Dongli hurriedly drove for five days and five nights, and finally arrived at Ninglu Provincial Government. After handing the jade pendant and the letter to the envoy Wu, the envoy Wu quickly called his staff to discuss whether to borrow food.

Dongli and the escort had a night's rest, and the next day, Chief Wu told them that he had agreed to borrow food.

Dongli immediately used a falcon to convey the news back to Ganzhou Guard.

Daohua was relieved when she received the news.

Although she was 70% to 80% sure that Ambassador Wu would borrow food, there was always a possibility of eventuality in everything, and she was quite worried these days.

After counting the remaining grain again and making sure that it could last until Dongli and others returned from transporting grain, Daohua felt relieved to prepare for the New Year.

This is their first New Year in Xiliang, and she still wants to live a warm and lively life.

Thanks to Xiao Yeyang's annihilation of the Xiliao Hundreds of Cavalry, the Xiliao people stopped a lot and did not dare to invade the Ganzhou Defense Area again, but other guard posts were robbed.

In previous winters, with the Ganzhou Guard leading the way, other guard posts had a much easier time, but this year, they began to complain.

......

Guard Command Department.

Many people in the health center are waiting to see Xiao Yeyang's jokes, and Xia Jianren even goes to the city wall every day to check on the refugees.

Seeing him running so frequently, Fan Tong pointed and thought, Old Xia Ping is a bit smarter in his life, but he is still a good person and he still cares about the people.

On the city wall, Xia Jianren looked at the refugees lining up in an orderly manner below, waiting to drink porridge, and his brows were tightly knitted. At the same time, he had to sigh in his heart at the Xiao family's wealth.

Now that the number of refugees has almost reached 40,000, the Xiao Mansion can still support it.

What's even more speechless is that decoctions are actually provided.

This money is so expensive!

Seeing that there were still people building thatched huts, Xia Jianren didn't want to look any further. He tightened his cloak, got off the city wall, and strode home.

Since the Xiao Mansion is so generous to refugees, it will definitely not be stingy to the generals guarding the border.

After returning to the mansion, Xia Jianren wrote a letter to the general of the border army.

After the death of the previous commander, he and Fan Tong were almost in charge of the guard post. Fan Tong was a rough man who only knew how to train troops, and he was in charge of food and salary.

This winter, the guards did not give the border troops much food.

At this time, the army must be having a hard time.

......

Border Army Camp.

After receiving Xia Jianren's letter, General Cao Dan stood in silence in the military tent for a long time.

If the new arrival of the Ganzhou Guard had not destroyed a group of cavalry from Xiliao this year, his troops would definitely still be fighting guerrillas with the Xiliao people.

The army's rations are not much, but everyone is staying in the camp, so if you save a little, it will be enough.

Looking at Xia Jianren's letter, Cao Dan narrowed his eyes.

Over the years, he has dealt with the health department a lot, and he knows that Xia Jianren is a very calculating person.

He had also heard about the porridge delivery at the gate of Ganzhou Acropolis. Now Xia Jianren asked himself to go to Xiao Yeyang to ask for food, which was obviously not a good idea.

Instinctively, he turned towards Xiao Yeyang.

Soldiers are like this. They admire those who are stronger than themselves. Obviously, in Cao Dan's eyes, he was even more convinced by Xiao Yeyang, who could destroy the people of Xiliao and make them fear him.

After thinking again and again, Cao Dan decided to go to Ganzhou City.

It’s not necessary to get food, but it’s definitely right to complain more.

The last time he saw Xiao Yeyang, he knew that this person was not the kind of playboy who only knew about enjoyment as everyone imagined. In his eyes, he saw the determination to destroy Xiliao.

I heard that he moved into the commander's residence and took over the Ganzhou Guard. I must have more contacts with him so that he can successfully obtain military salary in the future.

Of course, he would be happier if he could bring back food so that the soldiers could eat better and have a good year.

......

On the twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month, Cao Dan entered Ganzhou City with a few soldiers.

Xia Jianren had been paying attention to the movements in the Xiao Mansion. He immediately knew that Cao Dan had gone to find Xiao Yeyang, and immediately sent a message to the capital commander.

"The border troops have joined in, and now we can drive Xiao Yeyang out of Xiliang as soon as the soup kitchen at the city gate stops."

Xiao Mansion.

Daohua heard that the military counselor at the border was coming to Xiao Yeyang. After asking about the number of people coming, she asked the kitchen to prepare meals.

When Xiao Yeyang saw Cao Dan in the front yard and living room, he was obviously a little surprised and immediately asked: "But the army is short of food?"

Cao Dan nodded instinctively.

Over the years, the guard has always been in arrears with military camp food payments. Every time he comes to Ganzhou Guard, it is almost always to ask for food. This has become his subconscious reaction.

Xiao Yeyang had a good impression of Cao Dan. The first time he saw this person, he was leading his soldiers to go shopping with the people of Xiliao.

Obviously the weapons and equipment are much behind those of the Xiliao people, but they didn't let the Xiliao people take advantage.

"Wait for me."

Cao Dan, who had not said a word when he came in, stared blankly at Xiao Yeyang's back as he strode away.

It wasn't until the maid came in to serve refreshments that I came back to my senses.

"General, please have tea!"

The maid gave Cao Dan tea, then stood aside.

Seeing that the maid was not squinting or looking around, Cao Dan quickly reached out and handed the plate of red bean cakes to the two soldiers behind him.

They came out after eating a steamed bun today and were already hungry.

The soldiers looked at the maid and saw that the maid didn't look at them, so they each quickly took three pieces of red bean cake.

The porcelain plate is not big, and it can only hold eight or nine pieces.

When Cao Dan saw that his soldiers had left three pieces for him, he picked up one piece and ate it.

As soon as the pastries entered his mouth, Cao Dan narrowed his eyes.

The maid who had been pretending to be invisible couldn't help but burst out laughing when she saw Cao Dan's expression of enjoyment.

Cao Dan was embarrassed and turned red immediately.

He is a native of Xiliang. Xiliang is remote and bitterly cold. In addition, people from Xiliao are causing trouble, so few caravans usually come here.

This has resulted in a shortage of supplies here and extremely high prices.

Even if he is a general, it is difficult to eat precious things like sugar and honey.

This pastry is so soft, delicious, and so sweet that I can’t control my expression.

When the maid realized she had made a mistake, she immediately stopped smiling and looked intently again, as if she was not the one who laughed just now.

Seeing the maid like this, Cao Dan didn't want to eat, but he silently put the remaining two cakes into his pocket and drank the tea calmly.

Fortunately, Xiao Yeyang came back soon.

As soon as Xiao Yeyang entered the door, he said to Cao Dan: "I will give you five hundred shi of food first. You must persist first. I will allocate food again in the middle of the first month."

Cao Dan moved his lips, hesitated, and then said: "If it is inconvenient, sir, the military camp is not in a hurry..."

Before he finished speaking, Xiao Yeyang interrupted him: "The rations of the soldiers are absolutely indispensable. How can we fight against Xiliao without good physical strength?"

"The soldiers I saw last time were all sallow and thin. If they really go to the battlefield, they will be the first to die."

Hearing this, Cao Dan felt a little moved.

Xiliang's grain output was low, and he almost never collected enough military rations. Every time he asked for grain, the guards would drag him away whenever they could, and the soldiers were often hungry.

Now they finally meet someone who won’t miss their military provisions.

Xiao Yeyang: "By the way, I see that your weapons and equipment are also very damaged. Is there no one to replace them for you?"

Cao Dan smiled bitterly: "Every time I change weapons and report the details of the military uniforms, I have to report to the commander-in-chief, and almost everything goes unnoticed."

Xiao Yeyang's face darkened, he thought for a while, and said, "Before you leave, make me a list of the military supplies that the army usually uses."

Cao Dan glanced at Xiao Yeyang and nodded in agreement.

At this time, Defu walked in.

"Master, the Crown Princess has prepared the food, it's time to start eating."

Xiao Yeyang got up and took Cao Dan to the living room to eat. The few soldiers Cao Dan brought with him were taken to the side room to eat by Defu.

Looking at the sumptuous meal on the table, several of the soldiers who followed them couldn't help but swallow their saliva. After Defu retreated, they started eating.

After the meal, Cao Dan left with 500 shi of grain.

The soldier who was sitting on the horse and hiccupping said to Cao Dan: "General, the new Mr. Xiao is really a good man."

Cao Dan laughed: "If I give you food, you are a good person?"

The soldier nodded seriously: "Yes, I'm not afraid of beating the Xiliao people, I'm just afraid of being hungry."
Chapter completed!