Chapter 113: All Things Lost 01

Chapter 113

Later, Song Zhao took Song Shicheng back to her residence, and couldn't help but reprimand him a few words,

"Father, are you really muddled? What does the Ge family's affairs have to do with you? They have provoked such a great disaster, yet you came to plead with His Majesty for them? Do you think what happened to Mother did not annoy our Song family enough for His Majesty?"

Song Shicheng sighed longly, and said helplessly: "Your elder sister and Young Master Ge have a marriage contract. When she heard about this, she cried and made a fuss, seeking death at home. As her father, what could I do? Could I just sit idly by?"

"We should just sit idly by for this matter!" Song Zhao rarely took a tough stance in front of Song Shicheng, CHeCk for new stories on no/v/el/bin(.)c0m

"The military rations being burned is a major military affair. If handled improperly, it could lead to the execution of entire households! On my way here, Uncle Yin told me that the reason the granary caught fire was because Ge Zhongqi, that prodigal son, was drinking and gambling with the soldiers in the granary. They got terribly drunk and knocked over an oil lamp, thus causing the disaster!

"With someone so negligent of his duties, what good would it do for my elder sister to marry into his family? My sister likes him, but can liking be eaten as food? It seems to me that not only would it not be edible, but it would also likely leave her unable to eat anything!"

Song Zhao was quite angry, her words fierce, like a good daughter who only cared about the Song family.

She held Song Shicheng's hand tightly and pleaded:

"If I were you, I would only hope to see that useless man clearly sooner, annul the engagement, and not let my elder sister marry into his family. It would be best if he died, which would conveniently end my elder sister's thoughts about him!"

Every word Song Zhao said was reasonable,

and such obvious truths, how could Song Shicheng, who had lived most of his life, not understand?

He slumped weakly into a chair, rested his palm on his forehead, sighed again and again,

and after a long silence, he suddenly slapped the table hard, extremely frustrated:

"Threefold!?" Song Zhao was shocked beyond belief, her bright eyes stared roundly, incredulously asking:

"Father! Do you know what threefold means? Most of the Capital City’s grain comes from Yu Province. This year, the Capital City had a severe winter, while Yu Province had a warm winter instead. As a result, the rice sparrows in the Capital City area would definitely fly to Yu Province to spend the winter, so come next spring, the number of rice sparrows in Yu Province will greatly increase.

Rice sparrows mainly feed on rice, so when it's time to sow seeds in spring, the out-of-control rice sparrows would have eaten up all the seeds. By harvest time in autumn, not to mention threefold, I wonder if you and Master Ge could even produce as much grain as this year!"

Song Zhao's analysis was quite reasonable,

and Song Shicheng was no fool either, he understood this reasoning too, but he didn't seem worried about this at all,

"I have considered these matters. Back then when the Capital City had a rice sparrow infestation, didn't the court have counter policies? Getting the common people to catch rice sparrows, paying one penny per bird, and before long the infestation was overcome. I discussed with Master Ge and we can take similar measures to get through the difficulties. Oh well, we'll just take it as spending money to avoid disaster."

"Get through difficulties? Even if father gets the commoners to catch rice sparrows then, the grain yield would at best remain the same, could your catching match their voracious eating?"

Song Zhao pondered briefly, and soon came up with a good solution:

"Father, we want increased grain production, not to maintain it at the same level. Rice sparrows breed very quickly. By the time you start catching them in spring, it would be too late. While they are now spending winter in Yu Province, father should take action now!"

Song Shicheng thought about it and felt Song Zhao's words made sense, so he said:

"After father enjoys the imperial banquet rewarded by His Majesty tonight, I will set off for Yu Province to make arrangements..."

"Still waiting?" Song Zhao was visibly anxious. She suddenly stood up and paced around, "Father can have that imperial meal anytime, but now it's already the end of the year, spring will come soon. The longer you wait, the more trouble there will be later! I'm afraid after you finish that comfortable meal, our entire Duke of Protector's residence and the Ge family would have to obediently go in to eat the executioner's meal!"

She clutched Song Shicheng's hand and pleaded:

"Father, the situation is urgent, we really cannot wait!"