"Since the beginning of summer this year, rainfall has dropped sharply. Crop production in various places has been reduced by 30 to 40% on average compared to previous years. Especially in Xiliang Prefecture, it has not rained for two months. After autumn, there is a fear of food shortages. Alliance Leader,

We, the Peking Alliance, must make plans early!"

His Highness Xuri, Zhang Meng clasped his fists and bent down, speaking loudly one after another.

On the nine steps above, Zhang Chu sat on a large black iron chair and looked through the documents presented by Zhang Meng. His brows furrowed more and more as he looked at them.

Zhang Meng is now more and more meticulous in his work.

Before coming to talk to Zhang Chu, he had already done all his homework.

The document he submitted contained detailed records of the drought situation in various places in Xuanbei, as well as the increase in food prices in various places in the past month, and even the frequency of food mobilization in Xuanbei Prefecture.

Data cannot fool anyone.

The situation is somewhat serious...

"In your opinion."

Zhang Chu closed the document and clasped it under his palm, tapping his two slender fingers rhythmically: "Can Xuanbei Prefecture survive this drought this year?"

Zhang Meng pondered for a moment and said in a deep voice: "If only our Xuanbei Prefecture is hit by the disaster, the people will be hungry and well fed, and they will be able to survive. However, the situation in Xiliang Prefecture is worse than that of our Xuanbei Prefecture."

It’s still miserable. The situation in Yanbei Prefecture is better, but I guess it’s just barely enough for them to tide over the difficulties..."

The hidden meaning is that if Xuanbei Prefecture does not get the support of the imperial court, it will be difficult to survive this year.

But there is an even worse Xiliang Prefecture down there.

The imperial court may not be able to save him.

"God, I really don't want the world to be in chaos!"

Zhang Chu thought to himself, and frowned for a long time, "If we, the Beiping Alliance, deploy manpower to dig wells and provide disaster relief now, is it still too late?"

Zhang Meng heard this and quickly shook his head: "Absolutely not."

"The severe heat is just around the corner, and a reduction in grain production this year is a foregone conclusion."

"Even if we, the Peiping League, dig wells for villagers to provide disaster relief regardless of consumption, it will be difficult to grab much food."

"Furthermore, due to the reduction in grain production this year, prices will rise, and the income of our Beiping League will also be greatly affected."

"We still have hundreds of thousands of people in Taiping Pass to take care of."

"Leader, think twice!"

After Zhang Chu heard this, his brows almost knitted together.

Beiping Meng's family fortune, he paid for it once before leaving for Nanshan Prefecture early last month.

If the situation is really as serious as Zhang Meng said, the Beiping League's family fortunes really can't be touched!

But now I buy grain from other states...

The grain in Dali is run by the government. Each prefecture and county has officials who are responsible for grain collection and grain transportation.

Although there are certain loopholes that can be exploited.

But that can only be a small transaction.

A drop in the bucket!

Zhang Chu thought for a long time and asked in a deep voice: "What can you do?"

Zhang Meng raised his face and looked at him: "Are you asking about our Peking League, or..."

Zhang Chu: “Of course the entire Xuanbei Prefecture!”

Zhang Meng sighed, shook his head and said, "There is nothing I can do."

Zhang Chu looked at him intently. He knew that Zhang Meng couldn't be helpless.

He just didn't dare to say it.

I don’t want to say it either.

"If you don't tell me, then I'll tell you!"

Zhang Chu said in a deep voice: "First, mobilize manpower to dig wells on a large scale in Wuqu County to grab food. Grab as much as you can."

"Second, send me all the chief deacons of your Qingye tribe to Dongsheng Prefecture and Nanshan Prefecture. I don't care whether you buy, rob or deceive. I only care how much food you can get before the food shortage.

Bring me as much food as you can."

"Third, in the name of our Beiping Alliance, I would like to say hello to the grain transfer officers of various prefectures and 'request' them not to transport any more grain from our Xuanbei Prefecture... Later I will send the Red Flower Department to block the waterways out of the prefecture.

By land, from now on, food is allowed in but not out!"

As soon as he said this, Zhang Chu's voice suddenly became soft: "Mengzi, I know that doing this will put you under a lot of pressure."

"But our Beiping League has developed by relying on the people of Xuanbei Prefecture. At this critical moment, it is our turn to return some common people to the Beiping League..."

Zhang Meng in the hall had a bitter look on his face.

Doing this will not only put him under great pressure?

But Zhang Chu has said this, what else can he say?

All I could do was bow to the end: "Subordinate, how dare you disobey orders..."

Zhang Chu smiled and waved his hand: "Okay, let's go do the work. If you have any difficulties, come to me again!"

"yes!"

Zhang Meng saluted again, turned around and exited the Rising Sun Hall.

Zhang Chu picked up the tea bowl on the desk. Before he could swallow a sip of tea, another soldier came in and bowed to report: "To the leader of the alliance, Feng Nan is outside the door asking for an audience."

Only then did Zhang Chu remember that he had sent someone to notify this person more than an hour ago. He immediately put down his tea bowl and said, "Invite him in."

"Here."

The soldier turned around and went out. Not long after, a middle-aged man in brown clothes with a high crown and a dignified appearance quickly stepped into the hall, bowed and said: "My subordinate Feng Nan, I would like to pay my respects to the leader of the alliance."

After Zhang Chu became the leader of the Xuanbei Martial Arts Alliance from Feng Sixiang, the Feng family sent some men from the clan to join the Beiping Alliance to gain experience.

This person is the one with the highest status among the Feng family members in the Beiping League, and currently serves as the chief deacon in the Houtu Department.

"Brother Feng, you don't have to be polite."

Zhang Chuwen said: "I just discussed some important matters with Minister Zhang, so I kept Brother Feng waiting for a long time."

Feng Nan quickly replied: "The leader of the alliance is responsible for the safety of our Xuanbei Jianghu. He is very thoughtful and takes care of everything. My subordinates just waited outside the door for a while. How dare I say it for a long time."

Zhang Chu smiled when he heard this and thought that people from such a big family speak well.

"Sit down!"

"Thank you, Alliance Leader!"

Feng Nan bowed his arms to the end again, walked gently to the chair on one side and sat down, but his buttocks were only slightly touching the chair surface, and he didn't dare to sit down at all.

Zhang Chu: "Brother Feng, have you exchanged letters with your family recently? Is Fourth Master okay?"

Feng Nan: "There are letters every month. All is well with our ancestors, and I am thinking of you, the leader of the alliance."

Zhang Chu said with a smile: "I really envy the Fourth Master. He drinks tea, visits friends, and wanders around the clouds and wild cranes every day. He is so carefree and at ease. How can I, who is born with a hard life, never have a day off?"

Feng Nan: "The words of the Alliance Leader are wrong. As the old saying goes, those who are able work hard. If it were not for the Alliance Leader who worked tirelessly to lead the rivers and lakes, we, the thousands of people in the Jianghu in Xuanbei Prefecture, would not have such a happy life..."

The two of them chatted in vain.

Feng Nan couldn't figure out why Zhang Chu invited him here today, so he kept dealing with it carefully.

After a while, Zhang Chucai finally got straight to the point and said: "Brother Feng is invited to come over today. There is something unclear. Please give me some advice."

Feng Nan apologized: "I don't dare to take advice seriously. If the leader of the alliance has questions, his subordinates will tell them everything they know."

Zhang Chu smiled and nodded: "Brother Feng is so polite... I had a chance to meet the Suzaku mythical beast in southern Xinjiang some time ago. I heard a friend talk about the genus of the mythical beast. I was very interested, but I had nowhere to understand. After thinking about it,

Only Brother Feng has a very deep family background and has been with Yuzun since he was a child. Maybe he can give me some advice."

When Feng Nan heard this, his heart sank, and he thought to himself that it was bad, could this thief have the intention of Yu Zun?

He remained calm and responded with a smile: "The theory of mythical beasts has always been mysterious, and I don't know much about it... When I was young, I heard my ancestors say that mythical beasts are born and raised by nature, and they will only be born in great times.

World."

"Maybe it will give birth to a child in the belly of a tiger."

"Or to give birth to a cow's fetus."

"Or you may ride the wind to meet the thunder."

"But generally speaking, mythical beasts can be divided into two types: ferocious beasts and auspicious beasts."

"The ferocious beasts were born in response to the tribulations of the troubled times. They do not understand human nature and can eat and kill people. If people kill them, they will do great merit in the world."

"And the auspicious beast was born in response to the prosperity of the country and the peace of the people. It has a compassionate heart and understands human nature. Its killing is unknown and it is easy to be punished by God."

"My Jade Lord is an auspicious beast born in the heyday of Dali. It is closely related to the fate of the country. One hundred and sixty years ago, Emperor Taizu visited Xuanbei Prefecture in person to welcome Yuzun to the capital. It is the Jade Lord

You don't want to leave our Feng family, so you will stay in Xuanbei Prefecture."
To be continued...