Unlimited Resources: Raising a Minister with a Space Supermarket-Chapter 550 - 484: Linzhou City Has Fallen

The grain in the Zheng Family’s warehouse is not only abundant but also of high-quality rice and flour.

In addition to grain, the warehouse also contains various teas and seasonings.

Yu Xiaolian immediately noticed a pile of old ginger. Old ginger is perfect for making ginger soup for the people to drink.

Besides the old ginger, another inner warehouse of the Zheng Family also has a lot of dried meat, including pork and wild rabbit meat, as well as some meat that Yu Xiaolian couldn’t identify.

The ceiling of the entire warehouse is filled with hanging dried meat.

Seeing rows of clay pots on the ground, Yu Xiaolian casually opened one, revealing white lard inside.

Apart from lard, there are also dozens of jars of pickled vegetables and a cellar full of good wine!

Yu Xiaolian decided to only take the old ginger and pickled vegetables, for making ginger soup and salted vegetables.

She had Cao Gen drive the ox cart inside, loaded a jar of pickled vegetables and the old ginger onto the cart, and had the old man guarding the Zheng Family take note of what she took, then hurried back.

For now, she doesn’t plan to take any grain. She plans to drive a cart herself one day and bring back a load, claiming it came from the Zheng Family’s granary. Given the current situation, no one would verify her claim.

"Xiaolian, pickled vegetables are meant to be eaten with rice. Are we really giving them pickled vegetables?" Gao Shi thought just giving the people porridge was already generous.

Yu Xiaolian replied, "Don’t forget, Yangcheng not only has refugees now, but also villagers staying to defend the city. If we don’t feed them well, how will they have the strength to defend the city?"

Yu Xiaolian furrowed her brows, "We can make the porridge for the elderly a bit watery, but those defending the city must eat solid food. This is a crucial moment. If the Hu people break through the city, all our grain will end up in their stomachs."

There’s no harm in eating what’s available. Who knows if the city gates can be held?

There were originally only a few maids and old servant women in the Su Mansion, just three maids and two old women. They’ve been the ones cooking for the defending villagers and government officials these days. The original cook from the county government, who used to be the husband of Aunt Ge from the market, has fled with her upon hearing of the impending battle.

Although the Hu army hasn’t arrived yet, Yangcheng is becoming increasingly deserted. Su Jingchen had Li Wenyuan tally up the remaining people: aside from the defenders, only about a thousand people were left in the city, including those who sought refuge and those who stayed.

In other words, the total population of Yangcheng barely reaches two thousand.

So there’s no need to divide the meals! Everyone can eat together!

Yu Xiaolian turned the big pot meals into extra-large pot meals. Within just three or four days, the county government’s grain reserves plummeted.

Yu Xiaolian had Su Jingchen find an excuse, borrowed Cao Gen, and together they drove an ox cart for a tour around the Zheng Family’s compound. They found a secluded alley and easily retrieved the grain they had pre-packed in bags.

In addition to rice and millet, Yu Xiaolian also took a lot of corn grits and mung beans.

Cooking corn grits with mung beans is very filling, and it tastes great too.

"That’s enough, the ox can’t pull any more!" Under Su Jingchen’s urging, Yu Xiaolian stopped.

If she weren’t afraid of being caught as a witch, Yu Xiaolian felt she could feed an entire city.

The two walked back, yes, walked back, as the cart was filled with grain, leaving no space for them to sit.

"It’s been so many days, and still the Hu army hasn’t arrived. Do you think Linzhou’s king changed his mind and decided to hold Linzhou?" Yu Xiaolian asked as they walked.

Su Jingchen shook his head, "To escalate the situation, Linzhou’s king will definitely abandon Linzhou.

He must be waiting for the right opportunity!"

Linzhou is Jun Mobai’s fief, and he certainly doesn’t want it to be entirely looted by the Hu army. Although losing the city is inevitable, when to lose it and for how long, Jun Mobai must have plans for that.

"Is there any news from General Li’s side?" By rights, Li Guangpu should be on his way to assist by now.

If counted from the day Fu Tong passed through Yangcheng, Li Guangpu should be near Yangcheng by now. But Su Jingchen had He Jian scout towards Jinzhou multiple times, yet there was no sign of reinforcements; it’s truly puzzling!

"No!" Su Jingchen said heavily.

If reinforcements don’t arrive, everything he’s doing now will be in vain.

Su Jingchen and Yu Xiaolian brought the cartload of grain back to the county government. While having it unloaded into the granary, Yu Xiaolian kept exploiting loopholes, occasionally sneaking out a bag of corn grits, with Su Jingchen shielding her with his back.

After all the grain was unloaded, Cao Gen looked at the tall stacks of grain bags and couldn’t help but marvel, "This old ox sure is strong, being able to bring back such a load of grain all at once!"

Su Jingchen and Yu Xiaolian exchanged glances, keeping silent out of guilt, and left hand in hand.

The next day, before dawn, He Jian came to knock on Su Jingchen’s door.

"My lord, Linzhou City has fallen. The king of Linzhou is bringing people this way!"

"Intercept the Linzhou king halfway, and have him bring his people through the South Gate!" They’ve already set traps and reinforced the North Gate, just waiting for this day.

"Understood!" He Jian responded and the next second disappeared into the air.

While dressing, Su Jingchen whispered to the awakened Yu Xiaolian, "With the king of Linzhou coming, you mustn’t take things out of the space anymore. Prepare whatever you might need in advance now!"

Yu Xiaolian nodded, "I understand. Wear more clothes, it’s very cold at night!"

"You... be careful. I’m worried there might already be Hu spies mixed into the city." Su Jingchen reminded uneasily.

Yawning, Yu Xiaolian got up, "I’ll go to Jinghua’s room. If anything happens, find me there!"

Su Jingchen nodded, "As long as the gates aren’t breached, there shouldn’t be any immediate danger. Just worry about someone secretly making a move.

The kitchen should be careful these days. Don’t let strangers in, even if they’re Linzhou king’s men, make sure to verify first!"

While dressing, Yu Xiaolian asked, "Will the king of Linzhou bring grain when he retreats here? If not, we can’t afford to feed so many people!"

Su Jingchen, by now at the door, reassured, "Don’t worry about the grain; the king of Linzhou should arrange to bring some from elsewhere."

As Su Jingchen disappeared into the night, Yu Xiaolian, under the dim moonlight, quickly made her way to Su Jinghua’s room.

Su Jinghua was also awake by this time; one shout from He Jian had awakened the entire back courtyard of the county government.

As Yu Xiaolian blew out the candle in the lantern, Su Jinghua lit the one on the table.

"Sister-in-law, have the Hu people really come?" Su Jinghua asked with a worried look.

"It’s the king of Linzhou arriving. The Hu people probably won’t chase us so quickly."

The Hu people aren’t waging war to annihilate Great Liang but to enrich their resources, so after taking Linzhou City, they should transport the looted goods back to Hu Kingdom first.

Moreover, Yu Xiaolian didn’t believe that the Hu Kingdom has the capability to chase all the way to Yangcheng.