Bianning Commandery.

Commandery Administrator Xu Xi set down the official document in his hand with a deep frown on his face. He summoned one of his advisors and asked, “Why have the numbers of refugees been increasing so much lately? In the past ten days alone, fifteen thousand refugees have passed through this commandery. Should we cut the amount of porridge we distribute by half?”

Shocked, the advisor hurriedly replied, “Absolutely not, my lord! Last time, one distribution center tried to serve less porridge, resulting in the refugees rioting and beating up all the workers from top to bottom! That is why no one is willing to work at the food relief center these days. But the refugees say….”

“Stop beating around the bush and speak up!”

“They say that… if they can’t survive, they’ll come to the office to eat!”

Xu Xi slammed his palm down on the table and roared, “How dare they! Are we really unable to suppress a mere band of refugees?”

The advisor stammered, “My lord, the refugees are truly ferocious. It’s not that we’re incompetent… it’s just that we truly can’t defeat them.”

Xu Xi suddenly felt a surge of rage and picked up an inkstone, intending to smash it on the floor. But halfway through the motion, he slowly set it down on the table, let out a dejected sigh, and asked after a moment, “Does the food relief center have any silver left?”

The advisor whispered, “They’re gonna run out very soon. Grain prices are skyrocketing lately—they’ve tripled in just a few short months.”

Xu Xi walked to a cabinet, took out a packet of immortal silver, and handed...