All three sides had their own troubles. Wang Yue's side had to deal with disaster relief and get crops planted, while Liu Xingzhi had suddenly occupied most of Jingzhou and was locked in disputes with the local powerful clans. It was all taking a great deal of energy.
But the problems facing those two sides weren't too serious. Wang Yue was skilled at making machinery, and he had even contributed the marvelous invention of cement. Whether it was digging wells or repairing rivers, everything was much faster than before.
As for Liu Xingzhi, he was simply trying to win the support of the local powerful clans. The longer he remained in control, the more certain it was that those clans would come to an agreement with him under the pressure of his armies.
But Fan Xuan's situation was troublesome. Though he had taken control of Central Prefecture and become emperor, the former dynasty's old officials were everywhere in the eastern capital, Luoyang. Even the former dynasty's treasury had become so empty that mice could go hungry there.
Fan Xuan and his people had originally come from Youzhou, and now Wang Yue had cut off their route back. They had to placate the former dynasty's old officials while also rewarding the soldiers who had followed them from Youzhou.
Fortunately, Youzhou was now in Gu Jiusi's hands. Though Wang Yue had cut it off, at least it wouldn't cause widespread panic.
But the more than two hundred thousand soldiers had to be appeased with money and grain, and Fan Xuan had neither. Nor was there another Gu Jiusi ready to donate money. He had to find a solution himself.
So, at the next grand court assembly, Fan Xuan ordered Lu Yong, the Minister of Revenue, to arrange enough money and grain for