Yuan Yunzhong sent people back to the Capital City to gather information while dispatching others to negotiate with the wealthy households in Wanping, Daxing, and Fang County about borrowing grain.
The gentry of the Three Counties were very cooperative, all coming to the temporary council hall at the foot of Shijingshan.
Lord Bai excused himself due to ill health and did not attend.
Yuan Yunzhong and Lord Xiang together received these gentry.
After a round of pleasantries, just as they were about to seat themselves according to rank, a clamor erupted from outside, accompanied by loud shouts: "We'd rather die than be exiled to the Nine Borders!"
"The Nine Borders are thousands of miles away; it's better to have a full meal and die at the foot of Shijingshan than to die on the road to exile. At least here, at the Foot of the Imperial City, the feng shui is good, and after death, one might be reborn into the Capital City, warm and well-fed!"
"We want to eat! We want to live!"
