Nanliang, Military Camp.

The Eldest Prince of Beimo returned to Beimo after receiving the marriage document and discussing the matter of grain and grass.

This time, accompanying him to the border was a minister from Beimo, who was discussing the matter of grain and grass with Nanliang.

The intention of Beimo was to see if it could be delayed, as the national treasury was empty; thirty thousand dan of grain and grass and one hundred thousand taels of gold could be paid off over three years.

Beimo’s attitude was more flexible than before; previously, they had insisted on a ten-year repayment without budging.

Now changing it to three years was already a significant concession.

Yet even so, Nanliang did not concede a single step.

Nanliang had no hesitation in lending troops to the Cheng King of Beimo, so why was Beimo so haggling over paying for grain and grass? This angered the ministers who came to discuss the matter on Beimo’s behalf, their faces turning red.

Others may not have known what was going on, but they understood clearly.

Beimo was already being generous by accepting this bad debt, yet Nanliang was being too harsh by taking advantage.

This matter was non-negotiable, as Nanliang was unwilling to yield an inch.

The Eldest Prince of Beimo personally went to the Beimo military camp. The Great General of Beimo looked at him and said, "The Eldest Prince of Beimo didn’t stay long at the Daqi Camp."

He actually knew he went to the Daqi Camp.

It seemed that Nanliang had spies in the Daqi Camp.

Even though he was pointed out face-to-face, the Eldest Prince of Beimo was not guilty and smiled, saying, "Negotiation is not this prince’s forte; this time I went to Daqi to deliver a letter to the Princess Consort Zhenbei."

The relationship between Beimo Princess Jing Shan and the Daqi Prince Zhenbei’s Heir Consort was something the Emperor of Nanliang had heard about.

Because Beimo and Daqi had opened trade relations.

Trade between the two countries was significant, signaling good relations between them, and how could Nanliang not care?

Especially since Su Jin was recklessly acquiring wool from Beimo, forcibly raising the price of Beimo’s wool. Inadequate funds for buying wool, Beimo even lent her money.

No one knew what Su Jin was doing with all that wool; they only felt she was trying to curry favor with Beimo in this way. After all, her beauty cream was highly profitable; if she made too much money from Beimo, making people green with envy, Beimo would refuse to trade, buy wool from Beimo’s people, and curry favor with them to ensure long-term trade.

Nanliang truly looked down on such humble trade, yet who would have thought that the wool Su Jin bought turned out to be of great use, forcibly dismantling the trap they had set for Daqi.

If not for that wool, Nanliang would have at least captured two Daqi cities by now.

With resentment in his heart, the Nanliang general spoke with a malicious tone, mocking, "Daqi captured the King of Beimo alive, yet Beimo and Daqi are not hostile, and the relationship between Princess Jing Shan and the Princess Consort Zhenbei is remarkably good, the letter even requiring the Eldest Prince to deliver it personally."

On the contrary, Nanliang lent troops to Beimo, yet Beimo actually wanted to renege on the debt!

Nanliang’s soldiers looked displeased.

Beimo’s ministers and the Eldest Prince of Beimo also looked sullen.

You are dissatisfied with me, and I am dissatisfied with you; it was strange that this negotiation could continue, let alone hope for mutual satisfaction.

Nanliang, using the excuse of a grain shortage, urged Beimo to dispatch grain and grass quickly. The Eldest Prince of Beimo humbled himself, negotiating politely, proposing to send half, yet Nanliang still did not agree.

For every step Beimo retreated, Nanliang advanced further; by the end of the discussion, it almost came to force.

Beimo’s minister was afraid and advised the Eldest Prince of Beimo, "Perhaps it’s better to agree this time?"

This grain and grass couldn’t be spared; sooner or later, it had to be given.

Nanliang might also be worried that if they became entangled in a heated battle with Daqi, in the end, Beimo would seize the opportunity, aiming to break a few ribs of Beimo.

However, Beimo previously had a battle with Daqi, in which even the King of Beimo was captured alive, greatly weakening their strength.

The Eldest Prince of Beimo clenched his fists, unwilling to agree, he stepped to leave.

Nanliang’s general blocked the Eldest Prince of Beimo, making him desire nothing more than to strike someone; he glanced at Beimo’s minister.

Beimo’s minister hurriedly stepped forward to mediate, saying, "Since Nanliang is short on grain, we will send the grain and grass as soon as possible."

The Eldest Prince of Beimo, looking at the Nanliang Great General, said, "If you’re waiting for Beimo to send grain and grass to fight, is there any point in this battle?"

These words hit a sore spot for Nanliang’s soldiers.

If it weren’t for that blaze burning so much grain and grass, would they be so short on supplies?!

Nanliang’s Great General said, "This matter doesn’t need the Eldest Prince of Beimo to worry about."

The Eldest Prince of Beimo swept his gaze around and said, "Beimo will only deliver the grain and grass to Wangyue Slope!"

With these words, the Eldest Prince of Beimo turned and left.

Beimo’s minister quickly followed.

Wangyue Slope was at the border between Beimo and Nanliang; Nanliang never expected Beimo to deliver the grain and grass to the camp.

Even if they did deliver it, Nanliang would not be at ease.

As for this matter being settled, Nanliang’s Great General was not reassured and dispatched someone to follow the Eldest Prince of Beimo back to Beimo to ensure the grain and grass could be delivered to Beimo safely.

This unpleasant journey is not worth mentioning.

Upon returning to Beimo at full speed, the Eldest Prince of Beimo headed straight for the Imperial Study, presenting the marriage document to the King Beimo for his perusal.

The King Beimo was overjoyed upon seeing the marriage document.

With this marriage document, there was no more fear that Daqi would not repay the grain and money.

Once assured that Daqi would not default, the King Beimo felt a touch of anticipation; if they did not repay, having the Marquis Dongxiang’s own son as his Prince Consort wouldn’t be so bad either.

Three hundred thousand dan of grain and grass and one hundred thousand taels of gold were no small sum, and it would take time to gather such resources. Even if Nanliang were unwilling, they would have to tolerate it.

For Beimo, the more Daqi lacked grain, the more important Beimo’s grain loan would appear.

Dragging on for ten days to half a month would test everyone’s patience.

The case of Beimo and Nanliang borrowing soldiers and repaying grain, both in the open and in secret, seemed to leave everyone happy.

At this moment, however, Prince Qi was not so pleased.

In just a few days from Yunzhou to Yu State, somehow rumors started spreading that he intended to open the granary to release grain. Long queues formed in front of the Yu State Prefecture, winding around several streets, almost reaching the city gates.

Men and women, young and old, gathered at the gates, chatting and laughing, all praising Prince Qi for caring about the people, feeling that the court taxed heavily, sympathizing with their hardships, and opening the granary to provide for them.

Many even hoped that Prince Qi would overthrow the court and become their new emperor.

These words reached Prince Qi’s ears, making him happy, but he knew too that the people spoke this way because they believed he would release grain. What if he did not? Would they still speak this way?

They would certainly say that all courts under the sky were the same in their corruption.

Prince Qi enjoyed the favor of the people, but he couldn’t bear the cost behind it.

Just from one disaster relief in Yunzhou, the news had spread to Yu State; if he indeed released grain in Yu State, wherever he went, the people would expect him to release grain.

This grain and grass cannot be given away!

While he controlled many of Daqi’s granaries, he did not have so much grain to squander freely.

Prince Qi paced the room, unsure of what to do.

Outside, a masked man walked in.

The mask covered half of his face, but the exposed part was unmistakably Duke Chong.

"You’re here just in time, think of a solution for me," Prince Qi said urgently.

Duke Chong shook his head, "I also don’t know what to do."

It rained in Yu State too, after raining in Yunzhou and before they arrived in Yu State.

After some rain, Yunzhou received disaster relief, leading the people of Yu State to believe they would enjoy similar treatment. Now if they were told they would not, the people of Yu State would be disappointed.

Disappointed or not, they had to be told, as the longer the queue stayed, the more anger it would provoke.

Prince Qi instructed government officials to tell the people that Yu State would not distribute grain and grass.

The people waiting for grain distribution were utterly disappointed.

What joy they had before turned into disappointment now.

Praising Prince Qi?

That was impossible!

After the crowd dispersed, rumors began to spread once again.

Somehow, it was said that Prince Qi thought the people of Yu State were ignorant and unwise, not as honest and kind as the people of Yunzhou, hence he refused to release grain.

Wherever the rumors spread, there was a wave of cursing, and even fights broke out.

Yunzhou and Yu State were only about a hundred li apart, and there were people from Yunzhou in Yu State.

Hearing Prince Qi praise Yunzhou naturally pleased them, but their happiness provoked the people of Yu State.

If Yu State people were considered ignorant, why stay in Yu State? Aren’t they afraid of bad influence by staying here?

Go back to Yunzhou, Yu State doesn’t welcome them!

These words were not just for the people from Yunzhou in Yu State, but also for Prince Qi to hear.

Reflecting on praising Prince Qi before now seemed like a blind mistake, he was not as good as the current Emperor, who at least treated everyone equally!

With further incitement, the people of Yu State even threw rotten eggs at Prince Qi’s residence.

Filled with anger, Prince Qi slammed a few tables into pieces, "So easily provoked, calling them ignorant was completely accurate!"

It was originally just incitement.

Unfortunately, when Prince Qi said this, the Magistrate of Yu State was present, as were the government officials.

The Magistrate was not from Yu State, but the officials were locals, and they directly bore the brunt of Prince Qi’s words.