The fiercest soldier of the border army

The smiles in the room froze instantly.

The merchants all stared at the angry young man beside Tang Shun, momentarily bewildered as to what had happened.

Zheng Wenhan's smile stiffened slightly, but he quickly composed himself and said gently, "Young master, is the restaurant's dilapidated state unacceptable to you?"

"Hehe, this border county town is not as prosperous as Tingzhou. This place is already the most elegant place in the county. We have no intention of neglecting Prefect Tang and the young master."

Xie Anzhi snorted coldly and was about to reprimand him when Tang Shun raised his hand to stop him.

"This is a soldier from the Jiedushi's office who came with me to provide disaster relief. Hearing about the people being displaced along the way, he couldn't help but feel sad. Magistrate, please don't take it to heart."

Zheng Wenhan then realized, "So it's General Xingjun."

However, their attitude had become much colder.

Despite being from the military governor's office, he was merely an idle man on a military campaign.

Around the round table, besides the county magistrate and clerk, there were four brightly dressed merchants with ruddy complexions and gleaming eyes.

"Your Excellency, these are some of the most prominent shopkeepers in the area," Zheng Wenhan introduced with a smile. "Shopkeeper Zhang, Shopkeeper Wang, Shopkeeper Liu, and Shopkeeper Li."

"The four managers are all rare and virtuous merchants in this county, with expertise in grains, oils, rice, noodles, firewood, charcoal, and cloth."

"Hearing of the arrival of the superior official, they came to pay their respects."

Manager Zhang was a plump middle-aged man dressed in a brocade robe. He stood up, cupped his hands in greeting, and spoke in a loud voice:

"I have long admired the illustrious reputation of Governor Tang. His defense of Xiushui against the enemy and his steadfast defense of the isolated city truly make him a pillar of the nation! To meet him today is an honor beyond measure!"

The remaining people also chimed in, making it quite lively.

Tang Shun returned the greeting with clasped hands, neither humble nor arrogant, saying, "I dare not accept such praise. I have come here not to hear others' compliments, but to verify the local conditions in Wenchi."

"How can we sit here drinking and eating meat while the people are starving?

The room fell silent.

Zheng Wenhan quickly smoothed things over, saying, "Your Excellency's kindness is admirable."

"But such is the rule: when an official enters the city, there must be a welcoming banquet. This is the proper conduct of the imperial court and also reflects the sentiments of the local people. How can this be lightly disregarded?"

"Furthermore, even if the lord works tirelessly, he must still consider the well-being of his soldiers."

"When the soldiers are well-fed, they will have the strength to defend the region. The people will also know that an imperial envoy has arrived. With their hearts at ease, why worry about what will happen next?"

Having given Tang Shun enough leeway, he said no more and took his seat in the main seat.

Xie Anzhi sat next to Tang Shun.

Hot dishes were served one after another.

The aromas of roast chicken, stewed lamb, cured meat platter, steamed fish, and wild mushroom soup are irresistible.

The two beautiful women, draped in thin veils, stepped forward with pipa in hand, gently plucking the strings as their sleeves fluttered in the breeze.

The merchants and officials applauded, and the merchants frequently raised their glasses:

"Respectfully, Governor Tang! The Battle of Xiushui ensured the safety of our border people; you are truly a divine general descended to earth!"

"Your Excellency is young and promising; personally selected by the Crown Prince and the Military Governor, you are sure to be a pillar of society!"

"If you are promoted to governor in the future, I hope you will not forget us, your old friends!"

Tang Shun raised his glass in response to each toast, his expression unchanged. He drank without hesitation and accepted food without refusing any.

Seeing that he didn't refuse, the two women grew bolder. One sat down next to him and poured him wine, while the other peeled shrimp for him.

Tang Shun did not stop them, and unabashedly admired the beauty and figures of the two women.

Zheng Wenhan and his group of merchants couldn't help but feel a hint of disdain in their eyes.

He was just a soldier who won a battle by sheer luck, and he was still not worthy of being called a hero.

Xie Anzhi stared at the lavish dishes on the table, his face grim.

The sounds of string and wind instruments and flattering words filled his ears, but his mind was filled with images of ragged, starving refugees outside the city.

He looked up abruptly, about to speak, but met Tang Shun's gaze.

Tang Shun didn't speak, he just shook his head slightly.

Xie Anzhi choked up, then finally shut his mouth, staring down at the empty bowl in front of him, without moving an inch.

As more food and drinks were served, the atmosphere gradually warmed up.

Someone suggested composing a poem to liven things up, but Zheng Wenhan stopped him with a smile, saying, "A military general who has achieved great deeds on the battlefield, why should he be bound by literary conventions? Why not offer the magistrate three more cups to boost his morale!"

Tang Shun picked up his wine cup, drank it all in one gulp, and remained expressionless.

The cheers rose, and the alcohol intensified.

Just then, Tang Shun put down his wine cup, raised his hand and gestured for quiet.

The second floor gradually quieted down.

He glanced around, his gaze sweeping over Zheng Wenhan's face before settling on the wealthy-looking businessmen, and slowly began to speak:

"I am here on the orders of His Highness and the Military Governor to investigate the people's conditions, grain administration, and migration in Wenchi. I have come not for pleasure, but for the sake of saving lives."

The expressions on everyone's faces changed slightly.

"There are hordes of refugees outside, and corpses of the starving lie on the roads. How can you possibly eat and laugh while holding this feast, with music and singing?"

Zheng Wenhan, sweat beading on his forehead, forced a smile and said, "Your Excellency is wise. We only...we only wanted to show our sincerity and had no intention of being disrespectful."

"Sincerity?" Tang Shun sneered. "What's your sincerity worth? What I want is to eliminate all the vagrants in Wenchi County."

The room was completely silent.

The four major local merchants, Zhang, Wang, Liu, and Li, instinctively sat up straight.

Everything before was just preparation; now, we're getting down to business!

Only when Tang Shun made things clear did they know how to deal with the situation from now on!

Tang Shun stared at Manager Zhang and said directly, "Manager Zhang, the price of your rice shop is ninety-three coins per dou of japonica rice."

"But ordinary people outside simply can't afford them. What do you suggest we do?"

Manager Zhang's fat face jiggled, and he hurriedly said, "What you say is true, sir... I'll go back right away and lower the price immediately!"

"Consider it...consider it a gift for the magistrate, a reduction of ten coins!"

"Ten coins?" Tang Shun smiled with interest.

Shopkeeper Zhang, sweat beading on his forehead, gritted his teeth and said, "Then...then I'll lower the price by three more coins! Thirteen coins in total!"

Several grain merchants nearby exchanged glances and chimed in, "My price will also drop by thirteen coins!"

"I'll surrender too!"

"Count me in!"

Tang Shun leaned back in his chair, seemingly relaxing. "But eighty coins a dou is still too much for the common people."

The merchants exchanged glances, their smiles all becoming somewhat forced.

And they're still not satisfied!

County Magistrate Zheng Wenhan's hand, holding a wine cup, froze in mid-air, a hint of coldness flashing in his eyes.

If you refuse a toast, you'll have to drink the penalty cup!

They entertained the pacification envoy out of respect for the military governor's office.

Otherwise, how could a crude and vulgar martial artist be expected to stand on the same stage as them?

Tang Shun noticed even the slightest changes.

After the words were spoken, no one dared to utter another.

Manager Zhang forced a smile, "Your Majesty's benevolent rule is something I should wholeheartedly support."

"However, I hope Your Excellency will understand that the grain in the shop was already purchased at a high price, and it is truly... beyond our means."

"Yes, Your Excellency, my family's grain reserves were sold out long ago at the original price of twenty coins per dou. We only have rice to sell because we sourced it from places like Hedong at higher prices."

"If the price is too low, I'm afraid even if I sell my entire old house, it won't be enough to cover the losses."

The merchants began to complain in a few words.

County Magistrate Zheng Wenhan also looked troubled. "My lord, it's not that we don't want the grain price to rise, but refugees are gathering everywhere. A few days ago, we were able to use the official granaries, but now... the granaries are almost empty! We can't hold out for many more days!"

"Nowadays, grain is as precious as gold and silver. Although it's expensive, at least ordinary people can still afford it if they grit their teeth. If we were to sell it at a loss, I'm afraid..."

"The people have no choice but to starve to death!"

"I see." Tang Shun nodded in understanding. "So, the price can't be lowered. The fact that you've lowered it by thirteen coins for my sake is already a huge concession, isn't it?"

"This..." Manager Zhang was momentarily unsure of Tang Shun's intentions, so he could only grit his teeth and say, "My lord, that's exactly it!"

Tang Shun didn't look at him, but picked up the last cup of wine and drank it all in one gulp.

The wine dripped down his lips and onto his clothes, spreading out in a small dark patch.

"You've all misunderstood," Tang Shun said, putting down his wine cup. "My intention is to ensure there are no refugees in the city."

"Why are refugees gathering here now? Because there is a way to survive here!"

"Wouldn't it be wonderful if we cut off their livelihood and send them to other places?"

Tang Shun, a smirk playing on his lips, addressed Magistrate Zheng Wenhan: "Issue my order: all grain merchants in Wenchi County must sell their grain for no less than two hundred coins per dou!"

"Anyone who dares to secretly sell grain below this price will be executed immediately!"

Upon hearing this, everyone at the table froze in shock…