99: You do the first day of the month, I'll do the fifteenth.

After the crisis was resolved, Battalion Commander Luo Lie led Lu Fan to the county seat.

In an ancient residence, they met Wang Mingzhang, the division commander of the 122nd Division of Yongzhou.

Wang Mingzhang was about forty years old, with a resolute face, dressed in a faded old military uniform, and eyes as sharp as an eagle's.

Compared to Tang Jifeng, Wang Mingzhang was a complete opposite, carrying the composure and ruthlessness of a battle-hardened veteran.

"Mr. Lu! I have heard much about you!" Division Commander Wang took the initiative to reach out his hand, his voice booming. "This disaster relief effort is truly noble; I, Wang, admire you."

"Battalion Commander Luo Lie told me everything. If you hadn't brought the grain in time and seen through the villains' schemes, I'm afraid this place would have become a living hell."

"On behalf of the elders of Rong County, I thank you, sir!" He solemnly gave a military salute.

Lu Fan returned the salute. "Division Commander Wang, you overstate it. I am merely doing what little I can."

"On the contrary, it was the timely arrival of Division Commander Wang and Battalion Commander Luo, turning the tide, that truly addressed the urgent crisis and saved countless lives."

Both sides took their seats, and Wang Mingzhang got straight to the point. "Mr. Lu, you've seen the disaster; there's no time to lose."

"The grain you brought is but a drop in the bucket."

"I wonder when the subsequent grain will arrive?"

After a brief thought, Lu Fan replied, "In about ten days."

Wang Mingzhang fell silent, only speaking after a long while. "I have soldiers under my command who can maintain order, dig channels for water, and build shelters."

"But we lack grain. Even the cleverest housewife cannot cook without rice!"

Lu Fan nodded. "I understand. The subsequent grain is on its way, but distant water cannot quench immediate thirst."

"I have a proposal: I will provide the funds, and Division Commander Wang will send people to nearby wealthy areas to purchase grain."

"Together, we will deliver the grain to the victims who need it most as quickly as possible."

"Oh?" Wang Mingzhang's eyes lit up. "How much do you plan to contribute, Mr. Lu? And how will it work?"

Lu Fan didn't waste words; he directly took a pre-prepared cashier's check from his bag and pushed it in front of Wang Mingzhang.

"This is a cashier's check for one hundred thousand silver dollars, to cover all the costs of initial emergency procurement and disaster relief."

"At the same time, organize soldiers and laborers to ensure smooth transportation and orderly distribution."

"All accounts will be public and transparent, available for audit afterward."

"If it's not enough, I will add more!"

"One... one hundred thousand silver dollars?!"

Even though Wang Mingzhang was used to great storms, he was stunned by the astronomical figure Lu Fan tossed out so casually.

He picked up the check, repeatedly confirming the numbers and seals, his face filled with disbelief.

In this era, one hundred thousand silver dollars was enough to cover more than half a year's pay and expenses for his entire division.

This Lu Fan's generosity was simply unheard of!

After a brief shock, a strong light and sense of determination erupted in Wang Mingzhang's eyes.

"Good! Since Mr. Lu trusts me so much, it would be pretentious of me to refuse. I accept this money! I will issue orders immediately."

He stood up abruptly and shouted to the adjutant outside the door, "Pass my orders! The division's directly subordinate Transport Battalion and Special Service Company are to assemble immediately!"

"Take this check and head to neighboring provinces. At all costs, purchase everything edible at high prices."

"Rice, flour, grains, sweet potatoes, potatoes—buy everything you can."

"At the same time, the division's field hospital will deploy personnel and medicine to cooperate with Mr. Lu's medical team to treat the sick with all our might."

Wang Mingzhang acted with vigor and speed, perfectly demonstrating a soldier's efficiency and decisiveness.

Once the orders were given, he turned to Lu Fan with a firm gaze. "Before Mr. Lu's subsequent large batch of grain arrives,"

"I will take half of the 122nd Division's military rations and mix them into the disaster relief porridge to get us through these next few days!"

"We absolutely cannot let another victim starve to death right under our noses!"

"Division Commander Wang, your righteousness is profound! I admire you!" Lu Fan cupped his fists in sincere respect.

Using military rations required immense courage and responsibility!

With the agreement reached, the disaster relief machine began to run at high speed under Wang Mingzhang's iron fist and Lu Fan's financial support.

Seeing the soldiers move quickly into action, Lu Fan's heart felt at ease.

The two men, sharing similar temperaments, spoke with increasing enthusiasm, moving from disaster relief to matters of national importance.

For a time, they shared a mutual respect, only parting reluctantly after dinner.

Lu Fan walked on the way home, having thoroughly enjoyed his conversation with Wang Mingzhang today.

But Ma Dahong's greasy and spiteful face lingered in his mind.

Not only did this man hoard goods to profit from national disaster, but he also repeatedly caused trouble during the relief efforts, nearly causing a catastrophe.

If he didn't give him an unforgettable lesson, the man would truly think Lu Fan was a pushover with no temper.

Late at night, Rong County.

The news of the disaster relief that had bustled all day left the county seat with a strange sense of exhaustion.

Dahong Rice Shop, Ma Dahong's largest business.

Behind high walls and deep courtyards, a few windproof lanterns swayed at the entrance, illuminating the closed gates and the faint figures of guards behind them.

A dark shadow, like a ghost blending into the night, appeared silently in the shadows of the tall warehouse in the rice shop's backyard.

This person was none other than Lu Fan. Wearing his multifunctional glasses, he easily avoided the lax patrol routes and entered the shop.

The warehouse doors were locked tight, the heavy iron lock glinting coldly in the moonlight.

But this level of protection was no match for Lu Fan; with a touch of his finger, the large lock vanished without a trace.

In the next moment, he appeared inside the massive warehouse.

A strong smell, a mix of paddy and old rice, wafted over him.

Using the night vision function of his glasses, Lu Fan saw the scene before him.

The warehouse was astonishingly large, with gunny sacks stacked neatly like small mountains all the way to the high ceiling.

By a rough estimate, there were at least several thousand bags, and this was only one of the warehouses.

That fellow Ma Dahong had indeed hoarded a massive amount of grain.

A cold curve formed at the corner of Lu Fan's mouth. He was determined to take this batch of grain, and it had to be for free.

Since you chose to start this, don't blame me for finishing it.

He would let Ma Dahong know what it meant for justice to come full circle and that heaven spares no one.

He hesitated no longer. Wherever his hands passed, rows and stacks of mountain-like grain sacks vanished instantly.

All that remained were empty gunny sacks.

Although Lu Fan's space wasn't large enough to empty the warehouse in one go,

it didn't matter because he could come and go as he pleased. If one trip wasn't enough, he'd make ten; if ten wasn't enough, he'd make ten more.

He had only one goal: to empty the warehouse and not leave a single grain of rice for Ma Dahong.

The next morning.

In the backyard of Dahong Rice Shop, the housekeeper let out a terrified, high-pitched howl like a slaughtered pig: "Ma... Master! It's terrible!"

"The warehouse... the warehouse is empty! It's all gone!!"

Ma Dahong, who had just woken up, didn't even have time to put on his shoes before stumbling toward the backyard warehouse.

When he saw the wide-open door and the vast, heart-wrenchingly empty space behind it,

he was as if struck by lightning, instantly frozen on the spot!

His plump body swayed, his face turning from red to white, then from white to green, and finally to a deathly gray!

*Pffft!*

A mouthful of old blood sprayed out.

"God... God damn it... my grain... my lifeblood!!"

He wailed heart-wrenchingly, "Quick, go inform Third Master Liu!"