"This is easy to handle." The guard's face showed excitement. "As long as His Royal Highness the Crown Prince orders to collect grain, who dares to disobey it? Even if Zhang Yide is very brave, he will not dare not to collect it."
Shangguan Wan Ning did not speak, but fixed her gaze on Xiao Yujue.
After thinking for a long time, Xiao Yujue shook his head.
"Although it is a good thing for the court to collect grain, it cannot force the merchants. After all, Zhang Yide did not violate the laws of the court. It is difficult to convince the public by using power to oppress."
Shangguan Wan Ning nodded secretly, Xiao Yujue has the structure and heart to be a wise king.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, as far as I know, Zhang Yide is a filial son. His hometown is nearby. His mother returned to her hometown to live a few years ago. In a few days, Mrs. Zhang will celebrate her sixtieth birthday.
I will definitely come back to celebrate my mother’s birthday.”
When Shangguan Wan Ning got along with Mrs. Zhang, she had already figured out all of Mrs. Zhang's preferences.
"At that time, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince can go and see him. Perhaps we can discuss it?"
Xiao Yujue was startled. He always felt that Shangguan Wanning seemed to have known that today's situation would happen.
"If that's true, that would be great."
The two most troublesome things seemed to have been half solved each, so Xiao Yujue asked everyone to retreat and rest.
Early the next morning, Mu Jingrui went to the Zhizhou Prefecture to gather troops. He was depressed to find that there were 80,000 people that could be mobilized, but there were less than 40,000 elite soldiers who could actually go out to kill the enemy.
The remaining people are either old or have not been trained for a long time. They are simply a bunch of old, weak and disabled soldiers.
"Your Highness, letting these people go into battle to kill the enemy is no different than letting them die. It will also affect the morale of our army."
Mu Jingrui's words gave Xiao Yujue a headache.
He only came to provide relief, but he was forced to manage the war.
"Then... we can only recruit troops from other places. However, this will take at least a month. In addition, there is a food shortage caused by the snowstorm..."
Xiao Yujue was helpless and frowned.
"Your Highness, soldiers are very fast. If the war drags on for another month, Wuxiong and Goshawk may be fighting at our doorstep."
"you mean?"
"I have a solution. All I need is His Highness the Crown Prince's nod." Mu Jingrui's eyes were calm but firm, as if he already knew how to solve the predicament at hand.
"you say."
"The climate in the northwest is the most difficult for people to adapt to, not to mention this is a special period. People transferred from other places may not be able to fight immediately. In the opinion of my subordinates, it is better to recruit strong men on the spot."
Xiao Yujue took a breath and subconsciously chose to refuse.
"No. Jingrui, you are a general, and you should know that it is taboo to recruit strong men at will. Those people are not willing to go to the battlefield, and they will not fight wholeheartedly. If they lose, it will also affect morale and easily arouse public anger.
"
Xiao Yujue braved the severe cold to come to the northwest region to provide disaster relief this time, just to gain a good reputation for herself.
Otherwise, everything he is doing now will be meaningless.
"Your Highness, the recruitment of strong men for the battlefield also needs to be adapted to the current circumstances. At any other time, this method would certainly not work, but now there is a blizzard raging, and there are hordes of victims. Many of them are upright and strong men."
Mu Jingrui arrived earlier than Xiao Yujue and knew more about the current situation than Xiao Yujue.
"They are not really willing to leave their homes, they are just forced to do so. Organize these people to fight the enemy. Not only are they not uncomfortable with the climate, they also know the terrain well. As long as His Highness the Crown Prince promulgates some conditions to attract them."
Mu Jingrui had already made a rough plan in his mind on the way to visit Xiao Yujue.
"First, those who voluntarily join the army will be rewarded with five taels of silver, and they can also use these five taels of silver to exchange for 20% more food; second, those who perform military exploits after going into battle to kill the enemy will be rewarded with official positions or fields in their hometown after victory.
."
Xiao Yujue listened to these words and felt that this was a good idea.
only……
"Your Highness, think about it. If these people don't go into battle to kill the enemy, you still need to distribute disaster relief food to them. It's better to let them join the team and kill two birds with one stone."
Xiao Yujue lowered her eyelids and remained silent for a long time.
He was eager to perform meritoriously, and even though he knew that this move was risky, he could only trust Mu Jingrui.
"Okay, Jingrui, I'll leave this matter to you. If you win the battle and regain the city, I will personally come out to welcome you back."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Mu Jingrui bowed his hands and then withdrew, immediately drafting an official document and posting it.
In just one afternoon, there was an endless stream of young people coming to sign up to join the army.
Especially after the government fulfilled its promise and gave five taels of silver or 20% of the market price of grain in many places.
In such a disaster, the desire for food is written on everyone's face.
At night, with heavy snowfall and biting cold, Shangguan Wanning sat by the window sill and listened to the howling cold wind, sighing deeply.
After hesitating for a long time, she got up and went to find Mu Jingrui.
Shangguan Wan Ning braved the bone-chilling wind, clutching her cloak tightly with both hands to wrap herself up, and walked through the corridor with difficulty.
She heard a strange noise coming from the yard ahead.
She looked around and saw Mu Jingrui dancing with a spear on the snow-covered snow, with snowflakes flying around him.
Shangguan Wanning couldn't help but stop at this scene and couldn't bear to be disturbed.
How did she become blind in her last life?
Mu Jingrui saw Shangguan Wan Ning out of the corner of his eye. He immediately inserted his spear into the snow and jumped to Shangguan Wan Ning's side.
"Why don't you go to bed so late?"
The wind was so strong that it blew Shangguan Wan Ning's frail body. Mu Jingrui felt as if she would be blown away by the wind at any time.
He hesitated slightly and held her hand.
"Tomorrow you are going to lead the troops on an expedition. Why don't you go to bed early?" Shangguan Wan Ning was surprised that Mu Jingrui's hands were still warm in such a cold weather.
"I have my own sense of discretion, but there is something I want to remind you." Mu Jingrui's expression became serious, "Follow His Highness the Crown Prince's arrangements and return to the capital as soon as possible. When I return after winning this battle..."
Mu Jingrui did not continue. Shangguan Wan Ning scratched his palm with her nails, tilted her head and asked, "How?"
Mu Jingrui smiled faintly and urged: "We'll talk about it later. Go back quickly."
Shangguan Wan Ning did not press any further. She stared seriously into Mu Jingrui's eyes and warned, "Be careful yourself."
"How can I...leave you and go home at this time?" Shangguan Wan Ning said silently in her heart.