"Have you heard that the flood in Xishanji County killed many people? At first, the disaster only affected six counties, but now it has spread to more than a dozen counties."
"More than a million people were affected."
A voice sounded nearby, immediately attracting everyone's attention.
"I've heard a lot. Didn't the imperial court provide disaster relief?"
"Oh, disaster relief? Those officials only care about their own pockets. How can they care about the lives of the people?"
"Every natural and man-made disaster in the past years was not overcome by the people themselves. In this world, as long as there is no war, everyone will just bite the bullet and get over it."
…
Lin Xu's face gradually turned gloomy.
Doesn’t it mean that Xue Rong has opened a warehouse to provide disaster relief and the affected area is under control? Why is it expanding on such a large scale?
In the past, when disasters occurred in the country, the court did not provide support. Those who allocated money allocated money and those who distributed grain provided food.
But what these people say is that the court has never cared about it?
He had always felt that although he was a puppet, at least the country was well managed by Xue Rong.
Now take a look and take care of yourself.
He only cares about himself.
He never cared about the life and death of the people.
Although these matters remain to be investigated, they are certainly not groundless. The disaster must have reached a point where there was no need to delay, so even the imperial city was in an uproar.
In this comparison, Mu Jiushan is still pretty good.
At least the people were not put in the flames of war.
"Master, these are untouchable rumors. You don't have to listen to them so much. I will take you to a private room!"
Chen Lu said expressionlessly.
Lin Xu didn't speak, but Bai Ye spoke up.
"Chen Lu, you are just a dog sent to protect the young master. It is not your turn to remind the young master where he is sitting."
Chen Lu looked at Bai Ye and finally stepped back without saying anything. Even if he was scolded, he would remain indifferent.
Lin Xu ignored the two people behind him, and many complicated thoughts flashed through his mind. Even though there are more than 50,000 people in Dongchang now, they are still weak compared to those old guys who have been planning for many years.
Besides, Dongchang’s advantage lies in the dark.
It's not a good time to be exposed right now.
But what can he do if he doesn't use Dongchang.
At this time, a figure of peerless elegance appeared.
I wonder if Xue Jingruo knows about this.
The food at Zhengweixuan is served very quickly, and the table was quickly filled. Lin Xu ate and listened, trying to learn more.
But at the moment, it seems that the flooding in Xishanji County is the big one, and the rest is nothing.
But Lin Xu knew very well that it was not that it was nothing, but that ordinary things could not be spread to the imperial city at all.
It seems that Dongchang will continue to expand and strive to spread throughout the country and even the world as soon as possible.
After finishing the meal, Lin Xu called the waiter to pack the food.
As soon as these words came out, not only the waiter and the people eating in the restaurant were shocked.
Even Chen Lu, a dead soldier, couldn't help but look sideways.
This is the first time I have heard of a young man dressed in such rich and luxurious clothes and packing bags when he goes out to eat.
Fortunately, the waiter is also a smart person, and he quickly reacted, took some packing paper, and packed all the food on the table.
After walking out of Zhengweixuan, Lin Xu said to Chen Lu: "Chen Lu, do you know which are the largest merchants in the imperial city?"
"I want to go shopping."
"Back to the young master, there are three largest chambers of commerce in the imperial city, namely Haoyun Chamber of Commerce, Baisang Chamber of Commerce and Jiuli Chamber of Commerce."
"Haoyun Chamber of Commerce is an imperial merchant, and the items inside are all high-quality. If you are interested, young master, you can take a look."
"The Baisang Chamber of Commerce was jointly founded by some aristocratic families from various places. It covers all types of products and is the most comprehensive."
"Jiuli Chamber of Commerce is a long-established chamber of commerce in our Imperial City. Although it has a weak foundation, the products they sell are the lowest among the three major chambers of commerce and are deeply loved by ordinary people."
"Relying on the concept of small profits but quick turnover, in just a few years, the limelight even overshadowed the other two major chambers of commerce."
Lin Xu thought for a moment and said, "Go to Jiuli Chamber of Commerce!"
Jiuli Pavilion.
It is also the Jiuli Chamber of Commerce.
Among the three major chambers of commerce in the Imperial City, they may not be the most profitable, but they must be the ones with the most people.
There is almost an endless stream of people coming here every day, and most of them are civilians. Almost everyone who walks out from here is smiling and returning home with a full load.
Lin Xu got off the carriage and looked at the huge Jiuli Pavilion in silence.
Immediately, he led Bai Ye and Chen Lu in.
Several guards stood at the door and did not go in.
Jiuli Pavilion has six floors, and most of its customers are ordinary people.
"Today's special price on food: fifty cents per catty and a half, only ten stones, so hurry up if you want to buy!"
A Jiulige deacon walked out, and as his voice fell, the entire Jiulige customers became excited and gathered at the place where food was sold.
"50 yuan a pound and a half?"
Lin Xu was slightly surprised. Even if he had never left the palace before, he knew that a pound of food usually cost at least two taels.
In case of disaster, it may even take 3-5 taels.
The price is not cheap.
Ordinary families can earn at most a dozen taels a year, which is not enough to buy several kilograms of rice.
"Bai Ye, go buy some rice!"
"yes."
After a while, Bai Ye came over with a bag of rice.
Lin Xu opened it and saw that most of the rice was a fusion of brown rice and aged rice.
There is so much rice bran in it that it tastes like swallowing stones.
Placed in wealthy people's homes, the rice was used to feed livestock.
But even this kind of rice still attracts people to grab it, and there are even an unknown number of people who can't even eat this kind of brown rice.
Because of the disaster in Ji County, Xishan, it has already reached the point where there is no need to delay.
He held a handful of brown rice, and the bran inside made his hands hurt.
"Let's go back to the palace!"
Lin Xu turned around and walked out of Jiuli Pavilion with the rice in hand, his eyes filled with endless coldness.
....
night.
Lin Xu sat on the dragon chair, with the table in front of him filled with food.
At first glance, it looks very extravagant and wasteful.
But if you look closely, you will find that the dishes are packed back from Zhengweixuan.
That rice is brown rice bought from Jiulige.
Who would have thought that the majestic emperor was actually eating these.
Lin Xu didn't mind, as he feasted on delicacies.
He did not use the strength of the Grand Master, but allowed the hard rice bran to enter his belly after chewing.
"The Queen Mother is here!"
A sharp sound sounded, and Xue Jingruo opened the door and walked in.
"Xu'er, I heard that you will be back in the afternoon. Why, but you are not having fun..."
Xue Jingruo came in, and just in the middle of her words, her eyes suddenly saw the food on the table.
She could naturally tell that the dish was not fresh, especially when she saw the meal Lin Xu ate.
Where is the rice? It is clearly an omnivore made of brown rice and rice bran.
"Xu'er, why are you eating these things? Stop quickly and call the imperial doctor."
Xue Jingruo was shocked and just about to stop him, Lin Xu finally stopped eating.
"Mother, I brought this back from outside the palace."
"The food is for the children to eat for lunch."
"Haier personally went to Jiulige to buy the rice for 50 Wen, which is a full pound and a half."
"The food doesn't taste good, but the children feel safe eating it."
Xue Jingruo frowned: "Xu'er, why do you seem to be a different person when you go out?"
"You are the emperor, the lord of the country, how can you eat such food as chaff?"
"Everyone in the world can eat, why can't I?" Lin Xu raised his head and stared at Xue Jingruo: "Mother, do you know that even this meal like chaff is the dream of many people."
"The world is so big, but there are so many people who can't even afford this chaff-like meal."
"You say that I am the king of a country, the master of a country, but you and I know very well that I am just a puppet!"
"I have no intention of becoming the emperor, so I don't mind being a puppet and am happy to be free."
"But you keep saying that the world is peaceful and the people are happy."
"But as far as I know today, the floods in Xishanji County have spread on a large scale, and millions of people have suffered."
"Is this what you call peace in the world?"
