"There are still people plundering gold and silver." "Ordinary people can’t fill their stomachs, soldiers are fighting to death, those in high positions arrogantly weigh their choices, and those in the middle chase fame and profit, yet they don’t realize death is approaching. I originally thought these problems lay with the enemy." "I never expected such situations to exist even within our own alliance." This content belongs to novel[f]ire.net "I now understand, my enemies are not merely external..." This world, everything is . Li Zhaowen said: "The aristocracy and powerful families, indeed." "I just never thought my brother would gift the city’s gold and silver to all the common people." Li Guan Yi said: "Their houses were torn down, and their food was confiscated." "I merely offered compensation." Li Guanyi teased: "As they say, a gentleman loves money, but acquires it through proper means." "The wealth I desire is not gained through the exploitation of the people; rather, if it could compensate the civilians, then dispersing this gold and silver is of no consequence!" "Using it for the people means that the gold and silver in my hands are put to practical use." Li Zhaowen scrutinized Li Guanyi as if meeting him for the first time. Li Guanyi felt a bit uncomfortable under the gaze: "What is it?" Li Zhaowen habitually tried to open a folding fan to cover himself, only to realize he didn’t have one, so he smiled, leaned forward suddenly, his phoenix eyes gazing at Li Guanyi, and said with a laugh: "Tell me, are you really the good brother I know?" "Such a broad mind, not at all like that greedy, poor, penny-pinching Pharmacist brother." Li Guanyi candidly said: "If I’m wealthy while the people are poor, then I’m nothing but a thief." "If the people are wealthy, I’m poor." "Who in the world understands what I seek?" "Moreover, I have obtained something far more valuable than gold and silver by a hundredfold." Li Zhaowen looked at him for a long time, then said: "The ancients said, in times of turmoil, a true gentleman is like an awl in a sack, naturally it will be revealed. Now seeing how you conduct yourself, brother, I deeply believe it." Li Guanyi received the praise gracefully, then frowned and said: "But Erlang, why does your tone suddenly lack its usual heroic, spirited vigor?" "It has become somewhat gentle." "Not that there’s anything wrong with gentleness, but it seems a bit out of tune with your usual self." Li Zhaowen was slightly startled, realizing he had inadvertently revealed a bit of his natural daughterly demeanor under the praise, but he did not explain further, only smiling and saying: "Brother, perhaps you don’t know. Every year during major festivals, there are rituals to honor Heaven, Earth, and the Empress of Earth." "When I was young, I was said to have had the appearance of a dragon and phoenix, quite striking." "Sometimes, I accompanied as the Jade Maiden, and later, my temperament came out, accompanying as the Heavenly Woman and the Empress of Earth. Both my parents and sisters said I looked good in those roles." Li Guanyi looked at Li Zhaowen strangely, and said: "Then I dare not see the Heavenly Woman from now on." Li Zhaowen, surprised, teased: "Even you would be shy...?" Li Guanyi replied decisively: "Just thinking of you cross-dressing as a woman makes me embarrassed." Then he burst into loud laughter. Li Zhaowen opened his mouth, emotions like water, yet it was also because of this man that ripples began to form. Rarely was he somewhat ’annoyed’, but he only laughed and said: "Very well, very well, no wonder you are the disciple of that master, with such a sharp tongue, very good, very good!" "When we return, just hope brother that you don’t change your tune." Li Guanyi pointed to his own mouth, looking smug: "If the sky falls, even if I am gone, my mouth still remains." Li Zhaowen couldn’t help but laugh heartily, saying: "Chatting and joking with you is still the most enjoyable. My family situation is quite complicated, and even when talking with my big brother or father, it’s rarely this relaxed." Li Guanyi dismissed all the common people away, sat alone, and suddenly heard a sound from the side. Turning to look, he saw the people who had just left coming back with things. The old man respectfully bowed and invited him: "General, your benevolence is beyond our reward." "Everyone gathered what little they had left to make some food for the general." Li Guanyi and Li Zhaowen happily went over, and since it was on the ground, Yuchi Xiong left his horse spear and took a water-milled bamboo steel whip, following them. From afar, they could smell the aroma wafting from a large iron pot, not made of precious ingredients, but a stew with some cabbage from here, a piece of preserved meat from there, and a dash of dry powder simmered together. The people were somewhat restrained, saying: "The grain was all confiscated, leaving only a bit to stave off hunger. We pooled together what we could to make it, hope the general doesn’t mind." Li Guanyi sat cross-legged, joyfully ate a large bowl, and said: "Delicious!" In front of him were people of all ages, with tired looks on their faces. Li Zhaowen thought of over two years ago, when the two were still young, in Jiangzhou City, where Li Guanyi saved the people in the Ghost Market, and those rescued came to thank him. Li Zhaowen said: "After all this time, you are still just like before." Li Guanyi said: "What?" Li Zhaowen smiled and said: "Nothing." She, too, ate a bowl with as much gusto as Li Guanyi, while Yuchi Xiong, not standing on ceremony, with thick skin, ate straight from the pot. Li Guanyi, full and satisfied, looked at the many common people and said: "Fear not, though the enemy is mighty, I am the lord of this city and will protect you all." The old man led the people in a respectful salute and said: "We are willing to follow the City Lord unconditionally." They saw the enemy’s situation outside and guessed that the Duke planned to lead an escape, knowing that this young City Lord might not actually be able to save them. But this person was willing to speak such words to them, share things with them, and treat them as people.