The Prodigal Son

In the following days, Qin Yu and his group began to completely let loose around Yue Chi.

They didn't have any specific goals; they just went with the flow.

Moreover, Qin Yu was quite particular; he only robbed landlords and gentry, and never harmed the poor and common people.

Sometimes, they even transform into messengers of justice, acting on behalf of Heaven.

After easily capturing another almost undefended county town, Qin Yu immediately began distributing grain.

"Queue up, queue up!"

"Don't push, there's enough for everyone!"

"Get lost! You're so young, and you dare to come here to collect rations? Do you think I'm blind?"

The area outside the county government office was bustling with activity, as elderly people with gray hair and young children lined up to receive their grain rations.

Each elderly person and child can receive 20 jin of grain.

Ning Jun was responsible for distributing the food and maintaining order at the scene.

Watching the large amount of grain being taken away, Xiong Quhu felt a pang of heartache and turned to Qin Yu, who was lying on a recliner, asking, "General Qin, what are we doing this for?"

"What do you think you're after?" Qin Yu asked back.

"How would I know?"

Xiong Quhu gave a dry laugh, but his face was full of frustration.

Please!

They've come to plunder!

We're not here to do charity!

If these were matters concerning the people of Ningguo, and Qin Yu were to distribute grain, he wouldn't say anything.

But these are all people from the State of Chu!

The people of Chu should be grateful that they didn't plunder these people!

Now, Qin Yu is actually going to great lengths to distribute grain?

"You're a fucking pig-brain!"

Qin Yu glared at Xiong Quhu, his eyes wide. "Reputation! Understand?"

"Reputation?"

Xiong Quhu was puzzled.

Looking at the simple-minded but physically strong Xiong Quhu, Qin Yu couldn't help but shake his head inwardly. He patiently explained, "Previously, in order to gather military provisions, we plundered extensively around Shiqi County, causing the people around Shiqi County to resent us! Now, we don't need to worry about food for the time being. We need to find a way to restore our reputation and let the people of Chu know that we are a righteous army..."

A major war between Da Ning and Chu is inevitable sooner or later.

Their previous acts of plundering and killing prisoners would surely incite hatred among the Chu people, making them regard them as a monstrous threat.

Now, it's time to salvage their image.

Anyway, it will take them a lot of effort to take this grain away.

Rather than doing that, it would be better to use other people's money to salvage their image and let the people of Chu remember their kindness.

When they invade Chu again in the future, these people might line the streets to welcome them!

"That...is unlikely, isn't it?"

Xiong Quhu was stunned. "They're already being kind by not wanting to tear us to pieces, yet they still remember the good things we did for them?"

To these people of Chu, they were invaders!

Who will remember the good deeds of the invaders?

Isn't his idea incredibly naive?

"You have to believe that most ordinary people don't think that much! They'll remember those who provide for them, those who feed and clothe them!"

Qin Yu shook his head and smiled to himself, "Moreover, Chu has suffered heavy losses this time, and in order to deal with the threat from my Great Ning, it will inevitably expand its army on a large scale! At the same time, it will also have to provide money and grain to compensate Great Ning for its losses! Under such circumstances, Chu will inevitably increase taxes on its people..."

Ordinary people aren't fools; they know how to compare.

They opened the granaries and distributed grain, but the State of Chu increased taxes, causing immense suffering to the people.

Doesn't this comparison highlight their superiority even more?

The people's hearts are worth supporting!

Even if they cannot be used by them, they can still exacerbate the internal conflicts within Chu.

In any case, this is a good thing for them!

Xiong Quhu suddenly understood, and looked at Qin Yu with admiration: "General Qin is brilliant, I admire you!"

Just as Qin Yu and his men were opening the granaries to distribute the grain, Shi Hong was having a terrible headache.

In the past few days, news about Qin Yu's troops has been flying into Shi Hong's hands like snowflakes.

Shi Hong stood in front of the sand table with a furrowed brow, feeling extremely agitated.

He hasn't had a good night's sleep for three whole days!

He was often woken up by so-called urgent military news after only a short nap.

However, Qin Yu's unusual behavior was completely undetectable.

He felt that Qin Yu was a mad dog, and no one knew where this mad dog would run or where it would suddenly rush out to bite people.

In this situation, although he wanted to send troops to drive the enemy away, he was worried about falling into a trap and hesitated to send troops. He could only report the situation here to the court as quickly as possible.

Just as Shi Hong was suffering terribly, Baili Yunshan rushed in, "General, I just received news that the imperial envoy sent by the court is about to arrive!"

Shi Hong suddenly raised his head. "Quickly follow me to greet the Holy Envoy!"

With that, Shi Hong led Baili Yunshan toward the entrance of the camp.

"Has the general discerned Qin Yu's true intentions?"

While waiting for the holy envoy, Baili Yunshan couldn't help but ask Shi Hong a question.

"There's absolutely no pattern to it, and it's impossible to predict!"

Shi Hong exhaled a breath of stale air. "According to those who brought back Liang Jingzhe's coffin, Qin Yu is most adept at using intrigue and trickery to manipulate his opponents, forcing them to fall into his traps without warning! If we rashly send troops, we may very well end up following in the footsteps of Liang Jingzhe's forces..."

"I think so too."

Baili Yunshan nodded slightly, "Although Qin Yu is famous, I am not afraid of him in a direct confrontation! But Qin Yu doesn't like direct combat. If you are not careful, you will be led by the nose by such an opponent."

"So, let's just wait and see what the envoy has to say for now!" Shi Hong rubbed his head wearily.

He hoped that the imperial envoy would come to negotiate with Ningguo, rather than bring an imperial edict ordering them to take the initiative.

About fifteen minutes later, the imperial envoy sent by the Chu Emperor arrived.

The person who arrived was none other than Xi Ya, the Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince of Chu.

Shi Hong and Baili Yunshan were both discovered by Xi Ya, the then governor of Xiuzhou, in their early years, and can be considered as Xi Ya's half-disciple.

The two of them breathed a sigh of relief the moment they saw Xi Ya.

The reason was simply that Xi Ya had previously firmly opposed supporting Yu Wu's usurpation of power at that time.

For this reason, Xi Ya was directly demoted from Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince to serve as the prefect of a county under the jurisdiction of Laizhou.

Now, Xi Ya has come as a holy envoy, most likely to negotiate with Ning Kingdom.

"Welcome, Holy Envoy!"

The two men quickly led the generals in the camp to pay their respects to Xi Ya.

"Generals, there's no need for such formalities!"

With his hair now completely white, Xi Ya slowly stepped forward. "Thank you all for your hard work, generals! His Majesty has instructed me to convey his gratitude to you all!"

"You flatter me, Your Excellency!"

Shi Hong bowed again, "As subjects of the Great Chu, we are entitled to the emperor's bounty and are obligated to serve the country. We dare not speak of our hardships!"

"Okay, okay!"

Xi Ya smiled with relief, then patted Shi Hong on the shoulder, "Now that Marquis Liang has unfortunately passed away, Gongzhou is counting on you!"

"This humble general will certainly not fail in his mission!"

Shi Hong nodded firmly, then gestured with his hand, "Holy Envoy, please come inside!"

"No need to rush this!"

Xi Ya raised his hand and said, "I have brought the letter from the State expressing our willingness to negotiate peace with Ning Kingdom. Send someone to deliver the letter to Yun Zhao and ask him to forward it to the Empress of Great Ning! We can discuss the rest later!"

Shi Hong was overjoyed and readily accepted the order: "Yes!"