Wang Xuejun held the boiled water and smiled and said to everyone: "I know that everyone here is still depressed by this battle in Yangzhou.

They still think that this is just another dynasty change. Any ruling class will show a little of their compassion when changing dynasties, which is used to win people's hearts.

Everyone thinks that when the city is broken, everyone will take out money and food, reward the army, and show their loyalty, and they will still be peaceful people."

Then he said painfully: "It's a pity that Duozhe was blocked outside Yangzhou City for nearly a month this time, which seriously slowed down their pace of unifying Jiangnan. So, he was anxious and had the military order to break Yangzhou and massacre the city for ten days."

An old man who thinks he is noble, former Minister of Rites of Nanjing, Yangzhou, gentry and chairman of the Chamber of Commerce Wang Hongji stood up: "Since the prince believed that Shi Kefa's resistance aroused the anger of the Qing soldiers and wanted to massacre the city. Then the prince should change his strategy now in charge of the overall situation."

"How did you let me change?"

Wang Hongji finally took a deep breath and plucked up the courage: "Now Duozhe is already anxious to jump over the wall. He will never give up until he takes Yangzhou. The prince's daughter is about to be destroyed with Yangzhou. The prince must investigate."

Wang Xuejun seemed moved when he heard this.

Seeing Wang Xuejun moved, Wang Hongji struck while the iron was hot: "Our fellow villagers here are willing to donate a batch of money and grain, and then the prince comes forward to negotiate peace with the Qing army outside the city, so that they can keep the safety of the whole city and the elderly. You can return to Shandong safely and develop steadily."

Wang Xuejun seemed to have thought for a moment.

As a result, he pretended to be meditating, and all the gentry and merchants saw hope and stared at him with anticipation.

Wang Xuejun nodded slowly: "What the fellow villagers here are saying is reasonable. My roots are in Shandong. Even if I run over, I cannot gain a foothold here. What's more, Xuzhou Huaiyang in the north is still in the hands of the Qing soldiers. If I insist on resisting, it would be like killing myself."

After he said this, the gentry and merchants in the house nodded in agreement, believing that Wang Xuejun was a wise man.

But this is no less than a bolt from the blue when Ren Minyu Ying Tingji, Feng Yinglun and others.

Everyone was surprised to understand: "Since you don't want to guard this Yangzhou, why are you here to come all the way? Is it just to run away from Shige's troops and then you surrender with everyone? What are the benefits of this for you?

No, it doesn't seem to be beneficial to you no matter how you look at it.

Wang Xuejun ignored their thoughts and raised his head: "You guys are right to remind me. I am not a person who doesn't know the current affairs. Since everyone has this kind of heart, I should follow the public opinion. Well, I will be the bad guy and I will do this."

Ren Minyu and Ying Tingji were shocked at the time. They stood up angrily despite Feng Yinglun's pull and shouted at Wang Xuejun: "Okay, you two-faced guy, are you trying to surrender to the Qing Dynasty regardless of the righteousness of your family and country, and regardless of the instructions of the late emperor?"

Wang Xuejun looked impatient: "Didn't the current court repeatedly propose to unite the enemy to suppress the thieves? I'm following the current court's policies.

Since we are united in the army to suppress the thieves, why should we fight with Prince Duozhe to death? We shouldn't destroy the court's plan."

After these remarks, Ren Minyu and Ying Tingji were speechless at that time.

He ignored them and asked at the gentry and merchants present with a smile: "Then please report it, how much are you planning to donate?"

As a result, Wang Hongji had a grim smile on his face: "How much does the prince think can touch the hearts of the Qing soldiers?"

Wang Xuejun calculated with a fake example: "The enemy troops outside the city have 100,000 yuan, and it is probably enough to reward each person with ten taels of silver. If you add them to those generals at all levels, it is probably enough to have another 500,000 yuan."

"One.5 million, this number is not small, but the adults calculated correctly, otherwise they would not impress the Qing soldiers outside the city." Wang Hongji nodded and promised this number.

"I also need a batch of food. It's all my fault. If I accidentally burn them all, we can't let the Qing soldiers outside the city go hungry. Seeing them collecting food everywhere, they are so busy that they are very pitiful."

“So how much does this need?”

"I'm planning to do it. It will take three or five days for us to negotiate. Then they will evacuate back to Xuzhou. It will take more than ten days along the way, and at least half a month of food. It will cost 500,000 shi."

Wang Hongji asked a rich middle-aged man: "President Zhao, can you take out so much for your grain guild?"

President Zhao tilted his head and discussed with several businessmen around him: "It should be about the same."

Wang Xuejun clapped his hands: "Then this will be much easier. Since this is the case, everyone has decided. I, the prince, should have performed."

As he said that, he waved his hand to the back, and a confidant brought him a burden.

Wang Xuejun took it and placed it directly on his desk. When he opened it, he turned out to be a dazzling bag of jewelry: "Everyone knows that I have a treasure in my hand, which is useless in normal times. This time I will give some of it to do something for the people of Yangzhou."

With his leadership, all the merchants seemed to see Wang Xuejun's sincerity.

Wang Hongji said to the gentry and merchants around the mountain again: "Since the prince is so kind and righteous, of course we cannot be content with others. We will report the amount and raise the money as soon as possible so that the prince can operate."

So Wang Xuejun ordered Feng Yinglun to take the accounts, paper and pen, and start registering the money and grain donated by everyone.

Yangzhou is indeed a prosperous place. An ordinary small businessman has a huge family income. Which of these people here has a net worth of more than 100,000 yuan?

But in a blink of an eye, the money and food needed were prepared.

Wang Xuejun was very satisfied with such generous donations. He thanked him repeatedly at the time: "Then it's not too late. Now I'll ask you to take my soldiers home to get the money and food, and then I will take the list to the enemy camp to negotiate in person."

Everyone was even more grateful to see the Regent reckless efforts for Yangzhou.

So he took Wang Xuejun's soldiers and returned home urgently and transported the things to the Great Buddha Temple according to the amount he promised to donate.

In a blink of an eye, the original temple fair square in front of the Great Buddha Temple was piled up like mountains, full of money, grain and materials.

At this time, Shi Kefa, who had a dizzy face, finally showed up. When he saw Wang Xuejun, he was furious and scolded.

Wang Xuejun smiled and grabbed his hand pointing at his nose: "Don't be angry, as being angry hurts your body, it will not be good for your illness."

Shi Kefa jumped: "I thought you could fight the Qing Dynasty to death with thousands of miles away. You were actually a traitor and you wouldn't die a good death."
Chapter completed!