Lao Zhu's face suddenly darkened. He had thought that officials would not be gentlemen, but he did not expect that some of them were hypocrites, not even real villains.
"I said that the food will arrive in a month. Besides, I only left rations for one month. With me accompanying you, what are you afraid of?"
"It is precisely because of this that the emperor cannot do it."
"Yes, the emperor is concerned about the safety of the world. How can he act in such a risky manner?"
"I beg you, Your Majesty, to think of all the people in the world!"
A lot of high-sounding words were said by the officials. On the surface, it seemed that they were trying to persuade the emperor not to take risks, but in fact, they themselves were unwilling to take risks.
If there was a weaker emperor, maybe the officials would have succeeded, but they happened to meet Lao Zhu.
All officials know how tough Lao Zhu is.
"I don't need you to teach me how to take care of the people of the world. I am issuing an order now, not discussing with you. If anyone refuses to hand over food, then resign yourself. Resign from the court!"
Lao Zhu did not leave from behind the dragon chair, but got off Danbi and walked directly outside Fengtian Hall.
The remaining courtiers stood there looking at each other and resigned? How can this be.
It is absolutely impossible to resign. They studied hard in a cold window, and continued to take care of their hometown in order to attract the emperor's attention and to gain a good reputation. After so much effort, you are now resigning just because of a little food?
No one is stupid.
Although it was a bit risky to hand over the food at this time, since the emperor only kept one month's rations, they still had the courage to take the gamble.
Lao Zhu left Fengtian Palace and went directly to Chengtian Gate.
Chengtianmen was originally the place where imperial edicts were proclaimed to the world and read out, and it was always talked about by the people. Today's Chengtianmen is extremely different. A large number of guards arrived here early and isolated an open space.
As soon as the people saw this posture, they speculated whether something big would happen. Therefore, out of the nature of joining in the fun, people were crowded outside Chengtian Gate in just one morning.
When they saw Lao Zhu, who was wearing a bright yellow dragon robe, standing up, the people suddenly trembled with excitement.
Even the emperor is here. Is there anything big going on today?
"The common people pay homage to the emperor, long live the emperor, long live the emperor~"
The crowd of people immediately knelt down. Although they did not dare to raise their heads, everyone's face was filled with excitement.
"No courtesy! Everyone, get up."
Under Lao Zhu's loud voice, the people got up in an orderly manner. However, out of fear of the emperor, no common people dared to raise their heads and look at the emperor.
"Everyone raise their heads and look at me." Lao Zhu continued to order.
The people were filled with curiosity, wondering why the emperor would allow them to raise their heads. But since the emperor gave the permission, everyone raised their heads and looked over. There are not many opportunities to see the emperor with his own eyes. In the past, ordinary people had no chance to see Tianyan. It was only after the new banknotes were issued that the people had the opportunity to see the emperor's face on the banknotes. But that is just a portrait after all, and compared with a living person, it is still far behind.
"I, Zhu Yuanzhang, your emperor, your king and father." Lao Zhu stood on the city gate tower. Although his voice was loud, he was a little far away after all. When the voice reached the people, it was actually not loud anymore.
But at this moment, all the people held their breath and listened to the emperor's words. Therefore, all the people heard the emperor's words clearly.
"The reason why I am standing here today is because there is something I want to ask you to help me with."
Everyone was very surprised when they heard that the emperor wanted help from the common people. In their view, the entire world belongs to the emperor alone. What else needs their help?
Lao Zhu took out a memorial about the disaster in Henan and held it up in his hand, "There is a famine in Henan and there is no food now. I want to save millions of people in Henan, but it takes time to transport food. It will take a month for the food to arrive. But in Henan The people can't wait for a month, they can't even wait for half a month. Therefore, I beg you to leave one month's rations and take out the excess food so that I can save the lives of millions of people in Henan."
Hearing that the disaster in Henan was so serious, everyone couldn't help but feel nervous. The fear of famine that was taught to all the people by words and deeds was really too great. There have been rumors for a long time that there will be a drought this year, and the price of food has been rising steadily since the beginning of spring, and now the price increase has reached an exaggerated level.
Therefore, people are extremely sensitive to words such as food and famine. Now that we know that the people in Henan have no food to eat, all the people feel the same and feel great fear in their hearts.
Millions of people, if there is no food, it won't take long. In another month, they will become millions of bones.
"I have already taken out the food from the palace, and only left one month's worth of food in the palace. I promise that any food that is taken out now, I will pay back double in one month's time."
Even the emperor only left a month's worth of food? There are still three months until the autumn harvest. If there is no food in one month, wouldn't even the emperor starve to death?
This is a fight with one's life, the emperor's life against the lives of millions of people in Henan.
"Long live my emperor~"
An old scholar, with tears in his eyes, muttered something and knelt down straight.
"Long live my emperor~"
"Long live my emperor~"
"Long live my emperor~"
...
One, ten, a hundred, one after another, countless people willingly knelt down to Lao Zhu. In the end, except for the personal guards, there was no one standing outside the Chengtian Gate.
"I beg you all to take out the extra food. If you are willing to take it out, I will return double the amount to you in one month. If you are not willing, I will not force you."
After Lao Zhu finished speaking, he waved his sleeves and robe, turned around and left. Lao Zhu, who had been strong all his life, suddenly felt a little soft in his heart when the people knelt down just now, and he was actually a little afraid of those people kneeling towards them outside Chengtian Gate.
The scene just now was not only seen by Lao Zhu, but also by all the officials.
Originally, they would never agree to take away the capital's food to provide relief to Henan, but when the people knelt down, they were afraid. Even they don't know what they are afraid of.
"Han Du!" Lao Zhu glanced at Baiguan lightly, focusing on Han Du.
"I'm here."
"Start collecting grain outside Chengtian Gate immediately. No matter how much you collect tomorrow morning, you must set off for Henan."
Nice romance
"I obey the order. However, I think it would be better to collect the grain outside Dinghuai Gate. It can be directly shipped and shipped to save time." Han Du quickly agreed and suggested.
