The Prodigal Son

With the main force of the Wudang Flying Army rushing into the city, the outcome of the battle was no longer in doubt.

On the battlefield, Qin Yu no longer had the opportunity to fight.

At this moment, Yuan Dingguo, covered in blood from the fighting, rushed in to report: "Commander Qin, we just learned from the prisoners that Zong Zhao has abandoned the city and fled to Panshi Fortress!"

"Zongbi's son isn't all that great either!"

Qin Yu curled his lip and immediately ordered Yuan Dingguo: "You personally lead men to pursue Zong Zhao and the fleeing enemy troops! Remember, only pursue them for ten li. If they dare to pursue them even one li further, you will be executed without mercy!"

"yes!"

Yuan Dingguo excitedly accepted the order and left.

Qin Yu stood on the city wall, looked down at the scene for a while, and then summoned a messenger.

"Order Pei Xiao to immediately lead his troops to seize control of the city's granaries!"

"Xiong Quhu, immediately lead your troops to wipe out the remaining enemy forces within the city!"

"Han Chong, lead your troops to expel the people from the city! Expel everyone except the doctors! Anyone who does not leave the city by noon will be slaughtered!"

The messenger dared not delay and immediately went to relay the order.

"Qin Xiong! You personally lead a group to tell the old man that my troops have captured Zhu County!"

"Okay!"

Qin Xiong was happy to do this, and quickly led ten men away on horseback.

By the time they reached the Yan army's fortress ahead, the battle there had already ended completely.

Upon learning that Qin Fumeng had arrived at the fortress, Qin Xiong, led by his soldiers, immediately found Qin Fumeng, who was standing on the city wall reminiscing about the past.

When they followed Emperor Xiaowu to attack the Yan Kingdom, this fortress did not yet exist here.

As it turned out, the fortress that the Yan people had spent many years building was of little use.

"My lord, Qin Xiong has arrived!"

The voice of the personal guard commander interrupted Qin Fumeng's thoughts.

Qin Fumeng turned around upon hearing the sound, looking at Qin Xiong in surprise: "Why are you here?"

Faced with Qin Fumeng's question, Qin Xiong straightened his back with immense pride: "Reporting to Your Excellency, my troops have captured Zhu County! We are currently mopping up the remaining enemy forces!"

"What?"

Qin Fumeng was greatly surprised and asked incredulously, "You captured Zhu County so quickly?"

How long has it been?

Before Chenshi (7-9 AM) was even over, they had already captured Zhu County?

Wasn't it Zongzhao's son who was in charge of Zhu County?

Even if Qin Yu and his men launched a surprise attack on Zongzhao without any preparation, Zongzhao shouldn't be so easily defeated, right?

"yes!"

Qin Xiong grinned and replied, "When we stormed in, many enemy soldiers were still eating breakfast! After Zong Zhao abandoned the city and fled, the enemy's morale collapsed rapidly..."

Zong Zhao?

Abandon the city and flee?

Qin Fumeng was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter: "Good! Good! Haha..."

A tiger father and a dog son!

Back then, Zong Bi, with only 10,000 men and a grandmaster, managed to hold out in Tushi City for seven days, almost suffering total annihilation, but managed to hold out until reinforcements arrived.

Now, Zongbi's son has actually abandoned the city and fled?

The crucial point is that the one fighting this battle is his own grandson!

How could he not be happy?

After a burst of laughter, Qin Fumeng gave the order with sharp eyes.

"I order Liang Hongqiao and Yuan Ji to immediately lead their troops to accompany me to Zhuo County!"

"Order Zhang Wenda to take over the defense of this area. Take all prisoners of over a hundred generals, leaving no one alive!"

"Order Shangguan Xun to immediately begin overseeing the transport of grain..."

Qin Fumeng quickly issued an order that once Liang Hongqiao and Yuan Ji had mustered their troops, they should immediately lead them to Zhu County.

……

In the afternoon, at Wangzhou Prefecture.

Zong Bi, dressed in casual clothes, sat at a tea stall on the street with a few attendants, drinking tea.

"Pepper! Pepper for sale!"

"Top-quality pepper, sir, would you like to take a look? Eight ounces a pound, only eight ounces..."

"Eight taels? I'll sell it to you for six taels a pound, do you want it?"

The bustling streets were filled with the sounds of pepper vendors hawking their wares.

Because it is not far from Changping, the price of pepper in Wangzhou was the first to be affected.

The problem with pepper right now isn't the price; it's that nobody's buying it!

Those who had previously bought pepper in large quantities either had already invested all their money in pepper and had no extra money to buy more, or they simply didn't dare to buy any.

Many people have heard the news that pepper from Daning has piled up like mountains in the markets of Changping.

It is said that another 40,000 to 50,000 shi of pepper are being transported here via the Yi River.

Now, in the market there, pepper has dropped to two taels of silver per catty and nobody is buying it.

And those poor people can't afford to buy them even if they want to.

The pepper craze has completely subsided, and now merchants with spare cash are starting to buy snow cotton, while others are turning to buying grain to brew wine.

However, it is unclear whether the Yi River is blocked by merchant ships transporting pepper, because no grain has been transported from Daning recently.

This situation led to another surge in grain prices in the Yan state.

Although not as crazy as the previous pepper price surge, grain prices were still changing daily.

Faced with this situation, Zongbi also realized that something was wrong.

He was not a businessman, but a general!

He is still very sensitive to grain prices.

While Zong Bi was deep in thought, a personal guard trotted up to the tea stall. "General, I just found out that the price of coarse grains has increased by 10% today compared to yesterday."

"Another 10% increase?"

Zong Bi frowned. "It's the time when new grain is on the market, so why are grain prices rising one after another?"

"I don't know either!"

The guard was full of doubt. "However, I visited several grain stores, but I didn't see much new grain."

"That's strange!"

Zong Bi stroked his long beard, turned to look at He Cong, the adjutant beside him, and asked, "Don't you feel that something's amiss with the current situation?"

"Something's definitely not right!"

He Cong frowned deeply. "Logically speaking, even without Ningguo's grain coming in at this time of year, grain prices shouldn't be rising this fast!"

If grain prices skyrocket during the autumn harvest, what will happen in winter?

"General, could it be that someone is hoarding grain and driving up prices?"

Zong Yuan, the commander of the personal guards, tentatively inquired.

"That can't be, right?"

He Cong frowned and said, "Risking over grain prices is a capital offense!"

"I think that's quite possible!"

Zong Bi sneered, "Some people must have made a fortune hoarding pepper before! These people probably tasted the sweetness of success and, taking advantage of the fact that no grain from Ningguo is coming in, they've started to drive up grain prices..."

Upon hearing this, Zong Yuan's face immediately hardened, and he said, "This subordinate will immediately take men to investigate! We must find these unscrupulous merchants who are driving up grain prices!"

Although he was just a military man, he knew that food was the foundation of the nation!

Going up grain prices is suicidal!

Just then, they heard the sound of rapid hoofbeats.

Zong Yuan frowned, about to follow the sound to see who was riding a horse in the bustling city, when suddenly a hoarse roar came to his ears.

"Make way! Urgent military intelligence! Urgent military intelligence..."

Upon hearing this voice, Zong Bi's expression changed, and he immediately looked in the direction of the sound.

On the bustling streets, several messengers, each with three small black flags stuck in their backs, galloped along on horseback, shouting incessantly...