"This place on Chengxin Street is closest to the west gate of the capital. The closest place to the west of the capital is Xingtai County. More than ten years ago, there was a severe drought thousands of miles west of Xingtai. There was no harvest for many years. The imperial court was unable to make ends meet in those years. It’s not even possible to open a warehouse to store grain.”
"So, those refugees had no choice but to go east and came to the capital. Do you know how many refugees there were according to historical records at that time?"
Jiang Si raised a finger and shook his head.
Wen Ruxi asked curiously: "How much?"
Jiang Si stretched out his hand and said with surprise: "Ten million!"
"So many!" Wen Ruxi was really shocked. Daxia is a vast territory, but its total population is only fifty or sixty million. The disaster that year actually affected nearly one-fifth of the people!
It's a pity that she was still young at that time and was still studying in Yuqing Palace, so she couldn't empathize with this period of history.
We can only get a partial understanding from the cold historical records.
Jiang Si nodded and continued: "This is just a general idea. All those people poured into the capital, but although the capital was large, it could not accommodate so many people at once. Those people begged under the city wall for a long time. "
"Emperor Mingde couldn't bear it, so he said that he had set aside a piece of land in the west of the city for those refugees to live in."
"But how long have the refugees been suffering? As soon as they see the light, it will be the same situation as what you just saw, and it will suddenly become chaotic."
"Back then, a big riot broke out in the capital because of these refugees and refugees. In the end, it was suppressed by the Forbidden Army and the Valiant Cavalry Battalion stationed outside the city."
"That's why the locals in the capital have always hated these refugees, and even refused to do some chores, so it gradually evolved into what it is now."
"And after the suppression, according to statistics, only four to five million people survived the disaster, and more than half died!"
"Since then, the area west of Bactria has been sparsely populated and has become increasingly desolate."
The land in the far west of Daxia is an endless desert. It is said that this place is connected to the place where all demons gather - the Demon Realm.
The demon lord's lair is right here.
Wen Ruxi and others actually didn't know the demon lord's last name, not even whether he was a boy or a girl.
All I know is that the other person has been wearing a ghost-faced Yama mask all year round, and has been called Demon Lord for so many years, so I assume that Demon Lord is his name.
After all, a name is just a code name.
"It's the land of the far west again." Wen Ruxi said, "Could it be the devil who does all kinds of evil again?"
Hearing this, Mo Qing and Jiang Si were unhappy before Mo Qing said anything.
Jiang Sidao: "Why do you have to put the blame on the Demon Lord for everything?"
"During this severe drought, the human-demonic lord has been dead for several years and his body is cold. How can he come out to do evil?"
Wen Ruxi choked and said, "I'm so narrow-minded."
Mo Qing and Nan said: "Don't blame others for everything. Maybe the words you hear all day long are all rumors. Maybe the human demon master has never even set foot in the demon realm."
She was telling the truth. If it wasn't for the fight, she wouldn't even go out of the Demon Palace.
After living for thousands of years, Mo Qing doesn't even know how big the Demon Realm is.
She only knew that the Demon Realm was roughly divided into one capital, twelve cities, and twelve demon city lords, but she didn't fully recognize the twelve demons.
You have really spent so many years as the Demon Lord in vain!
While the three of them were talking, they had already arrived at the destination of Mo Qing's trip.
Yesterday I went to the home of the old man who was one of the people I rescued at Dali Temple.
The old man's surname is Hu, and he has lived on South West Street in the city for generations. However, the disaster more than ten years ago made this originally prosperous South Street a target of public criticism.
As soon as the bosses heard that he lived on Chengnan Street, they waved their hands and refused to use him again.
So these days are getting sadder day by day.
Mo Qing looked up and saw that Old Hu's house was much better than the ones he saw along the way.
At least it has everything it should have. Even if the furnishings inside are simple and plain, it can barely keep out the wind and rain, so that you won't have to eat or sleep in the open.
As soon as Mo Qing arrived at the door, Old Man Hu, who was fetching water in the courtyard, immediately greeted him.
"The benefactor is here." Old Man Hu, wearing a washed white robe, bowed slightly to Mo Qing.
Mo Qingyu accepted the gift very calmly and said immediately, "Do you still remember what I told you yesterday?"
"Remember, remember." Old Man Hu nodded repeatedly.
After leading the people into the house, Old Man Hu rubbed the corners of his clothes with his hands slightly awkwardly and said: "This humble house is simple and simple, I'm afraid I'm neglecting our distinguished guest."
Mo Qing said bluntly: "Don't be lazy, I came to ask you something."
Mo Qing and seeing Old Man Hu walking in a slightly strange way, he suddenly asked, "How are your injuries?"
When Old Man Hu heard that Mo Qingyu took the initiative to care about his injuries, his heart warmed up. He quickly waved his hands and said, "It's nothing, it's just some skin injuries. What the benefactor wants to ask about is probably about Brother Dou and Sanniang Dou."
"Exactly." Mo Qing nodded.
Wen Ruxi found a small bench, put her legs together and put her hands on her knees, and sat next to Mo Qing like a good student.
He raised his head and his eyes were full of curiosity.
Old Man Hu cleared his throat and then said: "Speaking of Brother Dou, he was also exiled to our side during the natural disaster more than ten years ago. He came to have a son, but his wife failed to survive on the road, so he left. .”
"He was alone with a three- or four-year-old child. It was not easy for him in the beginning."
"But gradually, after everyone has settled down, there are bosses in the city who are willing to use Brother Dou."
"Although Brother Dou is old, he works quickly and his body is much better than those of us who can only read."
"He was originally from a farming family in Xingtai County. He has been working in the fields all year round since he was a child. After coming to the capital, he only did some hard labor."
"The docks in Beijing require a lot of casual workers. We are close to each other, and we have become familiar with each other from time to time. Brother Dou is a loyal person."
"If you have any good work, please stick with brothers."
"Over time, Brother Dou has gained some reputation among us casual workers. He is honest and reliable, and gradually he has become a little foreman."
"Take care of the twenty or so of us who are willing to follow him."
"There was a heavy rain in the capital a few days ago, and the pier was washed away by the flood. Ships come and go in the capital every day. There is no time when the pier is idle."
"The officials have said that they will recruit a large number of people and repair the dock immediately. The reward is very attractive."
"Brother Dou is a very capable man. He just managed to get such a good job for his brothers. We can't thank him enough."
"But who would have expected that the wood used for the pier plank road was all rotten wood. It collapsed not long after the feet were put on it. The wood allocated for us to repair the pier was almost eaten by insects. We immediately knew that there was something wrong with this job."
"Brother Dou immediately went to the Zhi Su Neishi who was responsible for this matter to ask for an explanation. As a result, as soon as he left, one of our brothers went to see how the rotten wood had rotted to what extent and whether it could be repaired."
"But the wood under his feet was very brittle, and he accidentally fell into the water."
"The wind was strong in those days and the water was deep. The man sank after a short struggle."
"Several brothers on the side immediately went to save the person. The person was rescued, but there was no way to save him."
"Not long after Brother Dou found Zhi Su Neishi, he heard the bad news about his brothers and immediately started making trouble."
"But who knew that Zhi Su Neishi was from Shaofu Temple, and the money from his superiors was small, so he couldn't do anything here. He originally wanted to recruit some casual workers, and if anything happened, he would blame them on their heads, so he opened it The price is much higher than what’s on the market.”
"But someone died before the work even started. Zhi Sumai was so angry that he asked the officers and soldiers around him to beat the person and throw him out."
"How can Brother Dou let his brothers be wronged? He heard that the Dali Temple in the capital is the most just. If there is any injustice, you can appeal."
"With injuries all over his body, Brother Dou went to beat the big drum in front of the Dali Temple. That is something that can only be beaten when there is a great grievance!"
"Brother Dou went to Dali Temple and none of us knew about it. When we got the news, Brother Dou had already been wrapped in a straw mat and was thrown casually by the roadside."
"Brother Dou died tragically! When Sanniang asked about his father, we didn't dare to tell her. But Sanniang is not young anymore. She is a big girl in her twenties, and she still has to collect her father's body."
"Brother Dou died for our brother! How could we let his death be in vain, so we dragged our family with us and clamored for an explanation at the gate of Dali Temple every day."
"For three days in a row, no one paid attention to us. On the fourth day, Sun Zhen ordered the officers and soldiers to arrest us all and charge us with treason."
"At first some people were yelling and cursing, but gradually they stopped eating and we were no longer able to yell."
"If it hadn't been for our benefactor, Sheng Ming, who rescued us yesterday, how would Brother Dou's grievances have ever come to light?"
Old Man Hu suddenly knelt down and bowed his head, making a great salute to Mo Qingyu.
Mo Qingyu raised his eyebrows.
I only heard Old Man Hu say: "The old man knows that the girl is a very capable person. I heard that the girl was investigating Sun Zhen's case. The only people who had any grudge against him before his death were our group of people."
"Sanniang is just a little girl. She is no match for Sun Zhen, a high-ranking official. Please be careful and don't blame a good man by mistake!"
Mo Qing rested his chin and said, "I thought you asked me to avenge your brother Dou."
Old Man Hu buried his head deeper and said, "I don't dare."
"Why don't you dare?" Mo Qing said in a casual tone, "I can't avenge your brother Dou, it's not my business."
Old Man Hu's shoulders were shaking slightly.
Mo Qingyu said: "But you can ask the person next to me, I believe the name of the eldest princess of Daxia is more useful than mine."
Old Man Hu became excited. He knelt down in front of Wen Ruxi and kowtowed repeatedly: "The common people are rude. The common people are rude. They didn't know that the eldest princess is here."
Wen Ruxi had never received such a great gift. She was in a hurry and helped the person up quickly.
"Old sir, there is no need to give such a big gift. Since I am the princess of Daxia, I naturally have to consider the people of Daxia. I never knew that such a moron could appear among the pillars of Daxia."
"When I go back to find out, I will give you justice."
"Her Royal Highness the Princess is a very kind person!" Old Man Hu burst into tears with excitement.
During those dark days in the cell, he once thought that there was no justice in the world.
