."

"And that doesn't even include the parts they might be hiding even deeper."

"Seven thousand people...half a month..."

Chen Dao practically spat out those words through clenched teeth, his chest heaving violently. The entire garrison, including the militia, numbered only six or seven thousand!
The grain controlled by these two families was enough to support the entire garrison in high-intensity combat for half a month! Yet, they put on one "sob story" after another in front of us, repeatedly claiming that they had "no surplus grain"!
No wonder they were so fearless! Chen Dao instantly understood the reason. In chaotic times, the strongest army and the most powerful horses are kings, but powerful families have existed for hundreds of years, with deep foundations and intricate connections.

No matter how the ruling class changes, whether it is Han or Hu, Gu or Cao or other warlords, if one wants to truly rule a region, one cannot do without the support of these local strongmen.

Food supplies, talent, local governance—which of these can be completely bypassed? This is the essence of the saying, "Ironclad families, ever-changing dynasties."

They dared to treat themselves, the frontline generals, in this way because they were certain that even if their lord, Gu Rubing, found out later, he might not actually do anything to them for the sake of overall stability; at most, he would just give them a reprimand.

If Yang Le manages to hold on, their current "stinginess" might be interpreted as "prudence" and "preserving the family," and could even be used to gain leverage with the new ruler.

A chilling killing intent rose uncontrollably from the depths of Chen's heart.

These parasites, at a time of national crisis and foreign invasion, do not think of serving the country, but instead hoard goods and speculate, treating the lives of the soldiers and civilians in the city as worthless, only caring about their own gains and losses! If they acted like soldiers, how would such behavior be different from colluding with the enemy? They should be beheaded on the spot, and their property should be confiscated to fund the army!
His hand repeatedly pressed against the hilt of his sword at his waist, then slowly released it. Killing them would certainly be satisfying, but what would the consequences be? The powerful families of Liaoxi and even the entire Youzhou would inevitably retaliate strongly, possibly even triggering internal strife and opening the door to thieves.

"Our lord is still seriously injured, and the overall situation is precarious. If I were to stir up such trouble in the rear..." Chen Dao closed his eyes, took several deep breaths of the chilling air, and forcibly suppressed his surging killing intent. He couldn't act impulsively; a small act of impatience could ruin a great plan.

The following day, Chen Dao extended another invitation, asking the heads of the Tian and Gongsun families to come to the county government office to "discuss the grand plan for defending the city."

This time, perhaps feeling they had left the general hanging, or perhaps having received a warning from Chen Dao that he had already detected some rumors, Tian Chou and the middle-aged head of the Gongsun family, Gongsun Han, who was claiming to be ill, finally appeared together.

Inside the simple main hall of the county government, the atmosphere was even more subtle than the last time at the Tian residence. Chen Dao didn't beat around the bush and directly placed the data on the two families' grain reserves that he had obtained from the crossbow captain on the table. Although he didn't explicitly state the source, the accuracy of the data caused Tian Chou and Gongsun Han's expressions to change several times.

"Master Tian, ​​Master Gongsun."

Chen Dao's voice was calm, yet it carried the steely edge honed on the battlefield.

"The barbarians have besieged the city; it could fall in a day or two. The city is short of food, and the soldiers and civilians are starving and unable to defend it. You two are both pillars of Liaoxi, deeply understanding of the greater good. I, Chen, do not wish to say more, but only ask one question: Is this grain to be borrowed or sold?"

Tian Chou and Gongsun Han exchanged a glance, both seeing surprise and a hint of unease in each other's eyes. They hadn't expected Chen Dao to be able to find such specific data, and they certainly hadn't expected that this seemingly upright military general, after having incriminating evidence against them, wouldn't immediately retaliate, but instead would give them another way out.

After a moment of silence, Tian Chou coughed and spoke.

"General Chen, please calm your anger. Previously… it was indeed my oversight; I only considered the hardship of my family's survival and failed to understand the difficulties you face in defending the city. Since the military situation is so urgent, my Tian family is willing… willing to sell some of our stored grain to alleviate the immediate crisis. However… in this chaotic world, grain is precious, and the price…"

Gongsun Han quickly echoed this sentiment.

"My Gongsun family is also willing to sell some of our stored grain to help the general defend the city."

Chen Dao sneered inwardly. As expected, they still insisted on "selling" rather than "borrowing" or "donating," and they wanted to raise the price.

He asked expressionlessly.

What is your offer?

Tian Chou stroked his beard and pondered.

"The market price these days... well, in peaceful times, a shi (a unit of dry measure) of millet costs about three hundred coins. But these are extraordinary times, transportation is difficult and the risks are enormous... How about five hundred coins per shi?"

Five hundred coins! That's almost double the usual market price! Although Gongsun Han didn't say anything, his eyes clearly showed his approval of the price.

Chen Dao stared at them for a long time, until the two of them felt a little uneasy, before he slowly spoke, his voice revealing neither joy nor anger.

“Alright. We’ll settle for 500 coins per shi. But I need to get the grain immediately, enough to support 5,000 men for ten days. As for the money, I’ll draw up a written agreement, stamp it with my army seal, and it will be paid by the Liaoxi Prefecture or the Lord’s treasury after the battle.”

Seeing Chen Dao so readily agree to this almost extortionate price, a hint of smugness flashed in the eyes of Tian Chou and Gongsun Han, which they quickly concealed. The two sides quickly finalized the details and signed the documents. The Tian and Gongsun families agreed to deliver the first batch of grain to the granary designated by the county government within two days.

After seeing off these two "plague gods," and watching their departing figures with a hint of ease, Chen Dao stood alone in the empty main hall, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked, his nails almost digging into his palms.

What a disgrace! As a general, he has a duty to defend the land, yet he has to bow down to these hoarding and speculative families who disregard righteousness, buying grain that should be used to protect the country at nearly double the market price—almost extortionate! This anger is stuck in his chest, making it painful to even breathe.

"General..."

The captain of the personal guards standing to the side hesitated, his face also full of resentment.

Chen Dao slowly loosened his fist, revealing deep marks on his palm.

He gazed at the gloomy sky outside the door and spoke, word by word.

"Record today's events. Also record these two cases. Once the provisions are in hand, prioritize ensuring the supplies for the soldiers and civilians defending the city. Record everything that happened here in detail, and together with the findings of the crossbow captain, report to the lord immediately."

"promise!"

Despite the humiliating process, the effects were immediate once the actual grain arrived.

When the soldiers and militia finally got a relatively substantial meal, their low morale visibly improved, and the defenses on the city walls appeared much stronger.

Taking advantage of the situation, Chen Dao reorganized the defenses, repaired the city walls, and repelled several threatening attacks by the Xiongnu allied forces, barely stabilizing the battle line around the city walls.

Everything that happened in Yangle, especially the actions of the Tian and Gongsun families, was quickly placed on Gu Rubing's desk as he was on his way back east, thanks to Chen Dao's secret report and Gu Rubing's own intelligence network.

Inside the carriage, Gu Rubing's shoulder injury had not yet healed, and his face was still pale, but his eyes had regained their former sharpness.

He carefully read Chen Dao's report and the supplementary intelligence from the crossbow captain, remaining silent for a long time. The atmosphere in the carriage was somewhat tense. Zhuge Liang, who was attending him, and Guan Yu, who could barely ride in the carriage, both felt the chill emanating from their lord.

"What a fine saying, 'Even the landlord's family has no surplus grain.'"

Gu Rubing finally spoke, his voice calm, yet those who knew him well knew how much anger was hidden beneath that calm.

"The barbarian cavalry invaded the border, the country was in danger, the soldiers were fighting bloody battles at the front, and the people in the city were terrified."

They, on the contrary, hoarded grain and fodder, waiting for the highest price to sell, treating matters of national importance like a marketplace transaction. If it weren't for Shuzhi's prudence, his thorough investigation, and his willingness to endure humiliation to acquire the grain and fodder, wouldn't our important town in Liaoxi have been handed over to others because of the selfishness of these parasites?

Zhuge Liang coughed lightly and spoke slowly.

"My lord, please calm your anger. The actions of the powerful families are indeed hateful, but what they rely on is nothing more than the idea that 'the world cannot be without powerful families.' At present, our army has suffered a recent defeat, and we are surrounded by enemies on all sides, with the northern frontier being particularly critical. In the matter of Liaoxi, the first priority should be to stabilize the situation and repel the barbarians. As for the likes of Tian and Gongsun, it is not too late to settle accounts with them later."

The most urgent task is to provide General Chen with tangible support.

Guan Yu slightly opened his phoenix eyes, a fierce glint flashing within them.

“Brother, how is this any different from aiding the enemy? If we do not punish them severely, I fear that powerful families everywhere will follow suit, and how will military orders be enforced?”

Gu Rubing understood this principle perfectly well. He also knew that once the news of his serious injury and the loss of his core combat strength spread, these local bullies would only become bolder.

He paused for a moment, then made a decision.

"Pass on the order."

First, urgently allocate grain and fodder from the rear of Youzhou, sparing no expense, and transport them to Yangle as quickly as possible. Second, order Liu Bao's 10,000 cavalry stationed in Yuyang to immediately set off to reinforce Yangle and return to Chen Dao's command.

Tell Chen Dao that supplies and reinforcements are on their way, and instruct him to hold out for at least another twenty days, no matter what! Liaoxi must not be lost!

The order was quickly relayed.

A sizable grain transport team and 10,000 elite cavalrymen began to advance from different directions toward Yangle County, which was engulfed in flames of war.

However, distant water cannot quench immediate thirst. Just as Gu Rubing's reinforcements were still on their way, Yangle City was met with the most intense attack from the Xiongnu allied forces.

It seemed the Hu barbarians had also noticed the improved morale of the city's defenders after receiving supplies, and fearing unforeseen complications, they finally mustered their main force and launched their long-planned all-out offensive. (End of Chapter)