Ye Xiaofan shook his head in response to Tan Pengtai’s question. "What rumors?"
"You don’t know?" Tan Pengtai asked with a hint of surprise in his voice.
Ye Xiaofan shook his head again and explained, "After delivering the supplies to Xiquan City, this subordinate only stayed for two days before hurried back to Xiqiang City. Along the way, we only saw refugees, but none of them spoke about any rumors."
Realizing that he really didn’t know about the recent rumors, Tan Pengtai said, "It is said that the Great General has been captured by the Great General of the Jin Empire, Wu Ruizhan, and has now beco their war prisoner."
"A few days ago, Wu Ruizhan led the Jin Empire’s army back to the Jin Empire, taking the Great General with them. By now, they should already have crossed the Jin Empire’s border town."
The second Ye Xiaofan heard this, he said in denial, "Impossible! The Great General wouldn’t get caught so easily."
Looking at his frowning brows, Tan Pengtai chuckled and nodded. "Vice General Ye is indeed right. The Great General is pretending to be a war prisoner and leading the army to conquer the Jin Empire."
Hearing this, realization flashed across Ye Xiaofan’s eyes. He paused for a second, then asked, "Then what about the deserted refugee camp outside? Where are the refugees?"
Tan Pengtai smiled and asked back, "Vice General Ye, have you noticed anything different about this city when you returned tonight?"
Ye Xiaofan recalled the bustling night market and the smiles filling the common people’s faces and nodded.
"This subordinate saw a bustling night market, a well-developed residential area, and the common people’s faces filled with smiles. Tonight’s scene looks even more prosperous than the past imperial capital city."
Receiving his answer, Tan Pengtai nodded in satisfaction. "Not bad. Vice General Ye indeed has discerning eyes."
Pondering on his words, Ye Xiaofan suddenly asked, "Could it be... There are no more refugees here?"
Tan Pengtai nodded. "That’s right. The first phase of Xiqiang City’s rebuilding project has been completed, and the refugees have all received their resident identities and beco Xiqiang City’s citizens."
"But since there are still a lot of refugees arriving every day, we have already begun the second phase of the rebuilding project, which is led by General Xue. By the ti this second phase is complete, Xiqiang City will be larger than the imperial capital city."
"As for the deserted situation outside the city—" Tan Pengtai paused for a second, then added with a aningful smile, "Isn’t the Great General defeated by Wu Ruizhan? It wouldn’t be right for us to live happily right now."
The mont Ye Xiaofan heard this, understanding flashed across his eyes. "No wonder the situation outside Xiqiang City is so deserted. It turns out it’s a decoy."
Now that he learned about this secret, Ye Xiaofan relaxed slightly.
After a mont of thought, he asked, "General Tan, there are so many refugees. How do they survive without food?"
Being asked by him, Tan Pengtai explained, "Thanks to the grain and grocery stores opened by Fairy Bai, the common people now have enough food and clothing."
Ye Xiaofan frowned slightly and comnted, "We should teach them how to fish instead of feeding them forever."
Tan Pengtai nodded in agreent, then took out a few copper coins from his money pouch.
Placing the copper coins on the table, he said, "Look at these."
Ye Xiaofan picked up one of the copper coins, then inspected it closely. A few monts later, he looked at Tan Pengtai in surprise.
"General Tan, this is the first ti this subordinate has seen this kind of copper coin. Where did you get them? There’s even our Feng Army’s insignia on it."
Tan Pengtai grinned and explained, "These are copper coins issued by the Feng Army. From now on, they will beco the universal official currency in the Feng Army’s jurisdiction area."
"Besides the monthly supplies subsidy, the soldiers will now receive a monthly salary. The sa also applies to the workers working for the Feng Army."
Listening to his explanation, Ye Xiaofan couldn’t help but praise, "The Great General is really a genius. With our own copper coins as official currency, we can establish the Feng Army’s influence and standing at the western border as an independent entity."
Tan Pengtai shook his head when he heard this. "Vice General Ye, the genius one is not the Great General, but Fairy Bai. All of this is her idea."
"From casting our own copper coins, establishing the Bai Feng store chains, to the economic revitalization and spreading the Feng Army’s reputation, all was done by Fairy Bai alone."
Ye Xiaofan was surprised when he heard this.
However, after thinking about it, he found it was normal for Bai Hanyun to be able to do all of this in such a short ti. After all, she was a goddess. There was nothing impossible for her to accomplish.
Looking at the docunts stacked high on the long table, Ye Xiaofan said, "General Tan, now that this subordinate has handed over the letter, this subordinate won’t disturb you any longer."
Tan Pengtai nodded and added, "Vice General Ye, rember to go to General Xue to get your overdue salary."
"Yes, General Tan." Clasping his fists, Ye Xiaofan added, "If there’s nothing else, then this subordinate will take my leave."
"Alright."
After Ye Xiaofan left the command tent, Tan Pengtai looked at the letter Ye Xiaofan had submitted just now. A few seconds later, he picked up the letter then put it into a wooden box.
Standing up from his seat, Tan Pengtai walked to the back room. Squatting by the bed, he pressed one of the stone tiles.
Click!
As the sound of sothing unlocking echoed, the stone tile opened. Tan Pengtai placed the wooden box into the secret compartnt, then closed it.
When he was done, he walked back to the long table and continued his unfinished work.
While everyone was busy with their own tasks, ti passed slowly.
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