Your Majesty said that my life is worthless, so why are you crying when I increase my troops?

In the evening, it was getting dark.

The Hanyang County Government Office was brightly lit.

All the officials of Hanyang and local gentry gathered here.

The county magistrate, Sun Yaozu, and a group of officials from the county government were waiting in front of the government office.

"Dad, is the eldest princess not coming?"

"We've been waiting for half an hour, but there's still no one here."

Sun Wenju looked around and couldn't help asking.

Sun Yaozu glared at him and said calmly, "Why are you so anxious? Your father has taught you many times that you need to be calm and composed when encountering things, and not be impetuous."

"But it's only been half an hour. What if she really doesn't come?"

"Anyway, we should invite those we should. If she doesn't want to honor us, then the county government and the princess's mansion will keep their distance from each other in the future."

"Yes, father is right. I was just impatient." Sun Wenju lowered his head quickly, but secretly complained in his heart.

If Her Royal Highness the Princess doesn't come, wouldn't he miss another chance to get in touch with her?

"Her Royal Highness the Princess has arrived!"

Sun Wenju was feeling anxious when a shout brought him back to his senses.

Xia Xue, wearing a purple horse-faced skirt that represented the royal family of Great Xia, slowly got off the carriage, nodded slightly to everyone, and walked towards the county government office with a smile.

Her every frown and smile showed her dignity and elegance, which made Sun Wenju stare at her.

Before he could react, Xia Xue had already reached the door. Sun Yaozu quickly made way and led his subordinates in bowing.

"Your Highness greets Her Royal Highness the Princess!"

Xia Xue nodded slightly, her beautiful eyes sweeping over everyone, "I'm late, please forgive me."

Sun Wenju smiled broadly, "Your Highness, you are so polite. I and others are deeply honored that you can attend this dinner."

"Please move in and take a seat in the hall."

Xia Xue didn't respond and walked into the door with dignity.

Xia Mingyuan followed behind her and walked forward with a swagger. When he passed by Sun Wenju, he did not forget to raise his middle finger at him.

After Xia Xue sat down, he stood beside her, looking like a bodyguard.

Xia Xue waved her hand gently, and the officials and gentry also sat down.

The dinner then officially began.

Although the people outside were living a miserable life, the dinner at the county government office was extremely lavish.

There are all kinds of things flying in the sky and swimming in the water.

It took nearly an hour before it finally came to an end.

Sun Yaozu raised his glass and stood up. "Everyone, today we are hosting a dinner at the county government office. Firstly, we are here to welcome Her Royal Highness the Princess and congratulate her on her vassalage in Hanyang."

"Furthermore, it is to prepare for the dispatch of troops to suppress the bandits next month."

"Everyone knows that the bandit problem in Hanyang is getting worse and worse. These beasts are burning, killing, looting, and brutalizing the people everywhere, causing the people in Hanyang to suffer misery."

"I have therefore decided to dispatch troops to severely suppress the arrogance of these bandits!"

"Let those unruly people who have gone up to the mountains to become bandits see that the Great Xia court will never let any evildoer go!"

Sun Yaozu was very excited and spoke loudly!

As soon as the words fell, everyone at the banquet immediately responded, "Master Sun is right, these bandits are too arrogant and lawless. It's time to send troops to deal with them!"

"I will donate two hundred taels to the county government. I ask the magistrate to recruit local warriors, recruit soldiers, and wipe out these bandits. I hope to restore peace to Hanyang City."

"I'll pay five hundred taels!"

"Get out of the way, I'll give you one thousand taels."

Everyone donated generously as if they had been injected with chicken blood.

In a short while, Sun Yaozu had raised 30,000 taels of silver. Xia Mingyuan couldn't help but stare at him.

This is thirty thousand taels of silver.

Even though Daxia had just ended its war and food was in short supply, with one tael of silver only worth ten kilograms of rice, these thirty thousand taels of silver could at least buy three hundred thousand kilograms of food! How many more soldiers could this feed?

Previously, he raided the Crow Mountain's lair and looted ten boxes of gold, silver and jewelry, which only added up to ten thousand taels of silver!

The magistrate of Hanyang County managed to get 30,000 taels just by talking.

This money came too easily!

Something is wrong!

Xia Mingyuan was thinking about it, and suddenly realized it.

A careful calculation shows that the wealthy and powerful officials in Hanyang alone have collected 30,000 taels.

There are as many as 200,000 to 300,000 people in Hanyang, and at least 40,000 to 50,000 households.

Not counting merchants like Lu Xiucai, if each household received two taels of silver, the total revenue would still be one hundred thousand taels!

One hundred thousand taels is enough to support tens of thousands of troops to fight a big battle on the border!

When we arrived in Hanyang City, we just suppressed the bandits?

If there is no trick here, he would never believe it even if you kill him.

"I will also donate one thousand taels to help Lord Sun suppress the bandits."

At this moment, Xia Xue stood up, took out two silver notes worth five hundred taels from her sleeve, and had someone hand them to Sun Yaozu.

Sun Yaozu was slightly startled, and quickly waved his hand and said, "Your Highness, how can I take your money? I cannot accept this money."

Xia Xue frowned and said, "Lord Sun sent troops to suppress the bandits, and everyone responded. As a member of the royal family, I naturally have to do my part."

"If even I don't contribute, who would be willing to donate if word gets out?"

"Master Sun must accept this money no matter what!"

"Well... well, then I would like to thank Her Royal Highness the Princess on behalf of the people of Hanyang." Sun Yaozu put the banknotes into his arms, raised his head and glanced at everyone.

"For the generosity of all the volunteers, the county would like to thank you all for your kind act!"

"With you taking the lead, the people of Hanyang will surely donate money on their own initiative."

"If I, Sun Yaozu, can wipe out the three major gangs in Hanyang this time, I will return all the seized silver to you double."

At this point, Sun Yaozu suddenly sighed: "It's a pity that the money for this bandit suppression is far from enough. Excluding the donations from the people, I estimate that we are still at least 20,000 to 30,000 taels short."

"I hope that after you return, you will mobilize the people and ask them to tighten their belts. Within a month, we must raise 150,000 taels!"

"We must teach the people that as long as we eradicate the banditry, life will eventually get better."

"Wait a moment!"

As soon as Sun Yaozu finished speaking, Xia Mingyuan finally couldn't help but stand up.

"May I ask Magistrate Sun, how much silver is needed to suppress the bandits?"

"This...will cost at least 150,000 taels." Sun Yaozu hesitated slightly and answered.

"One hundred and fifty thousand taels?" Xia Mingyuan sneered. "Is Lord Sun planning to recruit tens of thousands of troops and march south to fight the Qiang barbarians to the death?"

Sun Yaozu's eyes narrowed, his face livid. "Commander Xia, what do you mean by that? Do you think this 150,000 taels of silver is too much for me?"

"Why? Magistrate Sun, don't you think it's too little?" Xia Mingyuan said sarcastically, "According to my understanding, even the largest Poison Dragon Gang in Hanyang only has 7,000 to 8,000 followers."

"Five thousand elite soldiers are more than enough to take down this rabble. Hanyang City alone has two thousand defenders, and recruiting another three thousand will suffice. Why would we need to spend hundreds of thousands of taels of silver?"