Chapter 86 - 80: Got the Ink Jade Kirin, Asking the Tang Family for Grain?_3
“Because a while ago, I cut off all grain supplies to Qingshi Town and Huangqu Town, thereby causing the Luo Family to hold a grudge against my Tang Family?”
“And then, it led to the occurrence of this matter?”
Tang Huaiping silently contemplated in his heart.
However, he soon silently shook his head.
Qingshi Town, Luo Family.
Among the four great powers of Huai Shui County, it is considered the weakest one.
If it weren’t for the fact that within the Luo Family Ancestral Land, there sits an ancestor at the Organ Refinement Realm.
He wouldn’t even take the mere Luo Family into account.
Therefore, it should not be the work of the Luo Family.
The Luo Family does not have the courage, nor do they have the capability.
“If it wasn’t for the Luo Family, who could it be?”
“People from King of Huai Shui Feng Wentai’s side?”
“Or could it be the Chen Family, with their profound background, which has existed in Huai Shui County for god knows how long?”
Clearly, whether it’s King of Huai Shui’s side or the deeply rooted old family, the Chen Family,
both forces have the suspicion of stealing those fifty Ink Jade Kirins from the Tang Family.
But now, the biggest problem is,
they from the Tang Family have no evidence.
No evidence to prove who exactly committed the act.
In the absence of evidence,
Tang Huaiping, though filled with rage in his heart,
had no choice but to forcibly suppress that anger.
Temporarily putting the matter aside.
…
Thus, the vast Huai Shui County,
continued to pass by in such tranquility for several days.
Qingshi Town, Luo Family Ancestral Land.
Inside the room where the Luo Family Patriarch resides.
Luo Ping, the current Family Head of the Luo Family, still sat in his usual place at the head seat, handling various affairs of the family and the governance of both Qingshi Town and Huangqu Town.
Since, in recent days, there had been a significant increase in the number of refugees in both Qingshi Town and Huangqu Town,
the renovation of Qingshi Town and the construction of the city walls
were gradually reaching their conclusion.
Approximately just half a month more and these two laborious but significative tasks could be completed.
As for the tilling of farmland,
Luo Ping was constantly intensifying the efforts.
This matter cannot be neglected.
Qingshi Town and Huangqu Town, these two cities, happen to be located by the river of Huai Shui.
Therefore, they do not need to worry about water supply.
Moreover, most times, the amount of farmland almost amounts to the grain yield.
So, no matter how much more farmland there is, the Luo Family would not complain.
But now there is a problem, one that obviously lies right in front of Luo Ping.
It forces Luo Ping to confront and seriously address the issue.
That is the consumption of grain that’s happening faster than Luo Ping anticipated.
If, previously, with the grain reserves of the Luo Family,
it was possible to sustain two to three months’ worth of provisions,
now, with the current rate of grain consumption,
it would be a stretch to last even one and a half months.
And at present, the farmland that the Luo Family had cultivated had not yet started sowing.
Even if they had, it would take at least four to five months for the first batch of grain to mature after sowing.
It’s possible the Luo Family may not last that long.
“What should be done next?”
“Starting from now, refuse the influx of refugees?”
“Doing so might slightly alleviate the current predicament.”
“But, such action is only a temporary solution, not a cure!”
“Unless half of the population within Qingshi Town and Huangqu Town is expelled,”
“then it might be possible to hold on until the next harvest.”
“But if we truly do so, it would certainly cause great damage to the reputation of my Luo Family.”
“It would also inevitably harm the war potential and development capabilities of my Luo Family.”
“Unless absolutely necessary, this cannot be done.”
“Still, if we don’t do this, how could my Luo Family endure the current hardship?”
In the room, Luo Ping sat silently in the main seat, pondering in his heart.
But the more he thought, the more he felt a severe headache coming on.
The grain merchant Tang Family had already completely severed the grain supply to Qingshi Town and Huangqu Town.
If nothing unforeseen happens next…
The current situation of the Luo Family is really stepping deeper into a hopeless deadlock.
…
The predicament of the Luo Family was not only perceived by Luo Ping.
Luo Yong, stationed outside Qingshi Town in the military camp,
had also vaguely sensed it.
If it had been before, Luo Yong might have felt some confusion about such a predicament, not knowing what to do,
But the current Luo Yong was different from the Luo Yong of the past.
Ever since he successfully intercepted those fifty Ink Jade Kirins from the Tang Family,
it was as if Luo Yong had unlocked the door to a whole new world.
The Luo Family is short on grain, what to do?
Simple, continue to borrow some grain from the Tang Family, and it’s all settled, isn’t it?
Other forces aside, the Tang Family is the super grain merchant of Huai Shui County.
The grain reserves of the Tang Family are alarmingly vast.
The Luo Family does not need to borrow all of the Tang Family’s grain reserves, just a small portion—just some that leaks out from the gaps between the Tang Family’s fingers.
Then the Luo Family in Qingshi Town could securely survive this current round of hardship.
…
“General, should we really do this?”
“Previously intercepting the Ink Jade Kirins from the Tang Family was already extremely risky.”
“If this time, we are detected by the Tang Family…”
“What we’ll face won’t be as simple as the current grain shortage.”
In the military camp, to the left of Luo Yong,
a vice-general hesitated as he advised.
While Luo Qingshan, who was to the other side of Luo Yong, did not say anything,
the worry in his eyes already said it all.