In Love With My Fierce Farming Wife!
Chapter 726 - 725: Victorious Return to the Capital!_1

Chapter 726: Chapter 725: Victorious Return to the Capital!_1

Fearing that it might sully Su Pan’er’s ears, he took Su Pan’er and left the room.

"Now that we have food, there’s no problem. But with so many disaster victims gathering here, causing trouble all day, the government office is feeling strained. It’s giving me a headache!"

At this point, he couldn’t help but frown deeply.

"That shouldn’t be hard to solve!"

Su Pan’er did not find this difficult at all. She glanced at him and shrugged nonchalantly.

"Didn’t you say that you lack manpower for the rebuilding of the river embankment? You can definitely ask these people to build the embankment and pay them daily wages. They can choose whether to get food or cash. Given the soaring grain prices, most of them would probably choose the food."

Qin Yi slapped his thigh!

"This is a good idea! Why didn’t I think of it? But, many of the disaster victims are old, young, sick or disabled and may not be able to work, thus can’t get food."

"That’s even easier! Directly order the inn’s doctor in town to hold a rotating free clinic for the disaster victims and relieve them of their diseases. Meanwhile, use coarse grains to make porridge and distribute it to the weak and disabled among the disaster victims, with a limit of one bowl per person. This way, not only can we save grain, but also allow those strong and troublesome victims to vent, and fundamentally solve their problems."

When Qin Yi heard this, he gave three loud praises!

The next day, he arranged everything accordingly.

Implementing Su Pan’er’s method initially encountered some resistance and deliberate troublemakers. Qin Yi punished the troublemakers with an iron fist, quickly suppressing those who intentionally caused chaos, thereby deterring everyone from messing around.

However, soon, these victims found that not only was the wage for working on the river embankment paid daily, but it was even more than what they earned as casual laborers outside or farming at home.

Moreover, not only could they earn a day’s rations by working at the river embankment, but they could even have some surplus to support their families. Even more remarkably, the grains they earned with their labor, when mixed with wild vegetables to make porridge, were sufficient to feed their entire families!

The number of disaster victims staying in Hezhong City rapidly decreased.

By the time the Imperial Decree was issued, the project to rebuild the river embankment had gradually been put on the right track.

The remaining victims quickly settled down near Hezhong City and started their new lives.

After receiving the decree, Qin Yi transferred the work in his hands to the Deputy General left behind, hastily completing the handover. He didn’t expect the Imperial Decree to come so quickly! According to past experience, rewards were usually given three months to half a year later. But this time, the Decree arrived within only a month or so of the report of the military exploits - truly a rare occurrence!

However, thinking of His Majesty’s current situation and the close surveillance of the surrounding major powers, Qin Yi was quickly reassured!

Great Zhou really needed a victory like this to boost morale!

Three days later, Qin Yi set off with his men, escorting the major criminals to Jingzhao Prefecture.

Hundreds of thousands of commoners spontaneously gathered to tearfully bid farewell to their heroes!

Qin Yi and Su Pan’er bade a fond farewell to everyone before setting off for Jingzhao Prefecture.

When they finally arrived in Chang’an after a long, harrowing journey, flurries of snow were already falling on the streets of Chang’an.

Winter had come again!

All over Chang’an, despite the howling cold winds and falling snow, people flocked to the Ten-mile Pavilion to welcome the victorious return of General Qin!

Along both sides of the postal route, the crowds thronged shoulder to shoulder, dense like a swarm - all people who had crammed out of Chang’an City to watch the spectacle. People, unafraid of the cold, populated the shade of trees and the edges of fields, each one straining their neck to see. Many people even laid out large Cool Umbrellas, creating shelters from the wind and rain underneath - But of course, this was a privilege only for the prominent officials!

Ever since His Majesty ascended the throne, he has not shown his face to ordinary people. Now that they have heard that His Majesty himself will be at the Ten Li Pavilion to welcome the return, people have traveled a long way for two reasons. The first is to witness the triumphant return of the victorious army, and the second is naturally to get a clear look at what the "Emperor’s child" looks like.

When Su Huarong arrived at the Ten-mile Pavilion, he was greeted by a sea of people!

Sellers of snacks, trinkets, performers of various tricks - all sorts of small stalls, high and low cries of vendors singing their wares creating a cacophony of noise!

Su Huarong continued along the postal route from the city gate, and it wasn’t until he had walked ten miles outside the pavilion and saw the crowd thinning that he sat down to wait quietly under a large willow tree.

When he had left Jun Ruochen’s camp, he originally intended to return home by the road to Shu, as planned.

However, he indeed couldn’t help worrying about Su Ke and others!

Thinking of Ye Han being in Jingzhao Prefecture, he turned and headed directly for Chang’an.

Given the current turmoil, he had his fair share of hardships along the journey. Before he even entered the city, he had heard of Qin Yi’s victory over the Zhou Army, his capture of Zhou Zhenchao, and his taking of over 10,000 prisoners! Attained this piece of information, put his mind at ease.

Considered the chaotic situation, he went to stay temporarily in an inn, waiting for Qin Yi’s return to Chang’an.

Unexpectedly, this led to a dramatic and fortunate chance encounter...

At the Hour of Mao, he heard three cannon fires from the city tower of Chang’an, soldiers carrying spears ran out from the city gate, deployed along the postal route, pulled up long streamers, and set up a colored arch every 30 yards. A General, holding a broadsword, led a squad of soldiers to stand guard on both sides of the arch. It was a tight security setup, with soldiers posted every three-five steps, everyone appeared serious and solemn.

Su Huarong watched quietly, waiting patiently under the big tree.

Before long, a soldier riding a mail horse rushed from the other end of the official road, crying out as he galloped, "General Qin is returning in triumph! He’s bringing the captured prisoners to the capital!"

As he galloped, he announced loudly, speeding towards the city gate along the postal route!

Su Huarong clearly saw it and guessed it must be Qin Yi’s messenger sent into the city for liaison.

Sure enough, not long after, he heard three cannons firing from the city tower of Chang’an. The bell on the Bell and Drum Tower rang in unison, echoing the bells from the surrounding temples, resonating throughout the area! Firecrackers also started exploding around, popping and crackling all over.

At the same time, groups of armored Imperial Special Guards quickly ran out from under the city tower, and soon, they were posted everywhere along the long colored ropes. Then, a dragon carriage, pulled by eight horses, came galloping out of the official road from Chang’an.

The commoners on both sides had already knelt down at the command of the broadsword-holding generals, and there was complete silence among the crowd. Only the horns were sounding in unison, accompanied by the beat of drums, solemn and dignified.

Su Huarong was also kneeling at the back of the crowd, his head down and eyes low. He listened to the commotion, followed by the uniform sound of footsteps and hooves passing by in front of him.

He stealthily raised his head and looked up at the figure on the dragon carriage.