His slender body stood ramrod straight, exuding a noble bearing and an authority that needed no anger.
This was a grand frontier governor, after all. But Tang Wen had lived two lives and seen plenty of such men in films in his previous life, so he did not find him all that frightening.
"Xiao Senguо, Governor of Linghai, pays his respects to the Count." Unexpectedly, Xiao Senguо was exceedingly courteous, taking the initiative to cup his hands slightly toward Tang Wen.
"Mm, you're too kind, Lord Xiao." Tang Wen cupped his hands in return.
"Sit!" Xiao Senguо swept aside his official robe and invited Tang Wen to take the foremost guest seat, while Wan Hansong and Jiang Xuan sat farther down.
"My lord, His Lordship has come to collect payment. Previously, Lord Jiang bought a thousand tents on our behalf. We paid half at the time, and still owe one million taels," Wan Hansong said.
"Alas, this really is difficult. The fighting in the Northwest has gone on for almost a year. Rather than subsiding, the war has only grown fiercer.
"Linghai has had no small amount of grain, fodder, horses, and silver requisitioned. We were already stretched so thin that pulling down our lapels exposed our elbows.
"Who would have thought those villains from the Sun Kingdom would loot a burning house, pushing Linghai straight onto the front lines?
"They've already occupied several of Linghai's islands, burning, killing, and plundering, committing every evil imaginable. It pains the heart." Xiao Senguо stroked his beard, his face filled with anguish.
"Indeed! The Provincial Administration Office's purse is empty too. We spent every last bit of our reserves on arms, grain, and fodder.
"If this continues, our soldiers will have to go hungry.
"And winter is coming, yet they don't even have