After being demoted, my 300,000-strong army trampled the imperial city!

Qin Liangyu insisted on personally going to the Beiwu Army camp as an envoy, and with the persuasion of Qingyi and Liu Bowen, Chen Futu finally nodded.

"Zhensu, you must come back safely. If anything happens to you, I will make the entire Northern Wu Kingdom pay for it."

Chen Futu said to Qin Liangyu seriously that he was not joking.

"Your Majesty, rest assured, I will be fine, especially with the Imperial Advisor here."

And so, Qin Liangyu and Qingyi went together.

As Chen Futu watched the two figures walk away, he felt an inexplicable unease, sensing that something was about to happen.

Next, we waited for news from the Taiping Grain Depot.

Within days, news of the Great Qian War spread throughout the northern frontier, especially after the princess, the county princess, and a group of noble ladies were captured by barbarians, causing the people to sigh with regret.

This is a national tragedy. As ordinary citizens, we are unwilling to stand by and watch our country be trampled upon and humiliated.

"Sigh, I really don't know what will happen next."

"Why hasn't Your Majesty sent troops yet? Looking across the nations, only Your Majesty can save the people of the Central Plains from their suffering."

"Your Majesty has taken in many refugees, but the royal court has no surplus grain."

"Are we just supposed to stand by and watch?"

The common people were abuzz with discussion, while scholars and students had already gathered near the royal court, loudly calling out to request an audience with the king.

Hearing the shouts outside the royal court, Chen Futu felt a headache coming on, but he still came out to meet the group of scholars.

"Your Majesty, please send troops to relieve the crisis in the Central Plains!"

"This is a catastrophe for the Central Plains. Your Majesty is also a citizen of the Central Plains. How can you stand idly by and leave the people to suffer?"

The intellectuals all volunteered to fight.

Chen Futu said in a deep voice, "I already know what you all are thinking, but the Central Plains are engulfed in war. I am willing to resolve this predicament, but I still need to make some plans."

"Your Majesty, the barbarian bandits have gone too far. If we do not send troops, we will only be looked down upon by them."

“They opened the city gates, killed people, and committed all sorts of atrocities. They are simply a bunch of beasts. Only Your Majesty can resolve this crisis.”

Scholars have no idea about the suffering in the northern frontier. War is not something that can be fought with just words. Given the current situation, if the northern frontier were to send troops, it would be facing all forces, not just the Western Regions coalition.

As more and more people gathered, Chen Futu had no choice but to order his Tiger Guards to drive them away.

After the scholars left in tears, Zhuge Liang said, "The bandits are approaching the capital. The new emperor has moved south with his officials, leaving only a small number of troops to guard the capital. It is said that the former crown princess, Lady Liang, has also stayed behind."

"I know."

Chen Futu had obtained Liang Xuan'er's secret letter earlier. The woman wanted to take the opportunity to grow stronger and plot to dominate the country. Little did she know that this was like throwing an egg against a rock. If she succeeded, she could be considered a feudal lord. If she failed, her fate would be extremely tragic.

"Your Majesty, the people have collected some grain."

The Imperial Guards arrived and spoke with a strange expression.

When Chen Futu and Zhuge Liang arrived at a square, they saw people carrying loads or bags, eagerly waiting. They even spotted Nannan in the crowd.

"The King has arrived!"

"Your Majesty!"

The crowd swarmed around them.

An elder said sadly, "Your Majesty, we have nothing of value but a little bit of food that we have saved up. We hope it can be of some help."

"Yes, the Central Plains have been ravaged by barbarians. We are heartbroken but helpless. We can only donate grain and hope that Your Majesty will send troops to drive them away."

The people are still very simple and honest.

This grain was earned through their work in the workshops. At this time of national crisis, they donated their remaining grain, which is far better than those scholars who only know how to talk big.

"Big brother, this is Nannan's food, take it out too."

The little girl struggled to carry the bag, her face flushed from exhaustion.

Chen Futu patted her head and said, "My dear girl, your brother will not take food from you."

"Big brother, are you going to fight off those bad guys?"

"of course."

Upon hearing this, the people cheered with joy.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Zhuge Liang said, "Fellow villagers, please rest assured, the King will send troops soon, and you can take the grain back with you."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"Long live the King!"

The people knelt down in a rush, and Nannan also knelt at their feet, kowtowing repeatedly.

Chen Futu felt a pang of pain in his heart and helped her up.

The people finally left, leaving behind large and small bags of grain.

Chen Futu instructed the Imperial Guards to deliver the grain back to each household, assuring them that no matter how difficult the situation in the northern frontier was, they would not accept the people's rations.

After giving the instructions, Chen Futu brought Nannan back to the royal court and asked, "Are you with Long Luo now?"

"Yes, my sister spends all day reading and writing with Nannan. She's so kind."

"Have you seen Aunt Zhou?"

"Yes, I saw her. Aunt Zhou came looking for Nannan the night before last."

"Really? Next time your Aunt Zhou comes, can you bring her to see me?"

“Great! Aunt Zhou also wants to thank big brother in person.”

The little girl clapped her hands and nodded her head, being extremely lively.

Chen Futu smiled slightly, summoned the Tiger Guards to take her to eat, and then sent her to Long Luo.

Just then, news came from the Northern Mountains: "Your Majesty, the location of Taiping Granary has been discovered. It is located in a bunker in Hongye Plain. Liu Bainian has already dispatched troops."

"it is good!"

Chen Futu and Zhuge Liang were overjoyed; after all their patience, the big fish had finally taken the bait.

Sure enough, after only two or three days, the managers of the three major grain merchants came to complain, denouncing Liu Bainian for his lack of martial ethics and for seizing nearly five million shi of their grain. They said they had been beaten when they went to ask for it back, and now they could only hope that the king would take charge and send troops to reclaim the grain.

Five million koku!

Chen Futu and Zhuge Liang's eyes lit up, and they pretended to be puzzled: "I made the Xuanshui Alliance with Sun Chengzong. The alliance has not been broken yet, so why send troops?"

"Your Majesty, we are citizens of the Northern Frontier. To plunder us is to plunder Your Majesty. How can we tolerate this!"

"Yes, Your Majesty, they broke the alliance first, not Your Majesty."

"Your Majesty, you must do justice for us! Waaaaah—"

The shopkeepers wept uncontrollably, pleading and beating their heads until they nearly broke their foreheads.

Seeing that things had gone far enough, Chen Futu immediately stood up and angrily said, "That Liu Bainian, he simply doesn't respect me at all! Dian Wei, quickly summon the generals for a meeting!"

In a short while, all the generals gathered together, and the three managers were invited to have tea.

After Zhuge Liang explained the situation, the generals were overjoyed, and Yue Fei was the first to step forward, saying, "This humble general is willing to retrieve the grain."

"General Yue, this battle cannot be won without our lord's personal presence," Zhuge Liang said with a smile. The generals were puzzled. "Why?"

Liu Bowen explained, “Your Majesty must personally wage war against Liu Bainian and explain the advantages and disadvantages. In this way, the alliance will be broken.”

The soldiers then realized what was happening.

Next, Chen Futu ordered Guan Yu, Di Renjie, Yue Fei, and Liu Bowen to prepare their respective troops and then head north to the mountains to join the main army.