The king behind the empress

Chapter 50 The Xunyang Family
Regarding the frontal battlefield, Zhang Yuan wasn't too worried. The Three Kingdoms had their own ulterior motives, and it was almost impossible for them to forcibly capture Xunyang City when they were not in the same mood.

But what worries Zhang Yuan most now is that the logistics of Xunyang City have changed.

Looking at Zhang Yuan's ugly face, Zhao Chuan knew what he was thinking, and asked softly, "Master Hou, what does the court say now?"

"A few days ago, I sent a letter to a friend in the court. He said that the court has no food in stock. According to his speculation, if the court supplies us with food and grass, it will not exceed [-] shi at most."

Zhang Yuan thought of the correspondence with his old friend a few days ago, and couldn't help but feel a little depressed, while Zhao Chuan's face became very ugly, "Although there are only more than 3 soldiers left in our army, plus the 11 civilians who assisted in defending the city , adding up to [-] people."

"11 people, [-] stones of food and grass, after dividing up, it will only be enough for Xunyang City to consume for five days at most. What is this enough for?"

"The imperial court is also difficult."

Thinking of the disaster in the pass, Zhang Yuan couldn't help but sighed again.

"It's hard to deduct our food and grass."

Zhao Chuan had a little anger on his face, "Now the soldiers in the city have not paid their salaries for half a year. If there is any shortage of food and grass, let alone you, even the gods will not be able to appease those soldiers. gone."

"How much food and grass are there in the army?"

"If you save some food, it will only be enough for one month at most."

Zhao Chuan's expression was a little gloomy. Ordinary soldiers fought for money, but now they haven't been paid for half a year, and their morale is already low. If rations are deducted, a bad one may cause a mutiny.

"One month's needs..."

Hearing that there was only one month's food and grass left, Zhang Yuan also had some headaches. With [-] disabled soldiers, it was not easy for him to persist until now. If the food and grass were cut off again, the city would be destroyed in an instant.

Moreover, the most important point is that this time he can no longer abandon the city and retreat like before.

Because the few cities he gave up earlier were originally to guard against the pass cities established by the Three Kingdoms, they didn't have much depth, and they didn't have any strategic goals.

But Xunyang City is different. Xunyang City is the gateway of Xunzhou. If Xunyang is lost, it is equivalent to sending away the fertile fields hundreds of miles away in Xunzhou. This is something that Zhang Yuan cannot accept.

"Zhao Chuan, go find Patriarch Feng and the others again, and invite President Wang and President Zhu over as well, and say that I will invite them to a banquet."

The people Zhang Yuan mentioned were local aristocratic families and the presidents of the two largest chambers of commerce in Xunyang City.

"Uncle, why are you still looking for them!"

Hearing the names of these people, Zhang Hu's expression immediately became a little angry. Zhang Yuan had approached these people once before, and wanted them to donate some money and food for the sake of the urgency of the war.

As a result, dozens of aristocratic families, plus two presidents of the chamber of commerce, took out a total of 1000 taels of silver and [-] shi of grain.

This thing, in Zhang Hu's view, is a humiliation to himself and others.

"Our soldiers fought bloody battles at the top of the city, not all for them, but in the end they didn't get rid of anything in the rear."

Zhang Hu was very emotional. He held his hands tightly on the handle of the gun and said angrily: "Uncle, if it doesn't work, I will lead a team to surround them. I don't believe they dare to come out with a knife resting on their necks." Money and food."

"shut up!"

Zhang Yuan snapped at the handsome case, "You dare to say such things as robbing good people, Zhang Hu, do you want to rebel?"

"Uncle, I..."

"Okay, stop talking!"

Just as Zhang Hu wanted to defend himself, he was interrupted by Zhang Yuan directly, "Go to the Shenjian Camp to inspect, if there is something wrong, come and see me!"

"Hey!"

Zhang Hu snorted angrily, then threw away the spear in his hand, and nailed it directly to the top of the city.

Seeing Zhang Hu's leaving figure, Zhao Chuan hesitated for a moment, and said, "Master Hou, I don't think it's useless to invite these people."

"They dare not lose Xunyang City because of you, and they are not willing to pay a penny. Even if you invite them, they will not pay."

"Do your best, and obey the destiny."

Zhang Yuan closed his eyes tiredly. Why didn't he know this, but what can he do now? It's true that he knows how to fight, but he won't conjure food out of thin air.

"As much as you want, even a stone is better than nothing."

Looking at Zhang Yuan who closed his eyes, Zhao Chuan hesitated for a moment, and finally couldn't help but said: "Master Hou, if the food and grass are really running out, I don't think Zhang Hu's proposal should be tried. "

"Zhang Hu is ignorant and you are ignorant."

Zhang Yuan closed his eyes, and his voice was a little low, "These people have intricate relationships in the court. If they are moved, no matter how much His Majesty trusts me, I am afraid that he will not be able to withstand the pressure of those ministers."

"If I am withdrawn, so what if there is food in Xunyang."

"If you are unlucky and replace with a coach who lacks courage, you will lose not only Xunyang, but half of Da Zhou's country."

After hearing Zhang Yuan's words, Zhao Chuan also fell silent. He knew what Zhang Yuan said was the truth, and he had already said it very tactfully. Now Da Zhou doesn't have any experienced and handsome talents, otherwise he wouldn't put the 70-year-old Zhang Yuan invited out again.

"Understood, I'm going to invite those Patriarchs."

……

In Xunyang City, in the mansion expropriated by Zhang Yuan, the invited patriarchs of the aristocratic families and the president of the Chamber of Commerce came here early.

After greeting each other for a while, these people checked that Zhang Yuan hadn't arrived yet, and began to discuss in low voices.

"Patriarch Feng, what do you think is the so-called Lord Hou inviting us here this time?"

The man known as Patriarch Feng was about six to seventy years old, with sunken eye sockets, wearing a brocade robe, and replied slowly: "What else can I do, I just want everyone here to contribute some more money."

"Why do you want us to pay again? Our money didn't come from the wind."

Hearing Patriarch Feng say that Zhang Yuan wanted to ask them for money, a well-built businessman covered in jewels beside Patriarch Feng's right hand said dissatisfiedly: "Their army has no money to fight, so they should ask the imperial court for money, and they always ask us for money." what happened?"

"We are not his cash cow, who can afford the [-] army?"

"That's right, what President Zhu said is right, the court is fighting a war, why should we merchants pay for it?"

"It's not easy for us to manage some fields."

Hearing President Zhu say that, the rest of the people also started to complain one after another, and the room was filled with their discussions for a while.

The person who spoke at the beginning, seeing this situation, whispered to Patriarch Feng: "Mr. Feng, Your Majesty should have received the memorial that we asked Mr. Qiange to hand over earlier, right? Why hasn't there been any movement, no?" If you don't want to withdraw, you should at least give a warning, right?"

"Don't even think about transferring him away. You know the situation in Dazhou now. He is the only one who can guard Xunyang. If you really want to transfer him away, I'm afraid no one will be able to defend Xunyang City."

Master Feng shook his head slightly, and continued: "As for the warning, Mr. Qian Ge told me that His Majesty still has to rely on this Lord Hou to guard Xunyang. Unless he did something special, His Majesty would not say anything." .”

"It's impossible for this woman to be an emperor!"

A sullen patriarch slammed the table, "It's only been three years, what has Da Zhou been tormented by her, and she can't even come up with a decent commander!"

　Thanks to Pindaoxuan for the two monthly tickets airdropped, thank you very much.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)