The Three Kingdoms: The entire Cao Cao camp thought I was weak and frail.

Inside the Yingchuan Prefectural Government's residence, fine silver-boned charcoal burned in the warm pavilion, yet Guo Xun still felt a chill rising from the soles of his feet.

He stared longingly at the swirling snowflakes outside the window, listening to the distant, faint cries of refugees, feeling utterly overwhelmed. The Yellow Turban rebels had been driven away by General Huangfu, but these tens of thousands of refugees clung to the outskirts of Yingchuan City like a leech. He couldn't drive them away; he didn't have the guts to kill them; and if they rioted, he, the prefect, would be the first to suffer.

"Your Excellency, Your Excellency!" The chief clerk stumbled in, his face filled with panic. "Outside the city...dozens more have frozen to death outside the city. Those refugees are a bit agitated; they're blocking the city gate, saying...saying that if they're not given a way out, they're going to rush in!"

"What?!" Guo Xun jumped up from his couch in shock. "Rebellion! Rebellion! Quickly! Call the county soldiers! Drive them all away!"

"Your Excellency, you mustn't!" the chief clerk cried, his face contorted with grief. "How many soldiers are there in the prefecture? Those refugees are a dense, overwhelming force. If we attack them head-on, it might incite a popular uprising!"

Just then, a minor official announced from outside the gate: "Reporting to Your Excellency, Guo Jia of Yingchuan requests an audience."

"Guo Jia?" Guo Xun paused for a moment, then his eyes lit up. That's right, how could he have forgotten this man! He had played a crucial role in rescuing Yingchuan last time. He quickly said, "Quickly! Please come in!"

Guo Jia, still dressed in a long, wide-sleeved robe and carrying a wine gourd, strolled in leisurely. He glanced at Guo Xun, whose face was full of sorrow, and the chief clerk, who was about to cry, and then, as if nothing had happened, found a seat and sat down, even reaching out his hand towards the brazier.

"Mr. Fengxiao, you've finally arrived!" Guo Xun rushed forward as if he had seen a savior. "Quickly, give me some advice. What should we do with those refugees outside the city?"

Guo Jia lifted his eyelids and glanced at him, then slowly took a sip of wine: "Your Excellency is the ruler of a prefecture, and you love your people like your own children. As a mere refugee, I'm sure Your Excellency already has a good plan in mind. Why ask me, a commoner?"

These words made Guo Xun blush. If he had a good plan, would he be so flustered? He rubbed his hands together, forcing a smile, "Sir, please don't make fun of me. I'm truly... at my wit's end! Please, for the sake of the hundreds of thousands of people in Yingchuan, save me from this predicament!"

Guo Jia then put down his wine gourd and said slowly, "Well, there is a way."

Guo Xun's spirits lifted, and he leaned closer: "Please speak, sir!"

"I heard that the memorial Your Excellency submitted to the court some time ago, requesting merit for Yingchuan, has already been commended by His Majesty?" Guo Jia asked.

"Yes, yes." Mentioning this, Guo Xun's face finally regained some color. "His Majesty praised me... for remaining calm in the face of danger and for my meritorious service in defending the territory." Would you like to achieve an even greater merit, one that would earn you praise from all under heaven and even make you famous in history? Guo Jia's voice carried a seductive quality.

Guo Xun's breathing quickened: "What merit?"

"Please consider, Your Excellency," Guo Jia said, holding up a finger. "Now, the roads are blocked by heavy snow, and famine is rampant. Where in the world is there not widespread starvation? If, at this time, only Yingchuan County not only survives without a single death from starvation, but also sees its people united in loyalty and its cities revitalized, what will His Majesty think when this news reaches Luoyang and His Majesty's ears? What will the scholars of the land think? They will say that Prefect Guo of Yingchuan possesses extraordinary talent, has saved countless lives, and is a model of upright governance for our time!"

Guo Xun was overjoyed, his mouth practically watering. He could almost see his future—promotion, titles, and high office. But then his spirits dampened: "What you say is good, sir, but... my prefecture has neither money nor grain. How can I possibly perform this charitable act that will save countless lives?"

"Your Excellency may lack grain, but Yingchuan has plenty," Guo Jia coaxed patiently. "Have you forgotten? Yingchuan is a gathering place for powerful families. The Xun, Chen, Xu… which one of them isn't incredibly wealthy, with granaries overflowing? Your Excellency is an official appointed by the court, representing His Majesty. Now that the nation is in peril, if Your Excellency, in the name of the court, were to 'borrow' some grain from them to aid the disaster victims, would they dare refuse?"

Guo Xun's eyes grew brighter and brighter. That's right! How could he not have thought of that! He's the prefect, an official! It's only natural for these gentry families to contribute money!

"But... if they are unwilling and unite to resist, this government will also..." Guo Xun was still somewhat unsure.

"They wouldn't dare," Guo Jia smirked. "The Prefect only needs to spread the word that the refugees outside the city are about to riot, and if they don't provide provisions to appease them, the first fire will burn down to their fortified villages and granaries. Besides, the Prefect is on good terms with the Xun family and has given them an honorary title, so there's no need to worry about them not supporting him. With the Xun family taking the lead, the other families will have no choice but to follow suit."

Guo Xun slapped his thigh: "Brilliant! This plan is brilliant!"

Guo Jia continued, "With grain, Your Excellency can recruit able-bodied men from the displaced people to repair the city walls and dredge the waterways. This will not only give them work and ensure they have enough to eat, preventing any unrest, but also make Yingchuan City impregnable. Your Excellency can then set up sheds and distribute porridge to relieve the old and weak. In this way, Your Excellency can resolve the crisis in Yingchuan without shedding a drop of blood and gain a reputation for unparalleled benevolence. Your Excellency, you must accept this immense wealth and honor."

Guo Xun was trembling with excitement. He looked at Guo Jia with eyes full of admiration and gratitude. He felt that every word Guo Jia spoke was tailor-made for him.

"Sir, you are truly my Zhang Liang! My Chen Ping!" Guo Xun excitedly grasped Guo Jia's hand. "If this matter succeeds, I will certainly submit a memorial to the court to request commendation for you!"

"You flatter me, Your Excellency." Guo Jia calmly withdrew his hand and picked up the wine gourd again. "I am merely a leisurely person who enjoys drinking. It is the duty of scholars like us to share the burdens of our lord. The specific arrangements are for Your Excellency to decide."

He was reminding Guo Xun that all the credit was his own, and that he knew nothing about it.

Guo Xun understood immediately and nodded repeatedly, "I understand, I understand."

Emerging from the prefect's residence, Guo Jia braved the wind and snow, taking a large gulp of wine. The pungent liquor burned even more fiercely within him.

He returned to the Xun residence and barged straight into Xun Hao's room. Xun Hao was sitting on the couch reading a book. When he saw him enter, he raised his eyes.

"It's done." Guo Jia put the wine gourd on the table, sat down next to Xun Hao with a swagger, and placed his icy hands directly on Xun Hao's neck.

Xun Hao shivered from the cold, almost dropping the bamboo slip in his hand. He frowned, trying to dodge, but Guo Jia grabbed his shoulder, rendering him unable to move.

"Ah Hao, I've been working so hard for you, standing outside in the cold wind all day, and you won't even let me warm up when I get back?" Guo Jia pulled him closer to his chest, rested his chin on his head, and sighed contentedly.