After that, a few more days passed.
In the evening, Zhejiang, Zhejiang Governor's Mansion.
At this moment, Zheng Michang, who was looking sad, summoned everyone to the meeting hall of the Governor's Mansion to discuss the next response.
I saw Zheng Michang sitting at the top. After looking around, he sighed helplessly and said slowly.
"Right now, Mr. Your Excellency and the others have not given a response yet. We have to find a way to survive this period!"
As soon as Zheng Michang finished speaking, He Maocai on the side added.
"Recently, those Sannons have been gathering at the gate of the Governor's Mansion almost every day to cause trouble. If this continues, the government cells will almost no longer be able to be closed."
When He Maocai said this, he paused for a moment and then continued to add.
"Otherwise, we should take out some of the grain in the granary and distribute it to the mulberry farmers. If this continues, the situation will soon be out of control!"
After He Maocai finished speaking, Ma Ningyuan and Gao Hanwen on the side also responded: "Yes, right now, we should temporarily distribute part of the relief grains first, and stabilize the farmers first!"
"If a civil uprising is triggered by then, we won't be able to live without food!"
After listening to everyone's advice, Zheng Michang nodded helplessly and said slowly.
"Before this, I have sent people to calculate it. If the distribution is carried out according to the minimum standards, the relief food in the granary can last for up to 23 days!"
"If no food arrives in Zhejiang after twenty-three days, we will be doomed!"
At this moment, Gao Hanwen on the side seemed to suddenly think of something. He turned his attention to Zheng Michang and immediately gave his own advice.
"Mr. Chief Envoy, please tell me, can we get some food from Ningbo Port?"
He Maocai and Ma Ningyuan on the side also lit up after hearing the suggestion put forward by Gao Hanwen, and immediately slapped their thighs and said in a deep voice.
"Yes, why can't we go to Ningbo Port to get some food?"
After saying that, He Maocai and Ma Ningyuan both looked at Zheng Michang expectantly, expecting him to respond.
At first, Zheng Michang quite agreed with the suggestion put forward by Gao Hanwen. Just when he was about to make a decision, he suddenly remembered that not long ago, he had offended the officials of the Maritime Trade Department!
Thinking of this, Zheng Michang wanted to slap himself twice: "Zheng Michang, Zheng Michang, why did you go to provoke those people from the Maritime Trade Department when you said you had nothing to do? It's all right now. Food will definitely not be available." !”
Facing everyone's expectant gazes, Zheng Michang had no choice but to bite the bullet and said: "I don't think this matter is reliable. Have you forgotten who is in charge of the Maritime Trade Department? It is Gao Gong, the Minister of Household Affairs!"
"As a person from Qingliu, how can he let us get food easily?"
When Zheng Michang said this, he deliberately paused for a moment in order to observe the expressions on everyone's faces.
When he saw the flash of disappointment on everyone's faces, he immediately changed the topic and continued.
"But there is no other way at the moment. Let's just treat the dead horse as a living doctor. I will go and beg them personally!"
When Zheng Michang said this, he continued to add.
"But don't have too many expectations about this matter. After all, the Maritime Trade Department is headed by Gao Gong, the Minister of Household Affairs!"
After Zheng Michang finished speaking, the remaining people couldn't help but heave a sigh of relief.
After all, being willing to try is much better than doing nothing!
Seeing that the matter had been discussed and a general result had been reached, Ma Ningyuan on the side quickly turned his attention to Zheng Michang, who was sitting at the top, and asked.
"Then how soon will we start distributing relief food?"
Hearing this, Zheng Michang gave a response after thinking about it for a moment.
"Let's start from tomorrow. Stabilizing these farmers is the key now!"
"Well, no problem. When I get back later, I'll ask the government to put up a notice right away!"
When Ma Ningyuan heard this, he quickly felt relieved and immediately responded.
I saw Zheng Michang picking up the teacup on the side, taking a sip, and after looking around, he turned to speak.
"Well, now that everything has been discussed, let's go back and get ready!"
"Um."
After that, He Maocai, Ma Ningyuan, Gao Hanwen and others stood up from their seats and left the meeting hall.
…
The night passed quickly, and early the next morning, at dawn, those farmers who had learned the news in advance lined up in a long line at the place where the government distributed relief grains.
Seeing someone jumping in line, the officer responsible for maintaining order immediately stepped forward. After the incoming person found out, he kicked him to death. This scene naturally caused everyone to burst into laughter.
"Quiet, everyone quiet!"
"If anyone dares to make any loud noise again, I will move him to the back of the line!"
After the officer finished speaking, the farmers who were waiting in a long queue at the scene all shut up. After all, no one wanted to be at the back of the queue. If they could not receive the relief food distributed by the government because of this incident, what would happen? how?
At this moment, their faces were full of hope, because the relief food promised by the government had finally begun to be distributed. With this food, they and their families would not go hungry.
Wang Erzhuang from Wangjia Village is also in the team. Ever since Gao Hanwen came to collect statistics last time, he and the remaining villagers who also planted mulberry seedlings have been paying attention to the food relief issue all the time.
And yesterday evening, just after the government posted the announcement, Wang Erzhuang and others learned the news.
In order to be the first to receive relief food from the government, they simply slept in the place where the government distributed relief food. However, there were many people who had the same idea as them. Fortunately, they came earlier and were relatively close in line. forward.
Just when Wang Erzhuang was stunned, he heard the voice of an official, bringing him back to reality: "The government has begun to distribute relief grains. You all line up and come one by one. When you are in line, tell me what you are doing." Just give your name and place of origin!”
After the officer finished speaking, the endless queue in sight seemed to "come to life" again and began to discuss the topic of how much relief food the government distributed.
"Quiet, everyone quiet!"
But this time, under the din of people, the official's voice was quickly drowned out without causing any waves.
At this moment, at the front of the queue, there was a long table, and several subordinates were sitting at the table. Seeing the first Sannon standing in front of them, they immediately asked in a voice without any emotion.
"Name, place of origin?"
"Zhang Erniu, from Fuyuan Village."
After the words fell, one of the subordinate officials took out the corresponding roster, found Zhang Erniu's name on it, drew a circle on his name, and immediately gave instructions.
"Go over there and get the food!"
"Thank you, sir, thank you, sir!"
After that, Zhang Erniu came to the side with great gratitude and took the food from the soldiers. However, after he weighed the weight of the food, a puzzled expression appeared on his face, and he immediately asked.
"Sir...Sir, this is different from what was promised before. There are four people in my family, how come we only have less than two liters of food?"
When the subordinate official heard this, he glanced at Zhang Erniu impatiently and immediately spoke.
"That's all. If you don't want it, just keep the food so I can give it to the next person!"
After hearing this, Zhang Erniu could only admit that he was unlucky, lowered his head, and did not dare to say another word, even though he felt extremely unwilling to do so.
Because if these subordinate officials are angered, they may not even have this little food. In the end, it will be their own family members who will suffer from hunger!
With Zhang Erniu's lessons learned, the farmers behind them no longer dared to have any opinions on this matter.
They just came to the subordinates in silence, like emotionless puppets, and reported their names and places of origin. After receiving their share of relief food, they did not leave in a hurry, but like mice , looked around, and after confirming that no one was paying attention to him, he carefully put away the food, lowered his head, and left quickly.
In the Governor's Mansion, Zheng Michang was sitting at the top, listening to the reports from his subordinates.
"Your Excellency, Chief Envoy, relief grain distribution has begun, but those farmers seem to be quite critical of the amount of relief grain distributed by the government."
When Zheng Michang heard this, he frowned slightly, then picked up the teacup on the side, took a sip, and then responded leisurely.
"How dare they have any objections?"
"The government is so merciful that they are afraid that they will starve to death and distribute relief food to them for free. How dare they have any objections?"
"What a bunch of unruly people who don't understand the difficulties of the government at all!"
Seeing that his immediate boss, Zheng Michang, was complaining, the subordinate just now also acted indignant and echoed.
"Yes, Lord Chief Minister, these unscrupulous people are really ignorant!"
"If you ask me, we shouldn't give them relief rations and let them taste what it's like to go hungry."
When Zheng Michang heard this, he looked away from his subordinate without any trace and skipped the topic.
"Okay, okay, I'll keep an eye on the scene. If anything goes wrong, I'll ask you!"
As soon as Zheng Michang finished speaking, the subordinate patted his chest and promised: "Your Majesty, Chief Envoy, please rest assured. With your subordinates here, nothing will go wrong!"
Immediately afterwards, as if something suddenly occurred to him, Zheng Michang turned his attention to the subordinate just now, and immediately added: "If you want to let me know that someone dares to tamper with this relief food, don't blame me. You’ve turned your back on me and don’t recognize anyone!”
"Yes, yes, Lord Chief Ambassador, you are right."
"If anyone dares to take action on this relief food, I will be the first to spare him!"
The subordinate kept wiping it with a handkerchief, and there was a thin stream of sweat on his forehead, and he kept saying in agreement.
Zheng Michang looked back and immediately issued an order to expel the guests.
"Okay, don't hang around in front of me all the time. I still have things to deal with."
"Yes, Lord Chief Envoy, I will resign immediately!"
After Zheng Michang issued the expulsion order, the subordinate did not dare to stay at all and left the Governor's Mansion in a hurry. However, when he left the Governor's Mansion, he looked extremely hurried, as if he had to deal with something in a hurry.
Zheng Michang looked at the subordinate's back as he hurriedly left, his expression suddenly turned gloomy, and he said silently to himself: "Damn it, let's see how I deal with you after this incident is over!"
After that, Zheng Michang embarked on the road to Ningbo Port according to his previous plan.
…
Since the last big victory at the front and the capture of the Tatar Khan alive, the capital, which has not been calm for long, has received the third breaking news - the imperial court has published a newspaper called Daming Daily. !
As early as a few days ago, the news of the imperial court's publication of a newspaper had spread a lot. In the capital, both dignitaries and businessmen were full of expectations for the newspaper that the imperial court was about to officially publish.
After all, this is a rare new thing!
During this period, there was no shortage of various kinds of news leaking out, half-true and half-false, making it difficult to fathom.
But at present, the only thing that can be determined is that the current newspapers will be divided into two types. One type of newspaper is specifically for officials and gentry, priced at 20 cents a piece, and the other type of newspaper is specifically aimed at ordinary people, priced at 2 cents. A piece of money.
The price difference between the two newspapers was ten times, and this also made the officials and gentry quite satisfied. In their view, this was a reflection of the social status of both parties: "Look, you lowly people, just Even the newspapers can only be read at the lowest level!”
But those people don't think so. In their opinion, as long as the price is cheap, they can accept it.
After all, real life is so hard, you have to find some comfort for yourself.
In order to avoid conflicts, newspapers for officials and gentry and newspapers for ordinary people were sold separately.
Today happened to be Zhao Zhenji's day to rest. Early in the morning, with nothing to do, he planned to go to the place where newspapers were sold to support the cause of the imperial court with his own practical actions.
Just kidding, this newspaper was promoted by the emperor. If the sales volume is not good, where will the emperor's face be?
As a minister, the most important thing is to share the emperor's worries!
Therefore, Zhao Zhenji planned to buy a hundred and eighty newspapers for the time being. Even if he couldn't finish them, he could distribute them to the servants at home.
And when Zhao Zhenji was in high spirits and rode in a sedan chair to the place where newspapers were sold, he was immediately dumbfounded.
He found that many officials and gentry had gathered here, and all those who did not need to be on duty today had all arrived at the scene. Even if there was something that needed to be on duty today, he would ask his housekeeper to come on his behalf.
"I remember that Mr. Yan Ge and Mr. Xu Ge don't seem to be on duty today. I don't know if they will come?"
Zhao Zhenji got down from the sedan with the support of the bearer, and thought so when he looked at the officials gathered in groups in front of him, greeting each other.
When the officials saw Zhao Zhenji coming, they stopped greetings one after another, looked at Zhao Zhenji with awe and fear in their eyes, and immediately stepped forward to say hello to Zhao Zhenji.
"Haha, I've met Mr. Zhao!"
"Master Zhao, you have time to come over today!"
Facing the greetings from these colleagues, Zhao Zhenji also smiled in return.
After a while, the atmosphere at the scene became harmonious again as before.
(End of chapter)
