The Prodigal Son

With the Yan Emperor poisoned and news of Yan Li's escape spreading, the already chaotic Yan Kingdom became even more chaotic.

Shengzhou, Linzhou and other places where large-scale rebellions had previously occurred were completely thrown into chaos.

The rebels fought amongst themselves and looted everywhere.

As winter approached, many people from the Yan state, who had suffered from the ravages of war, fled to Yanzhou with their families.

Contrary to Xue Chengdao's prediction, Bei Qi did not take the long detour from Xiazhou and Shengzhou to attack.

It is estimated that Beiqi is also unwilling to get involved in the mess in Shengzhou and other places.

However, with a large number of Yan people fleeing to Yanzhou, Qin Yu and his group found it difficult to avoid getting involved.

Shangguan Xun urgently ordered the transport of grain and asked Qin Yu to send men to escort it to Yanzhou Prefecture to provide relief to the starving people who were about to flood into Yanzhou.

Qin Yu didn't hesitate either, ordering Yue Hanshan to lead 10,000 troops to escort grain and fodder to Yanzhou Prefecture, while also ordering Liu Shizhao and others to accompany them to assist Yanzhou in providing relief to the disaster victims.

On the night of October 29th, a sudden heavy snowfall plunged the entire Pangzhou Prefecture into winter overnight.

When Qin Yu got up in the morning, all he saw was a white, misty world.

Looking at the snow-covered landscape, Qin Yu couldn't help but mutter to himself, "I wonder how the old man is doing over there..."

When the Yan emperor was poisoned and Yan Li fled, the Yan state had already been destroyed.

Their campaign against Yan can be considered a success!

Unfortunately, Yan's series of questionable actions prevented them from ending the war quickly.

Currently, Suhebaoyin has become the key to the struggle between the northernmost Qi and Daning.

Whoever can win over Suhe Baoyin will have a greater advantage.

Although Suhe Baoyin and Bei Qi were sworn enemies, he was still somewhat worried.

Yan Li is definitely already in Xiao Yanguang's hands. If Yan Li were to persuade Su Hebaoyin to surrender to Bei Qi, and Bei Qi were to offer her high-ranking positions and generous rewards, Su Hebaoyin would still have a great chance of surrendering to Bei Qi.

If Suhe Baoyin surrenders to Beiqi, then their battle will undoubtedly have benefited Beiqi!

If that's the case, even if this battle successfully destroyed the Yan state, it would still be considered a failure.

Hopefully, the old guys will step up their game!

Isn't it just about high-ranking positions and generous salaries?

If Beiqi can give it, why can't Da Ning?

As long as Suhe Baoyin is willing to surrender to Da Ning, anything is negotiable!

After breakfast, Qin Yu led Nan Que'er and the others to inspect various places.

Their first stop was the prisoner-of-war camp.

These days, many prisoners of war are vying to surrender and join the Ning Army.

The prisoner-of-war camp has now been converted into a refugee camp for resettling refugees.

As soon as they arrived at the refugee camp, they ran into Shangguan Xun, who was hurriedly riding away with a few people.

Shangguan Xun was busy, perhaps even the busiest.

He was in charge of the army's provisions and also served as the temporary governor of Pangzhou.

Although Qin Yu and Shangguan Xun both lived in Pangzhou Prefecture, they rarely had the chance to meet.

"Lord Qin!"

Upon seeing Qin Yu, Shangguan Xun quickly rode forward, saying, "You've come at the right time! I was just about to look for you!"

"Uncle Shangguan, what do you want with me?"

Qin Yu asked Shangguan Xun with a puzzled look.

Shangguan Xun cut to the chase, saying, "I need a lot of manpower to help build temporary refugee houses, and I also need to manufacture a large number of grain carts for transporting food in the snow, just in case. I'd like to borrow some manpower from you!"

Qin Yu smiled: "Borrowing manpower is no problem, but aren't so many of you, plus the existing people in Pangzhou Prefecture, enough?"

"Not enough! What we need most right now are able-bodied young workers!"

Shangguan Xun said solemnly, "More than 500 refugees froze to death last night. We must improve the refugee camps as soon as possible, and we also need to add three more refugee camps outside the city..."

This is just the beginning!

More refugees will flood into Pangzhou Prefecture later.

If we don't prepare in advance, who knows how many more people will die later.

They had to ensure these refugees didn't starve or freeze to death before they could talk about the work-for-relief programs.

It would take an unknown amount of time to get all this done by these half-dead refugees.

What we need now is young and able-bodied laborers to get these things done quickly.

Understanding the reason, Qin Yu immediately asked, "How many people do you need?"

"The more the better!"

Shangguan Xun said seriously, "I wouldn't mind lending you all the men you have!"

"Can!"

Qin Yu readily agreed, "Let's just consider it a different form of training!"

Perfect, let those surrendered soldiers see how they treat the people of Yan!

This is about winning people's hearts and minds; we have to do it!

However, the Yan Kingdom has been destroyed, and the Northern Qi Kingdom, in order to seize more territory, may launch a surprise attack from the Xiazhou and Shengzhou line at any time.

This is something they also have to be wary of!

We must send people to investigate in that direction.

If the Northern Qi launches a surprise attack, he will have to immediately lead his troops to reinforce Yanzhou.

"Very good!"

Shangguan Xun breathed a sigh of relief. "Then how about this: you summon all the generals in the army, and I'll assign tasks to each unit. What do you think?"

"no problem!"

Qin Yu readily agreed, "However, we also need to mobilize the wealthy families in the city!"

"Absolutely!"

Shangguan Xun nodded. "I've already ordered notices to be posted: those with money, contribute money; those with connections, contribute manpower! Anyone who dares to refuse will have their property confiscated!"

"That's good!"

As Qin Yu spoke, he immediately ordered his men to summon all the generals.

Shangguan Xun is very efficient.

In less than fifteen minutes, he had assigned tasks to each department.

All departments readily accepted the arrangements made by Shangguan Xun.

Their ranks now contain a large number of surrendered Yan soldiers.

Everyone knows this is a golden opportunity to win people's hearts.

Moreover, these people can now be considered citizens of Da Ning.

It would be easy to kill these people.

Only when they are alive will those lands be cultivated and people perform corvée labor.

For the next two days, Qin Yu and his team were busy.

However, given the current situation, Qin Yu did not allow his soldiers to expend excessive physical exertion.

Logs that could be carried by two people are instead carried by three or four people.

The work must be done, but the soldiers' physical strength must also be conserved.

We can't work ourselves to the bone now, or we'll all be spineless when it's time to go to the battlefield.

"Go and send two more people to help put the wooden pillar up! Be careful!"

"Get those people involved! This is their place to live. Anyone who stands by and watches deserves to freeze to death!"

"Hurry up with building the stove; we'll need it soon!"

In the afternoon, although snowflakes were still falling from the sky, the refugee camp in the south of the city was bustling with activity.

Qin Yu transformed into a foreman, busily directing operations on site.

He occasionally lends a hand to others.

Thanks to the efforts of a large number of people, the vacant lot was transformed in just two days.

It should be basically finished before dark today.

As for the subsequent repairs and maintenance, his people didn't need to do that.

At this moment, Qi Dachui jogged over with a messenger.

"Greetings, Commander Qin!"

After a brief salute, the messenger immediately produced Xue Chengdao's command token. "Commander Xue has ordered you to proceed to the Wild Chicken Ridge camp at the fastest speed possible, without delay!"

"Shall we set off now?"

Qin Yu frowned and asked again, "Did Commander Xue order me to lead troops there?"

"They didn't say."

The messenger shook his head.

No troops?

That means it's time to discuss something!

Thinking of this, Qin Yu immediately ordered someone to summon Yuan Dingguo and several other generals: "I need to go to Wild Chicken Ridge. While I'm away, Yuan Dingguo will be in charge of all military affairs! Anyone who dares to disobey orders will be executed!"

"yes!"

All the generals accepted the order.

Then, Qin Yu quickly led his personal guards and sped towards the Wild Chicken Ridge camp.

Pangzhou Prefecture is not far from the Wild Chicken Ridge Camp.

Qin Yu and his group set off at noon, riding at breakneck speed, and arrived at the Wild Chicken Ridge camp before dark.

As soon as they arrived, the people waiting at the camp gate led Qin Yu straight to the central command tent.

When he lifted Xue Chengdao's command tent, he saw Xue Chengdao and the old man sitting inside.

There was also a familiar figure.

Yan... Yan Li?